Council advances Columbus Drive mixed-use project; neighbors secure gate and alley conditions

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa City Council on Jan. 23 voted to vacate a small alley and advanced a rezoning request for a multi-story mixed-use project at the West Columbus Drive / North Boulevard corridor, after the developer and neighbors reached agreement on several site controls.

Council adopted the ordinance to vacate the alleyway on second reading and then advanced a companion rezoning application to plan development (PD) on first reading, setting a second-reading vote for Feb. 20 with the developer’s agreed revisions.

Neighbors had raised safety and traffic concerns tied to the alley that runs behind homes on Glenwood and into the project site. Tony Monk, who said he represents immediate neighbors and the civic association, told council the community supported the project but insisted on a durable agreement that “the gate must be installed and maintained” so construction and longtime traffic would not be allowed to cut through the neighborhood. He said the gate “solves almost all the safety… and walkability concerns.”

The developer’s team — represented at the meeting by counsel and by project representatives — agreed to several conditions to be added to the site plan before second reading. City staff read those conditions into the record: show the alley width as 16 feet on the site plan; add a gate at the development’s alley entrance and require the applicant to install and maintain the gate for the life of the project; sign construction routes to prohibit construction traffic from entering the Glenwood alley; minimize paved width of the alley where possible (subject to right-of-way permitting); preserve grand tree roots and use above-grade construction techniques in the tree protection zone; and add exterior lighting notes to prevent light spillage onto neighboring properties.

Neighbors and immediate residents who spoke at council said they were satisfied by the commitments. Candace Quarter, who lives at 2503 North Glenwood and said she uses a garage that opens onto the alley, told council the gate was “absolutely a necessity.”

What council did - Item 49 (VAC 20-30): Council adopted the ordinance vacating the alleyway (second reading and adoption recorded during the meeting). Motion carried unanimously. - Item 50 (REZ 25-12): Council advanced the rezoning to plan development on first reading with the conditions read into the record; second reading will be held Feb. 20, 2025. The council recorded unanimous support for the first-reading action after the applicant accepted the conditions.

Why it matters The site is at a key neighborhood intersection and the project is designed to place storefront commercial uses and residential units along a corridor that council and developers described as walkable and transit-oriented. The neighborhood’s negotiated conditions seek to preserve pedestrian safety and limit through traffic on residential alleys while allowing the project to proceed.

Key participants and speakers - Isabelle Albert, representing the applicant, described the development team and said the owners are local investors who previously won design recognition for related work. - Jonathan Scott, Mobility Department, confirmed staff would review right-of-way permitting and work with neighbors during that process. - Tony Monk, Ridgewood Park Civic Association / immediate neighbor, secured commitments on the gate and construction routing.

Next steps The rezoning will return for second reading and adoption on Feb. 20, 2025, with the agreed revisions added to the site plan. Staff will manage the right-of-way permitting process for alley improvements and coordinate neighbor input, and the developer must implement the gate and site improvements as a condition of the rezoning approval.

Direct quotes - Tony Monk (neighbor): "The gate is the thing that needs to be most durable." - Candace Quarter (neighbor): "The gate is absolutely a necessity."