JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville City Council Member Kevin Carrico counted several public comment cards Tuesday night.
"Jay Robinson opposes. Robin Robinson opposes," Carrico said.
Carrico rattled off several people opposed to a rezoning amendment to allow a mixed-use self-storage facility on Jacksonville’s Southbank.
Several other neighbors spoke during public comment.
"This doesn't make sense, this destroys the ambiance, this destroys the hamlet, walkability just the comfort nature of the community," one neighbor said.
Half of city council sided with neighbors as it voted 9-9. By rule a tie means the bill was denied.
"I was not expecting this, I don't know what to say. Thrilled," San Marco Preservation Society President, Lauren Carlucci, said.
Neighbors have been opposed to the facility saying it doesn’t further development in the area.
The developer amended the original plan to include residential and retail space in addition to the self-storage units.
But the building was still mostly made up of self-storage space.
"I don't think any of the amendments that we've heard about here tonight for the first time will do anything but amount to what is commonly called lipstick on a pig that's all it will do, another neighbor said.
City council members, Kevin Carrico and Nick Howland said the developer compromised with what neighbors wanted.
But, council members LeAnna Cumber and Matt Carlucci said there was no compromise evident by the two dozen plus neighbors who spoke against the project Tuesday night.
Neighbors also said the project violated an overlay prohibiting self-storage on the Southbank.
Carlucci was thrilled with the result but was concerned it wasn’t more of a slam dunk in their favor.
“That’s a little disconcerting because there was no reason to vote for it according to the confident substantial evidence so it makes me think that maybe they’re basing their decision on something else and so it makes me nervous for future zonings who don’t have 450 people writing emails or 60 people coming down to council meetings for two years and it makes me think that it’s very difficult to kill one of these bills," Carlucci said.
Councilmember Al Ferraro told First Coast News the developer has looked at appeal options.