By SAMANTHA GHOLAR
sgholar@newssun.com
SEBRING - The mission behind Tuesday evening's review of rezoning presented to the Sebring City Council was to make Harder Hall more marketable, according Planning and Zoning Director Jim Polatty.
A list of the proposed rezones and amendments revealed 18 properties that P&Z have recommended to city staff for changes. The rezones are intended to achieve easier redevelopment around Harder Hall, future development plans and to simplify the zoning codes.
"The purpose of this is to market Harder Hall," Polatty explained Thursday morning. Polatty also described the proposed rezones as "taking care of city issues".
The majority of the 16 proposed amendments were given the go-ahead by council members (excluding Scott Stanley who was not present during Tuesday's meeting). A couple of plans however did raise an eyebrow or two during discussions.
"I envision a push-back from the property owners on this one," council member John Clark said regarding the fourth proposed rezone.
Polatty and P&Z's plan to rezone existing residential homes between 3200 and 3292 Golfview Road would "allow light commercial" in the area according to the proposed plan.
Two other properties were not immediately accepted by council - Harder Hall Golf Course and Hidden Beach.
The proposed rezone would, if approved, change the zoning from MUQD (Mixed Use Quality Development) to an R-1 (Residential 1) zoning and the comprehensive plan from recreation to a medium density plan.
"The county owns the southern part of the course, the last 10 or 11 holes, and has it zoned as R-1 so that is what P&Z picked," Polatty said during the meeting Tuesday.
The Hidden Beach proposal would retain the public zoning of the area but change the comp plan from medium density residential to recreation.
"The idea is that if we were ever to redevelop that, maybe we should leave it as medium density and then rezone it ... the zoning has been public there for a while," Polatty said.
"That one was given to the city, and so was Crescent Beach," council president John Griffin added.
"To be used as recreation, am I right?" asked Clark.
Council members finished the list of proposals, quickly giving nods for the go-ahead to the remaining rezones and comp plan changes.
"The goal is to get rid of MUQD zoning, which may be impossible, but that is the goal," Polatty said.
Council members voted unanimously to instruct staff to continue with the plans.
"We will have to hold public hearings on these ... you're just instructing staff to go forward with the amendments," City Attorney Bob Swaine said.
P&Z will review the items again before bringing the information back to council.
Sunday, June 24, 2012 - www.newssun.com/062212-sg-Sebring-rezones