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The proposed changes currently being revised by a consultant for review by the City Commission are aimed at preserving the city's community character by limiting such things as the size of homes in the city beyond what current regulations allow. The effort began in 2003 when the former commission at a strategic planning meeting discussed a desire to preserve the city's unique ambiance of eclectic homes, tree canopies, and pedestrian-friendly streets. At the time, some members of the commission were concerned that a development trend of “McMansions” - large, three-story, box-style homes which maximize the city's height and set-back limits - was beginning in the city. Many residents in the community pleaded with the former commission to come up with ways to stop such developments.
Three years, numerous public meetings and over $100,000 in consultant fees later, the new commission is about to review and consider enacting a set of proposed development standards drafted by consultant Winter & Company. The commission is scheduled to meet with the consultant to review the proposed development changes April 10 at 5 p.m. The meeting at City Hall is open to the public but public comments will not be allowed. Another meeting on the proposed changes is scheduled at City Hall April 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. where the public is invited to comment.
As of Tuesday afternoon nearly 600 Atlantic Beach residents have signed a petition being circulated by the Save Atlantic Beach group to stop the proposed development regulations.
Many members of the group spoke at Monday's meeting and expressed concern that the the proposed changes would among other things reduce their property values, destroy the eclectic mix of homes in the city and violate private property rights.
“Our goal is to stop the proposed amendment...,” said Brian Sexton, one of founders of Save Atlantic Beach, at Monday's commission meeting.
“It's growth management to an extreme ...”
The group's chairperson, Carol Mikell, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that proposed restrictions “don't make sense” for the community.
“We want the whole thing shelved and never bring it up again,” Mikell said. “They [the commission] say they are protecting the character of Atlantic Beach. [But] they're bringing in cookie cutter homes.”
“And that's what we're against.”
Former City Commissioner Rick Beaver, who voted to hire Winter & Company to help the city craft the proposed development regulations to protect community character, has signed the group's petition opposing the changes.
“I think it's [the proposed draft] much more extreme than I had envisioned when I sat on the commission,” Beaver said when asked in a telephone interview Tuesday. “I'm very concerned about the size of the home that could be built under the current draft.”
Beaver, who was termed out of his commission seat in November and lost a bid for mayor in October, said he would not have accepted the current proposal for changes by Winter & Company if still on the commission.
“I would have had to go back to square one with the extremes that were brought back [by Winter & Company in the proposed changes],” Beaver said. “There's a lot of stuff in there that needs to be workshopped by the current commission.”
But city commissioners Monday said that the proposed changes are far from finalized and that they are working to do what's right for the entire community.
Mayor Don Wolfson said he welcomes input from the group and asked that they attend the April 11 meeting.
“This process is ongoing and far from being complete,” said Wolfson.
“This process is very positive and important to the future of Atlantic Beach. I encourage you to continue being involved.”
“We're going through this and we're going to come up with solutions that most people can live with,” Commissioner Jamie Fletcher said at Monday's meeting.
“Most people. Because you can't please everybody all of the time.”