Longshipyard Incorporated has applied to rezone 344 West Indian River Road and 335 Emmett Place from multifamily/plan development to industrial deep waterfront, planning staff told the City Council during a work session. The property is now used as a temporary parking and storage lot adjacent to the waterfront and other industrial operations.
The rezoning would restore the site's pre-2016 industrial designation, staff said, and the applicant has proffered remediation and removal of an on-site barge. Planning staff said the change would permit industrial activities including shipbuilding and other waterfront industrial operations; future site uses and any buildings would require site-plan review and state stormwater and environmental approvals.
Why it matters: Council members said neighbors are worried about existing industrial impacts, including sandblasting and proximity to residences. Several councilmembers pressed staff and the applicant for concrete mitigation measures and for clearer communication with the neighborhood before the item appears on a formal agenda.
Planning context and staff presentation: Director of City Planning Bobby Tahan said the 2016 comprehensive-plan change to multifamily facilitated a proposed but never constructed multifamily development; the requested rezoning would restore the earlier industrial designation and be handled as part of the comprehensive-plan update process. The Planning Commission recommended approval by a 6–1 vote but urged the applicant to meet with community stakeholders.
Council questions and community concerns: Councilmember Page and Councilmember Clanton asked whether the applicant had provided plans showing how sandblasting and other environmental impacts would be reduced; Tahan said staff has requested that information and that the applicant’s civil engineers were already working with staff to submit a site plan within 120 days. Tahan said the applicant had not yet provided proffers demonstrating indoor facilities or other measures described to neighbors, and he could not confirm claims about reductions in sandblasting without the applicant’s documentation.
Councilmember Page and others asked about setbacks and whether the rezoning would require on-site improvements such as sidewalk repairs. Staff said some sidewalk and off-site improvements normally are not required unless tied to a specific on-site development; the rezoned parcel touches West Indian River Road at a corner and any development there would require appropriate infrastructure and site-plan review.
Next steps: Staff said the Planning Commission’s recommendation and the applicant’s submission of a site plan and environmental remediation schedule would inform the council’s later public hearing and decision. Councilmembers requested that staff obtain written information from the applicant about sandblasting mitigation, proposed uses, and any RiverStar or environmental partnerships before scheduling a council hearing.
Attribution: Quotes and specific attributions in this story come from Director of City Planning Bobby Tahan and comments recorded as from Councilmember Page, Councilmember Clanton, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Mitchell, Councilmember Johnson and Councilmember Ray during the work session.
Ending: The council did not vote on the rezoning during the work session; staff said the application will return after the applicant provides the requested documentation and meets with neighborhood stakeholders.