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Highlands Today

Sebring Expands Boundaries For Planning, Zoning Members

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: May 11, 2008

SEBRING — Sebring's planning and zoning commission is no longer limited to city residents.

Two commissioners may now be property or business owners in the city that do not reside within the city limits.

Gary Lower, zoning supervisor, said he has difficulty finding city residents to fill vacancies on the commission, which has seven members and two alternates.

"I am having a hard time recruiting full-time members, plus alternate members," Lower said. "I have very qualified people who want to be on the commission but the code says they need to be residents of the city, and they aren't. Right now you could own millions of dollars of property within the city and be a big investor, but not be able to sit on P&Z and give recommendations on how growth in the city should go."

City Council member Margie Rhoades said she thinks serving on city boards should be a privilege only for voting residents of the city.

"I think we as city residents have very little benefit other than police and fire protection for paying the taxes we pay," Rhoades said. "I think the greater Sebring area benefits from the city without having to pay anything for it. Being on boards and having a voice in the future of our city should be a benefit for the residents."

City Council decided to change the ordinance to allow for two property owners and seven city residents.

"That opens the door for filling positions but allows residents to have the majority," said council member Scott Stanley. "I think if you own a business in the city, you have a vested interest in it."

Members of the code enforcement board must be city residents. At least four members of the seven-member Sebring Airport Authority must be city residents. Community Redevelopment Agency members must reside or be engaged in a business within the CRA district. Historic Preservation Commission members must be residents of the Greater Sebring area, defined as within five miles of the city limits.

For more information about serving on a city board, call City Hall at 471-5100.

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