(ESCAMBIA, COUNTY) — The Escambia County Planning Board heard a request Tuesday to rezone 114 Lenitz Parkway from high-density housing to commercial.
The 1 acre property in the Palafox area has been vacant since it was used as a church. Attorney Meredith Bush, representing the owner, said the property is under contract to become a window and door business.
"It is overall marketability, but there is a specific use; it’s a window and door business that would like to use the property," Bush said.
(Meredith Bush advocates for the rezoning of Lenitz Parkway)
Bush said the change makes sense because there is already commercial and industrial zoning across Lenitz Parkway. She also said the rezoning would put a vacant building back to use and fit with plans to reinvest in the Palafox area.
"The rezoning does not constitute arbitrary or impermissible spot zoning; it is located within an established urban area," Bush said.
County Urban Planning Manager, Caleb McCartee told the board that staff recommends approval. He said commercial is allowed in this area under the county’s plan, and any new business would still have to meet county rules for parking, landscaping, and buffering.
"The request of rezoning promotes private reinvestment within the Palafox Community Redevelopment Area and supports adaptive reuse of the site," McCartee said.
(Nancy Locardo is sworn in to provide testimony of her position on this rezoning case)
Nancy Locardo of Bellies Court has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years. She said she was speaking for neighbors who could not attend.
"We are so concerned about what is going into that property. Is it going to bring the value of our property down? Is it going to build it up?" Locardo asked.
Locardo said she would prefer new homes instead of more business traffic.
"When you start bringing business in, it is going to be more traffic, it is going to be riff-raff, come in, it is going to be whatever," Locardo said.
(Larry Downs Jr. says property rights constitutional rights)
Larry Downs Jr. spoke in support. He said the county should treat all property owners the same.
"I support this. And I support it based on approval conditions. You have already done it before so it is kind of wrong to approve someone else and then deny one," Downs said.
"I represent a group of people in this country who still love freedom and property rights," Downs said.
The Planning Board will now send a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, which will make the final decision.
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