St. Andrew’s School looking to rezone and sell land

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School owns a 25-acre plot of land at 6113 Southwest Parkway that the school hoped to sell after rezoning the land from LR-MU-NP to GR-MU-NP. The GR zoning would allow potential buyers to develop up to 60 feet in height instead of 40 feet. The case was pulled for discussion at the most recent meeting of the Planning Commission because Commissioner Todd Shaw believed there to be a discrepancy between the Oak Hill neighborhood contact team and the applicant. Jeff Howard, representing the applicant, explained that there was only one condition put forth by the neighborhood contact team that was not exactly met. The neighborhood requested that the applicant post 100 percent of the fiscal cost for a new traffic signal at Vega and Southwest Parkway. Howard explained that the applicant would only agree to 100 percent if the developer chooses to exceed 40 feet in height at site plan. Meaning, if the structure becomes a 60-foot, four-story building rather than a 40-foot, three-story building, there would likely be more traffic, and therefore a new signal would be necessary. Commissioner Karen McGraw had some hesitation with the specter of a 60-foot building in that area, seeing as it was not very consistent with the surrounding building heights. Howard confirmed that zoning laws show that such a height is appropriate on major arterial roadways such as Southwest Parkway, and this was agreed upon with the Oak Hill neighborhood contact team. No plans are set yet, but the land is likely to be bought and developed as a multifamily unit. The motion passed 10-1 with McGraw against and Commissioner Conor Kenny recused.