On behalf of the residents of Tara Trace Circle, Pineview Circle and Coliseum Avenue and many other affected residents in District 3, we would like to state our position on the matter of a proposed development and annexation of property owned by Live Oak Investments 2, LLC. (hereinafter referred to as LLC) that is located adjacent to the City limits on CR 136.
Many of us attended the LLC event that was held at the Suwannee County Coliseum on the evening of April 30, 2025. This was welcomed and certainly provided us with a chance to see the tremendous work that has already been done for this far-reaching project. The information was well researched, well presented, well represented and amply footnoted. It gave many of us the opportunity to have questions answered. It did, however, raise a myriad of scenarios and questions.
Commercial property is defined by the adage “Location, Location, Location.” If the property is advantageously located for exposure to potential customers, it will be a profitable business. Conversely, if it is not advantageously located, it will fail.
A brief look at the location of said property reveals that it is approximately 30 acres of rural, undeveloped property. The surrounding area is residential. Roads leading to the property are Goldkist Blvd., a 2-lane narrow road, and CR 136 (11th Street) also 2-lanes but with wider lanes.
There is no appreciable commercial traffic that uses Goldkist Blvd. CR 136 carries primarily rural residents into and through Live Oak for work, school and shopping. Traffic volume is around 5200 vehicles per day (FDOT Stats 2024) during the work week and fewer on weekends. If a business is dependent on exposure to commercial traffic for its potential customers, it certainly appears that this property does not even remotely meet the simple criteria for commercial property to be well-located.
One can surely question the feasibility of placing any size hotel there and/or a convenience store and apartment complex. The location would not be feasible at this location.
As far as the convenience store is concerned, there is no need for another store on CR 136 at that location when it is in close proximity to the proposed development. Howlands is located on CR 136 and the Jiffy mart at the round-about junction of SR 51 and CR 136. The traffic on 136 as noted above does not seem to be sufficient to support three convenience stores, much less three stores and a 124-room hotel.
The apartment complex appears to have more potential as a viable business enterprise. The apartments cannot rely solely on the present populace for full occupancy, assuming that everyone in Live Oak presently has some kind of residence. Nor are we aware of any announcements that there are any new company(ies) locating to Live Oak that will provide new jobs and bring in an influx of new residents. One other alternative to make building an apartment complex feasible at that location would be low cost, subsidized housing. Live Oak already has two such housing complexes on Walker Avenue and Webb Drive and one off Helvenston by the nursing home. The main objection to a new apartment complex being built is the increase in traffic. Presently, in the morning with traffic coming into town, there is usually a backup of cars from the round-about up to and past Tara Trace’s entrance. Without a doubt there will have to be road improvements and different kinds of traffic controls than what presently exist. Who will pay for these improvements? If the purpose of annexation is to shift the burden of cost to the City then not only are the residents of District 3 are affected but all 7,300 residents of Live Oak will more than likely be affected by a potential increase in taxes to pay for road improvements, traffic control, increased police services, increased fire services and other services like sewer and water lines to the project. It has not been stated, nor made clear by LLC who would pay for these increased services and improvements. Surely, there will be an increase in tax revenue, but that is in the future. As stated above these costs are now very substantial. Someone has to pay for said improvements. Is it then the LLC’s purpose for annexation shifting this burden to us taxpayers?
Respectfully submitted,
The citizens and residents of District 3, comprising Tara Trace Circle, the Pine View Circle residential area and the Coliseum Avenue residential area.
Part 2 of this letter will be published in the June 25 edition of the Riverbend News