[1. Request to split precinct 209 and add precinct 214; Request to reconfigure precincts 501 and 502 and add precinct 512 to allow for efficient operations on Election Day. St. Johns County currently has 53 precincts and opens 43 polling places on Election Day. Due to high population growth in 2 specific areas of the county in which their Election Day polling places have limited capacity, the Supervisor finds it necessary to split precinct 209 into two precincts (precincts 209 and 214) and reconfigure precincts 501 and 502 to add one additional precinct (precinct 512). These changes will reduce lines at the polling places on Election Day and provide for an increase in efficiency for both voters and poll workers. Precinct 209 split will result in the addition of a new precinct (214) and polling place (Trail Mark Amenities Center). Reconfiguring precincts 501 and 502 will result in the addition of a new precinct (512) and polling place (Beachwalk Clubhouse). Following these modifications, St. Johns County will have 55 (+2) precincts and open 45 (+2) polling places on Election Day. These changes will increase efficiency for both voters and poll workers on Election Day, and lessen the amount of time voters stand in line waiting to cast a ballot. ]

>> OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS

TIME. >> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, AND IF THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT DOES COME, I'M GOING TO SLIDE THAT IN -- I'M GOING TO SLIDE HIM IN BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE EBIKES SO HERE WE ARE WITH THE -- SORRY, VICKY. THE SUPERVISOR OF

ELECTIONS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> I AM HERE BECAUSE THE LAW REQUIRES ANY TIME THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS MAKE CHANGES TO OUR PRECINCTS THEY NEED TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD TO REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL. SO DUE TO THE GROWTH IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE CAN SEE THAT THAT GREATLY AFFECTS MY OFFICE AND THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS. WHEN I CAME TO THIS BOARD EARLIER IN THE YEAR FOR MY BUDGET, IN JUNE, I MENTIONED THEY WOULD BE -- I WAS MAKING PLANS TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL PRECINCTS THIS YEAR, BASED SPECIFICALLY ON THE GROWTH. YOU WILL SEE THEY HAVE SOME VERY LARGE PRECINCTS RIGHT NOW. THE REASON I CAN HAVE LARGE PRECINCTS IS BECAUSE VOTERS HAVE A CHOICE IN HOW THEY CAST THEIR BALLOTS. THEY CAN CHOOSE TO VOTE BY MAIL. THEY CAN CHOOSE TO VOTE EARLY, AND THEY CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO VOTE AT THEIR PRECINCT ON ELECTION DAY. SO CONSEQUENTLY WE ARE ABLE TO MANAGE LARGE PRECINCTS THESE DAYS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A COUPLE OF GROWTH AREAS. THE POLLING PLACES ACTUALLY BECOME WHERE THEY ARE TOO SMALL TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE NUMBER OF VOTERS GOING TO THEM. YOU WILL SEE IN 2024 WE HAD 43 PRECINCTS. WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL PRECINCTS THIS YEAR, AND THEN, PRIOR TO THE '28 ELECTIONS DUE TO THE GROWTH, WE WILL BE LOOKING TO ADD THREE MORE ADDITIONAL PRECINCTS PRIOR TO THE '28 ELECTIONS. SO CURRENT SITUATION, WE ARE FOCUSING ON TWO PARTICULAR AREAS TODAY. YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT OUR VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBERS ARE DOWN A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE LIST MAINTENANCE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING. CURRENTLY I HAVE 53 PRECINCTS AND OPEN 43 POLLING PLACES ON ELECTION DAY. BUT I HAVE TWO PRECINCTS THAT ARE SMALL. THEY HAVE REACHED THE CAPACITY. THEY ARE NOW OVERCAPACITY FOR THE GROWTH IN THE AREAS AND COULD REALLY NO LONGER HANDLE IT SO TODAY WE ARE TALK ABOUT VILLAGE CHURCH PRECINCT 209 AND THE CLUBHOUSE AT BEACON LAKES. PRECINCT 209 ON THE LIST OF THE LARGER PRECINCTS, OVER 8500 REGISTERED VOTERS AS A PREFERENCE POINT, THE NORTHBOUNDRY IS 16. THE

[00:25:05]

DIVIDING LINE IS INTERNATIONAL GOLF PARKWAY WHERE IT CROSSES 16 AND BECOMES PASEDE ROAD. THE AREA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE MIRABELLA AREA. VILLAGE CHURCH IS A SMALLER PRECINCT AND IS OVER CAPACITY, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT DIVIDING THE PRECINCT RIGHT IN HALF, USING PASEDE ROAD. THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF GROWTH IN THIS AREA IS THE TRAIL MARK SUBDIVISION, SO THIS GIVES US A PERFECT PLACE TO DIVIDE THE PRECINCT. PRECINCT 209, EVERYTHING EAST OF PASEDE ROAD WILL REMAIN THE SAME. VOTERS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. THEY WILL STILL VOTE AT VILLAGE CHURCH.

WITH THE DIVIDING LIKE ON PASEDE ROAD, EVERYONE WEST WILL BE IN THE NEW PRECINCT WE ARE PROPOSING. THREE QUARTERS OF THE VOTERS ARE IN TRAIL MARK. IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR THEM. WE ARE ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT WITH TRAIL MARK TO USE THEIR AMENITY CENTERS AND POLLING PLACE SO THESE RESIDENTS WILL BE VOTING RIGHT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SECOND PRECINCT AREA THAT IS A VERY LARGE GROWTH AREA AS WE KNOW IS 210. AROUND THE BEACH WALK AREA. THE POLLING PLACE IN PRECINCT 502 IS CURRENTLY THE CLUBHOUSE AT BEACON LAKES. VERY OVERCAPACITY FOR THE SIZE OF THE ROOM AND THE PARKING. WE HAV WAIT LINES THAT HAVE REACHED THE POINT THEY REALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PRECINCT.

PRECINCT 501 SHARES A POLLING PLACE, CREEKSIDE CHRISTIAN WITH TWO OTHER LOCATIONS. CREEKSIDE CHRISTIAN IS A FANTASTIC VOTING LOCATION. WE USE THE GYMNASIUM, AND IT CAN HANDLE A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS. STILL, WE ARE LOOKING TO SLICE OFF ABOUT 900 VOTERS, PUT THEM OVER IN TO THE NEW PRECINCT AREA. ABOUT -- GREATER THAN HALF OF THE NEW VOTERS FOR PRECINCT 512 WILL BE VOTING AT BEACH WALK AND THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL. WE HAVE INCLUDED ABOUT 1,000 VOTERS IN SANDY CREEK IN THE NEW PRECINCT BECAUSE EVERYONE, ALL THE VOTERS THAT LIVE IN 502 BEACH WALK, EXCUSE ME -- BEACON LAKES, CREEKSIDE, THAT WHOLE AREA, THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO GO IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT TO THEIR POLLING PLACE. SO NEW PRECINCTS, NEW POLLING PLACES, 214 WILL BE OUR NEW PRECINCT WITH TRAIL MARK AT THEIR AMENITY CENTER. THAT AFFECTS ABOUT 4,000 VOTERS. PRECINCT 512, THE NEW PRECINCT AND BEACH WALK CLUBHOUSE, ALSO ABOUT 4,000 VOTERS. IT WILL TAKE OUR G.I.S. STAFF ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS TO MAKE THESE CHANGES. WE PLAN TO -- RIGHT AFTER JANUARY 1ST NOTIFY ALL OF THE AFFECTED VOTERS, SENDING THEM NEW VOTER INFORMATION CARDS, SO THEY ARE READY FOR THE '26 ELECTION. SO WITH THAT, I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON AN EXCELLENT JOB THIS COUNTY IS GROWING. YOU ARE LIVING UP TO YOUR REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE

NEEDS OF THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> GREAT, AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> DON'T GO FAR.

>> THIS TIME WE SEE NONE. WE WILL MOVE ON.

>> IS THERE A MOTION? >> A MOTION TO ADOPT?

>> I MADE IT. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST. I'M

SORRY. >> MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025 DASH -- 209 AND 214 AND RECONFIGURING FOR ONE ADDITIONAL PRECINCT, SHRINKING 501 AND 502 WITH THE ADDITION OF 512 AS

SHOWN ON THE ATTACHED EXHIBITS. >> I WILL SECOND.

[00:30:03]

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. LET'S VOTE.

>> AND THAT PASSES 5-0. >> THANK YOU.

[2. Total Earned Unused and Undistributed Revenue. In compliance with Florida Statute, 218.36, the St. Johns County Tax Collector, Jennifer Ravan, will present a report of unused earned revenue collected for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Please note that these unused revenues have already been estimated as part of the County budget process and therefore they do not necessarily represent additional County revenue.]

>> NICE TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. >> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. I'M LOOKING FOR THE SHERIFF. I DON'T SEE HIM YET. OKAY.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, CONGRATULATIONS, VICE CHAIR AND CHAIR. I'M JENNIFER RAVAN ST. JOHNS COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR. IN COMPLIANCE WITH 218.36, THE TOTAL UNUSED EARNED REVENUE WAS $13,733,514.78. DISTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HOWEVER, RECENTLY WE DISTRIBUTED $10,736,531.94 TO THE COUNTY AND VARIOUS OTHER TAXING AUTHORITIES. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE FINANCIALLY FUNCTIONS INDEPENDENTLY. WE ARE A SELF-SUFFICIENT OFFICE AND OPERATE WITHIN THE PER VIEW OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES BASED ON COMMISSIONS AND FEES DUALLY OUTLINED. THESE COMMISSIONS ARE FOR THE COLLECTION OF TAXES AND SERVICE FOR LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT. I JUST ALSO WANTED TO MENTION ON OCTOBER 31ST AS DENNIS HOLMES USED TO SAY, YOUR LOVE LETTERS, ALSO KNOWN AS PROPERTY TAX BILLS WERE MAILED. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS RELATED TO YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE. I WANTED TO MENTION WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO CATCH UP WITH THE GROWTH. WHILE THE COUNTY HAS GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS OUR OFFICE HAS NOT. WE ARE HIRING STAFF, TRAINING ALL STAFF TO BE CROSS TRAINED AND ADDING WORKSTATIONS AND WILL SOON OPEN A NEW LOCATION ON THE ISLAND. WE INSTALLED KIOSKS IN TWO PUBLIX LOCATIONS. ONE OFF STATE ROAD 207 AND ONE IN THE RIVERTOWN SHOPS. WE ALSO OFFER MOBILE CHECK-IN. IF YOU GO ONLINE, PICK YOUR LOCATION, CHOOSE MOBILE CHECK-IN AND PICK THE LOCATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO VISIT AND PUT IN YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOU WILL GET A TEXT WITH THE PLACE YOU'RE IN LINE. YOU WILL GET TEXT MESSAGES AS YOU GET CLOSER, AND WHEN YOUR NUMBER IS GETTING CLOSER AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN THE OFFICE, WE ASK YOU PROCEED TO THE OFFICE, AND THAT HELPS CUT DOWN ON THE WAIT TIMES AS WELL. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE ONE. THIS JUST CAME UP IN MY HOUSEHOLD. WHEN YOU PAY BY CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD, IS IT

THE SAME? HOW MUCH INTEREST? >> ONLINE OR IN OFFICE, THE FEE GOES TO THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY. THE TAX COLLECTOR OFFICE DOES

NOT RETAIN ANY OF THE FEE. 2.5%. >> OF THE TOTAL BILL?

>> OF THE TOTAL. >> WOW, OKAY

>> WE ALSO OFFER E-CHECK ONLINE TO USE YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNTING AND ROUTE NUMBER, AND THAT'S $1. AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE 2.5%.

>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS LET'S OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE MOTION.

>> YES. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> YEP, I WILL MAKE A MOTION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TOTAL EARNED UNUSED AND UNDISTRIBUTED REVENUE COLLECTED FOR THE 2024-2025 TAX

YEAR. >> SECOND.

>> SECOND. >> SORRY.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION. LET'S VOTE. PASSES 5-0. THANK

[Sheriff’s Report on eBikes]

YOU FOR COMING. I DID SEE OFFICER MARTIN OR COMMANDER MARTIN? DIRECTOR MARTIN? COME ON UP. I ASKED FOR AN UPDATE ON E-BIKES. WHEN I WAS TALKING TO THE SHERIFF, THEY HAD PURCHASED SOME ON THEIR OWN, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW IT IS WORKING AND JUST A QUICK UPDATE. QUICK. THANK YOU.

>> SO THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO YOU GUYS WE HAD A LOT GOING ON AS FAR AS THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE. I THINK I COVERED THAT ALREADY IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOLS DID A GREAT JOB AS FAR AS OPENING UP THEIR DOORS. THE GOAL WAS TO TRY TO GET THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE OUT IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THAT WAS DONE WELL IN ADVANCE. IT'S ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED THROUGH THE AGE GROUP WE WERE TARGETING.

THE OTHER PORTION OF IT IS THE HOUSE BILL 243. WE HAVE BEEN EAGERLY BEHIND AND TRYING TO GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE AS A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL MEETING THAT WE HAD ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, THE BILL SPONSOR, YOUR COSPONSOR, WHICH IS KIM KENDALL, WE ALL THIS A MEETING AND GAVE ALL OF OUR INPUT, AND THEIR CONTROL, WHAT GOES ON IN THAT BILL AND WHAT GETS PRESENTED. I JUST RECENTLY GOT EVERYTHING

[00:35:03]

THAT WE OFFERED AND GAVE RECOMMENDATIONS, BASED ON WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN ALL OF THE COUNTIES, AND SPECIFIC TO ST.

JOHNS COUNTY, HAPPY TO SAY THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN THERE, PLUS ADDITIONAL LICENSING AND RULES AND REGULATIONS, HOW DO THEY REPORT CRASHES AT THE STATE LEVEL, REPORTING THIS ACCURATELY AND E-BIKES BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN INJURIES, ALL OF THAT WAS ADOPTED IN THIS HOUSE BILL 243.

AND THE BIGGEST UPDATE, THE SHERIFF IS ON HIS WAY TO TALLAHASSEE RIGHT NOW. HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN A COMMITTEE THAT THEY WILL BE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON THIS, AND BACKING THIS HOUSE BILL, AND DISCUSSING HOW IS IT RELATED TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY? WHAT ARE THE CRASHES, INJURIES, AND WHAT ARE THE UPDATES THERE? IT'S SUPER EXCITING ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM BEHIND THIS AND SUPPORT. LOCALLY WHAT HAVE WE DONE? THE SHERIFF'S CUSTOMARY WAY, ALWAYS LOOKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. WE DID PURCHASE A FEW E-BIKES. WHEN THE FOLKS ARE GOING IN AREAS THAT ARE MORE DIFFICULT THAN A NORMAL PATROL CAR WOULD GO, AND WE ARE MEETING THEM WITH THE SAME TYPE OF EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE HOSTED OUR OWN E-BIKE COURSES THROUGH OUR DIVISION. EDUCATED THE GUYS. GOT THE TRAINING UP TO SPEED, ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT, AND NOW WE ARE ABLE TO GO IN AREAS WE NORMALLY WOULD NOT CUSTOMARILY GO. AGAIN, IT'S THE CONTACT, THE FOLKS RIDING, EDUCATING THEM, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY NEED TO BE, AND SEE IF WE CAN DAMPEN DOWN THIS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONTACTS.

OVER 200 CONTACTS I THIOKINASE WE STARTED OUR DISPOSITION CODE TO CAPTURE AND TRACK THAT. A LITTLE OVER 200 CONTACTS, MIDSUMMER TO CURRENT. A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON, MOMENTUM, AND I'M HERE TO SEE WHAT THE SHERIFF HAS TO BRING BACK WHEN HE TALKS TO THE TRANSPORTATION FOLKS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK IT'S SO COOL YOU GUYS HAVE THEM NOW.

DOES THAT SURPRISE THE GROUP OF KIDS?

>> I THINK IT DOES WHEN WE PULL UP AND THERE'S A STAR ON THE HELMET, AND IT SEEMS TO BE COOL, BUT WHAT IS NOT COOL IS SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THEY ARE DOING, BUT I CAN'T EXPRESS ENOUGH THE COMMUNITY HAS KIND OF WRAPPED THEIR ARMS AROUND THIS THING.

SOME SLOWER THAN OTHERS, BUT THEY HAVE RESPONDED WELL, AND AGAIN, THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE IS HUGE, AND THEN THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB AS WELL, BUT THE CITATIONS ARE FOLLOWING THE EDUCATIONAL -- THAT LITTLE PART OF THAT PIECE IS KIND OF OVER WITH. AND THEN THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW THAT. WE ARE OPEN TO QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS, THAT ANYBODY MAY HAVE, AND IF WE CAN GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE WOULD SO DO SO. THIS UPCOMING SEASON, AFTER THE NEW YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO WORK IN THAT BIKE RODEO THAT WE HAD SPOKE ABOUT, COMMISSIONER MURPHY AND I WERE WORKING ON MONTHS AGO. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT KIND OF LIKE WE DO WITH THE TEEN DRIVING. WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT WITH E-BIKE EDUCATION AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE AS WELL. THAT'S

TO COME AS WELL IN 2026. >> WELL DONE. THANK YOU.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS? >> THANK YOU FOR POPPING OVER

[3. Public Hearing * PLNAPPL 2025-02 Wildwood Treaty Wireless Facility (Appeal of TOWER 2025-01 Denial). Request to appeal the Planning and Zoning Agency’s (PZA) denial of a Special Use Permit to Section 2.03.26 of the Land Development Code to allow for the construction of a 150-foot monopole communication tower and support facilities within Open Rural (OR) zoning, located specifically at 1152 Fort Peyton Drive, came before the Planning and Zoning Agency for public hearing on July 17, 2025. The Planning and Zoning Agency denied the application with a vote of 6-0, Member Green was absent.]

HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. >>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3.

>> THROUGH THE CHAIR, IF I COULD GET YOU IN THE RIGHT POSTURE FOR THIS ONE. IT'S AN ITEM, AN APPEAL THAT FOR DENYING THE SPECIAL USE DEVELOPMENT. THE PZA VOTED 7-0 TO DENY THE APPLICATION. APPEAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS A DENOVO PROCEEDING. YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO WHAT THE PZA REVIEWED. YOUR DECISION MUST BE BASED ON THE EVIDENCE. THE STAFF REPORT, THE APPLICATION, AND THE SUPPORT MATERIAL ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA ARE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. LASTLY, I WANT TO ADVISE YOU, IT'S A TOUR UNDER FLORIDA LAW AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT, RFA EMISSIONS AND HEALTH CONCERNS ARE EFFECTS AND BUSINESS NEED CARRIER DESIGN ARE NOT BEFORE YOU AND CANNOT BE CONSIDERABLY RELIED UPON. THEY ARE PRECLUDED

IN FEDERAL AND STATE LAW. >> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD?

>> THANK YOU, I RECEIVED NO E-MAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF

ABOUT THIS PROJECT. >> COMMISSIONER MURPHY?

>> THIS SHOWS I'M SHOWING E-MAILS OF PEOPLE OPPOSED AND A

MEETING WITH MARY AND HER STAFF. >> WHITEHURST?

[00:40:02]

>> I ATTENDED A COMMUNITY MEETING, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE, BUT FREEDOM CHURCH, THE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT THE APPLICANT HOSTED FOR THE RESIDENT, AND I ALSO HAVE E-MAILS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. I MET WITH MARY SOLIK YESTERDAY, WHO IS THE APPLICANT, AND SHE LAID OUT THE SITE PLAN AND SOME OF THE FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS. I ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MARY SOLIK PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, HIGHLIGHTING THAT THIS E-MAIL FROM AN ABUTTING NEIGHBOR THAT WAS RECEIVED LATE LAST NIGHT, SO SHE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS WHEN WE MET YESTERDAY. THAT WAS THE CONTENT OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> YES, I HAD OVER TEN PLUS E-MAILS ON THIS, ALL OPPOSING, AND NO MEETING ON THIS.

>> AND I, TOO, HAD AT LEAST FOUR E-MAILS OPPOSING AND NO MEETINGS ON THIS. SO ARE YOU READY? THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD MORNING. MARY SOLIK. I AM LEGAL COUNCIL FOR THE APPLICANT, AND ON A SIDE NOTE, I HAVE PRACTICED LAW IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARENA FOR 35 YEARS, AND EVERY DAY IS STILL ON THE JOB TRAINING FOR ME. WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE THE RF ENGINEER FOR VERIZON. KARINA IS THE PROJECT SUPERVISOR, AND DAVID TALBI IS A STATE CERTIFIED REAL ESTATE APPRAISER ADDRESSING ONE OF THE ISSUES IN THIS CASE. ANTHEM NET IS THE APPLICANT ON THE 150-FOOT COMMUNICATIONS TOUR ON FORT PEYTON DRIVE. IT WAS DENIED BY THE SPECIAL USE REQUEST. WE HAVE TIMELY FILED AN APPEAL OF THAT DECISION PURSUIT TO YOUR CODE. NEXT SLIDE. ANTHEM NET IS A TOWER DEVELOPER OR WHAT I CALL A DEVELOPER OR VERTICAL REAL ESTATE. ANTHEM NET BUILDS THE TOWER AND LEASES SPACE TO THE WIRELESS CARRIERS OPERATING IN YOUR COMMUNITY. ANTHEM NET TSELF IS NOT A WIRELESS CARRIER. STAY ON THAT SLIDE.

OKAY. THE TOWER. THE SUBJECT PROJECT IS OWNED BY HUGHES CEMETERY. THIS IS AN AERIAL OF THE PROPERTY. THE TOWER IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE SITE, UP HERE -- HOW DO I -- HE SAYS I CAN USE MY FINGER? THERE? YEP, UP THERE. ACCESS COMES OFF FORT PEYTON DRIVE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN, BUT RUNS ACROSS THE TOP OF THE PROPERTY ALONG AN EASEMENT AREA CALLED TIMBER LANE. TIMBER LANE PROVIDES ACCESS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO THE WEST. THE PROPERTY IS A CEMETERY, BUT DO NOT WORRY. ANTHEM NET DID DUE DILIGENCE AND DETERMINED THE TOWER WOULD NOT IMPACT ANY BURIAL ON THE SITE.

THAT BACKUP INFORMATION IS IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE. NEXT SLIDE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SETBACKS AND SEPARATION. AGAIN, THIS IS FROM OUR PLANS. THE BLACK DOT IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER IS THE TOWER LOCATION. WE ARE -- YOU HAVE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS UNDER YOUR CODE. WE HAVE TO MEET THE ZONING DISTRICT SET BACKS, AND WE ARE FAR EXCEED THAT. -- FROM THE EAST PROPERTY LINE. 96FEET TO THE NORTH PROPERTY LINE. 465FEET TO THE SOUTH PROPERTY LINE, AND 94 FEET TO THE WEST PROPERTY LINE. THE NEXT -- YOU HAVE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS AS WELL, BUT YOUR SEPARATION REQUIREMENT IS REALLY LIMITED TO THE TOWER MUST BE LOCATED -- THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER FROM THE CLOSEST RESIDENTIAL DWELLING, SCHOOL, OR EMERGENCY EVACUATION SHELTER, EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE DESIGNED COLLAPSE ZONE. SO THAT RING, THIS RING RIGHT HERE, THAT IS THE 80-FOOT COLLAPSE ZONE OF THE TOWER. IT FALLS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE PARENT TRACK. THE CLOSEST RESIDENCE IS 192 FEET TO THE SOUTHWEST, OVER HERE. SO WE ARE -- WE ARE -- WE ARE MORE

[00:45:07]

THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER AWAY FROM THAT STRUCTURE, BUT WE HAVE THE CERTIFIED COLLAPSE ZONE AT 80 FEET. THERE'S A REFERENCE IN YOUR CODE TO A 250-FOOT DISTANCE. THIS JUST TRIGGERED TWO THINGS. IF YOUR CENTER OF TOWER IS LOCATED WITHIN 200 FEET, 250 FEET OF AN OFFSITE ZONING DISTRICT, AND YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GET A SPECIAL USE, SAY YOU'RE ON A COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY F YOU ARE THAT DISTANCE AWAY, THAT TRIGGERS THE NEED FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION THIS IS CONSIDERED A RESIDENTIAL AREA, SO WE WERE SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO START WITH.

THAT 250 FEET IS NOT REALLY TRIGGERED HERE, EXCEPT IT TRIGGERS THE COMMUNITY MEETING REQUIREMENT WHICH WE DID.

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST ATTENDED THAT. I THINK COMMISSIONER MURPHY WAS THERE AS WELL. OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT DRAWING THIS IS THE ELEVATION -- OH, WE WERE DOING THAT BEFORE. THIS IS THE ELEVATION VIEW OF THE TOWER. THE TOP OF STEEL IS 140 FEET IT HAS A 10-FOOT LIGHTNING ROD ON TOP. THE CODE DEFINES TOP OF STEEL INCLUDING ALL PERTINENCES. IT'S 150. VERIZON IS THE ANCHOR TENANT. THEIR RAD CENTER, THE CENTER LINE OF THE ANTENNA IS PROPOSED TO BE 135 FEET. SINCE THE DATE OF THE PCA LETTER, WE HAVE A LETTER OF INTENT FROM T. MOBILE. THEY INTEND TO USE IT AS WELL. IT SHOWS THEIR RAD CENTER WILL BE 125 FEET. THE BASE OF THE TOWER IS INCLUDED WITH THE SIMULATED STONE PVC FENCE, REQUIRED BY YOUR CODE. THE TOWER WILL BE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING FOUR CARRIERS, ALL CARRIERS IN YOUR MARKETPLACE. I LIKE TO BORROW A LINE FROM FIELD OF DREAMS. IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME. RIGHT NOW WE ARE PROPOSED FOR VERIZON AND T.

MOBILE, BUT WE HAVE EVER REASON TO EXPECT AT&T AND DISH WILL PUT ANTENNAS ON THIS TOWER. IT'S MUCH CHEAPER AND FASTER FOR THEM TO PULL A BUILDING PERMIT TO HANG ON AN EXISTING STRUCTURE THAN GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITH YOU TO GET A NEW STRUCTURE BUILT. OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THAT'S OUR LETTER OF INTENT. I DON'T KNOW WHY -- OH, THAT'S -- OH, NOW I'M FIGURING THIS OUT. OKAY, THIS IS OUR LETTER OF INTENT FROM T. MOBILE. NEXT SLIDE. AN AERIAL JUST KIND OF GIVING YOU A FEEL FOR THE AREA. SOUTH OF WILDWOOD ROAD. RESIDENTIAL TO THE SOUTH OF US. SOME TO THE WEST. MORE COMING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE THIS IS OUR ZONING MAP. THE STAR IS THE LOCATION OF THE TOWER. WE ARE SURROUNDED ON THE NORTH AND THE WEST -- AND SOUTH -- NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS IS THE FALL ZONE CERTIFICATION LETTER FROM PAUL FORD COMPANY, CERTIFYING THE COLLAPSE ZONE IS 80 FEET. NEXT SLIDE. SO HOW DID WE GET TO THIS PROPERTY? THE CIRCLE ON THE OUTSIDE, THIS CIRCLE HERE. THIS IS THE SEARCH AREA GIVEN TO US BY VERIZON. THEY TELL US WHERE THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN THEIR DESIGN AND EXISTING FACILITIES. WE ARE SENT OUT TO FIND A LOCATION IN THAT SEARCH AREA THAT WILL WORK. WE SENT -- OR ANTHEM NET SENT COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BAPTIST CHURCH, OWNER'S PLANTATION, DOROTHY OSBOURNE TRUST, PRESS -- PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND HUGHES CEMETERY. ON THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WE GOT TO A SITE WALK WITH THEM, AND THEN THEY ULTIMATELY DECLINED. THE HUGHES CEMETERY LANDLORD WAS A WILLING LANDLORD, AND AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WITH THAT PROPERTY OWNER TO PUT THE TOWER THERE. NEXT SLIDE. THIS GIVES YOU JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND, THE RED CIRCLE IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE TOWER LOCATION, A QUARTER OF A MILE, ESSENTIALLY THE SEARCH AREA. THE NEXT RING OUT IS A MILE, AND THEN THE NEXT RING OUT IS TWO MILES. YOU CAN SEE THE TOWERS, EXISTING TOWERS ARE THE YELLOW DOTS, ARE REALLY OUT IN THE TWO-MILE RANGE SURROUNDING THIS PROPERTY. THERE IS A GREEN TRIANGLE, RIGHT HERE.

THAT IS ANOTHER ANTHEM NET PROPOSED TOWER THAT HAS BEEN

[00:50:03]

APPROVED BY YOU TO BE LOCATED ON THE FREEDOM CHURCH. I THINK COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST MENTIONED THE COMMUNITY MEETING WE HAD FOR THIS SITE AT THE FREEDOM CHURCH. ANTHEM NET IS ALSO GOING TO BUILD A TOWER ON FREEDOM CHURCH, AND THAT WILL BE USED BY VERIZON AS WELL. THEY ARE -- THE FREEDOM CHURCH AND THIS SITE ARE NOT COMPETING SITES. THEY ARE COMPLIMENTARY SITES. BOTH LOCATIONS NEEDED BY THE WIRELESS CARRIER TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE WIRELESS COVERAGE IN THE AREA.

NEXT SLIDE. OKAY, I'M GOING TO ASK OMAR TO COME UP NOW. THE RF ENGINEER FROM VERIZON, WALKING THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION THERE. NEXT SLIDE. OMAR IS AN RF ENGINEER WITH VERIZON. HE'S BEEN WITH VERIZON FOR TEN YEARS. CAN YOU GIVE YOUR

NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE? >> GOOD MORNING.

>> NAME AND ADDRESS. >> MY NAME IS OMAR ISAAC. I'M THE RF ENGINEER FOR VERIZON. I'M THE ENGINEER FOR JACKSONVILLE MARKET AS WELL. MY ADDRESS IS TAMPA, FLORIDA.

>> THE NEED FOR THIS SITE, JUST BRIEFLY.

>> YES. SO THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS SITE IS --

>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.

>> CAN YOU HAVE THEM BOTH GOING SO I CAN TALK AND HEAR? JUST

BRIEFLY. >> THE OBJECT FOR THIS SITE IS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE AND CAPACITY TO THE ETERNITY PARK AND THE

SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREAS. >> OKAY.

>> AND WHAT DOES THIS SLIDE REPRESENT, OMAR?

>> THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORING SITES AND TOWERS AND SHOWING PERMISSION FOR THE EAST SIDE

LOCATION, AND THE TOWER HEIGHTS. >> IS THE --

>> A FEW -- YEAH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

>> THE MAP? >> PLEASE.

>> YEAH. >> SO, YEAH, THOSE SITES, FROM THE LEFT, SHOWING THE PROPOSED SITE, AND THE SURROUNDING SITE WITH THIS SPACING BETWEEN THEM. THAT INCLUDES FUTURE SITES AND

EXISTING TOWERS. >> NEXT SLIDE.

>> AND OMAR, WHAT DOES THIS REPRESENT?

>> THIS SHOWING THE COVERAGE BUT INCLUDING TWO FUTURE SITES. THE ONE AT THE NORTH, AND ONE SOUTHEAST. SHOWING -- YEAH, IF YOU SEE, THERE'S THE BIG COVERAGE GAP, AND THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THAT LOCATION FOR THE PROPOSED SITE.

>> SO -- >> AND THE GREEN COLOR IS ACTUALLY SHOWING THE AVAILABLE CAPACITY NETWORK, AND RED IS ACTUALLY COVERAGE. RED IS ACTUALLY REPRESENTING THIS RANGE IS GOING TO BE CONNECTED TO THE SOUTH TOWER. AND THIS PRODUCTION OF THE PREDICTION MAP SHOWS THE COVERAGE AFTER -- IF WE GET THE PERMISSION TO INSTALL THE SITE, AND THIS IS HOW THE COVERAGE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. SO IT SHOWS ALSO THAT WE FILLED THE COVERAGE GAP TO THE SOUTHEAST OF THE SITE, ALSO THERE ARE THREE SURROUNDING SITES THAT HAVE CONGESTION PROBLEM. THIS SITE OBJECTIVE ALSO TO OFFLOAD THOSE SECTORS OR SITES ALSO SHOWING CURRENT TRAFFIC AND PREVIOUS TRAFFIC SHOWING THE TRAFFIC GOING TO INCREASE ON THOSE AT DIFFERENT SITES. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE CONGESTION PROBLEMS. AND SUBSCRIBERS OR USERS GET A NOTICE, SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN

[00:55:07]

THE DOWNLOAD, UPLOAD, LIKE DURING JUST BROWSING. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM GOING TO INCREASE.

BUILDING THIS SITE TAKES ONE TO THREE YEARS. SO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED BEFORE WE REACH THAT POINT, AND START RECEIVING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. ALREADY WE HAVE COMPLAINTS THERE. WE ARE BUILDING TWO SITES. ONE AT THE NORTHWEST -- SORRY. GOING TO -- IS PLANNED TO BE ON AIR IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY 2026. THE SECOND ONE ON THE SOUTH, ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND PLANNED TO BE ON AIR IN SEPTEMBER 2026.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ISAAC BEFORE I LET HIM SIT

DOWN? OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST?

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO WHAT MR. ISAAC WAS TESTIFYING TO. MS.WEST, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION. WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE COVERAGE IS THAT SOMETHING WE ARE CONSIDERING HERE TODAY AS

PART OF THE DECISION? >> YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERING THAT.

THE CARRIER NETWORK DESIGN, THAT'S WITHIN THEIR PERVIEW, DECIDING IT'S NOT PROPER OR ADEQUATE.

>> THE STAFF REQUIRES WE SUBMIT THIS INFORMATION, AND IT'S SUBMITTED FOR YOUR CONSULTANT FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE PROPAGATION MAPS ARE VALID AND ACCEPTABLE, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S HERE. OKAY. NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO TO PHOTOS. WE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO DO A PHOTO SIMULATION OF THE PROPOSED TOWER. I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS. THIS IS JUST AN OVERALL AERIAL SITE, AND IT DEMONSTRATES THE TEN LOCATIONS WHERE WE TOOK PHOTOS AROUND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THE SITE LOCATION, AGAIN, IS RIGHT HERE. AND ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT VIEWS, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE BEFORE AND AFTER OF EACH ONE OF THEM. OVER OFF TO THE LEFT, THERE'S A CHART THAT SHOWS YOU THE VIEW AND THE DISTANCE TO THE TOWER FROM THAT PARTICULAR VIEW.

SO WE ARE GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN TO VIEW ONE. OKAY, THIS VIEW IS 1380 FEET AWAY, AND IT'S ON WILDWOOD ROAD, NEAR THE BAPTIST CHURCH THAT IS TO THE NORTH, AND IT'S NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF ANDALUJA SUBDIVISION, THE SUBDIVISION TO THE FAR WEST OF THE CEMETERY PROPERTY. THIS IS THE FOREVIEW, AND THE AFTER VIEW, YOU CAN JUST BARELY MAKE OUT THE TOWER THROUGH THOSE TREES. OKAY, LET'S GO TO VIEW TWO. THIS IS 680 FEET AWAY, THE ENTRANCE TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TO THE NORTH. THIS IS THE PROPERTY WHERE WE GOT THROUGH THE SITE WALK WITH THE LANDLORD, AND THEY ULTIMATELY DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT THE TOWER. LET'S GO TO THE VIEW. SO THAT'S THE VIEW OF THE ENTRANCE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. VIEW THREE. 590FEET AWAY AT WILDWOOD DRIVE AND FORT PEYTON DRIVE, AND YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. YOU CAN SEE THE TOWER ON THE TREE PROPERTY RIGHT ON THE EDGE.

LET'S GO TO VIEW FOUR. 410FEET AWAY FROM FORT PEYTON DRIVE LOOKING DUE WEST THROUGH THE CEMETERY PROPERTY TO THE TOWER, AND THAT'S AGAIN AT THE PROPERTY LINE OFF FORT PEYTON DRIVE, AND THAT'S THE VIEW SHOWN. VIEW FIVE. THIS IS FURTHER DOWN WILDWOOD DRIVE AT OLD PLANTATION DRIVE. IT'S 1300 FEET AWAY. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. IT'S JUST VISIBLE. OKAY, LET'S GO TO VIEW SIX. THIS IS 585 FEET AWAY FURTHER DOWN FORT PEYTON DRIVE. RIGHT AT THE SOUTH END OF FORT PEYTON DRIVE WHERE

[01:00:04]

IT TAKES A RIGHT ANGLE TURN. SO IT'S REALLY ON THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE CEMETERY PROPERTY. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT VIEW, AND AGAIN, THIS IS VISIBLE THERE. THE SOUTH EDGE OF THE PROPERTY.

VIEW SEVEN. 150FEET TO THE WEST IN THE ANDALUJA SUBDIVISION.

NEXT SLIDE, TOWER CAN'T BE SEEN. VIEW EIGHT, AGAIN IN ANDALUJA. 1855FEET AWAY. YOU CAN JUST BARELY SEE IT. JUST BARELY.

VIEW NINE AND TEN, WE ADDED THESE SLIDES AFTER THE PZA.

THESE ARE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE SOUTH. NEITHER NINE OR TEN HAVE ANY VIEW SHED OF THE TOWER. YOU CAN'T SEE IT IN THERE. THAT'S NINE AND TEN. OKAY, NEXT SLIDE. YOUR STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND FOUND WE MEET ALL OF THE OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA IN THE CODE. PUT US THROUGH THE RINGER ON GETTING OUR APPLICATION COMPLETE, MAKING SURE WE WERE READY TO GO TO PZA. WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING IN MAY, ATTENDED BY RESIDENTS OF THE NEARBY COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE MET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HOLDING THE COMMUNITY AND THE ADVERTISING. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. AS PART OF OUR NEEPA STUDY, WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO THE STUDY THE FCC. THE APPLICATION DETAILS ARE SENT TO THE FLORIDA STATE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OFFICE, AND THAT -- AND THAT'S AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS SHIPO.

SHIPO ULTIMATELY DETERMINED THE TOWER WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON HISTORIC PROPERTIES DIRECTLY OR VISUALLY. NEXT SLIDE. AGAIN, PART OF THE NEEPA STUDY, WE DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE CHECKLIST. WE DON'T TRIGGER ANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE CRITERIA THAT WOULD TRIGGER THE NEXT LEVEL OF NEEPA REVIEW. NEXT SLIDE. AND AS IT COMES TO THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES, THERE WAS NOTHING FEDERALLY LISTED. THERE WAS A FINDING THAT THERE WAS POTENTIAL HABITAT FOR GOPHER TORTOISE AND PINE SNAKE, BUT NO BURROWS WERE NOTED, BUT WE HAVE TO REVISIT AT CONSTRUCTION. HERE'S YOUR CODE REQUIREMENTS. YOU HAVE SPECIAL USE REQUIREMENTS, AND REQUIREMENT IN THE TOWER SECTION, AND THE SLIDE ON THE RIGHT IS YOUR INTENT AND PURPOSE. I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION DOWN TO SPECIAL USES IN P. ON THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER. THE LAST SENTENCE OF THAT -- WELL THAT WHOLE SECTION, YOU HAVE TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING USES, AND AT THE END OF THAT SECTION, THE TOWER SHALL NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON ADJACENT PROPERTY VALUES. I WILL HAVE DAVID TOLBY COME UP AND ADDRESS THAT ISSUE WITH YOU. WHILE HE IS COMING UP, I'M JUST GOING TO PUT A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE RECORD SO I DON'T FORGET TO DO IT. THE FIRST IS A COPY OF MR. TOLBY'S REPORT THAT HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT. THE SECOND IS A FULL SET OF OUR PLANS. YOU DON'T HAVE A FULL SET IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE, AND I'M GOING TO PUT IN A PUBLIC RECORDS RESPONSE THEY GOT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I WILL JUST THROW THIS IS RIGHT NOW. I ASKED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HOW MANY 911 CALLS WERE MADE IN 2024 FROM WIRELESS HANDSETS, AND THE ANSWER 87% OF ALL 911 CALLS COMING INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COME IN THROUGH WIRELESS HAND SET. I'M GOING TO PUT ALL OF THAT IN THE RECORD SO I DON'T FORGET IT.

>> DAVID TALBY, TAMPA. >> WHAT'S YOUR OCCUPATION?

>> REAL ESTATE APPRAISER. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY CERTIFICATIONS OR PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS?

>> M.A.I. MEMBER OF THE APPRAISAL INSTITUTE AND STATE

CERTIFIED REAL ESTATE APPRAISER. >> HAVE YOU BEEN QUALIFIED AS AN

EXPERT IN CIRCUIT COURT? >> YES.

>> HOW MANY TIMES? >> SEVERAL.

>> IN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCEEDING?

>> YES. >> HOW MANY TIMES?

>> ONCE. >> ONCE.

>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO TENDER MR. TOLBY AS AN EXPERT. I WOULD

[01:05:01]

LIKE YOU TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, PLEASE. WILL THIS TOWER HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT DETRIMENTAL ON ADJACENT PROPERTY

VALUES? >> I CAN FIND NO DATA TO SUPPORT IT WILL IMPACT THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY VALUES.

>> WHAT DO YOU BASE YOUR OPINION ON?

>> I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THIS ISSUE FOR 26 YEARS FROM THE PAN HANDLE ALL THE WAY OVER TO ORANGE AND SEMINOLE COUNTY. I HAVE STUDIED NO LESS THAN 200 TOWER INSTALLATIONS, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SALES AROUND TOWERS, I HAVE STUDIED URBAN INSTALLATIONS, RURAL INSTALLATIONS, SUBURBAN INSTALLATIONS, ALL TYPES OF TOWERS, LATTICE TOWERS, STEALTH TOWERS SUCH AS CROSSES, FLAG POLE TOWERS, FLAGLESS POLE TOWERS, AND I CAN FIND BASED ON MY RESEARCH AND SALES, SPEAKING TO BROKERS THERE REALLY IS NO INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THAT TOWERS HAVE ANY IMPACTS ON VALUES. MARKET VALUE IS A COLLECTION OF BUYERS, NOT JUST ONE BUYER. I CAN ALSO LEAVE IT TO YOU WITH THIS, I HAVE SPOKE TO AT LEAST 20 COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER INCLUDING MARK TAYLOR, DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS REPORT. THEY HAVE NEVER MADE A REDUCTION IN A PROPERTY ASSESSMENT DUE TO PROXIMITY TO A TOWER. NOR HAVE THEY EVER BEEN ASKED TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT REDUCTION. YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, WITH ALL OF THE NEGATIVE -- YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES, HOW CAN THAT BE? THOSE PROPERTY APPRAISERS, THEY ARE LIKE ME. THEY LOOK AT MARKET DATA, AND NO DATA TO INDICATE THE TOWERS IMPACT VALUES.

>> OKAY. DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. TOLBY?

>> I HAVE A QUICK ONE. >> SURE.

>> THE HOMES -- WE DIDN'T GET A VIEW OF THE HOMES NEXT TO IT OR ACROSS THE STREET. I MEAN, IF I WERE WALKING OUT OF MY BACKYARD AND LOOKED UP, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY SHOCKING, BUT I DIDN'T SEE A VIEW FROM NEXT DOOR OR ACROSS THE STREET, PEYTON PARKWAY. I SAW THAT THE CLOSEST ONE WAS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE SOUTH, AND I DON'T SEE THE HOUSE RIGHT NEXT TO.

>> OKAY, I'M JUST GETTING BACK TO THE MAP. VIEW FOUR FROM THE EAST SIDE, AND WE TOOK VIEWS ALL THE WAY OVER HERE AND ONE TO THE SOUTH. WE DID TAKE TWO INTERNAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE SOUTH. OUR -- THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, OUR LANDLORD HAD ADVISED US THAT THE NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST HAD NO OBJECTION TO THE TOWER, SO WE DIDN'T DO PHOTOS THERE. WE DID THEM TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE WEST, FAR WEST, VIEW SEVEN AND VIEW EIGHT.

WE ALSO -- WE CAN'T GO ON PROPERTY OWNERS' BACKYARDS. WE HAVE TO TAKE VIEWS FROM PUBLIC STREETS. WE TOOK -- WE GAVE YOU THE TWO WORST VIEWS OF THE TOWER EVER FROM THE PROPERTY LINES,

AND AS YOU -- >> NO WAY.

>> OFF TO THE EAST, WE GAVE YOU THE VIEW ON FORT PEYTON DRIVE AND THE HOMES ON THE SOUTH SIDE ALL BACK UP TO THE PROPERTY, AND THE HOMES ON THE EAST ALL BACK UP. WE -- AGAIN, WE CAN'T GET IN THOSE BACKYARDS. THE FURTHER OUT YOU GET FROM THE TOWER, THE

LESS VIEW THAT YOU HAVE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. ARE THERE

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> SO I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND REBUT AND WRAP UP WITH WALKING YOU THROUGH THE TEN CRITERIA THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO

CONSIDER. >> ABSOLUTELY. NO MORE FROM YOU

GUYS? YOU'RE GOOD? >> I THINK WE ARE GOOD UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE SIT DOWN?

>> I THINK WE WILL DO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> GREAT, THANKS. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE. PLEASE STEP

UP TO THE PODIUM. >> GREAT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HEATHER CONOHAY. I'M ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS FROM HEARTWOOD JUST 400 FEET FROM THE TOWER BASE.

NONE OF OUR PICTURES WERE UP THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO TREES THAT BLOCK MY SIGHT IN MY BACKYARD TO THE TOWER, SO THAT'S 150 FEET OF SIGHT, AND IT IS 135 FEET OF SIGHT FROM MY CUL-DE-SAC IN THE FRONT, AND IT IS A PROVEN FACT THAT REDUCTION

[01:10:05]

IN PROPERTY VALUES IS REAL. WHERE I SIT, MY PROPERTY VALUE WOULD GO DOWN PROBABLY 20%, WHICH IS BETWEEN $120,000 AND $160,000 A YEAR. THE TOWER SURVEY THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY AND AT THE ZONING COMMITTEE HEARING DID NOT INCLUDE ANY PHOTOS FROM HEARTWOOD. IT'S ALSO NOT AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE TRENDS OF PROPERTY VALUES FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY. ALL OF THE EXAMPLES THAT ARE USED IN THAT SURVEY ARE FROM OTHER COUNTIES.

PER STATUTE 163-32-03 IN COMPATIBILITY OF LOCAL LAND USE REGULATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT SPECIAL USE APPROVALS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING LAND USE PATTERNS. 150-FOOT TOWER STRUCTURE IN THREE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BORDERING THE NEAREST RESIDENT AT 100 AND I THINK SHE SAID 92 FEET, WHICH IS RIGHT UNDER THE TOWER, CLEARLY DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE INTENT AND CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD AND POSES A DIRECT CONFLICT WITH 163-32-021B, PROTECTING PROPERTY VALUE AND QUALITY OF LIFE. MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR PROPERTY TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE. WE WERE BORN AND RAISED IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND WANTED TO SETTLE BACK HERE AFTER 35 YEARS AWAY. MY HUSBAND HAS HEALTH ISSUES, AND WE CHOSE CAREFULLY DUE TO THIS. ALTHOUGH YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONSIDER HEALTH CONCERNS CAUSED BY PROXIMITY TO IS CELL TOWER LOCATIONS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR THREE COMMUNITIES HAVE MANY CHILDREN, PEOPLE WITH HEALTH ISSUES, AND OLDER PEOPLE WHICH WILL BE AFFECTED BY EXPOSURE TO EMF RADIATION. WE SETTLED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FIRST.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY. >> GREAT, THANK YOU, AND THANK

YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> MY NAME IS BOB CHALMERS. 1202 FORT PEYTON. I NOTICED WITH ANTHEM, WITH THE THREE CIRCLES OF BOUNDARIES, THAT THE COVERAGE WAS ALL THE WAY OUT TO 95. IF THEY COULD MOVE THAT TOWER CLOSER TO 95, THEY WOULD HAVE MORE OF A CHANCE OF LESS DROPPED CALLS. DROPPED CALLS ARE USUALLY ON 95, AND WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE CONSIDERING THERE'S A CEMETERY THERE AND THERE WON'T BE ANY DEVELOPMENT GOING BEHIND THIS. MY BACKYARD IS MY SANCTUARY. WE HAVE BEEN THERE 13 YEARS. WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO OUR HOUSE, FIXING IT UP. I COME HOME FROM WORK, AND I'M STILL WORKING AT 68 YEARS OLD. I COME HOME FROM WORK, I GO IN THE FRONT DOOR AND OUT THE BACK DOOR, AND I SIT IN THE BACKYARD AND UNWIND. AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD PROBABLY SEE, NOT TO SCALE, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT I WOULD SEE IF YOU COULD PUT THAT UP FOR ME, FROM

MY BACKYARD. >> YEP.

>> NOW, COMING HOME, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO MENTION THE RFS AND EVERYTHING, BUT FOR ME TO BE IN MY BACKYARD AS MUCH AS I AM, I PROBABLY SPEND FOUR, FIVE HOURS EVERY DAY IN MY BACKYARD WITH MY DOGS. TO LOOK UP AT THAT AND SEE AN EYESORE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? PLUS THE ' TO DEPRECIATE OUR HOUSE. WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO OUR HOME, AND WE DON'T WANT TO DEPRECIATE IT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY, AND I HOPE YOUR DECISION AND MY COMMNTS HELP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT?

>> YEAH. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BUDDY POWELL. 313 IN THE HEARTWOOD DEVELOPMENT. I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST YOUR HELP. THE TWO MAIN PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT ARE TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CEMETERY WHERE THIS PROPOSED

[01:15:07]

TOWER PLANS TO BE ERECTED IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM MY BACK PROPERTY LINE. MY BACKYARD CONSISTS OF FEEDERS FOR THE BIRDS, OAK TREES FOR THE PLAYFUL SQUIRRELS, FLOWERS FOR THE BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER EDIBLES FOR THE DEER. A TYPICAL BACKYARD FOR THE HOMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS PAST SUNDAY, WE HAD A RARE VISIT OF TEN TURKEYS WALK THROUGH THE YARD.

SITTING ON MY BACK PORCH IN QUIET SOLITUDE IS RELAXING AND ENJOYABLE. I DON'T NEED A 150-FOOT COMMERCIAL CELL TOWER IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED HOW THIS COMMERCIAL TOWER WILL BE POWERED TO OPERATE. THE LAST THING WE NEED IS A GENERATOR THAT ROAR THE 24/7/365. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE TO HEAR A GENERATOR RUNNING CONSTANTLY EVERY NIGHT? NOT TO MENTION, TRUCKS DRIVING ON THE DIRT ROAD TO REFUEL IT? IT WOULDN'T BE LONG BEFORE THE DIRT ROAD HAD RUTS AND POTHOLES. I HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS ORDEAL. THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROWS UP IN OPPOSITION TO THIS COMMERCIAL CELL TOWER, AND THE APPLICATION WAS UNANIMOUSLY DENIED BY THE ZONING BOARD, YET, HERE WE ARE AGAIN, VOICING OUR DISAPPROVAL OF THIS COMMERCIAL CELL TOWER. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT YOU COULD LEASE PART OF A CEMETERY FOR COMMERCIAL USE. I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT THAT CEMETERIES WERE SACRED GROUND AND THAT WERE NOT EVER TO BE DISTURBED. THAT IS 1 WHY A LOT OF GRAVE WORKERS ARE INSCRIBED WITH R.I.P. I FIND IT REPREHENSIBLE THAT SOMEONE HAS THE AUDACITY TO PLACE THIS IN A CEMETERY. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A BEAUTIFUL CELL TOWER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. NEXT. >> HI, GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY BUT FIRMLY OPPOSE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT --

>> SORRY, MA'AM, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

>> ALEXANDRIA JONES. 1218 FORT PEYTON DRIVE. I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY BUT FIRMLY OPPOSE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR TOWER 2025-01. THE PROJECT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA AND WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. THE TOWER IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SITE IS NEXT TO A HISTORIC GRAVEYARD AND DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND 150-FOOT CELL TOWER WILL DOMINATE THE SKYLINE ALTERING THE CULTURAL FEEL OF THE COMMUNITY. OKAY? I KNOW THE GENTLEMAN GOT UP AND SAID IT WILL NOT AFFECT PROPERTY VALUES, DISAGREED WITH THAT GENTLEMAN, AND OF COURSE, THAT'S MATTER OF OPINION. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT THE TOWER WOULD VIOLATE THE SPIRIT OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. SECTION 2.03.26 OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY CODE REQUIRES THE CELL TOWERS BE COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING LAND USE. A MASSIVE STEEL TOWER NEXT TO A HISTORICAL BURIAL SITE AND RESIDENTIAL HOMES IS NOT COMPATIBLE. ANYONE TRYING TO ARGUE IT WOULD BE COMPATIBLE SEEMS PRETTY UNREASONABLE TO ME IN MY OPINION. APPROVING THE PERMIT WOULD BE A DIRECT CONTRADICTION OF THE COUNTY'S GOALS OF PROTECTING THE CHARACTER AND LIVABILITY OF ITS NEIGHBORHOOD. ADDITIONALLY I WANT TO ADD, BEING A RESIDENT, I DID WALK OVER THERE AND PERSONALLY SPOKE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON TIMBER LANE. THERE'S THREE PROPERTIES BACK THERE. OKAY? THE FIRST PROPERTY WHERE THE PROPOSED TOWER WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THIS HOME, IT'S AN ELDERLY LADY, OKAY? AND SHE OWNS THE ACREAGE. SHE ALSO HAS HER SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ALSO ON THE PROPERTY. SHE IS OPPOSED. SHE TOLD ME SHE'S OPPOSED TO THE CELL TOWER. THAT SEEMS LIKE A LIABILITY TO ME TO HAVE A CELL TOWER ON SOMEONE'S HOME AND

[01:20:01]

THEY ARE IN OPPOSITION FOR THAT AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 40 YEARS. SHE COULDN'T COME. YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID SHE'S AN OLDER LADY, BUT SHE DID EXPRESS SHE IS IN OPPOSITION TO THIS, AND I WANTED TO ADD THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M MARK PELCHAT FROM NORTH SHADOW WOOD DRIVE. IN 2013 MY WIFE AND I INVESTED IN BUILDING INTO THAT DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT WAS A PRETTY DEVELOPMENT IN 2013 ONLY ONE HOUSE WAS BUILT. I WAS THE SECOND TO BUILD IN THERE. I HAD THE OPTION OF 30 OTHER TO CHOOSE FROM. MY WIFE AND I LOVE THE LOCATION AND WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE A GREAT VIEW AND ALL OF THAT. THIS PROPOSED TOWER HERE, IT IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED WHERE I'M AT IN LIFE RIGHT NOW. MY WIFE AND I WORKED A LIFETIME TO BUILD THIS FOREVER HOME, AND TOOK ALL OF OUR MONEY TO BUILD IT, AND NOW FOR 12 YEARS LATER, 2 YEARS FROM RETIREMENT, TO BE HIT WITH A LETTER SAYING I'M WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE PROPERTY, I'M SHAKING, I'M SORRY.

300FEET OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE? THIS IS -- I DON'T CARE HOW THEY DRESS IT UP. THEY CAN MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE OR WHATEVER, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CELL TOWER THAT IS NOT AN EYESORE. THE PRESENTATION TO ME WAS DISGUSTING. I SHARED BACK IN JULY, I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER. I WILL NOT GO AGAIN INTO DETAILS, BUT THOSE PICTURES ARE SO DECEIVING IT'S INCREDIBLE. WERE THEY ON THEIR KNEES TAKING THE PICTURES? COME ON. I NOTICED AS MENTIONED EARLIER, NONE OF THE HOMES ARE DIRECTLY BEHIND THAT IN THE HEARTWOOD DEVELOPMENT. PICTURED THERE, MY HOUSE, THE THREE OR FOUR OTHER HOUSES BACKED UP TO IT, NONE OF THEM WERE THERE, AND AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC ROAD, THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE IS A PUBLIC ROAD, OKAY? THAT DOESN'T HOLD WATER. THEY COULD HAVE COME OUT AND TAKEN PICTURES THERE. THEY NEGLECTED TO DO THAT ON PURPOSE. THE OTHER PIECE, TOWN HALL? HOW IS IT THEY DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE TOWN HALL TO GO SPEAK TO THAT? I DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE BECAUSE IT'S IN MY BEST INTEREST. WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK THE COMMITTEE IS -- IF YOU -- I WOULD SUGGEST IF YOU COULD, PUT YOURSELF IN MY AND MY WIFE'S SHOES, AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF THIS WAS YOUR FOREVER HOME AND YOU GOT A LETTER STATING THAT THIS 150-FOOT TOWER WAS GOING TO BE BUILT, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR TIME TO ALLOW US TO SPEAK, AND I PRAY THAT YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE GREAT NEIGHBORS HERE. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS OUR HOME. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> HI, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MATTHEW OCURSO I LIVE IN HEARTWOOD, THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU GUYS SAW IN THE PICTURE. ALL THESE COMMENTS HOLD A LOT OF WEIGHT, BUT I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN. I HAVE AT LEAST 40 STUDIES HERE, WHICH BY THE WAY, I THINK IT'S AN INJUSTICE TO NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT RF AND THE IMPLICATIONS THAT IT HAS ON HEALTH. I'M A CONCIERGE PHYSICIAN. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS WORLD FOR OVER 12 YEARS, AND I HAVE SEEN THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THESE THINGS HAVE ON OUR HEALTH.

HERE'S THE THING WHEN IT COMES TO RESEARCH. I THINK THE BUCK STOPS WE ARE SEARCH. WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT OPINIONS, AND I THINK ALL OF THESE COMMENTS HOLD A LOT OF WEIGHT, EVEN THE WAY THE TOWER LOOKS, AND YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS ABOUT HEALTH AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WITH HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I RAISE THREE LITTLE GIRLS, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE RESEARCH, I DON'T WANT TO PUT MY GIRLS WITHIN TEN MILES OF THAT. I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU GUYS THAT YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS AREA. THERE ARE TWO SCHOOLS, EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THIS CELL PHONE TOWER. I KNOW IF YOU'RE A PARENT, GRANDPARENT, YOU WOULD NEVER TAKE THE RISK ON YOUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH. I THINK THAT, YES, AS A RESEARCHER, RESEARCHER FIRST AS A RESEARCHER, YOU CAN LOOK AT RESEARCH AND CAN FIND ALL OF THE GRAY AREAS YOU WANT. YOU CAN SAY, WELL, THAT'S 120 METERS.

THAT'S 400 METERS. THAT'S 500 METERS. EVERY BIT OF THIS RESEARCH IS WITHIN THAT 120-METER TO 500-METER RANGE.

[01:25:02]

OKAY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT DROP IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS -- IT DOESN'T PLAY A PART HERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT THAT THIS HAS ON THE SURROUNDING AREA. AND SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO LOOK AT THE SERIOUS IMPACTS THIS HAS ON HUMAN BEINGS' HEALTH. THE RESEARCH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. AND IT'S PRETTY DISTURBING TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SIMPLY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WIFI WE WANT AND CONVENIENCE. YES, I HEARD ABOUT BEING ABLE TO MAKE A 911 CALL, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS NECESSARY FOR THAT. I THINK WE CAN HANDLE EMERGENCIES WITHOUT A CELL PHONE TOWER HERE. I MEAN, WE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RECEPTION AT MY HOME. I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS THERE FROM NEIGHBORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING, AND IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, WE DO NEED TO TAKE THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE POWELL. I LIVE AT 108 HEARTWOOD DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 11 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM ONE OF MANY, AS YOU CAN SEE, WHO ARE DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT THE APPEAL TO PUT THE CELL PHONE TOWER IN THE MIDST OF AN EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AREA, BUT MY CONCERN, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME, WAS FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING HEARING, ORIGINALLY, WE WERE SENT THE LETTERS, THE NOTICE, THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER NOTICE, WAS IN A DISTANCE OF 500 FEET FROM THE TOWER IT AMOUNTED TO 57 INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES.

THIS APPEAL HEARING, LETTERS WERE ONLY SENT TO PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE TOWER. I WONDERED WHY WAS THERE THAT CHANGE? NOTHING ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION HAS CHANGED EXCEPT THAT, AS FAR AS I KNOW. THE REASONS FOR THE DENIAL FROM PLANNING AND ZONING HAS NOT CHANGED. THE OPINIONS AND FEELINGS OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE 500-FOOT RANGE HAVE NOT CHANGED. THE ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED BY THEM LOWERING TO A 300-FOOT RADIUS IS THAT THERE ARE LESS PROPERTIES TO BE IMPACTED, WHICH WHY? ALL I CAN THINK OF, IT'S FOR ESTHETICS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT SO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S A SMALLER AREA. THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF US LEFT. I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. I'M IN THE 300-FOOT RANGE, AND IF I SIT ON MY BACK PORCH AND LOOK OUT MY, YOU KNOW, -- AND I DO HAVE A VERY WELL TREED PIECE OF PROPERTY, BUT NONE OF THEM, NONE OF THOSE TREES ARE 150 FEET TALL, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO LOOK AT WHEN I GO OUT AND HAVE MY COFFEE IN THE MORNING, WHEN I GO OUT AND PLAY WITH MY DOG IN THE BACKYARD, I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND LOOK UP, AND THERE IT IS. IT'S NOT RIGHT.

>> I HOPE YOU WOULD DO DILIGENCE, AND WITH THOUGHT PROVOKING GOODWILL, DENY THIS APPEAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY.

>> IF YOU COULD PUT THAT UP, PLEASE.

>> LINDA CHALMERS. 1202 FORT PEYTON. THAT IS NOT TO SCALE WITH WHAT I WOULD SEE FROM MY HOME, MY PROPERTY.

>> COULD YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE?

>> I'M SORRY. THAT'S NOT TO SCALE, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SEE FROM MY PROPERTY EVERY DAY. NOT TO MENTION, THE TOWER WILL INTRODUCE VIBRATIONS, HEAT, AND NOISE FROM FANS, AIR CONDITIONERS, AND GENERATORS THAT WILL EXCEED THE RESIDENTIAL NOISE LIMITS AND PER ANTHEM NET AT THE LATEST MEETING, THEY SAID THEIR GENERATORS WILL RUN FOR HOURS. ADDITIONAL DIESEL FUEL

[01:30:03]

DELIVERIES, EXHAUST EMISSIONS, CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURE AND HEALTH HAZARDS. 6G IS ROLLING OUT RIGHT NOW. WHAT PROTECTIONS WILL OUR DEVELOPMENT HAVE FROM 6G WHEN THEY NEED TO REWORK THIS TOWER? SORRY, I'M NERVOUS. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS IN ANTICIPATION OF OSCEOLA HEIGHTS. WHY CAN'T THAT TOWER BE CLOSER TO THAT DEVELOPMENT? 96FEET AND 94 FEET FROM A HOME WHERE CHILDREN PLAY IS REALLY NOT A GOOD THING. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT APPRAISER VALUES. IT'S A PERCEPTION. I SPOKE TO A REALTOR YESTERDAY, AND HE SAID SOME PEOPLE IT WON'T BOTHER, AND SOME PEOPLE IT WILL. IT WILL AFFECT THE APPRAISAL VALUES

PLEASE DENY THIS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM.

>> AND THEN -- >> MINDY LEPWOOD ABOUT 300 TO 500 FEET AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED TOWER.

>> DID YOU STATE YOUR EXACT ADDRESS? 320 NORTH SHADOWWOOD

DRIVE. >> WE HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, AND WE HOME SCHOOL. WE ARE AT HOME PRETTY MUCH 100% OF THE TIME. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO MENTION IT AND AS OTHERS HAVE SEEN IT AND ELUDED TO, THERE'S NO PHOTO GRAPHS FROM OUR STREET OR CLOSE TO OUR HOMES. I KNOW WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT THE MEDICAL RISK AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT JUST LIKE THIS LADY SAID, THERE'S THE PERCEPTION OF THAT, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT WILL DEFINITELY COME INTO PLAY WHEN WE GO TO SELL OUR HOME. I WILL ALSO MENTION THAT IN THE LAST MEETING WHERE IT WAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, TWO OF THE MEMBERS ON THE ZONING COMMITTEE ARE PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, AND THEY DEFINITELY HAD SOME VALID CONCERNS AS FAR AS PROPERTY VALUES. I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WELL. EXCUSE ME. AND SO I WOULD URGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE DENY THIS AS WAS MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS LARGE TOWER IN MY BACKYARD, AND IT'S EXTREMELY

CLOSE TO MY HOME. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS PHILIP JOHNSON.

117 HEARTWOOD DRIVE. I'M A 45-YEAR EMPLOYEE, RETIRED FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT. I WAS A LINEMAN. BACK IN THE '60S AND '70S, WE WERE TOLD WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT ASBESTOS OR PCPBS. FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT NOW HAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE TRUCKS AND STUFF RUNNING AROUND WITH CREWS BECAUSE OF STUFF THEY HAVE FOUND FROM BACK IN THE DAY. I AM ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO HAS ASBESTOS IN MY LUNGS. I LIVE NEAR THIS TOWER, AND I GO ONCE A YEAR TO BE CHECKED AT MAYO TO MAKE SURE IT HASN'T GONE ANY FURTHER. I WOULD SURE HATE TO SEE THIS HAPPENING AS WE WERE TOLD YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS IN THE DAY. IT WAS A FIRING OFFENSE, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT STILL IS. YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS. PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY. I'M JANESSA FISHER.

I'M PRAYING YOU WILL SAY NO TO THIS TOWER. I WANT YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THE HOMES THAT YOU LIVE IN NOW AND WHY YOU BOUGHT YOUR HOME. WHAT DID THEY SAY WHEN YOU LOOK FOR A HOME? LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. IF A BUYER IS COMING TO LOOK AT MY HOME, I KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO WANT THE VIEW I HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL TREE LINE, BEAUTIFUL SUNSET IN THE FRONT YARD IN THE EVENING, AND IF I LOOK OUT TO SEE THAT SUNSET AND SEE A LARGE TOWER THAT WILL GREATLY CHANGE THE VIEWS OF POTENTIALLY BUYERS FOR OUR HOME. I'M BORN AND RAISED ST. JOHNS COUNTY, AND I'M BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO RAISE MY CHILDREN HERE, AND I'M BLESSED TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY I LIVE IN WITH ALL OF THE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS HERE SAYING THE SAME THINGS. I ALSO WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE CEMETERY AS ONE OF MY NEIGHBOR'S BUDDIES SAID, IT SEEMS SACRILEGIOUS TO PUT A TOWER ON A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COME TO GIVE REVERENCE TO THEIR LOVED ONES. MY HUSBAND IS A CEMETERY DIRECTOR. I'M SURE WHEN THEY GO TO LOOK AT PLOTS THEY ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE

[01:35:01]

CELL TOWER. THINK OF THAT AS WELL. NOT ONLY THINK OF YOU LOOKING OUT YOUR BACKYARD AND SEEING A CELL TOWER AND NOT WANTING TO SEE THAT, WHEN YOU GO TO VISIT LOVED ONES, NOT WANTING TO SEE THAT. SHE BROUGHT UP THE FACT 87% OF CELL CALLS, 911 CELL CALLS. THAT TO ME PROVES THE CELL COVERAGE IS NOT A PROBLEM IF WE ARE GETTING THAT MANY COMING THROUGH TO 911. THE OTHER FACT TO THAT, MOST OF US HAVE WIFI AND WE DON'T HAVE A CELL PROBLEM BECAUSE WIFI TAKES OVER ON OUR CELL PHONES. ANYWAY, I JUST REALLY WANT YOU TO ENVISION IF YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR FRONT OR BACKYARD VIEW. THIS IS THE VIEW HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF, LIKE THEY SAID THE PICTURES WERE SO -- MA'AM, YEAH, THANK YOU.

THE PICTURES WERE SO ZOOMED OUT. THIS IS THE BEST VIEW I CAN GIVE YOU THAT THEY GAVE. THIS IS THE CEMETERY, WHICH IS LITERALLY MY FRONT YARD. I FACE NEIGHBORS, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS HERE, HER BACKYARD. YOU WILL SEE THIS. CURRENTLY I SEE A NICE AMERICAN FLAG, AND NOW I WILL SEE THIS. I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS IN YOUR BACKYARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, I HOPE YOU

UNANIMOUSLY SAY NO. >> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M STEVE GODFRY. I LIVE IN THE DIVISION OF GOVERNORS PLANTATION. YOU HEARD GOVERNORS PLANTATION WAS ONE AREA THAT WAS CONTACTED FOR A POSSIBLE CELL TOWER LOCATION THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. IT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

-- I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF GOOD NEWS CHURCH. GOOD NEWS CHURCH DECIDED IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA HAVING A CELL TOWER CLOSE TO US, AND THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE. WHY AM I HERE? I'M NOT GOING TO LOOK AT THAT CELL TOWER LIKE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, AND I'M ACTUALLY A PERSON WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE CELL TOWER BEING THERE. OUR CELL PHONE SERVICE IN GOVERNORS PLANTATION ISN'T THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOULD CONSIDER IT IMMORAL TO PLACE A CELL TOWER IN PROXIMITY TO THOSE HOMES FOR MY BENEFIT. SO WE USE WIFI AS YOU HEARD TESTIFIED BEFORE WHEN I DRIVE UP AND DOWN WILDWOOD DRIVE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CELL PHONE RECEPTION. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CELL PHONE OPERATION IN MY HOME, AND I THINK THAT THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS ABOUT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND IMPACTS ON A GROUP OF RESIDENTS THAT SURROUND THIS TOWER? IS THIS A PUBLIC NECESSITY? OR IS IT JUST AN ENHANCEMENT OF BUSINESS? THE APPLICANT SAID IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME. I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. I BELIEVE THAT THE TOWER WILL BE USED IF THEY BUILD IT. AND IF THEY DON'T BUILD IT, THEY WILL FIND A WAY TO SERVE AT A REASONABLE LEVEL, AND ALL WILL BE WELL. AS A VERY APPRECIATIVE CITIZEN OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, I BEG YOU TO CONSIDER THE WISDOM OF YOUR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

YOU ALL APPOINTED THEM, I BELIEVE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

THEY CONSIDERED THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THIS TOWER, IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE EXISTING LAND USE, AND THEY WERE UNANIMOUS IN THEIR DECISION. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN ANYTHING NEW ADDED IN THE PRESENTATION IN THIS APPEAL, ONLY THE SAME INFORMATION THAT THEY CONSIDERED BEFORE WHEN THEY UNANIMOUSLY DISAPPROVED THIS APPLICATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I KNOW IT'S A HARD DECISION. I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TOM POWELL. I ALSO LIVE AT 108 HEARTWOOD DRIVE. WE HAVE BEEN WITH MY WIFE -- WE RETIRED 11 YEARS AGO. AND ENJOY THE COMPANY AND THE NEIGHBORS, AND JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. ONE IS ABOUT THE PROPERTY VALUES. I FOUND -- FROM NATIONAL BUSINESS POST WAS IN 2022 THE NUMBERS ADDING REAL ESTATE VALUES. PROPERTIES

[01:40:03]

LOCATED -- DECLINED 2.46% ON AVERAGE. UP TO 9.78% FOR HOMES WITHIN VISIBILITY RANGE OR THE TOWER VISIBILITY RANGE COMPARED TO HOMES OUTSIDE OF THE TOWER VISIBILITY RANGE. AN AGGREGATE PROPERTY OF -- OVER $24 MILLION. IN SOME AREAS, NEW TOWER PROPERTY VALUES DECREASED BY UP TO 20%, FROM THE NATIONAL BUSINESS POST OF 2022. THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, BEING RETIRED, I HAVE SOME TIME TO PUTS AROUND ON THE WEB.

LOOKING AHEAD, 6G TECHNOLOGY IS CURRENTLY IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE 6G ROLLOUT IS EXPECTED IN FIVE YEARS, IN 2030.

PROTOTYPES MAY APPEAR BETWEEN 2026 AND 2027. THE ISSUE THEY CURRENTLY HAVE, SIGNAL PENETRATION ISSUES, CONCERNS FOR HIGH ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND A.I. TO BE IMPLEMENTED INTO 6G.

THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE HIGH FREQUENCY, MMW, WAVE. THOSE WAVE BANS AND ONE OF THE THINGS MR. JOHNSON MENTIONED I DID RESEARCH ON AS WELL. THERE WERE AT LEAST, I THINK 12 YOU'RE MEAN COUNTRIES THAT HAD DONE RESEARCH ON -- I'M SORRY. 15 COUNTRIES IN EUROPE THAT HAD DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO RF FREQUENCIES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE WITH 6.53 SECONDS LEFT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES. EARLIER THIS YEAR THE FREEDOM BAPTIST CHURCH AGREED TO HAVE A TOWER PLACED DIRECTLY IN THEIR BACKYARD, ROUGHLY 75-FOOT FROM THE CHURCH. THAT GOT PASSED. YES ON THE CORNER OF 207 AND WILDWOOD, HEAVILY OCCUPIED INTERSECTION, AND THERE'S THE MEDICAL FACILITY GOING ACROSS THE STREET, AND THERE'S A LOT OF -- EXCUSE ME -- COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ALL AROUND IT. SO THAT WAS A FEASIBLE PLACE TO PUT IT, AND THE CHURCH SAID YES. PAY US, AND YOU CAN PUT IT THERE. BUT THIS ONE WOULD BE ONLY A MILE AND A QUARTER AWAY ANOTHER 150-FOOT TOWER. WHY SO CLOSE TO THE OTHER ONE? MAYBE BECAUSE IT WON'T COST AS MUCH AS PUTTING THE ONE LIKE ON PASADE ROAD THAT ROUGHLY AROUND 2017, IT GOT PASSED, ABOUT 180-FOOT TOWER. THAT'S DOWN THERE. SO LOOKING AT THE COVERAGE, IF THE ONE UP BY 207 AND WILDWOOD COVERS DOWN TO WILDWOOD, WHERE THIS OTHER ONE IS BEING PROPOSED, SO IT'S OVERLAPPING THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE. SO IS THAT USEFUL? OR IS THAT JUST WASTING COVERAGE? AND WITH THIS, IT NEEDS TO BE FURTHER DOWN. IT WAS PROBABLY THE PROPERTY THAT DIDN'T GET PASSED IN OSCEOLA, DIDN'T GET PASSED, AND YEAH, THE PEOPLE -- IT DOES SHOW THAT WHEN A CORPORATION COMES AROUND, THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE AND THEIR MONEY, AND THEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. BUT I WOULD SAY, WHY DIDN'T THEY GET ON NORTH SHADOWWOOD DRIVE AND TAKE A PICTURE THERE? BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF THE SAME THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE PZA AGENDA, BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T GO ON NORTH SHADOW WOOD DRIVE CUL-DE-SAC AND TAKE A PICTURE BECAUSE IT'S PRIVATE? IT'S OPEN. THEY CAN GO IN THERE WHEN THEY ARE WANT. THEY COULD HAVE JUST STOOD THERE AND SHOT. PICTURES HAVE TO IN A SENSE BE MADE TO WHERE IT HELPS BY GETTING IT PASSED. WHEN YOU ARE

[01:45:02]

STANDING THERE BEHIND A SET OF TREES AND TAKING A PICTURE SAYING YOU CAN'T SEE THE TOWER BEHIND THESE TREES, YES, BECAUSE YOU STOPPED RIGHT BEHIND THE SET OF TREES TO TAKE THE PICTURE.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A PRACTICALITY AND A LITTLE BIT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUT THERE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE?

>> YES, MA'AM, GOOD MORNING. ED SLAVEN. CANDIDATE FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT. GARY HART IN HIS FIRST YEAR OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE WOULD TELL HIS STAFF ON ANY PROPOSAL COMING TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE, ASK YOURSELF, IS IT BASED UPON NEED OR GREED? YOU HAVE JUST HEARD UNANIMOUS TESTIMONY FROM 14 WITNESSES, A COUPLE OF THEM EXPERTS, AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL, AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE REASONABLE INVESTMENT BACKED EXPECTATIONS. THESE ARE THEIR HOMES. I'M THINKING WE MAYBE NEED TO CONSIDER AMENDING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BILL OF RIGHTS WHERE CEMETERIES ARE CONCERNED.

WHY AREN'T WE CONTACTING THE HEIRS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BURIED IN CEMETERIES BEFORE ALLOWING A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NATURE? WHY DIDN'T THE STAFF EVEN MENTION THAT? DID THE STAFF EVER ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE HEIRS, THE CHILDREN, THE GRANDCHILDREN, AND THE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WHO WANT TO VISIT THEIR WAVES AND HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THIS UGLY TOWER? IT IS UGLY. I DON'T THINK THE APPRAISER WITNESS HAS TESTIMONY THAT OUTWEIGHS WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE TESTIFIED TO. THEY KNOW THE VALUE OF THEIR HOMES AND TESTIFIED AND DID THE RESEARCH.

I THINK WE ARE AT A CROSS ROADS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY WITH OVERDEVELOPMENT. SEVERAL OF YOU WERE ELECTED BECAUSE OF THAT. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU'RE DOING AND ASKING REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS, BUT I FOUND THE APPLICANT'S TESTIMONY TO BE UNPERSUASIVE, AND THE NEIGHBORS THIS IS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY TOLD YOU WHY THEY MOVED HERE. PEOPLE LOVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 26 YEARS, MORE THAN 26 YEARS. PEOPLE MOVE HERE FOR A REASON.

TYPICALLY THEY WILL VISIT HERE, IF THEY WERE NOT BORN HERE, THEY WILL VISIT, FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE, AND THEN LIKE WE DID, MOVE HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER. THAT HAS TO BE RESPECTED.

THEIR CONCERNS HAVE TO BE RESPECTED AND NOT NEGLECTED.

WHEN YOU HAVE FANCY LAWYERS FROM ORLANDO COMING TO TELL YOU THIS IS HOW IT IS GOING TO BE, JUST SAY NO. PLEASE AFFIRM THE PLANNING AND ZONING AGENCY, AND PLEASE VINDICATE THE 14 WITNESSES WHOSE TESTIMONY, NOT INCLUDING MINE, 15 WITNESSES, TESTIMONY UNREBUTTED, AND THERE'S NO PRINCIPLE REASON WHY THIS PARTICULAR CELL TOWER NEEDS TO BE IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. I DO AGREE WITH SEVERAL OF THE WITNESSES. I THINK IT'S KINDLY OFFENSIVE THE IDEA THAT WE CAN GET LAND FOR CHEAP AT A CEMETERY AND CRAM IT ON DOWN. THERE'S BETTER PLACES TO PUT A CELL PHONE TOWER. I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE ONE BY PUBLIX ON ANASTAYSIA ISLAND, AND I PERSONALLY LOBBIED MY CELL PHONE CARRIER FOR YEARS TO GET A BETTER CELL PHONE COVERAGE, AND THERE'S A TOWER RIGHT BY PUBLIX RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A BETTER

LOCATION. >> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. SHERRY BANKER.

2272 SOUTH COLLINS AVENUE. I'D JUST LIKE TO REFRESH Y'ALL'S MEMORY THAT THE SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZES ANYBODY THAT LIVES WITHIN 300 FEET AN EXPERT. YOU HAVE OTHER EXPERTS TESTIFYING.

GOD BLESS, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ONE

MORE. >> B.J. CLAY ST. AUGUSTINE.

WE'VE LISTENED FOR 45 MINUTES TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME IN HERE THIS MORNING BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR AREA, LIKE WE ARE WHERE WE LIVE. THREE THINGS. WHEN THE TREES DIE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE TOWER. I DON'T WANT THEM TO DIE, BUT YOU KNOW, TREES DIE. AND THE RESPECT OF THE CEMETERY, I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS THIS CEMETERY, BUT THIS IS ALL ABOUT MONEY, FOLKS. THIS IS TRULY ABOUT MONEY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO THIS OR WANT TO DO THIS AND HAVE BEEN

[01:50:01]

TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE JULY. WHY ARE WE WAITING UNTIL NOW, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, ALMOST FIVE MONTHS TO APPEAL THIS THING? WE COULDN'T DO IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER? WHICH IS FINE. I WANT TO SAY, I TRY TO SAY THIS ANY TIME THE RESIDENTS COME IN TO SPEAK UP FOR THEIR PROPERTY AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT, I THANK THEM. IT'S AN EFFORT TO COME IN HERE, AND AN EFFORT BECAUSE SOME OF THEM MAY BE SCARED OF YOU. I'M NOT. WE ARE JUST PEOPLE. JUST TALKING. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SO THIS NEEDS TO BE DENIED. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY, AND LIKE EVERYONE HAS SAID EARLIER, TOO.

YOU'RE HERE FOR US AND FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. I KNOW PEOPLE NEED MONEY, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE A CELL PHONE? DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS PEOPLE LIKE THAT LIVING IN THIS COUNTY? THEY EVEN JUST HAVE, GET THIS, A LANDLINE. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT A LANDLINE IS? NO. WHICH IS FINE, BUT THERE'S OTHER NEEDS MORE THAN A TOWER IN A CEMETERY. I'M JUST SHOCKED. I REALLY AM SHOCKED ABOUT THAT TODAY. IT WILL BE A QUICK NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE? OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR REBUTTAL.

>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO WORK A LITTLE BIT BACKWARDS IN RESPONSE TO THE LAST SPEAKER. IT'S BEING HEARD TODAY IN NOVEMBER. THAT'S MY FAULT. I HAD TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY IN SEPTEMBER, AND I JUST NEEDED SIX OR EIGHT WEEKS TO RECOVER.

THAT'S WHY IT'S BEING HEARD NOW INSTEAD OF 30 DAYS AFTER IT WAS FILED. THE CEMETERY IS A PRIVATE CEMETERY. IT IS A FAMILY CEMETERY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. IT'S NOT -- THE GRAVE SITES ARE LIMITED TO AN AREA IN THE CENTER OF THE PROPERTY. IT'S NOT A PUBLIC CEMETERY OPEN FOR OTHER FOLKS TO COME IN. LET'S PULL UP THE -- SHE'S DOING THAT. I GO TO A LOT OF HEARINGS LIKE THIS, AND I WILL TO A LOT OF VERY SINCERE NEIGHBORS COME MAKE PLEAS TO YOU. YOU ARE IN A TOUGH SPOT TODAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU HAVE COMPETING INTERESTS. WE -- WHEN WE GO TO A COMMUNITY, TO BUILD A NEW TOWER, WE HAVE LIMITATIONS. FIRST OF ALL, THE CLIENT OF ANTHEM NET IS VERIZON, AND VERIZON SAYS WE ARE ALREADY IN ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS, AND WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR COVERAGE AND OUR CAPACITY TO MEET OUR DESIRE TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE TO MEET OUR CUSTOMER NEEDS AND NEED TO BE IN THIS AREA. WE ARE ALREADY CONSTRAINED BY THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE SERVICE AND THEN WHAT I CALL THE BLZ. WE HAVE TO FIND A PROPERTY THAT IS BUILDABLE. CAN'T BE WETLANDS. HAS TO HAVE ROOM FOR THE TOWER.

HAS TO BE LEASABLE. WE HAVE TO FIND A WILLING LANDLORD IN OUR SEARCH AREA. I TOLD YOU BEFORE, SOMETIMES THAT'S DIFFICULT. WE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES, AND IT HAS TO BE ZONABLE AND MEET YOUR CODE REQUIREMENTS. YOU DID NOT HEAR TODAY THIS DOES NOT MEET ANY OF THE OBJECTIVE CRITERIA IN YOUR CODE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT DOES MEET ALL OF THE OBJECTIVE CRITERIA IN YOUR CODE. TOWERS ARE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE ACROSS ALL OF YOUR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING CATEGORIES.

THERE IS NO PER SE INCOMPATIBILITY BUILT INTO YOUR CODE THAT SAYS TOWERS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS DO NOT BELONG TOGETHER. THEY ARE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE, REQUIRED TO COME HERE AND HAVE A HEARING BEFORE YOUR PZA. HOPEFULLY IT ENDS THERE. THEY ARE NOT PER SE INCOMPATIBLE. AS SINCERE AS THESE FOLKS ARE, THE ROOFTOPS ARE WHAT DRIVE THE NEED. WE DON'T NEED TO BE OUT IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE WETLANDS OR WHERE THERE'S NO DEVELOPMENT. THE NEED FOR THE COVERAGE IS DRIVEN BY THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES. WHEN I STARTED THIS BUSINESS IN THE LATE '90S, WE JUST COVERED ROADWAYS BECAUSE PEOPLE ONLY HAD PHONES IN THEIR CARS. NOW PEOPLE USE THEM IN THEIR HOMES. YOU HEARD THE WOMAN TALK ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME, DOING SCHOOL ONLINE, THE DEMAND, THE RESIDENTIAL DEMAND IS INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY. THAT'S WHAT DRIVES THE NEED.

[01:55:01]

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BUILD MORE TOWERS AND BUILD THEM CLOSER TOGETHER. YOU HAVE COMPETING INTERESTS. YOU HAVE THE NEED GENERATED BY THE RESIDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS WHO JUST DON'T WANT IT. IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE FOR YOU. I GET THAT. I GET THAT. CAN YOU PULL UP THE VERY LAST PAGE? YOU HAD -- OKAY, BEFORE WE GET THAT, KARINA, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE

GENERATOR ISSUE? >> YES, JUST TO CLARIFY WITH THE GENERATOR, THE CARRIERS DO REQUIRE A GENERATOR FOR THEIR EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S ONLY IF THEY LOSE POWER, AND IT'S A BACKUP SITUATION. IT'S NOT CONSTANTLY RUNNING 24/7. IT'S RUNNING WHEN THEY LOSE POWER, AND IT GOES OFF WHEN THE POWER IS RESTORED, AND THE TECHNICIAN WOULD PROBABLY TEST IT ONCE A QUARTER. IT IS NOT A CONSTANT THING THAT IS GOING. I JUST

WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. >> WHAT ABOUT FUEL TANKS ONSITE

FOR A GENERATOR? >> IT'S A DIESEL GENERATOR, SELF-CONTAINED WITHIN. IT'S ONE GENERATOR, AND THE DIESEL IS

INSIDE OF IT, AND IT'S ENCLOSED. >> OKAY.

>> AND THE VERY LAST -- WELL, GO TO THE PICTURE, THE FIRST PICTURE OF THE PHOTO. THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITIQUE OF THE PHOTO SIM AND WHY WE DIDN'T THOUGH MORE PHOTOS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE DID SHOW PHOTOS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY SHOWED VERY LIMITED VIEWS. IF I HAD STOOD UP HERE WITH A BUNCH OF PICTURES INTERNAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALL SHOWED THE SAME THING, THE NEIGHBORS WOULD BE BOOING ME BECAUSE THEY SAID I WASN'T SHOWING ANY VIEW, AND THEY WOULD CRITICIZE THE PHOTO SIM FOR THAT. WE GAVE YOU TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS SOUTH OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH NO VIEW. WE ACTUALLY GAVE YOU THE TWO WORST VIEWS. WE SHOWED THEM TO YOU.

THE TWO WORST VIEWS OF THIS TOWER ARE RIGHT AT THE PROPERTY LINES. I'M NOT SUGAR COATING IT OR TRYING TO HIDE IT. THE TOWERS ARE INHERENTLY TALL STRUCTURES. WE CANNOT MAKE THEM INVISIBLE.

THE ANTENNA HAVE TO BE ABOVE THE TREE LINE. WE HAVE LIMITED THE HIGH TO WHAT VERIZON'S NEED IS. EVERY CARRIER BELOW THEM WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH A LOWER HEIGHT. I -- IF I HAD COME IN HERE WITH PHOTO SIMS FROM THE DIFFERENT STREETS THAT DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR THAT. YOU GOT THE

TWO WORST VIEWS. >> THAT IS NOT TRUE.

>> EXCUSE ME. LET'S LET HER FINISH.

>> THE LAST SLIDE IS YOUR DEFINITION OF COMPATIBILITY, COMING FROM YOUR SPECIAL USE SECTION. WHAT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THERE, COMPATIBILITY MEANS A CONDITION IN WHICH LAND USES OR CONDITIONS CAN COEXIST IN A STABLE FASHION OVER SUCH THAT NO OTHER USE OF CONDITIONS UNDUALLY NEGATIVELY IMPACT IT DIRECTLY BY ANOTHER USE OR CONDITION. THE ONLY IMPACT OF A CELL -- THE CELL TOWER HAS TWO IMPACTS. IT ENHANCES WIRELESS COVERAGE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IT'S VIEWABLE. THIS DOES NOT HAVE A LIGHT ON IT. IT'S ONLY DURING THE DAY. NO NOISE, NO GLARE, NO BACKUP BEEPING FROM TRUCKS LOADING AND UNLOADING. WE DON'T PUT ANY STRAIN ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE DON'T DEMAND ANYTHING FROM THE WATER AND THE SEWER. IT'S ONLY IMPACT IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. THAT'S IT. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BALANCE THAT BETWEEN THE NEED TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE IMPACT, AND I DON'T ENVY YOUR DECISION, BUT CELL TOWERS REALLY -- NOW I'M REALLY GOING TO GET INTO THINGS NOW. THEY ARE REALLY NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE. YOUR NUMBER ONE JOB IS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WHEN 87% OF ALL CALLS COME IN FROM A 911 WIRELESS HAND SETS, I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

YOU HAVE TWO PLACES OF ASSEMBLY, TWO CHURCHES. YOU NEED STRONG ROBUST WIRELESS COVERAGE IN THE AREA. IF SOMEONE HAPPENED TO A NEIGHBOR AND THEY COULDN'T MAKE A CALL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE COVERAGE, YOU WOULD HEAR ABOUT THAT. IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE FOR YOU, BUT IT IS NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE. UNFORTUNATELY LIKE THE POWER COMPANIES, WE DON'T HAVE EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. POWER COMPANIES DO, PIPELINES DO. THEY CAN PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHEREVER YOU WANT. YOU HAVE EMINENT DOMAIN POWER AND CAN PUT INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE YOU WANT. WE DON'T. WE WOULDN'T NEED TO BE THERE IF THERE WEREN'T RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES OUT THERE. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE TEN

[02:00:02]

CRITERIA -- THE TEN FACTORS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER.

THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THIS SPECIAL USE CAN BE GRANTED WITHOUT SUB SUBSTANTIAL DETRIMENT TO THE PUBLIC GOOD. IT PROMOTES PUBLIC SAFETY BY ENHANCING 911 SERVICES. IT WILL ACCOMMODATE USERS, ONE OF THE PURPOSES AND INTENTS OF YOUR CODE TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR WIRELESS COVERAGE AND PROMOTE COLOCATION. YOU HEARD MR. TALBY TESTIFY, NO SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT TO PROPERTY VALUES, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE TESTIMONY YOU HEARD FROM NEIGHBORS, THAT CAME FROM AN EXPERT WHO STUDIED THIS ISSUE FOR OVER 25 YEARS. THERE'S NO STRUCTURAL SAFETY ASPECT TO THIS TOWER. THERE'S NO DANGER TO ANY RESIDENTS OR STRUCTURE NEARBY. IT IS COMPATIBLE IN THAT IT CAN COEXIST. NO NOISE OR GLARE. I WENT THROUGH THAT. COMPLY WITH ALL STANDARDS OF THE CODE. COMPLY WITH THE SPECIAL USE AND TOWER SPECIFIC CRITERIA, NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION. PROMOTES HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE.

IT'S NOT 234 CONFLICT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ON THE 6.2-ACRE CEMETERY PROPERTY. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE. PROPERTIES NORTH AND WEST ARE ZONED O.R. I COULD READ A LIST OF NOXIOUS USES PERMITTED ON O.R. ZONING THAT WOULD BE FAR MORE OFFENSIVE THAN THE TOWER WOULD BE. WE HAVE MINIMIZED THE ESTHETIC IMPACT BY MINIMIZING THE HEIGHT. YOUR CODE SAID ONLY MONO POLES. WE PROPOSED A MONO POLE TOWER. WE SUPPLIED THE LANDSCAPING AND FAUX STONE WALL AT THE BASE.

FACTOR NINE, IT WILL ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING DEMAND FOR WIRELESS SERVICES, AND THERE'S NO SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FALL ZONE WITHIN THE TRACK. THAT'S THE SUMMARY OF THE TEN FINDINGS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE FOR THIS TOWER, AND WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU APPROVE THIS TOWER TODAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD. ANY QUESTIONS?

COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK. I SEE YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE STATED AGAIN. YOU HAVE HEARD IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE REASON THIS IS SUCH A FORMAL PROCESS IS THAT WE ARE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF CERTAIN LAWS AND QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING SUCH AS THE ONE AS YOU'RE SEEING UNFOLD BEFORE YOU. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPACTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF A POLE, I CAN NOT CONSIDER THAT BY LAW. THE LAWS ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR. I WOULD NOT BE DOING A SERVICE TO YOU OR THE RESIDENTS OF ST.

JOHNS COUNTY IF I WERE TO CONSIDER THAT TODAY. I CAN NOT DO THAT PER THE LAW. WE HAVE RECEIVED CLEAR GUIDANCE ABOUT THAT. I HEARD A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS COME TO THE MICROPHONE TO STATE THEY SPOKE WITH PROPERTY APPRAISER. I'M INTERESTED IN THAT. IS ANYBODY ABLE TO FURNISH A DOCUMENT TO REFUTE THE TESTIMONY WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER TODAY? CAN YOU? CAN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE

PLEASE? >> I CAN --

>> I HAVE TO HAVE YOUR ANSWER. WHICH I HEARD. I HAVE TO HAVE

THE ANSWER ON THE RECORD. >> YES, HELLO.

>> HI. >> YES, I DID SPEAK WITH A PROPERTY APPRAISER. WE ACTUALLY, JUST MOVED IN TO FORT PEYTON FOREST IN MARCH, AND SO WE RECENTLY WENT THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS, AND I CONTACTED THE PROPERTY APPRAISER THAT CAME OUT FOR OUR PROPERTY 1218 FORT PEYTON DRIVE, AND THEY HAD A

DIFFERENT OPINION. >> WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN?

>> MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA JONES FROM 1218 FORT PEYTON DRIVE, AND YOU CAN SEE WE JUST MOVED INTO THAT HOME. WE CLOSED ON THE

HOUSE IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. >> MS. JONES, I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY. I AM NOT PRETENDING TO BE ONE. I'M TRYING TO BE AS CAREFUL AS I CAN GIVEN THE LAWS WE ARE GOVERNED BY. I WOULD FIND A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM A PROPERTY APPRAISER AS SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE BECAUSE I THINK SOMEBODY SAID IT, AND YOU MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO SAY IT, IT'S A MATTER OF OPINION WHETHER OR NOT ERECTING A STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT TO PROPERTY VALUES IN THE AREA, WHICH WE ARE

[02:05:01]

ALLOWED TO CONSIDER. >> RIGHT. IT IS. I SPOKE TO OTHER PROPERTY APPRAISERS WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WOULD IMPACT IT, SO THAT TO ME, JUST, YOU KNOW SHOWED THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT AMONGST PROPERTY APPRAISERS, AND THAT NOT ALL OF THEM AGREE, WHICH IS INTERESTING AND NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO

ACCOUNT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T WANT TO KEEP YOU UP HERE, IT'S JUST SOMETHING I'M

THINKING OUT LOUD HERE. >> OF COURSE.

>> I WANT EVERYONE WHO SPOKE TO KNOW WHAT IS ON MY MIND. I CANNOT TALK TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ON THE BOARD UNLESS WE ARE IN A PUBLIC MEETING. I WANT THE OTHERS TO KNOW WHERE MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS. MS.SOLIK, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATEMENT YOU MADE CONSIDERING COMPATIBILITY. YOU SAID IT'S A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE, AND THERE IS NO PER SE INCOMPATIBILITY PER OUR CODE, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE SLIDES YOU PRESENTED THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED. PLEASE FORGIVE ME WHILE I PULL IT UP. IT SAID THE COMPATIBILITY OF LAND USES IS DEPENDENT ON NUMEROUS CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH MAY IMPACT ADJACENT OR SURROUNDING USES. THESE INCLUDE, AND THIS IS THE PART YOU HIGHLIGHTED, TYPES OF USE, DENSITY, HEIGHT, GENERAL CF1 CO APPEARANCE, AND ESTHETICS.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IN THIS AREA. THIS IS HIGHER. IT HAS ANESTHETIC NOT LIKE ANYTHING IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. WHY IS WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING COMPATIBLE GIVEN WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTING TO US WITH THE

DEFINITION OF COMPATIBILITY? >> IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE HANDOFF SITES FOR VERIZON, THERE'S SEVEN OR EIGHT OTHER TOWERS EXISTING WITHIN 2 1/2 MILES OF THIS SITE. YOU HAVE THEM ALL OVER THE COUNTY. YOU HAVE THEM IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES. THE ONE AT FREEDOM CHURCH IS CADDYCORNER TO THE ENTRANCE TO ENTRADA. YOU HAVE THAT CONDITION EVERYWHERE.

LET'S GO BACK TO -- YOU CAN SEE THERE, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TOWERS ARE IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES, AND YOUR CODE, BY ALLOWING IT AS A SPECIAL USE SAYS IT'S NOT IN PER SE INCOMPATIBLE. IT'S COMPATIBLE IF YOU MEET THE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS. THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE. WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY NOT IN MY BACKYARD. IT'S A COMMERCIAL USE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S NOT THE WAY YOUR CODE IS STRUCTURED. IT CONTEMPLATES THEY CAN BE PLACED IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES IF CERTAIN CRITERIA AND CHARACTERISTICS ARE MET.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION. I ALSO WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE WAY YOU PRESENT THIS HEAVY LIFT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE VOTE IS GOING TO GO AT ALL, BUT I

THOUGHT YOU DID A FINE JOB. >> THANK YOU.

>> I DID GET A LETTER FROM CHRISTOPHER BROWN WHERE HE CITED THAT RESEARCH FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY INDICATES THAT THE PROXIMITY TO CELL TOWERS CAN REDUCE PROPERTY VALUES BY AS MUCH AS 20%. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COUNTS AS EVIDENCE, BUT I JUST SAW THAT IN MISS LETTER.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OR A MOTION? COMMISSIONER MURPHY.

>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO DENY PLAN 2025-02 WILDWOOD TREE WIRELESS FACILITY PLANNING AND ZONING DENIED BASED ON TEN

FINDINGS OF FACT. >> I WILL SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENT? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES 5-0. THANK YOU.

[4. Public Hearing * REZ 2025-10 Epic-Cure Warehouse. Request to rezone approximately 0.90 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Commercial Warehouse (CW) with conditions to provide consistent zoning across the overall 2.82 acre property. This request was heard by the Planning and Zoning Agency at their regularly scheduled public hearing on Thursday, October 16, 2025, and was recommended for approval by a vote of 5-0.]

>>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR PLEASE. THANK

YOU. >> THIS IS ALSO QUASI JUDICIAL, STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> I THANK YOU. I DIDN'T RECEIVE E-MAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF, BUT A MEETING WITH CHRISTINA EVANS, MIKE DAVIS, AND

THE APPLICANT. >> EXCUSE ME, IF YOU COULD GO

OUT IN THE ROTUNDA TO SPEAK. >> EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE. THANKS.

>> YOU SAID IT BETTER THAN I DID.

[02:10:02]

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY? >> NO E-MAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF, BUT I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH CHRISTINA EVANS. O CF1 CF2O

>> I HAVE NO RECORD OF E-MAILS. I DID MEET WITH CHRISTINA EVANS, MIKE DAVIS, AND KIM IN THE OFFICE.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> I HAD NO E-MAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF, AND NO MEETINGS.

>> I HAD NO E-MAILS FROM RESIDENTS OR STAFF AND NO

MEETINGS. >> CHRISTINA EVANS. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF EPIC-CURE, THE PROPERTY AT HOLMES BOULEVARD AND STATE ROAD 312. I HAVE KEN HERE, THE COFOUNDER. HE WILL TALK ABOUT EPIC-CURE AND THEIR GOALS AND THEIR MISSIONS IN ST. JOHNS

COUNTY. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M KEN MULFORD. I RESIDE AT 468 HIGH TIDE DRIVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

I'M ONE OF THE COFOUNDERS OF EPIC-CURE. WE HAVE A PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOLMES BOULEVARD AND THE 312 EXTENSION, WHERE WE WISH TO CONSTRUCT A DISTRIBUTION CENTER WHERE WE WILL COLLECT FOOD FOR DISTRIBUTION FOR FREE TO THE FOOD INSECURE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. IT WILL EXTEND BEYOND ST. JOHNS COUNTY AS WELL, BUT IT PRIMARILY WILL SERVE ST. JOHNS COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS, WE SERVE ABOUT 2,000 FAMILIES EVERY WEEK, ABOUT 6,000 PEOPLE EVERY WEEK WITH FREE NUTRITIOUS FOOD THAT WE RECOVER FROM GROCERY STORES FROM FARMS AND FROM MANUFACTURERS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SOURCES. THIS WORK IS VITALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS TIME. AS THIS COUNTY HAS GROWN AND GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY AS IT HAS SUFFERED THROUGH INFLATION THAT HAS BROUGHT FOOD PRICES UP 25%, 30%, AND MORE, WE FIND THE NEED AMONG THE FOOD INSECURE TO BE FRANKLY MONUMENTAL. AND THE NUMBERS OF FOOD INSECURE ARE GROWING, AND WE ARE TRYING OUR VERY BEST TO MEET THAT NEED. TO MEET THAT NEED, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN OPERATING WAREHOUSE, DISTRIBUTION CENTER THAT IS PROPERTIERLY ZONED. -- PROPERLY ZONED. THAT'S OUR ASK, TO GET IT PROPERLY ZONED SO IT'S COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS MIXED USE, BUT THE PLAN SITES THE NEED FOR WAREHOUSES AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. THERE ARE A COUPLE BITS TO OUR PARCEL THAT ARE CURRENTLY ZONED RESIDENTIAL. IF WE CAN REZONE THEM TO COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE, WE CAN FULFILL OUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO FEED THE FOOD INSECURE HERE IN ST. JOHNS

COUNTY AND BEYOND. >> SO AS KEN SAID EPIC-CURE OWNS ALMOST THREE ACRES FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT. ONE ACRE TO THE SOUTH IS ONLY SUBJECT -- ONLY PORTION SUBJECT TO THE REZONING.

THE NORTHERN PORTION IS COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE, AND THE SOUTHERN PORTION IS OPEN RURAL. SO THEY COULD DEVELOP IT ON THE NORTHERN SECTION, BUT GIVEN THE SIZE OF THAT AND THE DIMENSIONS, THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE PROPERTY TO HAVE THAT WAREHOUSE WHERE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCEPT SEMI TRUCKS OF FOOD DONATIONS FROM PLACES IS UP AS PUBLIX, IF IT'S TOO CLOSE TO THE EXPIRATION DATE. THEY NEED THAT SPACE. THEY ACQUIRED MORE PARCELS WHICH ALSO NEED TO BE REZONED. THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS MIXED USE DISTRICT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE ZONING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA IS ALSO IWCW, AND SO THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUND AREA. IT'S LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HOLMES BOULEVARD AND STATE ROAD 312. THOSE ARE MAJOR ROADWAYS, FDOT'S ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY AND THE EXTENSION OF THEIR ROADWAY THROUGH THE AREA, AND IN THE FUTURE TO THE NORTH HAS CHANGED THE CHARACTER, MAKING IT MORE OF A SPECIAL INDUSTRIAL NOTE, AND THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR WAREHOUSE AND THIS ZONING. SO THE CW ZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE MIXED USE DISTRICT LAND USE DISTRICT, AND THE LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS THAT ARE PERMITTED. IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING USES INCLUDING THE TWO ACRES ALREADY PERMITTED ON THE TWO ACRES, TWO NORTHERN ACRES. THERE'S A PROPOSED RV AND BOAT STORAGE ZONED IW TO THE NORTH. MANY WAREHOUSING TO THE SOUTH. IT QUALIFIES AS DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA, AND IT'S NOT PROMOTING URBAN SPRAWL. SUPPORTS

[02:15:02]

A COMPACT LAND USE AND BALANCED GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND AGAIN, IT'S LOCATED ON MAJOR ROADWAYS. SO WITH THAT, WE

ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?

>> COMMISSIONER MURPHY? >> JUST ONE QUESTION. WILL YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THIS NEW FACILITY OFF HOLMES BOULEVARD AND STATE ROAD 312? CAN YOU GO UP THROUGH THAT?

>> JUST VIA HOLMES BOULEVARD. THE PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTH, THERE'S AN FDOT RIGHT-OF-WAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHERE I SHADED IN DARK BLACK, THAT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNED BY A TRUST. THAT WAS A COMMENT AT PZA. WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PROPRTY APPRAISER, TRYING TO NEGOTIATE SOME KIND OF ACCESS AGREEMENT SO WE COULD BE ABLE TO GO DOWN THAT WAY.

>> IF YOU CAN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS OFF OF -- NOT AT SIXTH, BUT ACCESSING OFF HOLMES?

>> FOR BOTH, YES. >> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT'S THE POSSIBILITY? I MEAN?

>> IT IS A TRUST OWNED BY TEN INDIVIDUALS TO A DECEASED. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY. WE HAVE TO GET AHOLD OF EVERYONE, AND YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATE THAT WITH THE LAND USE ATTORNEY. WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THAT PROCESS.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. -- I HAVE TO SAY EPIC-CURE IS ABOUT MY MOST FAVORITE NGO IN THIS COUNTY. NOT ONLY DO THEY ACCESS AND GET ALL OF THIS FOOD FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY, BUT THEY SHARE IT WITH OTHER FOOD PANTRIES, WITH OTHER PLACES THAT PROVIDE MEALS, SO THEY REALLY SPREAD A WHOLE VIBE OF SHARING. AS YOU RECOGNIZED IN YOUR LAST MEETING, FOOD INSECURITY IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTY. IT IS. I WORK IN ONE OF THE DISTRIBUTIONS EVERY TUESDAY FROM 3:00 TO 4:00 IN WEST AUGUSTINE. OUR NUMBERS HAVE DOUBLED IN THE LAST MONTH FROM 30 TO 40 FAMILIES TO 70 TO 80 FAMILIES COMING THROUGH EVERY WEEK. YOU KNOW WE TRIED TO GET COUNTY HELP WITH ARPA FUNDS SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR A WAREHOUSE. THAT DIDN'T SUCCEED, AND THEY HAVE MANAGED TO MAKE ALL OF THIS WORK IN THE INTERVENING TIME. WE FEEL LIKE THEY REALLY DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE NGO. IT'S 100% VOLUNTEER RUN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE WE COULD ASK FROM A GROUP LIKE THIS. PZA HAS ALREADY APPROVED THEM 6-0, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU APPROVE THEM TODAY FOR THIS VARIANCE THAT IS NEEDED. IT'S -- ANYWAY, YOU CAN HEAR MY PASSION. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS GROUP.

AND BEHALF OF HIMSELF -- MYSELF AND C.A.R.E. WE HOPE YOU WILL

VOTE FOR THIS. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> I AGREE. ED SLAVEN, EDSLAVEEN.COM 26-YEAR RESIDENT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I SUPPORT

THE APPLICATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> HI, NANCY MURPHY. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE THAT NOT ONLY KEEPS FOOD OUT OF THE -- YOU KNOW, I'M MISSING THAT WORD RIGHT NOW, BUT IT PROVIDES FOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY CITIZENS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY, AND THEY ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT HELPS EDUCATE YOUNG CHILDREN AND ADULTS ON FOOD SAFETY, PREPARATION OF FOOD, AND AS A PART OF THE YOUTH PROGRAM, THE YOUTH PREPARE A MEAL WITH FOOD THAT WAS PROVIDED BY EPIC-CURE AND FEED THEIR FAMILIES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, WE WILL CLOSE

PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. >> QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER

MURPHY? >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION APPROVING REZONING EPIC-CURE WAREHOUSE BASED ON THE FORE

[02:20:02]

FINDING STAFF REPORT. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. LET'S VOTE. EASIEST 5-0 YOU CAN HAVE.

[5. Public Hearing * PUD 2025-01 Dark Horse. Request to rezone approximately 11.86 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for a 21,000 square foot health/fitness facility and a 12,250 square foot covered turf field, located on an unaddressed parcel on the north side of Greenbriar Road and approximately 1.25 miles west of Longleaf Pine Parkway. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on October 16, 2025. The Agency recommended approval with a vote of 5 to 0. Support was made by members Perkins, Green, Spiegel, Labanowski, and Olson. Members Hilsenbeck and Matovina were absent. The agency member discussions covered topics such as the target age-group market, membership and coaching details, noise, lighting, traffic, and the benefit to the county. During public discussions, concerns were raised about the distinction between neighborhood commercial versus community commercial uses, the absence of a marketing or business plan, noise and lighting impacts, effects on wildlife with limited habitat, the compatibility of the use with the area, and suggestions that a location within a commercial district might be more appropriate. Further details can be found in the staff report.]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>>> I'D LIKE TO REALLY GET THROUGH THIS NEXT ONE BEFORE WE BREAK FOR LUNCH, SO WELCOME. DARK HORSE.

>> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY MEETINGS. I DOES MISS A PHONE CALL FROM BRAD WESTER YESTERDAY,

AND A HANDFUL OF E-MAILS. >> MURPHY?

>> YES, MA'AM, I HAD 11 PLUS E-MAILS. I DON'T REMEMBER ATTENDING THE PUBLIC MEETING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. I APOLOGIZE. I SPOKE WITH THE APPLICANT JUST BEFORE THE MEETING TODAY.

>> COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST? >> I HAD A MEETING WITH MS. SORENSON AND MR. WESTER A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO TO DISCUSS THIS CONCEPT AND A LITTLE OVER 13 E-MAILS OPPOSING THIS PROJECT. I ALSO MET WITH JOSEPH AND JEFF HERE IN THE OFFICE TO DISCUSS

THE NATURE OF THEIR OPPOSITION. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> YES, I ALSO HAD OVER 13 E-MAILS ON THIS, AND NO

MEETINGS. >> I HAD EIGHT PLUS E-MAILS AND TALKED TO BRAD WESTER JUST THIS MORNING ABOUT THE LIGHTING.

YOU'RE ON. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO FOLLOW UP ON THE MATTER THAT HAD GOOD VIBES TODAY ON THE EPIC-CURE. HOPEFULLY CONTRIBUTING THE SAME POSITIVE VIBES HERE WITH OUR MATTER. BRAD WESTER, DRIVER, MCAFEE, AH THORN, AND DIEBENON JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THIS IS A MATTER CALLED DARK HORSE. IT'S A REQUEST TO REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM OPEN RURAL TO P.U.D. THAT WOULD BE A HEALTH AND FITNESS FACILITY CALLED DARK HORSE, DESIGNED TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY CENTER APPROACH TO WELLNESS. DARK HORSE WILL INTRODUCE TO RANGE OF AMENITIES, THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE IN THE AREA. IT WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS AND STUDENT ATHLETES WHO WANT TO PRIORITIZE THEIR LONG-TERM WELL BEING. THE EXISTING PROPERTY BOUNDARY APPROXIMATELY 11.86 ACRES, AND THE SITE DEVELOPMENT AREA IS REDUCED TO 11.11 ACRES, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE FUTURE AGREEMENT, AND -- WETLANDS ON THE PROPERTY. AND WE WILL IMPOSE A FRINGE IMPACT. NO SPECIOUS OF TREES OR SPECIOUS OF SPECIAL CONCERN IMPACTED ON THE PROPERTY. YOU SEE THE LOCATION HERE. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE STEPHANIE SORENSON COME UP, THE OWNER, PROPRIETOR AND VISIONARY TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO EXPRESS THE VISION AND WE WILL GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION IN A TIMELY MANNER.

>> I'M STEPHANIE SORENSON. I'M HONORED TO HERE TODAY TO DISCUSSION THE VISION FOR DARK HORSE. I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR BEING HERE AND MY FAMILY. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMPACT. YOU ALL AS LOCAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE A DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE LASTING IMPACTS. I CAN IMAGINE HOW PURPOSEFUL THAT FEELS IN THER IS VOICE NATION -- USING WAYS FOR THE FIRST YEAR. WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW ROADS. THIS PLACE IS SPECIAL. IT'S THE BIRTHPLACE OF MY FATHER'S DREAM. RECENTLY MY SISTER'S DREAM, AND NOW IT IS THE PLACE FOR MY DREAM. AFTER A YEAR OF PLANNING AND LISTENING TO CONCERNS AND ADDRESSING THEM AND COMPROMISING, I'M CONFIDENT IN MY TEAM AND WHAT WE WILL PRESENT TODAY AND WHY DARK HORSE IS A NEEDED ASSET TO THIS COUNTY. HERE'S WHAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS OF BEING INVOLVED IN SPORTS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS. TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF IS NOT A FAD. IT'S NOT. IN MY OPINION, IT'S THE MOST VALUABLE INVESTMENT WE CAN MAKE AS HUMAN BEINGS. I WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT THIS. WITHOUT GOOD HEALTH, YOU CAN'T

[02:25:01]

SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR CHILDREN OR HAVE AUTONOMY OVER OUR LIVES. HOW DO YOU MEASURE THAT? YOU CAN'T. IT'S INVALUABLE. I HAVE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND AND SEEN MY FAMILY FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES. HEALTH IS IT'S OUR MENTAL WELL BEING, PHYSICAL WELL BEING, SHAPED BY THE COMMUNITY AROUND US, AND KNOWN WHAT I KNOW NOW, IT'S CHANGING THE HOLISTIC APPROACH.

VISITING PLACES LIKE TUSCALOOSA TO SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA. I WISH A PLACE LIKE THIS EXISTED WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AT JCP BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE SAVED MY MOM TIME AND HASSLE DRIVING AROUND THE STATE TO FIND PLACES FOR ADEQUATE TRAINING. LASTLY THE TERM DARK HORSE WAS FORMED ON THE EVOLUTION OF MY LIFE. I WAS NEVER THE MOST TALENTED, CERTAINLY NOT THE STRONGEST, BUT MY SELF-BELIEF HAS NOT LET ME DOWN. I PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL AT UF, THAT'S WHAT THE RESUME SAYS, YES, BUT OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T PROMISE ME PLAYING TIME. AND THEY LEAVE THAT PART OUT. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. THAT MOMENT MADE ME, AND THAT CHIP ON MY SHOULDER HAS NEVER GONE AWAY. I AM HAPPY TO SAY I HAVE BEEN WITH ESPN AS A BROADCASTER FOR THE LAST DECADE.

I WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE ME AND DARK HORSE HAS SOMETHING THAT HAS ZERO QUIT. BEING A DARK HORSE IS KNOWING WITHIN YOU'RE CAPABLE, AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE OUTSIDE WILL DOUBT YOU.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, I HAVE LOVED PROVING PEOPLE WRONG, BUT IN THIS CHAPTER OF MY LIFE, I DON'T WANT TO PROVE PEOPLE WRONG OR ANYONE WRONG OR MY COMMUNITY WRONG. I WANT TO PROVE THAT THIS IS RIGHT, AND IT CAN BE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS FOR THE COUNTY. WE WANT TO HELP MENTOR AND TRAIN THE NEXT DARK HORSES, AND I INVITE ALL OF YOU ALONG THE JOURNEY TO DO SO.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, AND THAT VISION WILL BE EXPRESSED THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION. DARK HORSE WILL BE A HEALTH AND FITNESS FACILITY. A BUILDING 21,000 FEET, AND INDOOR TURF BUILDING UP TO 1250. THE MAIN BUILDING CONDITION INCLUDES STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, WORKOUT, RECOVERY, WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, AND OFFERS SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AS WELL CENTERED AROUND HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND TRAINING. BASED ON OUR NORTHWEST SECTOR TRAINING AND MEETING WITH FEEDBACK, THE SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD WAS A COVERED TURF FIELD. NOW IN A BUILDING WITH ROLLUP DOORS AND WINDOWS THAT CAN OPEN FOR PROPER AIR FLOW AND VENTILATION AND IMPROVED AIR QUALITY. THE WEST ELEVATION OF THE BUILDING WILL BE 100% SCREENED IN WALL WITH NO WINDOWS, NO VENTS, AND IT WILL INCLUDE INTERIOR VINYL BAT INSULATION, AND 30 NOT 35 FEET.

NO SOCCER OR FOOTBALL GAMES OR TENNIS AND NO PICKLEBALL. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETIMES A SENSITIVE TOPIC. THE SITE LOCATION, THE AERIAL. THE ZONING MAPS. B IN THE PLAN ALLOWING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD USES, AND THEN THE O.R. ZONED LAND SURROUNDED BY PRETTY MUCH PREDOMINANTLY ALL P.U.D.S. THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL MAP. I DO HAVE MY ARCHITECTS, MY GCS, CIVIL ENGINEER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST HERE IF WE NEED TO DIVE INTO THOSE FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. THIS MAP SHOWS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS ON THE PROPERTY. I WANT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CROSS HATCHED AREAS IN WHITE. THAT IS GENERALLY THE DEVELOPABLE LAND ON THIS PROPERTY. OKAY? THAT IS MIRRORED HERE WITH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL MAP SHOWING THE PRESERVED CONSERVATION AREAS, FLOODPLAINS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT. ONE THING TO NOTE, THE ENTRY FEATURE. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN IN THE FUTURE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A CLEAR CUT SITE. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A DRIVEWAY INTO THE PROPERTY THAT MEANDERS INTO, AND IT'S PURPOSE BUILT THAT WAY. IT'S NOT A FACILITY MEANT TO BE IN A SHOPPING CENTER OR OUTPRCEL. NO DISRESPECT TO THE MAIN STREET, BUT IT'S MEANT TO HAVE A CERTAIN VIBE WHEN YOU PULL IN, AND THE TREES ACTUALLY MAKE THAT. NEXT SLIDE SHOWS OUR MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN OR SITE PLAN IF YOU WILL. IT SHOWS THE DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE COVER TURF BUILDING AND FITNESS BUILDING.

GRAPHICALLY EASIER ON THE EYES, A COLORED MAP OF THE P.U.D.

RETENTION POND, PARKING, AND BUILDINGS. ORIGINALLY WE HAD AN

[02:30:02]

UPLAND PARCEL IN THIS AREA HERE. THAT WAS GOING TO BE A WELLNESS RETREAT AREA, AND THAT BECAME A BONE OF CONTENTION. WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU GOING TO DO THERE? SO AFTER MORE THOUGHT, WE DECIDED TO MAKE THAT 100% UPLAND PRESERVE. THAT IS GOING TO BE PRESERVED AS UPLANDS IN ITS SPACE, OWN ENVIRONMENT THE WAY IT IS, WITH NO TRAIL TO THE WELLNESS AREA. THIS IS THE TRAFFIC AS YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL USES EXCEPT FROM THE PROP SHARE.

THIS SHOWS THE LINKS THAT FRONT ALONG THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. THEY CURRENTLY OPERATE AT THE VARIOUS CAPACITY. 51 CURRENT. 51% OF CURRENT TOTAL CAPACITY, AND 85% OF THE TOTAL COMMITTED CAPACITY FOR A LEVEL OF SERVICE OF OKAY. THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO GREEN BRIERE P.U.D. INCLUDING A COMMUNITY PARK LOT AND SANITATION PARK LOT ON THE EASTERN PART OF THE COMMITTEE AND PROTECTIVE CONSERVATION AREA WITH A 35 DEVELOPMENT EDGE. I WILL GO INTO THE SITE PLAN IN A SECOND. THE ADJACENT CONSERVATION AREA AND 70-FOOT OF COMBINED DEVELOPMENT EDGES, 35 YEAR ON EACH PROPERTY, AND BETWEEN BOTH PROPERTIES PROVIDING A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 190 FEET TO THE NEAREST RESIDENCE, ALL WITH PRESERVATION LAND. THE EDGES WILL SERVE TO BUFFER THE DEVELOPMENT FROM ADJACENT PROPERTIES. THAT'S IN THE P.U.D. GAME THE SAME P.U.D.

ALREADY CONTEMPLATED PROXIMITY FACTORS RELATED TO SHOPPING AND BUSINESS FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. ALL ABUTTING AND ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY.

HERE'S THE ASSOCIATION'S PROPERTY NEARBY. AGAIN, WITH THE FULL PROTECTED BUFFER BUILT INTO THE P.U.D. HERE'S THE P.U.D.

MAP FOR THE SAME AREA. AND THEN HERE IS OUR DARK HORSE SUPER IMPOSE ON THE PROPERTY ITS. HIGHLIGHTING THE CONSERVATION AREA AND THE SPREAD PROTECT IN THE P.U.D. MORE IMPORTANTLY, ZOOMING IN TO THE PROPERTY EDGES BETWEEN THE TWO USES, YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS OUR PROPERTY LINE GOING UP TO THIS CORNER PIECE HERE. WE ARE 134 FEET FROM THE SANITARY LIFT STATION PARCEL ON THE CUL-DE-SAC. SOUTH OF THAT IS THE COMMUNITY PARK. IT'S THE LOT DESCRIBED IN THE P.U.D. THIS ENTIRE PARCEL HERE, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE NEAREST RESIDENTS. THERE'S 195 FEET TO THE NEAREST RESIDENTS TO THE NEAREST BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY. THERE IS 102 FEET FROM THE COMMUNITY PARK, AND THERE IS 170 FEET TO THE NEAREST SANITARY LIFT STATION. AGAIN, THE EASTERN MOST PORTION OF THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A TOT LOT, A PART OF THEIR RECREATIONAL COMPONENT AND THE SANITARY LIFT STATION. HERE'S AN ARTIST DEPICTION REPRESENTING THE HEIGHT OF THE TREES OUT THERE, THE EXISTING CANOPY AND TREE LINE. THE RESIDENTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GRAPHIC, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE TWO BUILDINGS, ALL SEPARATED 195 FEET THROUGH A BUNCH OF PROTECTED PRESERVE. THE USE AND TYPE OF FACILITY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN CATEGORY. A REZONING IS REQUIRED PURSUIT TO THE COMP PLAN AND PER POLICY A1-112 TALKING ABOUT COMPATIBILITY OF ADJACENT USES. THE USES LIKE DARK HORSE IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE P.U.D. DIRECTED IN POLICY A1112, AND IT IS INTENDED TO SERVE THE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. RESIDENTIAL B USE O.R. ZONING AS IT SITS TODAY SIMILARLY INCLUDE USES SUCH AS PRIVATE CLUBS AND PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH OR WITHOUT LIGHTED FIELDS AND COURTS. DARK HORSE WILL SERVE THIS COMMUNITY DAILY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. TO 9:00 P.M.

LIGHTING WILL MEET OR EXCEED THE STANDARD AT THE EDGE. 0.0 AT THE WESTERN OF OUR PROPERTY. THE STANDARD IS 0.2 FOOT-CANDLE. NO P.U.D. WAIVERS IN SECTION TWO. NO WAIVERS REQUESTED FOR LIGHTING, HEIGHT, NOISE, ENCROACHBILITY ON DEVELOPMENT, LOT COVERAGE, OR FLORA RATIOS. IT OPERATES O.K. LEVEL SERVICE PURSUIT TO THE LATEST TRAFFIC ANALYSIS SPREAD SHEET. THE NUMBERS ARE ON THERE. 51% OF CURRENT CAPACITY. 85% COMMITTED, AND ON THE OTHER, 30.5 CURRENT CAPACITY, AND 57.6 AFTER YOU COMMIT ALL OF THESE TRIPS TO LINK. MANY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA WENT THROUGH THE P.U.D. PROCESS TO BECOME THE USES THEY ARE TODAY. THESE ARE SOME VISUALS, CHARACTER

[02:35:06]

STRETCHES AND IMAGERY WE WILL APPLY IF THIS IS APPROVED. THE THEMING, THE EXTERIORS, AND THIS IS A NOT A MEGA GYM. THIS IS SOMETHING PERSONAL WITH A VISION THAT IS CENTERED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITIES. YOU CAN SEE THE ENTRANCES, THE LOCKER ROOMS. ALL MEANT FOR GOOD VIBES, AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY THE TURF FIELD BUILDING. THIS USED TO BE A COVERED TURF FIELD. THE SIZE OF LITERALLY A FOOTBALL FIELD. WE PULLED IT BACK DOWN VERY SMALL SCALE FOR SPEED, AGILITY TRAINING, RED LINE TRAINING, VERY SPECIALIZED APPROACH, BUT IF YOU SEE ON THE BACK WALL, THE WESTERN ELEVATION OF THIS BUILDING. 10% 0% PERCENT OPAQUE. WE ARE ALSO INSTALLING AN INSULATION BATTING, IT'S A BATTING ARCHITECTURAL MATERIAL PUT INSIDE OF THE BUILDING TO MITIGATE ANY NOISE FROM THIS.

NOT MEANT FOR SOCCER TOURNAMENTS OR PICKLEBALL OR BASKETBALL OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN SEE ON NORMAL RECREATIONAL FIELDS IN THE AREA. AGAIN, I WANT TO POINT TO LIGHTED AND UNLIGHTED RECREATIONAL FIELDS ALLOWED BY RIGHT ON THIS PROPERTY. THIS WOULD BE ENCLOSED. DARK HORSE WILL BE A HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITY DESIGNED TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY CENTERED APPROACH.

DARK HORSE WILL INTRODUCE A RANGE OF FACILITIES AND AMENITIES ADDS DESCRIBED -- AS DESCRIBED AND SHOWN. IT KEEPS WITH THE COMP PLAN FOR LAND USE PATTERNS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LAND USES TO SUPPORT A BALANCED GROWTH IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

DARK HORSE WILL POSITIVELY BENEFIT THE COUNTY BY SERVING THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY. THEY WILL INCREASE A COMMERCIAL TAX BASE AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WITH THAT, I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, AND I STAND BY TO ASSIST.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. >> ME OR MY EXPERTS.

>> NO QUESTIONS, SO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM

NUMBER FIVE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOE MACANERE. BLACKBERRY LANE. OF THE 13 E-MAILS YOU ALL RECEIVED, ONE OF THOSE WAS FROM ME. MOST RECENTLY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT HERE, BUT LET ME READ OUT MY VERY FIRST SENTENCE. I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE DARK HORSE PROJECT AND TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR ITS APPROVAL. SO THAT'S JOE MACANERE TALKING MEETING IN JUNE. I TOOK THE MINUTES INCLUDING IN YOUR PACKET, AND I DID HAVE SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH MR. -- NOT MEETINGS, BUT COMMUNICATIONS WITH MR. WESTER AND SO FORTH ATTENDING THE PZA. IF YOU HEARD ME AT THE PZA, SORRY, MY APOLOGIES, I WAS PRETTY ANIMATED QUESTIONING NEIGHBORHOOD USE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHAT, YOUR PLANNING DIRECTOR, JACOB SMITH IS OF THE OPINION THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD USE. SO HATS OFF TO HIM AND INDEFERENCE TO YOUR PLANNING EXPERT, I'M HERE TO SAY, I SUPPORT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD USE. CLEARLY AT THAT COMMUNITY MEETING, THE APPLICANT DID HEAR FROM THE NEIGHBORS OF NOISE CONCERNS, AND YOU HEARD MR. WESTER REPRESENT NO PICKLEBALL OR TOURNAMENTS. THE TURF FIELD IS TO BE ENCLOSED WITH SOUND MITIGATION. THEY DID HEAR. THEY DID RESPOND, AND I KNOW THAT THEY WILL COMPLY WITH ROB DOWLING, YOUR FIRE MARSHAL AND BE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH THE ENCLOSED FACILITY. BUT LOOK, I'M ALSO HERE TO SAY THAT THE NEIGHBORS, YOU HAVE GREAT NEIGHBORS HERE. ALL OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHOULD BE LIKE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP BECAUSE THEY DID PRESENT SOME OPTIONS IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT, I MIGHT SAY, BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS TWO LARGE PARCELS AT LONG LEAF AND GREENBRIER SURROUNDED BY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN WHICH NOISE WOULD NOT BE A CONCERN, AND IN WHICH THE APPLICANT MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN EIGHT TO TEN ACRES OUT OF THEIR 11 BE DEVELOPMENT, NOT THE FOUR HERE. THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF MANAGING THEIR FOUR. SO PLEASE. I HOPE YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE -- WHAT THESE NEIGHBORS HAVE DONE IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT AND WITH THE RIGHT IDEA, VERY PROUD OF THEM MYSELF, AND I HOPE YOU WILL BE, TOO. SO, YES, I SUPPORT THE PROJECT. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL VOTE TO APPROVE IT. I HOPE YOU WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOOD THINGS THAT

[02:40:02]

THE NEIGHBORHOODS DID DO TO TRY FOR A WIN-WIN-WIN HERE. SO THANK

YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> HI, MARY MOGUL CANDLE CREEK SUBDIVISION. CONTRARY, I DO NOT SUPPORT. I AM ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SENT YOU AN E-MAIL. I DO APPLAUD MS. SORENSON FOR HER VISION, BUT IT IS NOT IN THE RIGHT LOCATION, BASED ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE AREA RIGHT NOW. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU, AND ALSO I WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT INTRODUCING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA IS CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF THE RESIDENTS REALLY WANT AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT. AND WHEN HE SHOWED YOU THE PICTURE OF THE HOUSE THAT WAS 192 FEET OR WHATEVER FROM THE BACK OF THAT, THAT IS MY HOUSE, SO RIGHT NOW, WHEN BARTOW HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS THEIR BAND, I CAN HEAR THAT. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP, MY HOUSE IS RIGHT HERE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FACILITY FOR THE INDOOR DIRECTLY HERE. AND RIGHT HERE IS GOING TO BE THE PARKING LOT. SO AS I SIT THERE FROM 7:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING UNTIL 9:00 P.M. AT NIGHT, I'M GOING TO HEAR DOORS CLOSE. I'M GOING TO HEAR PEOPLE TALK. I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE THE NICE, QUIET AREA THEY HAVE NOW THAT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND ACTUALLY WHEN WAS SORENSON TRUST PURCHASED THE PROPERTY, IT WAS FOR THE IDEA OF BUILDING HOUSES AND IT BEING RESIDENTIAL AS OPPOSED TO IT BEING THE WAY IT IS NOW. ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, GREENBRIER ROAD NOW IS BEING FOUR LANED. DIRECTLY HERE AT THE END OF THE PROPERTY IS WHERE THE ROAD WILL MERGE. WE ARE GOING TO GO FROM FOUR LANES DOWN TO TWO, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR ENTRANCE DIRECTLY HERE. AND IF YOU COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, RIGHT HERE IS THE TURNOFF TO CANDLE CREEK. SO THIS ALSO IS A FACILITY RIGHT NOW, THE CHILDREN ARE BEING BUSSED BECAUSE OF THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION, AND IT WILL NOT HAPPEN ONCE THE ROAD IS COMPLETED. THEY WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO USING THAT SIDEWALK AREA. SO RIGHT NOW, TO ME, THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD RIGHT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, AND I KNOW I'M GETTING LIKE REALLY CLOSE.

BUT I ALSO WANTED TO REMIND YOU THE COUNTY CODES AND ORDINANCES WERE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS FROM INCOMPATIBLE USE SUCH AS THIS. THE COUNTY PLANNING GUIDELINES STIPULATE THAT THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS SCALE AND NATURE SHOULD BE SITUATED NEAR MAJOR INTERSECTIONS TO ENSURE SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. THIS LOCATION IS IN BETWEEN, MIDWAY IN BETWEEN LONG LEAF PINE.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND STATE ROAD 13.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I HOPE YOU WILL KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M CHRISTINE POSTON. I'M RIGHT NEXT TO THIS PARCEL. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONCERNS, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEVELOPER. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COVERED STRUCTURE, THIS IS A FABRIC COVERED STRUCTURE, SO OUR NOISE CONCERNS ARE STILL THERE. AND THEY WANT TO PUT ROLLUP DOORS, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AIR-CONDITIONED. AS WE KNOW, NOBODY IS GOING TO BE IN AN ENCLOSED STRUCTURE IN THE SUMMER WEATHER. THEY ARE GOING TO BE ROLLED UP, AND NOISE IS STILL GOING TO COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT IS OUR CONCERN, NOISE. OTHERS, THE TRAFFIC AS REFERENCED, AND THE MERGING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTY, SO IF WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT GETS ADDRESSED AS WELL. AND THEN MY OTHER CONCERN IS THE FUTURE USE. S. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF IT'S HOLD, NOT OPENED UP TO OTHER COMMERCIAL USE, FOR INSTANCE A BILLIARD PARLOR. I WOULD REQUEST THEY BE INCLUDED IN THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN AHEAD OF TIME, NOT SOMETHING ADDRESSED WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND THE DEVELOPER POSTAPPROVAL. I WOULD REQUEST A BUFFER BE INCLUDED, MATURE BUFFER. I WOULD REQUEST FOR

[02:45:02]

NOISE ISSUES. THE HOURS OF OPERATION BE TO DAYLIGHT HOURS.

I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BE ADDRESSED BE ADDRESSED. CHILDREN WALK THAT WAY. THAT'S WHERE THE MERGE IS.

THAT'S MY CONCERN. MY LAST CONCERN IS THE FUTURE USE AND MAKING SURE IT BE COULD IN THE TEXT PRIOR TO APPROVAL. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

ALL RIGHT. >> CHARLIE HUNT, MILL CREEK ESTATES. IS THIS LIKE SPOT ZONING? WHERE YOU CAN JUST PUT SOMETHING RIGHT THERE ON THE ROAD IF YOU WANT TO BECAUSE SOMEBODY CAME UP AND GAVE A FIVE-MINUTE HEARTBREAKING AUTOBIOGRAPHY? OKAY. AND YES, GREENBRIER WILL BE GOING BACK TO TWO LANES THAT FAR DOWN. WILL THIS REALLY HELP THIS AREA? AND THE WAY IT LOOKS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A VERY HIGH END ESTABLISHMENT THAT WILL BE PUT THERE THAT WILL TAKE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MONEY TO RUN, AND WHO CAN REALLY AFFORD TO GO TO THAT? I KNOW THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ASPECT OF IT, BUT TO GET SOMETHING APPROVED WITH A HEARTBREAKING STORY, COME ON. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REAL FATHOM OF WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS BUILDING THERE, ISN'T JUST WE WANT TO REZONE THIS OKAY, WE WILL PUT IT THERE AND TURN IT ALL INTO COMMERCIAL. AND YEAH, WE WILL SAVE ALL OF THE WETLANDS BECAUSE IF THEY DIDN'T DO IT, THEY HAVE TO PAY FINES FOR THAT, WHICH WE KNOW HOW THAT IS. SO, THAT'S -- YEAH, IT LOOKS GOOD. IF THE NEWS SHOWED UP FOR THIS, IT MUST BE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE DONE BECAUSE THAT'S ALL IT COMES DOWN TO. IS THIS SPOT ZONING AND SAYING THAT'S THAT? LET'S CHANGE THAT ONE SPOT RIGHT THERE SO THEY CAN PUT THIS IN BECAUSE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMPELLING

STORY THAT THEY HAVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC

COMMENT? OKAY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LAURA GRIFFIN. I LIVE AT 320 WEST KERRY COURT IN ST. JOHNS. I HAD A WHOLE OTHER LIST OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE GENTLEMAN THAT JUST CAME UP HERE TALKING ABOUT A COMPELLING STORY. THAT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT MS. SORENSON IS TRYING TO BUILD HERE. SHE'S A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SHE CARES A ABOUT OUR COUNTY.

SHE CARES ABOUT WHERE SHIVES AND WANTS TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE.

SHE WANTS TO MAKE WELLNESS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN OUR COUNTY.

FOR ME, SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, RANGING IN AGE FROM 14 TO 22. IF I HAD THIS FACILITY AVAILABLE FOR MY KIDS WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER AND STARTING THEIR ATHLETIC, YOU KNOW, CAREERS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SO GRATEFUL. THIS IS A PLACE THAT SHE WANTS TO INCLUDE EVERYONE. SHE WANTS TO SUPPORT EVERYONE. SHE WANTS TO MAKE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND CAN WORK ON THEIR BODIES AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, AND THE FACT THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME UP HERE AND TRY TO TURN IT INTO LET'S LISTEN TO SOME SOB STORY, THAT'S RIDICULOUS AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I THINK ALSO, I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE A WELLNESS FACILITY BUILT RATHER THAN ANOTHER WENDY'S OR MATTRESS KING OR GOODWILL. WE ALL LIVE IN AREAS WHERE TREES ARE BEING MOWED DOWN WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT AND BUILDING THESE RIDICULOUS BOX STORE BUSINESSES THAT WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SHE HAS PUT SO MUCH THOUGHTFULNESS INTO THIS. SHE HAS BEEN BERATED AT TIME BY SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TAKEN EVERY SINGLE THING THAT THEY HAVE SAID TO HER TO HEART. SHE HAS PUT SO MUCH THOUGHT INTO THIS. SHE CARES ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND SHE IS TRYING TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT SHE

IS TRYING TO DO HERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER

PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. >> HI, I'M BRITTANY KONEY. I'M

[02:50:03]

STEPHANIE'S SISTER. SHE WAS ALWAYS THE FAMOUS ONE. I WAS IN THE BACK, LIKE THAT'S MY SISTER. OH, THAT'S HER, SO I'M HERE TODAY DOING THE SAME THING. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR HER.

I'M ALWAYS THE LITTLE ONE IN THE BACK. SHE IS SO WONDERFUL. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HER CHARACTER AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF -- I'M SORRY, I'M NERVOUS. SHE WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SHE WANTS TO TAKE MY KIDS, LAURA'S KIDS, AND ALL OF THE KIDS. NOT JUST KIDS. SHE WANTS TO TAKE EVERYBODY TO THE NEXT LEVEL FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS. I THINK WHAT SHE WAS SAYING ABOUT ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT WE ARE COMING INTO AND LONGEVITY AND ALL OF THE THINGS WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT, SHE WANTS TO SPREAD THAT WEALTH THAT LEADS TO MORE FAMILY. THAT LEADS TO MORE FAMILY TIME. THAT IS WHAT STEPHANIE IS ABOUT. SHE IS ABOUT HER COMMUNITY, MAKING PEOPLE BETTER, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO MAKE THEM BETTER. I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT, TRULY, THAT SHE IS GOING TO BRING HERE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IT. WE HAVE OUR WORKOUT GROUP, SHOUT OUT TO YOU ALL IN THE BACK. STARTED WITH ME AND HER IN HER GYM, AND NOW 15 OR 20 PEOPLE. SHE HAS OUR DOCTOR, AND JUST ALL DIFFERENT AGES, AND IT'S GREAT. MY OLDEST WHO IS EIGHT DOES WORKOUTS WITH US JUST OUT OF STEPHANIE'S GARAGE.

THAT'S SO TELLING OF WHO SHE IS. TO KNOW HER IS TO LOVE HER, AND EVERYTHING SHE DOES, SHE WILL MAKE AN IMPACT ON EVERYBODY. THEY WILL BETTER THEMSELVES. SHE WILL MAKE SURE THEY DO. THE COMMUNITY WILL BE BETTER FOR IT. I'M IN FAVOR OF DARK HORSE ALSO BECAUSE I LOVE HER AND SHE'S MY SISTER, MAKE AO ENACT ORDINANCE APPROVING PUD DARK HORSE BASED UPON NINE FINDINGS OF FACT BASED ON LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

>> SECOND. >> ANY OTHER -- COMMISSIONER

WHITEHURST. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I DID WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. OBVIOUSLY I'M GOING TO BE VOTING YES, BUT MY VOTE IS BASED ON THE TECHNICAL FACTORS. I MEAN, THIS IS NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL, AS JACOB SMITH HAS ASSERTED WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE PROSPECT OF IT MAYBE NOT BEING COMMERCIAL.

SO BASED UPON THE TECHNICAL FACTORS OF COMPATIBILITY AND THIS IS NOT AT ALL SPOT ZONING, THIS IS A TEXTBOOK DEFINITION OF IN FP DLIL DEVELOPMENT, SURROUNDED BY OTHER APPROVALS, THIS IS INFILL DEVELOPMENT. BUT STEFFEY SORENSON'S STORY MATTERS TO ME. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE YES ON AND DRIVE MY DAUGHTERS BY IT AND SAY I WAS A PART OF NOT STANDING IN THE WAY OF STEFFEY SORENSON'S VISION. AND WHEN YOU'RE CONFRONTED WITH A PROJECT BUILT WITH VISION AND HEART AND SOUL IS POURED INTO IT THE WAY THIS PROJECT IS, THEN I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROUD OF IT FOR DECADES AND GENERATIONS TO COME. I'M A HE NOT JUST GOING TO VOTE YES, I'M GOING TO VOTE YES WITH A LOT OF PRIDE AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS AMAZING PROJECT. IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT SO MANY CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. SO GREAT JOB, STEPHANIE.

>> ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD AND VOTE. THAT'S UNANIMOUS, 5-0. GOOD

JOB. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE WELL. WE AR ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 6. THIS

[6. Public Hearing * NZVAR 2025-20 Zamora Street. Request for a Non-Zoning Variance to Sections 6.02.01.B.3 and 6.04.07.B.2 of the Land Development Code to allow for the use of a 15 foot wide access easement within a platted subdivision.]

IS QUASI JUDICIAL, SO IN WE COULD PLEASE START. COMMISSIONER

ARNOLD. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO RECORD

OF ANY EMAILS OR ANY MEETINGS. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER WHITE

HURST. >> NO ANY RECORD OF EMAILS OR

MEETINGS. >> OKAY. AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY

>> NO EMAILS AND NO MEETINGS. >> OKAY. AND I'M ALSO THE SAME, NO EMAILS AND NO MEETINGS. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. LET ME START WITH WHAT WE HAVE. SO THIS IS A REQUEST FOR NON-ZONING VARIANCE

FOR USE -- >> I'M SORRY. COULD YOU PLEASE

SPEAK INTO THE MIC? THANK YOU. >> I'M SORRY. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A NON-ZONING VARIANCE TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF A 15-FOOT WIDE EASEMENT WITHIN A PLATTED SUBDIVISION. AND OUR NAMES ARE DAVID AND PATRICIA WATKINS, AND WE HAVE CONTINUALLY OWNED HOUSES ON MORE A STREET SINCE THE MID-1980S. AS A RESULT, WE'RE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE WELL-BEING AND FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TRULY CARE ABOUT ITS SAFETY, CHARACTER AND

[02:55:03]

SUSTAINABILITY. WE'RE ASKING A NON-ZONING VARIANCE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO OTHER VIABLE OPTIONS FOR ACCESS TO OUR PROPERTIES AT 9 AND 11 ZAMORA STREET. THE INITIAL INTENDED RIGHT OF WAY WITH NO PRESENCE WHICH LEAVES US WITH NO CONVENTIONAL MEANS OF ACCESS. AS A RESULT OF THIS, WE RESPECTFULLY SEEK APPROVAL FOR AN UNCONVENTIONAL ACCESS EASEMENT THAT FULLY COMPLIES WITH THE RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY STANDARD AND ENSURES NECESSARY EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS.

IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN CAREFULLY REVIEWED BY THE FIRE SERVICES STAFF. THEIR EVALUATION KSMS THAT THE PLANNED DRIVEWAY SERVICE AND STABILIZED TURN AROUND NOT ONLY MEET BUT EXCEED THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE PROTECTION. THIS MEANS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS WILL BE MAINTAINED, ENSURING EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN REACH OUR HOME IF EVER NEEDED. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, WE URGE YOU TO GRANT THIS NON-ZONING VARIANCE, AND DOING SO WILL PROVIDE A PRACTICAL SOLUTION FOR OUR PROPERTIES, UPHOLD PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUPPORT COMMITTED RESIDENTS TO WANT TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO ZAMORA STREET.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. SO THIS IS A MAP OF THE VALANA BEACH, AND OUR PROPERTIES ARE THE ONES IN BLACK ON ZAMORA STREET. AND THIS IS A VIEW OF 0 ZAMORA STREET. AND WE OWN THE YELLOW -- THE YELLOW OUTLINED PROPERTY, AND 9 IS THE SECOND HOUSE ON -- OFF OF ZAMORA STREET, AND 11 IS THE THIRD HOUSE. AND THIS IS OUR DIAGRAM OF WHAT WE PROPOSE. AND YOU CAN SEE IT ACCESSES ZAMORA STREET, AND IT WOULD BE A 12-FOOT PAVED ONTO A STABILIZED TURN AROUND, SO THAT WOULD ALLOW THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES ACCESS TO PULL IN AND THEN DRIVE AROUND AND DRIVE OUT EASILY. AND THEN IT WOULD BE A 15-FOOT EASEMENT.

AND SO THE VARIANCE WAS SIGNED OFF BY THE FIRE SERVICES, AND WE'RE THE OWNERS OF ALL THE APPLICABLE LOTS, AND ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REGULATIONS WILL BE FOLLOWED, INCLUDING THE COASTAL CONSTRUCTION. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? NO,

OKAY. >> BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 6. ANYBODY WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. JAMES, 30 VIEJO. DOES ANYBODY ON THE BOARD NOW OR DOES THE APPLICANT KNOW IF THIS WILL RESTRICT ANY UTILITY LOCATION IN THAT EXPANDED EASEMENT?

>> WELL, THIS IS NOT THE BEST TIME FOR Q&A. IF THAT CONCLUDES YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN WE CAN GET THAT QUESTION ANSWERED FOR YOU LATER. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? I'M SORRY.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION FOR US?

>> I WILL BE HAPPY TO ASK THAT QUESTION, YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 6? SEEING NO

ONE ELSE -- YES, MA'AM. PLEASE. >> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. >> I'M WESLEY WOODWARD, I'M WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, JUST TO ADDRESS THE GENTLEMAN'S QUESTION. FPL IS AWARE OF THIS APPLICATION. STAFF ACTUALLY CORRESPONDED WITH FPL. THEY'VE RECENTLY HAVE PLANS TO MOVE A BOX ON A LOT ON VIEJO AND REWIRE AND MOVE SOME TRANSMISSION LINES THROUGH THIS PARCEL. THEY HAVE A FOUR-FOOT EASEMENT THAT HAS BEEN GRANTED, AND THIS APPLICATION SHOULD NOT IN ANY WAY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT THAT. AND FPL HAS CORE RESPONDED WITH US BACK THAT THEY ARE -- THEY HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THIS

APPLICATION. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. BASED ON THAT, I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION TO

[03:00:03]

APPROVE NZVAR2025-20 REQUEST FOR NON-ZONING VARIANCE SEEKING RELIEF FROM ACCESS EASEMENT REQUIREMENTS IN SECTION 6.02.1.E.3, AND 6.0407.B.2, BASED ON FINDING OF FACT AND CONDITIONS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

>> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S VOTE. OOPS.

ONE MORE. SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

[7. Public Hearing * NZVAR 2025-23 Millard Family Home. Request for a Non-Zoning Variance to Land Development Code Sections 6.02.01.A.2 and 6.04.05.C.1. to allow for one (1) non-standard residential driveway connection to a county roadway not directly abutting the subject property.]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 7 WHICH IS QUASI JUDICIAL. COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY MEEZ MEETINGS OR ANY EMAILS.

>> NO RECORD OF ANY EMAILS, PHONE CALLS OR MEETINGS.

>> AND COMMISSIONER MURPHY. >> NO RECORD OF ANY EMAILS OR

MEETINGS. >> AND I ALSO HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY EMAILS OR MEETINGS. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALEC MEDICALLARD. I AM A SEMI-RETIRED STATE CERTIFIED GENERAL CONTRACTOR. MY WIFE WHO'S ALSO NAMED IN THE APPLICATION IS A RETIRED ST.

JOHNS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. OUR REQUEST FOR A NON-ZONING VARIANCE IS FOR A DRIVEWAY THAT WILL CONNECT TO A THOROUGHFARE OR A RIGHT OF WAY BECAUSE THE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY DOES NOT COME ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR PROPERTY. AND YOU CAN SEE THE PROPERTY HERE ON THE LOCATION MAP. IT'S BORDERED BY HOLMES, WEST KING AND FOUR MILE, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. AND IT'S A VERY HEAVILY WOODED SITE. IT'S ABOUT ONE ACRE, AND ON THIS PICTURE YOU SEE NORTH CLAY STREET COMING ALMOST TO THE CORNER OF THE PROPERTY. IN FACT, IT STOPS ABOUT 10 FEET SHY OF THE PROPERTY. AND THIS IS A CUT AWAY OF THE SITE PLAN. SO IN THE CIRCLE IT REALLY SHOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT'S BASICALLY A CONCRETE APRON AS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO CONTACT THE RIGHT OF WAY WHICH IS NORTH CLAY. THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF WHERE NORTH CLAY ENDS, AND THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT'S NOT UNCOVERED BECAUSE IT'S GOT SOME OVERGROWTH. BUT YOU SEE WHERE THE BLACK TOP IS, WHERE THE NOTICE IS, AND OVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE YOU SEE THE SURVEY FLAG. ON THE LEFT SIDE YOU SEE A RATHER LARGE OAK TREE, AND THAT'S WHY. THEY DIDN'T CONTINUE WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY. AND I AGREE WITH THAT. I'D RATHER SEE THE RIGHT OF WAY STAY WHERE IT'S AT, AND THE TREE STAY WHERE IT'S AT. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY A BLOWUP OF THAT SAME ONE THAT YOU SAW BEFORE WHICH SHOWS THE EXISTING CLAY STREET BLACKTOP AND THE CONCRETE APRON THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE PROPERTY LINE AND ALSO ALL THE GREEN DOTS ARE THE SIGNIFICANT TREE GROWTH THAT'S IN THE AREA. SO IT'S A PRETTY NATURAL SITE. AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. BUT BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE, JUST TO SUM UP, EXCUSE ME, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE SITE BY MAINTAINING THE EXISTING FOLIAGE AND TREES, AS WELL AS REDUCING DENSITY. THIS IS ACTUALLY SIX PLATTED LOTS WHICH WE ARE INTENDING ON BUILDING ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME. SO IT WOULD ONLY BE A SINGLE FAMILY DRIVEWAY TO ACCESS THE PROPERTY, AND THAT REALLY MAINTAINS THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER PROPERTIES AROUND US ARE LARGER LOTS, SOME ARE FIVE ACRES, SOME ARE 10. THE ONES DIRECTLY TO THE SOUTH ARE SINGLE ACRE LOTS WITH SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON IT. AND WE REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS IN HARMONY WITH THE GENERAL INTENT OF THE LDC WHICH -- AND I'M QUOTING FROM THE INTRODUCTION TO IT, IT SAYS IT'S TO MANAGE GROWTH IN A COST-EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANNER WHILE PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES WHICH IS REALLY OUR GOAL, AND AS WELL TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT IMPACTS THE ENVIRONMENT MUCH LESS. AND SO

[03:05:01]

OUR REQUEST TO CONNECT TO AN EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY WITH A SMALL CONCRETE APRON REALLY ACCOMPLISHES ALL THESE THINGS.

AND THAT'S ALL I GOT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? OH. PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 7. ANYBODY WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE RISE TO SPEAK, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC

COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 7. >> ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A

MOTION ON THIS? >> MOTION TO APPROVE NON-ZONING VARIANCE 25-23 REQUEST FOR A NON-ZONING VARIANCE TO DEVELOPMENT LAND CODE SECTIONS 6.02.01.A.2 AND 6.4.05.C.1 TO ALLOW FOR ONE NON-STANDARD RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY CONNECTION TO A COUNTY ROADWAY NOT DIRECTLY ABUTTING THE SUBJECT PROPERTY BASED UPON SIX FINDING OF FACTS AND AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF

REPORT. >> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S VOTE. GREAT. AND THAT PASSES

[8. First Reading - Milestone Inspections for condominium and cooperative buildings three (3) stories or more in height. During the 2022 Special Session, the Florida Legislature enacted Senate Bill 4-D, codified as Chapter 2022-269, Laws of Florida, establishing mandatory “milestone inspections” for condominium and cooperative buildings three (3) stories or more in height to ensure the structural integrity of aging buildings throughout the State of Florida. In 2023, the Legislature adopted Senate Bill 154, codified as Chapter 2023-203, Laws of Florida, further clarifying the milestone inspection process and requiring coordination between building officials, professional engineers, and condominium and cooperative associations. In 2025, the Legislature enacted Chapter 2025-175, Laws of Florida, amending section 553.899, Florida Statutes, to require all counties and municipalities to adopt an ordinance by December 31, 2025, establishing specific timelines for scheduling and commencement of repairs following a Phase Two Milestone Inspection.]

UNANIMOUSLY, 4-0. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> ALL RIGHT. NOW WE ARE ON TO ITEM AGENDA NUMBER -- ITEM NUMBER 8. AND MR. WHITE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, HOWARD WHITE, BUILDING OFFICIAL, ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO PRESENT THE FIRST READING OF A PROPOSED MILESTONE INSPECTION. SO ST. JOHNS COUNTY MILESTONE INSPECTION ORDINANCE WOULD BE IMPLEMENTING STATE STATUTE 533.899, FLORIDA STATUTE AS AMENDED BY CHAPTER 2025-175, LAWS AND RULES OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE, COMMISSIONERS, IS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FLORIDA'S MANDATORY MILESTONE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. IT DOES ESTABLISH LOCAL PROCEDURES FOR SCHEDULING INSPECTIONS, COMMENCING REPAIRS, DISCLOSURE AND REPORTING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION. SO BY WAY OF SOME BACKGROUND AND LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, BACK IN 2022, SENATE BILL 4D WAS ENACTED AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE SURFSIDE CONDOMINIUM DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA. I THINK MANY OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT IT WAS A TRAGEDY THAT COST SEVERAL LIVES. LATER IN 2023, SENATE BILL 154 CLARIFIED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SENATE BILL 4D. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT CLARIFICATION IN JUST A MINUTE. AND HERE WE ARE IN 2025, AND CHAPTER 2025-175 REQUIRES A LOCAL ORDINANCE. WHEN SENATE BILL 48 FIRST CAME OUT, IT WAS SUGGESTED BUT NOW THE ORDINANCE, LOCAL ORDINANCE IS MANDATORY. THE CLARIFICATION THAT CAME OUT IN '23 WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR BUILDING DEPARTMENTS. IT SIMPLY CLARIFIED THAT THE MILESTONE INSPECTION WAS APPLICABLE TO COOPERATIVE CONDOMINIUM BUILDINGS THREE STORIES OF HABITABLE LIVING ABOVE GRADE. WHEN THIS INITIALLY CAME OUT, IT SIMPLY SAID THREE STORIES, AND MANY JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING ST. JOHNS, YOUR JURISDICTION, WE TOOK THAT TO MEAN THAT IF YOU HAD A PARKING GARAGE ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND TWO HABITABLE STORIES ABOVE, THAT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE STATE STATUTE. UNFORTUNATELY, AS IT TURNS OUT FOR US, IT WAS NOT THE INTENT OF THAT STATUTE. AND SO NOW IT'S SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF THREE HABITABLE STORIES ABOVE GRADE. SO THE MAGIC NUMBER, COMMISSIONERS FOR MILESTONE INSPECTIONS IS 30 YEARS, WHEN THE BUILDING BECOMES 30 YEARS OLD OR GREATER, THAT TRIGGERS -- PRETTY MUCH TRIGGERS THE THRESHOLD FOR MILESTONE INSPECTIONS. SO THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE GREATER THAN 30 YEARS

[03:10:08]

BEFORE 7-1 OF 2022 HAD MILE STONE INSPECTION DEADLINE REPORT OF DECEMBER 31, 2024. 30 YEARS BETWEEN 7-1 AND 2022 TO 12-31-24, THOSE REPORTS HAD TO BE SUBMITTED BY DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR. AND INCIDENTALLY WE DID SUBMIT THOSE REPORTS IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. AND ALL OTHER BUILDINGS GOING FORWARD IN PERPETUITY, IT'S THE YEAR THAT THEY TURN 30 YEARS OLD. AND EVERY 10 YEARS THEREAFTER. SO THIS IS A MOVING TARGET THAT THE BUILD DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO COME. SO WHAT ARE MIELSTONE INSPECTIONS? SO ESSENTIALLY THERE'S TWO PHASES OF INSPECTIONS. PHASE ONE IS A GENERAL INSPECTION TO LOOK AT THE GENERAL HEALTH OF THAT BUILDING, THAT STRUCTURE THAT'S OF CONCERN. AND THOSE REPORTS ARE DUE WITHIN 180 DAYS OF THE NOTICE THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT SENDS OUT. SO, AGAIN, WE ARE VERY DILIGENT AT MONITORING THOSE. PHASE TWO INSPECTION IS MORE OF A STRUCTURAL INSPECTION WHERE IT TRIED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS DETERIORATION FOUND IN THE STRUCTURE, AND THOSE REPORTS, HOWEVER, ARE DUE WITHIN 30 DAYS. AND THEN ANY SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS MUST BEGIN WITHIN 180 DAYS THEREAFTER. SO THERE ARE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATUTE FOR THOSE PROFESSIONALS THAT CHOOSE TO TAKE THESE CHALLENGES ON. SO ENGINEERS MUST DISCLOSE INTENT TO BUILD -- TO BID, EXCUSE ME, ON REPAIRS, AND THAT'S REPORTED TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. CONTRACTORS THAT CHOOSE TO DO THE REPAIRS CANNOT HAVE UNDISCLOSED FINANCIAL OR FAMILIARITY TIES TO THE PROJECT ITSELF. AND VIOLATIONS OF THIS ARE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND POSSIBLE CONTRACT VOIDABILITY. SO I MENTIONED THE LOCAL REPORTING ASPECT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REAGLATION EARLIER.

ST. JOHNS BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO REPORT ANNUALLY NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31 EACH YEAR. AND WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT? WE REPORT BUILDING SUBJECTS TO INSPECTION.

WE REPORT ANY PHASE 1 OR PHASE 2 INSPECTIONS THAT WERE COMPLETED.

WE HAVE TO REPORT EXTENSIONS THAT WERE GRANTED. INCIDENTALLY, TO DATE, YOUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT HAS NOT GRANTED ANY EXTENSIONS. WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. AND THEN WE HAVE TO REPORT PERMITS ISSUED FOR REPAIRS AND ANY UNSAFE OR UNINHABITABLE BUILDINGS THAT ARE DETERMINED IN THE PROCESS. SO A LITTLE -- ACTUALLY, A LOT OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY DATA. AND I MUST BE FRANK WITH EVERYONE HERE, WHEN WE EMBARKED ON THIS COLLECTION OF DATA BACK IN 2022, I WAS EVEN TAKEN ABACK BY THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS WITHIN OUR COUNTY THAT TRIGGERED THIS THRESHOLD. AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT BRIEFLY FOR YOU HERE. SO WE DO HAVE 77 CONDOMINIUM COMMUNITIES WITH 317 BUILDINGS GREATER THAN THREE STORIES. WE HAVE 29 COMMUNITIES WITH 98 BUILDINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AWAITING THEIR 30-YEAR THRESHOLD. WE HAVE 48 COMMUNITIES WITH 219 BUILDINGS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED A PHASE 1 REPORT, 64 BUILDINGS REQUIRED TO HAVE PHASE 2, 51 OF THOSE INSPECTIONS PASSED, AND WE HAVE ISSUED 13 PERMITS, AND THOSE PERMITS ARE CURRENTLY IN VARIOUS

[03:15:02]

STAGES OF REPAIR. VERY HAPPY TO REPORT, VERY THANKFUL THAT NO BUILDINGS WERE DEEMED DANGEROUS, AND WE HAVE HAD 100% RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS THAT EMBARK ON THIS PROCESS WITH US, AS WELL AS THE HOAS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE IN THIS PROCESS OR WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE ARRIVED AT THAT 100% RESPONSE RATE. VERY PROUD OF THAT. AND THE COMMISSIONERS HERE SIMPLY GRAPHED IT, DEPICTS THE PROGRESS THAT WE MADE SINCE 2022, SAME STATISTICS ARE PRESENT, BUT YOU NOW SEE THAT WE ARE DOWN TO 13 PERMITS IN, AGAIN, VARIOUS STAGES THAT WE HOPE TO CLOSE OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ORDINANCE TIMELINE, WE HAD -- OBVIOUSLY THIS IS OUR FIRST READING. THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, AND THE PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE WILL BE DECEMBER 31, 2025. AND, COMMISSIONERS, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> GREAT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I MEAN, 100% RESPONSE BECAUSE I KNOW OTHER COUNTIES ARE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THAT. AND THERE'S ONLY SO MANY COMPANIES THAT EVEN DO THESE MILESTONE INSPECTIONS. SO THAT'S A BIG

TASK. >> THE KEY TO THAT -- THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THE KEY TO THAT WAS TO TAKE IT SERIOUS RIGHT

FROM THE GET GO. >> YES.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID. >> THANK YOU. WELL DONE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYBODY? NO? WELL, THANK YOU. THIS WAS THE FIRST READING, SO

[9. Public Hearing * First Reading - LDCA 2025-09 Certified Recovery Residences. This amendment amends Land Development Code Article II (Zoning Districts and Special Uses) and Article IX (Administration) to comply with changes to State Statute that went into effect on July 1, 2025 with the enactment of Senate Bill 954. The bill requires the adoption of an ordinance to establish procedures for the review and approval of certified recovery residences and to provide a process for requesting reasonable accommodations from any local land use regulation that serves to prohibit or unreasonably restrict the establishment of a certified recovery residence consistent with Section 397.487(15), Florida Statutes. This is the first hearing for this item.]

NO ACTION IS REQUIRED. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE ARE ON TO AGENDA

ITEM NUMBER 9. >> I'M NOT THAT TALL. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. AMY RING WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, I'M HERE TO PRESENT AGENDA NUMBER 9. THIS IS THE FIRST READING FOR LDCA2025-09 FOR CERTIFIED RECOVERY RESIDENCES.

SO FOR BACKGROUND, THIS IS COMING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY WITH CHANGES THAT WENT INTO EFFECT TO FLORIDA STATUTES, SPECIFICALLY 397.487, AND WE WANT THAT TO BE AMENDED IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

THESE CHANGES WERE ENACTED THROUGH SENATE BILL 954 WHICH WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. SO SENATE BILL 954 REQUIRES THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE BY JANUARY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR THE REVEW AND APPROVAL OF CERTIFIED RECOVERY RESIDENCES. THE ORDINANCE MUST INCLUDE A PROCESS FOR REQUESTING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FROM LAND USE REGULATIONS THAT PROHIBIT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A RESIDENCE. SO YOU DO HAVE RED LINE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN YOUR STAFF PACKET AS ATTACHMENT NUMBER TWO. THE AMENDMENT REVISES SECTION.21.1 IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ADD CERTIFIED RECOVERY RESIDENCE AS RESIDENTIAL USE AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE LANGUAGE THAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES INTO THE LDC. SO TODAY AGAIN IS THE FIRST HEARING. WE PLAN TO TAKE THIS ITEM TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING ASSOCIATION ON DECEMBER 4TH AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR A SECOND HEARING ON DECEMBER 16TH. THAT'S THE END OF MY

REPORT. >> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO? ALL RIGHT. WELL, NO BOARD ACTION, AND THAT IS IT. WE ARE READY TO MOVE ON. WE CAN GET

[Commissioners’ Reports ]

STARTED WITH OUR COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AS WE WRAP UP.

COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> NO REPORT TODAY.

>> NONE? OKAY. COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST .

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AS WE MOVE INTO THE SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, WE DO HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR EVERYDAY. BUT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON BEING THANKFUL FOR LIVING IN A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY. AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION, I SEE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THIS UP-AND-COMING GENERATION LAMENTING THE FACT THERE ARE LITTLE TO NO OPPORTUNITIES OF

[03:20:02]