by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
An overlay zone designed to curb development in San Marco may soon be expanded to cover the entire neighborhood.
City Council member Art Shad introduced the necessary legislation last week. The overlay is currently limited to the Lake Marco area near San Marco Avenue.
“This is a way for the City to set a standard and establish a level of security to the individuals who have made San Marco their home,” said Shad. “There is a lot of historical value there and it needs to be preserved. This kind of legislation can do just that.”
Shad said he looks forward to seeing the zone, which was created last year, expanded.
“What we were able to do in Lake Marco, which was basically phase one of this project, definitely proved to be successful. It makes sense to expand the boundaries further,” said Shad. “The only complaint, if you can call it that, is why we didn’t expand it even further than what we’re proposing this time. But other than that, we’ve gotten nothing but overwhelming community
support.”
Shad said the zoning requirements were not as rigid as standards related to historically designated properties.
“It is more flexible,” he said. “We’re still protecting our neighborhood, but we think we have found a way where we won’t have to micro-manage every home.”
In keeping with historical guidelines, new residential and commercial developments will be required to adhere to conditions, including yard setbacks, facade improvement and maximum lot coverage requirements that were in place during the 1920s and 1930s.
“Everything is based on the original developments that have been in the neighborhood for many, many years, “ said Shad. “In other words, we want to make sure that a new project coming in will be compatible with what’s already there. If it is, if it meets the set standard, you’re free to build.”
Set standards were approved following a study commissioned by the City’s Planning Department in 2002.
Newer developments that fail to meet new zoning requirements can apply for an administrative deviation, a way of getting around preset standards through a point-based system.
“Basically, if you want to build but you’re outside of the rule, you can compare what you’re trying to do with the adjacent properties,” said Tim Franklin, a City attorney who helped Shad draft the legislation. “For instance, you can look things like height and width or window configuration to accumulate a certain number of points.
“If you can score at least seven out of 10, you qualify for an administrative deviation. If you don’t, you can’t even apply for a permit.”
However, those projects will still be required to meet yard setback requirements on all sides of the property.
Former Council member Matt Carlucci who, according to Shad “got the ball rolling,” said he was happy to see the project moving forward and he would like to participate in further discussions.