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Agenda Item: 11(B)1 |
Prepared By: Mary P. Holden, Planning Manager |
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Business: Ordinance - First Reading |
Department: Community Affairs - Growth Management |
Subject:
Title
Ordinance - First Reading - Workforce/Affordable Housing Code Amendments - Mary P. Holden, Planning Manager, Community Affairs/Growth Management
Body
BACKGROUND:
The Florida Legislature adopted Section 166.04151(7), Florida Statutes, also known as the “Live Local Act,” pre-empting local control of zoning and land use regulations in certain situations. Marco Island does not have many properties that would accommodate a Live Local Act project, so City staff looked at what could be possible by code revisions. The Blue Zones made a presentation to the City Council regarding affordable housing and one suggestion was to allow the repurposing of upper levels of a commercial center into deed restricted affordable housing units (a sample copy of a deed restriction is attached for informational purposes only).
In reviewing the idea of repurposing commercial space to residential space, City staff looked at the City’s Future Land Use and Housing Elements of the Comprehensive Plan, allowed density for commercial areas, parking requirements, intensity of residential units over what could be commercially allowed, how to encourage the repurposing, and impact this could have for employers and employees on Marco Island.
PLANNING BOARD:
The Planning Board held a public hearing and considered this request at their January 5, 2024, meeting. At the meeting there was much discussion about density and the process for approval of converting the upper levels. The Planning Board tabled the ordinance, giving Staff direction to make the approval process a conditional use permit, add a required neighborhood information meeting for an application, and remove parking deviations. The revised ordinance was presented to the Planning Board at their February 2, 2024, meeting. At that meeting, there was discussion on the revised ordinance, how this won’t solve the problem but can help, and density. The Planning Board voted 6-1 to forward a recommendation of approval to the proposed amendments to allow for the adaptive reuse/conversion of the upper floors to workforce housing in multistory commercial structures.
FUNDING SOURCE / FISCAL IMPACT: N / A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Ordinance 24-07 on first reading.
POTENTIAL MOTION:
Move to approve Ordinance 24-07 on first reading.