Definition of 'Retail' Tested in Latest Town Center Project

What is the definition of “retail?”

That was the big question Tuesday night as the reviewed a plan for new apartments and a fitness center in the heart of town.

Bonaventure Realty presented a proposal for 232 apartments connected to a gym, community center and five live-work units on the street level.

The complex, known as the Aura at the Town Center, would be constructed on Hale Street and Nevada Avenue, across from the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company.

The town center master plan calls for that area of Odenton–known as the “core”–to include “a diverse mix of retail, office, civic and housing uses combined to create a vibrant live/work community.” It requires all developments to have 100 percent retail on the ground floor.

Bonaventure officials insisted that the current economy won’t support traditional retail, such as stores and restaurants. So the company asked permission to allow the gym, community center, leasing office, and live-work units to count toward the retail requirement. In all, Bonaventure said that would comprise slightly more than 10,500 square feet.

“I’d love to do regular retail there, but the project just wouldn’t work and wouldn’t be a success,” said JP Hyland, Bonaventure’s director of development. “It’d be a black mark on Odenton and the town center. We need it to be a success from the beginning.”

Committee members debated the retail issue at length on Tuesday.

The members endorsed the live-work units as retail, provided that the company did not count the living space as a portion of the requirement.

The committee was less enthusiastic about allowing the gym, community center and leasing office to count.

“The intent of the plan is to get people working, spending money and interacting in a community environment,” committee chairman Don Price said. “You don’t have that kind of sales interaction here. We’re getting away from the intent of the plan in the core area.”

Other committee members expressed similar reservations, but pointed to provisions in the plan that allow for “health clubs, spas and gymnasiums” as acceptable retail uses. As a condition of approval, they asked Bonaventure to market the gym to those living outside the apartments and to offer dedicated entrances to the public.

Price voted against the measure, saying he wanted more information. Committee members James Fraser and David Douglas abstained on the same grounds, but members Claire Louder and Teresa Milio-Birge endorsed it. Bob Eitel also abstained because he is a consultant on the project.

Three “yes” votes were needed in order for the committee to issue a recommendation, so the project did not receive a full endorsement.

The plan will now go before officials in the county Office of Planning and Zoning, which has the final say on whether the project can move forward.

The project has been through several different iterations and developers. Bonaventure Realty signed a contract for the property in September, after a deal with another developer fell through.

Bonaventure is expected to present the plan to the Office of Planning and Zoning next week.

“We’re hopeful … we want to focus on the feedback and we don’t want to assume anything,” Hyland said.