In a 4-1 vote, commissioners denied the application for a development of significant impact that Christian D. Wissing and Vicenzo Esposito filed last November with the city's Construction Services Bureau.

Notwithstanding the option of a legal challenge, the development team now must re-apply through a new application--if they want to pursue plans to build a 43-unit luxury condo building on a 34,000-sf development site at 715-725 Bayshore Dr. It is uncertain what action the development team expects to take, since its lawyer did not respond to a request from GlobeSt.com for additional information.

By rejecting the application, the four commissioners ignored the recommendation from the city's planning and zoning board. The board approved the Wissing-Esposito application to build the proposed La Rive Condominiums in a 5-3 vote in late December.

Twice deferring a decision on the application, commissioners rejected a compromise offer the development team proposed at an Apr. 5 meeting to reduce the overall height of the 12-story building by two floors. Pressure from community groups argued the structure should not exceed eight floors.

City records indicate the main structure actually would not exceed the 150-foot height restrictions imposed by ordinance through the local Intracoastal Overlook Area zoning regulations. Such restrictions would have allowed 43 units within 12 residential levels.

However, the development team proposed four additional levels at the base of the main structure that raised the first residential level 26 feet above grade level. The design included three levels for parking and a fourth common level for community use.

Besides a favorable staff recommendation, the project received support at the Dec. 20 P&Z meeting from the local Central Beach Alliance, a nonprofit community group. Although no one then opposed the project, other citizens raised concerns about possible noise and light coming from a partially enclosed parking garage and potential impact of the temporary construction on the neighborhood.

The city received a letter of concern and subsequent visits from the neighboring Holiday Isle Yacht Club, a three-level condominium complex just to the north of the proposed La Rive project. Representatives of Holiday Isle argue the proposed La Rive would cast unwanted shadows on their property.

Instant Insights /

Developers Fail in Bid to Heighten 12-Story, $30-Mil Condo Project

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