Jackson City councilors spent a substantial portion of the meeting on land-use matters, including two annexation requests, a rezoning request on Hillary and Blake drives, and a multi-section rewrite of the zoning ordinance that changes residential classifications and relocates sign regulations into Title 14.

On annexation, staff (S4) described two requests — the Cadors parcel (about 1.83 acres on Highway 45 North and Ashport Road) and a McCormack parcel — as examples of noncontiguous annexations now allowed by state law. S4 explained the practical driver: parcels close to the city but lacking utilities often must request annexation to obtain sewer service from JEA, and moving them into the city preserves the option for urban services while ensuring the city’s zoning and tax rules apply. Councilors asked about local resistance and tax implications; staff said the annexations apply only to requesting landowners and that the city would see sales and property tax revenue from commercial uses such as convenience stores planned for the parcels.

On rezoning, S1 introduced an ordinance to rezone roughly 37.39 acres near Hillary Drive and Blake Drive. S4 said the proposed RS-2 classification changes lot frontage rules to allow more lots per linear foot of street while retaining single-family use. Councilors asked whether the change would permit duplexes; staff clarified the change keeps the area single-family in character and is intended to improve the economics of single-family infill development.

Councilors also reviewed an extensive zoning-text effort to streamline residential districts. S4 summarized that the administration seeks to reduce multiple RS subclasses into three new districts: R1 for single-family, R2 for duplexes, and R3 for multifamily, with uniform cross-references updated throughout the ordinance. The change is aimed at simplifying language, reducing redundant sections, and making zoning rules easier to administer.

Separately, the meeting included a long discussion of sign regulations moved from the building code into the zoning ordinance (Title 14). Staff explained that sign administration better fits planning review and that the revision addresses abandoned/obsolete signs, prohibited sign types, and amortization. A seven-year amortization period for certain nonconforming signs was discussed; staff clarified amortization is not retroactive to previously abandoned signs, that vacant/abandoned signs have different treatment, and that the city can remove signs and recover costs via liens when legal criteria are met.

The transcript records detailed discussion and clarifying questions but does not record final votes on these ordinances. Staff noted planning commission review and packet materials, and indicated some changes are intended as housekeeping to align the ordinance with recent policy goals.