ORCHID — The Town Council Thursday voted 5-0 to block construction of a 120-unit senior living and memory care facility on a seven-acre, commercially zoned parcel within Town limits.
After more than seven hours of presentations, expert testimony, legal and consultant recommendations, public comment and council discussion, the decision boiled down to what the elected officials viewed as an incompatibility with the intent of the Town code.
Specific items cited were land use type, density, building height and square footage, all of which the council and Town consultants cited were outside the bounds of what is permitted by municipal building code established by Orchid Town fathers.
Orchid resident and club member Ken Puttick owns the unimproved parcel located on County Road 510 (Wabasso Causeway) across from Indian River County Fire-Rescue Station 11. The senior living project was Puttick’s third attempt to gain approval to build on his land.
His team of planners, architects and attorneys, led by Project Manager Keith Pelan of Kimley-Horn persisted after a formal rejection last fall by the Town and filed a lawsuit, which the Town reportedly settled for $35,000 to cover legal fees.
After settling the lawsuit, the Town formed a Local Planning Agency to redress the process for considering development applications. The volunteer board first met in January and in April recommended approval of Puttick’s application, provided that nearly 50 conditions be met.
Puttick, who could not attend the hearing due to a recent surgery, is expected to appeal the decision.