NEWS

Homeowners object to planned zoning changes

Jeffrey Schweers
Democrat staff writer

Along with the Christmas reindeer and blow-up Santas, red signs have been decorating the yards of angry homeowners in Myers Park, Woodland Drives, Seminole Drive and Indian Head Acres in recent weeks.

One of many red yard signs in the Myers Park neighborhood opposing a zonning change that will allow the sale of the city's parks and recreation office located at 912 Myers Park Drive Wednesday December 28th.

The signs express homeowners’ opposition to a city proposal to sell off a 9.5-acre piece of property across the street from Myers Park and the Wade Wehunt pool to some as yet unnamed developer to turn into a densely packed complex of about 100 residences and commercial space.

That’s a density of about 10.5 housing units per acre in an area with a current density of 3-4 single family homes per acre.

The land is occupied by the city’s iconic Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department offices. It extends south to Van Buren Street and east to Myers Park Drive and north to the railroad tracks separating the property from Cascades park.

Department of Planning, Land Management and Community Enhancement
The concept above was drawn by the joint city-county Planning, Land Management and Community Enhancement department after developers expressed interest in a 9-acre, city-owned property southeast of Cascades Park.
This concept was drawn by the joint city-county Planning, Land Management and Community Enhancement department after developers expressed interest in a 9-acre, city-owned property southeast of Cascades Park.

Homeowners want to save the character of their neighborhood, as well as the parks department offices. They’ve even got a Facebook page dedicated to saving the 41-year-old buildings. And they want to keep public land in the public domain.

“We don’t want to lose the park offices, and the plan is not in character with the neighborhood,” said Mary Frederick, president of the Woodland Drives neighborhood. “It’s public land and we feel uncomfortable with the city selling public land, they shouldn’t be doing that.”

Possible Myers Park development getting pushback

Selling the land could net the city as much as $1.5 million. It has a current market value of $1.7 million, according to the Leon County Property Appraiser’s website.

The sale and development are still a long way off, planners said. Several steps must be taken before the land can even be sold. And whoever buys the property will have to conform with the Architectural Planning Board’s recommendations.

"This will ensure that any proposed development would fit within the historic fabric of the neighborhood," said Alison Faris, the city's communications director. She encouraged residents to attend all public meetings to share their concerns.

The next meeting will be a local planning agency workshop Jan. 19 at the Renaissance Center, with an open house scheduled for the following Monday at City Hall.  Go here for more information http://www.talgov.com/planning/planning-compln-2017.aspx

The City of Tallahassee Parks and Recreation office located at 912 Myers Park drive. A zoning change would allow the city to sell  the property to a developer. Many Myers Park resident are opposed to this. As evident by the many red yard signs opposing a zoning change all over the Myers Park neighborhood.

City planners came up with the concept for the property after getting informal inquiries from developers and their representatives for a year and a half. Those developer names have not been released.

“Developers will, sometimes, not want anyone to know about their inquiries or just simply have ideas and will not leave specific phone messages or emails,” Assistant City Manager Wayne Tedder said. “They will simply make an impromptu call or even stop by the office hoping to catch a minute with staff and pick their brain on properties.”

Without any maps, notes or other documents there would be no record of such a discussion, Tedder said.

“I can say that the higher level of certainty of a project, the more formalized communications and meetings get is a general rule,” he said.

The comprehensive plan amendment will accomplish two things, Tedder said. It will bring the existing land use in compliance with the comp plan, and allow redevelopment if the city commission approves a final sale of the property.

If the comp plan amendments are approved, then rezoning public hearings would be required, he said.

One of many red yard signs in the Myers Park neighborhood opposing a zonning change that will allow the sale of the city's parks and recreation office located at 912 Myers Park Drive Wednesday December 28th.

At the same time, city planners are developing a request for proposals for the sale of the property. Staff met with the Architect Review Board on Dec. 7 and will meet again with the board at some later date.

“Should the City Commission approve any sale of the property, the future developer will be required to obtain approval from the ARB for any redevelopment of the site,” Tedder said.

The RFP process also requires review by the City Real Estate Committee and final approval by the City Commission.

In addition, a Florida A&M University School of Architecture class has asked to make a project out of the property, to be completed by mid-April, Tedder said.

“This class will analyze the site and develop context sensitive concepts for redeveloping the property,” he said.

Staff might use those student concepts to help develop the RFP, Tedder added.

“Why are planning staff on our dime coming up with ideas to help private developers develop a public park?” Myers Park resident Linc Clay asked.

City planners pitched the multi-family, mixed use plan as an alternative to building a $475,000 sound barrier to muffle the music coming from the Capital City Amphitheater. The positioning of the amphitheater was something neighbors had objected to as well.

Clay, whose home is about 400 yards from the property as the crow flies, said the city has rolled several issues into one — the amphitheater location, preservation of historic neighborhoods and zoning, and the sale of public land to private developers.

Frederick said a survey is being conducted to see who really cares about the sound wall. “Apparently only 30 people are affected,” she said.

The choice comes down to whether homeowners want a sound wall or 100 or more new residents crammed onto those nine acres of parkland.

The City Commission has adopted a policy not to do anything that erodes the character of a historic neighborhood, Clay said.

“That is an amenity to residents who want to live in that kind of setting, and that visitors can use during their visit to the city,” he said.

The City of Tallahassee Parks and Recreation office located at 912 Myers Park drive. A zoning change would allow the city to sell  the property to a developer. Many Myers Park resident are opposed to this. As evident by the many red yard signs opposing a zoning change all over the Myers Park neighborhood.

Public lands are an asset that benefits the residents, he added. And selling them off is bad for Tallahassee’s image.

“The way I see it is public land is valuable and dear to us,” Clay said. “It makes Tallahassee attractive to migrants coming in and to visitors.”

The city already has requests for proposals on two building sites that have no takers, he said. Those are the George Firestone Building on Gaines Street, site of the old county jail, and the Bloxham Annex at the corner of Gaines and Gadsden streets.

The city acquired the buildings through a land swap with Florida State University and are asking $4 million for both. The Community Redevelopment Agency is expected to discuss a proposal submitted for a mixed-use development when it meets Jan. 26, Faris said.

City policy says it can’t sell land that is already being used. “This piece doesn’t qualify,” Clay said. Not only does it have the offices for the parks department, all the maintenance equipment for Myers and Cascades parks are kept on the property. There’s also a city well and a cell tower.

“Under no stretch can you call this unused city property. So they would have to change the city policy, the land use plan, and then change the zoning.”

Neighborhood preservation is key to retaining property values, he said. “When I invest in property in an area that has a certain zoning, I should be able to rely on that zoning to protect my investment,” said Clay, who’s lived in Myers Park since 1965.

Recent developments have slowly changed the neighborhood’s makeup. “First the amphitheater, and now the up-zoning to an urban core, what is in my judgment spot zoning,” Clay said. “It is not consistent with any abutting zones and not consistent with the long term plans.”