Orange Park Town Council
Orange Park tonight came another step closer to implementing a town-wide tax to fund the fire department. "It's not going to be pretty," said Orange Park Town Manager explaining that the town will be taxing residents who have never before been taxed. Five months ago, the council notified state and county officials that they are considering taxing all property owners - including tax-exempt parcels - a tax based on the property's square footage. This would include the tax-exempt Moosehaven retirement community and St. Vincent's medical complex, both on U.S. 17. Funds collected would make up for ad valorem tax losses to be incurred as a result of recent legislative mandates. Tonight, the council agreed to have the Clay County's property appraiser generate a tax roll, listing properties and their square footage. The data will enable the town to figure out how much money such a tax could raise. The next step will be hiring a consultant to review the tax roll and help set a tax rate, Bowles said. In other business, the council postponed until 7:30 p.m. July 15 a controversial vote on a request to rezone 2.6 acres at 357 Stiles Ave. from residential to commercial. Orange Park accountant Linda Dufresne, who owns the property, wants to build a professional office complex on the site but several residents spoke against the idea. "I view this as encroachment and irresponsible," said Scott Geeser, who lives next door to the property on Stiles Avenue. "And once you rezone it, you can't go back." Dufresne's attorney, Paul Harden of Jacksonville, asked the council to postpone the hearing and vote to give him and his client time to meet with residents to discuss concerns and hopefully hash out a compromise. The council granted the request.
Submitted by finder on Wed, 05/07/2008 - 7:19am.
Stryker; I understand your sentiment. It's tough making those types of calls. Not everyone is going to be happy. On the one hand you have George who probably already feels the pressure. If my MapQuest Aerial and Property Appraiser's maps are anywhere near up to date, he has a school across the street from him, a small multi-family and a couple of 'stores' in the immediate area. He's probably feeling like his 150x370 lot is being gobbled up. On the other hand you have Linda who has a pretty big lot, 300x370 that may not be doing much to generate income. It appears to have a house and another building on it, but it also seems to have some trees for protecting visual encroachment. It seems to be in at least a semi mixed use area so to her it surly makes sense to want to build there. Can a compromise be worked out with the residents? Perhaps. Does it make sense to change it even if a compromise is struck? I wonder if anyone from the council has actually went out to the site to see what they would be making a decision on? Words, pictures and maps are good, but driving there and actually walking the area would probably give you a lot better perspective of what the reality is. If I had a vote in the council for OP that's the type of person I would want to elect. I'd want someone with the vision to say, 'Hey, here's a unique idea, let's go look at the place.' And I'd want them to do that whether or not a compromise had been struck. It might be great for now, but what happens once it is changed and someone decides to build something else there? Mike Heemer http://24.23.126.8/ Petition for choice (5 or 7) in Nov. People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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another business in residential......and it won't stop here if the change is granted. The next time it could your neighborhood or mine. Bet ole George is not a happy camper.