City Commission transmits rezoning for 255 Southwest Sixth Street to second hearing after staff, applicant presentations

The City of Stuart City Commission on Monday transmitted to a second hearing an ordinance to rezone a 0.33‑acre parcel at 255 Southwest Sixth Street from Urban Waterfront to Urban Highway, following a staff presentation and remarks from the applicant.

City Attorney Lee Baggett read the ordinance title at the start of the item and advised the commission that the hearing before them was the ordinance's first reading and that the Land Development Code requires two hearings for rezoning. ‘‘Such hearings may be scheduled on the agenda of a regular City Commission, but shall be held after 5 p.m. and shall not be less than 10 calendar days apart,’’ Baggett said, summarizing the code language included in the agenda packet.

Jody Coogler, the city’s development director, told the commission the 0.33‑acre parcel is vacant, within the urban overlay district and community redevelopment area, and that the petitioner had mailed notices to adjacent owners and posted three signs on the property. Coogler said the Local Planning Agency (LPA) voted unanimously on Jan. 16, 2025, to forward a recommendation of approval and that adjacent residents expressed concerns about parking location, lighting and stormwater in later site‑planning stages.

Jared Gaylord, attorney for Polk Street Hotels (the petitioner), said the parcel sits on the east side of U.S. 1, just south of the Fraser Creek bridge, and that the petitioner had unified three parcels with a unity of title in May 2023. Gaylord said the 1.58‑acre consolidated property will be redeveloped and that the small, southeastern 0.33‑acre corner had been zoned Urban Waterfront while most of the consolidated site is already Urban Highway; he said the rezoning would make the whole property consistent for the pending hotel proposal.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicant detailed questions about the distinctions between Urban Waterfront and Urban Highway zoning, including placement of buildings and parking, potential impacts to Fraser Creek and drainage, and whether the change would alter the range of permitted uses. Coogler and Gaylord said the two districts allow the same uses under the zoning code and that the principal distinction is placement: Urban Waterfront typically places structures toward the water with parking toward the highway, while Urban Highway places buildings adjacent to the highway with parking to the rear. Coogler added that all projects must meet the city's stormwater and drainage requirements during site plan review.

Commissioner Clark moved to transmit the ordinance to the second required hearing. Vice Mayor Collins seconded. On roll call the motion carried unanimously (Vice Mayor Collins, Commissioner Reid, Commissioner Gioby, Commissioner Clark and Mayor Rich voting yes). The second hearing was set for Feb. 10, 2025.

The commission and staff flagged that neighborhood meetings would be scheduled during the site plan phase: Coogler said staff will set a neighborhood meeting once revised plans are ready, and Gaylord said the petitioner intends to host one before site plan submittal. Commissioners noted public concerns heard at the LPA and during the meeting about parking location, lighting, security and the condition of Fraser Creek, and asked staff to ensure those topics are addressed in subsequent neighborhood and site‑plan reviews.

Because this was a first reading, no final action on the rezoning occurred Monday; the commission will take up the ordinance for adoption only at the quasi‑judicial second hearing. The packet materials list the ordinance as Ordinance No. 2537‑2025 and cite the City of Stuart Land Development Code and the city comprehensive plan as controlling guidance for the rezoning.