The Vero Beach Planning & Zoning Board unanimously recommended July 16 that the City Council change the land use of a seven-acre parcel from residential to commercial so a developer can repurpose the property at 2300 5th Ave. for mixed-use development as part of a northern extension of the Miracle Mile Business District. The applicant, 2300 5th Avenue LLC, has purchased an office building known locally as the Doctors Clinic. Through redevelopment, the site is planned to become integrated into the Miracle Mile area.
Principal Planner Cheri Fitzgerald said the request would change the future land use map from residential medium to commercial. The property is currently an office and pre-school. The amendment would extend the Miracle Mile commercial district to the north, which would allow mixed-use residential and commercial uses that could better align with more recent development trends. Fitzgerald based her recommendation of approval on the application's compliance with city code.
Contracted Land Planner Rebecca Grohall said the site was originally the Doctors Clinic specialized in healthcare, but many specialty medical practices eventually migrated toward the hospital. Today, it is generally utilized as office and a pre-school and faces vacancy rates and under-utilization. Grohall said the site plan has not been started because the Commercial Land Use designation is needed first.
Possibilities include a hotel, multifamily units, and a true mixed-use development with ground-floor retail and upper floor residential uses. The Planning & Zoning Board voted 4-0 to recommend approval.