Two weeks ago, a divided and anxious Palm Coast City Council approved the rezoning of 37 acres at the border of Hargrove Lane to heavy industrial in a 3-2 vote, defying the planning board’s recommendation and almost universal floor opposition. In order to allow a concrete batch plant to rise there and its trucks to thunder down Hargrove Grade and U.S. 1 every seven to ten minutes, the vote was approved on first reading.
Following an ardent eight-minute debate by Council member Theresa Pontieri, a more decisive council today unanimously rejected the rezoning. She came to the conclusion that the rezoning would alter the light-industrial park’s appearance at the expense of current and future businesses in order to achieve short-term benefits. She did this by combining a legal analysis of the city’s land use regulations, a review of scant or nonexistent traffic and environmental data, and an appreciation of Hargrove Grade’s thriving small-business community.
I consider this to be lazy. Pontieri stated, “I think it’s shortsighted.” Yes, more commercials are needed. However, this one plant does not have to come at the expense of the park’s future expansion. That doesn’t, in my opinion, serve a valid public purpose. Therefore, in light of the criterion analysis and our current situation, I would advise against approving this application.
Pontieri was aware that the council was not yet present. Council member Dave Sullivan had attempted to put the planned rezoning on hold for a month in order to conduct a traffic study at that point in the conversation. Because of the precedent it would set, Pontieri was concerned about any rezoning from light industry to heavy industrial.
Brian Hercules, the representative for SRM Concrete, emphasized that the batch plant operation would not be similar to a concrete plant but rather a mixing operation that would employ roughly two dozen people, use 10,000 to 14,000 gallons of water from an on-site well (if a well is close to municipal wells), and fend off trucks to construction sites throughout the area.
According to Pojntieri, it is illegal for us to accept these men merely because they might operate a clean operation while rejecting all other applications because they might actually have more serious uses. Under heavy industry, there might be an asphalt plant. A fuel depot might, too. This is about more than just this business. has to do with zoning. Additionally, any portion of the lands surrounding this region may be used for any of the industrial 2 use (heavy industrial) zonings.
As long as the idea included a deed restriction, Pontieri was open to working with it.
Then she heard Charles Gambaro, a member of the Council who had voted in favor of the 3-2 majority two weeks prior, withdraw his support. He had done study on the employment prospects in the Hargrove Grade/Hargrove Lane area. There, he had visited companies. “Their plans dwarf the potential employment that SRM could bring to us if we’re talking about raw job numbers,” he added. These are the people who have been to my house and fixed my air conditioners. These are people who have been here for a long time, who began with nothing, and who are now growing it to the point where they are adding jobs.
A member of the 3-2 majority, Sullivan had likewise backed off. Thus, Mayor Mike Norris was the only one advocating for the rezoning. “This is an industrial zone, and we are a growing community,” he added, emphasizing that the city should not foreclose on its few remaining heavy industrial districts. “We don’t have much industrial,” he remarked. In terms of industrial development, we are therefore in a tight place.
On Wednesday, the city’s planning board will consider a second request for heavy industrial rezoning. It concerns a 10.4-acre plot of land at 56 Hargrove Grade that would be used by Hard Rock Materials Inc. and another concrete batch plant, although it would require 15 truck trips per day. (Such batch plants have never existed on Palm Coast.) The property’s previous owner intended to turn it into a 150,000-square-foot facility for storing boats and recreational vehicles.
Ty Miller, a council member, had no problem with SRM. The worry is that if the zoning change is approved, it will allow any firm that is permitted under industrial 2, Miller stated. Things can change; tomorrow, following the zoning change, an offer might be made on that land, which would alter the type of business that could be present and leave us without options.
Brian Hercules of SRM Concrete could see the council’s inclination. Any deed restriction would be acceptable to him, he replied. In order to allow for a traffic analysis and the inclusion of a deed restriction in the paperwork, Pontieri proposed to postpone the subject until October 7. A lengthy barrage of public comments followed, the most of which came from companies on Hargrove Lane and the property that would be bordered by the batch plant.
Among the remarks was one from a dump truck company owner who has collaborated with SRM Concrete. She identified herself simply as Hope and stated, “What you see now is because they clean it up when they’re doing these things.” I have seven years of experience in this field. I enter and exit. I am aware of the concrete’s actions. Their trucks are not the only ones. Everyone’s dump trucks are involved. Every truck is entering and leaving. Trucks will be arriving from Palm Coast, St. Augustine, and all neighboring locations if this is placed there; traffic is a major worry. The road is a major worry since it will destroy every business in the vicinity where it enters the roundabout.
According to John Santos, proprietor of Major Auto Repair on Hargrove Lane, it’s absurd to even accept this in Hargrove, which is already quite busy. When loaded, a concrete truck weighs 67,000 pounds. It will take roughly 150 to 200 feet to come to a complete stop if it is moving at the pace of 30 miles per hour, which is the speed limit for that road. He pictured what would happen if there was a collision, a rollover, or Hargrove Lane closing. I can tell you that there is nothing clean about concrete because I used to work in the construction industry.
According to a city planner, the city’s firetrucks weigh up to 75,000 pounds, thus the roads are built to handle that weight. Pontieri said, “Not with the same intensity and repetitiveness that we’d be looking at Hargrove.” The majority of the city’s fire trucks are significantly lighter.
Compared to two weeks before, there were more persons speaking to the council today. After reconsidering her original motion, Pontieri decided that the use would not be compatible with the light industrial park, even with the deed restriction. She moved to reject the rezoning application and then retracted her motion. Miller gave a second.
The vote was unanimous. There was a cheer from the crowd. As the planning board considers that identical rezoning proposal for 56 Hargrove Grade, the vote probably sent a clear message.
