Nassau County Planning & Zoning Board approves Sadler Road rezoning

June 6, 2018 12:08 p.m.

One June 5, the Nassau County Planning and Zoning Board held a public hearing to address a proposed rezoning of approximately .88 acres of land on the south side of Sadler Road between Ryan Road and Amelia Landing. The property is owned by the McMahon Family Trust and is currently zoned Residential Single-Family. Attorney Jon Lasserre represented the family trust at the public hearing.

Chris Whelan speaks to the Planning & Zoning Board in opposition of the Sadler Road zoning change.

After discussion and comments from the public, the Planning and Zoning Board approved the zoning change with one dissenting vote.  An additional public hearing before the Board of County Commission (BOCC)  will be held on Monday, June 25, at 6:00 p.m. at the James Page Government Building.

Prior to the vote, Nassau County Attorney Mike Mullin told the board that going against the Comprehensive Plan's "commercial" designation of Sadler Road could be "problematic."  There must be specific criteria to state the comprehensive plan is in error.  In this case, according to Mullin, it would be difficult to prove.

The McMahon Family Trust received approval from the Nassau County Planning and Zoning Board to change the residential zoned property located on the south-side of Sadler Road to commercial general. Another public hearing will be held during the BOCC meeting scheduled for June 25, and 6 p.m.

Chris Whelan, resident of nearby Pirates' Bay,  spoke against the zoning change. He asked the board members to disregard a 1990's Future Land Use Map designating the area commercial and take a different approach. He noted his concern that adjacent undeveloped residential properties owned by a Silva, and Duke families will follow.

"We can't put on blinders and just look at this lot and say, well there is commercial near it, and that along time ago the Future Land Use Map said let's make this all commercial."

“The reality of today is what would we do to turn back the hands of time a little bit to get back that last sand dune that we allow to get bulldozed, the last native tree canopy that gets taken down, the  wetlands near our neighborhood that get filled in inadvertently during construction.  We, you the board, have an opportunity to be bold here and to deny this request at this time because as a domino property . . .  if that falls to commercial general then we have sprawl from the beaches joining up to the sprawl from the west."

At the end of the meeting County Planner Doug McDowell said a lot of issues brought forward during the hearing such as trees and traffic will be discussed in a site plan review in the event the zoning change is approved by the BOCC and the  property is sold and a development plan comes forward.

McDowell mentioned that there are ongoing efforts between the county and city to "redesign" Sadler Road.  Under discussion are opportunities to add more green space, more landscaping, and perhaps add on street parking.  It is hoped, potential changes will make "Sadler Road the best it can be."