By Michael Coughlin Jr.
During last week’s Orient Heights Neighborhood Council (OHNC) meeting, plans for a project at 869 Saratoga Street were presented to those in attendance.
Attorney Michael Welsh explained that the proposal is to construct a four-story building with three units and three parking spaces. This proposed building is slated to be owner-occupied. Plans also include a private roof deck for the top-floor unit.
“The reason that it’s four stories is because, on the first floor, we have parking and a driveway, so in order to be able to have parking, that’s sort of the reason for that, and also because it’s in the floodplain so just as far as designing for the future, potential flood situations, that’s sort of the reason,” said Welsh.
As for how this project aligns with zoning in the area, Welsh explained that the permit application was submitted under the old zoning code.
However, he said, “We knew that that (new/current) zoning code might be coming up, so we tried to sort of design to that to the best that we could.”
Under the old zoning code, the project would need variances for additional lot area per unit, floor area ratio (FAR), height, usable open space, and rear, front, and side yard setbacks. However, Welsh said that under the new or current zoning, the project would only need four variances.
Following the brief presentation, attendees were free to comment and ask questions. One resident asked about the existing structure on the property, and Eric Zachrison, the project architect, explained that the existing single-family building would be demolished.
There were also questions regarding zoning and if variances were being sought under the current or old code.
Welsh explained, “Just by nature of the law, since it was filed before the new (current) zoning code was enacted, the refusal letter that we have to get relief from is under the old zoning code.”
However, Welsh was under the impression the city was trying to enforce the current code either way and later mentioned that the four variances under the current code would be for height, side yard, rear yard, and maximum building lot coverage.
The construction time was also questioned, and Zachrison indicated it would take about 10 months to build.
As the conversation continued, a few attendees voiced concerns about other aspects of the project, such as the parking, the possibility that the structure would not be owner-occupied, and more.
Since this was an initial presentation to the OHNC, a vote did not occur. Customarily, votes on projects at the OHNC are conducted after a second presentation.
The next OHNC meeting is scheduled for March 17th. For more information about the OHNC, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OrientHeightsNC/.