Council reviews proposal for 70‑unit senior affordable housing at Washington Avenue; variances requested

Planning staff presented a proposal from Prestwick Land Holdings in partnership with the Marietta Housing Authority to develop a four‑story, 70‑unit affordable senior multifamily building on a cluster of parcels along Washington Avenue. The proposal includes a roughly 3,000‑square‑foot commercial component at the southwestern corner of the site and a residential leasing/amenity area that staff said would function as the manager’s on‑site presence rather than a ground‑floor commercial tenant.

To build the project as proposed, the applicant is requesting three variances from the Tier A Commercial Corridor overlay: one to allow less than 20 percent of ground‑floor floor area dedicated to commercial (which would permit residential units on the ground floor), and another variance to allow all units to be renter‑occupied rather than comply with a 5 percent owner‑occupancy requirement. Staff indicated the project is intended as senior affordable housing and discussed the Fair Housing Act exception that permits age‑restricted (55+) housing; city legal staff said the council could act under the federal exception applicable at the time of approval but that changes in federal law could require future adjustments.

Councilmembers asked whether commercial uses would be tailored to senior services (medical, retail serving seniors); staff said the applicant would be best positioned to answer but that the manager’s office and leasing amenity are expected on site. The developer has previously completed similar senior affordable projects in the area, staff said.

At the work session the council indicated it would leave the item on consent for the Wednesday meeting; staff and the applicant will provide full materials to the regular meeting packet for public review.