The Jacksonville Planning Commission approved a zoning exception Thursday to allow Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Five Points to serve all alcohol.
Hawkers, at 1001 Park St., serves beer and wine. The exception allows the restaurant to serve liquor.
The city Planning and Development Department recommended approval, saying the area has received exceptions in the past for full-service alcohol restaurants.
A companion application for a waiver of liquor distance was approved to reduce the required distance from 500 feet to 80 feet from Hawkers to the Riverside Presbyterian Church at 849 Park St.
Hawkers opened the 4,500-square-foot space, owned by Park & Post LLC, in 2014.
The city approved a building permit to remodel and expand Hawkers into the adjacent 3,102-square-foot storefront owned by Three by Five Retail Associates LLC.
Building plans show added dining and back-of-house facilities and an extended bar.
Hawkers CEO and co-founder Kaleb Harrell previously said the work is expected to be complete this summer. “With this expansion into the area next door, we will also be able to snag a liquor license,” he said.
“That means Five Points will be able to enjoy our newly curated cocktail menu, allowing everyone to experience the streets of Asia in an entirely new way,” he said.
Zoning exception
The planning commission approved a zoning exception for Rush Truck Leasing Inc. at 718 Lane Ave. N. to allow truck leasing in the industrial light zoning district. The 2.25-acre property, owned by 718 Lane Avenue North LLC, formerly housed Snider Fleet Solutions, a truck and auto repair garage. The property contains a 17,691-square-foot service building. The property is surrounded by light and heavy industrial uses.
Rezoning recommendations
The planning commission recommended approval of rezonings for:
• Ordinance 2019-39, which seeks to rezone 0.9 acres owned by Neena Kumar, at 8480 103rd St., from community commercial general-1 to community commercial general-2 to allow the property to be used for auto repair and leasing.
• Ordinance 2019-40, which seeks to rezone 26 acres at 4674 Hood Road, between Ilah Road and Inverness Drive, from residential rural-acre to residential low density-70 to allow a single-family subdivision of about 82 lots. The planning and development department staff noted the proposed development is consistent and compatible with zoning trends in the area.
• Ordinance 2019-42, which seeks to rezone 1.44 acres of a split-zoned parcel, at 742 Arlington Road, from residential low density-80 to planned unit development to allow the use of the property and the existing single-family structure as classroom space for the Morning Star School. The property, owned by the Diocese of St. Augustine Inc., is adjacent to the 31.46-acre PUD where Morning Star School operates. The application does not allow an increase in the student population.
Rezonings require Land Use and Zoning Committee and full council approval.