HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/10/1981111EDNESDAY, ,JUNE I0, 1981.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, MET IN SPECIAL SESSION AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS,
1053 20TH PLACE, VERO BEACH, FLORILA, ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1981,
AT 7:00 O'CLOCK P.M. PRESENT WERE PATRICK B. LYONS, CHAIRMAN;
WILLIAM C. WODTKE, JR., VICE CHAIRMAN; DICK BIRD; ALFRED GROVER
FLETCHER; AND DON C. SCURLOCK, JR. ALSO PRESENT WERE NEIL A. NELSON,
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR; GEORGE G. COLLINS, SJR., ATTORNEY TO THE BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS; AND VIRGINIA HARGREAVES, DEPUTY CLERK,
THE CHAIRMAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCED THAT
IT WAS CALLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE EMERGENCY
MORATORIUM ON SITE PLANS IN THE NORTH BEACH AREA. IN REGARD TO THE
NORTH BEACH REZONING, IHE BELIEVED THERE HAS BEEN SOME CHANGE, AND IT
WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT. HE REQUESTED THAT COMMISSIONER
SCURLOCK MAKE A STATEMENT ACQUAINTING THE PUBLIC WITH THE LATEST UP-
DATE ON THE PROPOSED MORATORIUM.
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK NOTED THAT THE BOARD HAS STARTED THE
PROCESS OF REZONING IN THE NORTH BEACH AREA TO R -2A ON THE PORTION
WEST OF STATE ROAD AIA AND TO R -ZD ON THE EAST OF AZA, WHICH REPRE-
SENTS DENSITIES OF 4 AND 6 MULTI FAMILY, BUT ALLOWS FOR SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL ALSO. THIS MEETING ORIGINALLY WAS CALLED FOR THE PURPOSE
OF CONSIDERING AN EMERGENCY MORATORIUM ON SITE PLANS IN THIS AREA,
BUT AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION AND INPUT,.AS WELL AS A MEMO
FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY EXPLAINING THE BOARDS OPTIONS, COMMISSIONER
SCURLOCK STATED THAT, ALTHOUGH HE STILL BELIEVES THAT A VERY CRITICAL
SITUATION EXISTS IN THIS AREA IN REGARD TO WATER RESOURCES AND SERVICES,
HE IS NOW OF THE OPINION THAT IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO GO FORWARD WITH
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AND THAT INSTEAD THE BOARD SHOULD MOVE FORWARD
WITH A REGULAR ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD BE TIED IN WITH THE COMPLETION
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN. HE SUGGESTED THAT SUCH A MORA- -
TORIUM BE SET FOR 120 DAYS MAXIMUM OR ADOPTION OF THE LAND USE PLAN,
WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, AND BELIEVED THAT ABOUT 15 DAYS WOULD BE REQUIRED
FOR ADVERTISEMENT OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND A HEARING PROBABLY
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COULD BE HELD ON OR ABOUT JUNE 30TH. HE THEN GAVE JUSTIFICATION FOR A
MORATORIUM, CITING TRAFFIC PATTERNS, THE BARRIER ISLAND STUDY, WATER
AND WASTE WATER PROBLEMS, AND NO PLAN FOR THESE SERVICES, AND NOTED
THAT THE NORTH BEACH AREA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE SOUTH BEACH AREA
WHERE THERE IS AN EXISTING AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES. COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK
COMPLIMENTED ATTORNEY COLLINS FOR DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN OUTLINING
WHAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD.
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER WISHED TO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR
OPEN DISCUSSION ON THE MORATORIUM FOR THE NEXT 25 MINUTES, AND THE
BOARD HAD NO OBJECTION.
ON MOTION BY'COMMISSIONER FLETCHER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
SCURLOCK, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO DISCUSSION
OF THE PROPOSED MORATORIUM IN THE NORTH BEACH AREA FOR THE NEXT 25
MINUTES.
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER INFORMED COMMISSIONER BIRD THAT HE HAS
NOW DETERMINED THAT THE WATER USE IN MULTIPLE FAMILY IS LESS THAN IN
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND AGREED THAT HIS PREVIOUS CONCEPT OF THIS
WAS WRONG, COMMISSIONER FLETCHER ALSO FELT THAT ATTORNEY COLLINS HAD
PROPOSED A SOUND PROCEDURE IN HIS MEMO AND STATED THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT
A MOTION FOR A MORATORIUM, ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT SURE OF THE DEFINITION
OF THE WORD "EMERGENCY." HE THEN PROCEEDED TO SET OUT SOME REASONS
WHY HE FELT HE SHOULD SUPPORT A MORATORIUM AND TO PRESENT SOME INFORMA—
TION WHICH HE FELT WE NEED TO LOOK AT LONG AND HARD:
1) THE UNDERGROUND WATER LEVELS IN BREVARD AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
FELL AN AVERAGE OF 6" SINCE THE MAY 13, 1081 DECLARATION OF THE
SHORTAGE, AND TEST WELLS LOCATED IN TITUSVILLE, VERO BEACH, AND
ORANGE COUNTY, CONTINUE TO DECLINE; THEY ALREADY ARE 1' BELOW THEIR
HISTORIC LEVELS,
2) THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER NORMALLY MOVES AT 394 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND
AND IN APRIL ITS FLOW WAS 26 CU. FT. PER SECOND.
3) THE AVERAGE CITRUS TREE USES 25-30 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY, AND
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OTHER TYPES OF TREES OR FOLKS.
4) EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, MORE FARM LAND IS IRRIGATED IN FLORIDA
THAN IN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE UNION.
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COMMISSIONER FLETCHER NOTED THAT WE MUST CO -EXIST WITH OUR
FARMERS AND OUR RESIDENTS, AND WATER IS A REAL BIG QUESTIONMARK. HE
CONTINUED THAT HE HAD TALKED TO WELL DRILLERS AND ASKED IF THEIR FIELD
EXPERIENCE TOLD THEM THAT THE SALT CONTENT IN THE DEEP AQUIFER IS
DECREASING, INCREASING OR REMAINING THE SAME, AND THEY TELL YOU FLAT
OUT THAT THE SALT CONTENT IS NOT DECLINING. COMMISSIONER FLETCHER
CONTINUED THAT HE HAS WITNESSED THE TRANSITION OF THE LAND AND THE
PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND; THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ARE THERE ONLY PART
OF THE TIME, AND WHILE A LIMITED RESORT COMMUNITY CAN BE HELPFUL TO
OUR COMMUNITY, HE DID NOT BELIEVE IT IS A FIRM BASIS FOR OUR SOCIETY
SINCE THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE BARRIER ISLAND ARE DEFINITELY LIMITED
AND THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT LONG TERM DATA TO DETERMINE THE AFFECT
CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE ON-SALT.:WATER :ENCROACHMENT' IN THE DEEP
AQUIFER. HE THEN QUESTIONED THE USE OF THE REVERSE OSMOSIS TREATMENT
METHOD, NOTING THAT IT GENERATES AND REJECTS 25-30'GALLONS OF WASTE
WATER AND PRODUCTS FOR EVERY 100 GALLONS PROCESSED,- COMMISSIONER
FLETCHER POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE HIGH RIDGE ON THE ISLAND IS IDEAL
FOR INDIVIDUAL SEPTIC TREATMENT SYSTEMS, DEVELOPMENTS CREATE THE NECES-
SITY FOR PACKAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, WHICH HAVE NOT PROVEN TO BE EITHER
EFFECTIVE OR SATISFACTORY, HE FELT IT IS TIME TO REJECT THE ILLUSION
THAT INFINITE GROWTH IN A FINITE ENVIRONMENT IS POSSIBLE AND THAT
SCIENCE CAN SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS.
CHAIRMAN LYONS WISHED TO ASCERTAIN IF THE TERRITORY TO BE
INVOLVED IN THE PROPOSED MORATORIUM INCLUDES THE NORTH BEACH UP TO
THE COUNTY LINE, AND COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK GAVE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIP-
TION: A NORTH BEACH AREA OF THE BARRIER ISLAND,
AN AREA -LYING NORTH OF THE TOWN LIMITS OF
INDIAN RIVER SHORES, WEST OF THE ATLANTIC
OCEAN, EAST OF THE INDIAN RIVER, AND SOUTH
OF THE NORTH COUNTY LINE, LESS THE TOWN OF
ORCHID.
COMMISSIONER BIRD STATED THAT, CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF,
HE SHARES COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK`S CONCERN ABOUT THE DENSITIES ON THE
BEACH, AND ESPECIALLY THE AREA WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHICH CONTAINS
ALLOWABLE DENSITIES UP TO 15 UNITS AN ACRE, AND HE WAS WILLING TO
COOPERATE AS MUCH AS HE COULD TO HOLD THOSE DENSITIES IN LINE AND
COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD REPRESENT A REASONABLE SOLUTION TO
OUR DILEMMA, HE FELT IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE PRIMARY OWNERSHIP IN
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THE PROPERTY WITH WHICH WE ARE MOST CONCERNED RESTS IN ABOUT THREE
GROUPS, AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE OWNED THIS PROPERTY FOR SOME YEARS
ZONED AT R-2, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO SUBMIT SITE PLANS AT FAR LESS THAN
THAT; THE HIGHEST BEING PROCESSED BEING ABOUT 7.6 UNITS PER ACRE.
HE FELT THESE PROPERTY OWNERS HOPEFULLY HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT UP IN THE
SPIRIT OF WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS WORKING VERY HARD TO ACCOMPLISH
IN REGARD TO LOWERING THE DENSITIES ON THE BARRIER ISLAND, AND HE
WOULD LIKE TO WORK OUT A COMPROMISE WITH THEM TO AVOID POSSIBLE LITI-
GATION.
COMMISSIONER BIRD THEN OFFERED A SUBSTITUTE MORATORIUM IN
WHICH THE AREA AFFECTED WOULD BE THE ENTIRE BARRIER IS!LAND,' NOT :LUST THE
NORTH BEACH, NOTING THAT THIS BROADENS THE BASE AND WOULD MAKE IT
MORE DEFENSIBLE. HE PROPOSED THAT THIS SUBSTITUTE MORATORIUM WOULD
AFFECT ANY SITE PLAN PRESENTED FOR REVIEW WHICH EXCEEDED 6 UNITS PER
ACRE ANYWHERE ON THE ISLAND AND BELIEVED THAT THE MANY MONTHS OF STUDY
BY OUR PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION IN REVIEW OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
HAS DEVELOPED A CERTAIN JUSTIFICATION AND LEGAL BACKGROUND NOT TO
EXCEED 6 UNITS PER ACRE IN THE FUTURE ON THE BARRIER ISLAND. THIS
MORATORIUM WOULD AFFECT ANY SITE PLANS PRESENTED AFTER THE MORATORIUM
WAS ADOPTED; THOSE IN PROCESS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH
NORMAL CHANNELS, HE NOTED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNED IN THE COUNTY ON
THE ISLAND COMPRISES ABOUT 9,556 ACRES, THE THREE PARCELS PRESENTLY
BEING REVIEWED COMPRISE ABOUT 213 ACRES; THEY ARE BEING PLANNED AT
ABOUT % UNITS AN ACRE, AND ALTHOUGH WE WOULD PREFER 6, HE DID NOT
FEEL THE EXTRA UNIT PER ACRE WOULD HAVE THAT MUCH AFFECT, COMMISSIONER
BIRD BELIEVED THIS WOULD BE A MORE LOGICAL AND FAIR MORATORIUM AND
HOPEFULLY WOULD SERVE TO AVOID LITIGATION.
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK NOTED THAT COMMISSIONER BIRD IS SAYING
THAT HE WOULD BASICALLY VEST ALL THOSE WHO HAVE AN APPLICATION IN
PROCESS; HE WOULD ALLOW CONTINUED SITE PLAN REVIEW ON ALL PROPERTIES
THAT ARE PRESENTED AT 6 UNITS AN ACRE OR LESS, AND THE ENTIRE BARRIER
ISLAND WOULD BE INCLUDED.
COMMISSIONER BIRD CONCURRED.
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COMMISSIONER WODTKE NOTED THAT HE IS THE ONLY COMMISSIONER
PRESENT WHO HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD SINCE 1974 AND WHO WAS INVOLVED IN
THE MANY HEARINGS HELD BEFORE ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE MASTER LAND
USE PLAN, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED AT THAT TIME BY THE VERO BEACH CIVIC
ASSOCIATION AND ENDED UP WITH MEDIUM DENSITY IN THE REALM OF E-8 UNITS
PER ACRE. HE BELIEVED THAT THERE IS A PLACE ON THE ISLAND FOR ADDI—
TIONAL MULTI FAMILY AND THAT THE LOGICAL PLACE FOR IT WOULD BE IN THE
NORTH BEACH AREA. COMMISSIONER WODTKE CONTINUED THAT HE DID VOTE FOR
8 UNITS PER ACRE SOME WEEKS AGO BECAUSE HE DID NOT WISH TO LEAVE THAT
PROPERTY ZONED FOR 15 UNITS PER ACRE. SINCE THAT TIME, HE HAS BEEN
IMPRESSED WITH SOME OF THE FIGURES HE HAS SEEN RE UTILITY USES AND
TRAFFIC COUNTS, AND HE NOW DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE ISLAND CAN SUPPORT
A DENSITY OF 8, BUT THAT WE SHOULD LOWER IT TO NO MORE THAN 6 AND
CHANGE IT WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS. HE DID NOT FEEL
HE COULD ACCEPT 4 UNITS PER ACRE ON A BLANKET TYPE SITUATION BECAUSE
WE DO NEED SOME FLEXIBILITY. COMMISSIONER WODTKE POINTED OUT THAT THE
CITY OF VERO BEACH HAS APPROVED A PROJECT AT 10 UNITS PER ACRE ON THE
BARRIER ISLAND AND .JOHN'S ISLAND HAS ONE AT 5. HE BELIEVED THAT IMPACT
IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IT IS MAINLY CAUSED BY THE MUNICIPALITIES, SINCE
THERE ARE ONLY 181 HOMES IN THE COUNTY NORTH BEACH AREA. HE, THEREFORE,
FELT THAT IF WE GO WITH COMMISSIONER BIRD'S SUGGESTION FOR A MORATORIUM
ON THE ENTIRE BEACH AREA, THAT THE CITIES ALSO SHOULD INSTITUTE A MORA—
TORIUM WHILE WE LOOK AT THIS SITUATION. COMMISSIONER WODTKE THEN SPOKE
OF THE ADVISABILITY OF TRYING TO AVOID LAWSUITS,AND URGED THAT WE TRY
TO REACH SOME FAIR AND EQUITABLE DECISION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND
THEN GO ON ABOUT THE REST OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AT ABOUT 6 UNITS
PER ACRE.
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER CONTINUED TO EMPHASIZE THE WATER PROBLEM
AND HIS CONCERN ABOUT TAKING WATER FROM THE MAINLAND TO -SUPPLY THE BEACH,
HE STRESSED THAT, REGARDLESS OF TECHNOLOGY, THE WATER PROBLEM IS NOT
GOING TO GO AWAY; IN 10 TO 20 YEARS, WE WILL HAVE A WATER CRISIS AND
WE NEED.TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT NOW.
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ATTORNEY MICHAEL O'HAIRE NOTED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RAFT OF
SITE PLAN APPROVAL APPLICATIONS LATELY, AND THERE IS NO REASON TO
EXPECT THERE WILL NOT BE MORE COMING IN, PERHAPS AT EVEN HIGHER DENSI-
TIES HIS INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID TONIGHT
WAS THAT 4/5 OF THE MEMBERS, GIVEN THIS POSSIBILITY, WOULD FAVOR AN
EMERGENCY MORATORIUM AND LIMITING DENSITY TO 6 UNITS PER ACRE HE
POINTED OUT THAT WHEN AN EMERGENCY MORATORIUM IS IN EFFECT, THE BOARD
COULD PROCEED TO ENACT A REGULAR MORATORIUM SO THAT ALL BETS ARE COVERED.
MR. O'HAIRE URGED THAT A CAP OF 6 BE SET ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS. AS TO
THE VESTING ANGLE, HE WAS NOT CONVINCED THAT THERE ARE ALL THAT MANY
PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE VESTED RIGHTS, IN ADDITION, HE NOTED THERE
IS THE NORTH BEACH REZONING MATTER, WHICH HE ASSUMED IS COMING UP LATER
THIS EVENING,
CHAIRMAN LYONS NOTED THAT IT HAD BEEN MENTIONED EARLIER THAT
THE REZONING WOULD FOLLOW REGULAR CHANNELS THROUGH THE PLANNING & ZONING
COMMISSION AND WOULD NOT BE HEARD TONIGHT.
ATTORNEY STEVE HENDERSON CAME FORWARD REPRESENTING FLORIDA
LAND COMPANY. HE INFORMED THE BOARD THAT THEY FILED THEIR INITIAL SITE
PLAN ON RIVER BEND IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, AND IT INCLUDED THE MASTER
PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT, THEY THEN INCURRED A RATHER LONG DELAY
IN GETTING SITE PLAN REVIEW. THE POINT IS THAT WHILE THEIR MASTER
PLAN WAS IN PROCESS, THERE WERE NO FIRM RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE PLANNING
& ZONING BOARD; THERE WAS NO THREAT OF A MORATORIUM AND NO THREAT OF
REZONING; AND FLORIDA LAND COMPANY HAS EXPENDED CONSIDERABLE MONEY ON
THE SITE PLAN. THEY PRESENTLY HAVE AN APPROVED SITE PLAN ON 2.8 ACRES,
WHICH HE DID NOT BELIEVE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE MORATORIUM; HOWEVER,
BECAUSE THIS SITE PLAN IS ON AN INTERIOR PORTION OF THEIR OVERALL
DEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED, IF
THE BOARD SHOULD FAIL TO EXEMPT RIVER BEND, ATTORNEY HENDERSON STATED
IT WOULD AFFECT THE SITE PLAN ALREADY APPROVED, WHICH IS AN INTEGRAL
PART OF THE WHOLE.
CHAIRMAN LYONS WISHED THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT THE BOARD DOES
NOT APPROVE CONCEPTUAL PLANS.
L
ATTORNEY HENDERSON CONTINUED THAT FLORIDA LAND COMPANY HAS
COMMITMENTS ON RIVER BEND, AND PHASE 1, WHICH IS THE SITE PLAN ALREADY
APPROVED, IS PART AND PARCEL OF THE ENTIRE PLAN; IT CANNOT BE DEVELOPED
ON ITS OWN BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT PLAN HAS BEEN GAUGED ON A
SITE PLAN BASED ON A DENSITY OF 7.2. HE NOTED THAT FURTHER DELAY WOULD
CAUSE FLORIDA LAND COMPANY SUBSTANTIAL HARDSHIP, AND FURTHER REZONING
WOULD LEAVE THEM IN A POSITION TO SEEK LEGAL RECOURSE.
DISCUSSION ENSUED AS TO WHETHER THE BOARD STILL WAS CONSIDERING
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE, AND ATTORNEY HENDERSON NOTED THAT IT IS A
MATTER OF TIMING IN ANY EVENT BECAUSE A REGULAR MORATORIUM COULD BE
PASSED BEFORE THEY COMPLETED THE SITE PLAN ON RIVER BEND, AND THEY WOULD
BE AS OPPOSED TO IT THEN AS THEY ARE NOW.
NINA HAYES OF SMUGGLERS COVE AGREED WITH COMMISSIONER
FLETCHER ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE WATER SITUATION, STATING THAT HER
WELL HAS GONE OUT AND THE SHALLOW AQUIFER HAS DISAPPEARED. MRS. HAYES
NOTED THAT THE BOARD HAD A SURVEY DONE, SUPPOSEDLY 'CONDUCTED BY EXPERTS,
AND IN ADDITION, THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION HAS SUGGESTED 3 UNITS
PER ACRE, BUT APPARENTLY THE BOARD IS DISREGARDING BOTH THE DANGERS
PRESENTED IN THE SURVEY AND THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING & ZONING
COMMISSION. SHE FELT THE BOARD WORRIES ABOUT A MARGIN OF PROFIT TO
THE DEVELOPER WHEN THEY SHOULD WORRY INSTEAD ABOUT THE IMPACT OF OVER-
DEVELOPMENT ON THE BARRIER ISLAND. MRS, HAYES STATED THAT THE VOTERS
AND TAXPAYERS HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND THEY
EXPECT THE COMMISSION TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.
COMMISSIONER LYONS POINTED OUT THAT ONE WAY TO PROTECT THE
VOTER'S INTERESTS IS TO PREVENT COSTLY LITIGATION FOR WHICH THEY WOULD
HAVE TO PAY.
ATTORNEY RICHARD BOGOSIAN INFORMED THOSE PRESENT THAT HE
SERVED ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR APPROXIMATELY IO YEARS, THE COMMIS-
SION AT THAT TIME WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VERY SAME PROBLEMS, AND IN
FACT, HIRED A U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TEAM AT A COST -TO THE COUNTY OF
$40,000 TO DO A 3 YEAR SURVEY. THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY INDICATED
THAT THIS COUNTY HAD MORE THAN ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF WATER ASSUMING A
STEADY DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF GROWTH. HE NOTED THAT OBVIOUSLY TIMES
CHANGE, AND IT IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU GET SO MANY CONTROVERSIAL AND
DIFFERING RESULTS FROM THOSE YOU HIRE TO DO STUDIES. ATTORNEY BOGOSIAN
CONTINUED THAT HE ALSO WAS INVOLVED IN ZONING THIS PARTIC U�AR PROP�RTY
JUN 10 1981 7
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TO A DENSITY OF 15, AND AT THAT TIME, CONSIDERING DENSITIES IN MANY
OTHER PLACES RANGING UP TO 200, 15 WAS FELT TO BE A VERY CONSERVATIVE
FIGURE. HE NOTED THAT VISTA ROYALE WAS ZONED TO A DENSITY OF 15, AND
HE BELIEVED IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A GOOD DEVELOPMENT. ATTORNEY
BOGOSIAN BELIEVED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE BEACH AREA CANNOT SUPPORT A
DENSITY OF 15, THERE ARE AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN.
ATTORNEY BOGOSIAN THEN INFORMED THE BOARD THAT HE REPRESENTS
DANNY ROSS, WHO WILL BE THE DEVELOPER OF ABOUT 9 ACRES ON THE BARRIER
ISLAND. THEIR ORIGINAL SITE PLAN WAS SUBMITTED ON APRIL 3RD AT A
DENSITY BETWEEN 7 AND 8, AND THE TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE APPROVED
THE PLAN AT THAT TIME. THE FINAL SITE PLAN WAS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2FTH,
AND IT APPEARED FROM THE MINUTES OF THAT PLANNING & ZONING MEETING
THAT THEY COMPLETELY ACCEPTED THE PLAN AND FOUND NO PROBLEM EXCEPT FOR
A %' WALL, BUT ATTORNEY O'HAIRE, WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE MEETING, VERY
SKILLFULLY SUCCEEDED IN CONFUSING THE COMMISSION BECAUSE THE PLAN
WAS SUBMITTED WITH THE OWNER'S NAME AS TRUSTEE. MR. BOGOSIAN WENT ON
AT SOME LENGTH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND ATTORNEY COLLINS POINTED OUT
THAT THE COUNTY APPLICATION FORM CLEARLY REQUIRES THAT THE ACTUAL
OWNER BE DISCLOSED.
ATTORNEY BOGOSIAN FELT THAT EXCEPT FOR THE OBJECTION REGARDING
THE TRUSTEEE, THEY WOULD HAVE RECEIVED SITE PLAN APPROVAL ON THE 9 ACRES
ON MAY 28TH, BUT AS IT TURNED OUT, THEY DO NOT YET HAVE FINAL SITE
PLAN APPROVAL; THEY, THEREFORE, REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION VOTE TO
GRANDFATHER THE PRESENT APPLICATION IN OR APPROVE THE SITE PLANS ALREADY
APPROVED OR GIVE THEM RETROACTIVE APPROVAL.
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK NOTED THAT IN THE PROPOSED MORATORIUM
THERE IS A PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING A VARIANCE, AND CAROLYN EGGERT,
CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION, INFORMED MR; BOGOSIAN
THAT IT IS THAT COMMISSION'S BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM ABOUT THE TRUSTEE
WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR WHICH HAS NOW BEEN CLEARED UP, AND THE SITE
PLAN SHOULD BE APPROVED AT TOMORROW'S MEETING.
_=
CORDON NUTT INFORMED THE BOARD THAT HE OWNS A LITTLE MORE
THAN HALF OF THE 316 ACRES UNDER DISCUSSION TONIGHT. HE BOUGHT THIS
PROPERTY IN 1974 AND 1975 WHEN IT WAS ZONED R-2 AND THERE WAS A COMPRE-
HENSIVE PLAN, WHICH STILL EXISTS, THAT SHOWED MULTIPLE FAMILY AND
ALONG WABASSO SET OUT A STRIP FOR RETAIL USE. HE NOTED THAT THE LEGAL
DESCRIPTION THE BOARD IS DISCUSSING INCLUDES ALL OF HIS COMMERCIAL
FRONTAGE, AND IT WOULD DISTURB HIM GREATLY THAT IT WOULD BE THE THOUGHT
OF ANYONE TO HAVE FOUR UNITS PER ACRE AT THE INTERSECTION OF WABASSO
AND AIA. MR, NUTT POINTED OUT THAT HE COULD HAVE SUBMITTED A PLAN AT
15 UNITS PER ACRE ANY TIME OVER THESE YEARS, BUT HE HAS HAD HIS PROJECT
SUBMITTED AT 6 UNITS PER ACRE.AND DID SO IN GOOD FAITH AT A TIME WHEN
THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION WAS RECOMMENDING 6 AND THE COUNTY
COMMISSION ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE WAS REQUESTING REZONING FROM 15 TO B.
MR. NUTT FELT THAT WHEN YOU GO FROM 6 UNITS PER ACRE TO 4, YOU ARE
GOING BEYOND THE POINT THAT IS REASONABLE IN RECOGNIZING ANY PROPERTY
RIGHTS. HE REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD GIVE THE WABAS80 AREA SOME
DIFFERENT CONSIDERATION SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTER OF THAT LAND,
WHICH IS INDEED DIFFERENT. MR. NUTT STATED THAT BESIDES HIS OWN
PROPERTY, 120 ACRES OF WHICH IS ALREADY SUBMITTED AT A DENSITY OF 5.75,
THERE ARE SITE PLANS PRESENTLY SUBMITTED ON ALMOST ALL OF THE PROPERTY
IN QUESTION AT DENSITIES CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN 15, AND THERE IS,
THEREFORE, NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT FURTHER APPLICATIONS AT HIGHER
DENSITIES.
ROBERT RYDER OF 1150 REEF ROAD ASKED ATTORNEY HENDERSON IF
FLORIDA LAND COMPANY OWNS -ALL THE LAND THAT IS IN QUESTION, AND
ATTORNEY HENDERSON REPLIED THAT THIS HAS BEEN DISCLOSED TIME AND TIME
AGAIN - THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY IS LISTED AS ROBERT CAIRNS, TRUSTEE.
FLORIDA LAND COMPANY IS THE APPLICANT AND HAS AN OPTION ON THE PROPERTY.
HE DID NOT BELIEVE THIS IS RELEVANT TO WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED TONIGHT.
CHAIRMAN LYONS NOTED THAT THE 25 MINUTES ALLOWED -FOR DISCUSSION
HAS LONG SINCE BEEN EXCEEDED.
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MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK, SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER FLETCHER, TO INSTRUCT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DRAW UP AND
ADVERTISE AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A MORATORIUM ON THE REVIEW AND
APPROVAL SITE PLANS AS PROVIDED FOR IN APPENDIX A, ZONING SECTION
23, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY CODE, ON THE NORTH BEACH AREA OF THE BARRIER
ISLAND: AN AREA LYING NORTH OF THE TOWN LIMITS OF
INDIAN RIVER SHORES, WEST OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,
EAST OF THE INDIAN RIVER, AND SOUTH OF THE NORTH
COUNTY LINE, LESS THE TOWN OF ORCHID;
PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS AND FACT, LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND PURPOSES, A
TIME PERIOD FOR SAID MORATORIUM, A PROVISION FOR VARIANCES, A PENALTY
PROVISION, AND A PROVISION FOR PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE
DATE, I.E., ADVERTISING 15 DAYS, APPROXIMATELY JUNE 30TH; THE LENGTH
OF THE MORATORIUM TO BE 120 DAYS OR UNTIL THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS
ADOPTED.
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK NOTED THAT THE VARIANCE PROCEDURE WILL
GIVE THE BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL SITUATION, TO
WEIGH THE FACTS, AND TO GRANT A VARIANCE IF IT IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE.
HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD BECOME VESTED IN THE 15 DAY
ADVERTISEMENT PERIOD AND, THEREFORE, FELT THE EMERGENCY ORDINACE IS
INAPPROPRIATE.
DISCUSSION ENSUED ABOUT HOW THE CONCERNS OF THOSE WHO ARE IN
°DROCESS WILL BE ADDRESSED AND WHAT THE ORDINANCE WILL INCLUDE OR EXCLUDE,
AND COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK STATED THAT HIS FEELING WOULD BE THAT THE
ORDINANCE WOULD BE ADOPTED AND THEN THOSE WHO FELT THEY HAD A UNIQUE
SITUATION WOULD APPLY FOR A VARIANCE; WE WOULD SCHEDULE IT AND ADDRESS.
EACH CASE SPECIFICALLY.
CHAIRMAN LYONS COMMENTED THAT HE HAD NOT MADE A STATEMENT
AS YET TONIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT THE MORATORIUM BECAUSE
HE BELIEVED THAT IT IS TIME WE GOT THIS ALL SORTED OUT, AND WHEN WE HAVE
ALL THE MATERIAL TOGETHER WE NEED FOR THE MASTER LAND USE PLAN, HE BE-
LIEVED WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS WE
WANT AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE. AS FAR AS SITE PLANS IN
PROCESS, IF ONE IS COMPLETED BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THIS ORDINANCE
COMES INTO EFFECT, THAT IS THE WAY IT GOES.
M-0
ATTORNEY COLLINS STATED THAT THE CHAIRMAN OUTLINED HIS
POSITION, WHICH IS THAT THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION SHOULD CONTINUE
TO REVIEW SITE PLANS, AND IF ANY COME UP FOR APPROVAL AND ARE READY
AND COMPLETE, THEN THEY SHOULD BE ACTED ON PRIOR TO THE MORATORIUM.
COMMISSIONER BIRD DID NOT FEEL THAT WE ARE VERY FAR APART,
BUT HE FELT THE BROADENED MORATORIUM HE HAD SUGGESTED REPRESENTED A
MORE REASONABLE ACROSS-THE-BOARD APPROACH AND WISHED TO KNOW WHAT
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK DID NOT LIKE ABOUT IT.
COMMISSIONER SCURLOCK STATED THAT THE ATTORNEY WAS NOT COMFORT-
ABLE WITH IT, AND ATTORNEY COLLINS EXPLAINED THAT THE INTENT OF THE
MORATORIUM IS TO ALLOW TIME TO COMPLETE THE LAND USE PLAN. HE FELT IF
YOU WERE'TO PUT IN AN EXCLUSION AND HAVE THE MORATORIUM ONLY APPLY TO
DENSITIES OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, IT MIGHT CAUSE A PROBLEM. HE DID NOT
KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE MORATORIUM COULD BE EFFECTED AT A THRESHOLD
LEVEL.
COMMISSIONER WODTKE AGAIN BROUGHT UP THE -VESTED INTERESTS
AND THE VARIANCE PROCEDURE, AND ATTORNEY COLLINS STATED THAT THE PURPOSE
OF HAVING THE VARIANCE IN THE ORDINANCE IS THAT IT MAKES THE ORDINANCE
MORE SUPPORTABLE; IT GIVES THE BOARD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS PARTICULAF
PROBLEMS AND TO TAKE SOME REMEDY THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE. THE BURDEN
IS TO SHOW THE HARDSHIP, AND PART OF THAT WILL BE THE VESTING ISSUE.
IN FURTHER DISCUSSION, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE HEARING ON THE
MORATORIUM SHOULD BE ADVERTISED FOR THE EARLIEST DATE LEGALLY POSSIBLE.
A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING FOR JUNE 30TH WAS DISCUSSED AND AGREED UPON
IF LEGALLY FEASIBLE.
THE CHAIRMAN CALLED FOR THE QUESTION. IT WAS VOTED ON AND
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, ON LOTION MADE, SECONDED
AND CARRIED, THE BOARD ADJOURNED AT 8:40 O'CLOCK P.M.
ATTEST:
CLERK
11
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