Cobblestone Square plan advances with waiver request and workforce housing goal

An applicant seeking to redevelop two parcels at Military Trail and Main Street presented Cobblestone Square to the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission, proposing a five-story residential building, urban streetscape features and a package of zoning changes to combine two parcels under a single approval.

The project team said the proposal includes 181 multifamily units, five stories, 218 parking spaces and a plan for civic open space along Main Street. Presenter Josh Nichols explained the request includes a development order abandonment of a conditional overlay zone, an official zoning map amendment for the southern parcel, a development order amendment for the north parcel and a Type 2 waiver to eliminate a slip street.

Brian Davis, the project's planning manager, explained the waiver rationale: because the planned building is residential rather than mixed-use retail, a slip street that would provide on-street retail parking is not necessary and would inefficiently consume land. "They're just wasting space to get a handful of parking spaces," Davis said, arguing the waiver was appropriate given the project's context.

Project proponents also said they have 27 workforce units planned under the URA rules and are pursuing county gap funding to convert the project to 100% workforce housing, pending final county approval. The presentation noted prior planning commission unanimous approval and anticipated Board of County Commissioners final consideration later this year.

Commissioners asked about scale and the slip-street rationale; staff and the applicant walked through design pictures and the masterplan context. The commission recommended approval of the applicable items (parts 7b, 7c and 7d) by voice vote and will forward the recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.