Florence planning commission approves annexation and three townhouse sketch plans, grants narrow variances

FLORENCE — At its October meeting the Florence City Planning Commission approved annexation and zoning for a South Irving Street parcel and approved sketch plans for three townhouse developments, granting minor variances the developers said were needed for site constraints.

Planning staff presented the four items and recommended approval for each if the commission granted the limited variances requested. Miss Elaine, planning staff, described the annexation request as a move to bring a currently county parcel on South Irving Street into Florence city limits and zone it NC 6.3 to permit townhomes. An applicant representative said the zoning would provide a “good transition” between an existing commercial automotive repair shop to the south and single-family properties to the north.

Why it matters: The actions clear smaller infill townhouse projects totaling roughly 3 acres of parcels into the city, add about 71 townhouse units across three proposals, and allow limited departures from dimensional standards intended to address constraints of small downtown and infill lots.

Annexation and zoning (PC 2025-35) Planning staff said the parcel on South Irving Street, just south of Rosemount Drive, currently houses a single-family dwelling and is shown as Neighborhood Conservation on the city future land-use map. Staff recommended annexation and zoning to NC 6.3 because that designation permits townhouses; the commission approved the annexation and zoning. The applicant confirmed ownership of…