Lee County holds public hearing on rezoning request for two Sunset Drive parcels

The Lee County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing Feb. 17 on a request to rezone two adjoining parcels totaling 1.04 acres on Sunset Drive from light industrial to residential agricultural to allow a family member to establish a home on the site.

County staff member Amy McNeil told the board the property has frontage on Sunset Drive and that the Gordon family inherited the parcels. McNeil said aerial images show a house on the site “approximately 34 years ago,” and that an authorized intent to construct a septic system is on file with the Lee County Environmental Health Department. She described the existing zoning as light industrial and said the proposed residential agricultural district allows low‑density single‑family uses and certain low‑intensity agricultural operations.

The rezoning request is a general‑use request rather than a conditional rezoning, McNeil said, meaning no site plan, subdivision plan or building plans are required at the time of application. She explained that the land‑use plan currently identifies the site as a “maker district,” which encourages small‑scale light industrial uses, and told commissioners the master plan designation does not support residential zoning but said the decision is ultimately for the commissioners.

During the hearing, resident David Smoke of 96 Northridge Trail, Sanford, spoke in opposition, saying he objected “purely on principle” and raising concerns about the cumulative financial impact of piecemeal rezoning on the county tax base. Smoke cited county property valuations for the two parcels (one parcel at $5,600 and the other at $22,200) and asked the board to consider future tax impacts if residential uses replace industrial zoning.

Commissioners asked staff clarifying questions about whether the property had previously been rezoned and about access and utilities. McNeil said she found no record that the site had ever been rezoned and noted the property has private‑road access and may be served by public water, with wastewater addressed by the septic intent on file.

The public hearing was closed at the meeting; the record shows no board vote or final decision on the rezoning at the Feb. 17 meeting. The planning board members in attendance were excused after the hearing was closed.

The request and staff analysis remain in the county’s agenda packet for further consideration and a future decision by the board of commissioners.