Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 04-13-1976 Regular — reading text

property. ZONING PANEL recommends rezoning be approved with the reservations that the Cityts easements and existing utility lines will not be involved in this venture. PLANNING BOARD recommends denial of the request that the property be zoned C- 2, however recommends to Council that the property be rezoned as C- l and simultan- eously a change in the C- l zoning code be made to include retail stores ( C- l zoning would include A- 12 under uses permitted of Section 23- 9 of the C- 2 zoning ordinance) It is noted that C- l ~ zoning more closely fits the master plan I h~ vi~~SaP~~}~~~ ~~ ew~~ iremes of residential and heavy n; e~;;~~ ~~ commercial dis- , Ji tricts, and will prevent heavy commercial de~ opment in this area. Mr. moved that Council approve Baughman that the property be rezoned C- l and that as the need arises, variances be granted for retail stores. Motion was  3/ 7~ - 189 seconded by Mr. Bishop and Mayor called for discussion. Mr. said the purpose of the request Hunt was that the property could be used so to build a special type shopping center. I Mr. Vick Deal, owner of the property, explained the shopping center project to Council members and showed them the plan. Mr. Hunt made an amendment to the original motion that the A- 12 portion of C- 2 zoning be included in that area. He added that one of the owners of the property is a business associate of his in another ven- ture, and I do not consider that to be a conflict of interest. I have absolute- ly nothing to do with this venture. Mr. Deal explained that the reason he asked for A- 12 of C- 2 to be included in C- l is that if he has to corne to Council for variances, it will take time and may r,. ult in loss of the project. Mr. Baughaan stated that he thinks the project is good, but I maintain that we need to protect the smaller home owners. I believe that Council should maintain more control over what goes in there. Mr. Rigdon said that he thinks Council should welcome Mr. Deal for corning before us and bringing this project into the City. As long as he can stay in C- l I am for the project. Mr. Palmer seconded Mr. Hunt' s amendment to the motion. Amendment carried. Mr. Baughman and Mr. Bishop voted NO. Motion carried unanimously. LIBRARY PROGRESS REPORT Mayor presented the Library Progress Report for Council information. I LETTER COMMENDING DEPARTMENT SANITATION Mayor presented a letter from the White- Wilson Clinic commending the Sanitation Department. LETTER FROM BOARD OF COUNTY Mayor presented a letter from the Board COMMISSIONERS of County Commissioners inviting Council members to the regular meeting of the Board on April 20.  o'-"'"''''' r-__~~".--"r'''''~'-"-'-"~".",," 190 1f17~ REVEREND KENNETH TURNER Mayor recognized Reverend Kenneth Turner, representing the NAACP. Reverend Turner stated that the NAACP is highly displeased with the straightforwardness of Council. We feel that you nine men represent the City of Fort Walton Beach and there are certain infactions that directly relate to us that tell us that something is wrong when you stand up vocally in an open let- ter and say that we are trying to bring about distrust in the community. You signed the letter, save one. We feel that all the facts had not been laid on the tatie. It is true that Eglin Air Force Base supplies jobs for many in Okaloosa County, yet minorities are continuing to be discriminated against. We are taking a stand against that. You cannot say that the NAACP has not done its job in Fort Walton Beach. We have tried to work with the City of Fort Walton Beach. Yet you say that the NAACP is looking for headlines. We are not looking for head- lines. We are looking for jobs for min- ority people in Fort Walton Beach. We feel that you overstepped your bounds when you said in an open letter that the NAACP is trying to bring about distrust in the community and on the military base. We are not trying to bring about distrust. We are just trying to bring to light what is happening on Eglin. This has also happened right here in Fort Walton Beach. But your Affirmative Action Plan tells you that you have good percentages. We will do everything in our power to bring about social and eco- nomic change for minorities. When you realize yourselves what is going on and are not swayed by two or three people, and until you recognize the full fact, that day will minorities get jobs. We stand boldly to let you know that we have never in the history of Fort Walton Beach tried tobring about distrust. We are i not asking that you join with us. We I j are asking that you look into the situa- tion. Don' t be so quick to make judge- j ments that are not based on facts. It was the NAACP that told General Lane that he had a problem. He didn' t even know that there was a " nigger list" on his base. We feel that you are wrong by taking the stand that you have taken. If you didn' t know the facts, you shouldn' t  3/~- - : 191 have written the letter. Those of you that signed the letter didn' t know what you were supporting. As long as you men sit on this Council and don' t take a full view of our situation, then we will have to resort to tactics such as march- I ing. I am not afraid to march right in front of City Hall. We are not afraid to march on Eglin. We are going to march. We are going to show this commu~ y that black people are tired of being oppressed and tired of white folks dictating black people. The majority tells us that we are right and you are wrong. Mr. Hunt asked Mr. Turner who the two individuals he feels are dictating to Council are. Mr. Turner replied, Mr. Rigdon and Mr. Hill.