Vision for Broadway: 6 stories not 30

Proposed rules are designed to guide the redevelopment of West Palm Beach’s northern gateway.

Planners rolled out proposed new rules last week for future construction along West Palm Beach’s distressed Broadway corridor.

Why it matters: If the march of redevelopment reaches the busy street, it has the potential to destroy its urban character.

What’s happening: The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency hired planners Dover Kohl of Coral Gables to modify the development code for the area from 26th Street north to the city limit.

Goals include:

• Redesigning Broadway to make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Encouraging affordable housing.
• Attracting and marketing businesses.

What they’re saying: “Our goal is to make the ordinance to guide the neighborhood to what you want it to be,” Joseph Kohl of Dover Kohl told about 100 people who gathered Wednesday at Manatee Lagoon to review the draft that will be submitted to the city for approval.

• The meeting was the fifth community session about the corridor plans.

The key features for new buildings facing Broadway would be:

• A requirement that buildings be set back 17 feet from the curb. That allows for landscaping, a clear pedestrian path and room for outdoor seating and shade.
• The nominal building height limit would be three stories.
• The height could be increased to six stories for residential buildings if half of the additional units created by the greater height are devoted to affordable housing.
• A developer can stretch that rule to seven stories if the building is no taller than 76 feet.

In addition, the code would limit the types of businesses permitted to operate in the Broadway corridor. (Permitted uses are on Page 66 of this PDF.)

Also new: The proposed code would expand the Broadway district to include requirements for the redevelopment of property just east and west of the road. 

• The rules would limit the height and use of that land (residential only) to buffer nearby neighborhoods.

Once a revised code is in place, the CRA intends to seek proposals for a project that would demonstrate the new rules and, ideally, spark more development, Executive Director Chris Roog said at the meeting.

What’s next: The rules must be approved by the West Palm Beach  Planning Board and City Commission.

• The planning board hearing is 6 pm Nov. 19 at City Hall.
• The commission’s first reading is expected at 5 pm Dec. 9 at City Hall.

For more: You can read the proposed Broadway corridor code and view the presentation slides here.