Once controversial Ribaut Road development gets warm reception from Port Royal design review board

In an about-face from previous meetings, Port Royal's Design Review Board on Thursday praised the streetscape of a 5-acre planned unit development off of Ribaut Road.

In the past, the board has been critical of the planned unit development, known as the 19th Street PUD, saying it was too dense with 82 residential units and 12 commercial units between Columbia and Edinburgh avenues.

The streetscape, or an illustration of the buildings in relation to the street, was presented for comment by architect Tom Michaels and Richard Poore of development firm P Squared Inc.

As a condition its approval April 15, the Town Council asked P Squared to bring portions of the development to the review board for discussion and comment as the project progresses.

From Edinburgh Avenue, the residential development would have two four-story townhomes sandwiching a larger building block of apartments and homes. Review board member John Ellerbe said the streetscape reminded him of Paris.

"I love that middle section. It's beautiful," said Michele Michael, a board member. "Slap some funky paint colors on those doors and you could be in Dublin, (Ireland)."

But despite praise for the details included on the streetscape, the review board and town planning staff had concerns with how the four-story buildings fit in with the town's character. Board members suggested pushing the two townhomes on each end together to create a single four-story building. Michael said the townhomes seem awkward if separated.

"It would evoke a feeling of permanence and substantial architecture (to put them together)," said Cooter Ramsey, a town staff member. "Anything over three stories (and 25 feet wide) is simply out of scale for Port Royal."