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County seeks to make neighborhood park permanent; planning board backs rezoning to Parks & Recreation
Summary
Charlotte County initiated three companion actions to certify two transferable density units and to change the future‑land‑use and zoning of a county park parcel to Parks & Recreation. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the certifications and map/zoning amendments.
Charlotte County staff presented a package of county‑initiated petitions to certify two transferable density units and to change the land‑use and zoning of a county park parcel from Low‑Density Residential (LDR) / RSF‑5 to Parks & Recreation (PKR) and the board voted to forward all three items to the Board of County Commissioners with recommendations of approval.
Jay Shao, community development planner, said the three petitions (CSC‑25‑18, PS‑24‑08 and Z‑24‑17) would certify two transferable density units for the subject property and change the future land‑use map from LDR to PKR and the zoning atlas from RSF‑5 to PKR. Staff said the property contains a county park that has been improved with county funds (recent county investment cited) and that multiple building permits associated with the park were issued in 2016, 2021 and 2022; these factors allow certification of two transferable density units under the county’s TDU policy. Shao stated that staff considers Parks & Recreation the most appropriate designation for the site given current and intended county use.
A nearby resident, Ben Stark, said he and his family moved to a corner lot near the park and asked whether the change would increase outside visitation; staff and county representatives confirmed the parcel is a county park and that the map/zoning change is intended to preserve the site as parkland and to prevent future residential development on the parcel.
The board closed public comment and voted to forward CSC‑25‑18, PS‑24‑08 and Z‑24‑17 to the Board of County Commissioners with recommendations of approval, citing the staff report dated 07/03/2025 and the evidence presented at the hearing. Staff clarified that the county will retain the certified TDU certificate in its account for future use or retirement and that the TDU will not automatically enter incentive buckets unless the BCC establishes a policy for utilization.
The Board of County Commissioners will take up the requested map and zoning amendments and certification in September. If adopted, the change will formalize the county’s ownership and park use by placing the parcel in the Parks & Recreation future‑land‑use category and zoning district.
