AGENDA REPORT
DATE: August 25, 2025
TO: City Commission
FROM: Bill McDaniel, City Manager
SUBJECT: A quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to rezone 3.19± acres to allow 38 multi-family apartments. The site is located on the east side of South Walker Street, south of West Bates Street and north of West Grant Street (PB-2024-49).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The applicant is requesting to rezone approximately 3.19± acres from R-1A to the Walker Street Apartments Planned Development District. The request proposes the development of a 38-unit apartment complex on a vacant parcel along South Walker Street. The project includes a single access driveway, internal circulation via a roundabout, and 76 parking spaces, including ADA-compliant spaces. Site improvements include sidewalks, two recreational areas, and a stormwater detention pond. The plan incorporates a landscaped buffer with native plants, a six-foot vinyl fence, and preservation of protected trees along the perimeter. Most buildings are single-story with one two-story building proposed. The project proposes a maximum height of 35 feet. The project is designed to be compatible with surrounding residential development through setbacks, landscaping, and architectural features.
On July 23, 2025, staff presented a recommendation of approval for the proposed rezoning for the South Walker Street Apartments Planned Development District to the Planning Board, based on the positives, negatives and mitigating factors presented in the attached staff report for PB-2024-49. The Planning Board subsequently voted (6-1) to recommend approval of this proposal to the City Commission. However, this motion was predicated on the inclusion of two additional notes:
1. The applicant is to widen South Walker Street to a standard width of 22 feet from Bates Street to Grant Street; and
2. The applicant is to install at least one sidewalk on the east side of South Walker Street.
The applicant has submitted a study of the current condition of Walker Street which is attached to this report. To address the Planning Board’s concerns, the applicant is proposing to upgrade Walker Street from Grant Street to Bates, but is seeking approval for the following design exceptions:
1. Improve the road per FDOT Green Book Standards providing 10 foot travel lanes, for a total pavement width of 20 feet.
2. Sidewalk only on the project side of the street from Grant Street to the project entrance.
3. Eliminate requirement for curb and gutter.
4. Allow sidewalk to be installed at a minimum of 2 ft. from edge of pavement where existing conditions do not allow.
Per the City’s design standards any variation to the requirements, such as those proposed, must be approved by the City Commission.
Planning staff has the following concerns with the proposed variations:
• Though South Walker Street exists within the space described (from W. Grant to Bates), the actual right of way only exists between West Grant Street and West Strickland Street. Improvement in the area beyond the West Strickland intersection will be limited.
• The right of way narrows in certain areas to as small as 38 feet and due to the location of the pavement, may not be able to accommodate the proposed sidewalk.
• A sidewalk only two (2) feet from the pavement as proposed, though an improvement to what is there now, still proposes a safety concern.
In further discussions with the applicant, if the Commission does not want to move forward with any variations to the roadway design requirement, the applicant may be willing to upgrade South Walker Street as required by the code from W. Grant to the project entrance only as the right of way width allows.
It is expected as this application goes through the public hearing process, proponents and opponents may offer additional competent evidence concerning this rezoning during these proceedings, some of which may be in addition to that contained within this report, which will add to the body of information to be taken under consideration by the Plant City City Commission.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Commission adopt an Ordinance approving the South Walker Street Apartments Planned Development District (PB-2024-49) with the following changes:
Any roadway improvements required will not extend beyond West Strickland Street and any reduction in the distance from pavement to sidewalk will only be within areas that cannot provide the full distance due to right of way width.
FISCAL IMPACT
Potential increase of 38 multi-family units.
Prepared by: Robyn Baker, AICP, Director of Planning & Zoning.