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Commission approves Somi Walk student housing with conditions on parking, public space and art (4–1)
Summary
After a multi‑hour quasi‑judicial hearing, the commission approved the Somi Walk off‑campus student housing special exception (173 units, 585 bedrooms) with conditions on parking operations, public open‑space treatment and art; the vote on the special exception was 4–1 with the mayor opposed.
The City Commission approved a large‑scale special exception and companion development agreement for a project called Somi Walk on a 1.01‑acre parcel that includes the former Roadway Hotel site. Planning staff said the application proposes 173 apartments with 585 bedrooms, a parking reduction to 197 spaces (a 33% reduction under the off‑campus student housing rules), bonuses for additional stories funded partly by on‑site open space and pay‑in‑lieu amounts, and waivers for 85.7% building coverage and upper floor‑to‑floor heights of 9'4". "It's a 173 apartments and it's 585 bedrooms," staff planner Mark Alvarez told the commission during the presentation.
Commissioners examined parking operations (valet, lifts and minimum staffing), the public‑open‑space calculation (including a covered southeast plaza) and art‑in‑public‑places obligations. The commission added conditions requiring a parking‑operations plan, active monitoring and lighting for internal pedestrian corridors, art treatment for the corner plaza and limitations on converting the student housing to other uses. The special‑exception vote passed 4–1; the companion development agreement was adopted shortly thereafter. Staff said the agreement will be finalized to incorporate the conditions added during the hearing.
