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Board recommends land‑use and zoning changes to add open space for two city‑purchased parcels
Summary
The Planning & Zoning Board recommended that the City Commission reclassify two recently purchased parcels — one in North City and a parcel within Fish Island — to recreation/open space and compatible government or open‑land zoning, reflecting the city's conservation purchases.
The Planning & Zoning Board recommended the City Commission adopt future‑land‑use map amendments and compatible rezoning for two parcels the city recently purchased for conservation and park use.
Beacon/East Park property: The city purchased an approximately 4.55‑acre parcel between Beacon Street and East Park Avenue. Staff described it as roughly 0.74 upland acres and 3.8 waterward acres. The board voted to recommend changing the upland portion from residential low density to recreation/open space and rezoning the upland portion from RS‑2 (single‑family) to government use; the waterward portion was recommended to change from residential low density to open land conservation and to be rezoned from RS‑2 to open land (OL). Staff said the change mirrors similar recent conversions and would protect a tidal/wetland area while allowing the city to manage the upland parcel for recreation and conservation.
Fish Island parcel: The board also recommended changing roughly 2.12 upland acres on Fish Island from residential medium density/mixed use to recreation/open space and rezoning the upland portion from RGOA (residential/general‑office A) to government use. (Staff noted other Fish Island rezoning items had to be re‑advertised and would return to the board for a comprehensive rezoning of the remainder of Fish Island.) The board’s recommendation follows the city’s earlier acquisition and reflects a plan to manage the island for conservation and public access.
Votes and next steps: The board made positive recommendations on both items by roll call and will forward the recommendations to the City Commission for final action. Staff said both changes are consistent with the city’s conservation goals and do not require immediate construction; the city will continue planning for public‑access improvements and stewardship.
Public comment at the hearing was favorable; nearby residents who were notified expressed support for preserving the purchased parcels as open land and reducing development pressure.
