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NO BOARD ACTION REQUIRED OR TAKEN <br />1O.B.4. REQUEST TO SPEAK FROM ALTHEA MCKENZIE REGARDING THE WEST <br />GIFFORD INDUSTRY COMPLEX AND GIFFORD PARKS <br />Althea McKenzie voiced concern over the proposed west Gifford Industrial Complex <br />scheduled for 43rd to 58thAvenues, between 41st and 45thStreets, the concrete plant, and the <br />Progressive Civic League having asked for Light Industrial (IL) zoning, now Commercial <br />Industrial (CI) zoning. She urged the Board to consider that any green space not yet developed <br />as Commercial, be considered as Residential, in order to preserve Gifford. <br />Director Keating provided background and believed this to be premature. He recalled <br />that staff had come to the Board about a year ago, after receiving a letter from the Gifford <br />community leaders to rezone it from General Industrial (IG) to Light Industrial (IL), and at that <br />time, staff was directed to work with the community leaders to see what could be done. He said <br />they have been meeting for the past eight to ten months, and staff is now ready to bring the <br />proposals to the Board for direction. <br />Discussion ensued regarding property owners who had purchased property in west <br />Gifford for the purpose of industrial use, the implementation of a provision that would allow for <br />residential subdivisions to be built on the western perimeter, the challenges of property rights, <br />and respecting the community's concerns and objectives. <br />Ms. McKenzie also voiced concern over the policy surrounding the use of public parks <br />in Indian River County, specifically the Gifford Park ball fields, which are fenced off. After <br />researching the 2030 Recreation and Open Space Plan, she realized that Gifford Park is the only <br />community park, and did not understand why it is fenced from residents, when there are no other <br />27 <br />August 17, 2010 <br />