HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.21.2022
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Regular Meeting
July 21, 2022 Convened:
Adjourned:
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Taylor.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Chair Taylor.
3. INVOCATION
Invocation led by Board Member Mr. Slay.
4. ROLL CALL
Present
Board Member James A. Taylor, President Bob Lowe, Board Member Ed Lounds, Board Member
Lawrence "Beau" Slay, Ex-Officio Marty Sanders, Board Member Ryan Binner, Board Member Valerie
Slack, Board Member Craig Bridgers
Excused
Board Member Billy O'Dell, Chair Craig Mundt
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
6. DISCLOSURE(S)
7. MINUTES
A. St. Lucie County Planning & Zoning Commission minutes for the meeting of June 16, 2022
Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Thursday, July 21, 2022 6:00 PM
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RESULT: APPROVE
MOVER: Board Member Valerie Slack
SECONDER: Board Member Craig Bridgers
AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Ed Lounds, Lawrence "Beau" Slay, Marty
Sanders, Ryan Binner, Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. St. Lucie County Fire/EMS Impact Fee Study 2022 Update - Fire/EMS Impact Fees Ordinance
STAFF PRESENTATION
John Titkanich, Innovation & Performance Division Director made presentation
Article III of Chapter 24 of the St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances (Fire/EMS Protection
Impact Fee), specifically Section 24-51(c), establishes, "...the county fire district is the sole
provider of fire/emergency medical services in the county." Additionally, Section 24-51(d)
provides, "the county must collect fire/EMS protection impact fees in order to provide the
fire district with funds to adequately provide fire/EMS services for all county residents,
including residents of the cities. Development within the cities impacts the fire/EMS capital
needs of the fire district. " In 2000, the County adopted a Fire/EMS Protection Impact Fee to
address the impact of growth and demand on the Fire District to provide Fire/EMS protection
services. The Fire Board approved the final update of St. Lucie County Fire and Rescue Impact
Fee May 10, 2022. Table VI-5 Changes in Fire/EMS Impact Fees (page 7) details the incremental
phased increases over a two or four year period, with the exception of a few land use categories
that are proposed to decrease upon adoption and implementation.
STAFF RECOMMEDATION
Staff is recommending the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend the Board of County
Commissioners approve the St.Lucie County Fire/EMS Impact Fee Study 2022 Update, and
adopt the Ordinance enacting the proposed Fire/EMS Impact Fee Schedule.
BOARD DISCUSSION
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Deputy Fire District Chief Paul Langel present to any any questions.
RESULT: APPROVE
Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Thursday, July 21, 2022 6:00 PM
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MOVER: Vice Chair Bob Lowe
SECONDER: Board Member Ryan Binner
AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Lawrence "Beau" Slay, Ryan Binner,
Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: Ed Lounds
B. Acting as the Local Planning Agency: A Future Land Use Map Amendment to change the land use
categories from RU ((Residential, Urban - 5 du/ac), RM (Residential, Medium - 9du/ac) and COM
(Commercial) to the MXD (Mixed-Use Development) category, submitted by Cotleur and Hearing,
Inc., on behalf of Meritage Homes of Florida.
STAFF PRESENTATION
Jodi Kugler, Senior Planner, SLC Planning Department, made a presentation.
Item 9B and 9C – Two petitions submitted by Cotleur and Hearing on behalf of Meritage
Homes for an amendment to the Future Land Use from Residential Urban, Residential
Medium, and Commercial to the Mixed-Use Development with sub-policies and Rezone from
the RS-2 and Commercial General to a Planned Unit Development with concurrent
Preliminary Site Plan for the development of a 160 multi-family residential townhome
subdivision to be known as the Tidewater Planned Unit Development. Both items require a
separate Public Hearing and action by the Board. In accordance with public notice
requirements outlined in Section 11.00.03 of the St. Lucie County Land Development Code,
an advertisement for this Public Hearing was placed in the News Tribune on Sunday, July 10,
2022. In addition, notices were mailed to adjacent property owners located within 500 feet of
the subject properties, and a sign was placed on the subject property. The subject parcel is
outlined in red and is situated along the west side of S. US Highway 1.
The site is bordered by single-family residential, general commercial parcels, and an existing
Arrigo Dodge automobile dealership to the north. To the west, the site is bordered by
existing single-family homes and vacant single-family residential zoned parcels adjacent to
the open space area. To the south of the subject parcels, is a vacant commercial area, and
small commercial out parcels to the southeast, and borders S. US 1 to the east. The applicant
is requesting the Future Land Use Amendment to reclassify the land use category to mixed-
use development. The proposed comprehensive plan amendment would change the Future
Land Use Map designation for the collective 18.73 acres from Residential Urban, Residential
Medium, and Commercial to an MXD Category with Specific Use designations for Commercial
and Residential up to 9 units per acre.
The subject property is currently zoned as Commercial General and Residential Suburban
Zoning Districts. The proposed Zoning Atlas Amendment would change the Official Zoning
Atlas Map designation to rezone the 16.37-acre subset of the subject property from
Residential Single-Family, and Commercial General, to a Planned Unit Development, and
Preliminary Site Plan. A proposed 2.50-acre outparcel is in the northwestern corner of the
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subject site and is to retain a Commercial General Zoning Designation. The applicant states
that the proposed plan meets the intent of the Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the St. Lucie
County Comprehensive Plan by the creation and/or preservation of “affordable” housing for
all current and anticipated future residents, through the implementation of a 6-unit and 8-
unit buildings made of (4) 2-bedroom, (2) 2-bedroom, and (4) 1-bedroom layouts allowing for
a variety of housing.
The applicant is requesting to deviate from Section 7.04.03 of the St. Lucie County Code
building spacing formula. The 2.50 retain commercial outparcel in red is not part of this
preliminary plan and will require a separate site plan approval. This depicts the two different
typical lot types, a 20-foot by 90-foot with a single car garage and 8-foot-wide driveway and a
24-foot by 90-foot with a double car garage and a 16-foot-wide driveway. As a condition of
approval, staff is recommending a minimum 10-foot driveway for pedestrian safety entering
and exiting a vehicle onto a hard surface. The developer is proposing to install approximately
5,200 linear feet of sanitary sewer force main within the US Highway 1 right-of-way which
connects to the existing Fort Pierce Utilities Authority manhole.
This new sanitary sewer force main will be able to serve undeveloped and underdeveloped
parcels south of Midway Road Fort Pierce Utilities Authority service limits. Access to the site
is proposed via one right-in/right-out driveway connection on US1. The proposed right-
in/right-out driveway will be supported by a southbound right-turn lane, to support safety as
egress left-turn movements will be offset north and south of the proposed right-in/right-out
driveway southbound right-turn lane on US Highway 1, at Sunshine Boulevard and Easy
Street, respectively, as drivers will be required to perform a U-turn movement. The project
will be gated.
In accordance with public notice requirements outlined in Section 11.00.03 of the St. Lucie
County Land Development Code, notices and response forms were mailed to adjacent
property owners located within 500 feet of the subject property. Of the 23 notices mailed
out, the Planning & Development Services Department received no responses. The applicant
did not hold a neighborhood meeting; however, neighborhood meetings are not required but
strongly encouraged.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION- FUTURE LAND USE
Staff recommends the Planning and Zoning, acting as the Local Planning Agency to
recommend approval to the Board of County Commissioners for the Future Land Use
Amendment from Residential, Urban, Residential Medium, and Commercial to a Mixed-Use
Development land use designation.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION- REZONE
Staff recommends the Planning and Zoning Commissioner forward a recommendation of
approval to the Board of County Commissioners to approve the Tidewater Planned Unit
Development rezone and preliminary site plan, subject to the following conditions:
1. Prior to the issuance of any building permit, a final plat must be approved by the Board
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of County Commissioners.
2. The Community Clubhouse or similar use facilities shall be consistent with the
Community architectural Standards of St. Lucie County Land Development Code, Section
7.10.24.
3. All Residential driveways shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet wide.
4. Before issuance of Vegetation Removal Permit or Exemption, updated a survey to
determine the current activity status of the onsite osprey nest shall be provided. Should the
nest be deemed active, i.e., the nest has eggs or flightless young, then an Incidental Take
Permit from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is required.
5. Before issuance of Vegetation Removal Permit or Exemption, a 100% survey to
determine the presence of the state-protected gopher tortoise and state-protected
burrowing owl shall be required. If any gopher tortoise burrows are identified within 25 ft. of
the proposed disturbance, all tortoises shall be relocated per the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) protocol. If any burrowing owls are identified, coordination
with the FWC and/or United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) shall be required.
6. Before the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, all Category I invasive plant species
shall be eradicated from the site.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Ms. Slack asks Ms. Kugler about adjustment to the county requirement in terms of adjacency
or spacing on the residential units. Ms. Kugler responds according to our code. We require a
building spacing formula which positions the buildings in different ways. The applicant has
requested to deviate to provide higher density or to provide more clustering between the
units. Mr. Benton states a provisional code that applies to any multifamily building of three or
more units two stories or greater in height. It considers the height and mass of a multifamily
structure, then its relation to other residential buildings and outward property lines providing
a balance for viewed corridors and open space. Ms. Slacks and Chair Taylor is concerned with
the 8ft wide driveways for safety.
Ms. Slack motions to approve with conditions that the driveways must be a minimum of 9ft
wide.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dan Sorrow from Cotleur and Hearing made presentation.
462 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd. Suite 113 Port St. Lucie, FL 34953
RESULT: APPROVE
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MOVER: Board Member Valerie Slack
SECONDER: Board Member Ed Lounds
AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Ed Lounds, Lawrence "Beau" Slay, Ryan
Binner, Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
C. A Zoning Atlas Amendment (Rezone) from RS-2 (Residential, Single-Family-2) and CG (Commercial,
General) to PUD (Planned Unit Development), and Preliminary PUD Site Plan for a project to be
known as the Tidewater PUD located at 6209 S. US Highway 1 in Fort Pierce, submitted by Cotleur
and Hearing, Inc., on behalf of Meritage Homes of Florida Inc.
RESULT: APPROVE
MOVER: Board Member Valerie Slack
SECONDER: Board Member Ryan Binner
AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Ed Lounds, Lawrence "Beau" Slay, Ryan
Binner, Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
D. Acting as the Local Planning Agency: Joseph Miller's Petition for a Comprehensive Plan Future
Land Use Map Amendment to revise the Loop Road Mixed Use Activity Area Policy for the Low
Intensity Sub-Area to replace specific required commercial, institutional and office thresholds with
light industrial and warehouse land uses.
STAFF PRESENTATION
Kori Benton, Planning Manager, and Irene Szedlmayer, Senior Planner, SLC Planning
Department, made a presentation.
The property owner, Joseph Miller (TR), applicant, Tambone Companies, and representative, Brad
Currie, AICP, of EDC, Inc. are proposing a Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map
Amendment to revise the Loop Road Mixed Use Activity Area affecting the subject +/-34.01 acres
would retain the MXD, Mixed Use District, Low Intensity category. However, the modified Sub
Area Policies would alter the permissible land use scope centered on industrial uses. In
accordance with public notice requirements outlined in Section 11.00.03 of the St. Lucie County
Land Development Code, an advertisement for this Public Hearing was placed in the News
Tribune on Sunday, July 10, 2022. In addition, notices were mailed to a17 djacent property owners
located within 500 feet of the subject properties, and a sign was placed on the subject property.
No responses were received from the property owners. The property is located in the northeast
quadrant of the county about a half mile east of Kings Highway and about half a mile north of
Orange Ave. The St. Lucie County Property Appraiser characterizes land use as agricultural. The
proposed FLUM Sub Area Policy Amendment will remove 50% of the northeast corner be
developed and 50% of it be commercial. Also, 25% of the rest of the property be office and 25%
institutional. Industrial development shall be approved through the PNRD process and shall
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provide a minimum 50 foot wide vegetated buffer zone to properly buffer the adjacent non-
industrial uses, and shall preserve environmental resources.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The Planning & Zoning Commission forward a recommendation of approval to the Board of
County Commissioners, based upon consistency with the goals, objectives and policies of the
St. Lucie County Comprehensive Plan.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Mr. Sanders states the school district is in the planning stages for rebuilding Fort Pierce
Westwood High School along Panther Lane. He states the Jenkins Road Special district
roadway network is important infrastructure so we don't load all of our trips on Orange or on
Jenkins Road. Mr. Lounds asks Ms. Szedlmayer, what is flex space? Ms. Szedlmayer responds
it would allow for users who require different amounts of space. Mr. Lounds and Ms. Slack
has concerns about the 50ft buffer. Mr. Benton states the proposed policy would cause the
minimum buffer to be designed and implemented on the western property line where the
site is currently across from the Lake House, a wedding venue.
Ms. Slacks state to approve with an appropriate buffer zone to properly protect the adjacent
nonindustrial uses.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Patricia Sesta with Engineering Design And Construction made presentation
10250 Village Parkway, Suite 201 Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
Howard Haskell 6400 Floyd Johnson Rd, Ft. Pierce, FL
Mr. Haskell is concerned about flooding.
RESULT: APPROVE
MOVER: Board Member Ryan Binner
SECONDER: Board Member Valerie Slack
AYES: James A. Taylor, Bob Lowe, Ed Lounds, Lawrence "Beau" Slay, Ryan
Binner, Valerie Slack, Craig Bridgers
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
10. WORKSHOPS
11. OTHER BUSINESS
12. ADJOURN
Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Thursday, July 21, 2022 6:00 PM
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Chair Taylor motioned to adjourn at 7:46 pm.