Plans for a 60-unit upscale condominium complex at Washington and Bower Hill roads met a few questions, but no major protests, at a Mt. Lebanon planning board meeting Tuesday night.
Zamagias Properties hopes to build a $28.8 million, two-building complex with a public park and 9,000 square feet of retail. The developer also wants $13 million in tax relief to build the project.
Planning board member Robin Cutler Levine, who is an architect, was concerned about the design for the buildings, one of which would be Tudor and another which would be collegiate Gothic.
She asked the architect how it would avoid looking "too cartoonish or too Disney-ish" in the large scale, which will be at least six stories.
Board member Jeff Funovits said he worried that while those styles were reflected in Mt. Lebanon, they weren't necessarily found on Washington Road.
Greg Weimerskirch, of Urban Design Associates, said the firm studied the architecture of Mt. Lebanon and of Oakland, which tends to have larger scale apartment buildings in those periods, mixed with other styles.
Tim Rogers, who owns property adjacent to the site at 10 Oak Way, currently has tenants who park on the property. He was concerned that his tenants wouldn't have a place to park near his units.
Mr. Weimerskirch said he believed Mr. Rogers would be able to work out an arrangement with the Mt. Lebanon Parking Authority since the developer would be providing 18 parking spaces for the public on the site to replace those lost to the development.
Planning board member Tom Dempsey Jr. said the complex would provide a nice entrance to the municipality at its northern border.
"Really, it's impressive," he said.
Zamagias hopes to seek preliminary approvals from the planning board in May and a recommendation for final approvals in June. The commission will have the final say.
The application for tax relief will follow a separate schedule, which was not announced at the meeting.
