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Plan to convert 997 South Milledge to residential units advances; applicant to return to Historic Preservation Commission
Summary
A proposal to rezone 997 South Milledge Avenue from commercial office to RM‑2 would preserve and restore a locally designated early‑1900s house and add attached townhome units behind it, subject to Historic Preservation Commission approval.
Planning staff on Jan. 23 described an application to rezone 997 South Milledge Avenue from commercial office to RM‑2 that would preserve an early‑1900s locally designated house near South Milledge and place attached single‑family units behind the restored building.
Vincent Bridal of Ensemble Architecture & Engineering told the commission the project aims to restore the historic front building and add four attached townhome units in the rear. Because the property is inside a local historic district and subject to the Millage Avenue design overlay, the applicant must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) for exterior work and for the new rear units. Bridal told commissioners that HPC had already given initial comments and that the design team is working through those items.
Planning Director Bruce Lonnie said the change from commercial office to RM‑2 is compatible with the mixed‑density future‑land‑use designation for the corridor and with surrounding uses. Staff told the commission that the proposed RM‑2 zoning would permit a higher density than RM‑1 and that the project’s design would be required to comply with the local historic‑district standards and placement rules in the Millage Avenue overlay regardless of the rezoning.
Neighbors and representatives of adjacent condominium developments had raised questions about stormwater runoff during the Planning Commission hearing; Bridal said his team met with neighbors to discuss stormwater design and said the rear units will be placed at elevations and engineered so runoff will not increase flooding risk for adjacent properties. Lonnie said those technical details will be resolved during civil and stormwater engineering review prior to permit issuance.
Because the property contains a locally designated structure, Bridal noted the front building’s restoration work and any changes to the front façade will require an HPC review and approval before building permits are issued. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning and staff said the HPC review remains the authoritative step for architectural detail. The item will return to the mayor and commission for a final vote.
