Too Many Apartments?

The Central City Council approved the city’s 2nd Traditional Neighborhood Development last week, but now a group of citizens is weighing legal options on what to do about the project.

The TND, which is called, The Settlement on Shoe Creek, would include commercial buildings, single family houses, and apartments.  All 250 apartments would be built above commercial buildings.

However, Mike Mannino, one the leaders of the citizens group, said Section 14.8 of the city’s Comprehensive Zoning Code sets forth the density requirements for TND’s and those requirements provide that only 41 apartments can be built in the development, not 250. He cites Section 14.8(D)(4)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii) of the code.

On Monday, Mayor Jr. Shelton said the Central Planning & Zoning Commission and the City Council both approved the project after the city’s attorneys said the number of apartments meets the code’s density requirements. “I don’t make those calculations, but I am relying on those who do,” Shelton said.

Mannino said his group feels the Zoning Code requirements are being violated, and they are weighing their legal options.  Filing suit could require the posting of a bond of $1 million or more.