Commission backs rezoning to commercial for proposed dance studio on South Moody Road

The Putnam County Planning Commission recommended approval of a zoning map amendment to change a 2.22-acre parcel at 921 South Moody Road from Agriculture to Commercial Neighborhood (C1) to allow development of a dance studio.

Planner Jennifer Gazzello presented the request from property owners Kathleen Weaver, Oscar Smith, and Carol Smith, with agent Patrick Kennedy speaking on their behalf. Kennedy said the property was donated to a nearby church and that the owners are careful about future uses; prospective tenant Carly Dale, who operates a nearby dance studio, told the commission she has outgrown her rented space and hopes to build a new studio with its own parking. Staff noted the site is vacant, has about 150 feet of road frontage, does not appear to contain wetlands on the NWI layer, and lies in FEMA Flood Zone X (not a special flood hazard area). The parcel lacks city water and sewer connections and would require septic; county staff said the city of Palatka declined annexation because services are not available.

Staff recommended approval as consistent with the Putnam County comprehensive plan and the locational requirements of the C1 district. Following applicant remarks and questions about city/county boundaries and utilities, the commission moved and voted unanimously to recommend rezoning to C1; the recommendation will be forwarded to the Putnam County Board of County Commissioners for final action. The applicant will proceed to the Development Review Committee for required site and utility reviews if the rezoning is approved by the county commission.