City Planning Board Catches Heat over Rezoning Request

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ An outcry from several area residents about a rezoning request garnered the most citizen attention at the June 19 High Springs Plan Board meeting. Joe E. Tillman requested to rezone one acre of vacant land from Planned Development (PD) to Residential (R-1). The proposed change will permit Tillman to place a home on the property that encompasses the east 30 feet of the right-of-way of Northwest 222^nd Street.

Several area residents lodged their adamant objections to the placement of a mobile home on the site. High Springs Planning Technician Kristyn Adkins clarified that the request was for a zoning change and not for a special use permit, which would be required for a mobile home to be placed on the site.

Under High Springs codes, a special use permit is handled administratively and would not be considered by the Plan Board. If a special use permit is requested, it would be considered by the High Springs City Manager.

City Commissioner Katheryn Weitz spoke out asking if there was any way that the Plan Board could hear the request instead of the City Manager. Adkins explained that it was not possible, that it had to be approved or denied by administrative action.

Other citizens complained that a large paved driveway had already been built on the property, dirt had been moved and the area had already had sod laid. Neighbors complained that the large amount of rainfall the previous week washed dirt into the roadway and caused flooding because of the driveway project. In addition, neighbors complained that trees had been removed without a permit.

Adkins will check if permits were obtained for the driveway construction and tree removal. Adkins said the City Manager will receive minutes of the meeting and she would relay to her the objections to placing a mobile home on the property and any permit issues. Plan Board members said they felt penalties should be imposed if permits were not applied for prior to construction and tree removal.

In a unanimous vote, the Board ultimately approved the rezoning change.

In other business, the Board considered an application for approval of a Preliminary Plat for Hidden Springs Villas. The property consists of 5.6 +/- acres and is located at 22771 Railroad Avenue.

The development will include 11 two-story buildings with four attached homes in each building for a total of 44 residences. Single-car garages are planned for each residence with end residences possibly incorporating double-car garages. A retention pond is planned to be located behind the development. Kim Fischer, P.E., Cycorp Engineering, Inc., agent for Steven Fehr of PR Corporate Holdings, LLC, said the façade and landscaping will vary so the buildings won’t just look like “slabs.”  

The Board questioned if the development would be considered affordable housing units, to which Fischer responded, saying not in the technical sense but would be considered “more attainable” housing. Plan Board members voted unanimously to approve the application in roll call vote.

In other business, Board members considered a minor site plan for a pole barn to be located at Sweet Meats Butcher Shop, 18172 U.S. Highway 441. The property, which is currently under construction, consists of 1.8 +/- acres and is owned by Robert Gay, President, BCE Supply Chain Enterprises, Inc.

Gay was on hand and explained that the pole barn would be located behind the building and would be used for barbecue classes, competition, special events and a wild game dinner later this year. The site plan was unanimously approved.

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