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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-2023 SPCC MinutesHOME OF PELICAN ISLAND SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023 — 5:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 1. Mayor Jones called the Special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2. A moment of silence was held. 3. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 4. ROLL CALL Mayor Fred Jones Vice Mayor Chris Nunn Council Member Kelly Dixon Council Member Ed Dodd Council Member Bob McPartlan Staff Present: City Manager Paul Carlisle City Attorney Manny Anon, Jr. City Clerk Jeanette Williams Community Development Director Lisa Frazier Community Development Manager Dom Bosworth Deputy Police Chief Greg Witt 5. DISCUSS THE D. R. HORTON PROPERTIES ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF ROSELAND ROAD AND CR 512 (SEBASTIAN BLVD.) Vice Mayor Nunn displayed a PowerPoint presentation and explained he was here to talk about safety concerns for three lots on Roseland Road and the corner of CR512. The specific lots are 1098, 1086, and 1072. (See attached) He noted the first lot was cleared and pointed out on the slide the number of cars in the (Roseland Road) turning lane which presents the challenge of his point. People who will live in the homes will have to turn right onto Roseland Road and go down to find a road to turn around on to access their homes. He presented how the furthest, most southern lot is about 10 feet from the line of the turning lane, putting it in the active area of the turning lane. Special City Council Meeting January 18, 2023 Page 2 He noted the owner of lot #1058 actually sold the house when the turning lane went in and now it is a rental home. In 2021 there were eight accidents there, and in 2022 there were 11. He said his concern was that the number of accidents will increase and while they can't fix what people do, if there is an opportunity that the City might acquire the lots they might avert a future disaster in that area. Vice Mayor Nunn said he is a strong believer in private property rights, he has a hard time telling people what to do with their property leading to the only answer of trying to acquire the property. He said there is a possibility that D.R. Horton might be amenable to selling the property. Mayor Jones said it was his understanding that we are waiting to see if the County will approve the driveway permits. Vice Mayor Nunn noted that County said if they are developed as legal residential lots, they would issue the permits. The City Manager explained that the builder would have to receive a ROW permit before receiving a building permit. He said that he hasn't received direction from Council to approach the developer on these lots. He suggested moving the driveway on the first lot as far north as possible. Mayor Jones noted there's another similar situation at the intersection at Fleming and CR512 and so far everything has been working well there. Vice Mayor Nunn noted Roseland Road is a different road structure than Fleming. Vice Mayor Nunn said the lots could be used as environmental property and kept natural. He noted that he spoke to a D.R. Horton official who asked what the City was thinking to do but he advised D.R. Horton that it would have to be at the discretion and direction of Council. Council Member Dodd said he was not in favor of purchasing the lots and noted that if it's not safe for a house, there is nothing that the City could do with the property. He said he would be in favor of waiting for the County to make a decision. Council Member Dixon said she agreed with Council Member Dodd. She described how there are houses along U.S. 1 in Grant where people are driving 55 mph and people have to really slow down to access their driveways. She said we all should be slow when approaching intersections; she understands the concern but she doesn't feel like purchasing the property is the right thing to do. Mayor Jones noted that law enforcement is there to enforce any illegal traffic turns. Council Member McPartlan said he was as concerned about safety as many people. He asked why this wasn't included in the next agenda packet where he could have made additional inquiries. Special City Council Meeting January 18, 2023 Page 3 5:22pm Vice Mayor Nunn said another week would allow additional fill on the lot and permits to be issued, then it would be too late to have the discussion. He said in his opinion the only thing they could do is possibly purchase the lots but it sounded like they weren't willing to do that. Council Member McPartlan said there are many roads in the City that he wouldn't put a house on. He asked if they were devaluing the property by saying there are safety concerns. The City Attorney advised that they should be careful with the words that they use, if Council decides as a whole that the property is dangerous, it could potentially be devalued but they should make that call as a whole. Council Member McPartlan said he was aware the property owner gave up some ROW to build the driveway so the County will probably authorize the turn lane. Public Input Terry McGinn, Miller Drive, asked if the City could go to the County to plead the case not to issue the permits and suggested some options. Peter Bonell, 1033 Blossom Drive, said his house was the one with the pool behind lot #1058. He asked that Council look at all of the options. Louise Kautenburg, Sebastian, said the intersection is very busy and the situation is unfortunate because when the lots were platted, Roseland Road was a two lane road. She suggested the City should officially contact the County and request the lots be safety easements. Tom Hill, 725 Media Terrace, said the lots could be a nice park or bike path. He suggested that the City might trade some tracts behind Winn Dixie for the lots. Debbie Folks, 1029 Blossom Drive, said the yellow umbrella in the picture was her home and they didn't know they were so close to the intersection when they bought the home. When people turn into their property on Roseland Road, it will back up traffic on CR512. She said she wasn't happy. Keith Miller, 961 Riviera Avenue, said they can't get out of their street onto Roseland Road, sometimes they back up and go down to the next street. He said they have to come up with an idea but buying the property isn't the right thing. Cerb Sol, Tulip Drive, said this is a prime spot for people coming off Interstate 95 to have an artist dedicate something for the people to see how great Sebastian is. Joy Etheridge said this was a major problem and she didn't understand why the County put in the turn lanes. She asked how the service trucks such as a concrete track or crane Special City Council Meeting January 18, 2023 Page 4 will even be able to build a house at the location. She said the County should do something about this. Andrea Ring, Quarry Lane, said the City should not buy the property. It will be the problem of people that move there. Jason _?_, Sebastian, said he drives garbage track and knows people do not pay attention because they frequently pull out of their driveways and almost hit his truck. There are more dangerous roads in Sebastian but the problem with this intersection is that people don't want to slow down. He said it would have made more sense to move the road to the east, then the right turn lane to CR512 would have provided room for an access road. He asked Council to look at all of the options. Richard Rosen, 965 Streamlet Avenue, said he was in favor of purchasing the lots because 10 or 15 years from now the expenditure will be minor when there are so many people using the intersection. Mary In Walker said Council was elected to ask the hard questions for the people. She asked them to heed what they hear. In 10 or 20 years the young are going to ask why they didn't think about this --just like we are asking now. Vice Mayor Nunn said as an elected official he has an obligation to look at the citizens' safety. He said he has asked the City Manager about the driveways but he alone can't direct the City Manager. He thanked them for meeting in an effort to try to do something before there is a problem and he hoped that the right things will happen. Mayor Jones said he is concerned with safety as he has worked with traffic accidents for 31 years but he also understands that personal property rights are protected. If the lot is platted D.R. Horton has a right to build a home. Council Member Dodd said all members care about the intersection but they can't go to the County and demand them to turn down the permit. He cares about the citizens of Sebastian. The City Manager said right now staff is following the building and Land Development Code. If Council would like him to approach D.R. Horton to do something different, he would need Council direction. MOTION by Council Member Dodd and SECOND by Mayor Jones to direct the City Manager to contact D.R. Horton to discuss options that are available with those three lots and bring back a report as quick as possible. Vice Mayor Nunn apologized and said he didn't mean to insinuate that Council doesn't care. He said he knew this meeting had to happen to give the City Manager direction. Council Member McPartlan said he likes the idea of a land swap and understands that it would make a nice pocket park but that might attract teen delinquency with Winn Dixie Special City Council Meeting January 18, 2023 Page 5 being so close. He suggested that the City Manager ask D.R. Horton what they envision for the property. Council Member Dodd cautioned that D.R. Horton is going to probably want a half million dollars for the property to cover the $225,000 purchase price, land clearing and grubbing and then the profit they think they will be losing. Council Member Dixon said they wouldn't be able to save everyone from every accident that might happen and she encouraged everyone to be kinder and more careful behind the wheel while they gather more information. Roll call: Vice Mayor Nunn - aye Council Member Dixon - aye Council Member Dodd - aye Council Member McPartlan - aye Mayor Jones - aye Motion carried. 5-0 6. Being no further business, Mayor Jones adjourned the Special City Council meeting at 5:59 p.m. Approved at the February 8, 2023 Regular City Council meeting. Mayor Fred Jones ATTEST., 49111 Williams, City Clerk MYOF SEBT�V HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND OFFICE OF THE VICE MAYOR Safety Concerns for DR Horton Owned Lots 1098, 1086 & 1072 Roseland Road Accident Statistics for CR-512 & Roseland Rd. 1 Jan. — 31 Dec. 2021 Total = 8 accidents Total = 11 accidents 1 Jan. — 31 Dec. 2022