HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 05 28 - Vote ReversalSebastian goes �
back on vote;
residents angry
BY LINDAJUMP
FLORIDA TODAY
SEBASTIAN — A Melbourne
company can build nearly 200
homes on a pristine wooded
site near Sebastian Elementary
School, Sebastian council
members decided, reversing a
previous decision.
Council members last month
denied the annexation after re-
ceiving a petition signed by 500
residents and hearing pleas to
keep the site undeveloped.
Council member Mike Hep-
tinstall asked the council to re-
consider its vote, saying he felt
he had incorrect information
when he voted the first time.
Wednesday, only Mayor Nate
McCollum voted against the
annexation, saying the in-
creased property taxes won't
benefit the city for a long time.
Council members voting for
What's in store
Coy A. Clark Co. plans
195 homes in the Ash-
bury subdivision. Homes
will be built to a density
of 3.4 units per acre with
access from a paved
Power Line Road and
from Main Street.
the annexation said even if the
city stuck by its vote, the site
would be developed anyway,
but within the county's unin-
corporated area.
The public hearing to rezone
the site and approve the con-
ceptual plan was postponed for
a special 6 p.m. Wednesday
meeting because of time.
Residents were angry over
the reversal, saying the city is
losing valuable natural habitat
just for more homes.
See SEBASTIAN, 4B
4B FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2004
S
Many residents
`depressed' by
vote, woman says
SEBASTIAN, from IB
Coy A. Clark Co. plans 195
homes in a subdivision to be
called Ashbury. Homes will be
built to a density of 3.4 units per
acre with access from a paved
Power Line Road and from Main
Street. Joseph Schulke, consult-
ing engineer for the project, said
the site is north of Sebastian Ele-
mentary School and east of
Power Line Road. It is sur-
rounded by Pelican Isles and
Sebastian Highlands, which are
more dense, he said.
Schulke said 6.8 acres of up-
lands area and 3.3 acres of wet-
lands would be preserved.
Andrea Coy, who lives next to
the proposed site, said the site is
full of wildlife and "has been un-
disturbed by human hands since
the beginning of time."
Members of the Indian River
Neighborhood Association also
urged council members to stand
by their initial vote. Mary Ann
Krueger said residents were
"very, very, very depressed" by
the vote. ■
Contact Jump at (321) 409-1423
or (Jump@Flatoday.net