Holly Hill approves first reading to expand retail and professional uses at Marina Grande, bans rental moving trucks and pharmacies

The Holly Hill City Commission on Jan. 13 voted unanimously on first reading to amend the Marina Grande residential‑based mixed‑use Planned Unit Development at 235 Riverside Drive to expand permitted retail and professional uses and to add specific prohibitions, including rental moving‑company trucks and pharmacies.

City staff summarized the staff report and the Planning and Appeals Board recommendation in favor of the ninth amendment. Brian, the staff presenter, told the commission staff had reviewed the requested additional uses and judged them consistent with the comprehensive plan’s land‑use element, and noted that storage units originally intended for Marina Grande residents were underutilized (staff cited occupancy at less than 45%). "Staff has no issues with the request," Brian said during his presentation.

The proposed amendment would add a long list of retail and professional activities for the retail portion of the building: professional offices (attorneys, accountants), medical and chiropractic services, med spas, IV therapy and lab work, massage and related therapies, nutritional counseling, fitness classes, pet grooming, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops, delis, pizzerias, wine bars, shipping stores, hair and nail salons, and limited indoor storage and display for items such as jet skis. The measure also included funding and contract items for separate agenda resolutions.

The property owner — who described buying the building after a long period of vacancies and converting part of the space to storage — told the commission he has already opened a coffee shop and is working to convert empty storage units into active retail. The applicant described finding the property mostly empty on purchase and said he was investing in repairs and permits to make build‑outs possible.

Commissioners questioned staff about the property’s PD (planned development) origin, prior density bonuses, signage rules and parking. Several commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about parking overflow for the Marina Grande retail and asked that restrictions be written to prevent undesirable ancillary uses. "I don't want U‑Hauls there," one commissioner said during discussion.

To address those concerns, a commissioner moved to approve Ordinance 3095 on first reading with added language specifically prohibiting the rental of moving‑company trucks (e.g., U‑Haul and similar) and banning pharmacies from the retail list; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Commissioners asked staff to prepare tightened language for second reading that would also clarify limits on THC/CBD retail and the scope of allowed supplements so the PUD cannot be used to create a dispensary or a 'weed clinic.' City staff said they would draft the clarified prohibited uses and provide specific sign regulations for the second reading.

The first‑reading approval signals the commission’s support for the owner’s plan to activate long‑vacant retail space while attempting to preserve neighborhood character through targeted prohibitions; it does not finalize the ordinance. Staff will return with revised language for the second reading and for permit‑level sign and use restrictions.

Next steps: staff will prepare language revisions (signage, explicit prohibitions on vehicle rentals and pharmacy uses, and ancillary THC/CBD restrictions) for the commission’s second reading of Ordinance 3095.