Commission approves downtown PUD overlay; merchants and residents press for parking plan

Palatka—The Palatka City Commission on May 14 approved Ordinance 2026-28, establishing a Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay for multiple downtown parcels along St. John's Avenue and Reed Street to permit a mixed-use redevelopment that includes restaurants, entertainment venues and hotel rooms.

Planning staff told commissioners the overlay and associated development agreement were intended to unify multiple parcels under a master plan and support a phased redevelopment of the 200 and 300 blocks. The applicant, represented by James Triano, said the project would rehabilitate blighted buildings and attract "tens of millions" in private investment to downtown Palatka.

Public commenters, including downtown merchants and property owners, applauded potential economic benefits but pressed the commission repeatedly to address parking, curb-space loss and loading impacts. Several business owners said recent and proposed projects had already removed curbside parking and expressed concern that customers and delivery access at midday would suffer.

Planning staff and the developer said the city's code does not require off-street parking for downtown parcels in the riverfront district, but the development agreement commits the applicant to work with the city to find parking alternatives. Commissioners directed staff to commission or update a city parking inventory and present options for coordinated use of existing lots, shuttle or valet solutions, and possible public-private partnerships for shared parking facilities.

Speakers quoted (selected)

"We are prepared to work with the city on parking solutions," developer representative James Triano said, adding that potential solutions include shuttles and shared-use agreements.

"Stop sticking your head in the sand. You have a parking problem. Address it," longtime downtown merchant Marcia Bcraft said during public comment, urging the commission not to allow projects that remove more parking without demonstrated mitigation.

Next steps

Staff was directed to return with a parking study or an updated inventory of existing off-street lots and to explore short-term coordination (shared lot use, shuttle/valet) and longer-term public-private parking options as the project moves forward. The PUD was adopted, enabling project permits to proceed subject to conditions in the development agreement.