A.G. Gancarski
Despite a neighborhood outcry lasting months, the Jacksonville City Council approved the controversial Roost development in Riverside, albeit with conditions, on Tuesday.
Among the conditions for the restaurant/bar: no outdoor food or alcohol service after 5 p.m.; live entertainment ceasing at 10 p.m.; and deliveries restricted to between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Land Use and Zoning had approved the Roost by a 5-2 vote earlier in the month. Council approved it 13 to 5.
Jim Love, the councilman representing the district, spoke up in opposition to the bill, describing the historic district overlay intended to create a development pattern.
“In the overlay, restaurants are not allowed in the residential character area,” Love said.
Love noted the “tremendous growth pressure” the area faces, and the function of the overlay to “protect the character” of the neighborhood.
“The character of this area is residential,” Love continued, and it is the “intent of this overlay to strongly discourage” high-intensity developments.
“I don’t think this is responsible growth,” Love continued. “This is going to be open until midnight on weekends, and open on Sunday.”
“All around it is residential … if I put this PUD in any other place in the city, they would say ‘are you out of your mind?’.”
Love noted that “the lobbyists’ parking calculations are the same as the planning department’s,” asking “who is doing the homework here?”
Love also noted that all parking should be on-site, and that a restaurant outside the commercial area is illegal.
“We need to be careful about breaking these overlays,” Love said.
Council VP Lori Boyer spoke next.
“I need to explain how I got to my vote, and why I can’t in good conscience get to where the rest of the committee got,” Boyer said.
Boyer doesn’t believe the rezoning satisfies the criteria for a PUD, and asserted that there were errors and internal inconsistencies in the staff report.
Boyer also noted the previous use of the property was industrial, and pointed out other discrepancies.
“The PUD is inconsistent with our comprehensive plan and zoning,” Boyer said.
Despite Boyer and Love opposing the measure, the Roost passed handily. Another no vote: John Crescimbeni.
