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LUZ committee withdraws N.E.R. Morgan landmark bill after heated public testimony and legal concerns
Summary
The Land Use & Zoning Committee withdrew Councilmember Clark Murray’s bill to designate N.E.R. Morgan Elementary as a historic landmark after residents, the Duval County School Board and planning staff raised competing concerns and staff cited potential conflict with Florida Senate Bill 180.
The Jacksonville Land Use & Zoning Committee on Sept. 3 withdrew an ordinance that would have designated N.E.R. Morgan Elementary School (964 Saint Clair Street) as a local historic landmark after prolonged public comment and a staff legal analysis citing state law risks.
Planning staff told the committee the bill (Ordinance 2025-464) met several local historic-criteria findings but that Senate Bill 180 “restricts more burdensome land-development regulations” and that the department’s position was that the ordinance should be withdrawn. The bill had been initiated by Councilmember Clark Murray and forwarded to the Historic Preservation Commission, which found it met 5 of 7 criteria.
The issue drew a large public turnout. Residents and community leaders who said they grew up at N.E.R. Morgan urged preservation and said landmark status would open grant opportunities and help keep the building available as a community asset.…
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