HomeMy WebLinkAbout12191989BOACity of Sebastian
POST OFFICE BOX 780127 [] SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 32978
TELEPHONE (407) 589-5330
FAX 407-589-5570
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City of Sebastian
POST OFFICE BOX 780127 [] SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 32978
TELEPHONE (407) 589-5330
FAX 407-589-5570
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City of Sebastian
POST OFFICE BOX 780127 [] SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 32978
TELEPHONE (407) 589-5330
FAX 407-589-5570
C(~'~S~i;1]t:(;l{ A VAR][ANCE ?~()~ THE CITY' OF SEBASTIAN LAND
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
'SPECIAL MEETING'
DECEMBER 19, 1989 - 3:00 P.M.
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN MATTHEWS AT 3:00 P.M.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS LED BY CHAIRMAN MATTHEWS.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:
CHAIRMAN, GALE MATTHEWS
VICE CHAIRMAN, LOUIS PRIORE
JOSEPH STEPHENSON
WALTER SHIELDS
JAMES HUSK, ALTERNATE
EXCUSED: MARY HEINICKE
ALSO PRESENT:
BRUCE COOPER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
OLD BUSINESS:
MOTION BY CHAIRMAN MATTHEWS, SECONDED BY MR. SHIELDS TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AUGUST 21, 1989, AT
3:00 P.M. AS WRITTEN.
MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC MEETING - SCOTT SILVA, iN REGARDS TO LOT 8, BLOCK 196,
SEBASTIAN HIGHLANDS UNIT 10, HAS REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO
ALLOW WASTEWATER FACILITIES IN THE REAR YARD, WHEREAS THE
ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE PLACEMENT OF SUCH FACILITIES IN THE
FRONT OR SIDE YARD.
SCOTT SILVA WITH HIGHLAND HOMES OF SEBASTIAN STATED THAT HE
APPLIED FOR A SEPTIC PERMIT AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THE
LOT IN QUESTION. THE HOUSE TO THE REAR OF THIS PROPERTY HAD
A DRAINFIELD IN THE BACK YARD. MR. SILVA SUGGESTED SEVERAL
PROPOSALS WHICH WOULD COMPLY WITH SEBASTIAN'S ORDINANCE TO
PLACE THE SEPTIC TANK AND DRAINFIELD IN THE FRONT OR SIDE
YARD, BUT WAS DENIED A SEPTIC PERMIT. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
CAME UP WITH THE PROPOSAL TO PUT THE DRAINFIELD IN THE REAR
YARD AND THE WELL IN THE FRONT. ALSO, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
WANTED TO HELP RECTIFY A PROBLEM WITH A WELL NEXT DOOR TO
THIS PROPERTY (LOT 7, BLOCK 196, UNIT 10) WHICH WAS PUT IN
TOO CLOSE TO A DRAINFiELD. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROPOSED
THAT THE WELL FOR LOT 7, BLOCK 196 COULD THEN BE PLACED IN
THE FRONT YARD OF LOT 8, BLOCK 196 ALONG WITH THE WELL FOR
THAT LOT.
PAGE 2
MR. COOPER STATED THAT THERE WILL BE SEVERAL ITEMS WHICH MR.
SILVA WILL HAVE TO PURSUE AFTERWARDS IF HE OBTAINS THIS
VARIANCE. THE OWNER OF LOT 7, BLOCK 196 WILL HAVE TO AGREE
TO RELOCATE THEIR WELL AND PLACE IT ON LOT 8 WiTH AN
EASEMENT. THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
WILL PERMIT MR. SILVA TO PLACE THE DRAINFIELD IN THE REAR.
MR. COOPER ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE WELLS TO BE LOCATED ON
LOT 8 BE PLACED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO HAVE THE LEAST IMPACT
ON LOT 9. THESE WELLS WILL HAVE VERY MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE
LOTS ACROSS THE STREET, WITH THE MAJOR IMPACT ON LOT 13,
BLOCK 197 (AFFECTING APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF THAT LOT).
BOTH LOT 13 AND LOT 14 OF BLOCK 196 HAVE DRAINFIELDS IN THE
REAR WHICH CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. THE WELLS
AND SEPTIC PERMITS ARE ISSUED THROUGH THE HEALTH AND
REHABILITATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND IF THERE WAS AN ERROR,
IT WAS ON THEIR PART AND NOT THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN.
MR. SILVA ALSO STATED THAT LOTS 11 AND 12, BLOCK 196 (WHICH
HAVE BEEN COMBINED) HAVE A REAR DRAINFIELD.
MR. PRIORE QUESTIONED WHY THE PROPOSED WELL SUBMITTED BY MR.
SILVA TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD NOT BE MOVED TOWARD THE
REAR PROPERTY LINE. MR. SILVA STATED THAT THE DRAINFIELD ON
LOT 13, BLOCK 196 COMES WITHIN 35 FEET OF THE PROPERTY LINE,
AND THEREFORE HE COULD NOT MOVE THE WELL ANY FURTHER TOWARD
THE REAR ON LOT 8.
CHAIRMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED WHETHER THE PROPOSED PLAN
SUBMITTED BY MR. SILVA TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD NOT BE
CHANGED TO MOVE THE SEPTIC TANK AND DRAINFIELD CLOSER TO
QUARRY LANE. MR. SILVA INDICATED THAT THERE MUST BE 300
SQUARE FEET OF DRAINFIELD WHICH IS 150 FEET OF LINE IN A TWO
FOOT WIDE STONE BED. MOVING THE DRAINFiELD FORWARD CREATES A
PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE DROP OFF INTO THE SWALE AREA WHICH IS
BELOW THE ROAD. THE DRAINFIELD NEEDS TO BE HELD BACK 5 TO 10
FEET FROM THE FRONT LINE TO GET A NICER GRADE GOING INTO THE
SWALE.
MR. PRIORE INDICATED THAT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SEEMS TO BE
DOING ONLY SEPTIC AND WELL VARIANCES AND TO APPROVE THIS
IS TO PERPETUATE THE PROBLEM. MR. COOPER INDICATED THAT THE
ORDINANCE IS SPECIFIC TO HAVE DRAINFIELDS IN THE FRONT AND TO
HAVE CONSISTENCY. HOWEVER, WHEN THERE ARE CONDITIONS WHICH
DICTATE THAT THE DRAINFIELD CANNOT BE PLACED IN THE FRONT,
THAT IS WHY THEY COME BEFORE YOU, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
PAGE 3
MR. SILVA STATED THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO
CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON LOT 7, BLOCK 196 WHICH HAS A WELL TOO
CLOSE TO A DRAINFIELD AND HAVE PUT THE BURDEN ON HiM TO COME
UP WITH A PLAN THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS ON BOTH LOTS.
THE GENTLEMAN AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT MR. SILVA HAS
BEEN DEALING WITH FOR SOME THREE MONTHS NOW IS ALLEN WATTERS.
MR. COOPER STATED THAT THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WHICH WAS
ENACTED IN AUGUST 1985 SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED THAT SEPTIC
TANKS AND DRAINFIELDS BE LOCATED IN THE FRONT OR SIDE YARDS.
PRIOR TO THAT TIME THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES HAD SIMILAR
WORDS BUT WITH A CLAUSE, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, BUT CAN BE
DIRECTED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL. IN OTHER WORDS, IT GAVE
THE CHOICE TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO GRANT THE PLACEMENT OF
THE SEPTIC IN THE REAR IF IT COULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE
FRONT.
A LENGTHY DISCUSSION FOLLOWED REGARDING THE DRAINFIELDS AND
WELLS ON ALL THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND THE POSSIBLE
IMPACT THIS VARIANCE, IF GRANTED, WOULD HAVE ON THEM. MR.
COOPER REMINDED THE BOARD THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY ADVISED THEM
THAT THE VARIANCE COULD BE GRANTED EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DICTATE
ANOTHER VARIANCE.
THE OWNERS OF LOT 7, BLOCK 196, MR. & MRS. WEATHINGTON, WERE
PRESENT. MRS. WEATHINGTON INDICATED THAT THEIR HOME WAS
BUILT IN APRIL OF 1986. THIS PROPERTY DID HAVE A SEPTIC AND
WELL PERMIT ISSUED BY H.R.S. WHICH WAS IN ERROR. THE CITY
iSSUED A BUILDING PERMIT BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE
CONTRACTOR DID HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT AND THE SEPTIC
TANK AND DRAINFiELD WERE PLACED IN THE FRONT YARD ACCORDING
TO CODE.
MR. SILVA INDICATED THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROBABLY
ISSUED THE PERMIT TO LOT 7, BLOCK 196 AS THE RESULT OF AN
ERROR ON THE SURVEY SUBMITTED TO THEM WHICH DID NOT SHOW THE
REAR DRAINFIELD ON LOT 14.
MR. WEATHINGTON ASKED IF THE SETBACK FROM THE WELL TO A
DRAINFIELD MAY HAVE BEEN 50 FEET IN 1988. MR. COOPER STATED
THAT THIS DISTANCE HAS BEEN 75 FEET FOR AT LEAST THE LAST
2 1/2 YEARS. MR. WEATHINGTON LATER STATED THAT THEY MOVED
INTO THEIR HOME IN 1988 RATHER THAN 1986 AS STATED BEFORE. HE
EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS AS TO THE EFFECT MOVING THE WELL ONTO
THE NEXT LOT MIGHT HAVE ON THE RESALE VALUE OF HIS HOME.
ALSO, THERE IS PROBABLY NO PLACE ON HIS LOT TO RELOCATE HIS
WELL WHICH WOULD COMPLY WITH THE 75 FEET SETBACK FOR A
DRAINFIELD.
PAGE 4
MR. SILVA POINTED OUT TO THE BOARD THAT SHOULD HE RESUBMIT
HIS ORIGINAL PLAN TO H.R.S. AND GET A PERMIT, IF THE WELL ON
LOT 7 DOES GO BAD, THERE WILL BE NO POSSIBLE PLACE TO DRILL
ANOTHER WELL ON THEIR LOT.
MR. PRIORE EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER THE EFFECT THIS VARIANCE
WOULD HAVE ON LOT 9. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID NOT REALLY
EXPRESS THE REASON MR. SILVA'S PROPOSAL WAS TURNED DOWN. MR.
COOPER TRIED TO CONTACT H.R.S. DURING THE MEETING, BUT WAS
UNABLE TO CONTACT MR. WATTERS. MR. SILVA FEELS THAT LOT 12
ALSO HAS A REAR DRAINFIELD AND THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED HIS
PROPOSAL TO BE TURNED DOWN. HOWEVER, H.R.S. DID NOT MAKE
THIS CLEAR.
MR LOEFLER, WHO IS THE OWNER OF LOT 14, BLOCK 196, WAS IN THE
AUDIENCE AND ADDRESSED THE BOARD. HE INDICATED THAT HIS
DRAINFIELD IS WITHIN 20 TO 25 FEET OF THE WELL ON LOT 7.
MR. COOPER WAS ABLE TO REACH MR. WATTERS AT H.R.S. BY PHONE.
THE SURVEY SUBMITTED TO H.R.S. FOR LOT 7 WAS IN ERROR AND DID
NOT SHOW THE REAR DRAINFIELD ON LOT 14, WHICH RESULTED IN THE
PROBLEM. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER PLACE ON
LOT 7 TO MOVE THE WELL WHICH IS WHY H.R.S. WAS ASKING MR.
SILVA TO PURSUE THE VARIANCE FOR LOT 8.
AFTER MORE LENGTHY DISCUSSION, CHAIRMAN MATTHEWS ASKED IF
ANYONE WISHED TO MAKE A MOTION.
MOTION BY MR. SHIELDS, SECONDED BY MR. STEPHENSON TO DENY THE
VARIANCE FOR LOT 8, BLOCK 196, SEBASTIAN HIGHLANDS UNIT 10,
TO ALLOW WASTEWATER FACILITIES IN THE REAR YARD, WHEREAS THE
ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE PLACEMENT OF SUCH FACILITIES IN THE
FRONT OR SIDE YARD.
ROLL CALL: AYE:
CHAIRMAN MATTHEWS
VICE CHAIRMAN PRIORE
MR. STEPHENSON
MR. SHIELDS
NAY: MR. HUSK
MOTION CARRIED.
CHAIRMAN'S MATTERS: NONE
COMMITTEE MATTERS: NONE
BUILDING OFFICIAL MATTERS: NONE
PAGE 5
NEW BUSINESS: MR. STEPHENSON MADE THE POINT THAT THE BOARD
OF ADJUSTMENTS DID NOT HAVE A PICNIC DURING THIS YEAR AND DID
NOT EVEN GET A LETTER OR ANYTHING FROM THE CITY STATING THAT
WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB HERE. HE MENTIONED THAT THE CITY
JUST HAD A BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY AND THAT NONE OF THE BOARDS
WERE INVITED. MR. COOPER SUGGESTED THAT THIS COMPLAINT BE
BROUGHT UP WITH THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY COUNCIL.
A BRIEF DISCUSSION FOLLOWED REGARDING MR. SILVA NOT GOING
BACK TO H.R.S. FOR A VARIANCE FROM THE STATE. MR. COOPER
STATED THAT MR. WATTERS AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID INDICATE
THAT IT WAS VERY UNLIKELY THAT SUCH A VARIANCE BE GRANTED.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE
BY MR. PRIORE, SECONDED BY MR. STEPHENSON.
MOTION CARRIED.
THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 4:45 P.M.