SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a Zoning Atlas Amendment from the Institutional (I) District to the Office (O) District for 407 N. Belcher Road and pass Ordinance 9347-20 on first reading. (REZ2019-09002)
Body
SUMMARY:
This case involves one parcel of land located on the east side of N. Belcher Road, approximately 1,075 feet north of Drew Street. E&J Caputo Clearwater, LLC owns the parcel, which is approximately 0.729 acres.
The applicant, E & J Caputo Clearwater, LLC purchased the property in 2007. For almost 30 years, the location was owned and used by a non-profit social welfare organization which provided services for senior citizens. Since 2004, the building has been used as a medical office with a lab service and ultrasound facility, including after the applicant bought the property. In August 2019, the owner entered into an agreement to lease the building to a financial broker, an office use which is not permitted in the current underlying institutional (I) future land use category or within the current Institutional (I) zoning district.
The applicant is requesting to rezone the subject property from the Institutional (I) District to the Office (O) District. A request to amend the future land use category from Institutional (I) to Residential/Office General (R/OG) is being processed concurrently with this case (LUP2019-09003).
The proposed Office (O) District will allow the site to continue to be used as an office as proposed and is consistent with the surrounding zoning districts that exist in the vicinity of the subject property.
The Planning & Development Department has determined that the proposed Zoning Atlas amendment is consistent with the 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 Office (O) 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 Office (O) District boundary is 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 December 17, 2019 public hearing and made a unanimous recommendation of approval to the Council.