Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 10-17-2002 St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes REGULAR MEETING October 17, 2002 Commission Chambers, 3rd Floor, Roger Poitras Annex 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. McCurdy, Mr. Lounds, Mr. Hearn, Mr. Jones, Mr. Grande, Mr. Akins, Mr. Matthes. MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Merritt, Mr. Trias (Both Absent - With Notice) OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Dennis Murphy, Community Development Director; Mr. David Kelly, Planning Manager; Ms. Heather Young, Asst. Co. Attorney; Ms. Dawn Gilmore, Administrative Secretary. P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 1 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Matthes called to order the meeting of the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Commission at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairman Matthes gave a brief presentation on the procedures and what meeting. For those of you who have not been here before, The Planning and Zoning Commission is an agency that makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. The Staff will present a brief summary of the project and then make their recommendation. After which time, the Petitioner will be asked to come forward and state his/her case for the requested petition. At any time the Commission may stop and ask questions of the Petitioner or Staff. After that process is completed the Chairman will open the public hearing for anyone who wishes to speak for or against the petition. The purpose of this hearing is to get input from the general public. If anyone has something to say, please feel free to come forward and state it. After everyone has gotten a chance to speak the Chairman will then close the public hearing. The Commission will deliberate and then make a decision regarding their recommendation, one way or the other. The decision that is made is typically read from a scripted set of statements that are given to the Commission. It may sound rehearsed but it really is not. There is one motion for and one motion against in the package, so that the Commission can make a motion either one way or the other so it is very clear in the records. Once again, I want to remind you that the Planning and Zoning Commission only acts in an advisory capacity for the Board of County Commissioners. If you are not happy with the outcome of this hearing you will have the opportunity to speak at the public hearing in front of the Board of County Commissioners. No other announcements or comments. P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 2 AGENDA ITEM 1: SEPTEMBER 19, 2002 MEETING MINUTES: Mr. McCurdy stated that he was not present at the previous meeting, so the references to his opening and closing the public hearing on pages six and seven should be changed to Chairman Matthes. Mr. Grande moved for approval, as amended. Motion seconded by Mr. Hearn. Upon a vote, the motion passed unanimously (with a vote of 7-0). P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 3 AGENDA ITEM 2: FILE NO. RZ-02-019 DAVID MILLER: Mr. David Kelly, presenting Staff comments, stated that Agenda Item # 2 was the application of David Miller for a Change in Zoning from the AR-1 (Agricultural, Residential 1 du/acre) Zoning District to the RE-2 (Residential, Estate 2 du/acre) Zoning District. He continued that the petitioners have requested this change in zoning for 2.65 acres of property located on the th West side of South 25 Street, approximately 500 feet south of the F.E.C. Railroad right-of-way in order to establish setback standards, which are more compatible with his proposed use of the property with a single-family home. He also stated that if the change in zoning were approved, the applicant, by right, would be allowed to establish any of the uses under the Permitted Uses section. He continued that any use under the Accessory Uses section would be allowed only if one or more of the permitted uses exist on the subject property and any use under the Conditional Uses section could only be allowed if it first receives approval through the Board of County Commissioners. Staff has reviewed this petition and determined that it conforms to the standards of review as set forth in Section 11.06.03 of the St. Lucie County Land Development Code and is not in conflict with the goals, objectives, and policies of the St. Lucie County Comprehensive Plan. Staff is, therefore, recommending that this Board forward a recommendation of approval to Board of County Commissioners. Chairman Matthes questioned what the frontage was on the property. Mr. Kelly stated it was one hundred ninety-nine feet. Chairman Matthes questioned if the applicant would be unable to meet the minimum lot width for two lots. Mr. Kelly confirmed that was correct and stated that the petitioner was already well under construction with his house and a large circular driveway. He continued that moving back fifty feet would cause the gate to be well beyond the circle and the placement of the home precluded the further splitting of the property. Mr. Grande questioned if the home would be fifty feet back from the street. Mr. Kelly stated that the home was more than fifty feet back and that the front of the home appears to be 182 feet back from the roadway. Mr. Hearn questioned if a scale could be added to the maps that are provided with their packets in the future. Mr. Kelly confirmed that could be done. Mr. David Miller, petitioner, stated that he was a business owner in the area and that they relocated to this property from Port St. Lucie. He continued that the property has a lot of live oak th trees but they were concerned about the property being right on 25 Street. He also stated that the driveway is already laid out and when they went to apply for the permit, they were advised of the fifty-foot setback issue. Chairman Matthes opened the Public Hearing. Seeing no one, Chairman Matthes closed the Public Hearing. this would not be considered spot zoning. Mr. Kelly stated that the request is still a type of residential zoning and is consistent with the density of the Comprehensive Plan. He continued that spot zoning would usually be some type of zoning that was completely different than the surrounding areas. P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 4 Mr. Grande stated that the other owners along this area could probably have the same type of need and he was concerned with making sure that any further requests would have the fifty-foot setback to the house. Mr. Kelly stated that they would not be able to add conditions to rezoning applications. including Staff comments, and the Standards of Review as set forth in Section 11.06.03, St. Lucie County Land Development Code, I hereby move that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend that the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners grant approval to the application of David Miller for a Change in Zoning from the AR-1 (Agricultural, Residential 1 du/acre) Zoning District to the RE-2 (Residential, Estate 2 du/acre) Zoning District because it will help complete his development for his home and I Motion seconded by Mr. Jones. Upon a roll call vote the motion passed unanimously (with a vote of 7-0) and forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with a recommendation of approval. Mr. Lounds questioned if anyone who wants to put a gate up along that area would need to come before them to be rezoned to do it. Mr. Kelly explained that if they want the gate placed closer than fifty feet to the right-of-way and higher than four feet tall, they would need to do something. He continued that they would either have to submit an application for a variance or a change in zoning. He also stated that if they found that several of the residents in the area had the same types of requests, they would need to look at the area as a whole. P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 5 AGENDA ITEM 3: ORDINANCE 02-028 INTERIM ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS: Mr. Dennis Murphy, presenting Staff comments, stated that Agenda Item # 3 was Draft Ordinance 02-028, which proposes to establish Interim Community wide Architectural Standards that would apply to all areas of the unincorporated County as minimum criteria for all new construction or substantial expansion to existing building or structures or building in areas zoned Commercial Neighborhood, Commercial Office, Commercial General, Institutional, Religious Facilities, Planned Unit Development (Commercial Components Only), Planned Non-Residential Development and Planned Mixed Use Development. He also stated that these design standards are not intended to stifle imagination nor curtail variety but rather they are for the purpose of promoting a more attractive and unified community appearance. Mr. Murphy continued that at the June 16, 2002 meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission / Local Planning Agency, they voted to separate these draft regulations from Draft Ordinance 02- 015 in order to provide additional time for the Board to consider the proposed amendments. He advised that they also expressed some concern over the proposed regulations and how they would effect or impact commercial development activities in the community. Mr. Murphy stated that at the August 29, 2002 meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission / Local Planning Agency, they voted to refer this draft document back again for further review and revisions, with said revisions to be based upon the directions/recommendations/comments given at the Planning & Zoning Commission / Local Planning Agency meeting of May 16, 2002, which generally were: Remove the restriction on the use of metal buildings. Reduce the height of landscaping matter at time of plantings that are used to screen drive-through uses and activities. Permit the use of reflective glass in new construction. Eliminate the restriction of the use of brightly colored glazed tile as a roof material. Staff recommends that the Planning & Zoning Commission / Local Planning Agency forward Draft Ordinance 02-028 to the Board of County Commissioners, as originally submitted for review, with a recommendation of approval. Mr. McCurdy questioned how stores like Home Depot and Wal-Mart would be able to build their facilities when on page 5 a prohibited façade feature is square, box-like, buildings without articulation of windows or façade. Mr. Murphy explained that they would have to meet the new interim criteria, as they have in the City of Port St. Lucie. Mr. McCurdy stated that his concern would be that the big corporations would be allowed to stray from these and smaller companies would be made to abide by the regulations. Mr. Murphy explained that the larger corporations would not be allowed to get around these - region and country have conformed to the local architectural standards. Mr. Lounds questioned if the illustrations were the approved looks for the standards. Mr. Murphy explained that they were the interim standards they would like to have approved. Mr. Lounds stated that he understood the concept behind having a color chart, but that there were P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 6 Mr. Hearn questioned if the colors listed on the color chart were to be applied to both trim and building color. Mr. Murphy confirmed that was correct. Mr. Hearn stated that he would like to have some colors added to the color list. He continued that some darker colors would work well with the existing colors on the color list and should be considered. He also stated that he likes the concept but has a problem with limiting everyone to just those colors listed in the chart because they are so similar. He advised that he would like to see Staff look into some other colors that may be complimentary to the colors already listed in the color chart. Chairman Matthes stated that they might want to consider adding a recommendation that darker shades of the colors listed on the chart be allowed for the trim. Mr. Lounds stated that the concept is a very good manageable step in the right direction to help him. He continued that he has issues with the colors being too limited and those darker hues and darker trims need to be added for contrast. He stated that this is a concept that needs to be implemented in the areas, but could use a little more work. Mr. Murphy stated that they could add some language to paragraph three of page five that allows for darker shades of the color guide for trim or something like that. Mr. Lounds stated that there are some darker hue blues and browns that should be considered for adding to the color chart that would look nice as a compliment. Chairman Matthes opened the Public Hearing. Seeing no one, Chairman Matthes closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Grande made a motion to forward Draft Ordinance 02-028 along to the Board of County Commissioners with a recommendation of approval along with a recommendation that Staff include an expanded range (including darker hues) of coordinated colors only for trim through a paragraph of text on page five, section three. n chart leaves some discretion to Staff. Mr. Murphy confirmed that was correct. Mr. Jones stated that he felt it would be appropriate if the motion included their desire to consider expanded colors and review all of the minutes in detail to see their reasons for suggesting that. Chairman Matthes stated that he felt the County Commissioners did read all of the minutes very carefully. Mr. Lounds stated he had a concern on page four, letter h, under landscape plan; number 1 is a great idea, but this needs to be enforced. Mr. Murphy stated there are already provisions existing in the landscape code where code enforcement checks periodically on these issues. Mr. Lounds stated that it is going to be difficult for commercial owners to maintain seasonal plants and is concerned that these issues do get enforced to achieve what they are trying to accomplish. Motion seconded by Mr. Hearn. Upon a roll call vote the motion passed unanimously (with a vote of 7-0) and forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with a recommendation of approval. P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 7 OTHER BUSINESS/DISCUSSION: Mr. Hearn stated that he had previously discussed with Staff the possibility of a workshop to community a stronger ability to control what happens in their neighborhood but yet gives the standard change in zoning. Mr. Murphy stated that the best time to do this would be after all of the yearly reorganization is done. Mr. Kelly stated that the first quarter of 2003 would be best for the workshop, after all of the holidays and any reorganization changes. Mr. Hearn stated he did not have a problem with that. Mr. Lounds stated that he thinks the Chamber of Commerce is a good organization for the community but thinks that any issues regarding the development of the commercial and some of the residential areas would be beneficial to have their input. Chairman Matthes stated that he would try to notify them in the future of any issues that may be of interest to them. Next scheduled meeting will be November 21, 2002. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Approved by: _____________________________ _______________________________ Dawn Gilmore, Secretary Stefan Matthes, Chairman P & Z Meeting October 17, 2002 Page 8