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Tampa council advances multiple rezoning ordinances, with applicants agreeing to site revisions
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Summary
The Tampa City Council gave first‑reading approval to a series of rezoning requests April 9, moving several development projects forward while securing developer commitments to revision sheets and design changes, including masonry fencing and clarified ADA parking. One high‑profile West Tampa rezoning was continued after a split vote.
Tampa — The City Council on April 9 approved first readings for several rezoning ordinances affecting properties across Tampa, advancing projects that city staff and applicants said would add infill and neighborhood‑serving housing or offices while requiring follow‑up revisions before second reading.
Council members voted to present ordinances for first reading on REZ2606 (4420 West Carmen Street), REZ2577 (301 & 305 South MacDill Avenue), REZ25150 (3724 West San Pedro Street and 3717 Obispo Street), REZ2609 (3415 West Harborview Avenue) and REZ2627 (3106 North Massachusetts Avenue 1/2). Each item was discussed in public comment and returned to staff with direction to incorporate required revision‑sheet changes.
Planning and development staff described the individual proposals as generally consistent with Tampa’s comprehensive plan when conditioned on the revisions. Christopher Dimanche of development coordination told the council that REZ2606 would allow four single‑family attached units on a small infill parcel in the West Shore Palms neighborhood and that staff found the plan development consistent with the land development code, subject to revision‑sheet items between first and second reading.
Ari Omar Alejo, the REZ2606 applicant, said the project will add “missing middle” ownership‑oriented townhomes and emphasized that both staff and the planning commission supported the request. “This small infill site sits on existing infrastructure adding to the missing‑middle ownership‑oriented units,” Alejo said. Supporters from the neighborhood said the housing choice and walkability would benefit families; opponents raised concerns about parking, setbacks and possible flooding.
On REZ25150 (San Pedro/Obispo), neighbors pressed the developer on construction delays, parking and buffer treatments. In response the applicant, represented by Steve Michelinie, agreed to several changes requested by residents and staff: replacing planned 6‑foot PVC fencing with a 6‑foot masonry wall along the east boundaries and adding an ADA parking label to the site plan. Michelinie committed to those revision‑sheet items on the record.
Transportation and mobility staff were cited frequently across the hearings for technical standards related to drive aisles, parking and alley access. For the MacDill Avenue item (REZ2577), staff noted three waiver requests — parking reduction, aisle width, and use‑to‑use buffer — and the applicant said the buildings are existing and intended to be made conforming for medical and salon uses.
Council votes to present the ordinances for first reading carried; second‑reading and adoption were scheduled for May 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., for items that passed first reading. Several applicants formally agreed on the record to include revision‑sheet changes required by staff before second reading.
What’s next: Each ordinance that passed first reading returns to council on May 7 for second reading and final action, with the staff revision sheets incorporated into the record. Projects for which applicants promised changes will be reviewed at that time to confirm the agreed revisions were made.
Reporting note: This account uses speakers’ names and roles as they were given in the meeting transcript and attributes direct quotes only to speakers who identified themselves on the record.
