Tampa council approves first reading of St. John’s school campus plan after traffic, safety debate

Tampa City Council on an evening vote approved first reading of REZ2529, a plan-development rezoning to allow a consolidated, multi‑building campus for St. John’s Episcopal School at 224–258 S. Plant Avenue and adjacent parcels, with second reading set for June 5, 2025.

The school’s master plan would replace existing surface parking with a multi‑story school building, an on‑site parking garage and a secure athletic field. Planning and development staff described the proposal as consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s mixed‑use guidance and said the site’s proposed 0.77 floor‑area ratio fell below the maximum for the property’s Community Mixed Use (CMU‑35) designation.

School leaders and the project team told council the design addresses safety and program needs they say existing campuses lack. “This master plan is a fundamental game changer,” St. John’s head of school Hugh Jepsen said, adding the plan would provide playgrounds, STEM labs, a cafeteria and a student support center. Jepsen and other speakers described current middle‑school physical‑education classes that require students to cross a busy three‑lane road to reach an off‑campus play area; Jepsen said the off‑site area has been “a popular destination for members of the unhoused community” and cited staff reports of discarded needles and once finding a firearm.

Traffic and parking were the most contested operational issues in the public record and among council questions. Project counsel and design staff said the plan replaces surface parking with structured parking and an internal queuing loop; the team said they had negotiated a recorded roadway agreement with adjacent Publix and the Selmon Expressway Authority to manage pickup/drop‑off times and prevent conflicts with delivery trucks. Project counsel Charles Davis described multiple traffic studies and the recorded agreement as mechanisms to avoid blocking surrounding streets. Architect David Peterson said vehicles may access the new garage from Platt and Parker streets and that the internal design and staggered school start times would reduce peak queuing on Platt.

Development coordination staff noted a transportation finding of inconsistency related to a requested parking waiver, and the applicant asked for at least one waiver. Project representatives said the proposed medical/office parking ratio and the single‑practitioner nature of the projected medical tenants (for the other item at North Armenia) informed waiver requests and staffing commitments. Supporters—many parents, students and alumni—testified at length: students delivered short remarks; parents and trustees emphasized security, program expansion and neighborhood compatibility; one student speaker said a new field would give the school a “home field” for athletics.

Council members repeatedly returned to safety and operational detail. Several asked for evidence that the recorded agreements and traffic plan would protect adjacent commercial operations. Project attorneys and representatives said Publix and the expressway authority had negotiated the terms; the city attorney’s office confirmed copies of recorded agreements would be provided for the record upon request. Council and staff agreed on two practical conditions: (1) revisions shown on the project revision sheet must be completed between first and second reading; and (2) the applicant will continue coordination with transportation staff and relevant property owners during permitting.

The motion for first reading passed unanimously. The ordinance will return for second reading and adoption on June 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Old City Hall.

The council packet and the city’s revised staff report are entered into the public record; planning commission staff and development review staff are listed as available for follow‑up questions.