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Jax Beach residents fight proposal for taller building

Jacksonville Beach.
City of Jacksonville Beach
Jacksonville Beach.

Some Jacksonville Beach residents are up in arms over a proposed development (south of the beachfront Latham Plaza park) of a mixed-use building up to 55 feet tall. 

Currently, the beach town limits buildings to 35 feet, after voters passed a height restriction in 2004. Only voter approval can remove that restriction. 

Among the speakers against allowing taller buildings on the city-owned property at this week’s Jax Beach City Council meeting was Barbara McCune:

“I have to agree with some of the earlier speakers that you can’t piecemeal," McCune said. "This has to be a bigger vision; a really full development plan. You’ve got a good basic charter, you need a better master plan.”    

A second (and final) public hearing on the issue will be held at 6 p.m. March 20.  If the council approves, a voter referendum will be included on the May 16 ballot.

Michelle Corum joined WJCT as "Morning Edition" host in 2012 and has worked in public broadcasting as an announcer and reporter for public radio stations in Lawrence, Kansas, and Interlochen, Michigan. She also manages WJCT's Radio Reading Service for sight-impaired listeners.