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By JAMIE WACHTER on Friday, March 15, 2024Subhead
Objections from Davis would send ordinance back to council.
ImageSmall ImageDavisBody
LIVE OAK — A major housing development on the south side of Live Oak is not out of the woods just yet.
After the Live Oak City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance to annex approximately 140 acres of land into the city by a 3-2 vote Tuesday night, Mayor Frank Davis reminded the council, and public, that wasn’t the last step to make the annexation official. Councilors Matt Campbell and Lynda Owens voted against the annexation.
Rather, he can choose to sign the ordinance, thus bringing the land in which developers want to construct 300 to 400 single-family homes into the city. But he also could choose to not sign it, and when the council next meets if would become effective anyway.
Or, according to the City Charter, he could return the ordinance to the City Clerk at any point during that timeframe with a list of objections, which would go back to the council for an additional vote. That vote would require a 2/3 vote — or four members of the five-person council — to override those objections.
Davis said Friday he has not decided what he will do in regards to the annexation, but said he would like to get more information.
“The next 30 days gives us an opportunity to get with some of the interested parties and to learn more about the impact of the potential development,” he said, adding the city will meet during that time with the Florida Department of Transportation and others, including Suwannee County officials.
“I feel like there are important questions that need to be answered.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Davis said he wanted “assurances” that the proposed development at the site along U.S. Highway 129 just south of the current city limits wouldn’t lead to an unintended financial burden on the city.
Among the concerns Davis listed at the meeting were:
n density issues;
n traffic issues, including the possibility of installation of traffic lights at U.S. 129 and Bass Road, the impacts on schools and the impact on local roads in the area, who will be responsible for roadway widening for turn lanes and how to handle traffic flow; and
n water retention.
Those are concerns that residents and councilors have mentioned as well. Campbell has previously expressed concerns with the traffic impact the development could have on the community, particularly with the large amount of schools in that area, including public schools and several private schools as well.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Owens expressed concerns with the cost burden on the city to keep up with the additional property, including infrastructure.
“Is it going to cost the city down the road?” she said. “Are we going to break even or is it going to eventually cost the city in the future?”
Adam Collins, a Live Oak resident who has spoken against the annexation at previous workshops and meetings, again told the council that he believed it should remain in the county and be developed as such, which could lead to around 100 homes, he said.
“Maybe we should rethink how we develop this community,” he said. “Instead of going full bore into this development.”
Bruce Lawson, though, who said he has developed a number of properties across the state and currently owns about 50 rental properties in North Florida, said he didn’t think the current plans laid out by Marvin Puryear with Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate in Orlando were unreasonable.
Lawson said the extra property owners would actually decrease the burden on current city taxpayers on maintenance and repair of the city’s utilities due to the increased amount of revenue coming in.
“If it doesn’t happen here, it will happen somewhere else,” Lawson said. “It’ll be in the county and the city won’t get any revenue.”
Puryear told the council that they have estimated about $1 million in ad valorem tax annually would come into the city from the development based on the estimated cost of the homes.
Those figures — although Davis reminded the council that Suwannee County Ricky Gamble previously said it was impossible to determine the tax revenue the property would generate due to the wide array of exemptions that owners could qualify for — also don’t include utility payments.
The vote and discussion Tuesday came after City Manager Larry Sessions opened the meeting decrying the actions of some members of the community in attempts to influence councilor’s votes, including threats.
“We live in America,” Sessions said. “We’re supposed to be able to vote and do the things we want of our own free mind.
“If anybody out here tries to influence votes by threatening people, I have a big problem with that and I’ll do whatever I can to fix that. I’ve heard there’s been some threats. They better stop.”
218 Parshley St, Live Oak
Agenda available on Suwannee County Page when available
218 Parshley St, Live Oak
101 White Ave, Live Oak
Agenda on Live Oak Page when available
101 White Ave, Live Oak
218 Parshley St, Live Oak
Agenda available on Suwannee County Page when available
218 Parshley St, Live Oak
1740 Ohio Ave, Live Oak
Agenda not available yet
1740 Ohio Ave, Live Oak
101 White Ave, Live Oak
Details on Live Oak page when available
101 White Ave, Live Oak
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