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Lake City board tables rezoning request for Laurel Lane, asks staff to pursue LDR text change
Summary
After heated public comment and competing staff findings, the Planning and Zoning Board on May 13 voted to table a rezoning petition for two parcels on Southwest Laurel Lane pending a possible text amendment to the city's land-development regulations that would allow commercial-neighborhood (CN) zoning on neighborhood streets.
The Lake City Planning and Zoning Board on May 13 voted to table a rezoning petition (Z25-03) filed by Florida First Coast Investment Corp. that would change two parcels on Southwest Laurel Lane from Residential Single-Family (RSF-3) to Commercial Neighborhood (CN).
City staff recommended denial, saying the comprehensive plan and land-development regulations require CN zoning to be located on roads designated as collectors or arterial roadways. Staff cited the comprehensive-plan policy IDET 1.5 (paragraph 2) and section 4.110.1 of the land-development regulations and concluded the street is a low-traffic, no-outlet residential lane and not appropriate for CN.
Carol Chadwick, P.E., the applicant's agent, and several residents, including property owner Buddy Slay and neighbor Christopher Sampson, urged the board to approve the rezoning. Slay and other proponents said the block is already transitioning to commercial uses, noted an adjacent parcel previously zoned CN, and described plans to renovate burned or vacant houses for small tenant suites (salons, stylists and other low-impact businesses). Slay told the board the owner's long-term aim is "to clean up the area, provide more rental suites for professionals" and said he would work with the city on next steps.
Staff and some commissioners warned against piecemeal commercial encroachment into an established residential area but acknowledged the block may be evolving. Planning staff suggested the parties consider one of two remedies: (1) a single, consolidated rezoning application covering the entire block under unified ownership, or (2) a text amendment to the land-development regulations allowing CN zoning on neighborhood streets where appropriate.
Board members discussed both options and asked whether the applicant would waive statutory time limits while a text amendment is pursued. Owner Buddy Slay agreed to "work with you" and the record shows he waived time limits so the board and City Council could consider LDR amendments without forcing an immediate final vote on the rezoning petition.
After debate, the board voted (non-unanimous) to table Z25-03 "until such time as appropriate action can be taken in reference to text amendment to the land development regulation City of Lake City." The motion passed with a majority of votes; one commissioner voted no. The action keeps the application alive while staff and the applicant pursue a citywide text amendment or a consolidated block rezoning; the board noted that even if it were to recommend denial, the matter could still be appealed or taken before City Council, which makes the final decision.
The record shows this matter prompted discussion of broader policy: whether the CN classification should be limited to arterial/collector roads or be available on neighborhood streets in transition. Staff estimated a text amendment would require multiple public hearings (board and two council readings) and could take three to six months to complete, depending on agenda scheduling.
