Board clears easement vacation and replat to allow Northport Gateway West commercial project

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Board unanimously approved a resolution to vacate two recorded instruments that depicted 20‑foot utility and drainage easements and recommended approval of a related replat (PLF‑24‑044) that will realign lots and establish new drainage and utility easements for future development at Northport Gateway West.

Julie Daniel, a paralegal with Benderson Development speaking for applicant Todd Mathis and owner 59100 SBNP LLC, said the instruments recorded in 2007 were sketches on the plat rather than dedicated easements and that the vacation is intended to correct the record so a replat can memorialize the correct easements. "If you actually look at those 2 instruments that were recorded in 2007, all they are are just sketch and descriptions of where the location of what they're calling an easement," Daniel said, adding engineers have worked with the stormwater department to place the new easements on the replat.

David Brown, Planner I with Development Services, described the replat (PLF‑24‑044 / Northport Commercial) as a realignment of existing lots to create drainage and utility easements that will support a proposed medical office building. Brown said the replated area totals approximately 9.857 acres and showed a proposed building program of about 30,600 square feet; in earlier remarks the applicant referenced a 30,000‑square‑foot building as the intended use. "The new plat configuration will accommodate the construction of a 30,600 square foot medical office building," Brown said.

Board members repeatedly sought assurance that canal maintenance access and drainage would be preserved. Staff and the applicant said stormwater engineering and the city’s stormwater manager had reviewed the proposed easement configuration and that public works would retain responsibility for maintenance where easements are dedicated to the city. Staff pointed to conditions in the packet (stormwater manager's conditions) requiring the replat to include new drainage easements and operations and maintenance language.

The board voted to approve the vacation of the two recorded instruments (Resolution 2024‑RD‑39) and to recommend approval of the Northport Gateway West replat (PLF‑24‑044). Both motions passed unanimously. The actions clear recorded encumbrances and set the legal framework for new easements to be shown on the replat; final approval of the replat will be considered by the City Commission.