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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-2000 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Aso" REGULAR MEETING HELD TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2000 CALL TO ORDER In the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, members chose by consensus Member Tanya Miller to be Acting Chairman. Acting Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. A moment of silent meditation was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. A quorum was declared present. PRESENT: Acting Chairman Miller, Members Christoefl, Golden, Matthys, McKey and West. Also present were Planning Director Wagner, Senior Planner Dyson, Assistant City Attorney Cookson, and Deputy City Clerk Green. ABSENT: Chairman Bond, Vice Chairman Landefeld (family illness), Member Rhodus (ill). CONSENT AGENDA The consent agenda consisted of approval of Item A: A. Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, November 29, 2000. Member McKey, seconded by Member Christoefl, moved to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried 6 -0. NEW BUSINESS SUPER WAL -MART, LOT 1, FINAL SITE PLAN AND FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAN PROJECT No. LS -97 -008 AND LS -97 -0009 Planning Director Wagner pointed out that, while this was not a formal public hearing, the Commission had the right to choose to accept comments from the public if they wished to do so. Senior Planner Joanna Dyson presented the Staff Report for the Lot 1 Final Site Plan and Final Subdivision Plan for the proposed Wal -Mart Supercenter to be developed on the 35.9 acre tract located at the southwest corner of SR 50 and Blackwood Avenue. The Final Subdivision Plan under review covers horizontal development issues for the entire Super Wal -Mart site and five abutting outparcels. The Final Site Plan is for vertical construction of the Wal -Mart Supercenter only (Lot 1). Separate site plans will be submitted for each outparcel. Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting *rw December 12, 2000 Ms. Dyson said on December 4, 2000, the Development Review Committee (DRC) voted to approve the Plan subject to administrative review of several outstanding issues at a later date. DRC proposed adding conditions to ensure that the construction of the site remains consistent with the approved Preliminary Plans. Ms. Dyson said the applicant has indicated the two wet detention ponds previously defined as amenities are needed for stormwater volume. So they may be maintained as ongoing site amenities, Staff has requested minimum water levels and fountain heights for the ponds. Staff supports modifying a Condition of Approval on the Final Site Plan to allow the applicant to proceed with vertical construction (on Lot 1 only) prior to platting. Staff is requesting more detailed traffic engineering data for the intersection improvements for the addition of turn lanes, signal equipment/timing modifications, and driveway connections prior to issuance of the Certificate of Completion. Staff also had concern that drainage improvements along SR 50 should be modified to avoid steep side slopes on proposed stormwater swales. It was agreed at DRC that some of the roadway drainage cross - sections would be modified at a later date. She concluded with Staffs recommendation for approval of the Lot 1 Final Site Plan and Final Subdivision Plan for the Super Wal- Mart Site subject to staff memoranda items raised at DRC being resolved prior to the Pre - construction Conference and subject to those changes receiving a staff administrative review subsequent to City Commission action. Hal Kantor, of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor and Reed, attorney representing the applicant, said on the behalf of the developer that they agree with the staff recommendation. He said the Staff had worked very hard to accommodate their schedule. He said they plan to start construction in February and open by Thanksgiving, if possible. R.P. Mohnacky, 1820 Prairie Lake Boulevard, asked if it would be possible to place a clock in the clock tower. Mr. Kantor responded that it was just a tower, not a clock tower. Member West asked if any of the outparcels were under contract. Mr. Kantor said he was aware of no contracts at this time. (An unidentified individual said his firm had an agreement but not an actual contract.) Member McKey asked about the change for the ponds from amenities to necessities for stormwater management. Mr. Wagner explained that the engineer had to allow for additional stormwater management for the Blackwood Avenue improvements in conjunction with the Agreement with Health Central. He said the ponds shown in the Plans today do not have liners and do not maintain a water level at an elevation that Staff thought was desirable as an amenity. Staff set a parameter for minimum water level and specified some pumps and fountain heights that could be seen from the roadway. Staff Slur 2 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting December 12, 2000 supports the modification of the ponds to which the developer has agreed in principle. The modification includes enlarging the ponds slightly in order to accommodate adding liners and wall features topped with decorative railing. Member Christoefl asked if Wal -Mart has agreed to all the City is requesting and Mr. Kantor confirmed that they have. Member Golden reiterated concerns about pedestrian safety which he had expressed when the Preliminary Site Plan was considered. He had suggested that pedestrian signs were needed at the six locations where sidewalks cross entranceways, but none were shown on the Plan. Peter Sutch, Conklin, Puter and Holmes (CPH Engineers), engineer for Wal -Mart, said that the crosswalks at the roadway right -of -way would be constructed in accordance with the FDOT standard for crosswalks. He said pedestrian warning signs would be placed at approaches to internal crosswalks, but striping on the pavement would serve as warning to drivers at the external crosswalks. He explained that pedestrian warning signs requiring traffic to stop at entranceways were not permitted because they might impede the flow of traffic and increase the risk of rear end collisions. Member Matthys asked if a contract had been entered into for the old Wal -Mart building after it is vacated. Noting that it is a leased site, Mr. Kantor explained that Wal -Mart has the right to vacate and the present landlord has the right to re -lease even though the term is not over to ensure that the shopping center does not go dark. Member McKey asked if signs were needed to warn pedestrians that they are stepping into a traffic zone. Mr. Wagner pointed out that striping has become the standard practice. He said if pedestrians ignore the striping, they will ignore the signs. The goal of the Activity Center is to create a pedestrian friendly environment and that is why there are so many sidewalks to accommodate them. Assistant City Attorney Cookson said he did not understand how it could be confusing for pedestrians as they would be stepping off of the sidewalk into the street. He said they are saying this is the way it is done. Member McKey said, if the signs were not possible, there should be a general education program at the schools. Senior Planner Dyson said all of the driveways Wal -Mart has proposed have sidewalks on one or both sides and all of those are connected with pedestrian walkways through the Now 3 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting * December 12, 2000 parking lot. She said Ocoee's standards for pedestrian safety and pedestrian connections in commercial development are much higher than most of the other jurisdictions in this area. . Based upon the Staff recommendation, Member West, seconded by Member Matthys, moved that Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of the Lot 1 Final Site Plan and Final Subdivision Plan for the Super Wal -Mart Site, Project No. LS -97 -008 and No. LS -97 -009 as date stamped received by the City on December 7, 2000, sub'ect to Staff memoranda items raised at DRC being resolved prior to the Pre - construction onference and sub'ect to those chan ' es receivin ' a Staff administrative review subsequent to City Commission action. Motion carried 6 -0. OLD BUSINESS None. OTHER BUSINESS None. COMMENTS Planning Director Wagner said the Planning and Zoning Commission may need to have two meetings in January. Member Matthys wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Attest: APPROVED: kaft.../... Att. ) 1(Afk&J ' Marian Green, Deputy City Clerk Tanya Mille, Acting Chairman `o'` 4