Growth management (6:35 p.m.)
April 21st, 2008, 4:52 pm · Post a Comment · posted by fsherman
•Unanimous to pass a land-use change of one Calhoun Ave site from recreation to Bay Estates.
•Unanimous to rezone an annexed Commons Drive site that will hold (IIRC) a luxury motor-home resort and an apartment complex.
•Unanimous to rezone the annexed site of the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce.
•Unanimous to rezone the Shore at Crystal Beach Park for recreation.
On turning the Zerbe Street parking lot and the old Destin Library to mixed use, not so unanimous: Dewey objects, as he has in previous meetings, to the possibility of turning these properties over to a developer at some point: “It’s not the original intent … this stinks.”
Seevers: “It’s not the original intent—but things change.”
Jim Wood: Why do we need north-harbor mixed use zoning? Can’t the current institutional zoning do the trick?
Shirley: It won’t cover a private parking garage or a parking garage with residential or retail aspects.
Jim Wood: Doesn’t answer his question, but he’ll accept it.
Dewey: “This is simply laying the framework for a sweetheart deal. I’ve already been told it’s going to be developed and we’re going to close Zerbe,” based on conversations he’s had with developers.
Jim Bagby: Institutional is limited to four, mixed use would allow seven.
Kelly Windes: It was to make it more appealing to a developer which means them putting money into parking instead of us. But it’s our call–any partnership would have to have city council support, so would any residential development.
Dewey: “What is the height limitation in institutional (and) does this council have the authority to change that height limitation?” Scott Shirley: Yes, you could amend the rules in the growth plan by following the normal amendment process.
