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Northlake council narrows agricultural setbacks, lowers specific‑use permit fee after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple residents expressing concern about forced rezoning, the council approved UDC text amendments to align agricultural setbacks with rural residential setbacks (vote 5–2) and unanimously cut a specific‑use permit fee from $500 to $100 for agricultural uses.
At a public hearing on Feb. 12, the North Lake Town Council considered a text amendment to the Unified Development Code to change agricultural (AG) district setbacks to match rural residential setbacks and to reduce specific‑use permit fees for agricultural uses.
Planning staff told the council the proposed UDC amendment responds to prior public comment and aligns base zoning with the town’s comprehensive plan. Nathan said the change applies only to undeveloped properties 20 acres and larger and that the Planning & Zoning Commission had unanimously recommended the text amendment to council after holding public hearings.
Multiple residents spoke during the hearing. Rena Hardiman argued the proposed rezoning amounts to a taking of private property rights, saying reductions in allowable land use would drastically reduce property value and asking the council to consider principle as well as legality. Michael Savoie and others criticized what they called ‘‘forced rezoning’’ and urged the council to allow property owners to opt in rather than imposing new base zoning on existing owners.
Councilors debated the balance between preserving rural character and protecting existing landowner rights. After discussion, the council approved the UDC setbacks amendment by a 5–2 vote. The council also approved, unanimously, reducing the agricultural specific‑use permit fee from $500 to $100 to lower the barrier for property owners pursuing variances or permits.
The council’s action implements a change to the town’s zoning framework intended to reflect the comprehensive plan and to make the permitting pathway less expensive for agricultural uses; staff will proceed with code updates and associated notices.
