BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
A new Circle K is coming to Hampton, but it will have to abide by the same sign rules as other businesses.
Applicant Karin Thomas requested a variance from a maximum sign height of 35 feet to 65 feet for a future Circle K at the northeast corner of U.S. 301 and County Road 18, across from Dollar General. Clayton Whitby of McNeill Signs addressed the county commission, saying the location would cater to long-haul truckers, so the sign needs to be seen at a distance for them to brake safely.
“With the terrain, the billboards that are in the area, everything else, we feel that the adjusted sign height is appropriate to 65 feet, which will allow ample time for commercial vehicles as well as residential vehicles to see the sign, slow down safely and pull in,” he said.
Commissioner Kenny Thompson said the request was twice the county’s maximum height. Commission Chairman Danny Riddick said RaceTrac, which opened further north on 301 at County Road 227, and many others abide by that maximum height. He said 65 feet is “huge.”
“I just think it’s out of place,” he said. “Every sign in Bradford County is right around 35 feet, and then you’re going down the highway, and there’s 65 feet. It’s not off the highway. It’s not like you have a turn lane or nothing. You’re coming down 301, same as RaceTrac, same with Wawa, same as all the other ones,” he said.
Others agreed with keeping consistency with other signage, so the variance request was denied.
Mobile homes retroactively approved
Bradford Commissioners approved a zoning change in the Speedville area with neighbors taking sides for and against the applicant.
Tommy Lee Alexander requested a zoning change on several residential parcels to a category that allows mobile homes. The five lots are on Southeast Eighth Avenue (County Road 21B). With the application, Zoning Director Randy Andrews provided commissioners with a report from North Florida Professional Services recommending approval.
Alexander was not asking permission to install mobile homes: They were already there. He spoke up for the “small trailer park,” saying he tries to keep tenants who keep the place clean in deference to his neighbors as well as tenants who are trying to do the right thing but only get complaints.
“As a Christian, you’re supposed to step in and help out,” he said.
Attorney Byron Flagg representing neighbors Scott Belford and his wife, Mary, said it is not good enough for a planning report to conclude that the requested change is consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan. And he argued it was not consistent since mobile home districts are required to be at least 10 acres.
“That is confusing to me, because it kind of doesn’t make sense, because what’s happened here is your county staff has allowed Mr. Alexander to go ahead and locate five mobile homes on half acre lots. We think that’s wrong,” he said. “I think your staff is erroneously allowing him to use that land as if it has already been rezoned.”
This has resulted in nuisance complaints, but he focused on the legality of the application.
Director Andrews explained the same dwelling density is allowed for single-family homes and mobile homes in the separate zoning categories: one unit per half acre.
“Everything north and south of this particular parcel is currently zoned residential, single family, mobile home, dash one (RSF/MH-1). This is basically the same acreage,” Andrews said.
Neighbor Mary Belford said she and her husband, Scott, have lived in their home since 2010. She said when Alexander divided the land into five lots, it became a subdivision, but the required acreage was diminished by the road he had to create to access the properties. Based on her calculations, she said the only parcel which met the minimum half-acre requirement was the lot right next to hers, and she said it was a nuisance, with noise, fighting, screaming children and trespassing.
“I hear all this from the inside of my home. I had to block off my patio because I was looking at bulldozers and rotted out trailers. And so, for that reason, my enjoyment of my property is no more,” she said.
Neighbor Billy Jackson said he shared a property line with both Alexander and the Belfords. He said he has never had a problem with Alexander, describing him as a “great, standup neighbor.” The Belfords, on the other hand, have been a problem since they moved in, he said. They opposed him when he purchased 53 acres and wanted to raise a few farm animals, and they tried to get the law involved when he was removing trees on his property.
Jackson also said there are other mobile homes bordering Alexander’s properties.
“This is Bradford County. You’re going to have a nice house and then you’ll have a trailer. That’s the way it’s always been, my entire life, for generations here,” he said.
Scott Belford clarified that Jackson may share a property line, but he is much farther away from the trailer park. He also said there is a mixture of single-family homes and mobile homes in the neighborhood.
Another neighbor, Wayne Siebert, sided with the Belfords and the claims about nuisance behavior, including trash burns.
“During the burn ban, somebody was out there burning, and I just hollered over there, ‘There’s a burn ban,’ and the guy threatened to come over and kick my butt,” Siebert said.
Commissioners sitting as the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the application and later approved the application during their regular board meeting.
