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Lake City council approves second reading to sell parcel for workforce housing amid flood concerns
Summary
Council approved second reading of Ordinance 2024.01 to sell a parcel for workforce housing after debate over flooding and site suitability; council members and city staff gave assurances about grading, easements and planning review, and no formal vote tally was recorded on the transcript.
Mayor Yemeka Robinson brought Ordinance No. 2024.01 forward for a second reading on Dec. 10, 2024, asking the council to approve selling a city parcel to a private developer to provide workforce housing.
The item drew sustained public and council scrutiny focused on the parcel’s elevation and drainage. Council member Sandra Clobey Crosby, participating remotely, said the site was a 'swamp area' and warned it would be "an economic disadvantage to the prospective buyers" if houses were built there. Crosby urged the council to remove the ordinance from future agendas in its current form and asked that the city’s remote-participation rule (which she said prevents virtual participants from voting) be reconsidered.
Council member Brown, who said he lives in the district near the property, echoed flood concerns and said he could not support approval because he did not "want anyone to invest their money into property" that may flood.
City staff and the economic development coordinator told the council the city will retain the back portion of the parcel and an easement for sewer and storm drainage work, and that the planning commission and staff had reviewed flood maps. Luke Godbold, economic development coordinator, said the developer will bring fill to raise lots "several inches" and that the lots meet R-3 setback and zoning requirements; he also noted the project had cleared planning review and received votes in favor at first reading.
A developer representative, identified in discussion as Adam Martin, told the council builders "meet elevation standards" and said the parcels are not in the regulated flood plain, calling water risk "a nonissue" for the construction plans and saying buyers would be able to obtain flood insurance if required.
After the exchange the mayor called for a voice/hand vote: "All in favor, show of hands." The transcript records the call for a vote and subsequent movement to the next agenda items; no roll-call tally or recorded opposition appears in the transcript itself.
Next steps: The ordinance passed second reading on Dec. 10 as reflected by the council proceeding to subsequent business; council members who voiced substantive objections asked staff for additional documentation on flood and drainage mitigation before future development actions.
