Board approves height variance for Peninsula Point Flats multifamily project

The Area Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance increasing the maximum building height from 35 feet to 48 feet for two buildings in the Peninsula Point Flats multifamily development (BZA 21‑94).

APC staff member Amanda Esposito described the property at the corner of US 231 South and Veterans Memorial Parkway West as triangular and constrained by floodplain and right‑of‑way geometry; staff recommended approval, citing practical hardship from the lot shape and setbacks. Petitioner representative Ryan Munden of RTS Law said sanitary sewer location, floodplain and an irregular right‑of‑way make development difficult and concurred with staff’s recommendations.

Esposito said the overall site contains nine three‑story buildings and a clubhouse; two buildings (Buildings 1 and 3) do not qualify for setback bonuses that would allow additional height, so the petitioner sought a height variance for those two structures. The board cast seven ballots and approved the variance unanimously (7–0).

The APC staff concluded the variance would not be injurious to public health, safety or welfare because the large setback and surrounding floodplain buffer the taller buildings from nearby properties. The petition was the third time the site had come before the board for various variances related to parking and setbacks; staff included those prior approvals in its analysis.