- February 23, 2025
A land use change request will be heard by the City Commission.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
Development is being sought for the corner of Magnolia Avenue and West Granada Boulevard, and Magnolia Avenue residents are concerned that added traffic will ruin the peaceful nature of their street, where children ride bikes home from school and people walk their dogs.
The potential site for retail and office space is now a wooded lot, two blocks west of Rivergate Village shopping plaza. Proposed drawings show access from Granada Boulevard as well as Magnolia Avenue, bringing traffic to the residential street.
Several residents opposed the plans at the Oct. 8 Planning Board meeting. They had no problem with the development, as long as traffic did not travel on Magnolia Boulevard, which has no sidewalks.
“It’s a tiny street,” said resident Pam Skilling. “I play with my grandchildren in the street.”
Other residents said it’s difficult to get out onto Granada, which is the only way out of the neighborhood, and more traffic would make it worse.
“I’m vehemently opposed to any more traffic down that street,” said Gary Mandino. “I’m not opposed to developing land, but this will impact values and it’s not likely to improve them.”
The Planning Board asked Planning Director Rick Goss if the development could be designed in a way that the only entrance and exit are on Granada Boulevard, and Goss said the decision would be made by the Department of Transportation, based on safety issues.
“They might ask us for an exit on Magnolia,” he said. “I don’t know.”
More rulings and meetings to come
The Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the land use amendment and zoning change, while encouraging the residents to take part in neighborhood meetings that will be required when and if a site plan is submitted by the developer.
The land use and zoning change will not be final until approved by the City Commission in a first reading tentatively set for Nov. 17 and a final vote tentatively set for Dec. 1.
If the changes are approved by the City Commission, the next step would be a site plan and neighborhood meetings.
Goss said that if issues are not resolved with residents at the meetings, he could “bump it up” to a public hearing where the residents would be able to express their concerns to the City Commission.
Developer says he’ll work with residents
The development is being proposed by land owner Bill Navarra, who plans to locate his Realty Pros real estate and title businesses at the site. At the meeting, he said he intends to work with the neighbors to come up with a plan.
“We want to make it great for the neighborhood,” he said. “It will beautify the neighborhood.”
Attorney Glenn Storch, representing Navarra, indicated they would seek a design that resolves the issues.
“I get it; my client gets it,” he said. “We will solve the problem.”
When the residents review the site plan at the neighborhood meeting, they will know if a Magnolia access is required.
