Coral Springs Commission approves rezoning of 58 acres to complete the city’s downtown mixed-use district
Coral Springs, Florida – Coral Springs has taken another major step in shaping its downtown after the City Commission approved the rezoning of more than 58 acres within the city’s Community Redevelopment Area.
Commissioners voted 4-0 at their Sept. 2 meeting to adopt two local laws that rezone 58.31 acres to Downtown Mixed-Use. The designation is already used at the four corners of Sample Road and University Drive, an area that has become a key part of the city’s plans for a more active and connected downtown.
The newly rezoned land includes about 210 parcels, according to city documents. The properties are located west of Coral Hills Drive and along a portion of University Drive near NW 31st Court. The change moves the properties out of Community Business, Medium Density Multi-Family and Medical Center zoning and places them under the Downtown Mixed-Use designation.
For property owners, the change does not mean they must immediately alter their buildings or the way their properties are being used. Under the new law, the updated zoning requirements generally become relevant if an owner expands a building by more than 20% or removes an existing structure and rebuilds.
The commission also approved several changes to the city’s mixed-use zoning code. Those changes are intended to address some of the practical details that come with a more urban-style downtown, including ride-share pickup locations, guest parking and alleys that connect properties to shared parking areas.
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The updated rules will also allow outdoor seating along Sample Road and NW 33rd Street. In addition, the list of permitted uses will expand to include small-scale manufacturing, research and development businesses, and craft beverage makers.
Another significant change involves building height. A new building type will allow structures of up to eight stories, or 100 feet, near shared parking areas on Sample Road and University Drive.
According to city documents, the city needs this new building type to remain consistent with a state law that limits cities from adopting stricter zoning regulations in certain circumstances. The change gives Coral Springs a zoning framework that can accommodate the requirements of that law while continuing its plans for the downtown area.
The rezoning had already received an initial vote from the commission. Commissioners approved the ordinances 3-0 on first reading Aug. 19, when Commissioner McHugh was absent. Before that, the Planning and Zoning Board recommended the rezoning by a 4-1 vote in June.
City officials have pointed to the existing Downtown Mixed-Use area as an example of what the broader zoning approach could bring to Coral Springs.
In a letter to the city, Coral Springs Community Redevelopment Agency Board Chair Bernard Moyle said the mixed-use zoning already established at the four corners of Sample Road and University Drive has generated a substantial increase in taxable property value since 2018.
“A vibrant, walkable downtown benefits the entire community by attracting more residents, customers, and visitors while strengthening property values and encouraging continued private investment,” Moyle wrote.
With the latest commission vote, the city has completed the rezoning of the additional 58.31 acres. The move expands the area covered by Downtown Mixed-Use rules and sets a broader framework for future redevelopment, while allowing existing property owners to continue using their buildings without making immediate changes.
