Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planned Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission recommends Balfour Lofts, 99-unit downtown project, to City Council with gate variance and short-term rental allowance
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 3 recommended approval (5–3) of PD25-12, a 99-unit planned development in downtown Arlington that requests 13 deviations from the UDC, includes a 35x35-foot dog park and internal trash strategy, and directs staff and the developer to pursue a security gate variance; the recommendation allows up to 15% short-term rentals.
The Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5–3 Sept. 3 to recommend approval of PD25-12, the Balfour Lofts planned development, forwarding the ordinance and a request to seek approval or a variance for a security gate to City Council.
Leices Siberia, development planning manager, told the commission the project covers about 1.605 acres and proposes a three-story, 99-unit building (roughly 62 dwelling units per acre), which exceeds the downtown neighborhood district density cap of 40 units per acre and requires 13 deviations from the Unified Development Code (UDC). Staff noted outstanding concerns with building length, unit-size deviations, EIFS use, tree preservation, masonry columns for carports, screening and streetscape elements, and trash collection operations.
Applicant representative Nikki Moore (MMA Inc.) said the team revised the plan to address many concerns: the dumpster location was moved into an internal trash room with four-yard dumpsters that Republic Services will collect four times weekly; the design includes tuck-under parking and carports that, combined with on-street spaces, aim to meet the UDC requirement of 142 spaces (the applicant counts 35 tuck-under spaces, 32 carport spaces and 75 on-street spaces toward that total); a 35-by-35-foot dog park (about 1,200 square feet) and multiple additional amenities were added to qualify for a 10% unit-size reduction under RMF-22 rules. Moore said developers prefer a gated vehicular entry for resident security but that the gate design must meet public-works and design-criteria standards and could require a variance.
Developers and supporters said the project will catalyze downtown revitalization. Reid Buechler, representing the ownership team, said the project is intended to be market-rate multifamily rather than student housing and described lease structuring to avoid mass lease expirations in a single month. Maggie Campbell of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation said she applauds trash mitigation and warned that homelessness and inadequate sidewalks in the area require attention; she urged a secure gated entry for resident safety.
Commissioners pressed the applicants on tree caliper sizes (Commissioner Ware requested five-inch caliper oak plantings; the applicant proposed three-inch calipers intending better survival), the feasibility of a gated entrance without losing on-site parking for a turnaround, EIFS use and the unresolved list of deviations. Several commissioners said security and trash mitigation were decisive; others emphasized tree preservation and long-term design quality. Commissioner Blake moved to recommend approval with language seeking gate approval or a variance and to allow 15% short-term rentals; Commissioner Winkles seconded. The commission voted 5–3 to forward the recommendation to City Council.
The commission’s action is a recommendation; City Council will review the PD ordinance and any design variances. Staff said official review at the planning stage could alter parking or design details and that a variance process may be necessary for the gate and certain design-criteria exceptions.
