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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/22/2003 (2)July 22, 2003 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, met in Special Session at the County Commission Chambers, 1840 251'' Street, Vero Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at 1:30 p. m Present were Kenneth R. Macht, Chairman; Caroline D. Ginn, Vice Chairman; and Commissioners Fran B. Adams, Thomas S. Lowther, and Arthur R. Neuberger. Also present were James E. Chandler, County Administrator; William G. Collins II, County Attorney; and Patricia "PJ" Jones, Deputy Clerk. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Macht called the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Commissioner Ginn led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. INDUSTRIAL (ENTERPRISE) PARK CONCEPT PLAN PUBLIC WORKSHOP PROOF OF PUBLICATION OF ADVFRTI SEMENT FOR HEARING IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK TO THE BOARD Community Development Director Bob Keating reviewed his Memorandum and used a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Industrial Park concept plan. (COPY OF PRESENTATION IS ON FILE WITH THE BACKUP FOR TODAY'S MEETING.) JULY 22, 2003 1 Chairman Macht opened the public hearing and asked if anyone wished to be heard regarding this matter. Attorney Michael O'Haire, Cardinal Drive, Vero Beach, represents a developer, Mr. Sullivan of Moto, Inc., who is considering the development of an industrial park of 50 to 60 acres located on the south side of SR -60, west of I-95. The proposal outlined by staff puts a larger industrial park, subsidized by the County, in direct competition with his client. His client has spent over 7 figures preparing to develop this project and is prepared to take all of the risk but it is extremely disheartening to see the County creating a monopoly. His client's project meets all of the requirements with the exception of the 100 -acre size. His client deserves to have the same advantages as this developer who comes from outside the County. Director Keating stated that staff is encouraged to see the Moto project come in but staff had to determine a cut-off size and Mr. O'Haire's client's project will actually be more commercial than industrial in use. Guy Barber, Vero Beach, spoke in opposition to offering any incentives to a developer and felt that any plans to attract industry to the County only cost the taxpayers more money. He cited the County gun range as an example and felt that if any utilities needed to be installed, the developer should pay for such installations. Richard T. Ferry, President of VaUean Corporation, 1785 South Patrick Drive, Melbourne, stated that he was unable to do business in this County because of the wage rates. He felt that those rates are set by competition and not by city or county governments. He inquired about the average wage in Indian River County and, Director Keating responded that the average annual wage in this County is about $28,000. Mr. Ferry stated that he had been in business 35 years and not one of his production workers is making $28,000 a year. George Beutell, 5000 161'' Street, felt it is unfair to other sites in the County to restrict the acreage to 100 acres and asked what would happen to developers who only have 20, 30 or 40 acres. He felt it would be better to have many more smaller sites. He also pointed out that the industrial JULY 22, 2003 2 node at Oslo Road and 82nd Avenue across from the Landfill would certainly benefit the County if it were developed. Chairman Macht stated that the County has been actively seeking development of that site for 12 years and it has not been forthcoming. Private developers have stated that there would not be enough economic return. Mr. Beutell believed that tax incentives would bring in smaller property owners who would certainly enter into contracts with the County and wondered whether there have ever been any studies showing that 100 acres would be better than 10 or 20 acres. Chairman Macht noted that the relative cost would be much higher in a smaller development than a larger one. Brian Heady, Vero Beach, spoke in opposition to the project and believed that it would be wrong to assist developers from outside the County to compete with local developers. Chuck Sullivan, Vero Beach, principal of Moto, Inc., disagreed with the conclusion that the private sector has not taken the initiative. He felt the project he is proposing is exactly what the County wants with the exception that he does not have 100 acres. Commissioner Ginn questioned whether Mr. Sullivan has sites ready and whether he would be bringing his own sewer and water lines, and Mr. Sullivan replied that his site plan has been prepared and they will be installing their own sewer and water lines Chairman Macht then questioned how much of the project will be commercial rather than industrial, and Mr. Sullivan replied that several hundred feet on SR -60 will be commercial but the vast percentage will be industrial. Mr. Sullivan continued that the plans will be made available to the Board. Commissioner Neuberger questioned whether staff had considered smaller industrial parks, and Director Keating responded that staff had looked at several things including the fact that the park should be large enough in critical mass to have in place roads, sewers, stormwater development, distribution centers, and water. Planning Director Stan Boling noted that some smaller developers have come in with mostly contractor trades which are fine but do not have the dimensions to involve the new jobs involved in a development of 100 acres. Also, smaller developers are developing a business that needs to be up JULY 22, 2003 and running within a short period of time, usually one year. These larger industrial parks have stringent permitting requirements and will take much longer to develop and begin operating. Commissioner Neuberger stated that staff evidently did not see the larger industrial park as competition for the smaller developer, and Director Boling confirmed that by stating that the development of an industrial park would take much more time and permitting than the time and permitting required for a smaller developer. Commissioner Lowther questioned whether there are any big companies out there that have corresponded with staff. Penny Chandler, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, confirmed a lot of what Bob and Stan had already said in regard to the size of the developments. The Chamber gets a lot of prospects to talk to from Enterprise Florida and, if we had the development, we could send the information. Up to the point we have not had those properties. She has had about 6 inquiries this year for which she has not had a response. People drive by and see all the groves and agricultural land and see that we are nowhere close to being ready with industrial development, so they just keep driving. The I-95/SR-60 Corridor will be widened across the State and we will be at the crossroads to transport goods. We have also spent about 5 years trying to get a ramp at Oslo Road but tax incentive referenda have failed with the taxpayers. Perhaps if those incentives had passed, we would not be here today. However, the Chamber will do what it can to promote this product to bring higher -end and better paying jobs to the County. Our unemployment rates are so high it is very important for us to all work together to bring new jobs to the County. George Watson, 150 McKee Lane, spoke in favor of the plan and believed it would benefit the smaller developers. He noted that there are highly -skilled employees who have been laid off from Piper who are currently looking for work and the local school systems are training people for more highly skilled employment. Frank Coffey, 1200 Admirals Walk, President of the Taxpayers Association, felt that economic development is an essential part of the County's growth but questioned what kinds of jobs, what salary ranges, and what training there would be. He also noted that X -L Vision had afforded some very high -paying jobs in the County which are no longer with us and questioned what would happy if the developer does not meet his contractual obligations. JULY 22, 2003 4 Richard Ferry stated that he would love to come to Indian River County but he is having trouble finding a site with truck dock space. His company makes non-prescription drugs and employs 40 persons. Michael O'Haire asked that minimum sizes be established so that there would not be County subsidized, below-market competition. Peter Robinson, President of Laurel Homes, felt the County should be willing to subsidize the project if it produces jobs. Guy Barber complained that the Mall on SR -60 is a commercial tax base and the store owners are making money but the employees cannot afford to become a part of the tax base by purchasing a lot and building a house. He felt that the County is creating a monopoly and taking a risk with the taxpayers' money. Penny Chandler, Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Chamber of Commerce will support the Board and do whatever is possible to assist. Chairman Macht asked if anyone else wished to be heard with regard to this matter. There being none, he closed the public hearing. Discussion ensued regarding different sites and the problems with development, including conservation, wetlands and mitigation permitting times. Commissioner Adams noted that somehow the County needs to try to facilitate those problems. Chairman Macht also noted that the taxpayer is ever more burdened with taxes for the indigent hospital care and judiciary ills. CONSENSUS was reached that Chairman Macht would undertake some investigations and come back with the results in order that the Board could consider the park represented by Mr. O'Haire and others. JULY 22, 2003 ALL BACKUP DOCUMENTATION B ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK TO THE BOARD AND B HEREBYMADE A PART OF THESE MINUTES There being no further business, on Motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board adjourned at 3:05 p.m. ATTEST: Jeffrey K. Barton, Clerk Kenneth R. Macht, Chairman Minutes Approved: BCC/MIS/3003Minutes JULY 22, 2003 6