Planning board recommends FLUM change at 2300 5th Avenue to extend Miracle Mile commercial district

On July 16 the Vero Beach Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously to recommend that City Council amend the Future Land Use Map to change the designation of 2300 5th Avenue from Residential Medium to Commercial (C24-000003-FLUM-MAP). Applicant representatives said the seven-acre site is currently a parking lot and office building and that converting it to commercial is intended to align the property with the Miracle Mile vision.

"The seven (7) acre site is 100% impervious right now. It is a parking lot with an office building and there is no grass," developer Keith Kite told the board, describing the site as ready for redevelopment. Planning Director Jason Jeffries and Principal Planner Cheri Fitzgerald said the FLUM amendment is the first, high-level step; site-specific issues such as pedestrian design, intersection improvements and traffic impact reports would be addressed during rezoning and site-plan review. The board discussed access options, cross-easements and the City’s plans to upgrade 5th Avenue as developments proceed.

Board members said they favored pedestrian-oriented redevelopment north of Miracle Mile and emphasized the need for detailed site planning to avoid a strip-mall or large parking-lot outcome. Vice Chairman T.P. Kennedy moved to recommend approval; Ms. Santamarina seconded and the motion passed 4-0.

Because the rezoning application that would implement B-4 standards was withdrawn from today's agenda, the FLUM amendment advances the policy-level change but does not itself authorize specific site design or zoning approvals.