Lynn Haven commission candidates discuss zoning challenges
LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB) – Lynn Haven municipal election candidates addressed residents Thursday night at the last forum before the election.
Lynn Haven commissioner seats one and four are on the upcoming ballot.
At the forum, all candidates acknowledged Lynn Haven's flooding problem. The candidates all agreed that the storm-water assessment fee is necessary, but the funds need to go towards capital projects.
Candidates also discussed what they would change about Lynn Havens' current zoning codes.
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'One thing we can control that I've been trying to do for almost two years now is updating our comprehensive plan, which is basically what is the vision? What do we want the city to look like now and in the future? And that's in dire need of updating. We updated it not too long ago to satisfy the state, but we really need to go through that line by line and update that. And that feeds into that unified Land Development code, which is, you know, the rules and regulations that developers and landowners have to abide by. And by updating that, because every time we get a development order, I think maybe there's something we can put in the unified land development code that could make that better for Lynn Haven. As far as zoning, I'm in favor of zoning. And I think by having zoning, it'll kind of put some tools in our toolbox,' Lynn Haven Seat Three Commission Candidate Jamie Warrick said.
'With our current zoning, our current comprehensive plan, we can have overlay districts; we can do overlays currently which will address some of the zoning issues we may have. Right now, there's an ordinance coming into place about RVs, allowing RVs in the front yard. How that works out, I don't know, but we'll see what the commission does. But we can change, make changes like that with ordinances on an as-needed basis right now. So I don't see that we need to go to a full-blown zoning map that'll be expensive and time-consuming. So, it is something that needs to be approached very carefully. It's just something that we need to look at,' Lynn Haven Seat Three Commission Candidate Johnnie Beshearse said.
'What I would like to see is a little more clarity when projects are proposed because as it sits right now, when a developer or an individual that wants to build something in the neighborhood brings the project to us, all that we're allowed to do is consider 'does it match the existing land use, does it check all of the boxes that are required?' Because we're a right-to-develop state. What I would like to see happen is not that it hinges on our approval or recommendation, but just have an idea of what the person wants to build. And so I'll give you an example. There's Dunkin' Donuts in Lynn Haven; right behind that is a storage building. It's one of the multistory storage facilities. When that project came to the planning board, the title of the project was Market Shops at Lynn Haven. And I mean, it doesn't look like a market shop. And that's what I'd like to change,' Lynn Haven Seat Four Commission Candidate Jeff Snyder said.
'Lynn Haven doesn't currently have zoning requirements. They did years ago. I don't know what year that changed, but we still use land usage maps for planning for whatever business is coming in. There could be a benefit to zoning. And what we have to look at is the amount of debt the city has. Obviously, because of Hurricane Michael's unfortunate, we're going to be left with some debt. And it could benefit the city. I think we do a pretty good job with it. But there's a really good example currently with a development that wants to come in. It just doesn't fit right. Even though they've been matched and checked all the boxes, it's pretty unpopular to most people. It's hard as a commissioner to have to make that decision. So, I would say we could benefit from zoning. I'm all for that. But we have to pay the debt first,' Lynn Haven Seat Four Commission Candidate Jamie Marler said.
Seat four commission candidate Judy Tinder was not in attendance Thursday night.
Bay County's Municipal Election Day is on April 22, and early voting starts on Monday.
For more information on the upcoming election, .
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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