Commissioners deny rezoning for Bell Lane parcel after neighbors say AG RR already allows single-family homes

Santa Rosa County commissioners on Aug. 27 denied a rezoning request for a 2.01-acre parcel at 5060 Babb Lane in Pace that had been proposed for change from AG RR (agricultural) to R1 (single-family residential).

Neighbors told the commission the rezoning was unnecessary because the applicant could already build under current AG RR rules. Missy Butler, who said she lives at 4112 Bell Lane and that the Bell and Babb families own much of the surrounding land, told the board, "What's actually being requested is R1 zoning, which allows 4 units per acre up to 8 homes on this parcel," and urged the commissioners to uphold the zoning-board recommendation to deny.

A seller's representative told the board the prospective buyer wants to build three to four homes and had submitted a preliminary site plan and a three-parcel option, but also acknowledged that, because of road-frontage constraints, the buyer would likely need a special exception to create multiple lots. Staff and commissioners agreed the site's future land-use designation is single-family residential but noted road-frontage and parcel geometry could limit the number of buildable lots without further variances.

Commissioners debated whether to limit any approval to three lots and whether that would require the applicant to return with a special-exception application. One commissioner said he would prefer limiting development to three lots; another said he would follow the zoning-board recommendation and deny the rezoning. After discussion the board recorded a denial by voice vote following a motion to deny made "without objection."

The denial preserves the current AG RR zoning; staff noted that any future development requiring different lot splits would need additional county approvals, including special exceptions tied to road-frontage requirements.