Planning board clears Safe Harbor Marina abandonments, landscape text amendment and site plan amid neighborhood traffic and buffers debate

The Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend City Council approval for three linked items from Safe Harbor Marina: an abandonment of portions of public rights-of-way (abdash24-0002), a text amendment to allow working‑waterfront projects to pay a contribution in lieu of some landscape requirements, and site plan SP-24-0020 for a reduced redevelopment area of approximately 4.81 acres within an 18.72-acre Safe Harbor property.

Planner Kurt Thompson summarized the three related requests and presented renderings showing the project area. Thompson said the total property comprises roughly 18.72 acres but that the active project area would be limited to about 4.81 acres. He described a “liner” trade-and-service building (screening upland operations from nearby residences) with a footprint and mezzanine and said the building height would be approximately 45–50 feet to screen marine operations from the Lakeview Park neighborhood. Thompson said disciplines reviewed the application and staff recommends approval subject to numerous conditions.

Thompson and staff described two required payments tied to approvals: a privilege…