Community Appearance Board approves Waves District phases 2–4 and 65-foot heights

The Community Appearance Board of the City of Cape Canaveral approved design-level permits for the Waves District project on Astronaut Boulevard on a unanimous vote, authorizing aesthetic changes to the existing building and approval of phases 2–4, including a 65-foot maximum roof-line for the two taller apartment-type buildings.

City staff told the board the four-phase project at 8801 Astronaut Boulevard fits the Economic Opportunity Overlay District and recommended the board approve a level 2 color change for the existing phase 1 building and level 1 approval for phases 2, 3 and 4. "The community and economic development staff recommend that the board approve the level 1 application for a port of call development, specifically phases 2, 3 and 4, with the approval of the single-story design exception for phases 1 and 2," a staff presenter said during the meeting.

Developer Oshri Gahl, who identified himself as the project owner, described the proposal as a mixed-use scheme rather than a conventional hotel and said phase 2 is a single-story commercial building of roughly 18,000 square feet intended to house a food hall and other retail incubator spaces. "I'm trying to do something different," Gahl said, describing phases 3 and 4 as two 65-foot buildings that would contain about 64 and 40 vacation-rental units, respectively.

Board members questioned the applicant about timing, site maintenance and utilities while phases remain unbuilt. A board member noted the project materials indicated the remaining phases could take an extended period to complete; Gahl said phase 2 is the shortest of the remaining phases and he hopes to start it soon, while phases 3 and 4 will require a longer schedule and sequencing that could stretch over multiple years.

Kim Rezanka, representing Wave Development LLC, asked the board to adopt the specific approvals on the record: level 2 for the phase 1 color change, level 1 for phases 2–4, and approval of a 65-foot roof line for phases 3 and 4. She noted City code section 110-624 requires Community Appearance Board approval for heights over 45 feet and said that authority is already reflected in the development agreement.

Members also discussed the color palette shown in renderings. The applicant said the project uses several shades of blue, gray and white and offered to provide Sherwin-Williams color codes for the board’s record. Staff said any color approval would be made specific in the motion so the board and public record match the approved samples.

After the presentation and brief discussion, a board member moved to approve the application as presented — the color update for the existing building, level 1 approvals for phases 2–4, and the requested 65-foot height for phases 3 and 4 — and another member seconded. The board called the roll and voted to approve the motion. Staff confirmed the approvals and noted any rooftop equipment could exceed the 65-foot roof line only to the limited extent allowed by code, with required screening or parapet treatment.

The board had no additional business and adjourned following a short housekeeping exchange about a member’s possible resignation.

What happens next: staff will record the approval and follow up with the applicant on any conditions or required submittals (including color codes and screening details); the applicant may proceed with permitting and individual-phase construction according to the approved scope.