wolfdawg54
01-22-2006, 01:31 PM
Property rights tiff continues
Board proposes changes; Atlantic Beach still split
By Drew Dixon, Shorelines staff writer
ATLANTIC BEACH -- City staff, not the elected city commissioners, should decide if people can split up their properties, and lots should be subdivided only if the resulting parcels end up being at least 10,000 square feet, the Community Development Board recommended this week.
The recommendation came as the city faces an issue pitting individual property rights against some people's desire to maintain the city's character.
The board heard intense criticism from about two dozen residents who attended its meeting Tuesday night at Atlantic Beach City Hall, where it reviewed two proposals requested by the City Commission.
One of the proposals would have allowed the commission to have the final say on any future subdivisions of property lots instead of continuing to let administrative staff sign off on them. The board rejected that proposal 4-3.
The other idea called for a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet for the smaller lots that result from a larger parcel's subdivision. The board approved that 6-1.
The City Commission still has to vote on the proposals and can override the Community Development Board's recommendations. City Commission votes have not been scheduled yet.
The commission asked the Community Development Board to review both proposals after the commissioners on Dec. 12 rejected a request to subdivide a lot into three parcels. The vacant property at 1202 Selva Marina Circle is 32,676 square feet. Owner Lindley Tolbert wanted that divided into three single-family unit lots ranging from about 8,000 to 13,000 square feet.
Tolbert's plans enraged some Selva Marina development residents, who said subdivision didn't fit the community character of larger lots originally established in the 1950s.
The commission also enacted a moratorium on any further subdivisions of property in the city until they take a vote on the two proposals reviewed by the Community Development Board.
Tolbert has since sued the city, challenging the rejection of her subdivision request, and she attended the Community Development Board meeting Tuesday. She said the moratorium is costing significant amounts of money for many property owners in Atlantic Beach.
"Has anyone on this board or the commission taken the time to talk to any of the people that are affected by this current moratorium?" Tolbert asked. "The recommendations of this board tonight and the positions of the commission have already cost quite a number of people a lot of money. If you add it all up, it's millions of dollars."
While most people in the crowd supported Tolbert and advocated more property rights, a few residents supported more restrictions on property subdivisions to preserve the existing character of the community.
"I didn't move to a neighborhood that would be an investment Mecca," said Jane Wytzka, who lives on Second Street. "I always thought that Atlantic Beach wore its assets a little more quietly rather than so blatantly, overbuilt and Hummer-like [resembling the boxy sport utility vehicle], the word that comes to my mind, where it's big, it uses a lot of energy and uses a lot of space."
The debate continued for about three hours, with neither side giving way and applause erupting on several occasions.
While the City Commission has the final say, if it approves the 10,000-square-foot limit, commissioners still have to designate a district in the city where that rule would apply.
Staff writer Drew Dixon can be reached at (904) 249-4947, extension 33, or via e-mail at drew.dixonjacksonville.com.
Board proposes changes; Atlantic Beach still split
By Drew Dixon, Shorelines staff writer
ATLANTIC BEACH -- City staff, not the elected city commissioners, should decide if people can split up their properties, and lots should be subdivided only if the resulting parcels end up being at least 10,000 square feet, the Community Development Board recommended this week.
The recommendation came as the city faces an issue pitting individual property rights against some people's desire to maintain the city's character.
The board heard intense criticism from about two dozen residents who attended its meeting Tuesday night at Atlantic Beach City Hall, where it reviewed two proposals requested by the City Commission.
One of the proposals would have allowed the commission to have the final say on any future subdivisions of property lots instead of continuing to let administrative staff sign off on them. The board rejected that proposal 4-3.
The other idea called for a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet for the smaller lots that result from a larger parcel's subdivision. The board approved that 6-1.
The City Commission still has to vote on the proposals and can override the Community Development Board's recommendations. City Commission votes have not been scheduled yet.
The commission asked the Community Development Board to review both proposals after the commissioners on Dec. 12 rejected a request to subdivide a lot into three parcels. The vacant property at 1202 Selva Marina Circle is 32,676 square feet. Owner Lindley Tolbert wanted that divided into three single-family unit lots ranging from about 8,000 to 13,000 square feet.
Tolbert's plans enraged some Selva Marina development residents, who said subdivision didn't fit the community character of larger lots originally established in the 1950s.
The commission also enacted a moratorium on any further subdivisions of property in the city until they take a vote on the two proposals reviewed by the Community Development Board.
Tolbert has since sued the city, challenging the rejection of her subdivision request, and she attended the Community Development Board meeting Tuesday. She said the moratorium is costing significant amounts of money for many property owners in Atlantic Beach.
"Has anyone on this board or the commission taken the time to talk to any of the people that are affected by this current moratorium?" Tolbert asked. "The recommendations of this board tonight and the positions of the commission have already cost quite a number of people a lot of money. If you add it all up, it's millions of dollars."
While most people in the crowd supported Tolbert and advocated more property rights, a few residents supported more restrictions on property subdivisions to preserve the existing character of the community.
"I didn't move to a neighborhood that would be an investment Mecca," said Jane Wytzka, who lives on Second Street. "I always thought that Atlantic Beach wore its assets a little more quietly rather than so blatantly, overbuilt and Hummer-like [resembling the boxy sport utility vehicle], the word that comes to my mind, where it's big, it uses a lot of energy and uses a lot of space."
The debate continued for about three hours, with neither side giving way and applause erupting on several occasions.
While the City Commission has the final say, if it approves the 10,000-square-foot limit, commissioners still have to designate a district in the city where that rule would apply.
Staff writer Drew Dixon can be reached at (904) 249-4947, extension 33, or via e-mail at drew.dixonjacksonville.com.