St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker
Following a zoning change, a .79-acre parcel in a predominantly residential area of west St. Petersburg could soon feature a mixed-use development with 19 townhomes.
City council members voted 7-1 at the June 15 meeting to amend the future land use map and comprehensive plan for a property at 118 66th St. N. from Planned Residential/Office General to Planned Redevelopment Mixed Use. It currently consists of a vacant lot and a single-family home.
Britton Wilson, the comprehensive planning coordinator, told council members that city officials rezoned the property and three adjoining lots to its north in 2012 to accommodate an office building “that never came to fruition.” That change also allowed up to 12 multi-family housing units.
She said the latest zoning amendment increases that number by seven. Councilmember Copley Gerdes, whose District 1 encompasses the area, voted against the density increase.
Following the meeting, he told the Catalyst that he felt the current allowance – 15 units per acre – was “sufficient.”
“I just thought it was above and beyond what was needed,” Gerdes added. “It just seemed like a little bit of a stretch to me.” Read more
