Council continues West North Eighth Street housing plan after tree and green‑space concerns

The Tampa City Council voted on Feb. 27 to continue consideration of REZ25‑13, a proposed PD rezoning for property at 4601 and 4611 West North A (North Eighth) Street, to the council evening session on May 8, 2025, after staff raised natural‑resource and design concerns.

Erin Mayer of Development Coordination’s Natural Resources section told the council the application requested waivers to remove two grand live oaks; saving those trees would require mitigation ("these 2 trees require 19 mitigation trees"), and the project also sought a waiver from required green space. "The total required for the site is 8,945 square feet and the applicant is providing 6,646 square feet with a total deficit of 2,299," Mayer said, and she recommended the project was inconsistent on those grounds.

Developer representatives, including landscape architect Rob Rosner, said they had prepared alternative layouts to preserve trees and could work with staff between first and second reading, but that preserving the trees would reduce unit count and affect project feasibility. Owner representative Rosalyn MG said the team would explore additional green‑space options but acknowledged rooftop planting does not count as required green space under current city rules.

Councilmembers expressed concern about garage sizes, green space, and whether the project was attempting to fit too much development on a small site. Development Coordination staff and the applicant discussed using the alley for garage access but said the alley is substandard and the fire marshal and staff had previously asked for internal circulation instead. The council moved to continue the application to allow the applicant time to revise plans and pursue DRC (Development Review Committee) review; the motion passed on a voice vote. The continuance is to the May 8 evening session at 5:01 p.m.