Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-08-1995 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING HELD TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1995 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Switzer at 7:33 p.m. followed by a moment of silent meditation and the pledge of allegiance. A quorum was declared present. PRESENT: Chairman Switzer, Members Jones, Hopkins, Landefeld, Rhodus, and Alternate Members McKey (left meeting at 8:30 p.m.) and Williams. Also present were Planning Director Wagner, Planner Dow, Assistant City Attorney Formella and Deputy City Clerk Green. ABSENT: Vice Chairman Bond and Member Miller. CONSENT AGENDA The consent agenda consisted of approval of item A: A. Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting held Wednesday, June 28, 1995. Member Landefeld seconded b Member Jones moved to a . . rove the consent a. enda as submitted. Motion carried 5 -0. NEW BUSINESS tirr LAKE BENNET CENTRE (COMMERCIAL SUBDIVISION) - PROJECT NO. 93 -010 FINAL SUBDIVISION PLANS Planning Director Wagner presented his staff report of August 3, 1995 for the nine lot commercial subdivision comprised of 28.29 useable acres located north of S.R. 50 and east of Lake Bennet. He said the plans to build a nursing home toward the back of the development had been submitted for review, and noted that an additional right - in/right -out on S.R. 50 included in the Preliminary Plan had been deleted as a result of FDOT permitting. He concluded with Staff recommendation for approval as submitted. Chairman Switzer asked if heavy traffic would be utilizing the old brick portion of Maine Avenue. Mr. Wagner said that the development would not directly affect it. Mr. John Moseler was present to answer questions for the developer, Zom Lake Bennet, Ltd. As had been recommended by Staff, Member Jones seconded b Member Landefeld moved to recommend a, 'royal of the Final Subdivision Plans for Lake Bennet Centre Project No. 93 -010 as date stam • ed received by the City on Au. st 1, 1995. Motion carried 5 -0. OLD BUSINESS Chairman Switzer recalled that street addressing, re- griding for mail delivery, and the re- numbering of houses in the City of Ocoee had been considered in a Joint Workshop in Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting August 8, 1995 'r.. November, 1991. As he was concerned that the old numbering system might contribute to loss of life in an emergency, he asked if anything further had been done about the addressing issue. Planning Director Wagner and Planner Dow said the issue seemed to have fallen by the wayside and they would check into it. OTHER BUSINESS OVERVIEW OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REVISIONS Planner Dow presented the outline for revising the Land Development Code (LDC) which had been included in the packet. She pointed out that poor organization was the major flaw in the current LDC, particularly in the areas of buffering, landscaping, tree protection and open space. She said other flaws included: scattered, repetitive definitions; reiteration of procedures for application processes; internal conflicts between standards; and repetitions of standards. Ms. Dow said inconsistencies with the Comprehensive Plan also needed to be addressed. Revisions will begin in the areas of greatest need: definitions, buffering, landscaping, tree protection and open spaces. She noted that most cities had adopted a unified LDC in which each Article dealt with a single issue. Mr. Wagner said, as the work progressed, segments would be brought to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Commission for discussion and feedback. DISCUSSION OF TREES, LANDSCAPING, BUFFERING, AND OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS %ow In the discussion about trees, Mr. Wagner stressed the need for a tree survey in the beginning of a project (as in old LDC) rather than at final engineering as required by the current LDC. Ms. Dow pointed out factors which must be considered in order to save trees, such as drainage pattern, location of lots /lotlines /drainage swales. It was the consensus of board members to discourage developers from drastic clearing of undeveloped properties and to encourage developers to preserve that which could be salvaged, enhanced, worked around, or saved. In discussion about buffers for subdivisions (natural versus brick walls), members preferred buffers that included walls with landscaping and irrigation in a green area. Ms. Dow said it was her impression that board members generally like much of what is being done in subdivisions now, and that they want incentives offered to encourage developers to vary their approach. She asked board members to make mental notes of projects they like and share their observations in a future meeting to assist her in arriving at a land development regulation. It was the consensus of board members that LDC allow for latitude in negotiation with developers. It could provide parameters under which one or more specified staff members might 2 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting August 8, 1995 negotiate with developers of single family lots and under which Planning & Zoning Commission might negotiate with developers of a subdivision. For example, three members of staff might have the administrative flexibility, if a historic tree was involved, to reduce the front yard or rear yard setback by up to five feet, and the side yard set back by up to two and one /half feet. A developer might be granted a bonus in open space in return for exceeding performance standards in a related area such as tree preservation, landscaping or buffering. Ms. Dow explained that the LDC now included three defmitions for open space under maximum building coverage, minimum required open space, and maximum allowable impervious area. She said part of the resolution of that conflict lay in identifying the goal for open space. For example, a goal might be to improve the amount of percolation of stormwater run -off. Mr. Wagner said, historically, zoning districts had been defined by the size /width of the lot. That concept had been based on the theory that larger lots yielded higher quality development. He said with today's economics, that was no longer true. He asked if board members were concerned about size of lot or the size and character of housing, the ambience of the community. He said the trend was to quality. Member Hopkins said that she would need to give thought to lesser standards for less expensive homes as that "went a little against her grain." '''o' Ms. Hopkins pointed out the need to be sensitive about saving too many trees. She shared a personal example in which she had been careful to preserve trees and later had to pay $3,000.00 for removal of dead trees. She also asked if single family homeowners might be exempt from the permit requirement for tree removal. Member Jones asked Mr. Wagner if he thought the value of the property or lots dictated what would be built on it. Mr. Wagner responded that was true to a degree. He said the size of the unit had a lot to do with the value of the property, the amount of money that the developer demanded for the lot, the amount of money he had available for improvements. He said many communities had fine homes on 50 foot lots in a cluster approach. Member Rhodus asked if any area was designated for affordable housing. Mr.Wagner said none at the present time. Chairman Switzer said he thought a mixed project would be good if it were controlled and made a nice presentation, but he had some concerns about reducing sideyard setbacks. Mr. Wagner said the trend was back to more traditional zoning and planning, and that they would like the flexibility to have varied designs. 3 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting August 8, 1995 COMMENTS Planning Director Wagner said Lake Olympia Square would be coming back to the board with a slightly revised plan. Member Rhodus asked about other businesses planned in Lake Olympia Square. Mr. Wagner said possible additions were a daycare, a donut shop, a Baskin Robbins, and a tanning /nail salon. Member Hopkins asked if McDonalds had gone in. Mr. Wagner confirmed it was being built in the Albertsons' center on the northwest corner of Clarke and Silver Star. There were no other comments from board members. Mayor Vandergrift was present and shared the following comments: 1) Thanked members for their open discussion. 2) Said his quest for larger, distinguished street signs for Ocoee had resulted in larger signs, but no letters or distinguishing characteristics. 3) Wants developers to find Ocoee to be strict, fair, and creative - creative enough to look at zero lot lines and set back differences. 4) Supports trees, trees, and more trees, scenic routes, butterfly friendly plants, grass along roadways and natural buffers. 5) Suggested considering creative awards for excellence for developers of subdivisions. % l"" 6) Preferred the old LDC which required developers to give a percentage of land or money to build park in that neighborhood. 7) Stressed importance of drainage for planting trees, noting water problem for oaks in Wesmere due to hardpan. 8) Supported giving latitude to developers /granting an "environmental variance" to save a tree. 9) Pointed out need to consider open space and school sites and processes for variances that are "user friendly." 10) Need to promote creative policies in a way to help developers to help us be the best community we can be. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. ,ems ,,. ---,,,, ,,,, " , -;-;,.., , J ./Leihc_ Da rol d Swi z er, hair 4Lan .ira u..� / Marian Green, Deputy City Clerk lir 4