Downtown Action Committee approves 11,279 sq ft transfer-of-development rights for 400 Hibiscus project

The Downtown Action Committee voted March 11 to approve a transfer of 11,279 square feet of transfer-of-development rights (TDRs) from 610 10th Street to 400 Hibiscus Street, clearing a regulatory step for a proposed mixed-use high-rise at the receiving site.

Lauren Thomas, with Touchstone Web Realty, said she represented Godfrey House LLC and 400 Hibiscus Acquisitions LLC and asked the committee to approve DAC TDR case 26-01 to move the stated square footage of TDRs to the receiving parcel. "The receiving site is 400 Hibiscus Street coming from 610 10th Street in West Palm Beach for 11,279 square feet," Thomas said.

Claudia Evans, city urban designer, told the committee the TDR application is straightforward and that staff recommended approval, saying the transfer meets Article 4 of the downtown master-plan regulations (section cited in the staff report). Evans described the TDR program as a tool to preserve historic structures or create urban open space and said the sending property is in the historic Northwest District and has been improved and reoccupied.

During public comment, Michael Butler (610 Clematis Street) asked how many additional stories 11,279 square feet of development rights would enable and urged the committee to consider downtown character and congestion. "What is downtown gonna look like in 5 years? Are we building another New York City here?" Butler asked. Evans replied that the Quadrigarten District generally allows 10 stories but that projects participating in the incentives program that acquire TDRs can increase height to as much as 25 stories and must set aside a portion of floor area for affordable housing.

A committee member moved to approve the transfer as described in the staff report for DAC TDR case 26-01; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The record notes the motion authorized the transfer of 11,279 square feet of TDRs from 610 10th Street to the receiving site at 400 Hibiscus Street pursuant to the cited section of the downtown regulations. The committee did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript.

The action authorizes the TDR transfer under the city's existing TDR/incentives framework; any subsequent site-plan approvals or permits for the receiving site will follow the city's normal review processes. The committee adjourned after confirming the TDR motion was the day's only case.