Live Oak commission approves first readings to reclassify 15.16 acres for church-led services and camps

The City Commission of the City of Live Oak on an unspecified date approved first readings of Ordinances 15-51 and 15-52, clearing the way to change the future land-use designation and zoning for about 15.16 acres to Office/Institutional to accommodate operations proposed by the Shawnee Missionary Baptist Association.

City Manager George Curtis Cabot told the commission staff and the planning board reviewed the applications and recommended approval. "We've gone through this application, based on their intended development ambitions and future uses and find it consistent with the requested zoning of Office Institutional," Cabot said. The ordinances were read into the record by staff and each motion for first reading was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript does not provide roll-call tallies.

According to the applicant's letter of intent summarized at the meeting, proposed on-site activities include summer children and youth day camps; services for homeless children and youth such as laundry, showers, counseling and life-skills programs; church gatherings and missions training; sports leagues and multipurpose fields; disaster-relief staging, including feeding and potentially temporary volunteer housing for volunteers; a communications headquarters for church-based disaster relief; weekly tutoring; and crisis-event meeting space.

The site is described in the record as approximately 15.16 acres made up of three parcels assembled together near the city border and adjacent to school property on the north and east, with a few private homes nearby. Staff noted the matter was advertised in the newspaper and public hearing signage was posted to notify neighbors.

One commissioner (unnamed in the transcript) spoke more broadly about local change, characterizing current conditions as "growing pains" and saying the city needs housing and higher-paying manufacturing jobs to enable residents to afford newer homes. "At the rate that houses cost right now, you can't just make it on $15 an hour and buy a 1,500 square foot house," the commissioner said.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 15-50 — first reading approved (motion/vote recorded; tally not specified). Ordinance 15-51 (CPA 25-4, future land-use amendment for ~15.16 acres) — first reading approved (voice vote; tally not specified). Ordinance 15-52 (LDR 25-08, rezoning from A-1 to O-1 for the same acreage) — first reading approved (voice vote; tally not specified).

What happens next: These were approvals of first reading only; final adoption will require the commission to take subsequent readings or public hearings as required by local procedure. The transcript does not specify dates for additional hearings or final votes.