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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-2000 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING HELD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2000 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bond at 7:32 p.m. A moment of silent meditation was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The roll was called and a quorum was declared present. PRESENT: Chairman Bond, Vice - Chairman Switzer, Members Landefeld, McKey, McNeil, Matthys, Miller and Rhodus. Also present were Assistant City Attorney Formella, Planning Director Wagner, and Administrative Secretary Dawson. ABSENT: Member Christoefl. II. CONSENT AGENDA The consent agenda consisted of approval of Item A: ITEM A: Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting held on ,,,, Wednesday, January 26, 2000. Member Matthys, seconded by Vice - Chairman Switzer, moved to approve the consent agenda as corrected. Motion carried 8 -0. III. NEW BUSINESS ITEM A: PROPOSED UPGRADED SITE LIGHTING STANDARDS PUBLIC HEARING ACTING AS LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY Planning Director Wagner presented the staff report recommending approval of a proposed ordinance amending the Land Development Code pertaining to Site Lighting Standards. Staff is focusing on trying to control the amount of glare and intensity of light, with the emphasis on quality of lighting versus quantity. The West Oaks Mall was used as a guide for the Activity Center Standards of 1 foot candle average. After evaluating various commercial site plans, it was found that the 1 foot candle average was not standard within the industry. Staff was advised during the Publix presentation that 1 foot candle was not enough and is not the industry standard for a smaller commercial site. Staff did more research and found that a range of 3 -5 foot candles is recommended by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) for retail uses. Other sources all tended to show ',,, that for most retail uses the 4 -5 foot candle range is pretty typical. Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting February 8, 2000 The proposed ordinance provides for an adequate amount of lighting, but restricts the lighting from going overboard. Some of the recent plans had lighting waivers that meet this future ordinance, including Publix and Best Buy. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America is the group of experts that formulates these standards. Data was also used from The International Dark Sky Association regarding lighting ordinances to minimize the amount of unwarranted ambient light going up to the sky. The proposed ordinance primarily address two issues: glare and level of light. Glare is the worst part of bad lighting. Different methods of glare control were described, including types and locations of fixtures, shields, and bulbs. The proposed ordinance fills a gap while trying to create a balance, and is similar to sign control regulation. Overlighting makes it difficult to drive and creates glare and clutter. Retailers are now using bright lighting as a method of marketing to get attention. Convenience stores, gas stations, and car dealerships use lighting as marketing. The proposed ordinance standards are substantially less than what these retailers are used to but businesses with bright lights will have other businesses wanting to match them. The members asked various questions about roadside billboards, reflection glare, grandfathering of existing lighting, security cameras, energy conservation and average candle foot versus maximum candle foot measurements. The public hearing was opened. Fred Leonhardt of Gray, Harris & Robinson, P.A. appeared on behalf of the automobile industry for the Saturn dealership. He stated that he had with him Jim Snyder, the executive manager of Saturn Retail; Rick Feuerstein, contractor; Scott Gentry & Jack Hawkins, professional engineers; Jeff Hutchinson, Lighting Systems, Inc.; and James Johnson of Gray, Harris & Robinson, P.A. Mr. Leonhardt stated that they agree with the spirit of this ordinance and want to work with the City. However, they do have a waiver application in and want to encourage a modest modification. He stated that an automobile dealership is unique in that they have 3 million dollars of inventory outdoors, and customers need light to study and examine the inventory. He stated that the 5 foot candle average is okay if time averaging is allowed, but that they are requesting 15 foot candles maximum on 90% of the site and 65 foot candles maximum on 10% of the site. Jeff Hutchinson of Lighting Systems, Inc., a lighting manufacturer, stated that he and his company specialize in automotive dealership lighting. Typically the front row lighting in Stir 2 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting February 8, 2000 automobile dealerships is in the range of 80 -110 foot candles maximum and 60 -70 foot candles average. The levels in the proposed ordinance are a little different from what he usually sees. Mr. Hutchinson discussed types of outdoor fixtures, hot spots, and forward throw reflectors. He stated that the key is uniformity and adequate lighting to accomplish the task. He discussed maximum and average lighting and addressed questions about good and bad lighting. Jim Snyder spoke on behalf of Saturn. He stated that they close their stores at 9:00 p.m. and they reduce their lights after 11 p.m. He stated that the public is allowed to walk around in their parking lot after closing and that they have very little vandalism. He stated that their pole height is 26 feet and the proposed ordinance allows for a maximum of 30 feet. Chairman Bond stated that this was not a waiver request for a site plan hearing, but a public hearing on the proposed ordinance and directed the meeting back to addressing the proposed ordinance only. In response to questions from the Board, Planning Director Wagner addressed the time averaging issue. He stated that the proposed ordinance does not allow time averaging or other alternate methods of light measurement to prevent elaborate calculations and to keep things Itior simple. Jim Snyder stated that if time averaging is not allowed then Saturn is requesting 10 foot candle average and 65 foot candle maximum. There being no further comments from the audience, the public hearing was closed. A discussion ensued concerning glare approaching the site from the west. Vice - Chairman Switzer stated that the Good Homes /S.R. 50 intersection is already a dangerous intersection and lighting as proposed by Saturn will increase the danger of that intersection. He stated that he wants commercial development on S.R. 50 to have a nice appearance. The Activity Center ordinance and this proposed lighting ordinance will help achieve that and he supports the ordinance as written. Member Matthys asked about the grandfathering of Saturn's pending application. Assistant City Attorney Formella stated that they have a waiver pending. Planning Director Wagner stated that the current light ordinance is only 1 candle foot, which is lower than the proposed ordinance. He stated that staff supports a waiver up to the proposed ordinance's level and no higher. Planning Director Wagner also stated said that time averaging gets into complex calculations for average foot candles, but determining maximum foot candles is easy; staff just goes out with a light meter. He stated that although staff can see the validity of some bright light, Saturn's site will be 3 -4 times brighter than anything else around it. Member Matthys then asked how this ordinance compares with ordinances in other 3 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting %. February 8, 2000 jurisdictions. Planning Director Wagner replied that the City is on the cutting edge, since most other lighting ordinances in Florida address wildlife and turtles. The California and the Florida west coast ordinances deal with glare and light spillage. There are not a lot of ordinances that deal directly with illuminance levels. The numbers for the proposed ordinance are taken directly from the recommendations of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. The City is a pioneer in this area and Orange County is already requesting a copy of this proposed ordinance. Member Landefeld stated that the staff did an outstanding job on gathering data for this ordinance. He stated that he agrees with Vice - Chairman Switzer regarding the Good Homes Road intersection and that the glare will make it worse. Member McKey thanked Saturn for their input. He stated that the new 7 -11 in Clermont has terrible glare and that staff did a great job with this ordinance. Chairman Bond stated that she is concerned about lighting in shopping center parking lots and asked if the current lighting is sufficient. Planning Director Wagner stated that the mall has the lowest light in the City at 1 foot candle average. New malls are now built with a 2 foot candle standard, and the new Publix will be in the 4 -5 foot candle range. He stated that the ordinance does not provide a minimum lighting requirement. Chairman Bond stated that she would like a minimum lighting standard, and a discussion ensued. There being no comments or further discussion by the Board, Member Landefeld, seconded by Vice - Chairman Switzer, moved to recommend to the City Commission adoption of the proposed ordinance to upgrade the Site Lighting standards as recommended by staff, subject to establishing a minimum average of 1 foot candle as adequate lighting. Motion carried 8-0. IV. OLD BUSINESS None V. OTHER BUSINESS Assistant City Attorney Formella read Member McNeil's conflict on Forest Ridge from the January 26, 2000 meeting into the record. Member Rhodus asked about the status of the clearing of the southeast corner of Clarke and ''"" 4 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting % February 8, 2000 Silver Star Roads. Planning Director Wagner stated that the subcontractor has already filed a tree mitigation replanting plan to replace the trees that were cleared out. A discussion ensued about the appearance of various schools in the County and the construction budgets for schools. VI. COMMENTS Member McKey asked about the tree trimming by Scotty's. Chairman Bond stated that the City Commission invited the Planning and Zoning Commission to attend the Joint Planning Area Agreement Workshop on March 1, 2000. She urged the other members to watch the Commission Meetings on Tuesday nights. She stated that she was not going to attend the workshop because at the last meeting the City Commission stated that members of the Planning and Zoning Commission were not going to be allowed to speak. Planning Director Wagner stated that in the past there were joint workshops and that the City Commission is reevaluating the JPA. Member Matthys thanked the staff for their extensive research on the site lighting ordinance. Member Miller asked about the work in progress report. A discussion ensued about future projects and growth in the City. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:24 p.m. z_Ved..cavt tr,/ Marisa Dawson, Administrative Secretary Pat Bond, C airman 5