Jason Futch: reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
A packed Live Oak City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 13, had residents ready to share their concerns about the proposed Oak Haven project that has been hotly contested. Residents were prepared to share their thoughts on the plans until City Manager Larry Sessions clarified the agenda for the night’s meeting.
“There’s nothing that's going to be discussed about 11th Street tonight, to make the record clear,” Sessions said. “The developer did not want to come here and discuss anything so we are not going to bring it up at the meeting tonight.” His announcement was preceded by a post the City of Live Oak made on Facebook stating there wouldn’t be any discussion on the issue. However, Sessions added that the agenda did call for an annexation discussion on a sliver of land behind Big Woods that needed to be cleaned up.
After Sessions made the announcement, several people in the room got up and left. In correspondence with Planning and Zoning Director George Curtis following the meeting, he said that the developers involved in the Oak Haven project have not been in communication with the city since they pulled the annexation proposal. “The next step would be when we are contacted again with a request to move forward on a vote,” Curtis said. “I can’t say when that might happen.”
Following Sessions’s announcement, the Council moved forward with public comments. Among those who spoke was Vince Smith, who requested members of the audience sign pre-typed petitions to the governor’s office to help make repairs to the roads in Live Oak. Kyle Skeen also spoke, requesting the Council improve the communications to the public regarding public meetings. Following Skeen’s comments, Sessions pulled the website up on the big screen and showed the audience where notices of public meetings could be located on the city’s website.
One of the topics discussed was the relocation of the city’s public works department, which Sessions said would be beneficial. The move would relocate the public works department, allowing for more space and an updated work area for the employees. Sessions brought up the possibility of relocating the department to the old Walt’s Live Oak Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership on U.S. Highway 90.
While proposing this, Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson cited the opportunity for another business to move to that location and serve the citizens. Sessions responded that he had looked at other locations and did not find one that would be suitable since the dealership had plenty of space to park city vehicles and conduct business. Sessions said that moving public works into the county would not be an option.
If the city chooses to lease the property, it would maintain the dealership site's presence on the tax rolls while also creating an opportunity to find a developer for the current public works facility.
Following further discussion, the council agreed for Sessions to seek other locations for a potential public works relocation.
Another discussion took place on a series of approvals for land use development. The Council authorized an amendment to the future land use map, redesignating 22.81 acres from low-density residential to high-density residential. Additionally, a zoning adjustment was approved for a 0.588-acre parcel, shifting its classification from Residential Single Family/Manufactured Home – Two to Residential-Office. An additional parcel, which was a final reading on Ordinance 1531, zoning 0.282 acres of land from residential to commercial, failed.
The next Live Oak City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 10, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, located at 101 SE White Ave., in Live Oak.