Port St. Joe approves annexation and rezoning of 2.5-acre parcel amid county opposition

PORT ST. JOE, Fla. — The Port St. Joe City Commission voted Aug. 5 to annex a 2.5‑acre parcel owned by H and K Gulf Coast Holdings LLC and to change the city’s future land‑use map and zoning for that parcel to high‑density residential (ordinances 6‑18 and 6‑19). The hearing was conducted as a quasi‑judicial proceeding and drew extended testimony from the property owner, a land‑use expert and Gulf County legal staff and public commenters.

The annexation adds Parcel ID 04571‑000R to the city boundary and the commission approved a small‑scale comprehensive‑plan amendment and a rezoning to R‑3 high‑density residential. In explaining the owner’s intent, property owner Kaye Haddock said, “My intent is to be able to put workforce housing there.” Had dock said she owns local businesses and that providing housing close to work would reduce long commutes and turnover among employees.

The change drew sharp objections from Gulf County staff and nearby industrial interests. Gulf County attorney Jeremy Novak presented a written county objection and read sections that cited Florida annexation and comprehensive‑plan statutes and alleged procedural defects in the city’s notice process; county staff also said the parcel is surrounded by longstanding industrial uses and that residential zoning could…