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Planning board approves conditional-use to allow 35-foot single-family home at 1606 Surfside Drive
Summary
The Planning Board approved a conditional-use permit for a multi-story single-family residence at 1606 Surfside Drive, allowing a 35-foot building height with three staff conditions; the approval reflects floodplain-driven design constraints cited by the applicant.
The Fort Pierce Planning Board approved a conditional-use application on Monday allowing construction of a multi-story single-family residence up to 35 feet tall at 1606 Surfside Drive.
Planning staff presented the application as a conditional use because the zoning district (R1) limits most buildings to 28 feet above grade but permits conditional uses up to 35 feet. Staff described the proposed structure as a multi-story home with an overall area of 4,259 square feet and a ground-level footprint that includes garage and storage space beneath elevated living floors. The site area is approximately 0.54 acres.
Staff explained the tension that frequently arises on Hutchinson Island between floodplain requirements, which raise the required finished-floor elevation, and the city’s height limitations. The board’s discussion noted that the city is reviewing code and building standards to address recurring resiliency issues for shoreline properties.
Architect Joe McCarthy and property owner Dawn Martinez told the board the lower level of the house is designed to comply with coastal and floodplain requirements and is intended for parking and storage; the living floors must be elevated above the required floodplain elevation. McCarthy said the proposed finished-roof height would be about 34.83 feet above the proposed finished grade.
Staff recommended approval of the conditional use with three conditions: (1) driveway construction must comply with city standard driveway detail and be comprised of concrete pavers or concrete per section 32-9; (2) a city-issued landscape-maintenance agreement must be notarized and submitted prior to final certificate of occupancy; and (3) the applicant must acknowledge that certain proposed landscape improvements are within the city right-of-way and that the city may remove nonconforming capital improvements in the ROW.
Planning Board member Miss Clemons moved to approve with the three conditions; Mister Edwards seconded. The board voted unanimously to approve the conditional use.
Board members and staff noted the broader policy question about how the city measures building height in areas where floodplain elevations and finished grades are changing; staff said they will work with the building department to review code language related to resiliency and height measurement for waterfront properties.
