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After lengthy public comment, commission approves rezoning of 1218 37th Street with a 5‑unit covenant
Summary
The commission approved rezoning part of 1218 37th Street from light industrial to R-2 single-family/multifamily, attaching a condition to limit redevelopment to five units (a recorded covenant). The item drew extensive public opposition over traffic, drainage and blight concerns.
The Gulfport Planning Commission voted to rezone part of 1218 37th Street from I-1 (light industrial) to R-2 (single-family/multifamily), attaching a condition intended to limit future density to five units via a recorded covenant. The decision followed extended public comment and detailed staff discussion about history, blight and development constraints.
Michael Collins, who said he owns the property, asked the commission to rezone the parcel to permit residential redevelopment: "We are trying to get the property rezoned, to complete the build out for single family residence," he said. Collins said the parcel has been vacant for a long time and that nearby residential development supports a change of use.
Several neighbors opposed the rezoning at length. Willie Crawford Sr., who said he lives adjacent to the site, described traffic, loud music and previous problems tied to earlier development in the area and said he was "totally against it." Lena Byrd, a long-time resident, testified about chronic flooding, vandalism and trash problems and urged the commission to reject rezoning, saying the city had failed to address long-standing blight.
Commission discussion focused on whether the record demonstrated a change of conditions or a remedy for blight, parking constraints, and whether limiting redevelopment to five units would mitigate neighborhood impacts. City staff and the applicant discussed parking dimensions and whether the site could meet parking standards for a greater number of units; staff told commissioners a covenant placed on the land record limiting the project to five units (rather than 10) would be a enforceable commitment and could be included as a condition.
Commissioners ultimately moved to approve the zoning map amendment, making findings of changed conditions and public need for residential use while including a 5‑unit covenant as a condition that will be recorded on the property. The matter will move to city council as part of the normal rezoning process.
