Commission approves Gateway Lofts final plan at Renaissance Point, clearing way for 288 apartments

The Planning Commission on May 14 approved a final development plan for Gateway Lofts at Renaissance Point, a proposed multi-building apartment complex with 288 units on approximately 8.12 acres of the larger Renaissance development.

City planner Miss Spinnaker explained the submission: seven apartment buildings (three-story), two building types with brick-first-floor wrapping and a mix of fiber cement and vinyl on upper stories, a clubhouse, pool and maintenance buildings, and a detailed landscaping and lighting plan. The applicant requested a modest reduction in parking; staff said the overall project provides shared parking per the Renaissance Point event-center narrative and that the proposed reduction (about 4% overall) fell within the ordinance allowance of up to 10% administrative reduction.

William Kirk, president of Hallmark Communities, and John Delverne of Bayer Becker (civil engineer) answered technical questions about grading, parking location and how on-street spaces along the Event Promenade supplement off-street parking. Staff recommended approval and noted that lighting, landscaping and trash-enclosure details were provided and met the standards in Chapter 12-16 and Chapter 12-08 of the development code.

After public support statements and technical discussion the commission voted to approve the final development plan. Commissioners said the project would add residential density and complement retail and event uses at Renaissance Point; they noted that signage and any future variances would be processed through the normal code channels.