COASTAL OBSERVER

A request for city approval to build a 75-foot tall building on the Georgetown waterfront was withdrawn last week, the developer said.

The proposed variance to the 45-foot height limit was a “hill to high to climb,” said Trent Crowley, the developer with Palm Development Group who applied for the variance.

“We don’t believe at this time that the board is going to give us what we need,” he said. “We have to have it for the current project.”

A hearing on the variance was deferred earlier this month at his request.

The site, now being used as Maritime Park, has been vacant since a fire destroyed eight businesses in 2013.

Crowley represents two ownership groups of the seven parcels on the 700 block of Front Street. He said he will continue to represent the owners.

“They’re looking to us to provide an answer. They don’t have one,” he said.

Crowley and the property owners planned to create a two-story development on Front Street with businesses on the ground floor and residential spaces above them. That building would have matched the height of existing buildings to the east of the site, he added.

Behind that development would have been a “tiered” building up to 75 feet tall for residences and a screened parking garage.

He wanted to increase the maximum building height in the “core commercial” zoning district due to parking concerns, which Crowley listed as a main concern he wanted to solve through redevelopment.

They are still optimistic, Crowley said, and will consider other options to redevelop the vacant lot.

Planning staff suggested a compromise at 60 to 65 feet after stating in their review that the 75-foot height “may be excessive.”