The request is for the City Council to approve on first reading an Ordinance of the City of New Port Richey, Florida amending the Land Development Code (LDC) Zoning District Map; granting to the Owner RNTC, LLC a development order approving a change in the zoning district as is displayed in Exhibit A from General Commercial (C-2) to Light Industrial (LI) for a 0.726 acre property, the street address being 6656 and 6700 Orchid Lake Road, the parcel identification number being 33-25-16-015A-00000-0240, and the legal description provided in Exhibit B; and providing for an effective date.

This is one of two agenda requests on tonight's agenda for two contiguous properties that change the zoning district from C-2 to LI to accommodate existing land uses.  Recently, the automotive business that operated from the property vacated the premises and a new business, Elegant Touch Stonework, a granite fabrication business, began operating in the vacated space.  Subsequently, the City of New Port Richey Code Enforcement Department became aware the business did not have a Local Business Tax Receipt (LBTR) and Elegant Touch Stonework was issued a citation.  On August 19, 2019 the Elegant Touch Stonework owners filed a LBTR and a Zoning Clearance to allow the operation of the business.  By letters dated September 18^th, 2019, the property owner and business were informed that the granite fabrication business, an industrial use, is prohibited in the C-2 zoning district but could be allowed if the property were rezoned to Light Industrial district.

The Department finds the area where the property is located is undergoing a transition and although there are no abutting properties zoned IL district there are four other properties in the same area zoned IL district.  Further, one of the properties contiguous to this property also is requesting a rezoning to LI district.  Finally, based on the totality of the circumstances, the rezoning application is consistent with the rezoning application guidelines.