The Auburn Planning Commission approved a preliminary lot consolidation on the northeastern corner of North Gay Street and East Glenn Avenue at its meeting on Thursday, April 14.
The consolidation of 11 existing lots into one new lot is the next step for the planned construction of The Standard, a 65-foot student apartment development. Thursday's approval was necessary for the city to continue with its settlement with the developers of The Standard.
"This subdivision plat that we're considering is necessary in order to follow through with the litigated settlement that the city made with the developer," said planning commissioner Warren McCord.
The consolidated lot is currently home to a vacated Checkers fast food restaurant and a closed Fink's Grill, among a housing subdivision and other small businesses. Checkers and Finks closed in January after the property was purchased by the developer.
Plans for the complex were halted temporarily after the City Council passed an extended and expanded moratorium banning the construction of private dormitories, which is the city's term for purpose-built student apartments, throughout most of the city.
The new moratorium, which included a many new areas, was approved by the Council on Dec. 15, 2015. The developers of The Standard, Landmark Properties Inc., said they didn't know they would be included in the area of the new moratorium at the meeting on Dec. 15.
Site plans for The Standard were submitted on the same afternoon the moratorium was approved, Dec. 15. Officials from the city's Planning Department initially said at the meeting the plans were not submitted in time for the development to be considered.
Landmark later threatened a lawsuit against the city.
According to city documents, the developers of the property spent more than $600,000 in executing their plans for the development prior to the moratorium's approval. The construction of private dormitories had to be approved by the city as a matter of right prior to the moratorium.
Last month, the city agreed to a settlement with the developers and construction of The Standard is expected to continue, pending necessary approvals, such as the one on Thursday night.
The settlement set conditions for the construction of the apartment building. The Standard was initially planned to be six stories and 75 feet tall. After the settlement, the new height of The Standard was reduced to 65 feet, and the number of bedrooms units is limited to 683.
Landmark Properties also agreed to allow the city to the site for public parking.
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