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Historic board presses city staff for record on CRD height rules and base‑flood elevation add‑on
Summary
Board members told staff they believe the CRD's 35‑foot limit was intended from grade, not with base flood elevation (BFE) added; staff will present background materials to the city commission and pursue legal/record review.
Board members spent a substantial portion of the Jan. 8 meeting urging staff to confirm whether the Coastal Resort District (CRD/CRDEA) 35‑foot height limit was originally intended to be measured from natural grade or to include base flood elevation (BFE).
"If the intent was 35 feet from grade, you could still build a three‑story structure," Chair Lowery said. "But if you add the BFE, that makes it 45 feet — and it dwarfs the rest of the area." The chair questioned whether prior staff practice or later code changes unintentionally allowed BFE to be added on top of the 35‑foot cap.
Staff member Brandon told the board the CRD was adopted in 2011, modified in 2013, and that at some point BFE was being applied in practice. Brandon said staff will bring a slide packet and background materials to the city commission at its Jan. 13 meeting and will provide minutes and other records for the board to review so the original legislative intent can be clarified.
Board members asked staff to ensure future project renderings and design‑review materials use accurate, city‑sourced height measurements (not generic artistic renderings) and requested drone‑derived height data be shown alongside proposed designs. The board passed a motion authorizing Chair Lowery to represent the Historic Preservation Board at the Jan. 13 city commission meeting and to present the staff‑prepared bullet points.
