NORMAN PARK – The sweltering heat in the packed Norman Park City Hall was nothing compared to the heat the Norman Park City Council received from residents as they expressed their displeasure at a public hearing Tuesday.

Residents’ displeasure stemmed from a zoning request to rezone the property at 100 Bay Borough Street from R-1 to R-Planned Unit Development. This is the sight of the old dormitories that were part of the Norman Park conference center.

Mayor Bruce Norton welcomed everyone then turned the meeting over to Norman Park City Attorney Tommy Coleman. Coleman told the crowd — which filled the meeting room and stood outside the building — that the council would not be voting that evening. He said that there were some procedures that they had to go through when doing a zoning hearing.

“This one is unusual, in particular, because it’s an R-PUD hearing,” he said and explained the difference between the zoning classifications and their importance in protecting the residents.

He explained that an applicant for a PUD zoning has to include with their application a schematic drawing of what they’re going to do.

“It has to show the council exactly what the development is going to be. Then, the council approves that preliminary plat and the preliminary PUD zoning,” he said.

He went on to say that, then, there was some negotiation and, after that, there would be a final plat that the city council has to either agree on or disagree.

“We really don’t have an application yet, so there’s nothing to vote on,” Coleman said.

Both the applicant and those opposing the zoning request were allowed to address the city council and crowd during the hearing.

David Gault, representing the applicants, told the residents that he and his partners wanted to turn the old dormitories into apartments for the 50 and older age group and that they would be US citizens only. This was what they had proposed to the Norman Park City Council.

After Gault, residents were able to speak for up to three minutes each to present their concerns about the rezoning request and proposal.

A few video clips of some of the residents’ presentations have been included with this story, along with the presentations made by Gault.

This is a developing story. More information will be made available in the coming days.