Former GB Mayor questions variance

Jordan

At the Gulf Breeze City Council meeting Jan. 3, former Mayor Dr. Bert Jordan voiced his concerns that the council approved a height variance the previous week for the Driftwood Condominium development on Live Oak Street.

"I appreciate the opportunity to come before the council to oppose your recent decision to grant a height variance. It concerns me deeply and the only way I knew anything about it was that I read it in the Gulf Breeze News. I was mayor when that ordinance was enacted and it was on the books for 34 years. I believe that the ordinance has helped maintain the character of the city as a small town"

Jordan quietly suggested that the variance be reversed or that the council consider putting the vote to the citizens as he felt the community supported a maximum height of 35 feet and would not approve a taller building.

"We heard testimony several ways," said Mayor Lane Gilchrist. "Numerous members of the Architectural Review Board (ARB) appeared in favor of it. The developer worked with the board and the city for one and a half years to improve the original design. Tradeoffs were made with the ARB to save trees and protect the bluff in this case. I don't think the council has any intention to approve a high rise building."

Jordan was worried the height variance might set a negative precedence.

"I have confidence in this council," Jordan said. "But what assurance can we have for the future? This council has integrity and good will but what happens in the future now that one variance has been granted?"

City Council Member Dick Fulford clarified his action making and voting for the ordinance.

"I made the motion [to grant the height variance] and I voted for it," Fulford said. "We have significantly tightened the notification procedures since early 2007. Thanks to the Gulf Breeze News we get some additional word out. We know that to one citizen a dock could be as important as keeping dogs in the yard would be for another and as critical as the height variance is to you. Individual decisions have to be made. These people worked hard with the city to compromise. I did not see it as adding a floor to the city building code, if you know what I mean."

After discussion, the mayor and the council agreed that procedures should be initiated to better inform the community before variances are granted.

Currently a notice of public hearing is posted on the physical site and at City Hall, owners of adjoining parcels within 150 feet are notified by first class U.S. Mail at least 15 days in advance of the hearing, and posted on the city website.

At the City Council meeting Jan. 7 council approved tightened procedures for publicizing a proposed variance to include:

Modification of the process to require notice of any variance concerning height to be mailed to every utility account in the city as part of the monthly utility bill. If an applicant misses the mailing date, they can wait for a variance hearing after the next billing cycle or opt to pay for a special one purpose mail out.