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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-06-09 Minutes CRA D e Center of Good L,v tit 0 OE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) BUDGET HEARING/BOARD MEETING Ocoee Commission Chambers 150 North Lakeshore Drive Ocoee, Florida October 6, 2009 MINUTES 6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER CRA Board Chairman Vandergrift called the Community Redevelopment Area Board together at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. City Clerk Eikenberry called roll and declared a quorum present. Roll Call: Board Member Hood, Board Member C. Johnson, Board Member Wilsen, Chairman Vandergrift, Board Member Keller, Board Member Corless and Board Member R. Johnson. Also Present: City Manager Frank, City Attorney Rosenthal, City Clerk Eikenberry, CRA Administrator Russ Wagner and Development Services Director Shadrix. Development Services Director Shadrix explained this is going to be a multi - faceted meeting to address the budget and review some new things that will be happening during the presentation. He recognized that in the audience are members of the P and Z Board as well as landowners that are representing Target Area 1 that you will hear about in the consultant discussion. I. Approval of Minutes of the October 7, 2008 Board Member Keller, seconded by Board Member Hood, moved to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2008, CRA Meeting. Motion passed 7 -0. II. Designation of Chair and Vice Chair Board Member Keller, seconded by Board Member Hood, moved to reappoint Member Vandergrift and Member R. Johnson as Chair and Vice Chair. Motion passed 7 -0 III. Budget a) Review of FY 2009/2010 Budget CRA Administrator Wagner reviewed items on the proposed budget. He stated that on the Revenue Summary you can see there is $246,495 worth of carry over. Additionally, the contributions are down approximately $125,000 made up from contributions from the City of Ocoee and Orange County which have decreased due to property values going down. We are down $680,000 from last year. Most of the work on the Colony Plaza was done last year and expenditures for legal fees and the demolition came from that budget. We also paid for some right of way for Maguire Road, and resurfacing and utility work on Blackwood Avenue. We have a strategy for next year that we hope will catch us up to where we need to be. We are now engaged in the planning, research, and all the administrative aspects of the CRA which we think will place us in a position (city, developers, and local businesses) to work together more effectively. Most of our efforts are to create an identity, market the CRA, and be prepared to develop projects immediately. He said later Mr. Shadrix is going to propose a method of initiating these projects without going through normal channels in order to expedite the process. We are proposing to do all the studies that developers would normally have to do at their own costs; they will be done in a comprehensive manner so everyone will know what infrastructure needs to be built, what the regulations are, what the community should look like. That will reduce the time frame on these development projects and allow us to move forward quickly when the economy turns around. He stated that is the emphasis of this entire budget. He said your budget packet has detailed information, but he is going to review some points. He discussed Expenditure items: OPERATING Utility Master Plan $60,000 He explained advantages of having that plan in place in advance. Development Services Director Shadrix said this will augment what the Utilities Department is already doing with their Master Plan. This will be a planning level tool we can use in meetings with developers. CRA Studies and Marketing Programs $185,000. CRA Administrator Wagner said that it is split into 4 categories; part of that is the multi -model transportation mobility plan; this will establish an entire network and capacities of the roadways, alternate forms of transportation that can be developed in the future such as mass transit, bicycling, pedestrian, etc. This allows us to move away from typical concurrency standards in effect today. The will also assist as a planning tool. Comprehensive Plan Amendments and Zoning Regulations $200,000. Real Estate Market Analysis which will be geared toward creative and customized markets; we are not going to just develop a Land Use Plan and then marketing. We will combine those two. This will help developers to understand what types of businesses will work in specific areas. We are proposing to add meeting space to hold conferences, events and large meetings. These types of Community Center /Civic Center facilities have become very popular. We want to do a feasibility study to look into building this type of facility. The City of Lake Mary said their new facility was so popular it will probably be paid off in five years. Community Promotion and Public Relations $35,000. We also need to create an identity so there is money in the budget for branding, marketing, website development. This has been a great way to get the community out there. Overlays (carry forward) $126,000. CRA Administrator Wagner said we are continuing to work on items such as the overlay study that will be presented tonight, primarily it relates to land development regulations, form based codes. We need to do several Comprehensive Plan Amendments to enable all this. He added additional marketing things they would like to develop such as CRA newsletters; similar to the one Winter Garden is doing to communicate regularly with the 365 business in our CRA. Our largest category of businesses is doctors, approximately 100 of the 365; they are developing a Stimulus Coupon Program (Ocoee Bucks) to get people to come to Ocoee businesses and shops and utilize their business; they would also like to sponsor a networking event similar to the Best Fest to promote the CRA where businesses and restaurant owners participate in this. CRA Administrator Wagner stated this year the budget is primarily focused on planning and marketing to get us up to speed on these programs. In later years we can focus money on capital improvements such as sewer, water, and streets. We are talking to developers about the need for participating in structured parking types of facilities; we want to expedite their projects as much as we can. If we can get this base work done, most of the money in the future can go toward capital improvements. He opened the floor for questions. Board Member Hood said he liked the idea of the Ocoee Bucks; it will create interaction in the community. Development Services Director Shadrix said many of those things Mr. Wagner mentioned we feel will help jump start excitement in the CRA as well as facilitate better and faster development. In upcoming months, you will see a lot more promotion of the CRA and various projects. We want people to spread the word. There will be a lot more emphasis on promoting and getting plans in place that will set up an environment to facilitate it. Board Member Corless asked about the scheduling as related to the planning tools: what are we looking at as far as acquiring services from RFQs; what is the timeframe for the development of the Master plan, particularly the multi -model transportation; how we are continuing with the overlay. Development Services Director Shadrix explained that the upcoming presentation will include a broad scale Master Plan effort for the CRA. The second part of the presentation will focus on the three target areas and he described the geographical boundaries. We have been working with land owners in the Target Areas 1 and 2 because they have a lot of things that are important from a timing standpoint. As a Special Development Plan for each of those under the cities Activity Center Overlay; those will function as "mini codes" along with the Master Plan document. That will help facilitate a much more rapid development schedule. We are anticipating accelerated development in the upcoming year and we are excited to create some pockets of urban formed development. We are hoping to be cutting edge by developing a walkable, livable, lifestyle center. He added that schedule -wise, there are two phases to the overlay work. We will begin Phase 2 which is the development of architectural design standards and form based land development regulations within the next few weeks. The multi model transportation and utilities master plan are still in the discussion phase, but hopes to begin drafting those after the first of the year, especially since the multi -model transportation is tied to Senate Bill 360. Board Chair Vandergrift inquired about the Master Plan and how it will affect the Overlay that we adopted that has such stringent standards that caused businesses such as Steak and Shake to develop elsewhere. Development Services Director Shadrix said the work with the current overlays will comply with the intent of the original overlay but make it a lot more flexible. The presentation you will see tonight will reflect that. We are moving toward a more mainstream method of regulation rather that our stringent code structure. We are trying to get to the European Planning Model which is interconnected streets and multi -model transportation modes and building to that network as was presented to this board by Glatting Jackson in 2006. We will get there by creating a regulating plan for these target areas that serves as design guidelines for the project that will supersede existing Land Development Code Regulations. He said he would love to have a form -based Land Development Code to work with but that won't happen quickly. He said developers coming in will see the network they need to put in and a table that includes standards to comply with. There will be flexibility as far as how uses can be moved around in the development plan. This will be at least 60% quicker than the old plan. Board Chair Vandergrift, seconded by Vice Chair R. Johnson. moved to direct the staff to enter into negotiations with the County to expand the CRA to include our downtown area as well as Pioneer Key 1 and II. Discussion ensued. Vice Chair R. Johnson said with the current state of the economy he does not think it would be easy to get the County to approve that. Board Chair Vandergrift said he would like to at least open up a dialogue with the County. Development Services Director Shadrix added that the more pieces that we get into place now, the stronger our position will be to expand or create a new CRA. After the discussion, the motion carried 7 -0. b) Resolution adopting CRA Budget for FY 2009/2010 Board Member Keller read the title of the resolution. Board Member Coreless, seconded by Vice Chair R. Johnson moved to adopt Resolution CRA- 2009 -001 approving the budget as presented by staff. Motion carried 7 -0. The resolution as adopted carries the following title: RESOLUTION NO. CRA- 2009 -001 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA; ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 -2010; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Vice Chair R. Johnson, but we need to finish the job by cleaning up the Colony Plaza, removing the sewer station, and trimming the landscaping. At this point, it is still an eyesore. City Manager Frank said that there are some issues with demolishing the sewer station. Vice Chair R. Johnson said he would at least want to take care of the other problems if we can't get to the sewer station. Vice Chair R. Johnson, seconded by Board Member Keller, moved to use $25,000 from the CRA Contingency Fund to clean up Colony Plaza as discussed. Motion carried 7 -0. Development Services Director Shadrix thanked Glatting Jackson for working fast and furious to address the many issues that occurred with these target areas. They will explain the logic behind the pathways that we are on now. IV. Overlay Plan Presentation (Glatting- Jackson) Frances Chandler Marino, Director of Regional Planning at Glatting Jackson, stated the purpose of the Phase I study is so that there is a partnership where the developers and landowners are at the table with you building the Plan together. They are trying to address the issues that are currently causing conflicts and struggles in the CRA area by working with the landowners and general citizenry in each target area. It is about thinking of the CRA as a destination that you want people to come to; supporting the business that are there now and bringing in new businesses to enliven the area. She said the time schedule is tight; they are trying to have the entirety of Phase 1 completed in December. It will probably overlap with other phases because the landowners there are excited about moving forward as well. Board Chair Vandergrift asked for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation. There are two pieces to this work: 1) Overall evaluation of the CRA; broad brush evaluation of the CRA; overall design issues that relate to the entire CRA. 2) Focus on the land in the three Target Areas; working with the landowners in the three target areas so we are sure we are developing a Plan that works for them. We focused on Target Area 1 first; we created a concept plan and a regulating plan at this point. We worked with the landowners and district commissioner. How do we create the uses, the types, the density, the intensity that they want there and still meet the goals of the city to have good connections, addressing roadway issues on SR 50. It is easier when you are focusing on a specific piece of land to think through various items such as location for parking, buildings, transportation, pedestrians, etc. specific to that area. Then, you must consider how you will regulate those things so that everyone is consistent; that is the regulating plan. It has all the pieces that you think about in zoning with suburban standards and landscaping, etc. but also addresses today's priorities such as water lush landscaping, site design, setting up streets and blocks, buildings, and parking. A Regulating Plan looks like a simple diagram, but it is telling you many things about the site such as what kinds of streets go where, what do they look like, what does the right -of -way look like, what does the construction look like. It tells you where the streets where pedestrians are going to be and where are the streets where the vehicles will be. You will be able to make sure you have all of your main streets and where the parking will fit in. The text that goes with it further defines all of those things. The idea of creating flexibility while still allowing your standards to come through. You don't have to ratchet down and regulate everything, but can allow for some flexibility. Ms. Marino distributed a handout showing an example how to create a form based code using this idea of a Regulating Plan and reviewed it. It walks you through and tells you what you are trying to do in a Target Area 1 including what the bulk standards are that relate to specific blocks. She stated it provides the idea of taking the Regulating Plan and moving that all the way down to Land Development Regulations. Ms. Marino said the next step is to continue working in the Draft Regulating Plan for Target Area 1 with staff which should be finalized in the next week. She stated they are also working on the Draft Vision Plan for Target Area 2, which will then go through the same steps as Target Area 1. They are also initiating steps for Target Area 3. The idea to work with the individual target areas first before looking at it as a whole may seem backwards but they wanted to deal with the issues with the landowners in these areas because that was the highest priority to the city at this time. Ms. Marino said another thing they would like to do is to look at the entirety of the CRA and bring the citizenry into the discussion is to use the Founders' Day event as a way to begin to get the idea out there and get a little buzz about this project. She distributed another handout which will be used at the Founders' Day Event. She mentioned that they are holding a Community Workshop on the CRA on November 4, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. At Founders' Day they want to build some excitement about what we are doing. There will be a display board that talks about the City's history and future. They will have handouts such as magnetic postcards and gifts to get people to spend some time at the booth and answer survey questions. It will be a sprint to get everything done by December, but that is the goal. Vice Chair R. Johnson asked if anyone has any questions. Board Member Corless asked for a copy of the Draft Regulating Plan. She also clarified that the community meeting in November will be on the CRA as a whole and highlighting Target Areas 1, 2, and 3. Board Chair Vandergrift discussed opposition that may occur with big box developers and what they will have to do to make that happen now that there is a plan for interconnecting business. Development Services Director Shadrix stated that the Master Plan Drawing represents the type of development that could be put there given that network; it creates the environment we are trying to achieve. There is a plan for small box and big box stores to fit into the environment. They can get online permitting and get through the process in record time. Board Member Hood confirmed that no matter what type of business, there will be a menu to adapt to any of them. Development Services Director Shadrix said they anticipate this board convening more frequently from here on out. They will rely on this board for support, guidance and assistance to implement these things. Board Member Coreless said she is excited to move forward in deciding what we want to be and what we can be. The opportunity is out there to make a wonderful statement about our city. Developers are changing and they have seen the path of what needs to happen to provide the quality developing they want. It will take time, patience and education, but she felt they will really have something special. Board Member Hood agreed that it was exciting. Board Member Keller and Board Member Wilsen stated that their contact information needs to be changed on the CRA Member List. V. Attorney Comments (David Cardwell) Board Chair Vandergrift noted that CRA Attorney David Cardwell and City Attorney Rosenthal were not able to be here due to illness. Development Services Director Shadrix thanked everyone and said he hoped to see them at Founders' Day. VI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m. APPROVED: Attest: r, Beth Eiken.erry, Secretary S. Scott Vandergrift, hair