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Hurricane council asks staff to study SR‑920 engineering and hotel height exceptions
Summary
Council members asked planners to revisit SR‑920 engineering designs that would eliminate a landscape strip to preserve walkway/porch access and discussed allowing four‑story hotels via development agreements near SR‑9; staff will return with options, including case‑by‑case development agreements or conditional uses.
HURRICANE — City councilors directed staff to explore alternative engineering and zoning approaches after a presentation flagged potential impacts from current street‑design standards and an applicant requested taller hotel buildings on two parcels along SR‑9.
Councilors said an engineered landscape strip planned for SR‑920 would reduce road and sidewalk width immediately adjacent to existing homes. One council member asked whether engineers could design the road and sidewalk to avoid installing the landscape strip so porches and pedestrian access are preserved. Planning staff were asked to bring design recommendations to the planning commission and council before final engineering is completed.
Separately, representatives of a developer told the council they are exploring two hotels on SR‑9 between Santopolo Road and the hospital area and are seeking a 55‑foot height allowance (four stories) rather than the current 35‑foot limit. Staff explained local options: approve a development agreement for a specific site (as was done for the hospital), change commercial‑zone height rules, or use conditional‑use approvals with legislated conditions. "Just like we did with the hospital," a staff speaker said, development agreements can be used to grant site‑specific exceptions.
Councilors expressed concern about broadly changing the code to allow higher buildings across the city and favored restrictive, case‑by‑case approaches, with conditions tied to site plans and public review. Staff will return with options for development agreements, conditional‑use criteria, or a narrowly tailored code amendment if the council indicates a policy preference.
