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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.18.2015 Generated 6/29/2015 12:14 PM ST. LUCIE COUNTY PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION ST LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA P & Z Regular Meeting June 18, 2015 Convened: 6:00 PM Adjourned: 7:02 PM I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Cathy Townsend 1. Pledge of Allegiance Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Cathy Townsend Chair Present William O'Dell Vice Chair Present Bobby Hopkins Board Member Present Craig Mundt Board Member Present Edward Lounds Board Member Present James Clasby Board Member Present Kara Wood Board Member Absent Stephanie Morgan Board Member Present William Smith Board Member Present Marty Sanders Ex-Officio Board Member Absent 3. Announcement(s) None 4. Disclosure(s) None P & Z Regular Meeting Thursday, June 18, 2015 6:00 PM 2 | P a g e II. MINUTES Mr. Mundt motioned approval of minutes of December 18, 2014 Ms. Morgan seconded the motion. Minutes were approved III. PUBLIC COMMENT None IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Ordinance - Amending the Code of Ordinances Pertaining to the Economic Development Impact Fee Mitigation Program In 2008, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 08-007, which created the Economic Development Impact Fee Mitigation Program in the St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances and Compiled Laws. This ordinance established an economic development impact fee mitigation program for qualified targeted industry businesses so as to encourage economic development and to create permanent employment expansion opportunities for the citizens of the county. Recently, staff has been working in conjunction with the St. Lucie County Economic Development Council to assist Expert Shutter Services, Inc., an expanding locally owned and operated small manufacturer of hurricane shutter products located in Port St. Lucie. They are a family owned business in the Treasure Coast area for 26 years. On a retail basis, they are the largest manufacturer of hurricane and security shutters on the Treasure Coast. Their service area includes Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties. Their services include installation, service and repair of hurricane and security shutters for residential, commercial and high-rise properties. The company is expected to double in size over the next five years and part of their growth strategy includes a larger manufacturing facility. In September of 2014, the company purchased a 2.30 acres of industrial property in Port St. Lucie. St. Lucie County offers a variety of economic incentives to growing and relocating Qualified Targeted Industries (QTI) as follows: 1. Job Growth Investment Grant: Upon demonstrating that it has met certain salary requirements and number of jobs created, a QTI is eligible for a cash grant paid per job created. 2. Ad Valorem Tax Abatement: Lowering the amount of Ad Valorem taxes due on new construction and business equipment for up to 10 years on a declining scale based on the wages provided, the QTI's number of jobs created and the total amount of capital investment. 3. Impact Fee Mitigation: Reducing some or all of the Impact Fees due on new construction in conjunction with a project for a new or expanding QTI which meets certain wage requirements, number of jobs created, amount of capital investment, and benefits packages for its employees. P & Z Regular Meeting Thursday, June 18, 2015 6:00 PM 3 | P a g e As staff has been assisting this local company, it has come to our attention that the County's economic development incentive program focuses primarily on attracting large industries to St. Lucie County, but largely does not contemplate assisting small, local industries in their expansion efforts. Therefore, the Board of County Commissioners recently amended the Job Growth Investment Grant criteria to add incentives targeted specifically to locally owned and operated small businesses. The Board then directed staff to amend the Fee Mitigation Ordinance to address the eligibility of locally owned and operated small industries. Staff recommends that the amending Ordinance be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with a recommendation for approval. The Board discussion included job definition (full time /part time), who would enforce the process, voluntary program; must prove to be in compliance before receiving incentives, being a great step forward and would be easy to monitor. Also encouraging local businesses, target industries, impact fee mitigation, the average minimum wage and non-profits. Business navigator position is currently being established to assist the business community through the permitting process. Public hearing open No one spoke Public Hearing closed RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: William O'Dell, Vice Chair SECONDER: Edward Lounds, Board Member AYES: Townsend, O'Dell, Hopkins, Mundt, Lounds, Clasby, Morgan, Smith V. WORKSHOPS There are no items scheduled. VI. OTHER BUSINESS Ex Parte Communications Assistant County Attorney, Heather Young stated recently there has been some caselaw on the subject of ex parte communications and thought it was a good opportunity to refresh the discussion. As this Board is aware, you all make many quasi-judicial decisions under the definition both by the caselaw as well as by the county's ex parte communication's policy. A copy of the 1995 resolution is provided again to the board which defines what an ex parte communication: a communication related to an issue or decision in a quasi-judicial proceeding, either oral or written, to a decision maker outside of a quasi-judicial proceeding where opposing parties are neither notified of the contact nor are present. All disclosures must be made before or during the public meeting; during or before the public hearing is closed at which a vote is taken on the matter. Under recent caselaw, failure to follow P & Z Regular Meeting Thursday, June 18, 2015 6:00 PM 4 | P a g e these procedures may result in a finding of insufficient due process and a remand of the matter back for rehearing. RESULT: ITEM DISCUSSED Motion to: Election of Officials The Board discussed the fact that the first Planning & Zoning meeting was in June 2015. Ms. Morgan made the motion to continue with the current officers until the year end and a new election in January 2016. RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Stephanie Morgan, Board Member SECONDER: Bobby Hopkins, Board Member AYES: Townsend, O'Dell, Hopkins, Mundt, Lounds, Clasby, Morgan, Smith Approve the 2015 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting schedule The Board accepted the 2015 meeting schedule. RESULT: ITEM DISCUSSED VII. ADJOURN There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. Please Note: Final minutes are recorded in the official minute books that are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and available for inspection upon request.