Owners of a longtime downtown convenience store described plans to add a canopy with solar panels over two parking spaces and asked the city to consider an exception to the land‑development code.

Jamie Areza and business representative Nick Bianco presented plans for the store known as Thrifty: a shaded canopy to provide customer shade and rooftop solar to power the store. Areza said the proposal is “new for St. Cloud” and that the land‑development code (cited as section 13.14.6) restricts canopies of this type outside of gas station uses.

Melissa Dunklin, director of community development, told council the land‑development code does not currently allow that configuration and that Florida building‑code constraints (including setback requirements) may apply. Dunklin recommended the applicant meet first with the city’s business navigator and building/fire staff to resolve technical issues. Council members signaled support for staff‑level review: Council member Urban said he is “open to looking for ways that we can help make an exception possibly here if they can find a way to make it work with the Florida building code,” and Deputy Mayor Fletcher requested staff and the business navigator meet with the applicant and report back.

Staff noted a suspected 25‑foot setback provision (identified by staff in discussion) as a primary obstacle; council asked staff to review whether that setback could be amended or if the proposal could be made to comply with the building code. No ordinance or formal code change was introduced at the meeting; the council did not vote on an exemption but asked staff to pursue meetings with the applicant and report options back to council or at a workshop.

Next steps

Staff will meet with the applicant and the city’s business navigator to review drawings, code limitations and building‑code constraints. If necessary, staff will return to council with a proposed amendment to section 13.14.6 or a recommendation including required findings or a schedule for a workshop.