By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                A work crew was busy building a business entrance to U.S. 27 in Williston this week in hopes of having it finished for the opening of Popeye’s Restaurant by Monday.

            BluRock Commercial Real Estate Executive Joe Schuemann confirmed that the company was a little late in making arrangements for the driveway entrance to the new shopping center, but progress is being made.

            “We hope to have Popeye’s open Monday,” he said in a text response.

            He said they don’t have a name for the new shopping center as yet. The shopping center is being developed at the site of the former Williston High School along U.S. 27.

            City Manager Jackie Gorman told the city council Tuesday the company was delayed in working with the Florida Department of Transportation on the driveway entrance.

            She said Popeye’s is ready to open.

            “They just can’t get in and out,” she said

            Gorman said the city has received confirmation that Tractor Supply is coming to the BluRock shopping center, “so we’re working on that site plan.”

            She said the city is still talking to O’Reilly Auto Parts but has no site plan for the company.

            “I think O’Reilly Auto Parts is still coming. We haven’t got the official site plan in, but there’s still conversation with them,” she said.

            Schuemann was asked by Spotlight to confirm the accuracy of the information from Gorman. He said it is accurate.

            As part of her city manager’s report, Gorman also said the city anticipated receiving Request for Proposals (bids) for the parking lot in Block 12 and for garbage collection service by this Thursday or Friday.

            She said the city met with DOT to address how to temporarily relocate business parking areas while the Block 12 parking lot is being constructed.

            Block 12 is Williston’s original business district. It stands across the

across the street from the new City Hall. One of the reasons the businesses in Block 12 closed was lack of parking. When DOT expanded U.S. 27 to four lanes many years ago, the agency eliminated on-street angle parking spaces along the highway that served businesses.

             On a different but related story, she said the city met with DOT to discuss installing “traffic light phasing” at Noble Ave. and Main Street. Traffic lights can be timed to better accommodate traffic by phasing the lights.

            “It’s always been an issue and they (DOT) can fix that,” Gorman said.

            Legislation for Home Businesses

            Gorman said she is disappointed by bills passing through legislative committees in Tallahassee that would “preempt home-based businesses from having to follow any of our zoning codes.”

            She said state lawmakers don’t understand the challenges cities face with home-based businesses.

            “We allow certain kinds that don’t become intrusive on the neighbors with noise, traffic, and odors,” she said.

            She said the legislation would allow home businesses to be established that the city isn’t able to check on. She said bills would place some restrictions on this type of business, “but not enough.”

            “In my humble opinion our citizens have a right to know who’s doing business and that they’re licensed and insured,” Gorman said.

            Gorman said the bills passing through the legislature are taking away some of the city’s home rule powers, the ability to make decisions at the local level.

            She said the legislation wouldn’t allow Williston to restrict residential architecture unless the home is a historic, Community Redevelopment Agency area or a Homeowners Association area.

            “It’s distressing to watch this happen. I think we know our town better than anybody. They’re not on the front line to understand some of the challenges,” she said.

            She said her next and final step might be to write a letter to the governor asking how the city could meet to discuss these bills.

            Gorman said it’s not so much the architecture issue. She said the city doesn’t see much architecture that is concerning, but she said the painting of homes could potentially pose problems.

            “When we read stories of some residential homes being painted like starry, starry night — think about that being your neighbor and what that’s going to do to your property values, so there are concerns,” she said.’

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City of Williston Regular Meeting March 16, 2021; Posted March 19, 2021