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Board grants variances for 1328 N. Third St.; conditions require maintenance of adjacent parking
Summary
The board approved setbacks and a reduction of required off‑street parking to allow a commercial-to‑amusement/recreation tenant to occupy 1328 North Third Street, subject to conditions that the owner improve and maintain six parking spaces in the city right‑of‑way.
The Jacksonville Beach Board of Adjustments approved variances May 20 for 1328 North Third Street to reconcile historic setbacks and parking nonconformities and to permit a planned commercial amusement/recreation use.
Attorney Jason Gabriel, representing the owner, described the building as a long‑standing commercial structure built in 1946 that has been vacant for more than a year. Gabriel said the incoming tenant will operate by appointment and likely produce less traffic than the retail operations that previously occupied the building. He told the board the parcel is conforming as a lot of record but the building’s configuration predates current standards.
Gabriel said six parking spaces exist on the city right‑of‑way adjacent to the property and that the owner and tenant agree to improve and maintain those spaces as a condition of the approval: “there are absolutely 6 slots that are available…one of the conditions in your staff report is…for the owner/tenant to improve and maintain the city right away 6 slots, and we absolutely will,” he said.
A nearby resident, Robert Bunkley, said he was not aware of private parking beyond city parking and raised concerns about deliveries, dumpster activity and visibility at the corner. Gabriel responded the site has been dark and used for nuisance activity while vacant, and that an active tenant would improve security.
The board discussed the parking shortfall relative to the code requirement (staff noted the code required 14 spaces for the proposed use) but accepted the applicant’s evidence and the owner’s commitment to maintain the six existing spaces and to perform improvements per staff recommendations. The motion to approve the variances passed on a roll call vote, with the amendment requiring maintenance of the right‑of‑way parking included.
