Council adopts ordinance 1530 to rezone 0.588 acres on Duval Street; public commenters urge fairness and historic review

The City of Live Oak City Council on an unspecified date adopted Ordinance No. 1530, approving a zoning change for approximately 0.588 acres on Duval Street (application LDR 24-09). The ordinance changes the assigned zoning district from Residential Single Family/Manufactured Home (RSF/MH-2) to Residential Office (RO). City staff told the council the change is consistent with the comprehensive plan and that the Planning and Zoning Board had unanimously recommended approval at its Feb. 24 meeting.

George Kurtz, identified in the record as the development manager, told the council, “This is a zone change from residential single family manufactured home to to residential office. The land use on the comprehensive plan map, is already in place to support this zoning change. So the requested zoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan.” He also described the quasi-judicial nature of the council’s action and said the council must act on the evidence in the record.

During the public hearing, neighbors and other residents spoke both in support of and to ask that the council “look into it” before final action. Andy Perez, who said he purchased and renovated the house on the lot, thanked the council and described plans that could include rental housing. A separate commenter asked the council to examine whether allowing duplexes or multiple units on the lot would alter the character of Duval Street and whether an architectural-review or historic-district process should be considered for the future. Another resident, identified in the record as Daryl Bridget, asked the council to “look into it real good” and urged fairness in permitting.

Staff explained zoning consequences: the property’s land-use designation allows up to eight units per acre; at approximately 0.588 acres, that equates to a theoretical maximum of up to five housing units by zoning (the record notes there is one existing unit). Staff also clarified that the requested RO zoning would not permit manufactured housing and that other standards (setbacks, driveways, parking, lot coverage) would affect the exact number and configuration of units. Planning standards cited a typical minimum dwelling size of about 600 square feet; staff said a tiny-home neighborhood would require a larger parcel and a planned-development process.

Councilmember discussion focused on balancing increased housing supply with preservation of Duval Street’s historic character. One council member said that if the city wants to preserve architectural character it could adopt an architectural-review ordinance or create a historic district, but noted such measures add time and complexity to the development-review process. The council record shows past consideration of this rezoning at a prior meeting with no action; staff noted the council is required to act on zoning requests once filed.

A motion was made and seconded to adopt Ordinance No. 1530; the motion carried by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or the full motion text beyond the ordinance caption. The ordinance provides for severability and an effective date but the text of the effective date was not specified in the meeting record.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance No. 1530 (LDR 24-09) — Rezoning ~0.588 acres on Duval Street from RSF/MH-2 to RO — Approved by motion and voice vote; mover/second not specified; roll-call tally not recorded on the transcript.