GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The City Council ignored a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Department to pass an ordinance allowing short aesthetic walls in the Gateway Corridor to separate parking in front of buildings and the street.

With a 3-2 vote, the council tabled the second reading of the ordinance after Councilman Ed Gaw pressed for more information about the proposal and how it would compare to the current Central Business District ordinance.

Clay County asked Green Cove Springs to change its zoning policies to allow more parking in front of its Planning and Zoning Department. Currently, existing buildings in the Gateway Corridor make up the heart of the downtown area, and the county said it would build a short wall to separate the street from the parking lot. A part of the new ordinance would require specific landscaping on both sides of the wall.

“This tool needs further definition,” Gaw said. “I’d like to see if there’s common elements between the Central Business District and the Gateway Corridor.”

Councilman Steven Kelley responded, “It’s important for the Central Business District and Gateway Corridor to have different elements.”

Following nearly 45 minutes of debate, primarily between Gaw and Councilman Steven Kelley. Mayor Connie Butler and Councilman Thomas Smith eventually decided with Gaw to re-visit the final reading at a later meeting.

In other business, the council quickly approved an extension of the city’s control with Planet Swim to operate the city pool, and it agreed to fund the Clay County Signal Maintenance Department to maintain traffic light signals.

Also, the city handed out proclamations to Boy Scout Troops 577 and 309 after they volunteered to paint 315 fire hydrants.

And during the public comment portion, resident Heather Ivy asked the council about the future of the city’s recycling program. City Works Director Mike Null said the city will continue to collect selected materials like clean corrugated cardboard, plastic bottles and cans – the same restrictions set by the county – but it plans to continue curbside pickup after the county’s plan expires on Sept. 30.

Null said collecting recyclable materials isn’t cost-effective for the city since about 30% of residents recycle items.

“Do we charge 100% of the people for the 30% who recycle,” Null asked. “Various cities and states are stopping recycling because there isn’t a market for it.”

The council meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall. The next meeting will be on March 5.