HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG PUD Minutes 10-04-2007BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, F LORIDA
AG PUD OPEN SPACE WORKSHOP
Date: October 4, 2007 Convened: 2:02 p.m.
Adjourned: 3:21 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Chairman, Chris Craft, Joseph Smith, Paula A. Lewis, Doug
Cowazd, Chazles Grande
Others Present: Doug Anderson, County Administrator, Faye Outlaw, Asst. County
Administrator, Lee Ann Lowery, Asst. County Administrator, Mark Satterlee, Growth
Management Director, Millie Delgado-Feliciano, Deputy Clerk
The County Administrator advised the Boazd they have completed the process of
collecting the names of individuals and their applications and have not taken any action
as far as forming a committee.
Com. Craft stated he felt it would be difficult to move ahead today without a committee
and their input.
Com. Smith stated he was having difficulty with the document. He felt they needed some
clazity as to what is the intent of such a document. He felt the way it was written makes
it difficult and may allow other Boazds to view it differently. He felt is does not state
what the people think it states and he is not comfortable with it moving forward as is
what he is being told "x" is, is not what it is.
Com. Lewis recommended moving forwazd with establishing the steering committee .
Com. Coward stated he felt ranchetts were a costly form of development and
recommended a committee be made up of all kinds of development. He does not wish to
see 3 or 4 hand picked people who may wish to flip property on the committee.
Com. Grande stated he would like input from a balanced group not only from landowners
and speculators.
Ms. Nancy Offit, St. Lucie County Builders Association addressed the Board and stated
she felt they needed a broad based task force.
Mr. Joseph Miller, St. Lucie county resident and agricultural land owner, addressed the
Board and stated the ordinance is very important to him as an individual and felt it had
too many loop holes. He stated if the Ordinance is adopted as written, there could not be
4 or 5 acre ranchettes and tax paying citizens aze entitled to such choices. He requested
they leave the density where it is and leave it at 35% open space otherwise it would not
be acceptable.
Mr. George Hanlin Jr., landowner addressed the Boazd and stated the landowners should
be well represented in the committee. Impact fees on homes or ranchetts were once
questioned in Indian River County. The consultant came back with negligible difference
and could not justify it nor could the county. He recommended letting those who
purchase decide.
Mr. Jonathan Ferguson, Ruden McCloskey law firm, addressed the Board and stated he
appreciates the direction the Board is going in understanding there is a need for a steering
committee, however he asked the Boazd whether the Commission would entertain
support of the interim language of the LDR's.
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Com. Grande stated he felt the contention was mainly based on misunderstanding. Staff
came forward with a new ordinance that gave the Board the opportunity to soften the
80/20 requirement. However they re polarized due to staff s memo.
Mr. Jim McKenzie, Chamber of Commerce thanked the Board for their continuing
support in creating a steering committee.
Mr. Mark Walters, Real Estate Broker, addressed the Board and stated they needed a
graphic drawing of the 80/20 so that when they leave the meeting today, they would
know what it is. He keeps hearing "want to preserve rural life style" throughout the state.
Ms. Deborah Kosmano, area landowner stated she has 2 small farms and is concerned
that those who do not have property or an investment in land would be on the committee.
She believes the members should be the farmers and property owners in St. Lucie
County.
Mr. Sherrad, Agricultural business owner, addressed the Board and stated he hopes the
Board would listen to what the audience is saying today. He does not like the way the
Ordinance reads and stated he concurred with Com. Smith's comments.
Mr. Jim Weeks, property owner recommended each Commissioner go out to Trowbridge
Road and se how beautiful ranchetts really are before making a long range decisions.
Com. Craft stated there seemed to be an overwhelming desire to start a steering
committee and recommended 15 people be on the committee.
Com. Smith concurred with Com. Craft.
Com. Lewis stated she concurred with 15 people and would like a consensus as to what
the Board would like and what the committee would.
Com. Smith stated a consensus can be obtained when it comes before the Board.
Com. Coward stated he did not have a particular amount in mind as long as all groups are
represented. He stated Mr. Rice from the Farm Bureau Lending Corp stated they needed
to come up with rules that would maintain the values, and he was not in favor of
ranchetts.
Com. Grande concurred with 15 people on the committee.
Com. Smith recommended staff bring back a recommendation of how many of each
group should be on the committee.
Com. Coward requested each Commissioner also have an appointee on the committee.
Com. Craft asked the Board if they would be willing to rescind the memo sent to staff.
Com. Lewis stated her position has not changed but would not have a problem rescinding
the memo, however the only problem there is in the process is how they are allowed to
proceed under current interpretation.
Com. Smith stated he did not have a problem rescinding the memo with a caveat.
The County Attorney advised the Board actual voting on an issue is not normally done at
a work session and recommended having staff memo agendad for Board discussion and
have staff give information on what is in process.
The Growth Management Director stated he would give a quick analysis as to what is in
the pipeline and will put something together for an upcoming meeting.
The Growth Management Director gave a summary of the basic issues being:
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Not include yards or open space in Ag 5 or Ag 2.5 PUD's.
Provide a methodology to accommodate applicants proposing increased open space or
increased public benefit directly related to the provision of open space, or protection of
environmental resources or preservation of Ag land
Also the creation of a steering committee to further evaluate and provide
recommendations on these issues.
The meeting was adjourned.
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