Tampa council approves multiple zoning amendments, alcohol permits and an event zone; parking rule expanded to Yellow Brick Road area (first reading)

Tampa City Council on Feb. 27 approved several zoning changes, alcohol special-use permits and other items on second reading and advanced additional measures on first reading, including an event zone for the NCAA Women’s Final Four and a residential-parking adjustment adding the Yellow Brick Road area.

Why it matters: The votes change permitted land uses at multiple addresses, clear the way for planned developments and allow new, regulated alcohol-service venues; the approvals also set the permitting and regulatory framework for a high-profile April event and extended a residential-parking rule into a new neighborhood.

What the council approved (votes at a glance): - BAC24-16 (vacation of portion of Mulberry Drive right-of-way): ordinance adopted; motion carried with Councilmember Erin Hertack voting no. Staff presentation: Ross Sammons. (Introduced s:8875.54; final vote recorded s:8993.705.) - Local historic landmark designation for the Dobie House, 1405 W. Azeal Street: ordinance adopted unanimously. (Staff: Elaine Lund; introduced s:9006.881; vote s:9067.27.) - Plan amendment / rezoning (TACPA24-12) for 801 E. 20th Ave: comprehensive-plan amendment adopted unanimously. (Staff: Jennifer Malone; introduced s:9095.32; vote s:9163.05.) - REZ2512 (rezoning near 702 W. Columbus Drive / 2502–2504 North Blvd): plan development zoning approved unanimously. Applicant: William Malloy. (Introduced s:9189.84; vote s:9348.315.) - REZ2452 (rezoning and plan development for multiple parcels including 205–209 E. Columbus and 2301–2315 N. Florida Ave): ordinance adopted; Councilmembers Charlie Miranda, Suelyn Henderson and Erin Hertack voted no on final reading. Applicant: Tyler Hudson. (Introduced s:9356.13; vote s:9809.949.) - AB22446 (special-use permit for alcoholic beverage sales, large-venue on-premises at 1901 E. 7th Ave): ordinance adopted; Councilmember Guido Maniscalco recorded Councilmember Guido Carlson voted no (transcript notes Carlson voting no). Applicant: Colin Rice (attorney). (Introduced s:9884.835; vote s:10039.381.) - AB22449 (small-venue alcoholic-sales permit at 2501 W. Bush Blvd, unit 5A): ordinance adopted unanimously. Applicant: Tyler Hudson. (Introduced s:10055.226; vote s:10140.556.)

Other first-reading actions and administrative items: - First reading: ordinance to create an NCAA Final Four event zone for April 2–7, 2025, with event-specific temporary uses and permitting rules; first reading passed unanimously (second reading scheduled 03/27/2025). (Introduced s:10169.705; vote s:10281.685.) - First reading: amendment to Chapter 15 (parking) to add the Yellow Brick Road area (addresses noted on the agenda) to the residential-parking program; first reading passed (Viera absent for the vote). The amendment resolves a separate earlier motion to create a local residential exception in that area. (Introduced s:10312.925; vote s:10461.84.)

Council procedure and consent-docket notes: The council moved and approved most consent-docket items by omnibus motion. Several items were continued or removed from the agenda for later consideration (for example, agenda items 15 and 49 were removed; items 72 and others were continued to later dates). Council members also used the consent period to identify items pulled for separate discussion after lunch (items 18 and 19 were held for later committee-level budget discussion). The clerk and municipal attorneys confirmed certification of revised site plans where staff required changes between first and second readings.

Selected particulars and clarifications cited at the meeting: - REZ2452: applicant increased planned retail area by roughly 1,000 square feet between first and second readings; the site plan includes a note that retail square footage and building height cannot be changed via a subsequent “substantial change” review. (Staff and applicant: Tyler Hudson; introduced s:9385.76; clarification s:9446.3955.) - AB22446: the applicant clarified at second reading that package (off-premises) alcohol sales were not proposed; the permit granted was for on-premises consumption only. (Applicant: Colin Rice; introduced s:9884.835; clarification s:9934.774.) - Event zone for Final Four: ordinance is time-limited to April 2–7, 2025; it mirrors prior event-zone ordinances used to regulate activation, temporary retail, signage and first-amendment demonstration zones. (Introduced s:10169.705; procedural vote s:10281.685.)

Discussion vs. decision: Most items listed above were final, second-reading approvals (formal action). Two notable items were first readings (event zone, parking amendment); those passed first reading and will return for second-reading adoption on March 27. Several agenda items were continued or removed and will return at future meetings.

Votes and roll-call details: Council staff or the clerk recorded roll-call results at the point of each second-reading vote; several votes were unanimous, while some rezonings and permits drew recorded “no” votes as noted above. The transcript provides the recorded tallies at each final adoption.

Ending: Council members said they would follow up on items carried off the consent docket, and staff confirmed that certified revised site plans had been provided to the clerk’s office for cases that required plan modifications before second reading. The council recessed for lunch and planned to resume with pulled items beginning at 1:30 p.m.