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Cocoa council advances zoning changes to allow large‑scale recreation centers and optical services in Uptown area
Summary
Council adopted a zoning text amendment allowing large commercial recreation centers (including a miniature vehicle racetrack) in the M2 district and approved first reading to permit optical services in the Uptown Waterfront Overlay where underlying zoning is Core Commercial; Freedom Optical owner Stacy Sidwell spoke in support.
At its June 9 meeting, the Cocoa City Council advanced and adopted changes to the city's zoning code to expand permitted commercial uses in two distinct settings.
On final reading the council adopted Ordinance 04‑2026 to amend the M2 zoning district and explicitly allow large‑scale commercial recreation centers and related uses in facilities larger than 12,000 square feet, an amendment the planning and zoning board unanimously recommended. The ordinance's sponsor said the amendment modernizes permitted uses and responds to an application for a large recreation use.
Separately, council approved first reading of an amendment to the Cocoa Waterfront Overlay (Uptown neighborhood subdistrict) to add 'optical services' as a permitted use in parcels with a Core Commercial underlying zoning designation. Planner Jennifer Webster described the change as minor and consistent with the city's comprehensive plan goals for mixed‑use transition areas, noting the amendment would subject new optical businesses to normal parking, signage and site‑plan requirements. Stacy Sidwell, owner and optician for Freedom Optical, told council she had relocated her practice to 120 North Forest Avenue and asked that the amendment be applied to the parcel; the council voted unanimously to approve first reading.
Both actions were framed by staff as measured updates to the land‑use code to better align permitted uses with current commercial patterns and to facilitate neighborhood‑scale professional services. Councilmembers congratulated the applicant and welcomed the new uses into the village and uptown districts.
