Anyone ever done this? Looking at an area where there's several shopping centers and very high vacancy rates yet the demand for single family is very high.

Edit: Didn't mean to submit. Question was how hard is the process or is it totally dependent upon the P&Z people in the city where property is located? Thanks.

I don't believe you would need to change the zoning. That is an example of going down in zoning. An area that is zoned commercial can have everything from commercial to office to residential.

Something zoned office can have offices or residential but not commercial retail etc without a zoning change.

Property zoned residential can only have residential and would need a zoning change for anything different.

It would have to be rezoned. It may be easier than going the other way but not always. You may want to look at some high density options or mixed use instead of single family residential. It is easier to approve because the city doesn't have to deal with single family residents complaining on the back end about being around commercial. Yes I know that they bought knowing it was around them, but it doesn't stop the complaining.

Getting something rezoned takes time, but not a ton of money in the greater scheme of things.

Ease of the process depends 100% on the municipality. Start with the planning department or city manager.

Call the planning department. Don't set any dates unless you are in a hurry. Ask about the process and the schedule. Find out how long it has been zoned commercial and if it changed at any point when and why. Get with adjacent property owners and let them know your goals and why it benefits them. You are going to need their support most likely. Make sure the city has no long term plans for your area. Ask about any roadway plans. Have plans drawn up or at least a good forecast of the future of your land and what it might look like.. access.. visibility.. etc. The city won't like if you will be adding traffic to an intersection or creating a situation that might backup the idle cars at a light.

You will ultimately be having to convince a zoning panel why this is beneficial for the city.

FTAco07 said:

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Yes it will have to be re-zoned. Down zoning may typically be easier to achieve, but you have to be mindful of tax revenue, or potential tax revenue, the city forgoes with a down zone. Commercial properties pay significantly more in taxes than homesteaded residential properties while simultaneously requiring fewer city services. Lots of smaller cities have delusions of grandeur when it comes to the type and number of business they can attract and tax so they may be less inclined to give up on that dream for some more houses.

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City would be foregoing sales tax revenue as well.

Ag81Golf said:

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FTAco07 said:

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Yes it will have to be re-zoned. Down zoning may typically be easier to achieve, but you have to be mindful of tax revenue, or potential tax revenue, the city forgoes with a down zone. Commercial properties pay significantly more in taxes than homesteaded residential properties while simultaneously requiring fewer city services. Lots of smaller cities have delusions of grandeur when it comes to the type and number of business they can attract and tax so they may be less inclined to give up on that dream for some more houses.

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City would be foregoing sales tax revenue as well.

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Not if it's vacant like he says.

Damn, where did this response come from?

It may or may NOT have to be re-zoned, it just depends on the particular city's zoning ordinance.