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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem III (A) Acceptance and Approval of Minutes of the Special Session held May 26, 1994 \ DRAFT Subject to Board AGENDA 6-7-94 Item III A Approval MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING HELD May 26, 1994 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Vandergrift called to order at 7:35 p.m. the special meeting of the Ocoee Board of City Commissioners to consider the transmittal of proposed comprehensive plan amendments for Lake Lotta Mall and Lake Lotta Center to the Florida Department of Community Affairs. Commissioner Foster led in the prayer and Mrs. Frances Watts, President of West Orange Senior Citizens, led in the pledge of allegiance. The roll was called and a quorum declared present. PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioners Combs, Foster, Gleason, and Johnson. Also present were City Manager Shapiro, City Attorney Rosenthal, Planning Director Wagner, Administrative Services Director Beamer, and Deputy City Clerk Green. ABSENT: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS Lake Lotta Mall, Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Case No. CPA 1-9-93 and Lake Lotta Center, Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Case No. CPA 2-9-93 Mayor Vandergrift explained that the two public hearings, for Lake Lotta Mall and Lake Lotta Center, would be combined for efficiency and asked citizens who address the Commission to state to which they refer. Planning Director Russ Wagner briefly summarized the purpose of the meeting and the projects to be considered as follows: The two projects had recently been approved through the regional planning process and were here tonight for the transmittal public hearing to send the comprehensive plan amendments to the state for review. As part of the required review and approval process for a Development of Regional Impact (DRI), a concurrent Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) must be submitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) when any Future Land Use Map changes are required to accommodate the project. Commission action tonight would be to approve transmittal only. The DRI and comprehensive plan amendments would come before Commission for consideration and adoption in August or September. It was Staff's position that proposals submitted by the consultants for each of the developers were conceptually consistent with the City's comprehensive plan. If developers planned their projects in accordance with the DRI development order as recommended by the regional planning commission and also met all of City codes, Staff believed ultimately this land use change could be approvable. Staff recommended that both plan amendments be transmitted to DCA. The applicant for Lake Lotta Mall has proposed to change 118.1 acres on the Future Land Use Map from High Density Residential (60.4 ac.), Medium Density Residential (37.3 ac.) and Low Density Residential (20.4 ac.) to Commercial classification. The applicant for Lake Lotta Center has proposed to change 35 acres on the Future Land Use Map from High Density Residential (20 ac.) and Low Density Residential (15 ac.) to Commercial. Mr. Wagner said that was the limit of their changes and both consultants were present to make presentations to the board about each project. Ocoee City Commission Special Meeting May 26, 1994 City Manager Shapiro explained that some of the issues to be considered tonight had been discussed with City Commissioners individually in the presence of the City Attorney so there had been no sunshine law violations. He said the original plans for the projects had been downgraded regarding traffic and types and intensities of land uses in response to concerns of neighbors, City staff, and Commissioners. The original DRI as proposed to the City through the regional planning council had been changed and would be modified for the record by presentations of the changed plans to City Commission tonight. For the record Mr. Shapiro asked any citizens who had concerns about the projects not addressed in tonight's presentations to notify Staff about them. Mr. Jim Grant, of Homart Development Company, the developers of Lake Lotta Mall project, introduced Mr. Ed Siecus and Ms. Jan Davis, also with Homart, and local team members Mr. Bill Kercher, Mr. Tim Jackson of Glatting, Jackson (planning and traffic consultants) and Mr. Hal Kantor, attorney, of Lowndes, Drosdick. Mr. Grant said that Homart, a Chicago based company about 35 years old, had participated in over 100 regional malls nationwide, either as developer, manager, or equity owner interest, and that Homart had ranked in the top three of the country's largest mall developers. He said the team represented a number of department store clients as well as Homart Development Company. Collectively, Homart and the retailers were excited about the opportunity to better serve the West Orange County market place and believed the new stores in Lake Lotta Mall would provide convenient shopping alternatives to Ocoee and to West Orange residents. They believed the residential growth rate in the area now would support this project without impacting sales in other malls. They were anxious to begin this project in the fall of 1994 and to open in the fall of 1996. Site plan discussions with City staff have begun. TVS, an Atlanta architectural firm, has been selected to design the project. Site plans, architectural renderings, and conceptual drawings of the mall should be available for informational purposes by the August-September hearings. He described Homart's three most recent mall projects in the Southeast: 1. Pembroke Lakes Mall, 10 miles west of Ft. Lauderdale, opened October, 1992. 2. Northpoint Mall, 18 miles north of downtown Atlanta in Alpharetta, opened 1993. 3. Columbiana Center, 10 miles north of Columbia, South Carolina, built in 1990. Mr. Bill Kercher, of Glatting, Jackson, said that his firm was planning consultant for the mall, and was traffic consultant for both the mall and the center projects. In a brief overview of the 130 acre Lake Lotta Mall project, he explained the first phase provided for a 1,100,000 square foot mall with an additional 100,000 square feet of commercial space and the second phase for 300,000 square feet, for a total of 1,500,000 square feet of total space when the project was completed. They had several meetings with residents to determine the concerns of neighbors and to accommodate them to the extent possible. They had also met with staff to work out some of the issues beforehand. He said it was unusual to have some of the solutions this early in the process. 2 Ocoee City Commission Special Meeting May 26, 1994 Mr. Tim Jackson, also of Glatting, Jackson, summarized transportation issues for the mall and the center. He said the site was well served by the regional transportation network of Clarke Road, the East-West Expressway, and Highway 50, and by the local network of Good Homes Road and White Road. To address transportation issues, they proposed phasing of development. Upon completion of the first phase, traffic conditions would be reviewed to determine what improvements might be needed. After working with the Regional Planning Council and the staffs of DOT, Orange County and the City, the original proposal for the first phase had been reduced by 25%. All those agencies had agreed that the present roadway network would operate at an acceptable level of service through the proposed first phase of the mall and all the development currently anticipated to occur in this area between now and 1997 based on the standards in the City's Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Tom Cloud, an attorney with Gray, Harris and Robinson, representing the Lake Lotta Center project, introduced Mr. Barry Goodman, the owner of the property, and Mr. Neil Frazee and Mr. Jim Sellen, of the planning firm of Miller-Sellen Associates, Inc. He said the sole issue before Commission tonight was approval of the transmittal of the proposed comprehensive amendments to the DCA. In response to concerns of citizens, City Commissioners, and City Staff, they had downsized their project. Residential development has been planned for the first phase and any commercial development would be constructed in the second phase. The high density residential development originally planned west of Clarke Road has been changed to single family. Commercial square footage has been reduced by 50% to 275,000 square feet. This would result in a 17,000+ reduction in average daily trips generated by the Center. They have agreed to assign to the mall approximately 17,000 of their 21,000 vested average daily trips, retaining vested trips only for residential development. They have agreed to right-of-way dedications to the City on Clarke Road and White Road without impact fee credits, and to delete the access from Good Homes Road to their part of the project. Mr. Neil Frazee, of Miller-Sellen Associates, made a brief presentation about the location of land uses for the center. He pointed out the land uses as originally proposed in the plan which was approved by the Region in the original development order. He presented a conceptual plan of the downsized proposal showing 35 acres of commercial development west of Clarke Road with single family residential lots of 75 x 110 ft. adjacent to the Hammocks Subdivision, 70 x 110 ft. lots west of Clarke Road and north of the commercial development and 50 x 110 ft. lots east of Clarke Road and north of the mall. Multi-family residential units were planned for the area east of the mall and north of Lake Lotta. The plan included approximately 200 multi-family residential units and 151 single family residential units. Mayor Vandergrift opened the public hearing. Bruce Hossfield, P. O. Box 2975, Orlando, spoke as a representative of the Sierra Club. He was not opposed to the mall or the center, but was concerned about environmental issues, i.e., 3 1 , Ocoee City Commission Special Meeting May 26, 1994 protecting gopher-tortoise habitat, encouraging use of mass transit, promoting energy efficient development, and not widening Colonial Drive. He suggested reducing amount of parking, building mall as two story, and having closer relationship between uses on the sites. R. P. Mohnacky, 1820 Prairie Lake Boulevard, asked if White Road would be straightened out. Mr. Shapiro said for the record that, although this is not a part of the DRI, the dangerous turn around the pit will be lessened so that it would be a safer turn, but not straightened. Mr. Mohnacky suggested including a bridge with one lane to the expressway and one lane to Colonial East to reduce traffic problems. Mayor Vandergrift responded that no road changes were required for the first phase. In response to Mr. Mohnacky's question about the effect of this mall on existing malls, Jim Grant said that Homart and their department store clients were fully satisfied that the growth rate in the area would be sufficient to support the existing stores in the other malls as well as the new mall. Mayor Vandergrift asked for the record what stores were on board and asked if upscale stores could be included. Mr. Granlaid the stores were Gayfers, Sears, Dillards, Penneys, and Burdines but that Homart had not received positive responses from the upscale stores. Mr. Steven Martynink, 153 Hercules Court, asked what the price range of the homes would be. Mr. Barry Goodm. 0 esponded that they would sell the lots for as much as they could. Mr. William Cordell, 851 Hammocks Drive, asked Mr. Cloud if the commercial square footage for the center which had been reduced might be increased in the future. Mr. Cloud responded that they reduced the square footage to help meet the traffic requirements for the projects and to add a safety factor. He said it would be possible to ask for a modification, but that modification would have to go through the entire process that they are going through now, and it would havele justified based on reality. Mr. Cordell asked what kind of stores were planned for the center and Mr. Goodman explained that it would be similar to the Highland Lakes Center at Highway 50 and Hiawasse. Mr. Cordell asked the quality planned for the multi-family units. Mr. Goodman said he would not be building them, but they would probably be higher end. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Foster, seconded by Commissioner Combs, moved that the proposed comprehensive plan amendment for Lake Lotta Mall, Case No. CPA 1-9-93, be transmitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for their review and comment. On roll call Commissioner Combs voted "aye," Commissioner Foster "aye," Commissioner Gleason "aye," Commissioner Johnson "aye," and Mayor Vandergrift "aye." Motion carried 5-0. 4 Ocoee City Commission Special Meeting May 26, 1994 protecting gopher-tortoise habitat, encouraging use of mass transit, promoting energy efficient development, and not widening Colonial Drive. He suggested reducing amount of parking, building mall as two story, and having closer relationship between uses on the sites. R. P. Mohnacky, 1820 Prairie Lake Boulevard, asked if White Road would be straightened out. Mr. Shapiro said for the record that, although this is not a part of the DRI, the dangerous turn around the pit will be lessened so that it would be a safer turn, but not straightened. Mr. Mohnacky suggested including a bridge with one lane to the expressway and one lane to Colonial East to reduce traffic problems. Mayor Vandergrift responded that no road changes were required for the first phase. In response to Mr. Mohnacky's question about the effect of this mall on existing malls, Jim Grant said that Homart and their department store clients were fully satisfied that the growth rate in the area would be sufficient to support the existing stores in the other malls as well as the new mall. Mayor Vandergrift asked for the record what stores were on board and asked if upscale stores could be included. Mr. Grant said the stores were Gayfers, Sears, Dillards, Penneys, and Burdines but that Homart had not received positive responses from the upscale stores. Mr. Steven Martynink, 153 Hercules Court, asked what the price range of the homes would be. Mr. Barry Goodman responded that they would sell the lots for as much as they could. Mr. William Cordell, 851 Hammocks Drive, asked Mr. Cloud if the commercial square footage for the center which had been reduced might be increased in the future. Mr. Cloud responded that they reduced the square footage to help meet the traffic requirements for the projects and to add a safety factor. He said it would be possible to ask for a modification, but that modification would have to go through the entire process that they are going through now, and it would have to be justified based on reality. Mr. Cordell asked what kind of stores were planned for the center and Mr. Goodman explained that it would be similar to the Highland Lakes Center at Highway 50 and Hiawasse. Mr. Cordell asked the quality planned for the multi-family units. Mr. Goodman said he would not be building them, but they would probably be higher end. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Foster, seconded by Commissioner Combs, moved that the proposed comprehensive plan amendment for Lake Lotta Mall, Case No. CPA 1-9-93, be transmitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for their review and comment. On roll call Commissioner Combs voted "aye," Commissioner Foster "aye," Commissioner Gleason "aye," Commissioner Johnson "aye," and Mayor Vandergrift "aye." Motion carried 5-0. 4 Ocoee City Commission Special Meeting May 26, 1994 Mayor Vandergrift asked about ownership and plans for the parcel surrounded by the mall. The parcel was owned by the Ozanian family and plans for it were conceptual. Commissioner Combs commented that, by making the reductions, Mr. Goodman had contributed toward making the center a good project, and he appreciated it. Commissioner Gleason commented that he preferred the single family residential buffer now planned near the Hammocks to replace the high density residential originally planned for the area. He thanked Mr. Kercher and Mr. Frazee for their communication with area residents over the last year and was hopeful that the many remaining issues could be resolved through continued communication. Commissioner Foster, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, moved that the proposed comprehensive plan amendment for Lake Lotta Center, Case No. CPA 2-9-93, be transmitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for their review and comment. On roll call Commissioner Combs voted "aye," Commissioner Foster "aye," Commissioner Gleason "aye," Commissioner Johnson "aye," and Mayor Vandergrift "aye." Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Vandergrift commented that he appreciated the efforts made by the consultants and the Homart representatives to reach out to and to listen to the community, and he thought we would "live well together" if the projects come to fruition. He commended Mr. Hossfield for his presentation and his suggestion for mixed use to permit pedestrian access to the mall from the homes. Mayor Vandergrift commended the Planning and Zoning Commission for their hard work and recognized Chairman Harold Switzer and alternate member Rob McKey who were present. Commissioner Johnson thanked Staff for their time, preparation, and effort in pushing for the desires of the citizens and the Commission. He wanted to make sure that neighbors in Rose Hill and the Hammocks would be satisfied with the projects, and that problems such as those experienced near the mall in Altamonte Springs would be avoided. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. APPROVED: Attest: City of Ocoee Jean Grafton, City Clerk S. Scott Vandergrift, Mayor 5