Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
A controversial plan to develop a piece of property on 11th Avenue in Live Oak has infuriated residents, sparking outrage and a petition to urge the city to rethink plans to annex it. The plans were first announced when yard signs began to pop up around the city, urging residents of the neighborhood to attend a public meeting at the Suwannee County Coliseum regarding the plans.
Oak Haven, the development proposed by Live Oak Investments LLC of Gainesville, will host a three-story apartment complex, a hotel and a convenience store. Surrounded by palm trees, the complex looks modern and sleek; however, residents were still not comfortable with the idea and were more concerned about stopping the proposed development.
Based on signage that began to pop up in the neighborhoods along 11th Avenue, residents assumed that the meeting that was held on Wednesday, April 30, would be a neighborhood meeting, where the developers would pitch the development to residents and hear feedback in a presentation setting. Instead, representatives from the civil engineering firm Landis Evans + Partners awaited the crowds in an open-house format, attempting to answer questions from residents as they walked around the coliseum. City staff were there to provide information relating to the general process that is followed according to adopted codes and ordinances.
Live Oak Planning and Zoning Director George Curtis and Planning Assistant Christian Dixon were also present, explaining and answering questions regarding the process that development statutorily follows within the City of Live Oak. “We enjoyed the opportunity that the developer’s consultants afforded to us to participate in their open house meeting,” Curtis said. However, for those in attendance, it was a less-than-enjoyable experience.
“I can tell you it’s not going to happen here,” Moses Clepper said to Margaret Tassone, who was standing near the design plans. Tassone, one of the project planners for the firm, deflected each question about the project from citizens who raised legitimate concerns about it, one of which was privacy. One resident questioned, “How can I expect privacy when there are people living in three to four-story apartments looking into my fenced-in yard?” Tassone did not respond to the question.
Riverbend News attempted to ask the planners in attendance about the residents’ general response to the plans, but they refused to comment.
Another concerned citizen, McKay Graham, a concerned citizen, started a petition in April to urge city leaders not to go forward with the proposed plans. “I’m not doing it just to do it,” Graham said, citing history with the neighborhood and growing up on Coliseum Avenue. Her mother still resides in the neighborhood, as well as other members of her family. “The proposal will not make the neighborhood safe, and the small community vibes will end.”
Graham said that, while she is not opposed to change and development, the proposed Oak Haven project was not planned well. One of the biggest complaints is privacy, one that Graham is not alone in.
Ashley Staley, who lives in a home at the Oak Haven property line, expressed her concerns about privacy, noting that the development would be able to look into her backyard. “They are not taking into consideration traffic and safety,” Staley said. “I’m not against development, but it should not be taking place in a largely residential community.”
Donna Ragan, who has lived in her home on Coliseum Avenue for decades, showed Riverbend News the property line in her backyard, saying that the closeness of the proposed project is concerning to her. “I am worried about property values in this neighborhood,” Ragan said. She is also worried about the traffic issues that could wreak havoc on the area, as well as potential flooding. “The property has flooded a lot, especially during Hurricane season,” she said, citing the floods that occurred during Hurricane Debby last year.
Another concerned citizen, Judy Deas, said that the project should not be considered. She stated the infrastructure around 11th Avenue and County Road 136 was unsuitable for handling the changes in traffic and development. “This is something that should not even be considered, especially with the limited roads to service people,” she said. Deas added that, even with the current state of traffic on 11th Avenue, it is difficult to maneuver.
Sam Leneave, who has resided in Live Oak for 12 years, said that he left cities like Tallahassee and Gainesville for a small-town feel. He believes that the development of Oak Haven would threaten that vibe. “I just want to live a slow life,” Leneave said. “If I wanted to deal with bad traffic, I would have never left Gainesville.”
As residents continue to voice their opposition to the project, Curtis said that there will be more opportunities for residents to make their voices heard. “At all city meetings where voting will take place, there are opportunities for public comment or input,” Curtis said. “All city meetings where voting decisions are made are 100 percent open to the public, many times advertised ahead of time in the newspaper, noticed through the city clerk’s office, and in many cases, with red and white public hearing signage posted at the subject property 10 or more days prior to the first meeting.”
Curtis also said that, regardless of how mundane or controversial the proposal may be, the Planning and Building Department staff provide services and facilitate the processing of development requests in an equitable manner. “We continue to provide the development review and permitting processes for the City in a professional and legally ethical manner,” he said.
For residents like Ragan, one of the questions asked is what the return on the investment would be. “Would that mean more taxes for residents? How long would it take for the return,” Ragan questioned. “It should be something that benefits the city and the county.”
So far, the petition against the proposed project has reached over 1,300 signatures, which will be presented to the city council at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Graham plans to bring the petition, along with facts and data, to support the claims of the residents disgruntled by the project. “People are talking about selling their properties because of this,” Graham said. “People who have lived in their homes for decades don’t want this and are now considering uprooting because of it.”
Dhruv Development, the firm assisting Live Oak Investments with the project, has made numerous investments throughout the state and elsewhere. Based in New Port Richey, Fla., Dhruv Development is run by Vijay Patel, who has owned gas stations and hotels throughout the state. Patel could not be reached for comment.
Riverbend News will continue to follow updates on the project as they become available.
