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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/1999MINUTES`TTAC"' HED BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA A G E N D A SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14,1999 - 9:00 A.M. County Commission Chamber County Administration Building 1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Kenneth R. Macht, Chairman (District 3) Fran B. Adams, Vice Chairman (District 1) Caroline D. Ginn, (District 5) Ruth M. Stanbridge (District 2) John W. Tippin, (District 4) James E. Chandler, County Administrator Charles P. Vitunac, County Attorney Jeffrey K. Barton, Clerk to the Board BACKUP PAGES 9:00 a.m. 1. Discussion of Planned Development (PD) Projects (memorandum dated October 7, 1999) 1-65 2. Discussion of Agricultural Planned Developments (memorandum dated October 8, 1999) 66-85 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. Anyone who needs a special accommodation for this meeting may contact the county's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator at 567-8000 x408 at least 48 hours in advance x meeting. Meeting may be broadcast live on TCI Cable Channel 13 — rebroadcast various times throughout the week Falcon Cable Channel 35 - rebroadcast Friday evening �OGI� PAGE 01 October 14, 1999 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 25 h Street, Vero Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, October 14, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. Present were Kenneth R Macht, Chairman; Fran B. Adams, Vice Chairman; John W. Tippin; Caroline D. Grin; and Ruth Stanbridge. Also present were James E. Chandler, County Administrator; Charles P. Vitunac, County Attorney; and Patricia 'Tr' Jones, Deputy Clerk. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Macht called the meeting to order. 1. PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD1 PROJECTS The Board reviewed a Memorandum of October 7, 1999: TO: James E. Chandler County Administrator D ON HEAD CONCURRENCE: Robert M. Keating, AICP Community Development D' ,46- FROM: Stan Boling, AICP Planning Director DATE: October 7, 1999 OCTOBER 14, 1999 -1- BOOK III PAGE 02 BOOK III FACE 03 SUBJECT: Discussion of Planned Development (PD) Projects This information is to be considered by the Board of County Commissioners for its October 14,1999 workshop on planned developments (PDs). BACKGROUND: The Planned Development (PD) process is an optional development form through which special negotiated regulations are approved that allow developers additional flexibility in teams of project design as long as certain minimum standards are met and compatibility with adjacent area is provided. In addition to providing developers with more design flexibility, the PD process also gives the Board of County Commissioners more project approval discretion, compared to conventional subdivision and site plan projects. At its July and August 1999 public hearings on the Citrus Springs PD rezoning proposal, Board members expressed concerns about PD ordinance allowances. At that time, the Board instructed staff to set-up a public workshop at which various PD issues could be discussed. Staff has set-up such a workshop and over the last several weeks has invited the Planning and Zoning Commission, interested citizens, design professionals, developers, and property owners to attend. During the workshop, staff intends to present graphics and pictures of certain existing projects to illustrate characteristics of typical PD projects as well as characteristics of conventional projects. At the conclusion of the workshop, the Board should make a determination as to whether or not changes to the PD regulations need to be initiated ■ Indian River County Planned Development (PD) Regulations I. History of PRD and PD Regulations In 1985, the county adopted its first PD type regulations in the form of a Planned Residential Development (PRD) ordinance. That ordinance contained most of the provisions that are in the current PD regulations, including public hearing requirements, the opportunity for waivers from standard setbacks and lot sizes, special requirements for perimeter compatibility and recreation space, and an allowance for accessory neighborhood commercial uses. That ordinance applied to residential projects only and involved the special exception use process on property already zoned for residential uses. Sixty Oaks, Catalina Oaks, Garden Grove, and portions of Grand Harbor and Sea Oaks are examples of development projects that were reviewed and approved as PRDs. In 1991, the county's PRD ordinance was re -written as the Planned Development (PD) ordinance (LDR Chapter 915). That ordinance is in effect today. In addition to incorporating all of the PRD allowances and requirements, the PD ordinance allows for both residential and non-residential PD's and allows for PD rezonings. With a PD rezoning, a site may be rezoned to a unique zoning district specially created for that particular site. Examples of projects approved as special exception PDs are: Windsor, Oak Harbor, Hammock Lake Estates, Island Club, and portions of Grand Harbor and Sea Oaks. Examples of projects approved as PD rezonings include: Wal-Mart, Hedin Commercial, and MAGI mini -storage. Currently, most local governments in Florida have planned development (PD) ordinances (see attachment #3). Thus, PD ordinances have become commonplace planning tools that are used in most jurisdictions. 0 OCTOBER 14, 1999 -2 0 - • Comprehensive Plan Policies Because the PD ordinance allows for design flexibility and extra county control, the PD ordinance is the principal tool for implementing several comprehensive plan policies that require project design flexibility and special controls. For example, Coastal Management Element policy 1.2 provides for the protection of environmentally sensitive lands by allowing property owners to transfer density from sensitive lands to upland "receiver" sites. The increased density on receiver sites is allowed only through the PD process, because the PD process allows compatibility measures to be addressed on a site by site basis. Other comprehensive plan policies dependent on the PD process include Land Use Element policies relating to mixed use ("new town") projects and traditional neighborhood design (TND) projects. These types of projects require approval through the PD process to ensure compatibility and special county controls over a wide variety of issues that cannot be addressed through conventional site plan and subdivision reviews. Such extraordinary issues include: special perimeter setbacks and buffers, streetscapes, provisions for public uses (e.g. schools, parks), clustering of development, and aesthetic standards. Besides those policies referenced above, comprehensive plan policies relating to affordable housing density bonuses and residential development in agriculturally designated areas also require PD project approvals. Through the PD process, such proposals are reviewed and considered by the Board of County Commissioners at a public hearing. Thus, the PD process is integral to several important comprehensive plan policies. Purpose and Intent The PD ordinance specifies eight purposes for the PD regulations. In summary, those reasons are as follows: 1. Provide incentives for designs that preserve environmental areas. 2. Allow for diverse uses, structures, facilities, and housing types. 3. Allow for clustered residential development in agriculturally designated areas 4. Encourage innovative designs that cannot be accomplished under conventional standards. 5. Ensure compatibility with surrounding areas. 6. Encourage more efficient use of public services with designs not achievable under conventional standards. 7. Encourage preservation of environmentally sensitive areas through transfer of development rights. 8. Encourage affordable housing through density bonuses. PD Procedures The conventional subdivision and site plan review/approval processes allow "permitted" and "by right" uses and standard layouts. The PD process is an alternative to the conventional process and is an option available to land owners and developers. Because the PD process is optional and because no one must apply for PD project approval to obtain an economically viable use of his land, the PD process is not subject to the strict legal requirements applied to standard development applications associated with uses allowed "by right". While a site plan application for a permitted OCTOBER 14, 1999 -3- BOOK iii pnc 0 BOOK iii PAGE 0 (by right) use must be approved by the county if all applicable LDR requirements are met, there is no similar obligation for the county to approve a PD project application. PD project requests are either special exceptions or rezonings. In both cases, a site plan is required to accompany the request, and the' site plan is reviewed by the Technical Review Committee (TRC), the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) (at a public hearing) and the Board of County Commissioners (at a public hearing). This process is longer than the conventional site plan and subdivision approval process, which requires TRC and PZC (no public hearing) review only. Typically, PD plan information requirements are more involved than conventional site plan and subdivision applications. Due to the public hearing process and discretionary control of the county, the PD process is also less predictable than the conventional approval process. In summary, the PD process is longer, more costly, and less certain than the conventional approval process. Degree of Flexibility Conventional development standards for lot size, lot width, setbacks, and right-of- way width are designed to apply to tract housing type of development, where relatively uniform lots are spread evenly over an entire development site. Such standards are necessary for the thousands of existing, individually -owned conventional lots in the county. For undeveloped land, however, the PD process offers a more flexible approach that can better preserve and amenitize natural and manmade features, allow for a variety of residential and non-residential product type, and allow for innovative designs that simply cannot be anticipated by or accommodated under conventional standards. The PD process provides this kind of flexibility. Degree of Control Such flexibility as described above is tempered under the PD process via greater county and developer control. As structured, the PD process is controlled by the comprehensive plan in regard to uses and densities. While the comprehensive plan and the PD ordinance set overall PD limits, the Board of County Commissioners has almost unlimited use and design control on individual PD projects. Such control allows the county, through an involved public hearing process, to define uses on a project site more narrowly than conventional zoning standards, and to control a variety of design issues beyond conventional review standards. Such design issues may include: special setbacks and buffers, preservation of natural features, building location and mass, architectural design and colors, required provision of common amenities such as recreation and pedestrian areas and facilities, a variety of compatibility measures, and other relevant measures as determined on a site by site basis. Also, through the public hearing process, designs are refined and improved to the point where over 90% of all PD applications that are processed are ultimately approved by the Board of County Commissioners. A developer's "unified project control" is the key factor in making a PD project work better than independent lot by lot development within a conventional project. In essence, a PD project is designed as a whole, versus a conventional design that has the simple goal of producing relatively interchangeable "one size fits all" lots. In addition, all fimu+e ownerstresidents of a PD project are aware up -front of the overall, approved design and waivers. Therefore, deviations from conventional standards allowed in a PD project are known to buyers up -front, and future changes to the project -specific standards are allowed only via Board of County Commissioners approval at the end of a public hearing process. Thus, the PD process provides for 0 OCTOBER 14, 1999 -4- • more county control and requires more project improvements than the conventional development process. PD Compatibility Requirements The existing PD ordinance requires all PD projects to meet or exceed the following compatibility requirements: Twenty-five foot (2S) perimeter setback.' all residential PD projects require a minimum 25' setback. No building or roadway pavement is allowed within the 25' setback, although pool and patio improvements are allowed within the setback. Required buffers and transition areas: based upon a buffer/transition area table in the PD ordinance, buffers are required along perimeters of PD projects. The type of required buffer is based upon the land use designation of the PD site and the designation of the adjacent site. Buffer requirements are greater where PD projects abut sites with a less intense designation. Transition areas are alternatives to buffers where the perimeter of a PD Proles is designed to match the conventional lot size/dimension standards of an adjacent site's designation or zoning. The PD buffer/transition area table is shown in attachment #3. These compatibility requirements are designed to ensure that a PD project fits in with the existing development patterns in the area where it is proposed. That fit is assured by making the PD project's edge compatible with adjacent property. Reasons Developers Choose the PD Process Uses defined in the zoning ordinance as "permitted" on a site and standard layouts can be approved through the conventional site plan or subdivision development process. Such a process approves development "by right", with no special requirements applied. By contrast, the PD process is an option for the developer. Generally, developers choose the PD process over the conventional process for one or more of the following reasons: • To transfer development rights (TDR) from environmentally sensitive land to preserve such lands while retaining development potential. • To preserve natural upland areas by clustering the total site's allowable number of units in other area of the project site. • To obtain a density bonus in return for providing affordable housing. • To develop agriculturally designated lands with residential units. • To allow a specific commercialYindustrial use or mix of uses not allowed under any single conventional district or under a site's current zoning. • To allow multi -family units to be sold -off with small or oddly shaped fee simple lots with reduced setbacks. • To allow a single-family product on smaller lots with smaller setbacks and reduced right-of-way widths (trading conventional private lot area for common open space). Each type of project referenced above proposes a trade-off between the developer and the county. The developer obtains desired design or use flexibility and/or the benefits of a particular incentive, while the county obtains extra design and use control, public benefits (e.g. preserved natural open spaces), and creation of innovative development products that meet market demands. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -5- BOOK Ill PAGE • BOOK M PAGE 0 Summary of PD Projects Approved/Denied Since the PRD ordinance was first adopted in 1985, the Board of County Commissioners has considered 56 PRD/PD projects. Of those 56 project applications, 52 were approved with conditions, while 4 were denied. Of the 52 projects approved, only 5 of the projects were never built. Thus, 90% of the approved PD projects have been built in part or in whole or are active in terms of construction and/or permitting. As indicated by the attached PD location maps, PD projects have been approved throughout the Urban Service Area of the county on sites ranging in size from 10 acres to over 600 acres. PD projects have been approved in a variety of land use designations at various densities, with a wide range of approved waivers and required compatibility measures. Characteristics of approved PD projects are summarized by land use designation in the table contained in attachment #4. ANALYSIS: ■ PD Projects Approved/Denied to Date An analysis of PD projects approved/denied to date indicates that the greatest degree of variation (waivers) from conventional standards occurred on sites with higher land use designation densities (e.g. L-2 (6 unit/acre) and M-1(8 unitlacre) areas] such as Sixty Oaks and Grand Harbor and on low density golf course projects such as Windsor and Indian River Club. Therefore, PD projects with a greater degree of variation (waivers) from conventional standards have been required to provide a greater degree of buffering and/or separation from project perimeters than other PD projects. Thus, the county's policy has been to have compatibility measures correspond to the degree of requested waivers. Given the number, variety, and location of PRD/PD projects over the last 14 years, it is obvious that the PD process is popular and useful throughout the county. Overall, there have been few complaints from neighbors of PRD/PD projects. And, over time, most projects seem to be responsive to market demands. Therefore, the PD process seems to be successful overall. ■ Basic Trade-offs Analysis In reevaluating the county's PD process, the Board needs to decide whether or not it wants to continue to have the ability to make some basic trade-offs. Is res urce protection worth the granting ofw� aiwxz? This type of trade-off involves preserving a natural area by transferring all development out of that area onto other portions of a project site. For example, on a 100 acre site that contains a 30 acre hammock, the PD process could ensure total preservation of the hammock in return for allowing on the remaining 70 acres the number of units allowed on the total 100 acre site. Such clustering of units on the remaining 70 acres could be accomplished only by allowing smaller than conventional lots on the 70 acres. Thus, waivers would be necessary. Under the conventional development process, the entire site would be "cut-up" into standard sized lots, rights-of-way, and stormwater tracts. While up to 100/a - 15% of the hammock might be preserved to meet the county's upland set-aside requirement, the developer most likely would opt for the county's fee -in -lieu of set-aside preservation option and develop lots over the hammock area Eventually, as lots developed, the hammock area would be depleted. 0 OCTOBER 14, 1999 -6- • If the referenced clustering is mitigated by buffers or other perimeter compatibility measures, then the trade-off is a win -win-win situation. The developer "wins" and gets her units; the project residents "win" and get the benefits of an adjacent hammock and smaller yards to mow, and the county and adjacent neighbors "win" and get habitat preservation and the visual benefits of permanently preserved open space. Therefore, the county should retain its ability to trade-off waivers for resource protection through the PD process. Is allowing market llexibi ft worth the granting12f-waivers or allowance for .gpeczl uses? "Market flexibility" is a term that covers a broad range of innovative designs and housing types, as well as allowances for special uses. Examples of PDs with innovative designs include: the Windsor villages and beach cottages; various phases of Grand Harbor, including Oak Harbor units and the associated ALF facility, and the harbor area units; and the Pointe West TND. Examples of PDs containing housing types that deviate from conventional standards (units with reduced setbacks on small lots) include: Indian River Club, Sea Oaks, Sixty Oaks, Catalina Oaks, and Garden Grove. Examples of PDs containing special uses include: Hedin Commercial PD (located in a CL zoned area with a mixture of uses) and the self -storage, office, and resident manager uses of the MAGI mini -storage project which is also located in a CL zoned area. These PD projects contain exemplary elements and designs and mixtures of uses that could not be achieved under conventional development processes. The success of these projects illustrates that flexibility is necessary and desirable. The fact that there have been few compatibility complaints from neighbors of these existing projects indicates that adequate controls are in place to mitigate adverse impacts from the granting of waivers and allowances of special uses. Therefore, trading -off waivers for market flexibility allows needed creativity and satisfies market demands without creating incompatibilities. Isgreater commonefface and recreation area worth smaller�rivate vards? This trade-off relates to where on the project site green space and recreation area should be provided. "Open space" consists mostly of green space, although the LDRs allow up to 30% of any conventional or PD project's open space requirement to be satisfied by waterbody area PD projects are not allowed waivers that would decrease minimum open space standards. In many cases, PD projects are required to have more open space than is required for conventional development projects. Generally, PD designs take green area from individual yards and create or enlarge common green areas within park tracts, along pedestrian paths, or along lakefront common areas. Although conventional projects have no requirements for common recreational area, the PD ordinance requires all PD projects containing more than 60 units to provide 522.72 sq. ft. of common recreational area per unit. Under the PD ordinance, creditable recreational areas include: playgrounds, recreation fields, golf courses, tennis courts, exercise trails, recreational buildings, picnic areas, boardwalks, and pedestrian paths. Thus, the PD ordinance requires provision of common recreational areas and facilities and ensures that overall open space minimum standards for PD projects meet or exceed conventional minimum standards. Therefore, trade-offs allowing smaller private yards for more common green space and recreation area is worthwhile since it results in equal or greater overall open space and provision of recreation areas and facilities that are not required under conventional development processes. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -7- BOOK ill FAGUE C ON 800K Ili %b 0 ■ The Current Compatibility Approach Compatibility is a key factor in evaluating the PD process. As structured, the PD ordinance's compatibility requirements focus on the project perimeters. The basic principle of the existing process is that providing adequate compatibility measures on the perimeters insulates adjacent properties from the interior of the PD project where maximum flexibility is allowed. In theory, this principle is logical since the only project interface with the surrounding area is along the perimeters. In practice, special buffers, setbacks, and transition area seemed to have provided adequate compatibility. There have been few compatibility -related complaints from neighbors of existing PRDs/PDs, whether "high end" or "middle market" projects. Staffs conclusion is that the current approach works: if the perimeters are made compatible, then the entire PD project will be compatible with its neighbors. ■ Density Density is an issue that is often scrutinized during PD project reviews- As structured, the PD process does not allow densities to exceed the density limits of the comprehensive plan. The PD process, however, can help a developer achieve the maximum density allowed on a site. For example, the Hammock Lake Estates PD is located in an RS -3 area. Under conventional subdivision development, a density of up to 2.7 units/acre might be achievable. The approved Hammock Lake Estates PD design, however, yielded a density of 2.99 units/acre. Thus, the PD process can allow for density maximization. Is density maximization a worthwhile trade-off for the various benefits of PD projects? It is as long as the maximum densities allowed under the comprehensive plan are appropriate. The appropriateness of a particular maximum density in a given lion is the very underpinning of the land use plan. In fact, maximizing densities is part of the purpose of the PD ordinance which states that PDs are needed to "... encourage efficient use of public services...". This is true especially in relation to water and sewer utilities where there appear to be certain threshold densities for making water and sewer improvements economically feasible. In the context of the PD process, the county has all the controls it needs to ensure that a given development is appropriately designed for a given area at or below the maximum density allowed under the comprehensive plan. Since maximum densities are to be achievable under the comprehensive plan, the best way for the county to control densities that approach the maximum is through the PD process. :ecause Flexibility vs. Certainty the Board of County Commissioners has broad discretion in regard to project design and mitigation of potential incompatibilities and adverse impacts, the PD process affords flexibility to the Board as well as to the applicant. While the PD process need not be as predictable as the conventional development process where county discretion is limited, there needs to be some level of certainty for the development community with regard to the PD process. As stated by Board members at the Citrus Springs PD hearings, it is important that the PD ordinance reflect the Board's desires so that the PD process has an acceptable degree of certainty. CONCLUSION• The PD process gives the county more control than conventional development processes. It gives the county the ability to make trade-offs that obtain public benefits and meet public policies. It also gives developers necessary and desirable flexibility. Without such flexibility, many successful PD projects that are in existence today simply would not exist within the unincorporated area of the county. The balance of control and flexibility in the existing PD process has resulted in projects that seem to have "worked" and have been developed without adverse impacts on neighbors. For these reasons, the PD process should be retained and should actually be preferred over the conventional development process. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -8- • • Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners: 1. Determine whether or not it wants staff to initiate any changes to the existing PD regulations. 2. If it is determined that changes are needed, direct staff to make changes to specific PD elements and provisions. Community Development Director Bob Keating stated that staffs' report is now available on the Internet and can be located at: www.onebahamas.com/indianriver (the County's current test site). He reviewed the Planned Development (PD) process as (1) identify any problems; (2) discuss the advantages and disadvantages; (3) determine the need for changes; and (4) consider any differences in the process for agricultural PDs. Zoning was first regulated in the County in 1957, with the PD Ordinance being adopted in 1985 and the first changes in 1991. There have been 56 PD applications since 1985, with 52 of those approved. The Chairman opened the public hearing and asked if anyone wished to be heard with regard to this matter. Frank Coffey, 5045 Fairways Circle, complimented staff for their efforts but felt the process needs further review and clarification for developers. He referenced the recent Citrus Springs application which had been approved by Planning & Zoning and staff. Once that application was presented to the Board, it was revised to reflect the Commissioners' comments and concerns, brought back before the Board and still got voted down. He OCTOBER 14, 1999 _9_ BOOK 111 PAGE �� r BOOK III PAGE 11 believed the Board should be required to put any objections in writing and that the ordinance should reflect the Board's preferences. He noted that the Board has competent staff and believed if the Board provided proper guidelines, these problems would not occur. Peter Robinson, 315 Bridgeway Road, believed that part of problem is that the Board is looking at the tree and not seeing the forest. He believed the current land use plan encourages high density and people do not want high density. He felt that there is a chance now for the County to set its own local regulations and come out with a land use plan that more accurately reflects what people want. Peter Jones, 1924 5' Avenue SE, a local architect and President of the American Institute of Architects local chapter, noted that local architects look to the policies established for their guidelines. He believed the mechanics of the process work but the master plan needs a more measurable policy. Deb Robinson, Vice President Laurel Homes, asked the Board to please consider the cost -to -benefit ratio and to remember who is paying those dollars. She inquired whether grocers and dress shops will also be required to furnish more open space if developers are required to do so. She asked that the Board remember that someone pays for each decision they make. Bob Swift, 6450 Glendale Road, Manager of the Indian River Club, felt that the process may not be perfect but it works fairly well. He felt the biggest problem was that developers must have some assurance that their investment will pay off and their plan will be approved if they follow all of the regulations and requirements. 0 OCTOBER 14,1999 -10- • • Chip Landers, 180 14'h Avenue, with the new homes division of Coldwell Banker, felt that affordable housing must be provided in this area amd that changing the process because we don't want smaller lots will not solve the problem. The PD process allows for a product that fills a need but the developers need a solid set of rules to go by. Chuck Mechlin, On -Site Management Group, expressed his frustration with trying to do something with land within the existing rules. With a PD, they can sit down with staff and get a project that is appropriate. He suggested a more relaxed atmosphere in which to meet with the Board to go over the rules to avoid having a project denied at the last minute. Craig Fletcher, 2345 Avalon Avenue, Code Enforcement Board for the City of Vero Beach, did not want the Board to give up its control over this process. He did not believe the process should be changed. Pat Brown, 1740 21" Street, felt the neighbors are better protected through this process but did also feel that the developers should be notified earlier if they are on the wrong track. Dave Knight, of Knight & Associates, stated that staff has done a great job in the whole process and they do the best they can to anticipate what the Board wants. He suggested that a closer relationship with staff during the process might alleviate some of the problems. County Attorney Vitunac advised that the PD process is a legislative one, not quasi- judicial. The developers can meet individually with the Commissioners. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -11- BOOK 111 PAGE 1 I 9001 , , fAU Peter Robinson noted that Orange County first has a meeting run by staff with the public invited to the presentation. Commissioner Adams left the meeting at 10:25 a.m. for a prior appointment. Director Keating felt that a general consensus had been reached that everyone liked the process but wanted more certainty to the project characteristics. Staff needs to know whether the Board does not want 40 to 50 -foot lots at all, or just not in certain land use designations. Are they all right under certain circumstances and not others? In response to a question about any pattern to the denials, Director Boling responded that perhaps the application for 600 new homes in an area where everyone is accustomed to Larger lots could have been the impetus for the denial of the Citrus Springs project. Chairman Macht commented that the objections of neighbors is not always a reason for denial. His own objection to the Citrus Springs project was the location and the illustration of a standard home with overhangs. He had seen several projects in Orange County and felt they were "as ugly as homemade soap". He did not feel they were appropriate for Indian River County. He also noted that these opinions are very subjective and not objective. The PD process is fine and needs little, if any, changes. Commissioner Tippin noted that he had helped give birth to the process and it was a little like "giving breach birth to a porcupine". He did not think the process is broken and was thrilled to hear the Commissioners can sit down with the developers in advance of a final public hearing. He felt the more communication early on the better. Commissioner Grin thanked staff for a very fine presentation. She intended to stand on her platform of low density but that does not mean we cannot have zero lot lines or 50 - OCTOBER 14, 1999 -12 0 - foot lots. It does mean we have to watch the density. She would like to see no greater density in a PD than in traditional zoning. She felt the stormwater management practices do need to be reinforced. Yesterday she was at a PD and their stormwater lake is filing in and is overgrown with weeds. This is a critical issue which will not go away, it must be dealt with. She also felt that Citrus Springs' open space was down to 20% while the mean open space in the County is 40%. That needs to be looked at also. Commissioner Ginn then questioned whether density bonuses were given for the Fairways development, and Director Keating responded that they were not. Commissioner Ginn emphasized that her concerns were density transfers and bonuses and open green space. The main reason she objected to Citrus Springs was that most of it was surrounded by stormwater ponds. She agreed that being notified earlier of the projects would be a welcome opportunity to voice her objections prior to the final public hearing. Director Keating stated that staff will establish a process to notify the Board when a PD application comes in and that the issue of stormwater ponds will be investigated on a County -wide basis. In response to a question by Commissioner Stanbridge regarding the St Johns River Water Management District permits for stormwater ponds, Public Works Director Jim Davis stated that these are usually 5 -year permits, with requirements that the ponds be inspected periodically, depending on the type of pond. After further discussion, CONSENSUS was reached that staff will work on a mechanism to notify the Commissioners when a PD project application is filed. Commissioner Gin commented that she did not want to see any density bonuses being given, and Director Keating responded that they are only allowed with an affordable housing project. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -13- BOOK ill Mut- 1 BOOK ill mn 15 2. AGRICULTURAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (PD PROJECTS The Board reviewed a Memorandum of October 8, 1999: TO: James E. Chandler County Administrator D TMENT HEAD CONCURRENCE obert M. Keating,AIC Community Development irrecto THROUGH: Sasan Rohani, AICP / G Chief, Long -Range Planning FROM: John Wachtel Senior Planner, Long -Range Planning DATE: October 8, 1999 RE: Discussion of Agricultural Planned Developments It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its workshop meeting of October 14, 1999. INTRODUCTION Agricultural Planned Developments (PDs) are residential subdivisions located on agriculturally designated land. The county's comprehensive plan and land development regulations require residential subdivisions of two or more lots (other than a one time lot split) on agriculturally designated land to be approved as Agricultural PDs. Within Agricultural PDs, and PDs in general, special negotiated regulations allow developers additional flexibility in terms of subdivision and lot design (to meet market demand), as long as certain minimum standards are maintained. In addition to providing developers with more design flexibility, the PD process also gives. the Board of County Commissioners more discretion, compared to regular subdivision projects, with respect to project approvals. One of the requirements for Agricultural PDs is to cluster residential lots or homesites on a relatively small portion of the overall project property. The remainder of the site, regardless of its ownership, must remain in open space (either as natural; agricultural; or to a limited degree, recreational, areas) for as long as the property retains an agricultural land use designation. In recent months, several proposals involving Agricultural PDs have been considered by the Board at public hearings. In reviewing those proposals, the Board questioned whether residential subdivisions located on agriculturally designated land outside the urban service area should be required to cluster lots together, as required in the County's comprehensive plan (Future Land Use Element Policy 5.8). OCTOBER 14, 1999 -14- Issues raised at those public hearings include the following: • Should clustering be required for Agricultural PDs? • Is there any benefit, generally, to the clustering of residential development on agriculturally designated land? and • If there is a benefit generally, does that benefit apply to small tracts? At the October 14's workshop, the Board will consider future development options for the county's agriculturally designated lands. Based upon that consideration, the Board should identify any needed changes to the county's policies and procedures regarding development of agriculturally designated lands. Requiring residential projects in agricultural areas to cluster residences is intended to achieve the following goals: 1) Preserve and accommodate active agricultural operations; 2) Preserve open space; 3) Reduce agricultural/residential incompatibilities; 4) Accommodate long-term growth, including potential urban service area expansion; and 5) Protect private property rights. The analysis section of this staff report discusses how the county's clustering requirements achieve those goals. When the comprehensive plan was considered for adoption in 1990, the county adopted certain goals, including discouraging suburban sprawl, protecting open space, and preserving agriculture. With respect to the development of agriculturally designated areas, the county determined that there are three alternative ways to achieve those goals. Those alternatives (exclusive agricultural zoning, extremely low density residential development, and clustered residential development) are described below. Exchisive Agd=&..a1 Zoning, This alternative limits uses in agricultural areas to traditional agricultural uses. Exclusive agricultural zoning is an effective strategy to reduce development pressure, and residential encroachment into agricultural areas. The county, however, determined that exclusive agricultural zoning adversely affects financing for active agricultural operations and adversely affects private property rights. Due to these conflicts, the exclusive agricultural zoning approach was not used. Extremdy L.ow Density Residential DMWL12nment. This alternative limits residential development to extremely low densities such as 1 unit/40 acres. As with exclusive agricultural zoning, this alternative would severely limit land use options and thereby raise property rights issues. For that reason, this alternative was not chosen. Clustered Residential Devel ,nment This alternative allows slightly higher residential densities, such as 1 unit/5acres, but requires clustering of residential lots or homesites. By implementing project design requirements, such as those incorporated in county policies, the county has been able to protect active agricultural operations, preserve larger expanses of open space, and protect private property rights. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -15- BOOK ill ME 16 I 800K I ill PAGE 17 The requirement that lots and/or homesites in residential subdivisions on agriculturally designated land be clustered and be approved as Agricultural PDs has been in the comprehensive plan since its adoption in 1990. The first Agricultural PD was approved in 1994, and there have been one or two Agricultural PDs approved each year since. In all, ten have been approved, and six have been built. Attachment 1 shows the location of both the built and the unbuilt -but -approved Agricultural PDs. The six that have been built contain a total of approximately 177 acres and 33 lots. Only one of the built Agricultural PDs, located adjacent to the urban service area boundary, has connected to the county water system. None has connected to the county wastewater system. All ten of these project sites are located within one mile of the urban service area boundary, five in the south part of the county and five in the central part of the county. These projects, all within the AG -1, Agricultural -1 (up to 1 unit/5 acres) land use designation, range in size from 15 to 70 acres and from 3 to 9 lots. Although the county's clustering requirement allows several types of clustering, each of the approved Agricultural PD projects has been approved with the same clustering method: five acre lots that contain one acre homesites, with the homesites "clustered" along an internal road. Other clustering methods could include smaller lots with a large open space area. That open space area could be owned by the developer, a property owners association, or an individual (perhaps a fanner or a rancher). Indian River County is not alone in requiring residential projects in agricultural areas to cluster. In fact, most other Florida counties, including St. Johns, Charlotte, Madison, Jefferson, Volusia, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, and Orange, have comprehensive plan provisions which encourage or require clustering of residential development in agricultural areas. Although these provisions vary widely, Indian River County, in many respects, is typical among Florida counties in terms ofwhen clustering is required, how much open space is required, overall density allowed, and the provision of public services. Some counties require clustering only of larger developments over a certain threshold in size (e.g., 20 units or 100 acres). Others offer clustering incentives such as density bonuses or streamlined permitting. In Palm Beach County, clustering is required in order to achieve maximum density in certain agricultural areas. County Property Appraiser data from November 1998 indicate that many "ranchette" type lots already exist outside the urban service area. A computer search at that time indicated that 476 parcels (904.26 acres) of less than 200,000 square feet (4.59 acres) existed in the agriculturally designated areas east of I-95 and those agriculturally designated areas around the City of Fellsmere. The results of that search are shown in Table 1 below. Of the 476 parcels, 257 (439 acres) were being used for residential purposes (231 contained a single-family house). Another 183 parcels (404 acres) were available for residential development (e.g., vacant land, pasture, citrus groves, and similar uses). Table 1! AG -1 Designated Lots That Are 4.59 Acres Or Less INevemher 19981 USE # OF PARCELS # OF ACRES Single -Family 231 405.48 Mobile home 19 19.20 Other residential 7 14.36 Vacant land, pasture, citrus groves, & similar uses 183 40426 snace uses 36 60.916 TOTAL 476 90426 OCTO0 BER 14, 1999 , -16- 0 Nearly all of the 476 lots are located near an urban area, in one of the three following areas: • near the City of Fellsmere (201 parcels); • along 66" Avenue between 33'd Street and 85'h Street (142 parcels); and • between 43'd Avenue and 82"d Avenue, south of 16" Street (133 parcels). Of the 275 parcels not in the Fellsmere area, 112 are concentrated within a mile of an urban service area boundary, near 66* or 58h Avenues, between 45`h Street and ? Street, S.W. The concentration is particularly high between 58`h and 70 Avenues, south of 16`h Street. That area contains 84 lots, 51 of which contain a residential building. The remaining 33 lots are classified as either vacant residential or citrus groves. Besides these properties, there are hundreds of acres of agriculturally designated five to ten acre lots in the county. South of the City of Fellsmere, for example, land known as the "Kahn" property consists of 888 acres of five and ten acre parcels, and most of the ten acre parcels are being split into five acre tracts. That would create 177 five acre parcels on the Kahn properly alone. When those lots are combined with the 183 available lots mentioned above, the result is that 360 agriculturally designated lots of five acres or less are currently available for residential development, even if no lot splits occur on land other than the Kahn properly. Through the comprehensive planning process, the county has the opportunity to prepare for long term growth and development, even beyond the 2020 planning horizon of the current plan. This is important with respect to the development of agricultural lands adjacent to the urban service area because those lands are the logical location of potential future urban service area expansion. Current projections, depicted in the chart below, indicate that the county's population will grow from its present 110,000 persons to 154,000 persons by the year 2020. source: inns rionaa zimmucai Aosum Those projections were made in the early and middle 1990s, when the county growth rate was relatively low. The projections reflect a projected annual compounded growth rate of 1.63% for the 2000 to 2020 time period. That rate suggests that the county will grow at a much lower rate than in the previous 20 years. Because growth rates have been increasing in the late 1990s, it is likely that future projections will also show. increased growth rates. OCTOBER 149 1999 -17PAGE - • F, Historically, residential land within the urban service area has developed at a density significantly less than the maximum allowed by the comprehensive plan. This is due to several factors including market preferences, and land set aside for non-residential uses. Such uses are usually recreational (e.g., golf courses and parks), institutional (e.& places of worship, schools, and public facilities), conservation, or infrastructure (e.g., roads and stormwater management tracts). By applying existing density levels to vacant residential land within the urban service area, the build- out threshold, in terms of number of residential units, of the urban service area can be determined. Using recent annual residential building permit information, staff determined that the urban service area will likely become built -out sometime between 2035 -and 2045. Build -out could occur even sooner if the rate of growth increases. Reviewing land absorption trends is also useful for evaluating future land use needs. According to Indian River County Property Appraiser's data, the number of acres of land classified as vacant residential within the urban service area has decreased 1,242 acres (approximately 400 acres/year), from 18,220 acres in August 1996 to 16,978 acres in September 1999. If that absorption rate and the amount of land within the urban service area remain constant, then the county has an approximately 40 year supply of undeveloped residential land within the urban service area. When considering the long tern development of the county, the Board of County Commissioners must consider how the county will grow beyond the year 2020, when the current urban service area approaches build -out. As part of that consideration, the following issues should be addressed: • Is agricultural preservation important? • Should the county promote agricultural preservation? • Does clustering promote agricultural preservation? • How should the agriculturally designated area of the county develop? • Under what conditions, if any, should the urban service area be expanded? • Should the county begin planning now for potential future urban service area expansion? Agriculture is a key component of the county's economy, history, and character. County Property Appraiser's data from August 1996 indicate that 182,454 acres of the county were used for agricultural purposes at that time. Citrus accounted for 81,484 of those acres. Although market conditions ultimately will determine the viability of agriculture in Indian River County, particularly east of I-95, one purpose of clustering is to protect and conserve agriculturally designated lands for agricultural uses. As generally implemented, clustering protects agriculture by restricting the amount of land within Agricultural PDs that can be used for residential purposes and by limiting uses on the remaining land to agriculture, open space, and limited recreational uses. As structured, the county's clustering requirement allows (but does not require) the open space area of an agricultural PD to be owned by a single entity such as the developer, a property owners' association, or a farmer. As a result, most of the land within an Agricultural PD project can be consolidated into an expansive open space area that is large enough for, and available for, agricultural uses. For example, in Indian River County, most of the land outside of but abutting the urban service area has been divided into 40 acre tracts. While some of those 40 acre tracts have been split or subdivided, many others remain intact. The residential density assigned to most of that land by the comprehensive plan is 1 unit/5 acres. Therefore, eight lots can be created on those 40 acres. Clustering those eight lots on eight contiguous acres (one acre lots) leaves 32 acres available for agricultural uses. Clustering them on four contiguous acres (half acre lots) leaves 36 acres available for agricultural uses. 0 OCTOBER 14, 1999 -18 0 - • In contrast, unclustered residential development in agricultural areas involves large tracts of land being divided into many individually owned parcels, each as small as five acres. With the exception of some specialty farms, such individual parcels are generally too small to be farmed profitably and cannot be assembled in whole or in part into significantly large agricultural tracts. The resulting five acre parcels generally are useful only for residences and accessory uses. In Indian River County, clustering has been broadly interpreted and applied. For that reason, Agricultural PDs have been designed in a manner that results in "unclustered" five acre lots with homesites "clustered" near a road. The large open space area owned by a single entity is not present. Because the open space areas are divided into relatively small individually owned lots, the agricultural use of those open space areas is not viable. As a result, bona fide agricultural uses do not exist within any Agricultural PDs. Because the county has broadly interpreted clustering, thus allowing Agricultural PD designs that do not provide large open spaces owned by a single entity and tightly cluster homesites, Agricultural PDs have not been a successful agricultural preservation tool. As presently applied, clustering does not and will not work to preserve agriculture. Therefore, if clustering is not defined less broadly, the clustering requirement serves no agricultural preservation purpose and should be eliminated. The county's existing adopted comprehensive plan is not a build -out plan. It has a time horizon of 2020. While the plan does not address post 2020 growth and development issues, there will be growth after that time. Currently, growth projections indicate that the urban service area will be built -out sometime after the twenty year time horizon of the existing comprehensive plan. For that reason, the county needs to determine how it will develop when that build -out occurs. Essentially, the following three development options exist: • No expansion of the urban service area; • "Leap frog" expansion of the urban service area; and • Incremental expansion of the urban service area. Option 1: no expansion of the urban service area One development option is not to expand the urban service area beyond its current boundaries, even when the urban service area is built -out. Map 1 depicts this option. This will likely result in the creation of five acre lots filling the entire area between the current urban service area and I-95. Option 2: "leap frog" expansion of the urban service area Another option is to continue to allow five acre lots in the agricultural areas, but expand the urban service area when it reaches build -out. Map 2 depicts this option. This will likely result in many five acre lot subdivisions being created at the outside edge of the urban service area over the next 20 to 40 years. Then as the urban service area approaches build -out and growth continues, its boundaries would be expanded to "leap frog" over the five acre lot subdivisions to include further out agricultural lands. Leap frogging the urban service area would be necessary because adequately sized tracts near the existing boundary would likely have been developed with five acre lots and because residents of those lots would likely oppose any increase in density in that area As a result, a ribbon of five acre lot subdivisions would separate two areas of more intense urban type uses. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -19- BOOK i1i PAGE • I BOOK FAv The type of spread -out, low-density development pattern, that would result from implementing Options 1 or 2, would likely increase the cost of providing county services, particularly for roads, schools, police and fire protection, emergency medical service, libraries, and recreational activities. Additionally, compatibility problems would increase if Options 1 or 2 were implemented. Those problems would be attributed to increased interactions between residential and agricultural uses. One factor contributing to the increase in those interactions would be the longer, less distinct boundary between those uses. Option 3: incremental expansion of the urban service area A final option is to require or encourage development in the agricultural area to cluster one acre lots with common open space, rather than one acre homesites on private five acre lots. This option is depicted on Map 3. Currently, land outside of and adjacent to the urban service area consists mostly of undeveloped tracts of 20 or more acres; such tracts are viable not only for agricultural uses but also for future inclusion in the urban service area (development), if necessary. That land could be added to the urban service area in relatively small increments of one or two hundred acres at a time. I4 prior to being added to the urban service area, that land is developed in a pattern consisting of clustered homes and open space, that land will contain undeveloped tracts of adequate and appropriate size to be added to the urban service area That land will also contain residential development at an urban density. Past experience shows that those residents are less likely to oppose expanding the urban service area to include themselves and nearby land. In contrast, five acre lot subdivisions, besides not integrating well with urban uses, develop a "built in" opposition to urban service area expansion. By preserving large open areas, Option 3 will allow the urban service area to be expanded as needed, in small, targeted increments. Even when applied to small Agricultural PDs (e.g., less than 20 acres or 4 lots), Option 3 increases urban service area expansion alternatives. Summary Based on the analysis, staff has determined that clustering residential development on agriculturally designated land has the following benefits: • Clustered development preserves agricultural uses. In contrast, unclustered development eliminates the possibility of agriculture as a primary use on a site; and • Clustered development accommodates urban service area expansion. In contrast, unclustered development ensures future suburban sprawl. Since the broad interpretation of clustering currently implemented by the county does not contribute to agricultural preservation, nor does that interpretation facilitate the eventual integration of agriculturally designated lands into the urban service area, the clustering requirement should be less broadly defined or eliminated. Land within the urban service area eventually will be built -out. The county has the opportunity to plan now for that occurrence. By requiring development outside the urban service area to cluster on one acre lots with common open space, the county can prepare for the gradual, incremental, and compatible expansion of the urban service area. Additionally, clustering promotes agricultural preservation. The county's broad interpretation of clustering, however, negates the attributes of clustering that promote agricultural preservation. The broad interpretation of clustering also limits the county's future growth options. For those reasons, the clustering requirement should be less broadly defined or eliminated OCTOBER 14, 1999 -20- • Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners: 1. Determine whether or not it wants initiated any changes to the existing Agricultural PD regulations. 2. If it is determined that changes are needed, direct staff to make changes to specific Agricultural PD provisions. Map#1 No Expansion of Urban Service Area 0 1 2 Miss A%; OCTOBER 14, 1999 -21- nem indary 0 e�� p 1 I y � Mr. IR as S � iiia"�°:, �i:■: a ` n 1 r ? _.�a�m ��M�aKaOt. •1 Map #3: Incremental Expansion of Urban Service Area 2 0 2 Miles OCTOBER 14, 1999 -23- BOOK Ill PAGE 2 I BOOK W PAGE 25 Director Keating stated that the first agricultural PD was approved in the County in 1994 and 10 have since been approved, all within one mile of the urban service area. These were all 5 -acre lots with 1 -acre homesites. The Comp Plan has a year 2020 time horizon and the County does not have any policies after the year 2020. It is important to consider now these developments which will be there for 50, 60 or 70 years. The County has a population Of 109,587 people now and in 2020 the population should be 154,000, using a low rate of growth. There are 3 options for developing in agricultural areas: (1) exclusively agricultural zoning; (2) extremely low density, and (3) clustered options. The County could (1) not expand the urban service area; (2) allow a "leap -frog" expansion of the urban service area; and/or (3) allow an incremental expansion of the urban service area. He suggested an agricultural lot inventory to assist in determining whether to narrowly interpret clustering or eliminate it. Commissioner Stanbridge questioned the "leap -frog" concept concerning a "new town" designation, and Director Keating responded that the use of that designation is not considered to be leap -frogging. A "new town" has to be almost entirely self-contained and must have a 6 -mile separation from another "new town" development. In response to questioning, Director Keating believed the new development in Fellsmere would not be a "new town" but a standard residential development. Pat Brown expressed her concern about the character of the community. She is a horse rider and a taxpayer and realizes that low-density land use growth will cost a lot. Also, as a business person in the urban service area she has been impacted by the utility assessments and has been told her property is more valuable because of these services. 0 OCTOBER 14, 1999 -24- George Hamner, Jr. believed that clustering should be eliminated and each project should be examined on its own merit. Deb Robinson noted that we do not live in an urban community but in a rural community. The quality of life is the biggest reason people move here. Will Collins, 6150 69'h Street, commented that he has a masters degree in urban planning and did not believe clustering would drive up the cost of services. He felt that the County might need less landfill area because these residents would have 55 -gallon drums for compost, there would be no stormwater impact, and no recreational impact because they could enjoy their own property. Larry Putney, 780012 Street, was in the process of purchasing property outside the urban service area and had been advised that his 2 40 -acre parcels could be split once into 4 10 -acre parcels. He questioned whether an individual purchasing a 20 -acre parcel could split that parcel into 210 -acre parcels. Director Boling responded that such an individual purchasing a 20 -acre parcel outside the urban service area would have to apply for an agricultural PD to divide the property into 210 -acre parcels. Director Keating noted that the County has a 40 -acre exemption but believed this is a "big picture" issue and the Board really needs to think about how the County's growth should proceed. MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Tippin, SECONDED by Commissioner Ginn, that clustering requirements be deleted from Agricultural Pds. OCTOBER 14, 1999 -25- BOOK III PAGGE BOOK i1i FACE 27 Chairman Macht suggested that staff could summarize the suggested changes and bring them back for consideration before the Board and the Planning & Zoning Commission Commissioner Grin agreed that time and space to digest and reflect on the discussion would be helpful and withdrew her second. Commissioner Tippin accordingly withdrew his motion. Dan Culbert, County Extension Agent, suggested that the Agricultural Advisory Committee would also be interested in examining this issue. Pat Brown believed the urban service area is already large enough and there is a supply of land available for development. She felt the basic purpose of agricultural zoning is for agricultural use and that the urban service area boundaries tell people where the County wants them to build. The Chairman asked if anyone else wished to be heard regarding this matter. There being none, the Chairman closed the public hearing. CONSENSUS was reached for staff to review the suggestions and comments and bring the subject matter back in January, 2000, for another workshop with the Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Planning & Zoning Commission. 0 OCTOBER 14, 1999 -26- 0 There being no further business, on Motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board adjourned at 12:30 p.m. ATTEST: J. K. arton, Clerk Minutes Approved: ki— 7 / 9?g OCTOBER 14, 1999 -27- BOOK W PAGE LI