OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

CHERYL L. BROWN 117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

DIRECTOR 4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

OFFICE (904) 630-1452 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

FAX (904) 630-2906

E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

LUZ COMMITTEE WORKSHOP MINUTES

September 4, 2013

4:30 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1^st floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

Attendance: Council Members Lori Boyer (Chair), Bill Bishop, Matt Schellenberg, Jim Love

Also: Jason Gabriel – Office of General Counsel; Folks Huxford, Bruce Lewis– Planning and Development Department; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Philip Zamarron and Paula Shoup – Legislative Services Division

Chairwoman Boyer called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. and indicated that the committee’s discussion at the last meeting regarding amendments to the historic preservation appeals process has been drafted an introduced and is pending before City Council. With regard to the small-scale land use amendment process, Ms. Boyer has circulated a handout to the committee members for consideration at the next workshop.

Through-lots

Folks Huxford, Chief of the Current Planning Division explained that “through-lots” are non-corner lots that have frontage on two roads and therefore have two front-yard setback requirements with the attendant prohibitions against placement of fences, pools and accessory structures in the front yards. Council Member Bishop noted that such structures could have been legal at the time they were installed if they preceded the current zoning code and wondered how regulations might be crafted to deal with these pre-existing, non-conforming lots. Mr. Huxford also noted that lots that front on a road on one side and on a navigable water body on another side are also considered through-lots and the water side is a defined front yard.

Council Member Schellenberg suggested that a requirement be adopted to require the seller of a through-lot to disclose that status and the attendant setback regulations to potential buyers. Mr. Huxford explained that the City does not have any regulations addressing such requirements and that most citizens would not recognize that these lots are subject to these setback regulations. Mr. Bishop suggested that regulations might be adopted that reflect how the lots were intended to be used when constructed with a front yard and back yard, not two front yards. Ms. Boyer suggested that driveway location and front door location could be used as indicators of the true front yard, but some owners prefer to access their properties with rear-facing driveways. Mr. Bishop felt that it would be more effective to adjust the Code and regulations to reflect actual practice rather than to try and require sellers to understand and disclose the current regulations to potential buyers. Council Member Love suggested that the Property Appraiser’s maps be amended to reflect the setback requirements. Chairwoman Boyer suggested that remedies might vary based on whether the situation involves older, existing development, newly-platted lots, and/or case-by-case consideration of individual lots based on the development patterns of their neighborhoods (i.e. if 70% of the lots on a street have their driveways and front doors facing a particular street, that pattern would determine the front yards for the rest of the properties on the street.

There being no further business, the agenda meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Jeff Clements, Council Research Division (904) 630-1404

Posted 9.4.13

8:00 p.m.