Commission recommends denial of Jane Society expansion after neighborhood outcry over size, parking and trail access

The Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 5 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners deny a special‑exception request from the Jane Society to replace an existing multipurpose building with a two‑story, 15,043‑square‑foot multipurpose building and add an off‑street parking lot.

"Staff finds that the request does not meet the following criteria," Hilary Payton, Planning and Development, told the board. Staff cited incompatibility with the predominantly single‑family character of the area, potential increases in traffic and intensity despite an additional 82 proposed parking spaces (68 required), and the lack of access from a collector or arterial roadway. Staff also noted the proposal would increase the multipurpose building size by about 87 percent and recommended denial.

Residents who live immediately adjacent to the site described the two‑story proposal as out of scale with the neighborhood and said new parking behind homes would remove tree buffers and create safety and privacy concerns. "The height and the scale of 2 story building will feel out of place," said resident Blaine Weicker, who lives at 337 West Citrus Street and showed photos of existing sight lines. Jose Rivera, who lives directly across the street, said the expansion "would diminish the visual appeal of my property and some of the other properties and negatively affect the marketability and resell value."

Applicant representative Mark Jones said the Jane Society has operated on the site for 25 years, that the additional lots purchased for parking would provide a surplus of 14 spaces, and that the organization is willing to accept conditions staff proposed, including a 160‑person occupancy cap, no outdoor amplification without a permit, and connection to public water and sewer if available. Jones also said the city has agreed in writing to make roadway improvements to provide access to the parking lots.

After hearing public testimony and staff presentation, Commissioner‑7 moved that the commission recommend denial of the special exception and associated development order to the Board of County Commissioners; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

What happens next: the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for a final ruling; if the board considers approval, site plan and landscape buffering, parking access and occupancy conditions were highlighted in staff and applicant remarks as items that would be evaluated at the site plan stage.