[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6316946,"mediaKeyId","2375148-da1414f5db57e46e04033bbdd374db95","parentId",2375148,"title","Votes at a glance: Columbia County commissioners approve zoning changes, incentives and administrative measures","audioSeconds",2994,"startMs",345000,"endMs",3339000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375148-da1414f5db57e46e04033bbdd374db95&start=345&end=3339","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375148-da1414f5db57e46e04033bbdd374db95/thumbnail_345000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6316946/Columbia-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Columbia-County-commissioners-approve-zoning-changes-incentives-and-administrative-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316946-fb0b854c599abe0ce914bf75ccfe5ae8/orig.mp4?Expires=1777427489&Signature=D~WiTAv8a~69wYqyFsVAFMyDu-Kalylq2WA0K~LjnhLYKwtF6qUihpiK-E7MMzFgOK52Kc45IfHa7qisCQ3LDz9tkWoQ8yuNrVrFkO8dHV4P~mQBSRh5MXlXtAGtODJh-hLYPVhTpQJBIV0vXZgrxme6BtcFetRRikRPJOFXqBNQo504Y2ZIa4ifpzEoGWnm5lDdbp5lv18LYgxLQHLYDn0fXhVRihl66e9hSBIPILk6GhRnkQRXj80WwgFb54wcFeJYzrT7twio4KQP1U5Y6yl6nKpD0leoCx9-i62Wmob8in904ioc1IDn2MJHbRKXCZSnBIwT1zv1zjZ0wkyfFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbia County, FL","date","2025-02-21T00:42:46Z","article","The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners approved multiple ordinances, resolutions and administrative items at its Feb. meeting. Much of the zoning and land‑use business was routine public hearings with no speakers; several business items required staff follow up or conditions. Below is a concise list of each formal action taken on the record.

Votes at a glance (each measure approved unless noted):

- Ordinance 2025‑06 (Z2412O3) — zoning change (RSF‑2 to RSF MH‑2) for a parcel described in the package. Planning & Zoning recommended approval; board approved by voice vote.

- Ordinance 2025‑07 (Z2412O2) — zoning change from CI/CG to RSF MH‑2 (returning property to former residential zoning); board approved.

- Ordinance 2025‑09 (Z2411O1) and companion Ordinance 2025‑10 (CPA2411O1) — Smart Community Storage: zoning amendment from RSF MH‑2 to RMH‑P (mobile home park) and future land use amendment to residential medium; planning board recommended; board approved.

- Ordinance 2025‑11 and Ordinance 2025‑12 — Pearson Trust: zoning change AG‑3 to CI (commercial) and companion future land use change; board approved after a clerical motion correction on the record.

- Ordinance 2025‑13 and Ordinance 2025‑14 — Estrada Family Trust: zoning and future land use amendments from AG‑3/RSF MH‑2 to industrial/ILW for specified parcels; both adopted as recommended by the Planning & Zoning Board.

- Ordinance 2025‑05 — Amendments to building code and LDRs to maintain compliance with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements and to align the county permit threshold with the Florida Building Code (permit threshold raised from $4,000 to $5,000). Board adopted the ordinance after a public hearing with no speakers.

- Proclamation 2025PDash03 — Hazardous Materials Awareness Week (Feb. 24–March 2025): approved and presented; North Central Florida Regional Planning Council accepted the proclamation on behalf of local responders.

- Resolution 2025‑R‑07 — Reimbursement agreement for construction oversight and CEI for sidewalk at SE Sky Ave and Jordan St (Fort White): approved and adopted; staff to execute agreement and resolution as recorded.

- Contract/Grant amendment FM‑883 — Amendment No. 1 for Station 51 design and retention pond engineering (Fire Station/Admin building): board approved housekeeping amendments to add design contract and engineering appendices.

- Lakeshore Hospital Authority property donation — Board accepted donation terms for multiple downtown parcels (administrative building, record storage, unimproved land and parking lots), subject to customary transactional costs, survey, nominal office space for authority staff, and a 30‑year reverter clause; board approved those terms and authorized surveys.

- Public Information Officer (PIO) position — Board approved creation and position description for a full‑time public information officer; funding to be allocated from multiple departmental budgets and hire process to follow county HR procedures.

- Project Avacrest — Economic Development Incentive: Board approved a 95% tax rebate for five years for Project Avacrest (a market‑rate residential project proposed as 30 duplexes / ~60 doors, capital investment target cited on the scorecard). The vote authorized the county attorney to draft an economic development agreement; final incentive payments will be subject to performance, agreement terms, and the county’s incentive policy.

- Project Flat Tire (Road Rangers / FDOT service center) — Economic Development Incentive: Board approved a six‑year tax rebate (75% on new/improved property; 50% on tangible property) based on an anticipated $1.5 million capital investment and planned local job creation; the board directed the county attorney to draft the agreement.

- Consent agenda and routine items including adoption of consent motions and ministerial approvals were adopted on voice vote.

Most measures passed by unanimous voice vote; where staff noted conditions (for example, the Lakeshore donation terms and survey authorization, or drafting of economic development agreements), the board directed county staff and the county attorney to finalize required contracts and return with documents for execution.

If a resident or developer needs detail on a particular ordinance number or incentive (zoning legal descriptions, scorecards, or the draft economic development agreement), staff advised contacting County Administration or the Planning & Zoning Department for the packet attachments and legal descriptions included with the board materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2-20-2025 - Columbia County Board of County Commissioners -Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners approved a package of zoning and administrative items at its Feb. meeting, including several rezoning and future‑land‑use ordinances, a building code update to satisfy NFIP, two economic development incentives, acceptance of donated hospital authority property and creation of a public information officer position.","taxTitle","Columbia County, Florida","taxId",27813,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316952,"Commissioners set workshop after hearing substantial changes proposed for campgrounds and RV parks",481,2614000,3095000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375148-da1414f5db57e46e04033bbdd374db95&start=2614&end=3095","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375148-da1414f5db57e46e04033bbdd374db95/thumbnail_2614000.jpg","/articles/6316952/Columbia-County/Florida/Commissioners-set-workshop-after-hearing-substantial-changes-proposed-for-campgrounds-and-RV-parks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316952-4e4b30cc54d561b3ba087a10a3fe1696/orig.mp4?Expires=1777427489&Signature=XXs3mnarARz-x03cqMlPjffDTQs7euybOeCDTt2KAMNo9DgbptBKoiLvaKQAAkGmvE3C6WQk~yBQDRI-ky8d9~VtupsPbEfy10u4BEv20ezfu1otyfxNl7ldLRsP-B-8DBvr3jNel1FRAwrlTfjyowv17E~d65WOhQzciJztzPsAMukzYKE7lCMlBZmlyxM~tX~XEtqoKAGhyz1-EuXx7lKZZ8YO4UOyWtcyxUZ3va6AeJZU7hobvTiCccU5bCOejS-~YC8ke7VNh81Juf4YPyB8wUEUW3rWi-F9~KDHV05YndXd7HbqtW5GmIosf0TxbV2xjcsqc1EGLlcdii0-ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia County commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to amend the county’s land development regulations (LDRs) governing campgrounds and RV parks. County staff said the draft ordinance would replace the former single standard approach and introduce a list of new, more restrictive standards intended to limit density and require infrastructure investment.

Key proposed changes described by county staff included:

- Any campsite that will accommodate an RV, trailer, portable tiny home or other vehicular accommodation would have to be 4,500 square feet (roughly 45 by 100 feet) rather than the county’s prior, smaller campsite standard.
- Parcels used for campgrounds or RV parks would have to be at least 20 contiguous and reasonably compact acres; smaller scattered parcels would not qualify.
- A 50‑foot natural buffer would be required along project boundaries (with an administrative variance process available for special circumstances).
- Campgrounds could not adjoin platted subdivisions with lots of 5 acres or less (recorded subdivisions only), a new restriction intended to reduce conflicts with small‑lot residential neighborhoods.
- Centralized water and wastewater would be required: either connection to a public utility, a centralized treatment/packaged plant, or a centralized well with treatment; septic tanks for individual sites would not be allowed under the proposed standard.

County staff told the board these changes were intended to shift higher‑density vehicular accommodations toward locations with existing infrastructure (for example, interstate interchanges) and to increase setbacks and buffers near residential areas.

Commissioners and public speakers said the changes would be transformative for the county. One public commenter, Edward Ottinger, described his planned 55‑and‑older park design (30 sites on 8 acres) and asked how the new rules would affect projects already in process; staff agreed to include such projects in the upcoming workshop discussion. Staff cautioned that the proposed standards would make many proposed or existing small RV parks economically infeasible and could reduce the number of new parks in the county.

After discussion, the board voted to table the ordinance and to schedule a workshop on March 6 (morning) with a continued public hearing set for the board’s evening meeting on March 20. Staff recommended cross‑noticing the workshop with the regular meeting and advised a date‑certain tabling so the public hearing could be reopened in March without repeating the advertisement.

By tabling the item and scheduling a workshop, commissioners created a structured opportunity for staff, developers, and residents to review the proposed standards and for commissioners to consider amendments before final adoption.","County staff proposed major changes to land development regulations for campgrounds and RV parks — larger minimum campsite sizes for vehicular accommodations, 20‑acre minimums, 50‑foot natural buffers, centralized water and sewer — and the board tabled action to allow a workshop March 6 and a public hearing March 20.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316956,"Columbia County commissioners vote to opt out of Live Local Act tax exemption for 2026–27",1604,963000,2567000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375148-da1414f5db57e46e04033bbdd374db95&start=963&end=2567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375148-da1414f5db57e46e04033bbdd374db95/thumbnail_963000.jpg","/articles/6316956/Columbia-County/Florida/Columbia-County-commissioners-vote-to-opt-out-of-Live-Local-Act-tax-exemption-for-202627","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316956-bf880c7ceeb1f8204fb3ee9a3a72c699/orig.mp4?Expires=1777427489&Signature=YPHD~IepRryPIXQ3pGlkUVyPIFy82sSR6-b1AaoMkD~LdI3XG5OpqD4jaNijrOO9YV-~HVTucUzHmo5FnOiz1JRL5XFz-Wq9ZzII3sv5l-siQqE3r0dsrfblg9chj0kbWLehkDxwQdEMV2TNTx~3366ZUhod8-E-jRcSbIA6db0tObnBycGgqGS7VYIRK28g2duXbEuxu8pRT7FI5S5g-4e1wEw4oV8wbasf4oEr3xyVdJrQL~dQ0Lau2I64aRIqGVOYeLIqNiQrgSsXxVIlR9AUmmvj4gw368UJ0-id8cv~Dkzf1zWfE1BUK9-DyfP50CHt~5WV94fDWB0GCEdE1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025‑R‑04, electing to opt out of the Live Local Act ad valorem tax exemption for properties that would otherwise qualify under section 196.1978 of the Florida Statutes. The resolution takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and expires on Jan. 1, 2028.

County staff presented the legal basis for the opt‑out, saying the statute allows a taxing authority to refuse the exemption if the Schoenberg/Schimberg center annual report (the state‑required housing study) shows the number of affordable and available units in the county’s region exceeds the number of renter households that meet the income criteria for the exemption. Staff told commissioners the latest report identified a surplus of available affordable units for the 0–120% AMI cohort in Columbia County’s designated area.

The resolution directs the Columbia County Property Appraiser not to grant the 80%–120% AMI (often called “Live Local”) exemption for the stated period and includes a saving provision for any property owner who already had an exemption granted before the resolution’s adoption. The board also instructed staff to provide a copy of the resolution to the property appraiser before the Jan. 1, 2026 effective date.

Members of the public spoke during the hearing. Dylan Adams, who identified himself as representing a market‑rate development team, told commissioners he supported local decision‑making: “I like to see the counties and smaller municipalities especially being able to drive the car and determine where they're gonna go with their future.”

Resident Jeffrey Hill urged care on legal citations before the vote: “Before you vote on a resolution, I'd like to point out your lawyer didn't get the numbers right. The numbers of Florida statutes are very important.” County counsel and staff responded to procedural and citation questions during the hearing. Barbara Lemley asked whether a private challenge could overturn the county’s finding; staff replied that the legislature has made the housing center’s annual report the controlling data point for this decision and that a challenge would be directed at the Live Local Act itself rather than at the county’s compliance with the statute.

Commissioners discussed local impacts, with several citing traffic and infrastructure concerns if higher‑density, state‑preempted development were allowed without local controls. Commissioner Robbie Hollingsworth framed the choice as a defense of local planning authority, saying that state‑level preemption could impose intense development “in places where housing is best suited” but without local control of roads and services. Commissioners emphasized that the opt‑out is a two‑year administrative action under state law and that the board can revisit the decision before it expires.

After public comment and deliberation, a motion to adopt Resolution 2025‑R‑04 passed by voice vote; the board recorded no opposition.

The county will transmit the resolution to the Columbia County Property Appraiser as required by statute. The action prevents the Live Local ad valorem tax exemption from being applied in Columbia County for the listed tax years unless the board votes to renew the exemption at a future date.

Correction note: The county packet cited the housing center study and statute numbers during the hearing; questions about the precise statutory citations were raised from the public and addressed on the record.","The Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025‑R‑04, directing the property appraiser not to grant Live Local (80%–120% AMI) ad valorem exemptions for properties in Columbia County for tax years beginning 2026 through 2027, citing a state study that the county has a surplus of affordable, available units.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Columbia County commissioners approve zoning changes, incentives and administrative measures

Commissioners set workshop after hearing substantial changes proposed for campgrounds and RV parks

Columbia County commissioners vote to opt out of Live Local Act tax exemption for 2026–27