HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-2011 PZ MinutesThe pledge of allegiance was said by all.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mr. Roth
Mr. Dodd
Mr. Simmons
Mr. Srinivasan
ALSO PRESENT:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
OLD BUSINESS: NONE
NEW BUSINESS:
CITY OF SEBASTIAN
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 20, 2011
Chairman Paul called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M.
EXCUSED: Mr. Hepler
Mr. Cardinale
Mr. Paul
Mr. Durr (a)
Mr. Reyes (a)
Rebecca Grohall, Growth Management Director
Jan King, Growth Management Manager
Robert Ginsburg, City Attorney
Dorri Bosworth, Zoning Technician /Secretary
Mr. Paul noted for the record that Mr. Hepler has an excused absence, and that Mr.
Reyes will be voting in his place.
MOTION by Dodd /Simmons to approve the January 6, 2011 Regular Meeting minutes
as submitted. Motion was approved unanimously by roll call. Ms. Bosworth noted the
page headers had been revised with the correct date.
A. DISCUSSION REVIEW OF ARTICLE V, ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE CONSIDERATION OF PERMITTED
CONDITIONAL USES FOR EACH DISTRICT
Ms. Grohall stated that staff was seeking the input of the Commission regarding the
permitted and conditional uses allowed in each of the zoning classifications and also
wanted to facilitate a discussion about uses not specifically identified in the code, such
as crematories and kennels.
The Commission discussed different approaches of attack and where they wanted to get
started from. Mr. Dodd stated he had marked the Sebastian zoning chart (from Section
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 20, 2011
54 -2 -5, given to Commissioners in their agenda packets) with his suggestions, and gave
a copy to staff.
Mr. Dodd suggested adding two new zoning districts. One was Commercial Waterfront,
a district without a residential component. He felt the residential pockets along Indian
River Drive might prohibit what he saw as the goals for that area. He thought with the
low property prices right now that if you wanted to build a large waterfront house you
could actually buy commercial land cheap and convert to a residential use, which is what
happened next to the Yacht Club. He went over the uses he suggested for the new
district, which did not include any residential or heavy commercial, but uses to try to
building the core of the tourist area that he felt the city was trying to establish.
Mr. Dodd's second new zoning district was a suggested "512 A" for the Triangle, which
also removed residential uses and included cultural and civic facilities, educational clubs,
ancillary uses, etc. He could see residential uses as an accessory use to a business,
such as the watchman's apartment above the office for the 512 Storage business, but
felt a home occupational use as a conditional use by the apartment should be
considered. Mr. Dodd reiterated that the CW district should only be along Indian River
Drive, that he felt the residences along Old Dixie and N. Central, and areas were fine.
Ms. Grohall explained that the intent of creating the existing "mixed use" districts was to
develop commercial on a lower floor with a residential use on a 2 -story.
Mr. Dodd stated he hears discussion from council meetings regarding "walk traffic
people walking around the shops on Indian River Drive. Mr. Dodd questioned if there
was one shop then eight houses, one shop then eight houses, are people going to walk
around to the shops? He felt this was the opportunity (reviewing the code) to clean up
the zoning (eliminating residential uses) if this was when the city wanted to correct this
and facilitate their vision for the riverfront. A decision should be made.
Mr. Roth had staff verify where the Triangle Overlay District was located, and where its
regulations were in the code book.
Mr. Reyes inquired if the Commission would be looking at the conditional use criteria,
and asked if the proposed algae bio- energy facility was an odd use for staff to consider.
Ms. Grohall stated it was, but that the project could be considered a marine related use,
which is allowed in the CWR district.
Mr. Cardinale stated he would like to see the Commission review areas of the city
specifically and state what uses they would like to see instead of jumping around. Mr.
Durr agreed and would like to start with the waterfront using Mr. Dodd's chart/worksheet.
Mr. Reyes agreed with Mr. Dodd, and felt there were three areas where residential might
want to be removed. Mr. Paul was concerned with property rights of the residential
owners. Mr. Dodd agreed with something Mr. Minner had stated at a previous meeting
that unlike Melbourne, who had a defined downtown, Sebastian had to work on creating
one. He felt as planners their recommendation should at least be forwarded to City
Council for them to make a final decision.
Mr. Dodd went over his marked up chart, explaining some of his suggested clean -up of
changing conditional uses to permitted uses and visa versa. He updated some of the
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 20, 2011
uses allowed in zoning districts based on what was built in recent times, i.e. allowing
equestrian facilities in the Conservation District as a conditional use because a corral
had already been built on Main Street.
Mr. Dodd went over his recommendations for proposed district "512 A the gateway
area to the riverfront, eliminating child care services, nursing homes, and churches,
aiming with more tourist -type uses such as clubs, bars, restaurants, and small
commercial (under 5,000 sf).
Mr. Durr asked staff if it was easier to modify a current zoning district than to create a
new one and re- outline the district areas. Ms. Grohall stated it was easier to modify than
create. Mr. Durr suggested modifying CWR. Mr. Dodd thought there were areas where
CWR was a still a good fit (with the residential). Ms. Grohall asked for verification if it
was only single family uses suggested to be removed or would a mixed -use
development be OK? Mr. Dodd did not think residents in the riverfront would garner
enough financial support to the existing businesses as compared to bringing in more
visitors /tourist dollars. He stated he tends to visit Mulligan's in Vero because he can
walk around the oceanfront shopping district compared to what is in the area of the
Sebastian Mulligan's. He is not anti residential, just wanted to facilitate commercial
growth within some of the pockets along the riverfront, understanding this is a long -term
plan. Currently, he stated, all RM -8 uses are allowed along Indian River Drive and US
#1 houses, duplexes, multi family, foster care homes in the main commercial district
Sebastian has.
Mr. Roth stated he totally agreed with Mr. Dodd, but was not against a row of shops with
condos /apts on the second floor. He felt other businesses potentially would want to
relocate to the riverfront if the right planning could generate additional (customer) traffic.
He also agreed with the campaign to slow down traffic on US #1.
Mr. Paul suggested reviewing line by line using the zoning chart given to them in their
packets starting with CWR.
RESIDENTIAL USES:
The first line item was single family dwellings. Mr. Durr concurred with Mr. Roth with
allowing a mixed use building. Mr. Paul inquired about making them conditional uses.
Mr. Dodd clarified that the area along N. Central was mainly residential but still zoned
CWR. Rebecca explained that if the use was removed the residences could remain but
they would become a non conforming use. They would be allowed to rebuild if an act of
God occurred, but could not expand. If unused for a certain amount of time, the use
would lose its grandfather rights. Mr. Dodd questioned if changing the zoning district
boundaries would help. Ms. Grohall felt tweaking the uses within the category was the
most direct route. Rezoning was a lengthier process.
Mr. Dodd suggested removing single family, duplex, and multiple family dwellings as
permitted and adding "All uses permitted in RM -8" as conditional to accommodate a
mixed use building. Mr. Ginsburg advised the Commission on the court's view of
conditional uses. Mr. Roth felt leaving multi family as permitted would allow for mixed
use buildings, and wanted to see Foster care /group homes removed. A discussion was
held on "accessory residential uses" vs. "residential uses accessory to permitted uses
A suggestion was made to create a term such as "mixed use building" making it a
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 20, 2011
conditional use requiring the residential unit to be in the upper level. Staff stated it will
research for a proper term.
In the first section of the chart, it was agreed to recommend removal of single family,
duplex, and multi family dwellings, accessory uses to permitted uses, foster care, but to
keep accessory residential uses and home occupations.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES:
Mr. Durr felt child care would be good for a mixed use area. Mr. Ginsburg explained to
the Commission that the State Legislature had rules regarding day care that preempted
some of the local zoning laws. It was decided to remove them since other good child
care facilities were available. Cultural or civic facilities change to a permitted use. There
was a discussion on educational institutions marine related and the intensity of the use,
so it was considered to remove the term "institution Remove nursing homes. There
was a discussion regarding an approved "chapel" and the definition of churches in
relation to the alcohol ordinances. Remove churches. Remove clubs lodges, and
administrative services. Leave utilities as conditional. Staff explained that public parks
recreation are usually rezoned to Public Service after they are established (remain as
conditional Protective and emergency services to remain conditional.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES:
Ms. Grohall explained that a definition for "accessory uses to conditional uses" would be
similar to what the crematory was to the funeral home, and that an applicant would have
to prove that the accessory use is not the principal use. Remain as a conditional use.
Keep adult entertainment as not permitted. Ms. Bosworth stated, though, that an "adult
arcade" is listed in the definition of adult entertainment, and staff has had quite a few
inquiries of opening an arcade in the commercial districts. Currently, they are only
allowed in the Industrial District. There was a discussion whether to allow the arcades in
the riverfront area. Mr. Roth felt that the arcades should be re- categorized. However,
there was no change recommended. Keep bait tackle shops. Add bar lounges as
permitted. Movable (food) vendors were discussed, currently not allowed. The
Commissioners felt it was a use they would like to see in the riverfront. Staff stated they
would look into the Code of Ordinances and LDC to see what would need to be
addressed. Keep bed breakfast as conditional, and boat sales rentals as permitted.
There was a discussion regarding business /professional offices and whether they should
remain in CWR. Mr. Dodd stated he thought the uses in CWR should be creating the
area along Indian River Drive and CR more along US #1 where he felt the banks and
professional offices should be located. Mr. Roth felt an office in a strip building would
work. Staff felt it was a good conversion use for some of the small residences along the
riverfront. It was decided to keep but change to conditional. No drive thrus. From the
chart, the following uses: Commercial amusement, enclosed through Commercial retail
20,000 SF should remain the same. There was a discussion on Farmer's markets, and
it was decided to leave it as is since most would be done on a temporary basis as a
special event. From Fish markets packing facilities to Marine fuel sales remain the
same. The Commission would like to see Marine power sales service added as a
conditional use, and staff will verify that definition (vs. boat sales service). Marine
specialty retail to remain the same. Remove medical services. The rest of the chart
should remain the same except that Trade skilled services and Wholesale trades
services should be marine related (conditional use vs. additional use added to chart?).
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 20, 2011
The next district to be reviewed would be Commercial Riverfront (CR) district
CHAIRMAN MATTERS:
The road projects were updated, with Barber Street project being near completion. Mr.
Paul asked about some of the driveways being totally replaced on some properties while
others were just portions.
MEMBERS MATTERS: None
DIRECTOR MATTERS:
Ms. Grohall invited all to visit the Sebastian Fine Art Music Festival this weekend down
on the riverfront, and to also visit our neighbors to the west for the Fellsmere Frog Leg
Festival.
ATTORNEY MATTERS: None
Chairman Paul adjourned the meeting at 9:34 p.m.
(1/25/11 db)
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