Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Development Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jacksonville Beach councilors, residents press for public input as land development code changes loom; state bills flagged
Summary
Councilors and residents at the Feb. 18 Jacksonville Beach City Council meeting pressed for more public input on a draft land development code and warned that two recently filed state bills could limit local control over zoning and accessory dwelling units.
Councilors and residents at the Feb. 18 City of Jacksonville Beach Council meeting pressed for more public input on proposed changes to the city’s land development code and flagged two recently filed state bills that they said could preempt local rules.
Council member Wagner said the proposed changes to the land development code have been arriving quickly and that he remains concerned about narrower side setbacks in some residential districts. “We would hope we are not anti development, but we are for smart growth,” Wagner said, adding that reduced setbacks could cause stormwater to “accumulat[e] on your property” and reduce privacy when homes sit close together.
The council’s Sandy (first referenced as Council member Golding during roll call) announced an in-person public workshop on the draft land development code for Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers and urged citizens to review the draft and attend. Sandy also briefed the council on two bills filed this week in Tallahassee: House Bill 301 on sovereign immunity and Senate Bill 184, which she described as “allowing, not allowing, requiring municipalities to allow ADUs on any property… without any parking restrictions.”
“House Bill 301… is not looking good as far as it’s written right now,” Sandy said, summarizing language she described on caps for damages and outcomes the city would have to pay if sued. Vice Mayor Janssen and Council member Horn warned that state action could override local development rules. Horn said the state proposal on accessory dwelling units would, if passed, mean “every property in Jacksonville Beach could then have an ADU.”
Public comment reflected similar concerns about participation and the process. Rhonda McDonald urged the council to give the public a meaningful opportunity for input at the upcoming LDC workshop rather than a presentation-only format. Adam Feber said he had received different information from city staff about the variance process while preparing plans for a residential pool. Thomas Harrell raised safety and staging concerns related to a nearby construction project and asked the city to enforce site practices to limit hazards for neighbors.
The council did not take formal action on the land development code during the Feb. 18 meeting; instead, members scheduled a public workshop and reiterated the importance of citizen engagement as the draft code is finalized.
The council’s discussion comes as the Florida legislative session begins in March. Sandy said the session starts March 4 and urged council members and citizens to monitor committee activity and to contact committee members; she also referenced a Florida League of Cities committee meeting scheduled Feb. 19.
The council’s next scheduled related public events include: the LDC workshop (Thursday, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers) and a Beaches-area town hall on March 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Beaches Branch Library with at-large Jacksonville City Council members and District 13 Representative Rory Diamond.
The Mar. 4 legislative session and the bills referenced — House Bill 301 and Senate Bill 184 — were described in council remarks but no city position was recorded in the Feb. 18 minutes.
