An ordinance to amend Jacksonville Beach’s land development code related to parking area and walkway setbacks for certain residential properties was approved 4-3 Dec. 2 by the city council.
The change proposed by staff is the five-foot setback not be applicable to inheritor property lines between individual townhouse lots or two-family dwelling lots. Also, there is no setback from the street right-of-way where a parking area or driveway connects to the street or vehicular access.
The amendments are intended to rectify “conflictive standards” in the land development code related to two-family and townhouse projects that are ultimately sold as individual fee simple dwelling units.
Critics of the change said it could result in single-family housing converting to multi-family and intensifying development.
Councilor Cory Nichols said the ordinance change is the result of a shade meeting and suggested the city detail the impact on the city. He and Councilors Christine Hoffman, Keith Doherty and Phil Vogelsang voted to approve the ordinance on second reading.
That decision led to the city board of adjustment Dec. 3 declaring it did not have to approve a variance for property at 2017 3rd St. N. as the variance was no longer needed given the council decision negated the issue, according to Denise May, an attorney for the city. The owner withdrew her request at the meeting. She had sought a parking area setback of zero feet in lieu of five feet minimum for interior lot lot lines to allow for the construction of a four-unit, fee-simple town-house development.
