08-01-1984
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CITY OF EDGEWATER
PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 1, 1984
Minutes
Chairman Bennington called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
in the Community Center.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Messrs. Wheeler, Chenoweth, Finn, Quaggin and Bennington.
Mrs. Thomas was absent. Mr. Stewart has resigned from the Board. Also
present: Susan Mista, secretary, a member of the press & City Engineer Ferrara
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Chenoweth made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 6, 1984,
meeting, seconded by Mr. Finn. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Mr. Wheeler made a
motion to approve the minutes of the July 18, 1984, meeting, seconded by
Mr. Quaggin. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
SITE PLAN REVIEWS
SP-8440 - Luis Geil for Southeast Bank - 1813 South Ridgewood.
Luis Geil was present to discuss this site plan. Chairman Bennington
asked the secretary if the Building Official commented on this site
plan, to which she replied that he had and he OK'd the plan as sub-
mitted. Mr. Chenoweth asked what would be done with the temporary build-
ing that presently sits on the property. Mr. Geil advised that it would
be taken out. Mr. Wheeler said he could see nothing wrong with the plans,
Mr. Chenoweth agreed. Chairman Bennington noted that the engineer OK'd
the plans. Chairman Bennington advised that they needed a sealed archit-
ects set of plans. Mr. Geil said that he provided same to the Building
Official and one to the Planning Department. The secretary confirmed that
she had a set in her file.
Chairman Bennington said he would like to see a decelleration lane put in
at that intersection. Mr. Geil advised that he would contact DOT and see
what he could do regarding that matter. Three years ago the DOT checked
this situation and refused to put one in, stating it was too close to the
corner. However, Mr. Geil said he would work on this and see if he could
corne up with something to take care of the traffic that exists in this area.
Mr. Chenoweth made a motion that preliminary and fi~al approval be given
this site plan. Mr. Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
SP-844l - William Riggle - Duplex - 1900 Block on Fern Paim Drive.
Mr. Riggle and Earl Wallace were both present to represent this site plan.
Chairman Bennington asked Mr. Riggle if he had, gone before the Board of
Adjustments for the variance. Mr. Riggle advised that he is scheduled
on the Board of Adjustments meeting for August 9th. Chairman Bennington
said that after reading the Code, he is not sure he cannot use the ease-
ment as part of the setback. Mr. Riggle said the setback was not the
problem, the area is supposed to be 8,250 square feet and he only has
8,000 square feet. Chairman Bennington referred to the letter provided
by the City Attorney, wherein he stated that this is a classic case and
there is no reason why the variance should not be granted.
A discussion then ensured concerning whether or not Mr. Riggle does, in
fact, own the 125'. Mr. Riggle stated that the survey says 80 by 100,
except the 25'. Chairman Bennington said that is why a variance is needed
because he does not own the 25'. The City Engineer, Mr. Ferrara, quest-
ioned whether or not Mr. Riggle owned the 25', saying that a lot of
surveyors have a tendency to just cut out a piece of property when it is
being used as a canal. Mr. Riggle noted that the legal description states
except the easterly 25'. Mr. Ferrara said that he probably owns the 25',
that it should have been included in the legal description as an easement.
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Mr. Ferrara explained that he has not provided a letter on this plan
becaus e he was Ilnot given the s tormwa ter management calculations. He
said that from the drawing, it seems reasonable and looks like it will
work, however, he does not have the calculations to evaluate it.
Mr. Ferrara questioned the lot on the other side of the canal. Chairman
Bennington said they were 125'. Mr. Riggle said there is land there.
Chairman Bennington and Mr. Ferrara both agreed that this 25' is his pro-
perty. Mr. Ferrara said it was strange that this property was divorced
from this lot and left off the legal description.
Mr. Ferrara reiterated that he had not done stormwater calculations on
this site plan. He said the big question is if you do calculations on
this type of project. In his opinion, it is a duplex where one side will
be rented, therefore, it is a commercial operation and stormwater should
be done on it. If it was a total residential, no stormwater management
studies are done on residentially owned property. If these duplexes are
classified as residences, you do not do stormwater on them. If they are
classified as commercial, and you are renting one side, that is classified
as a commercial operation, then you have to do stormwater on them. That
is the way he looks at them.
Chairman Bennington said that the site plan Ordinance calls for these
calculations on anything over an acre and calls for nothing under an acre.
In the past, the Building Official said he could do these small plans with
no problem. At the present time, the Building Official says he cannot do
them. Mr. Ferrara said there should not be a stipulation on the acre
because there are too many commercial operations and tracks of land smaller
than that. His suggestion is to do stormwater on all commercial, all lots,
except residential. He also suggested that they should determine the
square footage that does not need calculations for. In most areas they
are using 1,000 square feet. If you have a building on property and you
want to add 1,000 square feet, you are exempt one time. You cannot come
back and add another 1,000 square feet - you have one exemption. As soon
as you go over the 1,000 - either building or parking lot combined - over
1,000, you do stormwater calculations. Chairman Bennington asked what
you do in a situation where an existing building is already creating a
water problem. Mr. Ferrara said that most Ordinances do not retroact back
onto something already existing. If there is a problem you can ask them
to correct it, however, under this Ordinance you cannot force them to take
care of the problem. This is how Mr. Ferrara sees it and some of the
other counties and cities. It is a question of what this City wants.
Chairman Bennington said if there is a problem, the City wants the problem
corrected and if someone comes in and wants to add an addition, the City
wants the problem corrected. Mr. Ferrara said that that has to be written
in the Ordinance. Chairman Bennington stated that in the Ordinance that
established the Planning and Zoning Board it states that the Board has
authority to put whatever stipulations or requirements they deem necessary
on site plans. Mr. Ferrara said there are many good Ordinances around the
area at the present time that address this 1,000 square feet requirement
concerning stormwater management calculations. He further stated that
they should get a legal opinion from the City Attorney so that there is
no misunderstanding in how these cases are treated. They all need to be
treated the same. Chairman Bennington said that the Board is trying to do
that now. Every case that comes before the Board has to be brought up to
date according to the Code requirements.
Mr. Ferrara reiterated that the plan looks workable, however, he has no
stormwater calculations on this plan and he would approve the Board giving
final approval, subject to these calculations being submitted and reviewed
by him.
Chairman Bennington asked Mr. Riggle if the variance was for the rear, to
which Mr. Riggle replied, yes. Chairman Bennington noted that there is
a patio on the rear of the building which will not be enclosed. He said
he did not see why Mr. Riggle needed a variance. If the owners or renters
ever decided to enclose the patio, they would need a variance.
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August 1, 1984
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Mr. Riggle said he was here before and he was told he had to go before the
Board of Adjustments for"a variance. Chairman Bennington said the Board
did not have the plans at that time, they were only told about the problem
Mr. Riggle had - that being not enough rear yard.
Chairman Bennington read the definition of a setback into the minutes.
He said that this structure is 25' from the property line and he did not
think Mr. Riggle needed a variance unless he encloses the patio. Mr.
Riggle said he was not going to enclose the patio. Chairman Bennington
said that 25' is all that is needed and he has the 25'.
Mr. Wheeler made a motion that this site plan be given preliminary and
final approval, subject to the stormwater management calculations being
furnished to the City Engineer for review and approval. Mr. Quaggin
seconded the motion. Susan Mista, the secretary, asked whether or not
Mr. Riggle had to go before the Board of Adjustments for the variance, to
which she was advised that he did not. Upon roll call on the motion, the
motion CARRIED 5-0.
SP-8442 - Earl Wallace for Tim Watson - Retail/Wholesale Appliance Store -
U.S. 1 between Lamont and Evergreen.
Mr. Wallace was present to represent this site plan. He presented the
Board with two letters; one from Mr. Watson, authorizing Mr. Wallace to
represent him concerning this site plan, and the other from Mr. Watson's
adjoining property owner, Mr. Yelvington, giving Mr. Watson a permanent
easement to the south 15' of the property. Chairman Bennington read the
letter from Mr. Yelvington into the record. He said that this letter
explains the driveway being on two pieces of property. Mr. Wallace said
this was from the recommendation of the DOT. They are trying to eliminate
as many drive entrances off of that one block area.
Chairman Bennington referred to the letter from the Police Department,
reading same into the record which states the emergency vehicle entrance
is very limited. If a fire occurs in the rear and there would be equip-
ment in the front, there would be problems. It also stated there would
be problems with trucks getting into and out of the site having to use the
entire northbound lane. Chairman Bennington said there is a double 20'
driveway entrance. Mr. Wallace stated that Sgt. Britain did not understand
the plans when he made his comments. He showed on the site plan that
there was plenty of space for large trucks to enter and exit. Chairman
Bennington noted that the Fire Department found no problems with the plan.
Chairman Bennington asked if the tree that is shown on the edge of the
parking area will remain. Mr. Wallace advised that it would. Chairman
Bennington noted that the Engineer gave approval to this site plan.
A discussion then ensued concerning who owned this property and exactly
where it is located. In regards to Sgt. Britain's comment concerning the
use of Pelican Lane by large trucks, Chairman Bennington said that the use
of the road by commercial traffic would be in violation of the Comp Plan
and, further, that road is in litigation at the present time as to whether
it is a road or just property. If the law rules that this is a road, it
can never be used as a commercial entrance.
Mr. Armstrong, a member of the audience, said there was no water at the
present time on that side of U.S. 1 and no sewer. Chairman Bennington
read the comments from Terry Wadsworth concerning this matter, wherein he
stated that water will be available and there is no sewer. Mr. Wallace
advised that they would use a septic tank. He further stated that he has
been in contact with the man at the Health Department and the septic tank
will be situated within 5' of the area designated on the original site
plan, out of the way of the water lines.
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August 1, 1984
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Mr. Wheeler made a motion to give preliminary and final approval to this
site plan, seconded by Mr. Finn. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
COMMUNICATIONS
Letter from secretary concerning Stormwater Management Ordinance requlre-
ments for site plan review by Engineer.
Chairman Bennington stated that it is the Board's understanding that Mr.
Ferrara wants to review all site plan applications that are not in a pre-
viously approved subdivision under the Subdivision Ordinance. Chairman
Bennington advised that the problem arose concerning the amount of time
it was taking to get the reviews back from Mr. Ferrara for the site plans
that were on the agendas. The applicants were coming before the Board with
everything needed for approval and the engineer's review was holding them
up from receiving approval. Mr. Ferrara apologized for any delay he may
have caused and assured the Board that he would return them as soon as
possible in the future.
Mr. Ferrara stated that if you are going to have a stormwater Ordinance,
you should not use one acre as a requirement. The only projects that should
be eliminated from stormwater management are residential homes. This is
pretty common throughout the various cities and counties. Mr. Ferrara
said the dividing point, in his opinion, which is being used in many areas,
is the 1,000 square feet. A discussion then ensued concerning the use of
this 1,000 square feet in the various zoning districts - duplexes, multi-
family, commercial, etc. Mr. Ferrara suggested that he furnish the Board
copies of the Stormwater Management Ordinance that other cities are using
and the Board can evaluate them and see what parts of same Edgewater could
use or should be using. Chairman Bennington requested that the secretary
call the Florida League of Cities and obtain copies of Stormwater Management
Ordinances that they have on file to review. Chairman Bennington stated
that the site plan requirements list will have to be changed in that it
only requires calculations for sites over an acre.
Mr. Ferrara advised that the Department of Environmental Regulations, as
well as the St. Johns Management District, are requiring permits for storm-
water management control.
Chairman Bennington suggested that the Board hold a workshop to go over
this Ordinance as soon as copies of same from the different cities are
received; and they will discuss the definitions and satellite dishes that
were supposed to have been discussed at the workshop last week that was
cancelled for lack of a quorum.
Letter from Dennis Fischer concerning introduction of David Jones to the
Board.
Chairman Bennington read this letter into the minutes which introduced
David Jones who will be working part-time with the Building Department
in handling the various code violations.
Chairman Bennington read into the minutes a letter from David Jones
concerning site plan violations on Volusia Truss and BJ's Flowers. Mr.
Jones advised that he had contacted the owners of these businesses and
advised them of their violations. He further stated he would follow-up
on the investigation and advise the Board of his findings.
Chairman Bennington noted that Joese's Pizza still has their sign posted
on the tree, which is in violation of the Code.
Letter from David Jones regarding violation of site plan for SP-83l6 -
Robert Wilson - Fat Bob's Restaurant
Chairman Bennington read into the minutes the copy of the letter sent to
Fat Bob's, advising him of the site plan violations that exist on his property
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August 1, 1984
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Chairman Bennington asked that a letter be sent to David Jones, requesting
that he check out the site plan for Pelican Cove West concerning the
sidewalks that were to have been installed in the Subdivision. They have
not been put in to date. The minutes of the meeting reflect that sidewalks
are to be installed, however, there is no time limit, unless it is part of
the money that the City is holding.
Mr. Ferrara advised that you can control these violations by refusing to
give the developers certificates of occupancy. Chairman Bennington said
that they are not pulling the CO's and are selling them anyway. Mr.
Ferrara said the power is the control. Someone has to tell the power
company to turn the power on and if they fail to comply with the site
plan, you do not turn the power on. That kills everything right there.
The Building Official has control over whether or not power is turned on
or not. This is where the control guide is, you can stop them dead in
their tracks. It would only take one time to refuse to turn the power on
for the developer to know that he has to comply with the Code requirements
and site plans that were approved.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was
adjourned at 8:35 P.M.
Minutes submitted by:
Susan Mista
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August 1, 1984