Hi All, for those of you who couldn't attend last weeks meeting, here's a quick rundown. David Flaherty for the City's Parks and Recreation dep. spoke about the new community center. The center will have a ballroom, two meeting rooms, exercise room, weight room, library/computer room and a crafts room. We have a copy of the plans if anyone would like to see them, just email Blake and we can send you a copy.
David also talked about the Sanders Beach Park. He is planning to put in a wheelchair accessible play ground and bathrooms/ concession stand. The concessions area would sell simple things like ice and chips. He added that as they got closer to building the playground he would come back to get community input on the area.
Also, he announced that all boat launches in the city will begin charging a $5.00 fee.
The new community center should be open in about a year. (July-Sept of '09) It was suggested that some time between now and then, the community should do a book donation drive so the library can be well stocked! So everyone save your extra books!
Also, be thinking about what activities you would like to see at the center! Dance classes? Art classes? Computer skills? Gardening workshops? Be thinking about what we can do to enliven the community and bring neighbors together. Do we want to do a fall festival? An Easter egg hunt? Do any of you have a skill and would like to donate your time to help or put on a workshop?
Think about it, the next meeting we have with Mr. Flaherty will address these issues.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Yesterday's Re-zoning Meeting
To update everyone as to yesterday’s events:
The City’s planning board voted unanimously to approve the Bay Shore Boyz rezoning request. One person spoke against the rezoning and several people spoke supporting the rezoning. I spoke as the Chairman of the Sanders Beach Community Association relaying the feedback I received from each of you that supplied it to me. I reported your input which was basically a split of about 50/50 with several people reporting to me to be neutral. I then spoke as the property owner directly across the street from the property, separating my representation of the neighborhood from my personal opinion. My decision came down to some simple facts about the property and how it would affect my property. R-2B was custom tailored and invented specifically for Sanders Beach South of Sonia Street between “I” street and the property formally know as “Pelican Bay Apartments” (refer to the Sanders Beach Waterfront Study on the City’s web site for more information). Obviously this property falls within this area and would surely, in the long run, be granted the R-2B zoning. The fact that the proposed zoning also had provisions for a 50 foot “Conservation” area on the east end of the property directly in front of my house insuring no structure will be built in front of me was very attractive. I also thought of R-2B not being granted and the property being developed as is R-1A. The result of R-1A development would be 35’ high structures directly across the street from me. So Conservation looked very attractive and as the property owner across the street I voted in favor of the zoning. Please also know that with the conservation area in place the property due east, owned by Dr. Ferretti, can not be rezoned R-2B unless all properties eastward starting at the east end of the R-2B zone, then consecutively rezoned westward until reaching Dr. Ferretti’s property are rezoned. This is a highly unlikely scenario effectively blocking R-2B from moving eastward.
I thought I owed everyone an explanation of my personal vote vs. my representation of the neighborhood.
You will still have a chance to give me your input at the neighborhood meeting next week and at the City Counsel meetings that will follow this decision.
Highest Regards,
Blake Jochum
SBCA-Chair
The City’s planning board voted unanimously to approve the Bay Shore Boyz rezoning request. One person spoke against the rezoning and several people spoke supporting the rezoning. I spoke as the Chairman of the Sanders Beach Community Association relaying the feedback I received from each of you that supplied it to me. I reported your input which was basically a split of about 50/50 with several people reporting to me to be neutral. I then spoke as the property owner directly across the street from the property, separating my representation of the neighborhood from my personal opinion. My decision came down to some simple facts about the property and how it would affect my property. R-2B was custom tailored and invented specifically for Sanders Beach South of Sonia Street between “I” street and the property formally know as “Pelican Bay Apartments” (refer to the Sanders Beach Waterfront Study on the City’s web site for more information). Obviously this property falls within this area and would surely, in the long run, be granted the R-2B zoning. The fact that the proposed zoning also had provisions for a 50 foot “Conservation” area on the east end of the property directly in front of my house insuring no structure will be built in front of me was very attractive. I also thought of R-2B not being granted and the property being developed as is R-1A. The result of R-1A development would be 35’ high structures directly across the street from me. So Conservation looked very attractive and as the property owner across the street I voted in favor of the zoning. Please also know that with the conservation area in place the property due east, owned by Dr. Ferretti, can not be rezoned R-2B unless all properties eastward starting at the east end of the R-2B zone, then consecutively rezoned westward until reaching Dr. Ferretti’s property are rezoned. This is a highly unlikely scenario effectively blocking R-2B from moving eastward.
I thought I owed everyone an explanation of my personal vote vs. my representation of the neighborhood.
You will still have a chance to give me your input at the neighborhood meeting next week and at the City Counsel meetings that will follow this decision.
Highest Regards,
Blake Jochum
SBCA-Chair
Monday, September 8, 2008
More on the re-zoning
This is a new drawing from the City showing the conservation area the property owners are requesting as part of their rezoning. With 70’ high buildings in the requested R-2B the first building would be 70’ from the east end of the property. From what I am being told from the City it is extremely difficult to get conservation area’s rezoned later to anything else.
Here also is a definition of Conservation.
CONSERVATION LAND USE DISTRICT.
Sec. 12-2-2.
The regulations in this section shall be applicable to the conservation zoning district: CO.
(A) Purpose of district. The conservation Land Use District is established to preserve open space as necessary for protecting water resources, preserving scenic areas, preserving historic sites, providing parklands and wilderness reserves, conserving endemic vegetation, preventing flood damage and soil erosion.
(B) Generalized uses permitted.
(a) Wildlife and vegetation conservation:
Wildlife refuge, nature trails and related facilities.
(b) Recreational facilities:
Passive recreation.
Bike trails.
Jogging trails.
(c) Other similar and compatible conservation and recreational uses:
Boat moorings, fishing piers, drainage areas, etc.
(C) Specific plans for each district. For each conservation district site plan review shall be subject to the procedure described in section 12-2-81. In addition, site plans shall include the following provisions:
• Location and characteristics of all environmental features such as wetlands, trees, bluffs and wildlife areas;
• Location of all transportation and utility rights-of-way and easements;
• Location and characteristics of allowable types of development, and;
• Any other factors deemed relevant to the health, safety, preservation and protection, or welfare of lands within or surrounding the designated areas
Friday, September 5, 2008
Re-zoning request.
Most of you are aware that earlier this year, the property formally known as the Vista Bay apartments owned by the “Bayshore Boys llc.”,-- Bobby Switzer and Jim Veal-- was rezoned R-2B high density with a height limit of approx. 70’.
Some of you may have received a blue card from the City notifying you that the Bayshore Boyz llc are Appling for some the adjacent properties on the north west side of their property (not owned by them now) on the same block and the adjacent eastward property formally owned by George Black to also be rezoned R-2b. If all this land is rezoned they would have approx. 2.3 acres of land with a total capacity of approx. 115 units. This is assuming they can acquire the adjacent property on the north west side of their block.
To veiw the zoning request, please click here.
I have had two meetings with Mr. Veal and Mr. Switzer and they will also be including in their request approx. 21% of the property to be zone conservation telling me that the result would limit their project to 80-84 units if the current property they own is rezoned. They could have a higher capacity if they acquire the adjacent property to the northwest. That would result only in the project being expanded to the north, if would not affect the view of the water to the east and west.
With that being said, I need input from the neighborhood so that I can attend the planning board meeting on Tuesday at 3;00pm and give some feedback from the neighborhood. Please respond to my e-mail address blakeandlaura@home.gccoxmail.com and tell me how you feel with a definite for or against and a brief description of why.
I need your help so that I can represent the neighborhood on Tuesday.
Thank you for your input,
Blake Jochum SBCA chair
Some of you may have received a blue card from the City notifying you that the Bayshore Boyz llc are Appling for some the adjacent properties on the north west side of their property (not owned by them now) on the same block and the adjacent eastward property formally owned by George Black to also be rezoned R-2b. If all this land is rezoned they would have approx. 2.3 acres of land with a total capacity of approx. 115 units. This is assuming they can acquire the adjacent property on the north west side of their block.
To veiw the zoning request, please click here.
I have had two meetings with Mr. Veal and Mr. Switzer and they will also be including in their request approx. 21% of the property to be zone conservation telling me that the result would limit their project to 80-84 units if the current property they own is rezoned. They could have a higher capacity if they acquire the adjacent property to the northwest. That would result only in the project being expanded to the north, if would not affect the view of the water to the east and west.
With that being said, I need input from the neighborhood so that I can attend the planning board meeting on Tuesday at 3;00pm and give some feedback from the neighborhood. Please respond to my e-mail address blakeandlaura@home.gccoxmail.com and tell me how you feel with a definite for or against and a brief description of why.
I need your help so that I can represent the neighborhood on Tuesday.
Thank you for your input,
Blake Jochum SBCA chair
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Getting through Gustav... next meeting
Well, we made it (mostly) unscathed through Gustav. I hope everyone is doing well and has their power back on! I know that the workers who are building the community center were busy working the day after the storm.
Speaking of the new community center, our next neighborhood meeting is set for Tuesday the 16th of this month at 6:30. We are going to have Dave Flaherty of the City Parks and Recreation department coming in to give us an update on the construction and talk about the final design and functions of the building.
Back to Gustav... I took a video the day of the storm of the SB park. check it out!
Speaking of the new community center, our next neighborhood meeting is set for Tuesday the 16th of this month at 6:30. We are going to have Dave Flaherty of the City Parks and Recreation department coming in to give us an update on the construction and talk about the final design and functions of the building.
Back to Gustav... I took a video the day of the storm of the SB park. check it out!
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