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Board approves future land use change for 9200 Fowler Ave amid resident complaints about nearby business operations
Summary
The Planning Board approved a small‑scale amendment to convert the commercial portion of 9200 Fowler Ave to Mixed Use Urban, a change that permits residential development at up to 25 dwelling units per acre; nearby residents raised code‑enforcement complaints about dumping and fires related to an existing business on or near the property.
On May 6 the Escambia County Planning Board approved small‑scale map amendment SSA‑2025‑03 to change the future land use of the eastern portion of 9200 Fowler Avenue from Commercial to Mixed Use Urban (MOU). Planning staff said the parcel is approximately 8.85 acres in total and the eastern portion that is the subject of the amendment would allow a maximum residential density of 25 dwelling units per acre under the MOU designation.
County planner Caleb McCarty presented maps and staff findings, reporting that the property is split zoned between High‑Density Mixed Use (HDMU) and Heavy Commercial‑Light Industrial (HCLI) and that the requested future land use conversion would permit residential uses where commercial-only limitations previously applied. McCarty said the parcel meets the small‑scale amendment criteria (under 50 acres, not in a designated area of critical state concern) and that Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) would provide potable water, sanitary sewer, and solid waste services for the site.
During public comment, two nearby residents — Cheryl Hendrickson (600 Hawkins Road) and Roy Wilder (610 Hawkins Street) — told the board they had ongoing problems with operations on the property to the south. Hendrickson said neighbors had seen illegal dumping of landscaping debris and pallets behind their homes, and described a fire she said burned 30 feet high that prompted her to call the fire department: "They dump their landscaping trash and pallets instead of disposing of them properly... The fire went up 30 feet and it was a very windy day... I had to call the fire department to have them put it out because I could have easily have burnt my house down." (Cheryl Hendrickson)
Wilder said the site had been used for outside work and storage and that code enforcement had been involved previously: "Last year, I had the problem. They were right behind my house washing the porta less out... I mean, the man can't be trusted... I see it happening now." (Roy Wilder)
Board members and staff discussed that a pre‑application for multi‑family housing had been submitted to county staff (separate from the Planning Board hearing) and that code enforcement actions and liens appear in county records for the existing property. County staff advised residents to continue to report ongoing violations to code enforcement and said staff would follow up with the applicant and the code enforcement office to determine the status of any enforcement actions.
After discussion the board moved to approve the map amendment; the motion was seconded and "motion carries" was recorded. The Planning Board's approval is a recommendation for the future land use change; further development proposals will be subject to development review, applicable code enforcement remedies, and any required future land use and zoning processes.
