Neighbors press committee to reject Business Park rezoning on Historic Kings Road; item deferred
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Summary
At a February meeting of Duval County’s Land Use & Zoning Committee, neighbors strongly opposed a proposed change from low-density residential to business park zoning on Historic Kings Road South; the committee deferred the item and directed the applicant to meet with residents for more outreach.
The Duval County Land Use & Zoning Committee deferred a proposed land-use change on Historic Kings Road South on motion after a heated public hearing in February.
Planning staff opened the public hearing by recommending denial of the small-scale amendment (Ordinance 20260022), saying the change from low-density residential (LDR) to business park (BP) would “disrupt the existing land use fabric of the existing single-family neighborhood” (staff report).
The applicant’s representative, Herzberg, told the committee the corridor already contains industrial uses and that BP would serve as a transition from rail-adjacent industrial property to nearby homes. “This property has been looked at by a church, a few other uses,” Herzberg said, and argued the site is not feasible for new residential development because of rail and industrial impacts.
Neighborhood speakers urged the opposite. Lisa Fowler, who said she lives adjacent to the parcel, told the committee she opposed the change and asked that the council protect the neighborhood’s green space and reduce noise: “I don’t think that additional noise needs to be added.” Steven Slotkin, who said his home backs directly onto the subject property, warned the proposed zoning would allow more intensive uses and create “noise pollution, visual blight.” Michael Fowler, vice president of the local HOA, said the area is a family neighborhood and urged the committee to preserve its residential character.
Chair (name not stated on the record) said the committee had not received broad prior notice of opposition and directed the applicant to meet with neighborhood representatives; the chair then moved to defer both the land-use and companion zoning items so staff, the applicant and neighbors could continue discussions. The public hearing was continued to 03/03/2026.
Next steps: the applicant was asked to meet with neighbors and report back; the committee left the record open for the continued public hearing date.