The council dedicated significant time to a proposal for a childcare facility at 4410 and Chandler Road, which required a special exemption permit due to its RSF-A1 residential single-family estate zoning. The applicant, Camila Nerra, plans to establish a facility to accommodate up to 250 children, leveraging the local land development code that permits such use with necessary approvals. The developmental review committee supported the proposal, recommending approval.

A notable concern among council members was the decision not to rezone the property to a commercial designation. Members weighed the benefits of maintaining the residential zoning, which allows for stricter conditions on the facility’s operations compared to commercial zoning. This includes restrictions on signage and state-mandated criteria for the number of children allowed, governed by structure size and fire codes. The applicant assured that the facility would be a new construction, accessible from Jason Dwelling Parkway, not Chandler Road.

Public comments highlighted apprehensions about the property’s future use if the daycare ceased operations. A city representative clarified that the special exemption restricts the property strictly to daycare use, necessitating a new approval process for any other use. Discussions also touched on the necessity of road upgrades, particularly since Chandler Road’s narrow width and private status raised safety and access concerns. The city engineer confirmed a section of Chandler Road was previously dedicated to the city, with further suggestions for cross-access easements for public safety.

The council ultimately approved the special exemption permit with specific conditions, including demolishing existing structures, complying with city road standards, and prohibiting access from Chandler Road. The decision saw one dissenting vote.

The meeting also addressed a plan draft, which would guide the city’s growth and development over the next two to three decades. Discussions were influenced by Senate Bill 180, which restricts local governments from imposing more regulations on properties damaged by hurricanes. This legislation could affect the city’s comprehensive planning efforts, particularly concerning green space requirements and density limits. The council debated the necessity of aligning the comprehensive plan with the land development code to prevent conflicting interpretations. Despite some opposition over green space concerns, the council moved to recommend approval of the comprehensive plan, excluding the transportation element.

Further, the council reviewed and approved land use amendments and zoning changes for properties on Rock Springs Road and North Park Avenue. The Rock Springs Road property, currently designated as county rural, was reclassified to residential very low suburban, allowing for future development of 18 single-family homes. The zoning change from transitional to RSF-1B residential single-family district was unanimously supported, despite public concerns over density and property tax implications.

For the North Park Avenue property, owned by Nicholas and Stephanie D’Angelus, the council approved a change from county low-density residential to city commercial zoning, enabling its commercial sale. Both the land use change and zoning application received unanimous approval, with no opposition or discussion.

Lastly, the council approved a replat request for the Oaks at Kelly Park Phase 3B to accommodate utility construction, with no changes to the existing plat beyond lot line adjustments.