Tampa City Council voted to approve a special-use permit that will allow a small-venue sale of beer and wine at 340 East Davis Boulevard after a heated public hearing in which dozens of Davis Islands residents urged denial.

Opponents said the application asked for multiple waivers that, taken together, would permit alcohol service much closer to homes than the code intends and would greatly increase demand for already scarce parking. “Parking is a huge issue with this request,” resident Debbie Zomerman told the council, adding residents had documented a potential parking shortfall into the triple digits.

Applicant counsel Alex Shaler told council the site is commercially zoned and that the owners had voluntarily agreed to several conditions — including no outdoor amplified sound, no outdoor tables or chairs and reduced hours — to limit neighborhood impacts. He said the applicant revised the site plan between readings to restrict hours and add binding site-plan notes.

Council members split over how far to push additional conditions. Several members said they would have preferred stricter limits on outdoor occupancy after staff calculations showed a maximum fire-code occupancy that alarmed neighbors. Councilman Maniscalco said he had viewed the site in person and that the proximity to residences gave him "pause." Councilwoman Hertek, who made the motion to approve, said competent substantial evidence supported denying the exception sought by opponents and that the conditions on the final site plan would remain binding and would require council review for substantial changes.

The council adopted the permit after debate with recorded votes showing members Miranda and Maniscalco voting no and Councilman Carlson abstaining on the related motion; council records show the site-plan conditions remain enforceable and that any later substantial change would return to council. The council also separately considered a related restaurant liquor application for nearby 218/220 E. Davis Boulevard and the two matters were discussed together in public comment.

The decision drew strong reaction from residents who said the neighborhoodwill monitor compliance closely and expect enforcement of the site-plan restrictions. The small-venue approval carries binding site-plan conditions: no outdoor amplified sound, early closing hours and a prohibition on outdoor tables/chairs without council approval.

Next steps: The permit conditions now run with the site; any applicant request to change hours, occupancy or outdoor seating must return to council for approval.