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Kissimmee commission votes to keep downtown ground‑floor office ban, 3–2
Summary
The Kissimmee City Commission voted 3–2 on April 7 to keep existing form‑based code restrictions that limit ground‑floor uses on Broadway, rejecting staff’s proposal to add finance, insurance and real‑estate offices to the allowed uses.
The Kissimmee City Commission voted 3–2 on April 7 to retain existing downtown form‑based code restrictions that limit ground‑floor uses along Broadway, rejecting a staff proposal to allow finance, insurance and real‑estate offices.
Planner Ashley Quinelson (speaker 19) told the Commission the amendment would correct a mapping omission in the form‑based code and would add finance, insurance and real‑estate offices as allowable ground‑floor uses on Broadway and some side streets. Quinelson said the change would restore a portion of a map “that was erroneously left out” and described the history of downtown use‑type limits dating to stakeholder work in 1998–1999 and later form‑based code adoption.
Several commissioners said they were concerned the change could undermine the city’s long‑term goal of promoting pedestrian‑oriented retail and restaurants downtown. “I’m hoping that the commission reconsiders the position of making any changes to the downtown since we’re working so hard on our downtown streetscapes to bring people,” Commissioner Martinez (speaker 20) said, urging retention of the retail focus. Commissioner Ortiz (speaker 21) voiced support for allowing offices to help bring business to the city; that view was not the majority.
Commissioner Martinez moved to leave the code as it currently reads; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Eady (speaker 13) and passed by a 3–2 vote. The clerk recorded three ayes and two nays; no additional amendments were adopted.
The vote keeps in place the city’s existing pedestrian‑retail emphasis on Broadway, while staff and the Planning Advisory Board can still pursue other nonconformity or site‑specific approaches. The Planning Advisory Board had previously reviewed the request; staff noted the Downtown Chamber submitted comments opposing the change and recommending more limited allowances where office already exists. The Commission did not set a rehearing date at the meeting.
What happens next: the ordinance was considered on first reading; final adoption would require follow‑up hearings if the item is brought back. For now, the city retains the current map and ground‑floor use restrictions.
