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Church property buyer proposes 4‑building, 52‑unit plan; committee says plan conflicts with town center workplace designation
Summary
A representative for the community that acquired land formerly used by New Community Church presented a conceptual plan to the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Development Review Committee on March 6 showing up to 52 multifamily units in four buildings, clubhouse and pool.
A representative for the community that acquired land formerly used by New Community Church presented a high‑level concept on March 6 for a four‑building multifamily development that the presenter said could total about 52 units, a clubhouse, pool and parking.
The presenter, identified as Muneer, said the plan was preliminary and that a private community member expressed interest in buying and developing the parcel. “We are all open to hearing from your feedback,” he told the committee, adding the scheme is “very high concept” and that the community had not decided unit count or precise layouts.
Wildwood Mayor Garretano and other committee members warned the proposal as presented was likely incompatible with the City’s Town Center Plan, which designates the parcel as a workplace district and does not allow residential uses without a regulating plan change. Garretano said the site is “in the heart right there of what we have businesses” along Manchester Road and cautioned that a four‑story, high‑density residential complex would not match surrounding building height, lack sufficient green space, and would create traffic impacts.
The committee suggested alternatives. Planning staff noted a different Town Center land‑use category — Neighborhood General — that permits a mix of commercial and residential uses within the same tract and would require a regulating plan change from workplace to neighborhood general. Several committee members recommended placing commercial uses along Manchester Road with lower‑density residential (townhomes or villas) set behind them as a more compatible mixed‑use approach.
Muneer said he would return to the community with the feedback and that the community member might pursue a mixed plan. Staff and the mayor repeatedly advised the presenter to study adjacent building types and the town center character before returning with revised concepts. No rezoning application or regulatory action was made at the meeting.
