CRA
The big ticket item here is going to be item 5 “CRA Board invite City Planning and Housing Community Development Staff to talk about the possibilities for the four parcels for the Army Navy Lot”. The “Army Navy” lot is a stretch of properties on Tampa St at which at one time an Army Navy Surplus store existed (I still have a Swedish Navy peacoat I bought there in high school.) The city and CRA own parcels in the project and this is going to be an early discussion about what to develop here. Yes housing but how much and what kind? Any retail?
The presentation Thursday seems geared towards giving the lay of the land, outlining where proposed street car lines might go and what infrastructure improvements are planned regarding pedestrian and multi-modal transportation.
I’m sure costs will talked about, but until there’s an agreed upon plan for the what then staff will be able to better answers about cost. This project will also play into the conversations about “capping” the downtown CRA district. It’s obligated through FY28-29, so if Council caps downtown, where will the funding for this come from?
Evening Meeting – Land Use
I haven’t been doing too much with the land use meetings thus far this year as I’ve focused on budget stuff and some under the hood work. They’ve been mostly benign and not much to write about but I’d like to get back to highlighting some of the items.
Item 1 is a comprehensive plan amendment to the Future Land Use Map for an area around the port in Ybor. It’s a development by Daryl Shaw, also involved in the Gasworx development. The most contentious point in this is going to be taking away Heavy Industrial zoning from around the port. Maybe the details have been worked out, but I expect a robust conversation about the economic impacts of reducing the port and shipyards.
Item 2 is a review hearing which is always interesting to observe. Generally speaking, staff or the Variance Review Board (VRB) have denied an application, the applicant appeals, it goes to a magistrate for mediation and a recommendation is made. It is still up to Council and after reviewing everything they can either uphold the magistrate’s decision, reverse the decision and uphold the initial denial or remand it back to the magistrate.
Item 6 is a request to rezone Commercial Intensive (CI) to a Planned Development (PD) for 10 townhomes. I suspect this will get opposition and staff found it inconsistent.
Beyond those I don’t see anything that is controversial that wasn’t mis-noticed or requested a continuance and won’t be heard this week.
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