Letters: Poor decisions win every time when it comes to Jacksonville zoning issues

I never thought I would develop an interest in city zoning. As it turns out, behind the mind-numbing language is where much of the action in Jacksonville lies.

That was particularly true when the City Council met last Tuesday. Despite dozens of San Marco residents expressing their displeasure over a proposed self-storage facility (to be built across from BB's restaurant), the Land Use and Zoning Committee voted 4-3 to recommend the project.

District 5 representative Joe Carlucci respected his constituents' wishes and voted “No.” He cited the historical overlay — passed unanimously in 2019 — that prohibits this kind of development.

But it didn't matter. A four-council-member majority voted in its favor, none of whom represent San Marco but districts in the Beaches and Trout River.

Concerned Murray Hill residents experienced a similar losing fight back in 2019 when they objected to an unwanted and unnecessary storage silo at the entrance to their community. I say “unnecessary,” unless storing our excess stuff is now a public priority.

During last week's meeting, Planning Director Brett James rejected a proposed fuel storage facility owned by Belvedere Terminals to be built in Dinsmore. Not surprisingly, residents aren't too keen on having flammable liquids stored in their neighborhood and expressed their concerns to the City Council.

James had researched the land use code and found that hazardous materials are allowable in heavy industrial areas, but not elsewhere.

He made the correct decision based upon the code. However, Belvedere attorney Jason Gabriel filed an appeal, arguing that Jacksonville has allowed hazardous material storage in light industrial zones for years. His argument appears to be that Jacksonville is caught in a web of poor past decision-making — and therefore, we must double down on those same decisions.

Maybe not surprisingly, the zoning committee unanimously agreed with Gabriel's interpretation (including Joe Carlucci this time). According to the committee chair, the city “shouldn't punish this group over our own inconsistencies in our code.”

So if you try to trample the will of residents, work around pesky ordinances or overlays and spend a lot of money to do so — you should be rewarded?

This is the crux of the problem in Jacksonville. We can do better.

Michelle Busby, Jacksonville

Pick one: Trash or beaches?

It is beach season in Jacksonville and when planning for a fun day in the sun, the packed bags and tackle boxes of beachgoers or fishermen can instantly become trash. If not disposed of properly, it can pollute the ocean and in many instances kill marine life.

This simple concept is not demonstrated by all beachgoers and fishermen as major Jacksonville Beach clean-ups often precede large holiday weekends to try and minimize the amount of trash spread along the shoreline. In 2020, Madeira Beach imposed crackdown littering fines of $250 first offense and $500 for every subsequent offense.

Jacksonville beaches have rules that prohibit beach littering, but it’s not clear who enforces these rules. In my personal experience, police will quickly address the issue of having a dog on the beach outside of approved hours. However, one can find numerous pieces of trash along the beaches on any given day, with increased litter occurring during the peak season of April to September.

I propose it is time for Jacksonville Beach officials to crack down on litter (as Madeira Beach has done) to save our beaches and marine life, as well as beachgoers and fishermen.

The World Wildlife Fund estimates 10% of the world’s ocean plastic pollution is made up of plastic-based fishing nets and rope. Every year there are 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises that get entangled in nets and lines. These animals die a slow and painful death through suffocation, starvation or exhaustion — from just 10% of ocean plastic pollution.

Increasing litter fines and empowering civic community officers to enforce them will help keep plastic off our beaches. A long-term impact of protecting our beaches, marine life and public health can start with throwing one piece of trash away.

Lauren Corley, Jacksonville 

Questions for Rep. Black, Sheriff Waters

I am a perplexed by the April 15 guest column from state Rep. Dean Black, chair of the Duval Republican party.

In his column, Black states “Sheriff T.K. Waters’ endorsement of Trump reflects not only a vast majority of Florida elected sheriffs but also of rank and file officers who trust him to have their backs.” He goes onto say, “Their endorsements reflect their commitment to law and order and their oath of office to keep their constituents safe.”

Really? So my takeaway is this — Florida sheriffs, along with rank and file officers in Duval County support someone who has been indicted for 88 criminal charges, including an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2020, that former President Donald Trump allowed to be unleashed on U.S. Capital Police and other members of law enforcement. Some officers died and many were badly beaten.

Yet the sheriff and the rank and file officers apparently ignore this fact, thinking the former president “has their back.”

As a woman, I am not even going to focus on the sexual assault case.

Is this the new definition of selective law and order? Disingenuous at best, it doesn’t make me feel safe as both a Florida citizen and a woman. I sure don’t feel safer knowing the departments that are supposed to enforce the law consistently for its citizens may instead endorse “lawlessness.”

If this is true, I suggest that everyone who does not truly support all law enforcement should move onto another profession, especially if you can’t support your citizens or even fellow police officers.

One last question: Would it be different if police officers were attacked in St. Johns, Nassau, Clay or some other Florida county because of a former president who may unleash violent extremists on them?

Denise A. Novotny, Fernandina Beach 

A few facts for Monroe

Nate Monroe’s April 11 column was an unfair assessment of Lori Boyer’s performance as head of the Downtown Investment Authority. What he failed to mention was that during her five-year stint, at least two years were under some type of COVID restriction. Over the past two years, we have also experienced nearly doubling of interest rates.

According to Jeff Frandsen, senior vice president at Newmark Phoenix Realty, construction costs have risen by 20% over the past 12 months. Plus, a recent market report by CBRE Commercial Real Estate stated that downtown office space is currently experiencing a 26% vacancy rate, and my guess is that it will get worse before it gets better.

These factors make it impossible to put a viable development project together without being heavily subsidized. It also requires great financial risk to both the developer and the city of Jacksonville.

It is for the above stated external factors that there have been no visible improvements in the downtown landscape — not any lack of ability or contacts on Boyer’s part.

Robert Gittings, commercial real estate sales and developer, Jacksonville

Johnson did the right thing

House Speaker Mike Johnson put the welfare of the U.S. and the democracies of Europe on his shoulders to deliver a resounding victory. He did this despite the isolationist, do-nothing, far right members of the Republican Party. They are truly an embarrassment for all Americans.

My sincere prayer is this is the beginning of a bipartisan effort by Congress to do the work for all American people. That will demonstrate to the world we have a functioning government.

David B. Lee, Jr., Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Despite code, city zoning team ignore needs of Jacksonville residents