Lake City planning board unanimously backs rezoning of Real Terrace parcel to commercial intensive

The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Lake City on Aug. 12 unanimously recommended that City Council approve a comprehensive plan amendment and companion rezoning that would change about 70 acres at the corner of Real Terrace and Bascom Norris from county residential low density to city commercial and set the zoning to Commercial Intensive.

The application, filed by Real Terrace LLC and presented by Carol Chadwick, PE, asks to reclassify parcel 02519-000 so future developers could pursue a wider set of commercial uses. "We're asking to rezone this property to commercial intensive, which gives future developers the most options," said Carol Chadwick, the applicant's agent.

Staff told the board the parcel was recently annexed into the city and that a large portion of the site contains wetlands and areas in flood zones. "A majority of the parcel is flood zone and a wetland," Mister Angelo, a city staff representative, told the board, and he said more detailed analyses — including stormwater and utility impacts — would occur at the site-plan stage.

Why it matters: the amendment would remove a residential low-density designation that allows about two dwelling units per acre and replace it with a commercial city designation, enabling commercial development in a location adjacent to existing commercial parcels including a Lowe's with commercial city designation.

What the board discussed: board members asked about developable portions of the site and options for land in flood zones A through E. Chadwick said wetlands likely would be preserved and that any work in the floodplain would require compensating fill and be addressed at site plan review. City staff reiterated that concurrency, stormwater and state permits would be examined later in the review process.

Next steps: Because the change covers more than 50 acres, Angelo said the decision, if recommended by the board, would be transmitted to the state for review after the city council first reading; that state review can take up to 90 days, after which the council will consider a final reading and any state comments.

Action: After discussion, a motion to approve the proposed comprehensive plan amendment (CPA 25-05) and the companion rezoning (Z25-07) passed by unanimous vote of the board. The board moved the staff reports and an updated concurrency and consistency analysis into the record.

Procedural note: City attorney Mister Martin reminded the board that testimony was taken under oath, that decisions must rely on competent substantial evidence presented at the hearing, and that expert opinion testimony must have a factual foundation.

Ending: The board's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council; state review is required before final action because the amendment exceeds 50 acres.