OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Land Use & Zoning Committee Meeting Summary – September 1, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 1, 2026
BodyJacksonville, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:15:21

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening.

0:03

It is five o'clock.

0:05

September first, five o'clock.

0:07

Welcome to the land use and zoning committee.

0:10

We're gonna go ahead and start with introductions to the left.

0:15

Councilman Reginald Gaffin and Julia, district eight.

0:18

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:20

You're not on testing.

0:23

Test there we go.

0:24

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

0:25

Rockman Johnson, district 14, the West Side, the best side.

0:30

Oh gosh.

0:30

Here we go.

0:32

Good evening, Rory Diamond, District 13.

0:36

There you go.

0:37

Okay.

0:37

Joe Carluigi, District 5.

0:40

Kevin Carico, Councilmember, District 4.

0:46

Randy White, District 12.

0:48

Terrence Harvey, Office of General Counsel.

0:51

Susan Kelly Planning Department.

0:53

Aaron Abney Planning Department.

0:55

Casey Cox Planning Department.

0:58

All right.

1:00

Thank you, everyone, for your introductions.

1:01

With that, we're going to go ahead.

1:03

Councilmember Johnson, you're in the queue.

1:04

You're recognized.

1:05

Thank you so much for recognizing me, Mr.

1:07

Chair.

1:07

And I just want to start the meeting off.

1:09

I've gotten about 150 to 200 emails.

1:11

So this is not for obviously this group, this body, but anybody who may be here in the audience or who may be watching.

1:18

There has been uh some talk about Venetia Elementary School in the adjacent district.

1:25

It's actually not in district 14, it's in district seven.

1:28

However, it used to be in district 14 during the last council iteration.

1:32

Nope nevertheless, in the Temaquana area.

1:34

Nevertheless, that school, the decisions that are made.

1:38

I have to say this again.

1:39

The decisions that are made are made by the Duval County School Board.

1:42

There's nothing that we can do.

1:43

There's only one thing that the council can do, and that's a part of the joint planning committee.

1:47

And that's only for new schools going in new areas.

1:49

That committee has not met and has nothing to do with this.

1:52

So that Venetia Elementary School, while I sympathize with you, and I've tried to return as many emails as possible.

1:57

You must talk to the school board member and the school board if you have issues.

2:00

And I just wanted to put that on the record.

2:02

Thank you.

2:03

Right.

2:03

And I hope the school board also sends out a message of that.

2:05

Um, because we just want people to make sure they're going to the right, you know, place for their concerns.

2:10

Um, yes, sir.

2:12

All right.

2:12

So committee members, we're gonna go to page 13.

2:16

Item number 25.

2:18

We're gonna take up first item number 20 or 25, 2026, 590.

2:24

Let's open the public hearing and do we have a staff report on this or no?

2:28

No staff report?

2:30

Because it's no staff report.

2:32

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████████28%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Land Use and Zoning█████████████████████21%
Environmental Protection██████████████14%
Public Health██████6%
Economic Development████4%
Public Engagement██2%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Land Use & Zoning Committee Meeting Summary – September 1, 2026

The Land Use & Zoning Committee of the Jacksonville City Council convened on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chamber, City Hall, under Chair Joe Carlucci. The committee addressed 49 agenda items, including deferrals, public hearings, discussion, and votes on zoning changes, land use amendments, exceptions, variances, and waivers. The meeting began with Councilmember Rahman Johnson clarifying that decisions about Venetia Elementary School are made by the Duval County School Board, not the City Council.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 9 – 2026-0532 (Rezoning for Concrete Batch Plant, Soutel Industrial PUD): Multiple speakers opposed the rezoning of 16.73 acres at 0 Union Heights Rd, 0 Bob-o-link Rd E, and 7167 Old Kings Rd from IL to PUD to permit a concrete batch plant. Speakers included Vanessa Collins Hopkins, Samantha Ceres, Wells Todd, James Matchett, and Lassondra Sawyer. They cited lack of environmental impact studies, health risks from particulate matter and chemical runoff, proximity to homes (over 1,000 feet from the nearest residence, but the plant would be situated in the existing heavy industrial portion), groundwater contamination concerns for residents with wells, and the historical context of redlining. They urged a community meeting (scheduled for September 10 at 6 PM at the Legends Center) and further environmental review. The public hearing was continued to September 15, 2026.

Discussion Items

  • Item 11 – 2026-0554 (Rezoning at 1414 Causey Lane, Monument Road): The applicant, John Herbert, sought to rezone 2.53 acres from RLD-60 to CN (Commercial Neighborhood) with no specific plans, only to make the property more marketable. Councilmembers questioned the lack of a concrete plan and whether the applicant had consulted District 2 Councilmember Gay. Staff clarified that CN allows 15 uses by right, including offices, retail, and restaurants without drive-throughs. The applicant stated the property is under contract and time-sensitive. After debate, the committee approved the bill 7-0.
  • Item 17 – 2026-0560 (Zoning Exception for Fat Tuesdays, 1043 & 1045 Park St): The committee approved a zoning exception to allow full alcohol sales (liquor, beer, wine) for on-premises consumption, permanent outside service, and a nightclub in a former restaurant space in Five Points. The applicant, Amanda Hessein, stated the tenant, Fat Tuesdays, will combine two storefronts and operate a kitchen and bar. Councilmembers expressed support for revitalizing Five Points. The bill was approved 7-0 with an amendment adding a condition from the Planning Department.
  • Item 25 – 2026-0590 (Firearms Preemption Repeal): The committee approved a rules amendment (striking "weapons or" and inserting "or she") and then passed the bill as amended 7-0. This ordinance repeals several city code sections related to firearms regulations to comply with state preemption, with amendments to remaining sections.
  • Item 49 – 2026-0674 (Emergency – PUD Condition Addition): The committee voted 6-0 to approve an emergency ordinance amending Ordinance 2025-61-E to include an omitted condition that lots 3, 4, 5, and 6 on a site plan shall be limited to one story in height. The emergency passage required a 2/3 vote.

Key Outcomes

  • Deferred Items (Public Hearing Next Cycle – September 15, 2026):
    • Items 1 (2026-0124) and 2 (2026-0125) – Rampart Rd FLUM and rezoning.
    • Items 26 (2026-0618) through 30 (2026-0622) – various rezoning requests.
    • Items 32 (2026-0631) and 33 (2026-0632) – text amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Public Hearings Continued to September 15, 2026:
    • Items 3 (2026-0126) and 4 (2026-0127) – Pitts Rd FLUM and rezoning.
    • Item 6 (2026-0436) – Acree PUD.
    • Items 7 (2026-0523) and 8 (2026-0524) – Yellow Water Rd FLUM and rezoning.
    • Item 9 (2026-0532) – Soutel Industrial PUD (concrete batch plant).
    • Item 15 (2026-0558) – Richardson Rd rezoning.
    • Item 16 (2026-0559) – Philips Hwy rezoning.
    • Item 23 (2026-0566) – Maxville-Middleburg Rd road frontage waiver.
  • Approved Items (with vote tallies):
    • Item 5 (2026-0376) – Home Occupations ordinance (Rules Substitute) – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 10 (2026-0553) – Causey Lane FLUM – Approved 6-0.
    • Item 11 (2026-0554) – Causey Lane rezoning – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 12 (2026-0555) – Cahoon Rd rezoning – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 17 (2026-0560) – Park St zoning exception – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 18 (2026-0561) – Normandy Blvd beer/wine exception – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 19 (2026-0562) – Normandy Blvd variance – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 20 (2026-0563) – Normandy Blvd full alcohol exception (Tobacco Galore) – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 21 (2026-0564) – Sunbeam Rd sign waiver – Approved 6-0.
    • Item 22 (2026-0565) – Atlantic Blvd sign waiver – Approved 5-0.
    • Item 24 (2026-0567) – Alvin Ct road frontage waiver – Approved 5-0.
    • Item 25 (2026-0590) – Firearms preemption repeal – Approved 7-0.
    • Item 31 (2026-0623) – Baycenter Rd alcohol exception for paddle/fitness facility – Approved 6-0.
    • Item 49 (2026-0674) – Emergency PUD condition – Approved 6-0.
  • Second Readings (set for future public hearings): Items 34-48 (2026-0647 through 2026-0661) were read into the record and will be heard at subsequent meetings.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. It is five o'clock. September first, five o'clock. Welcome to the land use and zoning committee. We're gonna go ahead and start with introductions to the left. Councilman Reginald Gaffin and Julia, district eight. Good afternoon, everyone. You're not on testing. Test there we go. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Rockman Johnson, district 14, the West Side, the best side. Oh gosh. Here we go. Good evening, Rory Diamond, District 13. There you go. Okay. Joe Carluigi, District 5. Kevin Carico, Councilmember, District 4. Randy White, District 12. Terrence Harvey, Office of General Counsel. Susan Kelly Planning Department. Aaron Abney Planning Department. Casey Cox Planning Department. All right. Thank you, everyone, for your introductions. With that, we're going to go ahead. Councilmember Johnson, you're in the queue. You're recognized. Thank you so much for recognizing me, Mr. Chair. And I just want to start the meeting off. I've gotten about 150 to 200 emails. So this is not for obviously this group, this body, but anybody who may be here in the audience or who may be watching. There has been uh some talk about Venetia Elementary School in the adjacent district. It's actually not in district 14, it's in district seven. However, it used to be in district 14 during the last council iteration. Nope nevertheless, in the Temaquana area. Nevertheless, that school, the decisions that are made. I have to say this again. The decisions that are made are made by the Duval County School Board. There's nothing that we can do. There's only one thing that the council can do, and that's a part of the joint planning committee. And that's only for new schools going in new areas. That committee has not met and has nothing to do with this. So that Venetia Elementary School, while I sympathize with you, and I've tried to return as many emails as possible. You must talk to the school board member and the school board if you have issues. And I just wanted to put that on the record. Thank you. Right. And I hope the school board also sends out a message of that.

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