High Springs Plan Board Gives Nod to Springs Garden Village

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Planning and Zoning Board on July 17 approved a zoning change request for Springs Garden Village for 3.71 +/- acres from C-2 (Commercial) to PD (Planned Development). The property is located south of Northwest 176^th Avenue, east of High Springs Main Street, north of 174^th Avenue and west of Southside Court.

Upon completion, the property will include 38 two-bedroom units with two units attached as duplex townhouses. Each unit will have a two-story floor plan of 1,000 sq. ft. or more and parking at 1.5 parking spaces per bedroom. The proposed project will include green space on approximately 40 percent of the site with a plant/tree buffer surrounding the project.

Several area residents requested that the Board deny the zoning change application. Residents’ opposition included increased traffic in the area, proximity to Liquide Air and the propane plant, sinkholes on the property, the desire for a larger tree line buffer to protect new property owners from chemicals from nearby commercial properties, area flooding, sewer capacity and noise.

Ryan Kremser of ThemeWorks asked that some type of sound buffer be included in the project as their company has noise and trucks coming and going on their property throughout the night and early morning hours. He said residential property owners would be disturbed by the noise and there could be conflicts.

High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos and Planning Technician Kristyn Adkins said that the developer will be required to perform a geotechnical study as part of the next steps to rule out sinkholes. Stathatos said that a PD zoning designation allows the City to have more control over the details of the development. She also said that by the time the project is built, the City would have adequate sewer capacity.

Board members were made aware that under C-2 zoning, a hypothetical commercial shopping center on that property could easily generate up to 1,600 cars per day as opposed to the 228 generated by residents in the proposed development.

Adkins also said that no development could be placed within 50 feet of a sinkhole. Should sinkholes be found on the property, the developer will be required to modify development plans or not build. One Board member commented that the only way to prevent development on the property is for the City to buy it and leave it undeveloped.

Board members voted 3 – 1 to approve the rezoning application with the condition that City staff work with the developer to construct sound barriers and perform ground density tests to address sinkhole concerns.

Board Chair Donald Alderman advised that the people opposing the change during the Board meeting attend the City Commission meeting when the proposed development will be discussed and voted on again.

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