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Town Center debate continues as developers express renewed interest; council split on three stories
Summary
Staff reported renewed developer interest in the Town Center property; council members expressed mixed views about allowing three‑story buildings citing traffic, DOT right‑of‑way and character concerns and asked staff to solicit concepts if developers can present compelling designs.
Town staff told the council there is renewed developer interest in the Town Center property, prompting renewed debate over whether the town should allow buildings taller than two stories in that central area.
Staff said discussions with potential developers and brokers have resumed and that one firm raised the possibility of three‑story mixed‑use buildings. Several council members said they prefer to maintain a two‑story scale to preserve a small‑town, main‑street character around the Clock Tower and Howard Gap Road; others said they would be willing to review strong concepts that respond to traffic and right‑of‑way constraints.
Council members raised specific feasibility questions: whether a three‑story project would generate enough new vehicle trips to trigger additional traffic‑study requirements, whether DOT right‑of‑way near the Clock Tower could block or complicate development, and how parking, signalization and viewsheds would be managed. Staff noted that prior negotiations with DOT included discussions about acquiring a small DOT parcel and that DOT has been willing in the past to go through an appraisal/purchase process.
Staff said McGill Associates is under contract to provide preliminary engineering, wetlands and jurisdictional studies and that consultants will produce a concept timeline into early 2025. Several council members said they are open to seeing developer concepts but that any proposal with three stories must demonstrate clear community benefits and address DOT and traffic concerns.
No zoning change or vote was taken; staff will continue outreach to interested developers and proceed with the McGill studies already authorized in the current budget.
