Please place the above item on the May 25, 2022 City Commission meeting agenda as a referral to the Planning Board.

On April 6, 2022, the City Commission approved the following referral to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC): 

Referral to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee to consider development incentives, including height and floor area ratio (FAR), for the conversion of existing hotels and applicable accessory uses in the MXE District, on the east side of Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive, to residential or office development, subject to the review and approval of the Historic Preservation Board. 

The purpose of this item is to consider development incentives for the conversion of existing hotels and applicable accessory uses on the east side of Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive, within the MXE district south of 16th Street. This study should include height and floor area ratio (FAR) incentives for the redevelopment of hotels as residential or office buildings, including the abandonment of any entertainment establishments and dance halls. My intent is that any additions be sited towards the rear of each property, so as to minimize impacts to views of historic buildings from the right-of-way and other public property.

In addition to the prior referral, which is pending before LUSC, I would like the City Commission to refer this matter to the Planning Board. 

Consistent with the City’s holistic approach to the MXE mixed use entertainment district, corresponding amendments to the district’s accessory uses may be necessary to promote compatible restaurant and retail development. Additionally, pursuant to Section 1.03(c) of the City Charter, any increase in FAR would require voter approval. Given that July 29, 2022 is the deadline to place a ballot question on the November 8, 2022 ballot, I would like the LUSC and Planning Board to expedite their consideration of this matter. 

For the draft Ordinance to be considered for transmittal by the Planning Board on June 21, 2022, as well as reviewed by the LUSC on July 7, 2022, the following points should be included:

• identify the specific area eligible for the incentives;
• establish benchmarks for the conversion of existing hotels (including accessory uses) to residential/office development; and
• identify the amount of the FAR incentive.

These properties are within the Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue local historic district; therefore, any new development application would require review and approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness by the Historic Preservation Board.