Council approves 246-unit 'higher-end' apartment community on Old Kings Road

Palm Coast Observer
News

A proposed 246-unit "higher-end" apartment community is moving forward on a plot of land on the eastern side of Old Kings Road about third of a mile north of its intersection with State Road 100.

One of The Tribute's proposed three-story apartment buildings. Image courtesy of the city of Palm Coast

The Palm Coast City Council voted 3-1 at a March 1 council meeting to approve a master site plan for the development, called The Tribute.

Streetlights coming to Sesame Boulevard

Palm Coast will spend $55,300 to add street lights along the 3.3 miles of Sesame Boulevard, which stretches between Seminole Woods Parkway north and Seminole Woods Parkway south.

"This is part of a schedule of upgrades and updates regarding lightning," Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said at a March 1 City Council meeting before the council voted 4-0 to approve a work order to have the lights added by LTG, Inc.

The boulevard is the next roadway in the city's 10-year Continuous Streetlight master plan. In most cases, the lights will be added to existing Florida Power & Light power poles.

Councilman Eddie Branquinho asked if there were monthly costs associated with maintaining the lights, and what they would be. City staff at the meeting didn't have that information.

"It's not a criticism of staff, but I think we should be informed of averages," Branquinho said. "Because we have to respond to the people out there. ... We should know a little bit more about it."

Councilman Nick Klufas said the city has done a good job so far with its lighting program.

"This is something that the public very quickly indicated that they wanted years ago," he said. "... I'm thankful that Sesame is now on top of the list. We get a bunch of requests often for this."

Councilman Branquinho was the dissenting vote, saying he objects to high-density developments.

"I have a problem with high density," Branquinho said. "My problem is not [housing type] diversity. But I do have a problem with high density."

The Tribute would have a density of 11 units per acre. The city's multifamily zoning district allows for up to 12 units per acre.

The development is named as a tribute to the historic Old Kings trail, which borders the property, said Neel Stacy, representing developer Ravenshill Holdings.

The City Council's decision to approve the apartment community's site plan follows a unanimous vote in favor of the development by the Palm Coast Planning and Land Development Regulation Board on Feb. 16.

"Our research shows that Palm Coast is woefully short of these types of units."

— NEEL STACY

The gated, fenced community will feature an Old Florida architectural style, mostly white with bronze and black trim.

"It would be a very nice white with very nice, dark accent colors," Stacy said.

Landscaping will feature native north Florida plants, he said — more crepe myrtles and live oaks than palms.

There will be seven apartment buildings: five three-story buildings and two four-story ones. The tallest buildings will be just under 60 feet tall.

BY THE NUMBERS

4
Palm Coast's current Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating for single-family homes, on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is the best, and 10 is worst. The state average in Florida is also a 4.

3
Palm Coast's current ISO rating for commercial structures, on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is the best, and 10 is worst. The state average in Florida is also a 3.

2
Palm Coast's current ISO Public Protection Classification rating. The rating places Palm Coast in the top 3% of communities in the U.S. and reduces the cost of fire insurance in the city.

4
Palm Coast's floodplain management ISO rating. There are only two cities in Florida with a Class 4 floodplain designation, while three Florida communities have a Class 3 designation. The city's Class 4 designation lets residents get up to a 30% discount on their flood insurance if they live in a Special Flood Hazard Area, or up to a 10% discount if they do not live in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

The units would be a mix of one-bedroom units (some of them with a den), two bedroom units and three-bedroom units.

A total of 77 will be one-bedroom, Stacy said.

"Our research shows that Palm Coast is woefully short of these types of units," Stacy said.

The units, designed to appeal to retirees, will have extra closet and storage space.

The apartment buildings would look out over Graham Swamp, a retention pond or a 15-acre lake to be called "Kings Lake," which will be the focal point of the development, with seating areas and a fire pit, Stacy said.

"We're going to really utilize that to be a nice gathering area where you can meet your neighbors and congregate," he said.

The community would have a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse with a pool, fitness center and coffee area near the development's entrance.

There would also be a gazebo, trail system and two dog parks — one on the development's east side and one on its north side.

The community's main entrance would be in the development's southwestern corner, near the clubhouse, while an emergency access would be in the northwestern corner.

The development would have electric car charging stations between its garages.

It would cover 20.27 acres. About 2 acres of the site are wetland areas.

The proposed apartment complex is surrounded by land that is zoned neighborhood commercial. The nearest residential community is Hidden Lakes, about one mile north.

The development's technical site plan will go before city staff for approval and will not require the approval of the City Council.