Tampa board approves grand-tree removals and parking reduction for proposed 174-unit affordable complex

The Tampa Variance Review Board on an unspecified 2025 meeting granted variances allowing removal of certain grand trees and a reduction in required parking for a proposed 174-unit affordable housing project at 5709 North 47th Street.

Staff and the applicant said the project, proposed by Tampa 47th Street Apartments LLC and presented by land-use attorney Nicole McKinnis of Stearns Weaver Miller, is zoned RM-24 and will limit units to households at or below 80% of area median income. McKinnis told the board the preferred plan preserves 16 grand trees while removing nine, and that alternate site plans were considered that preserved fewer trees.

The board heard comments from Natural Resources and multiple internal reviewers, all of whom found the requests consistent with conditions. Staff explained the code references for the tree removal and parking requests as Section 27-284.2.5 (grand tree removal) and Section 27-283.7 (parking). As presented, the site contains roughly 341 trees of which 183 count toward mitigation; the preferred site plan would preserve 16 grand trees and remove the remainder identified for removal.

Neighbor Eric Hayes, speaking for his elderly mother who owns the adjacent property, expressed concern that removing trees near the shared boundary could damage a domestic well and asked whether buffers or fencing would protect the neighbor’s property during construction. He said the adjacent household has already experienced damage when large trees fell on city-owned property during storms. Staff and the applicant responded that no buffers or setback reductions were requested in the variance and that standard construction safeguards and codes would remain in force; the applicant said they would meet code for visitor parking and would be responsible for damage during construction.

The board split the item into two motions. First, a motion granted the variance to allow the removal of the identified grand trees as depicted on the presented site plan, finding the applicant had met the city’s tree-removal variance criteria and had demonstrated practical difficulty given the undeveloped, heavily wooded condition and hurricane-related tree losses. Second, the board granted a variance to reduce the total parking on the site from the required total (staff said the tenant+visitor total required was 305) to a provided total of 220 spaces (176 tenant spaces plus 44 visitor spaces), adopting the city’s local guidance for many affordable housing projects of 0.8 spaces per unit for tenant parking.

McKinnis emphasized that the applicant is not seeking relief from visitor parking requirements and that the reduced tenant parking is intended to preserve grand trees and support the affordable housing layout. Staff clarified that transportation review calculated 305 required spaces (tenant plus visitor) and the applicant proposes 220 total spaces, of which 176 would serve tenants.

The board recorded the motions as approved during the public hearing. No roll-call vote counts were specified in the hearing record; the board chair called for ayes and the motions passed.

The board did not adopt additional special conditions beyond the requirement that all other city codes and permitting processes remain in force. Staff told the neighbor to follow up by email for construction-period clarifications and said standard permitting and protections would apply.