2022-02-15 Newspaper ArticleNLin �;1L
10 February 23, 2022 1 Lake Okeechobee News I SouthCentralFloridaLifexom
By Cathy Womble
LAKE OKEECHOBEE NEWS
OKEECHOBEE
— During the Feb. 15
Okeechobee City Council
meeting, an ordinance re-
classifying blocks 110 and
121 located between North-
east Second and Third Av-
enues, approximately three
acres, from commercial to
multi -family residential was
approved and set for final
public hearing on March 15.
The purpose of the change
on the future land use map
is to allow for affordable
housing to be built.
Council Member Moni-
ca Clark asked what these
affordable housing units
would cost, and she was
told probably about $1,200
per month for a two -bed-
room unit. They plan to
have four lower cost units .
that would run about $950
per month. Clark said she
has nothing against the
project and agreed there is
a need for affordable hous-
ing but has some concerns
about changing the future
land use map. She went
on to explain she felt they
should not be changing the
map based on one proj-
ect at a time but rather it
should be a decision of the
whole council to look at the
map without consideration
of a specific project and de-
cide if any changes needed
to be made.
Public comments were in
support of the project. officer Jere
Councilman Bobby Keefe presented
HOUSING
suggested this might be a
segue to a thorough exam-
ination of the future land
use map to fix any inconsis-
tencies. He reminded the
council of the many busi-
nessesin Okeechobee in
desperate need of housing
for their employees.
Mayor Dowling Watford
said he spoke to some of the
adjoining property owners
and their feelings seemed
to be positive towards the
project.
One of the biggest con-
cerns of the council was
that they cannot base
changing the land use on
condition that this particu-
lar project is the one built.
If it falls through for some
reason, the map will al-
ready be changed, and they
will have no control over
what does go in as long as it
fits the new criteria.
When the vote took place,
it was 44 with Council
member Clark dissenting
Wirth a smile, Mayor Wat-
ford told City Clerk Lane
Gamiotea to make sure the
record reflected he was
NOT the sole dissenting
vote this time.
The next step for the
project is changing the zon-
ing The council will dis- .
cuss it again at its March 15
meeting before voting. Any
citizens with concerns are
welcome to speak at the
meeting. .
In other business, police
my LaRue was
with a 10 year
longevity award. He was
also presented with a certif-
icate thanking him for serv-
ing on the Citizens Charter
Review Board.
The council approved
a temporary street clos-
ing for the annual Speckled
Perch Festival, and Coun-
cilman Bob Jarriel asked
that they get the antique
firetruck back in working
condition and use it in the
parades, beginning with the
Speckled Perch Parade.
The council discussed
plans for use of the Primi-
tive Baptist Church which
the city purchased earlier
this year. Magi Cable, pres-
ident of the Okeechobee
Historical Society, spoke to
the council suggesting they
make the old church a type
of satellite museum, simi-
lar to what they have in the
county. With that museum,
the county owns it and pays
the taxes and insurance but
the historical society runs
it. In the future, the muse-
um will likely house some
of Gordie Peer's memo-
rabilia. Peer has lived in
Okeechobee for many years
and is famous for his work
as a stunt man and wild
west entertainer. In addi-
tion, she said they would
seek input from other resi-
dents who may have items
to donate or lend.
Councilman Keefe said
he would like them to con-
sider including some picnic
tables and maybe a small
playground.
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