Myrine and Leslie Hodge have withdrawn their application for a major Coastal Zone Management permit to construct a three-story, 11-unit apartment building on Route 108, also known as Lower Bordeaux Road.
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, of which CZM is a division, did not offer any reasons for the withdrawal of the Hodge’s application. DPNR issued a press release announcing the planned decision meeting, scheduled for Thursday, October 12, was canceled due to the applicant’s withdrawal of the application.
CZM Director Victor Somme did not return phone calls from St. John Tradewinds requesting comment.
John Costanzo, who lives next door to the Hodges, was the only person who testified at the St. John CZM Committe’s public hearing on September 20. Cos-tanzo, citing the size of the building and parking issues, was against the project.
“I am opposed to this big a project being constructed be-tween me and the view and the breeze,” he said at the hearing.
Although by code, the Hodges were only required to include 11 parking spaces in their plan — which they did — St. John CZM Committee member Andrew Penn also questioned whether the plans included ample parking.
“We have laws and we have reality,” he said at the hearing. “A great concern of mine is the parking issue. We have to look at public safety.”
“I know the road and it is a very steep and dangerous hill,” Penn continued. “The parking problem needs to be addressed. We need to look at these things realistically.”
The Hodges have their home and two apartments on one portion of their .6 acre parcel,which was rezoned from R-2 to R-3 in 2000. It is the only parcel in the residential neighborhood that is zoned R-3.
The architect for the building, Vance Pinney, did not return calls in time requesting comment.