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Board recommends 280 East Palmetto Park residential IDA despite neighbors' concerns
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval of a 9‑story, 28‑unit development at 280 E. Palmetto Park Road (the "Glass House") and the abandonment of a portion of a water easement, after extensive public comment raising traffic, parking, water‑table and view concerns.
The Planning & Zoning Board on July 18 voted to recommend approval of the 280 East Residential project, a proposed nine‑story, 28‑unit multifamily building at 280 East Palmetto Park Road, to the Community Redevelopment Agency.
City planner Jacob Gherman summarized the application, saying the project would demolish an existing 8,665‑square‑foot vacant office building and construct a roughly 112,249‑square‑foot residential structure with two levels of below‑grade parking and 61 parking spaces. The application requests abandonment of a 10‑foot‑wide utility easement that conflicts with the proposed building and includes streetscape improvements and expanded sidewalks.
Applicant representative David Millage described the "Glass House" design and emphasized that the project would provide more landscaped open space than required. Architect George Garcia outlined the design intent and balcony variation, calling the proposal an "opportunity" to help activate Palmetto Park Road.
Neighbors and nearby residents spoke at length during the public hearing, raising questions about construction duration, dust, the water table and the effects of deep excavation for two levels of parking, parking adequacy, and loss of views. Paul Imbron, who lives directly south of the project, asked where the emergency generator would be located and said: "We're very concerned about the construction and the traffic." William Pruitt, whose unit faces the site, said the building would block his view and that "my investment is ruined." Donald Schneider cited cumulative development along East Palmetto Park Road and questioned how infrastructure and traffic will be supported, saying the corridor now has many new residential units and "it is very difficult to cross the street right now."
Board members asked staff to clarify the easement abandonment and the condition requiring undergrounding of overhead utilities adjacent to the property; staff said the development order can only require the applicant to underground utilities on the applicant's property, not force a third party to pay for relocation. After discussion, the board voted 4–0 to forward a recommendation for approval to the Community Redevelopment Agency. The recommendation includes conditions noted in the development order and public‑works review requirements for any new easements or water services.
