Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves rezoning at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and North Boulevard; neighbors voice walkability concerns
Summary
Council approved first reading to rezone the southeast corner of North Boulevard and W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to CG and RS‑50; neighbors asked for more commercial uses and criticized the lack of a neighborhood meeting.
The City Council on Feb. 27 approved on first reading an ordinance (file REZ24-110) to rezone several parcels at the southeast corner of North Boulevard and West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from a planned development (PD) to CG (commercial general) on the corridor lots and RS‑50 (residential single‑family) on an interior lot.
Jennifer Malone of Planning Commission staff said the site is in the Tampa Heights Urban Village and that the requested CG and RS‑50 districts align with the future land use designations. "The zoning is in line with the future land use designation for those parcels," Malone said, and staff found the request consistent with the comprehensive plan and urban village policies.
Steve Mechcolini, representing the petitioner, described the change as a "down‑zoning" to return PD areas to the underlying CG/RS‑50 designations and asked the council to approve. During public comment, resident Ari Fitzgerald said the neighborhood needs more commercial uses and criticized the applicant for not holding a "good neighbor" meeting with the Tampa Heights Civic Association; Fitzgerald urged the council to deny the request or to preserve more walkable commercial uses at that location.
Councilmember Miranda recalled the site’s local history while councilmembers sought clarification about which parcels would convert to commercial and which to residential. Councilmember Miranda moved the ordinance for first reading; Councilmember Clendenin seconded. The roll call was unanimous and the motion carried. Second reading and adoption were set for March 27, 2025 at 10 a.m.
