The Harbor Committee, a group made up of members of the Harbor District Review Board, Town Council and the Planning Commission have continued work that will define the Harbor District. This work is critical as it will determine just what kind of activity will take place after the sale of the railroad property.
The Committee determined that the Harbor District Overlay needed to be clearly defined on the zoning map. Once adopted, this will be added to the Official Zoning Map for the Town of Cape Charles.
Changes to the Harbor District included that the Mainstreet Mixed-use Area was reduced from 300 feet from the south side of Mason Avenue to 120 feet.
Requirements for buildings located in the Mainstreet Mixed-use area
were expanded upon to require the following:
-Minimum of two stories with only residential above the first floor
-Residential portions shall have two entrances/exits to the ground floor that are separate from the commercial entrances/exits
-The primary entrance of the residential portions shall be visible from Mason Avenue and shall face Mason Avenue.
-Only non-motor vehicle-related uses are allowed on the ground floor
-Drive-through facilities are prohibited
-The primary façade shall face Mason Avenue, and there should be two primary facades if located on a corner lot
-All blocks shall align and be equal in frontage length to the blocks on the north side of Mason Avenue
-Maximum height of 40 feet
-The front setback shall be the prevailing setback of adjacent properties along the south side of Mason Avenue instead of 8 feet
-Development design standards are subject to Historic District Review Board and Harbor Area Review Board
-No building or structure shall be located within 30 feet of Marina Road, Bayshore Road, or Parcel 83A3-A-10 (town property just north of Town Harbor) to allow for the community trail to be built in this area.
The Planning Commission approved these changes, as well as changes to Planned Unit Developments. These text amendments will be sent to Town Council for final approval.
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