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Committee approves changes easing industrial parking and modifying landscaping thresholds after negotiations
Summary
The committee advanced ordinance 2025-448 to reduce industrial parking minimums and adjust landscaping compliance thresholds, after staff and stakeholders negotiated an amendment the committee adopted unanimously.
The Land Use & Zoning Committee on Oct. 21 voted 7-0 to approve ordinance 2025-448, which modifies parking and landscaping requirements for commercial and industrial redevelopment.
The measure reduces the industrial parking minimum from one space per 2,000 square feet to one space per 5,000 square feet of floor area. It also alters landscaping standards for “qualified projects” that trigger landscaping compliance: the period for measuring improvement value was lowered from three years to two years; the improvement threshold was increased from 50% to 60%; and the share of project cost required to bring landscaping into compliance was reduced from 20% to 10%. Planning, Public Works and Development Services staff said they and stakeholders reached the amendment reflected in the agenda.
Chris Hagen of a business group and Councilmember White said staff and stakeholders worked for roughly a year on the compromise and that the change aims to spur redevelopment of older commercial property while keeping some landscaping obligations. Opponents at the public hearing, including Chrissy Kinney and Nancy Powell of Scenic Jacksonville, argued the change would weaken standards for streetscapes, cooling, stormwater and walkability, and warned that there is no evidence rollbacks spur revitalization.
The committee adopted an amendment (described on the agenda) that increased the applicable period, raised the threshold percentage, and clarified that industrial and commercial definitions exclude a residential development component. The amendment text also preserved a mechanism to address appraisal methodology issues if they arise in later implementation. After discussion and assurances from staff that multiple departments had reviewed the compromise, members voted to adopt the amendment and approve the ordinance as amended.
Councilmember Diamond, who supported the amendment, framed the change as a narrow effort to reduce blight on commercial corridors by making it easier to redevelop underused industrial/commercial parcels; opponents said the changes risk reducing investment in public-facing landscaping.
The committee approved ordinance 2025-448 as amended by a unanimous vote. Planning staff noted the item had previously been heard by other committees and by the Planning Commission, which recommended approval.
