HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/8/1992f
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COMMISSIONERS
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA
A G E N D A
SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1992
5:01 P.M. - COUNTY COMMISSION CHAMBER
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
1840 25TH STREET
VERO BEACH, FLORIDA
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Carolyn K. Eggert, Chairman
Margaret C. Bowman, Vice Chairman
Richard N. Bird
Don C. Scurlock, Jr.
Gary C. Wheeler
James E. Chandler, County Administrator
Charles P. Vitunac, County Attorney
Jeffrey K. Barton, Clerk to the Board
5:01 P.M. PROPOSED LDR (LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS) AMENDMENTS
( memorandum dated March 31, 1992 )
ANYONE WHO MAY WISH TO APPEAL ANY DECISION WHICH MAY BE MADE
AT THIS MEETING WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF
THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE WHICH INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND
EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL WILL BE BASED.
APR 0 8 1992 01
•
Wednesday, April 8, 1992
The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County,
Florida, met in Special Session at the County Commission Chambers,
1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, on Wednesday, April 8, 1992,
at 5:01 o'clock P.M. Present were Carolyn K. Eggert, Chairman;
Margaret C. Bowman, Vice Chairman; Richard N. Bird; Don C.
Scurlock, Jr.; and Gary C. Wheeler. Also present were James E.
Chandler, County Administrator; Charles P. Vitunac, County
Attorney; and Barbara Bonnah, Deputy Clerk.
The Chairman called the meeting to order.
PROPOSED LDR (LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS) AMENDMENTS
The hour of 5:01 o'clock P.M. having passed, the County
Attorney announced that this public hearing has been properly
advertised as follows:
U F�.GE �+
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P.O. Box 1268 Vero Beach, Florida 32961 562-2315
COUNTY OF INDIAN RIVER
res Journal
STATE OF FLORIDA
Before the undersigned authority personally appeared J.J.
Schumann, Jr. who on oath says that he is Business Manager of the
Vero Beach Press -Journal, a newspaper published at Vero Beach in
Indian River County, Florida; that
'PIRTMMUr
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was published in said newspaper in the issue(s)
—
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Sworn to and subscribed before me this
24— day of An - p A.D 199 7—
(SEAL) (SEAL)
Business Manager
Noton, Puw. state et FWh
My eO 'ba Ex*es Jwe 29, 1993 AA(Wrl /b b
NOTICE OF ESTABLISHMENT OR CHANGE OF A
LAND REGULATIONS) AFFECTING THE USE OF LAND
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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY— UNINCORPORATED AREA i
:
The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners propose to
adopt or change a regulations) affecting the use of land for the area
shown in the map in this advertisement. '
Two public hearings on the regulation(s) affecting the use of land will
be Feld, one on Wednesday, April 8, 1992, of 5:01 p.m., and one on •.
Wednesday, April 22, 1992, of 5:01 p.m. in the County Commission Chom-
bars in the • County Administration Building .located at 1840 25th Street, .
Vero Beach, Florida. '
Proposed changes to the Land Development Regulations (LDRs) efec- -
tive in the unincorporated areas of the county include changes to the fol-
lowing LDR chaptersl
• Chapter 902, Administrative Mechanisms;.
• Chapter 904, Nonconformities;
• Chapter 911, Zoning; F .
• Chapter 912, Single Family Development; , '
• Chapter 913, Subdivisions and Plats; '
• Chapter 914, Site Plan Review and Approval Procedures;
• Chapter 927, Tree Protection and Land Clearing; _
• Chapter 929, Upland Habitat Protection;
• Chapter 932, Coastal Management; "
i • Chapter 954, Off -Street Parking=
• Chapter 971, Regulations for Specific Land Use Criteria; ;
• Chapter 973, Public Nuisance
A copy of the proposed ordinance will be available at the Planning Divi -
Sion Office on the second floor of the County Administration Building begin-
ning March 31, 1992, i
Anyone who may wish to appeal any decision which may be made at r.
this meeting will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings
is made, which includes testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is
based.
V ' '' INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
i E BY -s- CAROLYN K. EGGERT, CHAIRMAN
0
0
The Board reviewed the following memo dated 3/31/92:
TO: James E. Chandler
County Administrator
DIV SION HEAD CONCURRENCE:
PR
ober M. K in opI
Community Deveelo ment 01rector
FROM: Stan Boling AICP
Planning Director
DATE: March 31, 1992
SUBJECT: Proposed LDR (Land Development Regulations) Amendments
It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal
consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its special
meeting of April 8, 1992.
BACKGROUND AND CONDITIONS:
Several LDR amendment proposals have been initiated by staff, the
Professional Services Advisory Committee (PSAC), and by an
individual applicant, Karl Hedin. All of the proposed amendments
have been reviewed by staff. Most of the proposals were reviewed
by the PSAC at its February 13, 1992 meeting. Staff has drafted a
single proposed ordinance which addresses all of the previously
referenced initiatives. PSAC comments and suggestions have been
incorporated into the proposed draft; differences between PSAC and
staff recommendations regarding specific amendments are indicated
in the "Analysis" portion of this report and in certain places
within the text of the proposed ordinance.
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered the proposed
amendments at -its March 12, 1992 meeting. The Commission voted to
recommend that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed
LDR amendments with some changes. Staff has made the changes
discussed at the March 12th meeting and has incorporated the
changes into the proposed ordinance (see attachment #2).
Differences between any staff and Planning and Zoning Commission
recommendation are indicated the "Analysis" section of the report
and in certain places within the text of the proposed ordinance.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed ordinance contains a total of 31 sections (see
attachment #2). Sections 1 - 27 contain actual LDR amendments.
Sections 28 - 31 contain standard legal requirements included in
all county ordinances. A brief description of each section
follows. An asterisk (*) after the section number indicates that
the amendment was specifically reviewed by the PSAC. A double
asterisk (**) before the section number indicates that the
amendment was specifically reviewed by the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
1. **Section 1.* This section is the result of direction given by
the Board of County Commissioners to staff and the PSAC to
assess the county's paved parking and child care facility
requirements. The Board's direction was given during a
hearing at which the Board denied an appeal by Graves
Brothers, Inc. of a denied site plan application for a child
care center. Based upon the Board's direction, staff
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researched the county's child care facility and paved parking
requirements in relation to requirements of other local
governments (see attachment #3). The PSAC discussed and
considered existing county child care and paved parking
requirements at three separate meetings (November, 1991,
December, 1991, and January, 1992).
As a result of the meetings, the PSAC is now recommending that
the board change an existing section of the county's off-
street parking ordinance (Chapter 954). Currently, section
954.10(3) allows the county engineer to approve parking
surfaces (other than pavement or concrete) based upon the
suitability of the surface type for the proposed project use
based upon "generally accepted standards". Other than for
infrequent use projects, such as churches or vehicle storage
lots, the county engineer has not approved non -rigid surfaces
for regularly used parking. The PSAC recommends a change to
section 954.10(3) to specify criteria that the county engineer
would use to review requests for unpaved parking surfaces for
regularly used parking lots, such as lots used by child care
facilities and other businesses.
County staff do not recommend approval of unpaved surfaces for
regularly used parking lots. Paved surfaces provide better
on-site and off-site traffic maneuvering and safety, provide
for better drainage, and function better in terms of wear and
maintenance (see attachment #3). In staff's opinion, the
benefits to the property owner ( as well as to the users of the
site and the general public) of paving outweigh paving's
upfront costs. In staff's opinion, the county should not now
relax a paved parking standard which has been in effect in the
county for over ten years and which now has become an expected
"community standard". However, if the Board of County
Commissioners wishes to allow unpaved parking for regularly
used parking lots serving new developments, then strict
criteria should be adopted that provide reasonable assurances
that the function and impact of such parking lots will be
addressed. Such criteria are embodied in the proposed
ordinance.
As proposed, "Section 1" contains criteria which address the
allowable location of unpaved parking lots, the allowable
traffic intensity of projects which may construct an unpaved
parking lot, and various engineering criteria related to
surface function and integrity, drainage, traffic circulation,
maintenance, and effect upon adjacent roadways. The PSAC,
Planning and Zoning Commission, and county staff paving
waiver criteria recommendations differ in regards to proposed
criteria 1 and 8 (see attachment #2, pages 1 - 2). Both
county staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend
via criterion #1 that any paving waiver option for regularly
used parking lots be limited to new development that is
located outside of the urban service area (such as the Graves
Brothers, Inc. proposed child care site). Differentiating
between rural and urban areas is rational. Applying a more
urban, "paved lot" standard in urban areas and allowing a more
rural, unpaved construction in the rural areas would recognize
the different characteristics of urban and rural areas. The
PSAC recommends deletion of criterion 1, altogether.
As part of the fist paragraph of criterion #8, staff
recommends including a requirement of a base material on top
of a stabilized subgrade. In staff's opinion, this
requirement is not costly and would ensure a better
functioning of the parking surface. Neither the PSAC nor the
Planning and Zoning Commission recommends that a base layer be
required; both groups recommend deleting the last clause in
the first paragraph of criterion 8. In staff's opinion,
deleting the base requirement would entirely defeat_ the
purpose of any meaningful surface type standard (see
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attachment #4). The PSAC, staff, and the Planning and Zoning
Commission agree on all other aspects of the proposed
criteria.
2. **Section 2.* Based upon experience with non -conformities and
recent discussion at a Board of Adjustment meeting, staff is
proposing this amendment to the non -conformities section of
the LDRs. This amendment would grandfather -in, as legal,
those non -conforming structures which have "passed the test"
of previous county approvals and inspections.
3. **Section 3.* This amendment is proposed by staff to make
clearer the requirement that three specific criteria must be
satisfied in order to reduce the minimum PRO district size
from 5 acres to 2.5 acres.
4. **Section 4.* Staff proposes this section in order to update
the single-family development chapter (912) in terms of the
native vegetation set-aside requirement. The set-aside
requirement is already applied to single-family development on
large tracts (5 acres or larger) via Chapter 929 regulations.
5. **Section 5.* Planning staff proposes this section to better
specify required improvements that are exempted from affidavit
of exemption subdivision developments. This amendment
maintains and continues the county's local road right-of-way
dedication requirements that currently apply to affidavit of
exemption projects.
6. **Sections 6* and 7.* Staff proposes these sections which would
require the county to mail a courtesy notice to owners of
property adjacent to either plats to be vacated or rights-of-
way to be abandoned.
S. **Section 8.* This section is proposed by staff to better
reference the source of handicap parking space requirements
applied by the county.
9. **Sections 9.* and 10.* These sections are proposed by staff to
clarify that dead Australian pine trees that pose health and
safety hazards are nuisances that must be removed from private
property._ Although dead Australian pines have been treated as
nuisances in past code enforcement cases, the Assistant County
Attorney has suggested adding to the LDR's specific references
such as the ones proposed in these sections.
10.**Sections 11* and 12.* Staff is proposing language to
allow compost piles within rear yard setback areas.
11.**Section 13.* This section is proposed by staff and would
allow docks to be located in riparian sideyard setbacks where
such location would preserve natural resources such as
mangroves and grass beds.
12.**Section 14. In 1990, when the LDRs were comprehensively
updated, the open space requirement for developments within
the CH, Heavy Commercial zoning District, was increased from
15% to 25% of the site area. Open space requirements in other
districts are as follows:
MED, Medical District.............30%
CL, Limited Commercial............25%
CG, General Commercial............25%
CH, Heavy Commercial..............25% (20% is proposed)
IL, Light Industrial.... .... 4#0 ... 15%
IG, General Industrial...... ... ...158
The open space requirement is "stepped -down" from the
commercial to the industrial districts. In staff's opinion,
the CH district has characteristics of both the CG and IWIG
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districts and as such should have an open space requirement
between 25% and 15%. Thus,. staff proposes establishing a 20%
minimum open space requirement for the CH zoning district.
13.**Sections 15 and 16. These sections are considered by the
county attorney's office to be necessary for the county to
comply with Florida Statutes Chapter 333.05 which requires
local governments to adopt airport zoning ordinances. These
sections would authorize the Planning and Zoning Commission
and Board of Adjustment to function in capacities that will be
necessary to implement any local airport zoning ordinance
adopted by the county in the future. Furthermore, adoption of
this. section will allow staff to go forward with the review
process of a drafted county airport zoning ordinance which is
to be considered in the months to come.
14.**Section 17. Staff proposes this section to specify non -paved
surface requirements for vehicle storage lots which are
currently approved by staff pursuant to section 954.10(3) of
the off-street parking ordinance. Staff proposes this
amendment because section 954.10(3) might be changed via
Section 1 of this ordinance, and because specific buffering
provisions need to be applied to such vehicle storage lots.
The proposed amendment will formalize existing county practice
and is consistent with existing LDRs which govern �dutdoor
vehicle storage lots constructed in conjunction with self-
service storage facilities.
15.**Sections 18-21. These sections propose some changes to
portions of the final plat general dedication and "special
notes" language. The proposed wording has been agreed to by
planning, engineering, and county attorneys office staff and
is proposed in order to clarify responsibilities of various
parties (lot owners, homeowners associations, the county).
16.**Section 22*. The intent of this section is to specify in the
Tree Protection and Land Clearing chapter that the owner of
the property on which a violation has occurred is presumed to
be responsible for the violation unless the owner can show
otherwise. The proposal appearing in the draft ordinance was
revised by planning staff and attorneys office staff based
upon comments made at the February 13, 1992 PSAC meeting.
17.**Section 23*. This section is proposed by staff to specify
under what circumstances sidewalk escrowing may be accepted in
lieu of up -front construction. Currently, escrowing for site
plan projects is allowed "...as provided for..." in the site
plan chapter; however, no specific provisions currently exist
within the site plan chapter. The proposed specific
provisions would allow a developer the option to escrow if
physical or design constraints warrant a delay in construction
or if a programmed construction project will provide an
opportunity for coordinated future construction.
18. **Sections 24* and 25.* These sections are proposed by Attorney
Michael O'Haire on behalf of Karl Hedin (see attachment #1).
The applicant owns property zoned CL, Limited Commercial,
located on the north side of S.R. 60 in the 4700 block (the
new "Keith's Oil Can" is located on the southern portion of
the site). The applicant desires to construct a self-service
storage facility on the site. However, the existing site is
zoned CL, Limited commercial. The current LDRs allow self-
service storage facilities in the IL and IG (industrial)
districts and the CH (Heavy Commercial) District as a
permitted use, and allow the facilities in the CG, General
Commercial District as a special exception use. Self-service
storage facilities are not allowed in any of the "lower
intensity" commercial districts such as the CL District.
6
The applicant proposes amendments to the LDRs which would
allow self service storage facilities in the CL District as a
special exception use with corresponding specific land use
criteria. The proposed criteria are somewhat stricter than
the criteria applied to CG district self-service storage
facilities.
Staff does not recommend approval of these proposed
amendments. In staff's opinion, self-service storage
facilities are more characteristic of warehouse facilities
than retail and convenience uses. Warehouse type uses are not
compatible with the purpose and intent of the CL District,
which is to provide for retail and convenience uses. In
staff's opinion, the current LDRs "draw the proper line"
between the districts where a warehouse type of use may be
appropriate and where such uses are not appropriate.
At its March 12, 1992 meeting, the Planning & Zoning
Commission specifically considered the section 24 and 25
amendments proposed by Mr. Hedin. The Planning & Zoning
Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to recommend that the Board
of County Commissioners deny the requested amendments and
continue to prohibit self-service storage uses in the CL
zoning district.
In regards to the criteria proposed by the applicant, both
staff and the PSAC agree that the criteria are adequate to
address negative impacts of self-service storage facilities if
the Board of County Commissioners determines that such
facilities are appropriate in the CL District. The proposed
criteria limit the type of activities allowed in the
facilities and limit the utilities provided to storage units.
The criteria also impose limits on storage unit and building
heights, restrict hours of operation, and establish buffering
requirements.
19. Section 26. This section corrects a previous error and allows
either a distance separation or a building sound proofing
option for the development of a veterinary clinic/animal
hospital.
20. Section 27. This section clarifies a procedural requirement
for modifying an approved preliminary plat if the developer
proposes to change the number of lots. The amendment proposal
would require a Planning and Zoning Commission re -approval of
a preliminary plat if a change in the number of lots resulted
in an increase in the total number of lots. All other
modification criteria would remain as previously adopted.
21.**Sections 28 - 31. These sections contain standard legal
language that addresses repeal of conflicting provisions,
codification, severability, and effective date.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners:
1. Provide staff with direction(s) for any changes to the
proposed ordinance; and
2. Announce its intention to take final action on the proposed
ordinance on Wednesday, April 22, 1992 at 5:01 p.m. in the
Commission Chambers.
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Planning Director Stan Boling announced that this is the first
of two final public hearings on the current LDR amendments. At the
close of this evening's meeting, the Board will direct staff to
make any changes to the proposed amendments and announce its
intention to adopt the proposed amendments by ordinance on
Wednesday, April 22, 1992 at 5:01 o'clock P.M. in Commission
Chambers. Director Boling advised that he would begin by going
over two controversial issues which involve Section 1 and Sections
24 and 25. Section 1 concerns the paving waiver issue that was
initiated by the Graves Brother, Inc. site plan for a child care
center. Sections 24 and 25 were proposed by Karl Hedin for the
allowance of self storage facilities as a special exception use in
the CL District (Limited Commercial District).
Section 1: Amend Section 954.10(3)- Paving Waiver Proposal
Criteria 1 and 8
Director Boling advised that it is staff's opinion that no
change should be made in the ordinances and that Section 1 should
not be adopted. However, if the Board decides that a paving waiver
should be granted, staff's position is that it should meet the
proposed 12 criteria. The Professional Services Advisory Committee
(PSAC) recommends all 12 criteria except for #1 and the last
sentence in the first paragraph in #8 which calls for a base on top
of a subgrade. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommends all 12
criteria including #1, but excluding the base requirement in
criterion #8. The 12 criteria are meant to address some of the
concerns the best way possible in an unpaved parking situation.
Criterion #1 limits this type of paving waiver to areas located
outside the urban service area and makes a distinction between what
we consider rural locations and more urban locations. As it is
presently written, criterion #8 would require a subgrade instead of
paving with a base material on top of the subgrade. In a normal
paving situation, you would have a subgrade and a base and you
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would have some sort of surface on top, either asphalt or concrete.
The difference of opinion on criterion #8 is whether or not to have
anything on top of the subgrade. He noted that County Engineer
Roger Cain is here this evening to explain the basic differences,
but it is Mr. Cain's opinion that you must have something on top of
the subgrade for it to work.
Chairman Eggert asked how the handicapped parking and access
requirements relate to the subgrade, and Director Boling explained
that in most cases it would not be required to pave the parking
space itself, but the 4 or 5 foot access way has to be of rigid
material such as asphalt or concrete. In addition, there are
certain specifications for the ramp up to the building. That is
regardless of whether or not it is in a frequent use and is a state
and federal requirement. Director Boling wished to point out that
all of our normal width standards and the number of spaces
standards are not being proposed for any change. The questions
here concern whether the subgrade is going to be compacted and to
what degree, and whether asphalt will be required as a wearing
surface.
Commissioner Scurlock felt the school's driveway would be
impacted the most and could become impassable in terms of pot
holes, standing water, etc. Parking is a different situation as
far as safety and everything else. The grass may not grow in that
area, but there would not be much impact.
Director Boling felt that the distinction is made in criterion
#8 between the parking stalls and the driveway. The first sentence
deals with the parking stall itself and says that you would have a
subgrade and then sod or something on top of that. The second
sentence gets into the unpaved driveway areas which are more
heavily used, and that is where staff is recommending subgrade and
a base material on top of that. The PSAC is recommending just a
subgrade for the driveway with nothing on top of that.
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In answer to Commissioner Wheeler's question, Traffic Engineer
Roger Cain explained that Group 4 is a standard FDOT base material
that can be a number of things such as 4" base coquina or lime
rock.
Commissioner Bird understood that staff's recommendation is
that Section 1 not be changed, but that if the Board should vote to
allow a paving waiver, that the 12 criteria be adopted. He further
understood that there are some differences in opinion with regard
to criteria #1 and #8.
Chairman Eggert asked why you would grass the driveway when
you have that many cars coming in and out every day, and Mr. Cain
explained that neither staff nor the PSAC is really requiring that
it be grass, just a stabilized subgrade. He felt that some kind of
vegetation would grow on it if it is not used too frequently.
Director Boling pointed out that if this is adopted, it would
apply to more than just day care uses. It would be for any use
that generates no more than 200 average daily trips on the site and
that parallels our paved road requirement that we have had in this
county for quite some time.
Commissioner Bird asked how staff felt about the urbanized
service area versus a non -urbanized service area.
Director Boling advised that staff found that a few other
jurisdictions have made that distinction. He felt it deals with
the community standard with regard to what you expect in an urban
area as opposed to a rural area. It is kind of an aesthetic
differentiation.
Commissioner Scurlock emphasized that we always need to look
at the impact on neighboring properties, and Chairman Eggert noted
that we have a requirement of buffering against spraying.
Chairman Eggert opened the Public Hearing and asked if anyone
wished to be heard in this matter.
Richard Graves, 1015 34th Avenue, Vero Beach, advised that
this issue was initiated by him when he was trying to establish a
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child care center in Fellsmere for children of employees and
migrant workers in this county. He expressed his thanks to
everyone who has been concerned with this issue and who has worked
on it over the last 6 months. This issue has evolved from iust a
provision for a child care center to become an avenue for a small
business to be established in a more rural part of this county
outside of the urban service area without the necessity of a lot of
front-end cost requirements put on it by site plan expenses.
Considering the economical times, Mr. Graves believed that the
residents of this community would greatly benefit by these
amendments if adopted by the Board. Considerable time has been
spent on this by staff, this Commission, the P&Z and the PSAC, and
this issue has been thought through very thoroughly. He
recommended that the Board adopt the paving waiver with the 12
criteria with the exception of requiring a base material in
criterion #8. The only thing that would be left out is the 1 -inch
of wearing surface (asphalt); everything else would still be
required. Mr. Graves pointed out that many existing parking lots
in this county do not have any base material as a wearing surface,
just a subgrade that is compacted and is made of natural soil. He
has two such parking lots at Graves Brothers, Inc. on which they
park loaded semi -trailers and all kinds of heavy farm equipment and
have done so for years and years. Except for occasional grading,
the surface is quite sufficient and has provided all of the parking
they need.
Commissioner Scurlock asked how we would monitor the
requirement for grading, and Director Boling explained that
criterion #9 addresses that through a required driveway maintenance
plan. If those requirements are not met, it really gets down to
code enforcement.
Commissioner Wheeler asked what happens when these areas are
no longer out in the country and they begin to generate commercial
areas.
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Community Development Director Robert Keating advised that
they would be grandfathered in as long as they retained their same
characteristics. If they expand the use, they become non-
conforming and have to meet new criteria.
Commissioner.Scurlock just felt there needs to be a stepping
point for these grandfathered facilities when they become non-
conforming to allow them to renovate or expand in a way that is not
absolutely perfect, just reasonable. He felt that allowing
something like that would result in significant improvement to lot
of these little businesses that are not too nice looking and that
it would be a benefit to the community.
Director Keating noted that there is a provision in the
ordinances to allow someone to go ahead and make improvements if it
is reducing the degree of non -conformity, and we have implemented
that a number of times.
Director Boling explained that what the ordinances require
right now is sort of a stepping process. If you trigger a major
site plan, then you have to bring it up to code for the area of
development that is being affected by the change. If you do minor
improvements, you don't get hit for bringing it up to code. The
ordinance tries to address that.
Commissioner Wheeler noted that we have that problem now where
they have built up around these places and economics are playing,
and the owners want to make improvements but want some sort of a
break where
they don't
have to
bring it
all
the way up
to
standards.
He agreed it
would be
a benefit
to
the community
to
allow them to make improvements.
Commissioner Scurlock felt it would be beneficial if staff
could identify those things that are so important that they just
have to be done as opposed to the things that are just nice to
have.
Mr. Graves pointed out that the building they want to use for
a child care center is basically unusable if it triggers all of the
12
major -site plan requirements. The reason that prompted this LDR
amendment is to be able to use property in a more or less rural
area for a commercial type business without all the front-end costs
of site plan requirements. He wished to note that he has lost his
funding for this current year for the center, but with the approval
of these amendments he intends to apply for it next year because he
feels that the need for this facility is just as great as it ever
has been.
There being no others who wished to be heard, the Chairman
closed the Public Hearing on Section 1.
ON MOTION by Commissioner Bird, SECONDED by Commissioner
Scurlock, the Board unanimously directed staff to follow
the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission to
allow a paving waiver under the 12 criteria but delete
from criterion #8 the following phrase: "...as well as
a base on top of the subgrade consisting of FDOT base
Group 4 or greater."
Sections 24 and 25
Director Boling advised that it is staff's position that
regardless of what is stored in these facilities, they still have
a lot of characteristics of a warehouse and that taking it down
below the CG District (General Commercial District) is not
appropriate. It is the applicant's position that the CL District
(Limited Commercial District) should allow this type of use as a
convenience to residents and that the proposed criteria they have
submitted afford the protection and buffering, etc. Staff and the
P&Z are recommending that neither Sections 24 nor 25 be adopted.
Chairman Eggert opened the Public Hearing and asked if anyone
wished to be heard with regard to Sections 24 and 25.
Attorney Michael O'Haire, representing Karl and Keith Hedin,
agreed with Director Boling that CL is not appropriate for
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BOOK 86 F,1 ,UE 15,
warehousing. However, he wished to point out that we are not
talking about warehousing, we are talking about personal storage.
He explained that after his brother, Keith Hedin, built a self -
storage facility behind his oil change facility located on U.S. #1
and Vickers Road in the north county, they found that the facility
was being used by people in the neighborhood. The tenants are
mostly "empty nesters" who have come from the north from a larger
home to a smaller place and no longer have the space to store
household items that they once had. They make use of these
personal storage facilities for any number of things -- to store
a roll -away bed until the kids come to visit; to store winter
clothes; to
store
the
stuffed moose
head they
can't
bring
themselves to
part
with,
etc. That is
the kind of
thing
we are
talking about, and his clients feel it is an appropriate use for
CL. Attorney O'Haire explained that they are asking for this
change because the property out on SR -60 west of 43rd Avenue is in
the vicinity of Village Green and in an area very similar to what
is on U.S. #1 and Vickers Road. The area has a lot of the same
demographics, the "empty nesters" moving into smaller places who
want a convenient place to store their personal things.
Attorney O'Haire reviewed the following criteria submitted by
the applicant to adequately address any negative impacts of the
proposed self-service storage facilities.
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Attachment to
Application form for Land Development Regulation Amendment
Section I:
To amend 0911.10 to include as a special exception use in the CL zoning district
under Commercial: ..Domestic household goods and personal effects enclosed self
storage;
To amend 0971.12 by adding a subsection (4) :
"(4) Self storalre of domestic personal effects and household eoods
(Special Exception).
(a) Districts requiring SPECIAL EXCEPTION • approval,
(pursuant to the provisions of 971.05) : CL and CG
(b) Additional information requirements:
1. A written statement (i) that no commercial activity,
vehicular service or repair, or storage of hazardous
materials shall be allowed and that this requirement will be
Included in every tenant's lease agreement; and (il) that
only domestic and household goods of personal and non-
commercial goods will be kept or stored on the premises.
Both of these provisions will be set forth in appropriate
and visible signage.
2. A site plan meeting all of the requirements of Chapter 914.
(c) Criteria for self -storage facilities:
1. Storage unit interior areas shall not exceed ten (10) feet
in height.
2. Storage units shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150)
square feet in size.
3. Outdoor storage is prohibited.
4. All outdoor lights shall be shielded to direct light and
glare only onto the self-service storage facility premises.
Light and glare shall be deflected, shaded and focused
away from all adjoining property.
5. Self-service storage facility sites shall not exceed three
• (3) acres in gross area.
S. A type B landscape buffer shall be provided between all
structures and adjacent properties zoned for single family
residential use.
7. Buildings containing storage units shall not exceed 10,000
square feet in floor area each and shall not exceed 100,000
square feet of floor area for all buildings.
S. Access shall only be to arterial or collector roadways and
In no case through areas zoned for residential use.
9. No utilities (other than air conditioning) may be supplied
to storage units.
10. Hours of operation shall be limited to no earlier than 6:00
A.M. or later than 6:00 P.M. and appropriate signage
provided to such effect.
11. Buildings may not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height.
15
BOOK f,.�E
APR 08 M2
BOOK 86 PACE 17
Attorney O'Haire emphasized that the use is hedged with
safeguards to provide exactly what the CL District was designed to
provide and that is convenience for a geographical area or
neighborhood. This is not the sort of thing that people are going
to come from the beach to use; it is the sort of thing that people
living in the area are going to use. He urged the Board to allow
this use in CL under the special exception requirements that he
feels would make it virtually impossible for it to be used for
anything other than the storing of personal and household items.
Chairman Eggert asked how it would be policed, and Attorney
O'Haire advised that it would be policed through the code
enforcement process.
Commissioner Wheeler felt it certainly would be to the owner's
advantage to police it also.
Karl Hedin explained that they have both types of these
facilities. He has an office/warehouse complex within the City of
Vero Beach where he allows trades people and it has turned into a
mini -industrial park. His brother Keith does not allow any
commercial in his facility on Vickers Road and U.S. #1, and they
are proposing exactly the same use for the SR -60 location. It
would be strictly for personal or domestic storage. No trades
would be allowed. The units would be air conditioned, but there
would not be any electrical outlets.
Chairman Eggert's struggle over this matter was with her
concept of CL and the fact she never viewed storage of any kind as
being light commercial. She agreed it is a convenience to the
neighborhood and that there is not a lot of traffic at any given
time.
Commissioner Bird felt it was a matter of writing up the
ordinance and having the proper enforcement. To him there was a
tremendous amount of difference between a commercial type of
storage facility and a personal or residential type self -storage
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facility. He thought that any facilities allowing commercial uses
should be located in a industrial district.
Commissioner Wheeler stated he didn't have a problem with it
either.
There being no others who wished to be heard regarding
Sections 24 and 25, the Chairman closed the Public Hearing.
The Board indicated their consent to take Sections 24 and 25
on to the next public hearing.
Director Boling proceeded to review the remaining sections
which were not considered controversial. The following are
Sections where changes were suggested.
Sections #9 and #10
Director Boling explained that these sections would be amended
by adding dead Australian pines to the list of items officials can
order property owners to remove under the County's; nuisance
ordinance.
Commissioner Bird emphasized that the County has a lot of
Australian pines in county -owned rights-of-way, and he -felt
we shouldn't require private property owners to do something we're
not willing to do ourselves. He recommended that the ordinance
read "private and public property."
Administrator Chandler had no problem with applying this to
the County as we do to everyone else. If it is a dangerous
situation, we are going to have to find a way of taking the trees
down whether we have the funding or not. He understood that dead
pines would be considered a nuisance only if they posed a definite
health or safety hazard.
Commissioner Bird felt we need to establish criteria and apply
it equally to ourselves and to the public.
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BUQKi1� ,c
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GOOK Nlt6l 19
Deputy County Attorney Collins advised that a hazard exists if
a tree might fall on someone's house, but if it is a tree that is
going to fall in a vacant field, that is another matter because we
don't have the money to take down every dead Australian pine.
Commissioner, Bird didn't know that we should limit this to
Australian pines and suggested that as long as we are changing the
ordinance that we apply this to all dead trees that pose a health
or safety problem.
The Board directed staff to insert into Sections 9'and 10 the
wording "dead trees posing a health or safety hazard", and to
insert the wording "private or public property" into Section 10.
Section 22
Chairman Eggert suggested that the term "rebuttal presumption"
be clarified, and Attorney Vitunac felt it would be besttto leave
it the way it is but add another sentence explaining what it means.
The Board indicated their consent to adding another sentence
to make it clearer.
Section 23
Chairman Eggert assumed that when the County Engineer approves
the costs, he is doing it from a set formula, and Director Boling
confirmed that to be correct. He advised that after the last PSAC
meeting, we
sent out
a memo prepared
by Roger Cain that gives the
costs which
are known
quantities for
those amounts.
Chairman Eggert asked if anyone else wished to be heard
regarding any of the sections being considered for amendment.
There being none, she closed the Public Hearing.
Chairman Eggert announced the Board's intention of taking
forward the proposed LDR amendments and changes that have been
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discussed tonight to the final public hearing where they will be
considered for adoption by ordinance. The final hearing to be held
April 22, 1992 at 5:01 o'clock P.M. in Commission Chambers.
There being no further business, on Motion duly made, seconded
and carried, the Board adjourned at 6:10 o'clock P.M.
ATTEST:
J. K. Barton, Clerk
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Caroly K. Egg t, Chairman
8 0 0 K 8)6' f,i1,c 0
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