The Jacksonville Planning Commission on Thursday denied a zoning exception for a proposed liquor store in Arlington at the Gazebo Shopping Center.
The commission also approved rezoning for a Gate Express Carwash in Mandarin, while Bold Bean Retailers Inc. withdrew its application for outside sales and service in San Marco.
The city Planning Department staff recommended denial for the liquor exception for a store planned at 5566 Fort Caroline Road at University Boulevard.
Community representatives and district City Council member Joyce Morgan opposed the exception.
The current zoning of Commercial Community General – 1 allows for beer and wine sales for off-premises consumption. However, liquor sales for off-premises consumption require an exception.
The applicant, Rana J.K. LLC, sought to open the liquor store in the 46,000-square-foot shopping center, which is less than half occupied.
The store wants to lease almost 3,000 square feet of space, according to the application’s unit numbers and a shopping center site plan.
The location is part of the Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan and the Renew Arlington Community Revitalization Area Redevelopment Plan. Both plans consider a liquor store to be inconsistent with revitalization of the area.
The Greater Arlington Beaches Citizens Planning Advisory Committee also rejected the proposed use.
“There is no compelling public benefit to those within the surrounding neighborhood and larger community,” it wrote in a letter to the commission chairman.
“This use does not appear to support the quality of the neighborhood,” it said.
Among other actions:
Bold Bean Retailers Inc. withdrew its application for a zoning exception that was approved by the commission in September 2017.
Bold Bean sought outside sales and service at its coffee shop at 1905 Hendricks Ave., but withdrew the application after a pair of appeals was introduced to council to overturn the exception decision from the planning commission. Neighbors cited parking concerns.
The commission approved rezoning for Gate Express Carwash. The action approves rezoning 2.15 acres owned by Mandarin Community Church of God from Commercial Office to Planned Unit Development.
The site plan submitted with the application identifies a new 4,249-square-foot facility at 4319 Barkoskie Road with access from Old St. Augustine Road near Oak Moss Trail.
Planning Department staff recommended approval with conditions to signage and a landscape buffer along the east property line.
The applicant’s proposed written description prohibits outside display and sales along with reducing the maximum allowed building height from 60 to 35 feet.
The council Land Use and Zoning Committee will review the rezoning application March 20.