City Commission to consider Laurel Park zoning procedures

A public hearing regarding an ordinance that would alter the zoning approval process in Laurel Park will be held at the City Commission meeting Monday, July 15.

The ordinance would create an overlay district in Laurel Park. If a building permit or site plan in the overlay district was proposed that exceeded current zoning thresholds, the developer would be required to hold two community workshops before submitting an application.

The boundaries of the Laurel Park Overlay District would be Rawls Avenue on the east, Morrill Street on the north, Julia Place and Lafayette Court on the west and Alderman Street and Brother Geenen Way on the south.

At a Planning Board public hearing March 27, the ordinance was recommended for approval by a vote of 3-2.

Also at Monday’s meeting, commissioners will consider:

• The expansion of the Main Street Improvement Project to include the addition of brick pavers to four crosswalks at Palm Avenue and Main Street. Two options will be discussed at the meeting. One option, recommended by the Downtown Improvement District, would close the intersection of Palm Avenue and Main Street for 16 days and cost about $57,000. The second option would leave one lane of traffic open, but the construction would last 40 days and cost roughly $98,000.

• The adoption of an ordinance that would require dogs to be on a leash at Payne Park.

• A request for $50,000 in annual funding from Season of Sculpture to assist in the production of a bayfront art exhibition.

Contact David Conway at [email protected] 

Laurel Park Overlay District

The Laurel Park Overlay District, shown in the map below, allows for more neighborhood input.

View Laurel Park Overlay District in a larger map