The city hopes changes in the downtown district's architectural design standards will encourage more businesses to set up shop.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published February 11, 2004
ZEPHYRHILLS - The city is seeking suggestions from residents and property owners in the downtown area as it sets about developing new zoning and design standards for the district.
The first of two town meetings will be 5 p.m. Feb. 19 at Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyr Park.
Planner Todd Vande Berg said Tuesday the changes are intended to encourage traditional types of development downtown. The city plans to provide incentives, such as loosened parking standards, allowances for higher density and flexibility on drainage issues. It already waives transportation impact fees for new construction downtown.
In exchange, leaders hope to attract businesses and retailers come that will draw people to a thriving city center.
"The purpose of this is to provide yet another incentive," Vande Berg said.
Current zoning, Vande Berg said, does not support traditional development. For example, a new building on Fifth Avenue would have to be set 30 feet back from the property line. The new rules would allow construction to come right up to the sidewalk.
The plans also include a new set of architectural design standards. Vande Berg did not specify what those standards will be or whether they will dictate a certain style of building design. He said continuity is the goal.
"Zephyrhills has an existing downtown architectural style," he said. "We'd like to at least see it compatible with what we already have."
The changes will affect people who live or own a business downtown, although any "non-conforming" buildings will be grandfathered in.
However, if the new zoning and standards are implemented, conforming in the future will not be optional.
The city, working with a planning consultant, has designated four different uses downtown:
"Traditional town center" encompasses Sixth Street to Seventh Street (including U.S. 301), from Fourth Avenue to Seventh Avenue. This area will be mainly commercial and retail outlets, and officials hope a central complex will be built to anchor the area.
"Traditional town center historic" covers blocks from Seventh Avenue to Fourth Avenue, between Seventh Street and 10th Street. This area is mainly residential and will see stricter regulations for preserving historic buildings.
"Traditional mixed use historic" allows new commercial and retail outlets while preserving existing historic buildings. Any new construction would have to conform to the historic look of neighboring buildings. That area includes blocks between Seventh and Eighth avenues, Third and Fourth avenues, and east of downtown to 12th Street.
Finally, "traditional mixed use" allows buildings that combine retail, residential and office uses. That might be a building with a shop on the first floor and a loft apartment above it. The area includes blocks between Seventh and Eighth avenues, Third and Fourth avenues, and along both sides of Fifth Avenue from Sixth Street to First Street.
Vande Berg is encouraging anyone who owns property downtown to attend the meeting and voice any concerns. He said the city will tailor its plans based on what it hears from residents.
