New: Revised Waterfront Plan prohibits condos, apartments, residential development.
As a result of input from businesses, neighbors and elected officials, the Waterfront Plan for Allens Avenue north of Thurbers has been revised to explicitly prohibit residential development. However the City will continue with its efforts create opportunities for job growth in the area.
Allens Avenue is home to several business success stories. But we can do better. Much better.
The plan to Put the Waterfront to Work will attract new businesses and jobs in the Allens Avenue area where for decades much of the property has been vacant and underutilized.
The City’s current comprehensive plan and existing W-3 zoning along Allens Avenue allow for a mix of uses, but the area, perhaps more than any other place along the waterfront, has been stagnant.
While there are a handful water-dependent businesses flourishing in this area, the only growth industry in the past 23 years has been in adult entertainment establishments. We can do better.
The proposed plan to Put the Waterfront to Work does not propose changes to the City’s comprehensive plan for Allens Avenue or switch its W-3 zoning designation. It does not call for taking any property on Allens Avenue by eminent domain.
Businesses currently along Allens Avenue will continue to function as before and can grow and expand. The Plan does do two important things:
- The Plan removes zoning restrictions that hampered efforts to build the economy along Allens Avenue, and;
- It puts legal parameters in place that will allow a wide variety of economic activities to co-exist and thrive together.
Here's how it will work:
Before opening for business, new property owners will have to agree to deed restrictions and lease restrictions acknowledging that common by-products of industrial uses such as noise, odor and vibration do not constitute a nuisance.
