Commission allows parking relief at 50 SE Fourth Ave, freeing adjacent parcel for redevelopment

The City Commission on May 20 approved an in-lieu parking arrangement for a restaurant property at 50 Southeast Fourth Avenue, allowing the property owners to terminate a tri-party off-site parking easement in exchange for payment covering 13 spaces.

Owners Steven and Lee Cohen told the commission the restaurant shell is complete and prior approvals had relied on two off-site parking agreements (7 spaces at 85 SE Fourth Ave and 25 at 350 SE First Street). The owner of the lot providing 25 spaces requested termination of the off-site easement so the Cohens asked the commission for relief to allow the easement’s termination and operation without the 13 spaces.

The applicant argued there is ample public parking nearby, including the iPic garage across the street, municipal lots and street parking, and that valet operations and other nearby private lots support restaurant operations. City staff noted the property is in Area 1 for in-lieu calculations and confirmed nearby public parking supply. The Parking Management Advisory Board reviewed the request and recommended approval.

Commissioners discussed the broader policy: Commissioner Rob Long urged consistency with the in-lieu rules but others noted this is a small infill site with immediate public parking options. The commission voted to approve the in-lieu arrangement, authorizing the manager to execute an agreement once the applicant pays the fee and completes documentation. The approval will allow the easement termination, enabling the neighboring property owner to pursue redevelopment of the formerly constrained parcel.

Ending: Staff will finalize the in-lieu agreement and the applicant will proceed with the restaurant’s interior build-out and operations under the amended parking arrangement.