SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a Zoning Atlas Amendment from the Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Medium High Density Residential (MHDR), High Density Residential (HDR), Office (O), Commercial (C), Institutional (I) and Open Space/Recreation (OS/R) Districts to the Downtown (D) District for 969 parcels located in the Prospect Lake and Downtown Gateway Character Districts of the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan, and pass Ordinance 9144-18 on first reading. (REZ2017-09005)
Body
SUMMARY:
In 2004, the City updated the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan (Downtown Plan) to incorporate the “Gateway Expansion Area” [expanded Community Redevelopment Area (CRA)] into the East Gateway, Town Lake Residential, and Town Lake Business Park Character Districts. However, due to certain requirements for Special Area Plans at the time, the City decided not to pursue amendments to the future land use designations or zoning districts for many of the properties in the expanded CRA, so they remained a mix of categories although they were governed by the Downtown Plan. More recently, the City has completed another update to the Downtown Plan, adopted by City Council March 1, 2018 (Ordinance 9103-18). This update addressed the need to unify areas of the now Downtown Gateway and Prospect Lake Character Districts with the rest of Downtown by amending the properties’ land use and zoning to Central Business District (CBD) future land use and Downtown (D) District zoning.
This Zoning Atlas amendment involves 969 parcels totaling 174.788 acres which are generally located south of Drew Street, east of Prospect Avenue, north of Court Street, and west of Highland Avenue, including one parcel located at the southeast corner of Myrtle Avenue and Chestnut Street that has a portion not zoned as Downtown (D). The request is to change the properties’ Zoning Atlas designations from the Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR), Medium Density Residential (MDR), Medium High Density Residential (MHDR), High Density Residential (HDR), Office (O), Commercial (C), Institutional (I) and Open Space/Recreation (OS/R) Districts to the Downtown (D) District. The City is initiating this amendment to establish a uniform zoning district across the Downtown Gateway and Prospect Lake Character Districts consistent with the Downtown Plan, as well as the companion land use amendment to the Central Business District (CBD) District (case LUP2017-09004, Ordinance 9143-18).
The proposed Downtown (D) District allows a mix of uses; however, new Downtown Zoning District and Development Standards will dictate where specific uses can be located. The densities and intensities are established within the adopted Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan. The density in the proposed amendment area is 35 dwelling units per acre in the Downtown Gateway Character District and 50 dwelling units per acre in the Prospect Lake Character District. Additionally, the intensity, or floor area ratio (FAR) also varies from 1.5 for properties in the Prospect Lake Character District and those primarily along the Cleveland Street and Gulf to Bay Boulevard corridors to 0.55 for the remaining properties located in the Downtown Gateway District.
The Planning and Development Department determined that the proposed Zoning Atlas amendment is consistent with the Clearwater Community Development Code as specified below:
• The proposed amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and the Community Development Code.
• The proposed amendment is compatible with the surrounding property and character of the neighborhood.
• The available uses in the Downtown (D) District are compatible with the surrounding area.
• The proposed amendment will not adversely burden public facilities, including the traffic-carrying capacities of streets, in an unreasonably or disproportionate manner.
• The proposed Downtown (D) District boundaries are appropriately drawn in regard to location and classification of streets, ownership lines, existing improvements, and the natural environment.
The Community Development Board reviewed this application at its May 15, 2018 public hearing and made a unanimous recommendation of approval to the Council.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A