Wilton Manors’ second attempt at a public/private partnership to develop its Hagen Park/City Hall parking lot seems likely to end in failure.

Last month, an eight-member city committee made up of residents, city staff, and members of the business community unanimously rejected a $14-million residential development. Committee members raised an issue with the number of parking spaces that were being proposed, between 300 and 620, including a four-story parking garage; 213 spaces are currently located at Hagen Park. They also said that the garage, which would be built behind the basketball court, would be too far from Wilton Drive to be utilized properly.

It would be located on what is now the only open space left in Hagen. Patrick Caan, committee member and Leisure Services Department Director, said that building the garage there would eliminate a valuable space used by the community for fairs, special events, and other gatherings.

But what most hurt the proposal by IBI, an architecture and engineering firm, was the committee’s belief that it just wasn’t good enough. “The use of public lands for projects has a higher level of achievement and should be something special,” said Heidi Shafran, Community Development Services Director. Out of a total of 40 points that can be given by each committee member, the average score was 16. One committee member, who asked not to be named, said the development was reminiscent of low-income housing.

Representatives from IBI, including Patrea St. John, a resident, and member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board as well as being the firm’s vice president, asked if they could present their case before commissioners – a request that was approved in a three to two vote.

St. John told commissioners that, as a resident, she really wanted to see the development get built.

Vice Mayor Julie Carson and Commissioner Ted Galatis voted against the request, with Galatis saying he respected the decision of the committee and didn’t want to second guess them. IBI’s presentation is scheduled to be given Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 2020 Wilton Dr.

If approved by commissioners, who have the final say, the project could include between 120 and 290 residential units and 13,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space. As well as a 1.2 acre open space plaza and a rooftop pool and garden. The number of residential units depends on how dense developers and the city want to build it.

In 2010, Gables Residential, which owns and operates Wilton Park, the mixed-use retail and residential development located directly across the street from the parking lot, proposed a similar development but it was ultimately rejected by commissioners. IBI was the only firm to present a final bid this time.