EDC to discuss Banks heights Tuesday

Cincinnati City Council's Economic Development Committee on Tuesday will discuss amending the planned development district (PD-43) for the Banks to be consistent with the project's master development agreement.

Last December, attorney Joseph Trauth Jr. of Keating Muething & Klekamp, on behalf of several Downtown property owners, alerted City Council that PD-43, which was approved last November, still contains language allowing a maximum of 30 floors.

The master development agreement, also approved by the City last November, sets the height limit at 24 stories - 20 leasable floors and 4 floors of above-ground parking.

This amendment would be a mere technicality because, upon approval, planned development districts become part of the Cincinnati Zoning Code.

Developers in planned development districts are required to have their final development plans approved by both the City Planning Commission and City Council.

Because the City has this final say before granting approval and issuing permits, they would have automatically denied any plans with buildings over 24 floors as a violation of the master development agreement.

The City Planning Commission approved the amendment on January 18.

Previous reading on BC:
Council likely to amend Banks PD (1/21/08)
PC to discuss Banks height limits (12/6/07)
Banks: 24 floors, or 30? (11/19/07)
Dumbest opinion piece ever (11/12/07)
Banks agreements online (11/7/07)