HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 06-19-2008
St. Lucie County
JOINT MEETING OF THE
Environmental Advisory Committee, Sustainability Committee and Smart Growth Committee
June 19, 2008 * 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Fort Pierce Community Center
EAC MEMBERS PRESENT:
Jennifer Simpkins, Jane Brooks, Bob Bangert, John Holt
SUSTAINABILTY MEMBERS PRESENT:
Commissioner Doug Coward, PSL Councilwoman Linda Bartz, JP
Gellermann (SLC Ext), Leon Camarda, Nick Blount (FPL),Robert Tabor, Alan Gilbert (SLC School Facilities
Director) Jim Scully (Conservation Alliance); Eric Winterstein (Fort Pierce Utility Authority)
SMART GROWTH MEMBERS PRESENT:
Marty Sanders, Noreen Dreyer, Mary Chapman
:
Heather Lueke (Asst. County Attorney); Heather Young (Asst. County Attorney); Sandra Bogan
STAFF
(Environmental Resources Dept/ERD), Peter Jones (Growth Management Dept), Amy Mott (ERD), Mark
Satterlee (Growth Management Dept), Yvette Alger (ERD), Jennifer Evans (ERD), Caprecid Oliver (ERD)
PUBLIC:
David Kelly, Marissa Krueger (Crossroads Environmental)
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The meeting was called to Order
Peter Jones welcomed everybody and had each person introduce themselves and tell which committee they
serve on.
Peter gave a brief overview of the Comprehensive Plan and the Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR) Process.
Yvette Algers gave examples of some existing Goals, Objectives, and Policies that lead toward sustainable
development, and shared examples of the types of sustainability recommendations the group might offer.
Sandra Bogan reviewed various green development and building standards and guides that are in place
including the Sustainable Treasure Coast Report, Florida Green Building Coalition, U.S. Green Building Council,
Energy Star, and Green Globes. She also shared some of the incentives being used by some counties and
cities around the state, as well as examples on what other states are offering. She asked the committee for their
ideas on the approach the group wanted to take to integrate sustainability goals, objectives and possible
incentives into the County’s Comp Plan and Land Development Codes.
Marty Sanders pointed out that certification is an expensive process and that we may not get high participation if
we require certification.
Sandra recognized that that is an important point to keep in mind, but right now we aren’t trying to choose which
standard to recommend to the BOCC, but rather, to determine an approach for this group to take. She also
pointed out that most of the incentives that are in place in Florida are in the form of fast-tracking permits or
reducing permit fees. Both of these would be difficult in the current economic situation at the County, with
reduced staff and tight budgets, and advised that incentives should be carefully evaluated both on their benefit
to the county and the ability for staff to review. Therefore, she recommended that if we are going to recommend
incentives that we should adopt one or a combination of the established standards and require third party
oversight, which could potentially reduce the amount of staff time needed to review the plans and issue permits.
There was a lot of discussion on various issues, such as continued development on the barrier islands,
transportation/mass transit, carbon footprint and mitigation, and paying for the true costs of impacts. (See list at
end.)
There was discussion about the people who build homes outside of the urban services boundary (URB), but
expect the same services and amenities as those who live inside the URB. It was suggested that impact fees
should be increased outside the URB, because the costs for services and things like school busing is greatly
increased.
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Commissioner Coward pointed out that intergovernmental coordination is of ultimate importance in relation to
sustainability, and that the City of Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County should come together and develop a
common vision.
Commissioner Coward also addressed a comment made that there was not much being done to conserve land.
He says that 90% of vacant land is agricultural or protected, and that he considers that a tremendous amount
that is being protected and/or prevented from being bulldozed and paved.
After further discussion on various issues, Sandy reminded the committee that they want to try to get a game
plan in place for future joint meetings and asked the group how they felt we should approach this effort.
One member raised the idea that they should break into working groups and look at the elements of the comp
plan.
John Holt made the recommendation that each of the three committees take the parts that generally concern
and involve them and review and make recommendations to the joint committee. Bob Bangert agreed and
recommended that each of the individual committees should meet before the next joint meeting.
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The whole group agreed to reconvene the joint meeting on July 10.
David Kelly brought up the fact that the EAR recommendations were in draft form, and that these groups all
gave input into it. He felt that the EAR report would be the logical place to begin, so they could see what was
being recommended, and move forward from there. Peter reminded him that the draft report is being reviewed
by staff right now, and is not ready to be distributed to the board or the public until the final corrections are
made. He went on to say that it reflects all of the issues that the public brought forward as well as other
departments, and that there will be comprehensive plan amendment recommendations made that will follow the
green standards.
David still felt strongly that the group should start by reviewing the EAR report, and asked Peter if the group
could get a copy before the next meeting. Peter stated the final draft report should be complete shortly, and he
will get a copy to everyone and put it on the website as well so that all can look at it as it goes through the formal
public process.
A motion was made to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 4:15.
VARIOUS ISSUES DISCUSSED:
Preserve ecological functions (indicated by biodiversity, water & air quality, barrier island dynamics)
Reduce Carbon Footprint
Strengthen Language between Transportation and Land use.
Approach has always been that there is a minimum density that makes mass transit feasible, otherwise it’s costly
Review funding for roads vs. mass transit … invest in public / alternative transportation
Long-Term-View…..Land-use patterns in 50 years
EAR Language – specific transit corridors
Use of public funds for projects/Smart Growth
Transfer of Development Rights [rural/ barriers]
Do not encourage sprawl
Revisit impact fees
True costs relative to proximity to services, Tiered System
Incentives/Disincentives
Variances – are there any bulletproof goals/policies/LDC’s that should not be subject to a variance?
Common Goals: Coming together with the City of PSL & St. Lucie County
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