Habitat Clears First Hurdle On Townhouse Proposal

Twenty-three families are interested in getting one of eight townhouses proposed by Highlands County Habitat for Humanity for a vacant property owned by the Community Redevelopment Agency, said Habitat's Executive Director Mike Jacobson on Monday.

The vacant lot at North Ridgewood Drive and Orange Street has been empty since the CRA bought it about 10 years ago and after a troublesome trailer park was demolished.

There is a need for affordable workforce housing in Highlands County, and Habitat has a plan to fill that need, Jacobson told CRA commissioners at their Monday meeting. When he was before the board last October, he had a dozen interested families.

"The need for affordable housing has grown exponentially," Jacobson said. "Our families are excited to live and work and spend in the downtown."

CRA Commissioner Jim McCollum conceded that this may not be the highest and best use for the property, "But it's better than a vacant lot," he said.

"These are absolutely gorgeous," he said, looking at the artist renderings.

Back in October, Scott and Lolly McLane, who own McLane's Country Gardens, a landscape and nursery business, on North Ridgewood Drive at 378 Lime St., proposed building a four-sided two-story building with commercial units downstairs and residential upstairs, with a center court yard.

The McLanes own a lot adjacent to the CRA's lot which they want to incorporate into their plan.

Commissioners seemed to like those plans better and Habitat took a second place to allow the McLanes time to produce those plans.

However, due to a McLane family issue, nothing manifested and Habitat asked to be placed back on the CRA agenda.

Lolly McLane pointed out that it isn't the best neighborhood for family housing, pointing out several problems she's had in the area, including noise from a bar next door and finding a handgun stuffed into her azaleas.

"I just don't think that eight homes makes a neighborhood," she said.

Commission President Gene Brenner suggested that Jacobson revise his plans to include a contingency for a commercial component at a later time. The board also recommended the buildings be turned slightly to be better seen from North Ridgewood Drive.

Now that the CRA has voted its 5-1 go-ahead, the issue should be brought forward for a public hearing and the conveyance of the land to Habitat is then subject to Sebring City Council approval.

Commissioner Chris Benson cast the dissenting vote, citing he was new to the board and had not had enough time to properly study the issue. Commissioner Lorrie Smith was absent.