City Council will consider a proposal to request a charter change from state lawmakers to raise the number of votes needed to approve intense land-use applications south of Indian River Road, a stopping point for water and sewer services known as the Blue Line.
Allowing large projects or extending water and sewer services could open the floodgates to residential and other development in the rural area, where farming remains an active industry. It hasn’t happened because of anticipated costs and opposition.
Brent McKenzie, the city’s legislative affairs director, presented the idea to council on Tuesday as part of a draft legislative agenda. The proposal would mean nine votes on the 11-member council, more than the six that theoretically could approve the kind of project that might lead to an extension of services now…