City opposes Amendment Four

The Gulf Breeze City Council voted unanimously Monday night in support of a resolution condemning Amendment Four as “a fundamental abandonment of government’s responsibility to represent all its citizens.”

The resolution says the amendment would impede progress based on smart growth policies currently in place that include citizen input and participation.

“I think that the Gulf Breeze council has made a sincere effort to keep residents informed,” said City Councilman Dick Fulford. “With that in mind, our vote against Amendment Four is within the spirit of working with our constituency through utility bill information, mailed notices to households within 150 feet of any proposed change.

“With the assistance of the city manger and his staff, the Web page is also upgraded to increase knowledge of issues being reviewed. The Gulf Breeze News coverage further increases the knowledge of happenings at City Hall. In short, if a person does not want to be informed, they will not be.”

Currently, when any municipality or county makes changes to its comprehensive plan or any zoning changes, state statute requires public hearings and notification – all of which are advertised.

The city goes beyond the minimum state-required notification for residential variances. According to Shane Carmichael, Director of Community Services, for residential variance requests, written notice is delivered to neighbors within 150 feet. As part of the submittal process, applicants must work through the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser’s Office GIS system to get labels of all those within the prescribed area, and then they deliver them to City Hall. The city mails the letters, ensuring their distribution. The cost of the mailing is absorbed as part of the application fee.

For Level Three (commercial) variances, the city times the public hearings to allow for a notification of the proposal to be included in utility billings. Residential subdivisions are considered commercial entities.

“We do not have a requirement for those requesting variances to purchase legal ads,” Carmichael said, “But we do get Level Three notices in the mail with the water and gas bills.”

Public hearing set for subdivision variances

The Gulf Breeze City Council scheduled a public hearing for April 28 to discuss variances required for a subdivision on Live Oak Street opposite the waterfront Driftwood subdivision. The council granted conceptual approval of a proposed subdivision at the meeting as well.

The variances required for the four single-family lots of approximately 4,000- to 5,000- square feet each include two variances relating to setbacks and a third relating to density. The property is currently zoned Residential Commercial, and a multi-family four-plex on the property could be built with 20- foot. front and back setbacks. Developer Britton Stamps is instead using the property for single-family use that better serves the property, according to City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy. The proposed subdivision also retains the maximum of tree coverage and complements the constructed homes nearby.

The April 28 date for the hearing allows for written notification in the utility billing and to all neighbors within 150 feet.

Transient rentals

The Beautification Committee alerted the City Council of a transient rental in city limits with a sign in the front yard advertising the dwelling as a vacation rental. According to residents in the area, the property has been used for weekend rentals for special events. Council directed staff to develop an ordinance for consideration that would regulate transient occupancy in residential areas within the city.