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Live Oak council approves first reading for First Church land‑use and zoning changes
Summary
The City of Live Oak approved first readings of a two‑part application from First Church of God to change roughly 1.35 acres from low‑density residential to medium density and to rezone to office‑institutional, prompting public testimony about property access and a previously denied duplex permit.
The City of Live Oak City Council on first reading approved a two‑part application from First Church of God, King of Live Oak, to change about 1.35 acres of land from low‑density residential to medium density and to rezone the parcels to office‑institutional to accommodate institutional and ministry‑related uses.
The approvals came after a staff presentation that said the Planning and Zoning Board recommended both the comprehensive plan amendment (CPA 25‑01) and the corresponding zoning change (LDR 25‑04). "That office institutional zoning is what's consistent with the future plans that the ministry organization has for that property," George Curtis, the city's development manager, told the council.
Why it matters: the land‑use change allows a broader range of institutional uses — churches, daycare centers and assisted‑living facilities — without requiring new land‑use approvals each time the church seeks to expand or add ministry‑related buildings. Planning staff told the council the proposal is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and with recent zoning changes in nearby blocks.
Public testimony focused not on the church’s proposal itself but on an adjoining property dispute. Gerald Bridges told the council he has been trying for about 18 months to secure a permit to build a duplex on a nearby King Street parcel and said staff denied his plans and told him he needed to demolish an existing parsonage to obtain access. "I had to knock the church down so that we can build a building," Bridges said during public comment, arguing he had performed work for the church to secure an easement.
City staff responded that their obligations are set by code and that they must follow statutory and regulatory requirements. "Your property is not big enough by code, by law, to support a duplex," Curtis said, adding that minimum lot square footage prevents approval of the duplex plans as submitted. The presiding officer reminded speakers that testimony in the quasi‑judicial hearing must be limited to evidence that directly relates to the church's land‑use/zoning request.
The vote: a council member moved and another seconded approval of the first reading; the transcript records the motion passed by voice vote. No roll‑call tally appeared in the audio transcript.
Next steps: The council approved the measures on first reading; subsequent hearings and final readings are required for ordinances to take effect under the city's procedural rules.
