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Highlands Today

Sebring Wants Selective Development In Downtown

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: February 11, 2009

SEBRING - The Sebring City Council, the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Planning and Zoning board met Monday to discuss establishing a zoning classification unique to the downtown CRA district.

Pete Pollard, executive CRA director, said they are aiming for a more selective zoning.

A significant part of the downtown core is zoned C-1 or commercial.

"As of now, C-1 zoning allows just about anything," said Pollard.

Pollard and the CRA board want greater control.

"Our current zoning is not conducive to attract investment dollars. Now of course, there are no investment dollars out there," he added.

The city's planning consultant, Michael Joachim, said that changes to the future land use map, zoning map and ordinance are needed to spur downtown growth.

Right now there is a "separation of uses that do not allow for a mix of uses that support a healthy downtown," he said in his presentation Monday.
CRA President Gene Brenner chose his words carefully.

"It's important because when you change the code, it opens it up to a lot of things that would benefit the downtown," Brenner said. "And, it would disallow industrial in the downtown core," except where industrial is already allowed.

Existing businesses would likely be grandfathered in, he said.

Allowed uses include but are not limited to: general retail or wholesale sales and services, restaurants, antiques and collectibles, film, video, audio production, schools, public infrastructure facilities, child care, offices, small repair, pet supply, veterinary clinic, doctor's offices, theater, club or lodge, nursing care or assisted living, residential single or multi-family.

Prohibited uses included but were not limited to: tattoo and body art, adult entertainment and gaming establishments.

"We needed to know if council was in favor (of amending the comprehensive plan) or if it should stop," said Pollard.

The measure comes in two parts, said Pollard. First is the comprehensive plan amendment changing the current land use to mixed-use, and second, is the creation of a downtown zoning district.

"Council overall wants it to proceed, but wants more work on zoning language prior to submittal of the future land use amendment to the DCA (Department of Community Affairs)," he said.

Any changes to downtown zoning would only take place after a series of public hearings, "To help people understand what we're doing and what its impact will be," he said.

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com.

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