Coral Springs board prepares to review flexible zoning proposal designed to expand opportunities for small and growing businesses
Coral Springs, Florida – City leaders in Coral Springs are preparing to take a significant step toward reshaping how and where small businesses can operate, as a new zoning proposal heads to the Planning and Zoning Board for review on Monday. Officials say the changes are designed to modernize outdated rules and better match the realities of today’s local economy.
The proposal, referred to as Flexible Zoning, would ease long-standing restrictions that limit what types of businesses can operate in certain commercial and industrial areas. City planners argue that current zoning categories no longer reflect how many businesses function, particularly smaller operations that blend retail, light production, and online sales.
According to a memo from the city’s Planning and Zoning Department, the goal is to create space for businesses that fall between traditional definitions. Many of these operations are too large to run from home but too small to justify leasing large warehouses or industrial buildings. Flexible Zoning aims to close that gap by allowing a wider range of uses across multiple zoning districts.
Under the proposal, micro-enterprises, artisan businesses, small-scale manufacturing, and select health and fitness uses could be permitted in more parts of the city. The memo defines micro-enterprises as businesses with fewer than 10 employees, noting that many entrepreneurs reach a point where home-based operations are no longer practical, even though their space needs remain modest.
Eligible uses could include craft food production, maker spaces, research operations, light assembly, e-commerce businesses, and small warehouses. City staff emphasized that these businesses would only be allowed if they do not create excessive noise, traffic, or other disruptions that could affect nearby properties.
One of the key ideas behind the proposal is making better use of existing space. Planning officials say Flexible Zoning could allow underused commercial areas to be repurposed, such as converting surplus parking in large shopping plazas into smaller storefronts or workspaces for local businesses. Supporters believe this approach could breathe new life into aging commercial corridors while supporting entrepreneurship.
City staff say the proposal is not a sudden shift, but the result of years of conversations with business owners and economic development advisers. Those discussions highlighted recurring challenges faced by small operators who struggle to find affordable, appropriately sized spaces within city limits.
While the plan emphasizes flexibility, it also includes safeguards aimed at protecting nearby neighborhoods. For properties located close to residential areas, the proposal sets size limits and, in some cases, requires additional review. Businesses may need to complete traffic, parking, or noise studies before receiving approval, depending on their location and type of operation.
Planning officials say these measures are meant to strike a balance — encouraging economic growth without changing the character of surrounding areas. The intent, according to the memo, is to support business development while maintaining quality of life for residents.
The Planning and Zoning Board will review the proposal Monday and is expected to vote on whether to recommend it to the City Commission. A favorable recommendation would move the plan forward for final consideration by city commissioners, who would have the authority to approve or reject the changes.
If adopted, Flexible Zoning could mark a notable shift in Coral Springs’ approach to economic development. City leaders believe the changes could make the city more attractive to entrepreneurs, support job creation, and allow businesses to grow without leaving the community.
For now, the proposal remains under review, but officials say the upcoming meeting will be an important step in determining how Coral Springs adapts its zoning rules to a changing business landscape.
