Letter: City about to allow another zoning debacle

Letter: City about to allow another zoning debacle

Susan W. Rathbone
St Augustine, FL

The city has faced a number of zoning issues recently, most notable the 7-11 on May Street. Another property, known as the “castle”, which is located in a well-established neighborhood was zoned commercial by the city and the neighbors are battling City Hall to rezone it residential.

Recently, there was a tremendous turnout of the Davis Shores Community to voice their concerns about 100 Flagler Boulevard being zoned commercial. By the show of people and the amount who spoke it is evident that this is a huge issue and one that foremost in their minds.

Approximately 600 households are located in North Davis Shores and about 100 households are within a two block radius and will be directly affected by a commercial property at this location.

These home owners, like me, will be adversely affected by noise, traffic, parking, loitering and vandalism as well as a decrease in our home’s value and desirability.

Simply said they will lose money as well as property enjoyment.

That brings me to the commercial zoning. The Plat map in 1973 shows the property as residential.

The second Plat map in 1979, shows the property as commercial. So we know the zoning was changed between 1973-1 979. It appears that the rezoning was done as a result of the 1975 Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act. Statements from surrounding home owners suggest that the change was done by the city, without their knowledge.

During the planning and zoning meeting, the City Attorney advised the Board that they are open for litigation from the property owner, or even the surrounding properties. She also stated that it is in the City Commissioners’ power to administratively change the zoning.

This is the action that needs to be taken immediately, before another zoning debacle occurs.

How many times in our lives do we make a mistake and then say, if I had only known, I would have done things differently? I say to the City Commissioners, you do know a mistake is about to be made, so what are you going to do?