Planning commission forwards Florat Hill rezoning to allow neighborhood‑scale commercial and affordable housing

Planning staff presented a rezoning request related to the Florat Hill site at the southeast corner of Bob Billings Parkway and K‑10 (topics discussed March 26). The project is led by Tenants to Homeowners in partnership with Florida Hill LP and includes multi‑dwelling affordable housing on most of the property and a roughly one‑acre parcel intended for neighborhood‑scale commercial uses to serve adjacent residents (Mary Miller: s=4667.5454–s=4740.875).

Why it matters: the city previously donated part of the site to Tenants to Homeowners (2022) with the expectation it would be developed for affordable housing; the city also allocated $1,300,000 in Affordable Housing Trust Fund support in 2024 for the project. The one‑acre commercial node was suggested in negotiations as a way to provide services and generate revenue to support the overall project; staff emphasized CN2/M2 zones are intended for neighborhood commercial uses compatible with surrounding residential when appropriately conditioned (Mary Miller: s=4742.535–s=4892.27; Leah Roseland public comment: s=5334.12–s=5434.915).

Project details and staff conditions - Location: about 1 acre for commercial at the north portion of the Florat Hill site; remainder is planned for affordable multi‑dwelling housing (M2/RM12 in staff presentation). (Mary Miller: s=4671.79–s=4710.105) - Prior city support: city conveyed land to Tenants to Homeowners in 2022; the project received $1,300,000 in Affordable Housing Trust Fund support in 2024. (Leah Roseland: s=5334.12–s=5434.915) - Compatibility: staff found the CN2 (to be M2 under the new code) district is designed to be compatible at the edge of residential areas; staff recommended moving the commercial access point slightly south as a condition to address engineering concerns. (Mary Miller: s=4942.919–s=5001.5)

Public comment and applicant statements City staff and Tenants to Homeowners representatives said the commercial node was included after conversations with the city manager’s office to create a revenue stream to support affordable housing and to integrate services for future residents. Rebecca Buford, executive director of Tenants to Homeowners, told commissioners the organization intends to own and manage the commercial parcel and lease to neighborhood‑serving uses such as a coffee shop or small health/check‑in services, not heavy commercial uses (Buford: s=6368.33–s=6405.42). Leah Roseland reiterated city support and the prior $1.3M AHTF award (Roseland: s=5334.12–s=5434.915).

Commission action Commissioner Eldridge moved to recommend approval of the rezoning (Z‑24‑1021) to M2 (to become M2 under the new code) and forward to the City Commission with a recommendation for approval; the motion passed unanimously on March 26 (vote recorded at s=6958.66–s=6965.145). Staff will forward the recommendation and required conditions to the City Commission and County Commission for final action.

Ending Commissioners and speakers emphasized the potential for mixed‑use neighborhood development and noted Tenants to Homeowners’ experience developing affordable housing. Several commissioners asked the applicant to continue outreach; staff noted a neighborhood meeting was planned for April 7 to share detailed plans (Mary Miller: s=6792.75–s=6801.39).