Parking changed again after PUD required letter mailed

The controversial application for permission to alter the HP-1 zoning, to allow the former Dow Museum of Homes to become an upscale daily rental property has had its share of plan changes — even a parking plan so secret that developer David Corneal’s attorney, Ellen Avery Smith, could not share it publicly at the last city commission meeting.

One of the requirements of the change to PUD zoning, if it’s approved, is notice to all residents of Lincolnville informing them of details to be included in the final plan.  Building Department director David Birchim did that last week and Historic City News received our copy yesterday.

Based on the available records, the Birchim letter describes a plan for the Cordova Inn PUD which was previously proposed to have valet parking at the developer’s property at 100 Bridge Street.  That has since been revised.

The letter from Planning and Building reads:

August 12, 2015

Lincolnville Residents
City of St. Augustine

RE: 100 Bridge Street, St. Augustine, Florida

On January 6, 2015, the Planning and Zoning Board approved a parking lot at 100 Bridge Street, on the northeast corner of Bridge Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue.

On May 5, 2015, the Planning and Zoning Board considered a rezoning application at the property bordered by Cordova Street, Bridge Street and St. George Street, formerly the Dow property and Old St. Augustine Village Museum property.

The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval for a change to the zoning of this property, (identified as 143 Cordova Street (Parcel No. 199490 0000)), from Historic Preservation one (HP-1) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) with the condition that “notice shall be given to the Lincolnville residents with regard to the parking located at 100 Bridge Street”.

The Cordova Inn PUD application that was reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board did not specifically reference the parking lot at 100 Bridge Street. It stated in full:

“Parking will be provided at a ratio of one (1) parking space per rented room for nightly accommodation.  Said parking will be provided on-site for handicap access that requires backing into Bridge Street or off-site. All parking will be valet service. Parking may be stacked parking. As indicated on the Site Plan attached hereto as Exhibit “F” and incorporated herein by reference, the historic structures will be retained and their historic character will be restored”.

On July 7, 2015, the Cordova Inn PUD Application was amended and the current PUD narrative regarding the parking located at z reads, “All parking will be valet service; however, no valet parking will be provided at 100 Bridge Street.

You are receiving this notice because the second reading (public hearing) of the Cordova Inn PUD ordinance is scheduled for the regular City Commission meeting on August 24, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at 75 King Street, St. Augustine and you are invited to comment on this rezoning application.

The full text of the proposed Cordova Inn PUD Application and exhibits are available at the Planning and Building Department, 75 King Street, lobby “B”. The Planning and Building Department is open Monday thru Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm. If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at (904) 825-1065.

David Birchim, AICP
Director, Planning and Building