Council approves future‑land‑use change in Southeast CRA after heated public hearing

On a 5‑3 vote the City Council approved an amendment to the Future Land Use Map on Nov. 19 to change a parcel at 1620 SE 46th St. from multifamily to downtown mixed, a request initiated by the property owner in the CRA area.

Anthony Santoro, senior planner, summarized staff’s analysis finding the request consistent with the comprehensive plan criteria and the CRA goals. The applicant’s representative, Scott Hertz, said physical constraints on the 0.41‑acre waterfront lot make very high‑density or tall condominium developments infeasible and illustrated likely outcomes with two‑story mixed‑use examples. “You can’t build a 6‑story condominium building on these lots,” Hertz said, noting parking, internal circulation and stormwater requirements limit feasible intensity on such small lots.

More than a dozen residents spoke in opposition, citing traffic congestion at the local intersections (especially turning onto Del Prado), street‑width and safety concerns on Orchid Boulevard and the risk that changing the map would set a precedent for further encroachment into adjacent single‑family neighborhoods. Speakers asked whether assemblage of adjacent parcels could create larger developments, and staff said rezoning to a higher‑density zoning district would require a separate council hearing; the current map change allows the downtown mixed classification but does not, by itself, rezone the property.

Council members debated trade‑offs between revitalization in the CRA and neighborhood impacts; several members said any future rezoning or development application would require traffic analysis and site development review. After discussion council voted to approve Ordinance 57‑25 on a 5‑3 roll call.

Next steps: staff will record the comprehensive plan amendment and advise that any subsequent rezoning or site development application will be subject to the city’s zoning, parking and traffic‑impact review processes.