Council approves small-scale land-use change in Verano to allow general commercial uses

The City Council approved a small-scale amendment to the comprehensive plan that changes roughly 8.03 acres in the Verano development from a residential/golf-course designation to general commercial.

Daniel Robinson of Planning and Zoning presented the request from DK Central Park LLC and Shops at Port Saint Lucie LLC, saying the change aligns the land-use map with the original DRI (development of regional impact) and allows commercial uses such as retail, restaurants, and drive-throughs in the specified parcel at the northwest corner of Crosstown and Verano Parkway. He said the amendment is consistent with the city's comprehensive-plan goal to provide an appropriate mix of land uses.

An applicant representative, Pete Off, said the site was always positioned for commercial uses in the DRI, that the change aligns entitlements with the DRI development order, and that the applicant expects site plans for typical community-serving retailers. Councilmembers raised concerns about keeping Crosstown Parkway functioning as a limited-access greenway and said they will scrutinize site plans that could add high-traffic uses such as automotive services. Staff and a DRI representative said the project's access must follow the DRI access-management plan and that traffic analyses had anticipated commercial nodes in the DRI's planning.

Council approved ordinance 26-27 on first reading following public comment and staff presentation. Specific future site-plan approvals and special exceptions will return to council or staff for review as required by the zoning and design standards.