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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.20.2023 PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA Regular Meeting April 20, 2023 Convened:6:02 PM Adjourned: 10:26 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Lowe at 6:02 pm. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge of Allegiance led by Chair Lowe. 3. INVOCATION Invocation led by Mr. O'Dell 4. ROLL CALL Present Board Member Craig Bridgers, Board Member Valerie Slack, Board Member Ryan Binner, Vice Chair Ed Lounds, Board Member Craig Mundt, Board Member Billy O'Dell, Board Member James A. Taylor, Chair Bob Lowe Excused Board Member Larry Neese 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. 6. DISCLOSURE(S) Chair Lowe spoke to applicants on Item D. Vice Chair Lounds had a conversation with applicants on Item D. Mr. Mundt spoke to applicants on Item C. Mr. Binner spoke to applicants on Item C. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 7. MINUTES Planning & Zoning Commission MeetingThursday, April 20, 2023 6:00 PM 2 | P a g e A. St. Lucie County Planning & Zoning Commission minutes for the March 16, 2023 Meeting. RESULT: APPROVE MOVER: Board Member Ed Lounds SECONDER: Chair Craig Mundt AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Billy O'Dell, Craig Mundt, Ed Lounds, Ryan Binner, Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers NAYS: None EXCUSED: None 9. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Bumblebee Academy - Conditional Use Permit to allow tutoring services to elementary-aged within the CN (Commercial Neighborhood) Zoning District at 6708 Gaddy Street, Fort Pierce, FL 34951, in Lakewood Park. STAFF PRESENTATION: Tahir Curry, Planner I of the Planning Division, made a presentation. Mr. Curry spoke about the Conditional Use Petition for Bumblebee Academy, to allow tutoring service (SIC Code 8299) associated with an existing daycare owned and operated by Bumblebee Academy, within the CN (Commercial, Neighborhood) Zoning District at 6708 Gaddy Street, Fort Pierce, in the Lakewood Park Community. Mr. Curry advised that notices were mailed to 33 surrounding property owners within 500 feet of the subject property, and a sign was posted on the property. The Planning Department received four responses to the Conditional Use Petition, two in favor and two with no opinion. Mr. Curry reminded the Commissioner that Land Development Code Section 3.01.02 provides the PDS Director with the authority to grant a Use Determination, identifying whether the proposed use is compatible with the surrounding area or other determinations of impacts on nearby residences, uses, or districts. BOARD DISCUSSION: Mr. Mundt inquired about traffic control patterns internal to the site an the adjacent roadway, and how food service or catering would be established. Mr. Curry replied, and provided an overview of how the 54 students would be involved with the school. Ms. Slack spoke about student drop-off and the possibility for a shuttle service to the school. Mr. Curry highlighted the tutoring times, and transportation to and from school. Planning & Zoning Commission MeetingThursday, April 20, 2023 6:00 PM 3 | P a g e APPLICANT PRESENTATION: Amy Benavitiz, Bumblebee Academy Director, 1929 Sunset Drive Vero Beach, FL 32962, addressed the Commission, confirming that the tutoring times will be from 8:15a - 3:30p. Ms. Benavitiz explained how they also help homeschooled kids and spoke about the dynamics of each classroom. Ms. Benavitiz addressed the inquiry of traffic patterns. PUBLIC HEARING: None BOARD MOTION: RESULT: APPROVE MOVER: Board Member Ryan Binner SECONDER: Board Member Craig Bridgers AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Billy O'Dell, Craig Mundt, Ed Lounds, Ryan Binner, Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers NAYS: None EXCUSED: None B. County Initiated Land Development Code Text Amendment to update the Code provisions pertaining to fences, walls, and hedges. STAFF PRESENTATION: Ben Balcer, Director of Planning & Development Services, made a presentation. Mr. Balcer spoke about the Clarify provisions for fences, walls, berms, and hedges, addressing construction materials, allowing for additional height for columns, gates, and decorative features, allowing for additional height for fencing on a residential property adjacent to public use or public facility, providing for permit exemptions for agricultural properties; clarifying that a fence or wall is considered an accessory use and that a fence, wall or hedge shall not interfere with drainage. Mr. Balcer addressed related content in Land Development Code Sections C 2.00.00, and 8.00.04. BOARD DISCUSSION: Mr. Lounds spoke about the swales and if the fencing could be placed along a swale. Mr. Balcer spoke about applicability, comparing larger drainage systems to residential swales. Mr. Balcer advised that more additional information would be needed in this situation. Mr. Binner wanted more clarification on the term "Gates", Mr. Balcer spoke about the gate amendment and setbacks per Public Works standards. Ms. Slack inquired about residential fencing height requirements. Mr. Balcer spoke about visible obstructions and spatial relationships along with the code enforcement policy. Ms. Slack spoke about construction materials and the flexibility of the materials. Mr. Balcer reviewed the definition of non-typical fencing or construction materials. Planning & Zoning Commission MeetingThursday, April 20, 2023 6:00 PM 4 | P a g e Mr. Lounds inquired about the setbacks from the road right of way along the roadway. Mr. Balcer spoke about residential zoning districts. Mr. Lounds suggested limiting a fence to 4ft could be a safety issue (i.e. dogs, etc.). Mr. Sanders spoke about maximum berm heights. Kori Benton, Planning Manager, spoke about how the Planned Unit Development (PUD) rezoning process could evaluate and establish standards for berm heights. RESULT: APPROVE - MOVER: Board Member Ryan Binner SECONDER: Board Member James A. Taylor AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Billy O'Dell, Craig Mundt, Ed Lounds, Ryan Binner, Craig Bridgers NAYS: Valerie Slack EXCUSED: None C. Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment: Lennar Homes proposal to amend the Towns, Villages & Countryside (TVC) Element STAFF PRESENTATION: Irene Szedlemeyer, Senior Planner Planning Division, made a presentation. Ms.Szedlemeyer spoke about the history of the Towns, Villages & Countryside policy, including the Future Land Use Designation and Element. Ms. Szedlemeyer’s overview highlighted various TVC policies, including those for workforce housing. Ms. Szedlemyer addressed the goal of the Comp. Plan. Ms. Szdlemeyer spoke about residential density, settlement patterns, and Urban Services Boundary (USB). BOARD DISCUSSION: Mr. Lounds spoke about TVC back in the year 2005. Kori Benton gave a brief overview of the TVC planning process and policy prior to 2005. Mr. Binner asked if Ms. Szedlemeyer can better define workforce housing & alleyways, with a response provided. Mr. Benton spoke about street networks and design approaches. Ms. Szedlemeyer spoke about how the proposed amendment would be implemented with a development proposal. She also gave a definition of a Hamlet with workforce housing, with housing costs based upon Area Medium Income (AMI) policy. Ms. Slack suggested that the medium income policy will still be hard for residents who will be paying higher rent, making 41k per year. Ms. Szedlemeyer spoke about the process of the upcoming public hearings and staff recommendations. Planning & Zoning Commission MeetingThursday, April 20, 2023 6:00 PM 5 | P a g e APPLICANT PRESENTATION: Daniel Sorrow, Cotleur & Hearing 1934 Commerce Lane Suite 1 Jupiter, FL 33458. Gave examples of what a Hamlet may look like. Also, he spoke about past developments with TVC. Mr. Sorrow spoke about open space requirements within a Hamlet. Ms. Cynthia Angelos spoke about TVC and development proposals in the past. Mr. Matthew Pisciotta spoke about TVC code, open space, and density. BOARD DISCUSSION: Ms. Slack thinks that the population issue will be too hard to manage due to having one food store, one mail center, one DMV, one gym, etc. Ms. Slack thinks 1,025 acres should have more to offer based on what Mr. Sorrow spoke about during his presentation. Kori Benton spoke about homeownership rates and HOA Fees. PUBLIC HEARING: Kara Wood spoke about Form-Based Codes as they pertained to TVC and regulations. She also spoke about Indrio and 95 projects and its issues with policies with TVC. Ms. Wood thinks changing policies might confuse a lot of people. PUBLIC HEARING Reopened as approved by the Chair: Gustavo Lumar, of the Indrio and 95 Development, spoke about the development costs and interest issues in TVC design. He also spoke about infrastructure improvements, such as Indrio Road and Utilities being in place, but still can not boost the building process. BOARD DISCUSSION: Mr. Lounds spoke about the development and the negative side of having back alleys within a development. Mr. Lounds like the area of countryside opposed to giving up land. Ms. Slack spoke about countryside components within TVC. Ms. Slack thinks that the Commission should reconvene within a few months to address extra details within the TVC zone. Chair Lowe stated that he was in agreement with Mr. Lounds. Also, he spoke about his views on the Affordable Housing Act. Mr. Lounds spoke about the building components within the TVC. Kori Benton the Land Development Code, various design requirements, and associated building code. Mr. Benton also spoke about increasing density and design for Settlement Patterns. Mr. Taylor spoke about a possible amendment to the Workforce Housing definition that may Planning & Zoning Commission MeetingThursday, April 20, 2023 6:00 PM 6 | P a g e conflict with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). Kori Benton spoke about the transmittal hearing process with BOCC. BOARD MOTION RESULT: APPROVE MOVER: Chair Craig Mundt SECONDER: Board Member Craig Bridgers AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Billy O'Dell, Craig Mundt, Ed Lounds, Ryan Binner, Craig Bridgers NAYS: Valerie Slack EXCUSED: None D. Land Development Code (LDC) Text Amendment: Lennar Homes proposal to amend the Towns, Villages & Countryside (TVC) Overlay STAFF PRESENTATION: Irene Szedlemeyer, Senior Planner Planning Division, made a presentation. Ms. Szedlemyer spoke about The Towns, Villages, and Countryside Overlay Zone and gave an overview of the background of the TVC and Land Development Code. Ms. Szedlemeyer spoke about the proposed amendments to Ch.4 (TVC Overlay Zone). Ms. Szedmemeyer gave another overview of the definitions of Affordable Housing & Workforce Housing, and LDC requirements for a Hamlet, and open space policies for a Hamlet. BOARD DISCUSSION: Ms. Slack spoke about Work Force Housing components and accessory dwelling units. Ms. Szedlemeyer spoke about the code regarding the accessory structure and transferable developmental credits. Kori Benton spoke about the LDC regarding the two dwelling units per acre and what the developer would be responsible for. APPLICANT PRESENTATION: Daniel Sorrow agrees with all of the staff's recommendations PUBLIC COMMENT: NONE RESULT: APPROVE MOVER: Board Member Billy O'Dell SECONDER: Board Member Ryan Binner AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Billy O'Dell, Craig Mundt, Ed Lounds, Ryan Binner, Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers Planning & Zoning Commission MeetingThursday, April 20, 2023 6:00 PM 7 | P a g e NAYS: None EXCUSED: None 10. WORKSHOPS 11. OTHER BUSINESS 12. ADJOURN This meeting was adjourned at 10:26pm