Planning Commission recommends rezoning 60.44-acre Grand Oaks property to Knights Trail mixed-use district

The Venice Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Sept. 2 to recommend that City Council approve zoning map amendment petition 25-42 RZ (CSP Grand Oaks Venice Land 1 LLC), a request to rezone roughly 60.44 acres in the Knights Trail neighborhood to the Knights Trail mixed-use zoning district.

Staff planner Britney Smith told the commission the petition would change two parcels currently zoned CG and CI to the Knights Trail district and that the change is consistent with the city's future land use designation of Mixed Use Corridor. Smith said the parcel is “approximately 60.44 acres” and noted the application had been processed under Chapter 87, Section 1.7 of the City of Venice Land Development Code and reviewed by the technical review committee.

The application materials and staff report, Smith said, show that permitted uses under Knights Trail would include multifamily and upper-story residential uses and that density and height would remain similar to existing entitlements; architectural standards and a building coverage range would apply under the Knights Trail district. The staff recommendation concluded there were sufficient findings of fact for the Planning Commission to forward a recommendation to City Council.

Jackson Boone, attorney for the applicant, and agent for CSP Grand Oaks Venice Land 1 LLC, described the request as “very straightforward.” Boone said the property had previously been through rezoning efforts and approvals under a prior zoning map update and that the current petition is intended to align the zoning with the Mixed Use Corridor future land use designation and the Knights Trail district. Boone said prior approvals included a site and development plan and a preliminary plat for a previously approved 630-unit multifamily concept; he said a small CI portion had been contemplated as indoor storage historically but had not been developed.

No members of the public signed up to speak on the petition. After staff presentation and the applicant’s remarks, Commissioner Pam Sherberg moved to recommend approval; the motion was seconded and the commission voted 6-0 in favor (Wilson — yes; Hale — yes; Jasper — yes; Young — yes; Sherberg — yes; Chair Snyder — yes).

The Planning Commission’s recommendation sends the rezoning petition to City Council for final action.

The commission’s record cites Strategy LU‑1.2 and the Mixed Use Corridor policies in the comprehensive plan and applies Chapter 87, Section 1.7 of the Venice Land Development Code in its findings.