Luxury apartment plans delayed
Alamo Heights will have to wait for decisions on zoning variances that Ridgemont Properties is seeking for a luxury apartment complex on Katherine Court.
The city’s Board of Adjustment tabled the discussion until its next meeting.
Ridgemont Properties, which operates several multifamily complexes in the area through a company called Alamo Heights Apartments, wants to build a three-story, 35-unit complex with 51 off-street parking spaces on Katherine Court.
Wednesday, it was asking the Board of Adjustment to approve five variances that would allow the project to move ahead as planned. The two that garnered the most discussion centered on parking spaces and apartment units.
One of the requested variances would allow Ridgemont to continue the project with 35 units rather than the 27 allowed for the property size. Another would allow 51 parking spaces rather than the minimum of about 62 allowed for a 35unit building. Ridgemont also wants a 3-foot landscaping buffer at the rear of the property instead of 8 feet, permission for a site wall that exceeds 3 feet, and a drive aisle width of 22 feet, 6 inches instead of a minimum of 24 feet.
But after hours of presentations and discussion, and eventually at the request of Ridgemont Properties, the board opted to return to the subject at its next meeting, Feb. 2.
C. Trebes Sasser Jr., vice president of Ridgemont Properties, said Thursday that tabling the item allows his team to continue working with the city on code interpretations. He said that Ridgemont Properties “will continue incorporating changes” as it has throughout the process.
The proposed apartment complex has drawn attention from Katherine Court residents, many of whom are vocally opposed to the project. It’s largely due to the appearance, parking and number of units outlined in Ridgemont’s plans. Several community members spoke against the variances Wednesday.
Additionally, the board considered an appeal from Katherine Court resident James Loyd on behalf of nearby property owners saying that he thinks more variances are needed.
The board tabled one of the items he brought forward related to the height of the structure and did not vote on one regarding a fire lane overhang because members said it’s beyond their authority. Other concerns in the appeal — like a landscape buffer and canopy trees — were dismissed.
City Manager Buddy
Kuhn said in September that the Board of Adjustment has final say on variance approvals, which must take place before Ridgemont Properties can get a building permit.
Sasser said in September that construction likely will begin in the second quarter of this year. Thursday he said he is not sure what impact Wednesday’s tabling will have on the development schedule.
Down the road, the project will require final review by the Architectural Review Board and approval by City Council. Variances either have to be approved by the Board of Adjustment or revised to comply with the current city regulations before an Architectural Review Board meeting is set, according to Wednesday’s presentation. Though uncommon, Assistant City Manager Phil Laney said the board could choose to approve a variance less than what was requested.