Council approves 12-unit Swan Avenue townhomes after debate over trees, traffic and dumpster placement

The Tampa City Council on first reading approved REZ 2445, allowing 12 single-family attached units at 3807 and 3811 West Swan Avenue, after staff, neighbors and the applicant debated tree removal, traffic and dumpster placement.

Planning staff told the council the site straddles two future-land‑use categories and that the proposed development — three buildings totaling 12 units — matched the corridor’s pattern while providing a transition to nearby single-family areas. Jennifer Malone, planning commission staff, said the request was “consistent with LU policy 9.7.3,” which calls for transitions in density between commercial corridors and adjacent neighborhoods.

Neighbors pressed three main concerns: congestion at the adjacent Trader Joe’s entrance, proximity of the proposed commercial-style dumpster to backyards, and the removal of two large live oaks. Robert Commencev, who lives next to the parcel, told council he feared noise, odors and rodents from the dumpster as well as construction impacts. Kyle Ross, another nearby resident, urged the council to require the dumpster be relocated away from adjacent yards. Multiple residents asked that the applicant place the dumpster at the site’s northeast corner.

Applicant representatives said the 12‑unit townhouse layout produced far less traffic than the office use already approved for the site. David Mechanic, attorney for the applicant, said the proposed townhouses would generate a “de minimis” number of new trips and that a traffic study was not required by code. Randy Cohen, a traffic consultant for the applicant, presented counts showing expected daily and peak trips lower than the existing office entitlement.

Arborists and staff also discussed two large, nonhazardous grand live oaks on the site. Aaron Merritt, Development Coordination natural-resources reviewer, said one grand oak had been removed previously and that Natural Resources supported a waiver if the applicant provided required mitigation and met planting specifications. Ricky Petrica, the project arborist, described alternative layouts that would preserve some root zones but said those options reduced allowable density and conflicted with the comp plan’s density allocations.

After public comment, the applicant’s owner, Steve Shahal, told the council he would relocate the dumpster if the council directed; the civil engineer confirmed the dumpster could be relocated to the northeast and retention would be underground. Councilmember Clendenin asked that the relocation be made a condition. Councilmember Miranda moved approval and specified the dumpster be moved to the northeast between first and second reading. The council approved the rezoning on first reading; second reading and adoption are scheduled for March 27, 2025, at 10 a.m.

Why it matters: The vote allows infill housing near a commercial corridor but underscores recurring planning tensions — tree preservation and adjacent-neighbor impacts versus property owner redevelopment and corridor infill. The council added a narrowly tailored implementation step (relocate dumpster to northeast) to address immediate neighborhood concerns.

Votes and next steps: The ordinance passed first reading with two council members (Hertek and Clendenin) recorded as voting no. Second reading and adoption are set for 03/27/2025 at 10:00 a.m.; the applicant must submit site-plan modifications between readings and relocate the dumpster to the northeast as discussed.