By SAMANTHA GHOLAR
sgholar@newssun.com
SEBRING - Concerns were raised at Tuesday evening's city council meeting as a resident of the Las Villa Subdivision spoke to the council about proposed amendments to the development agreement.
Carla Rice, a resident and member of the Las Villas Homeowners Association, voiced her concerns during the meeting about a proposal from New Concepts by Visions, Inc. to develop on the southern end of the property.
"We saw notice that someone had come before city council and gotten approval to start looking at possibly putting something other than a residential area in the boundaries of our subdivision. We have a lot of concern about that ... to change the zoning to allow an assisted living facility would really not constitute the proper use for this type of property," Rice stated.
Currently there are 14 occupied lots in the subdivision with a total of 150 lots, according to Rice. New Concepts proposal for development would use approximately 42 lots on the south portion of the subdivision.
"We don't know anything. We've heard nothing. The people that have the plan haven't talked to the people who live there at all," Rice said.
Rice is also concerned that an assisted living facility being added to the subdivision will devalue the residents property and create a nuisance for residents.
Rice presented a petition to the council, signed by residents of Las Villa, petitioning the city to disapprove of the developments in the area.
Councilmember Andrew Fells spoke to clear the air regarding what has and hasn't already been approved by city council.
"My understanding is that we approved the design and concept, and she (Barbara Cook) would have to come back to us anyway," Fells said. Cook is executive director of New Concepts.
City Attorney Bob Swaine added clarification.
"There are a number of procedural things that would have to be done for this to come to creation ... It was just a straw vote, for lack of a better phrase," Swaine said.
Cook was present to address the concerns of residents on Tuesday.
"We're still negotiating things. They (property owner, Neighborhood Lending Partners) have had a bid for proposal for the entire project ... but it's a very soft bid. So they are not looking at it too hard at this moment. I am meeting next week with the USDA on the funding portion of it," Cook said.
Councilmember Scott Stanley explained to Cook and Rice that the developer still has several steps to go before development can begin.
"It may just fall apart due to funding, but you'll still have to go through the zoning board hearings and all the other hoops and public hearings so that the other residents have their voice and can be spoken at that time ... It wasn't a done deal," Stanley explained.
John Clark also added that the city requires developers to meet with residents and neighbors of a proposed development area before any development can begin.
"The folks that live there will have several different times to express their concerns with zoning and public hearings," Mayor George Hensley said. "They will be notified when they occur."
"If they ever occur," Swaine said.
Rice understood the process and stated that the residents didn't want to wait until development was over to come to the city with their concerns.
No action was taken over the issue Tuesday. New Concepts will continue to work on funding for the development and report back to council as directed.
Council members also unanimously approved zoning amendments for the first reading of Ordinance 1335.
The Community Redevelopment Agency and Planning and Zoning worked together to amend changes to developments involving modular homes and mobile homes in city limits as well as other items including landscaping requirements in the Downtown Mixed Use district and electrical transmission lines serving residential neighborhoods.
Sebring Finance Director Mike Eastman announced at the close of Tuesday's meeting that the first hearing for the Tentative General Fund Budget for 2012-2013 will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 5 and the final hearing scheduled for Sept. 19.
Eastman stated that the hearing will officially establish the proposed millage rate of 4.99 for the upcoming fiscal year - a decrease of 7.5669 percent from the current 5.3985 rate.
Sunday, July 22, 2012 - www.newssun.com/072212-sg-Council