Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning board approves code change allowing subdivision of certain shotgun‑house parcels to support affordable homeownership
Summary
The board unanimously recommended a zoning text amendment allowing the Historic Preservation Board to grant limited special exceptions that would permit fee‑simple subdivision of parcels containing multiple contributing shotgun‑style historic residences within the Northwest Historic District, intended to enable rehabilitation and individual home-
The West Palm Beach Planning Board voted unanimously on Feb. 19 to recommend a zoning text amendment that would allow the Historic Preservation Board to grant limited special exceptions enabling fee‑simple subdivision of parcels containing multiple contributing shotgun‑style historic dwellings in the Northwest Historic District.
Leslie Olson of District Planning Group, representing the CRA, told the board the Community Redevelopment Agency purchased multiple properties with several historic duplex/shotgun structures on single parcels and seeks a mechanism to rehabilitate and sell individual homes as fee‑simple properties. Olson said the current historic preservation ordinance does not provide a clear pathway to subdivide such parcels, because many dimensional standards (lot area, lot width, setbacks, lot coverage, floor‑area ratio) would become more nonconforming under a straight code interpretation.
Chris Kimberly, senior urban designer, presented the proposed text revisions to Section 94‑85 (special exceptions standards for historic residential districts). Staff recommended approval with two clarifying conditions: limit the code change to shotgun‑house typologies within the Northwest Historic District as a cautious, narrowly tailored initial roll‑out; and add a formal definition of “shotgun house” in the code (rectangular plan, typically ≤18 feet wide, gabled front porch, rooms in linear sequence without hallways).
Staff and the CRA said the change would enable the rehabilitation of contributing historic structures and create affordable fee‑simple ownership opportunities that are otherwise difficult to finance and manage under condominium or HOA arrangements. The historic preservation board had previously recommended approval.
The board voted unanimously to recommend the code revision with the two staff conditions. If approved by the City Commission and applied in subsequent subdivision/site plan reviews, affected parcels will require a public application and review by the Historic Preservation Board and must minimize new nonconformities to the greatest extent feasible.
