CCPC Minutes 11/15/2000 SNovember 15, 2000
TRANSCRIPT OF THE COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING
COMMISSION MEETING
Naples, Florida, November 15, 2000
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Planning
Commission in and for the County of Collier, having conducted
business herein, met on this date at 5:05 p.m. in SPECIAL
SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East
Naples, Florida, with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN:
Gary Wrage
Ken Abernathy
Michael Pedone
Russell A. Priddy
Lora Jean Young
NOT PRESENT:
Russell Budd
Joyceanna J. Rautio
Sam Saadeh
ALSO PRESENT:
Ron Nino, Current Planning Manager
Marjorie M. Student, Assistant
County Attorney
Page1
COLLIER COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
ON LDC AND RELATED
AMENDMENTS
NOTICE OF MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2000
AT
5:05 PM
COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S BOARD ROOM
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING- 3RD FLOOR
3001 E. TAMIAMI TRAIL
AGENDA
1. Amendment to Land Development Code (LDC) - Second Public Hearing
(,4 sum~nary of the proposed LDC ,4mendments follows this page.)
2000 Land Development Code Amendments - CYCLE II
Summary Sheet
LDC
Section
Proposed I DSAC
Amendment Recommendation
EAC
Recommendation
CCPC
Recommendation
~,ec: 2.1.5. Page 1 To amend the official zoning
Z~oning atlas of Collier County for the
purpose of revising the zoning
Ron Nino--Current Planning district designation on a number
of properties owned by Collier N/A
County and which properties are
either developed or intended to
be improved as public
recreational spaces to the "P"
Public Use District.
See: 2.2.2.3.21. Page 19 Amend the Rural Agricultural
Rural Agricultural District zoning district to add criteria
for Conditional Uses for tour Support staffs
Fred Reischl - Current Planning operations such as airboat, recommendations
swamp buggy and horse tours.
Sec: 2.2.8.4.5. Page 23 ¥o amend 2.2.8.4.5 to reinstate a
Maximum Density Permitted density of twenty-six (26) units
per acre for hotels and motels
Ron Nino-Current Planning for projects less than two (2) N/A
acres in size.
Sec: 2.2.10.1. Page 24 a, mend purpose and intent
Mobile Home District statement to acknowledge that
conventional stick/on-site built
Ron Nino-Current Planning homes are also allowed in the
mobile home district. Amend the N/A
!permitted use section to allow
single-family homes as defined
in the LDC.
Sec: 2.2.28. Page 26 Add text to the Main Street
Overlay Subdistrict to prohibit
[mmokalee Overlay District communication towers and to
clarify the intent of the landscape
Michelle Mosca-Comprehensive >rovision; add text to the SR 29
Commercial Overlay and the
Planning Jefferson Avenue Commercial N/A
Overlay Subdistricts to prohibit
projects greater than 5,000 square
feet in size from utilizing the
existing landscape provisions for
said subdistricts; and correct
scrivener's errors.
Sec: 2.2.33. Page 35
Bay Shore Overlay District (New)
To create the Bayshore Drive N/A
Debrah Preston-Comprehensive Mixed Use Overlay District
Planning
11/09/00 1
2000 Land Development Code Amendments - CYCLE II
Summary Sheet
LDC Proposed DSAC I EAC CCPC
Section Amendment Recommendation Recommendation Recommendation
Sec: 2.2.34. Page 50 Fo create a Goodland Zoning
Goodland Zoning Overlay 3verlay District that reduces the
(GZO)District (New) a~aximum building height from
:hree (3) levels of habitable space N/A
Ray Bellows-Current Planning :o two (2) levels of habitable
space for properties zoned
Village Residential (VR) in
Goodland only.
Sec: 2.2.35. Page 52
Declaration Of A Partial Moratorium To declare a partial
For Multi-Family Residential moratorium £or properties
Development The Goodland Area. zoned Village Residential N/A
Ray Bellows-Current Planning (VR) in the Goodland Area.
Sec: 2.4.4.12. Page 54
Prohibited Exotic Species Add Carrotwood, Cupaniopsis.
~nacardioides, to the Support staffs
recommendations
Michelle Arnold-Code Enforcement Prohibited exotic species list
Sec: 2.4.6. Page 55 Cross-referencing of
Minimum Landscape landscape requirements
Requirements >etween section 2.6.35
Communication towers and N/A
Kim Maheuron-Current Planning Division 2.4 Landscaping and
Nancy Siemion--Current Planning Buffering.
Sec: 2.4.7.4. Page 57 Replace the word "minimum"
Landscaping & Buffering Mth the correct word
'maximum" to describe spacing
Nancy Siemion--Current Planning >f hedge material in an
a. lternative B landscape buffer.
Require landscaping along N/A
internal roads of commercial
developments. Require
landscaping on the outside of
fences or walls that front major
roadway corridors.
Sec: 2.5.5.1.6. Page 59
Allowing artistic expressions
Signs and architectural
Chahram Badamtchian--Current embellishments on walls of N/A
?lanning residential subdivisions.
ISec: 2.6.4.2. Page 60 Add language stating that the
~linor After-The-Fact Yard criteria for administrative
Encroachments approval of encroachments for
structures for which a certificate
Ross Gochenaur - Current Planning of occupancy (C/O) has been N/A
granted will apply to the required
/ard (setback) at the time of
approval of the C/O.
11/09/00 2
2000 Land Development Code Amendments - CYCLE II
Summary Sheet
LDC
Section
Proposed
Amendment
DSAC EAC CCPC
Recommendation Recommendation Recommendation
Sec: 2.6.11. Page 61 1) Amend language to correct
Fences scrivener's error in Section
2.6.11.2.4. of previous
goss Gochenaur - Current Planning amendment. 2) Cross-reference
fencing standards specified in
Division 2.8 (Architectural &
Site Design Standards &
Guidelines for Commercial N/A
Buildings & Projects). 3) Delete
the requirement that the finished
side of a fence must face any
adjoining lot (but retain the
requirement that the finished side
must face an abutting right-of-
~vay).
Sec: 2.6.15. Page 63 Amend Section 2.6.15. tc
Solid Waste Disposal allow solid waste compactors
as an acceptable solid waste N/A
Ron Nino-Current Planning :lisposal method.
See: 2.6.21. Page 65 a. dd language stating that non-
)ock Facilities :esidential docks are subject to
fil of the provisions of Section
Ross Gochenaur-Current Planning 2.6.21, except for protrusion N/A
limits, which will be determined
administratively by the Planning
Services Director at the time of
SDP review.
Sec: 2.6.33.8. Page 66 Amend Motion picture/television
Motion picture/television xoduction section. Changes
}roduction section include the section title, limiting
the required permit to
Fred Reischl - Current Planning commercial production,
clarification of the insurance
requirement, including
information on the application to
assist the County in obtaining N/A
future film production, and
permitting the Risk Management
Director to determine if the
insurance requirement is
commensurate with the
>roduction (currently determined
by the BCC).
gec: 2.6.34. Page 70 To amend the Land Development
a, nnual Beach Events Permits Code for the purpose of adding a
[New) new section to establish a special
type of annual beach events Support staff's
temporary use permit for recommendations
R. on Nino-Current Planning commercial developments
fronting the Gulf of Mexico,
Section 2.6.34.
11/09/00 3
2000 Land Development Code Amendments - CYCLE II
Summary Sheet
LDC [ Proposed
Section Amendment
DSAC
Recommendation
EAC
Recommendation
ccPc
Recommendation
Sec: 2.6.35.6.3. Page 81Add text to Section 2.6.35.6.3
Communication Towers :>f the LDC specifying that
towers used primarily for
Tom Palmer-Assistant County governmental uses may be N/A
Attorney approved as stand alone
essential service facilities.
Sec: 2.6.35.6.21. Page 82Cross-referencing of
Communication Towers landscape requirements
between section 2.6.35
Kim Maheuron-Current Planning Communication towers and N/A
Nancy Siemion---Current PlanningDivision 2.4 Landscaping and
Buffering.
Sec: 2.6.35.7. Page 83. Add Subsection 2.6.35.7 (9)
Communication Towers to the Land Development
Code (LDC); also correct
Fom Palmer-Assistant County scrivener's errors in N/A
Attomey Subsection (1), (3), and (6);
also assign a number to
Subsection (8), as shown.
Sec: 2.7.6. Page 861) To amend Sec. 2.7.6. to
Building Permit And Certificate Ofinclude requirement for a Land
Occupancy Compliance Process. Alteration Permit; 2) To amend
Division 3.3 Site Development N/A
Ron Nino--Current Planning Plan to provide for the
submission of an SDP for Land
Alteration.
Sec: 2.8.2. Page 90Requiring all non-residential
a_rchitectural And Site Designstructures along arterial and
Standards collector roads within the
Urban Area to comply with N/A
Ehahram Badamtchian--Current the architectural standards of
?lanning the Collier County Land
Development Code.
~ec: 2.8.2.5. Page 91
Non-commercial Development Amend 2.8.2.5. to allow
Alternative Architectural N/A
Ron Nino--Current Planning Design Standards for non-
commercial development.
Sec: 3.2.7.1.11. Page 92
Preliminary Subdivision plat 1'o clarify during the Preliminary
Plat process whether a road is
Tom Kuck - Engineering Review proposed to be Public or Private. N/A
John Houldsworth - Engineering
Review
11/09/00 4
2000 Land Development Code Amendments - CYCLE II
Summary Sheet
LDC
Section
Proposed
Amendment
DSAC I EAC
Recommendation Recommendation
CCPC
Recommendation
See: 3.2.8.3.20. Page 93
Street Lighting Set illumination standards for
county and local street lighting
Fom Kuck - Engineering Review Der IESNA RP-8-00. N/A
Sec: 3.2.8.3.24. Page 95Change size of conduits under
Subdivision Improvements mvement for water services
from minimum of three-inch N/A
Tom Kuck - Engineering Review
iliameter to 4-inch diameter.
Sec: 3.4.5.1.10. and Page 96
3.4.13.5.1. Prohibit blasting on new
Explosives ~ubdivisions and site
ilevelopment plan N/A
tom Kuck - Engineering Review :onstruction within 350 feet
0f structures or county
roadways
Sec: 3.5.7.3.1. Page 98
Excavation Depths
Change maximum permittable
Fom Kuck - Engineering Review depth of private and
development excavation from N/A
12 feet to 20 feet.
Sec: 3.5.8.2.1. Page 99
Excavation Status Reports Change the annual status
report requirements for N/A
l'om Kuck - Engineering Reviewcommercial excavations.
Sec: 3.9.6.6.6. Page 102
Remove "dwelling units"
Vegetation Removal
from the language regarding Support staffs
exotic removal prior to C.O. recommendations
Barb Burgeson - Current Planning
on residential lots.
Sec: 3.10.9.1. Page 103
Remove Nest Relocation from
Support staffs
Sea turtle Protection the types of sea turtle permits recommendations
Kim Maheuron - Current Planningissued by the County.
See: 3.11.2. Page 104To provide additional
Endangered, Threatened Or Listedlanguage to the protected
Species Protection species section of the LDC, as Support staffs
directed by the CCPC and the recommendations
BCC during the last LDC
Barb Burgeson - Current Planningamendment cycle.
11/09/00 5
2000 Land Development Code Amendments - CYCLE II
Summary Sheet
LDC Proposed DSAC EAC CCPC
Section Amendment Recommendation Recommendation Recommendation
Sec: 3.14.3. Page 109!Language added to Section
Vehicles On The Beach Regulation3.14.3 to allow for additional
exception to the vehicle on the
beach regulations to Support staff's
Barb Burgeson - Current Planningaccommodate the commercial recommendations
aspect of the beachfront hotels
and concessions.
~kppendix "B" Page 112Change 5 Typical Roadways
typical Street Sections & Right-of-Sections to show required
Way Design Standards location of water line and force N/A
main within right-of-way.
Tom Kuck - Engineering Review
11/09/00 6
November 15, 2000
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Are we ready? Okay, let's call -- call to
order the Collier County Planning Commission meeting on the
LDC and related amendments of November 5th, 2000. Pursuant
to the record, we will call a roll. Thank you.
Commissioner Priddy?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Here.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Commissioner Young?
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: Here.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Commissioner Abernathy?
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Here.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Commissioner Rautio called me and
told me she's on a plane, may or may not be here, so she's
absent.
Commissioner Wrage is present.
Commissioner Pedone?
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Is here.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Pedone is present.
Commissioner Budd is absent.
And Commissioner Saadeh is absent and on vacation, I
believe.
Where did Marjorie go?
MR. NINO-' She's right here.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay.
MS. STUDENT: Sir.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: A brief description on what the rules of
what we're going to do tonight. Now, we're going to go down
each item and take a straw vote; is that correct?
MS. STUDENT: Not really. You need to make an official
vote on the amendment to recommend to the Board of County
Commissioners, and along with that motion there needs to be a
finding of consistency with the comprehensive plan.
However, for the Goodland items, we discussed taking a
separate vote on that because of the -- we have the situation
where we have the overlay with the criteria, or in the alternative,
a moratorium. So because of that alternative situation, and
discussing it, it was thought that it would be better to separate
that out and take a separate vote.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay. With that, Ron?
MR. NINO: Yes, Ron Nino for the record. I believe you can
hear these in the aggregate, with the exception that Marjorie
Page 2
November 15, 2000
identified.
As you recall from your first meeting, we -- from the first
public hearing, we went through each of the amendments that
are in this cycle. And there were some that stood out or that had
some concerns expressed by members of the audience. And I
believe that by virtue of the sign-in slips that I've received, there
are a couple of items that will also require separate discussions.
Let me go back and remind you that under normal
circumstances you would have -- your amendment summary
sheet would have indicated the action taken by the Development
Services Advisory Council with respect to their recommendation.
Actually goes -- that really goes to the board. But I'm sure that it
is of interest to the members of this commission as well. As a
matter of fact, Commissioner Rautio raised the question at the
last meeting as to why the DSAC recommendation isn't here.
We've had problems. Apparently we've had problems lately
getting quorums of a number of committees, and unfortunately
the second hearing of the DSA resulted in the lack of a quorum.
However, as you'll recall, and as I pointed out at your first
meeting, the DSAC did go through each of the items in the
agenda package and in principle did not have a problem with any
of these amendments. There were two in particular that were
kind of left hanging, and we wordsmithed those. And that was
vehicle on the beach and the annual beach permit amendments.
There were two that stood out, as far as the DSAC were
concerned.
The DSAC will hold their meeting in the first Wednesday in
December, and hopefully we will be able to report to the board
what their recommendation is. But I want you to appreciate why
at this point in time we still -- for your purposes, we don't have an
official DSAC recommendation.
However, as you'll note from the summary sheet, we do have
the EAC recommendations, with those things that we brought to
the EAC's attention. And those are environmentally driven
issues. And it should be interesting to note that on two of the
most contentious of the amendments were environmentally
driven, and the EAC did recommend approval of those.
With that, I would prefer that we went to those items for
which there are members of the audience here that want to
discuss those matters that there are still some unresolved
Page 3
November t5, 2000
issues,
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: I think that the board would probably
go along with that.
MR. NINO: And the first one is the Goodland issue. And that
is on page --
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: 50.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: 50.
MR. NINO: 50, is it?
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Last seen it was.
MR. NINO: The amendment before you would purport to
restrict the height of residential development in the RT -- in the
DR district by virtue of an overlay to two stories. And it does
provide for some lot area reductions and lot width reduction,
recognizing the status of a lot of the historical development in
the Village of Goodland.
That is essentially the substance of that amendment, that
proposal, that is before you. And you'll recall at the last meeting
we had indicated that in the event the board found this
amendment unsatisfactory, that the board would have the
opportunity to consider the imposition of a temporary
moratorium on Goodland to allow us time to develop a regulation
that is more consistent with the wishes of the board.
With that, I think you might be well advised to hear the
Goodland representation in terms of whether or not they support
this overlay or in fact wish to optimize something even more
restrictive than what is before you.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Who is the proponent of this,
Ron?
MR. NINO: The County Board of Commissioners.
Ray, do you want to speak to that issue? Ray Bellows has
been instrumental in all of the meetings to develop the overlay
district, and this is Ray's baby. Let him speak to it.
MR. BELLOWS: Yes, for the record, Ray Bellows.
A year ago the Board of County Commissioners heard an
item to limit the building heights in the VR district. Originally four
stories over -- four habitable spaces over parking. And they
amended it to three stories over parking for the VR district.
Now, that spurred Board of County Commissioners'
discussions with residents in Goodland to have a zoning overlay
public hearings in Goodland to see what other items can be done
Page 4
November 15, 2000
or more further restrictions in building height can be done. We
held about 10 meetings down in Goodland, starting with the very
basics. We did an existing land use map that was intended to
get the residents to walk through the community to, you know,
pick out -- or issues that they want to address the zoning overlay.
We did an existing land use map and nonconforming block map.
And as a result of these early discussions, we had a
tentative idea of where we wanted to go with the zoning overlay.
We also had a mailing to all the property owners of a general
question. This meeting wasn't intended to be -- or this
amendment cycle wasn't intended to be the entire Goodland
zoning overlay. This is the first step addressing just two issues.
We're going to hold many more meetings down in Goodland and
address single-family RSF lots, commercial lots, possibly, maybe
have an architectural ordinance associated with this, or some
general architecture to keep that village residential feel,
addressing storage of boats and vehicles in the front yard,
parking and swales. Those are the other issues that we'll
address. We just didn't have time to address them for this cycle.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Well, let me cut to the chase
on this particular one. The reason it came up a year ago was
because of--
MR. BELLOWS: Well, some residents had concerns --
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: -- the people in Goodland
wanted something done to change?
MR. BELLOWS: -- of the Dolphin Cove development.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: People in Goodland wanted
something done to change? MR. BELLOWS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: And you went from four
habitable to three, or four to two?
MR. BELLOWS: Four to three.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Four to three.
MR. BELLOWS: I think they were questioning two, though.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Now we're going three to
two?
MR. BELLOWS: Yes. Yeah, proposed.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY.' Excuse me, you said there were
two issues on this. Height obviously is one. What's the second
one?
Page 5
November 15, 2000
MR. BELLOWS: The nonconforming lots in the VR district.
The single-family lots, generally they are platted at 45-foot wide
lots, and the VR district lots were I think 50-foot wide lots. So
they're nonconforming, and this would make them all conforming.
MR. NINO: Let me add to that, Commissioner Abernathy.
When the issue first came up, it was the result of a condominium
that was proposed in the Goodland area.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Oh, yes, okay.
MR. NINO: That drove the issue. And the board held
hearings with respect to an amendment, and the board optimized
-- the board's direction at that time was to -- was to add -- you
see, the current regulation was that you -- the height was
restricted to 35 feet, but there were no story limitations. And the
board, in considering this whole issue, directed an amendment at
that time to three stories above the mean flood elevation. And
held to 35 feet as well.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Three and 35.
MR. NINO: Three and 35.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: One question before we get to the
public's comment, Ron. Has there been any discussion or any
change as far as the staff's concerned since two weeks ago?
MR. NINO: No, there has not.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: I have a question.
On the 45-foot wide lots --
MR. NINO: Let me also add to that question. This is not a
staff recommendation. We're the messenger.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: That's what I was --
MR. NINO: Not a recommendation.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: I have a question. Ron, I have a
question on the 45-foot lot, that 45-foot wide lot? MR. NINO: Yes.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Is that to bring the existing
homes into from nonconforming to conforming, or do they also
plan to redevelop that area with 45-foot lots with new homes?
And if so, would that be called row housing?
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Cjuster housing.
MR. BELLOWS: The 45-foot wide lots are for future
subdivisions, and would make those existing 45-foot wide lots
Page 6
November 15, 2000
conforming.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: And let me ask straight. If you
have a 45-foot wide lot now and you want to have a minimum
five-foot setback on either side, we're looking at homes then
probably 35 feet in width at a maximum.
MR. BELLOWS: Yes, that would be like cjuster type housing.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: As I recall, the other issue here is, is
should and when you have a hurricane or disaster, to be able to
bring it back to the way it is now; is that --
MR. NINO: Yes, that would allow -- in the event of a natural
disaster, that would allow the existing lots to be rebuilt.
MR. BELLOWS: And if I may, also, the intent of the zoning
overlay is to preserve the fishing village atmosphere, and this is
another attempt to keep new lots to be similar to the existing.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay. With that, Ron, we have some
speakers?
MR. NINO: Yes, we do.
Edward Fullmer, Steve Camacho and Vivian Holland.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: The only thing, before you start, a
request. Remember, we sat through this two weeks ago, and
although I don't want to hinder any input, we're really looking for
something new than what we heard two weeks ago, please.
MR. FULLMER: I spoke very briefly last time. My name's
Edward Fullmer, vice president of the Goodland Civic
Association. I've been involved in this for three years now.
To bring you up to speed, the last Planning Commission,
with the recommendation of the Development Services, was two
over one. When we came before Bob Mulhere and the
Development Services Department, we negotiated and the
recommendation from Development Services to the last planning
board was two over one, and the last planning board voted for
two over one. And then we went in to the commissioners'
meeting.
Because of the opposition of a single owner of a large VR
property, which was Dolphin Cove, and the Curcie property,
Fisherman's Cove, there was opposition from her lawyer and her
architect. And they came in with drawings and so forth, which
you seen last week. Which I dispute their drawings, because
they're making one nice and the other one ugly, and nobody's
Page 7
November 15, 2000
going to sell an ugly building.
But anyhow, this has been going on for two and a half years.
We've had overlay meetings ran by the county, open to all
citizens of Collier County, which in the beginning I disagreed
with. I thought it was just for Goodland. But they opened it up to
everybody, which brought the developer's lawyer in, the
developer's architect in, and people that doesn't even live on the
island came down there and voiced their opinion, which I thought
was totally wrong. But I guess that's the way government runs.
Because I'm not paid by anybody, I'm a volunteer to represent
the citizens of Goodland.
Now, we've had numerous petitions down there, and every
petition that came out down there wants two over one in that
area. They don't even want multiple housing. They want to keep
the village the way it is. We do not want these money people
from Marco and Naples coming into Goodland because they've
got money and can buy a big plot of property and develop condos
and sell them for low rent housing, which Dolphin Cove is, but
that's a different issue which we'll address on the 28th.
They want to come down there. They don't live there, and
they're trying to tell us how to live. We know how to live. We're
there for a reason. We have millionaires that live in Goodland.
They walk around with raggy pants on and white rubber boots,
because that's the way they want to live. And we don't want to
change by outside developers coming in there.
You know, the last commission they called it Okay Coral,
because they gave everything to the developers. And what
happened to us at the last commission meeting, this board
approved two over one, we went there, and because we didn't
change the building heights, because we were told by
Development Services we couldn't change the building height.
Because we want it lowered. We want it the same as residential,
30 feet. Because what they did, even Bob Mulhere, when I was
in a meeting with him, said we don't know how he got four floors
in 35 feet. Well, he did it easy. He made a Days Inn, seven-inch
poured slabs with half-inch gypsum glued to it to give him eight
feet to get it in 35 feet.
There's not another building in this county, in Collier County,
that's designed like that. There's none built like that. There's
still none built like that, because they haven't even started the
Page 8
November 15, 2000
work down there.
And we talked to Bob Olliff. They offered 2.7 million to buy
that property for a county park. The people involved refused to
sell it to the county. And they took 2.8 million off another
developer.
So we want this two over one in, because there's one more
large property to be developed. The citizens want it. Our last
survey, we mailed out 352 letters. We got three nos back. And
one of them was the developer that's trying to develop the next
property. And the other two is two part-time citizens.
So we're telling you, 349 people in that village had an
opportunity to voice their opinion. We got 210 back that wants it
two over one. And we're asking you to please approve two over
one and approve the nonconforming lots.
Like you said, if a hurricane comes, the people that are
living in there, in their trailers, would not be able to put a trailer
back on the lot if we went by the county standard right now of
100 by 100. We want to preserve Goodland the way it is.
And it's also an historical place, as you know, because the
Calusa Indians started it with their shell mounds. And Mr. Collier
started it by moving the people off of Marco to Goodland so he
could develop Marco. And we don't want to get moved out of
Goodland so the developers from Naples and Marco can develop
Goodland. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Next speaker?
Just a comment. We do not approve it, we make a
recommendation, just so you all understand that.
MR. CAMACHO: Good evening, and thank you. My name is
Stephen Camacho, and I'm a native of Goodland/Marco Island. I'm
six generations. My grandchildren are eight generations. My
grandfather was Captain Bill Collier, and I do live in Goodland
now,
And I commend Mr. Fullmer and components (sic) of the
civic association in their effort to keep Goodland the way it's
always been, quaint, a fishing village, and restore and maintain
the historical value. Not only were the Caiusas there, but there
were a lot of other families with a lot of heritage.
I think the issue that we have and my comments I would like
to mention on the VR zoning were the two over one and the four
over one to the three over one, the things that have come to pass
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November 15, 2000
in the past. In speaking to the people that I know personally and
are residents and property owners in Goodland, the majority of
them do feel that, that we do not need multi-family in Goodland.
However, we have the issue of property rights, that whoever
owns the property, the intent therefore and so on.
I would be in favor of this non-commercial attitude. I think
there could be an architectural board that would keep things in
more conforming with the ambiance such as the Key West style
homes and zero lot line, things of this nature, rather than the
condo aspect of it. And I totally stand behind Mr. Fullmer in that
respect.
The second issue as to VR zoning, and really the reason that
I'm here, as far as nonconforming lots, when we started this
overlay dialogue, we started, as Mr. Bellows said, just under two
years ago, and it started at a luncheon with the Collier County
Historical and Preservation Board and Mr. Bellows and myself,
Mrs. Fullmer, and some of the other residents of Goodland. And
the issue was definitely Dolphin Cove. That was one of the
issues.
The other issues were the island as a whole, meaning the
rights that we have enjoyed, the change of zoning from fishing
village commercial to VR and RSF-4, which happened some
decade and a half ago, I believe. Mr. Bellows could correct me
on that.
However, there was an intent of property at that time. We
had commercial fishing industries and we had cottage industries
in our homes at that time. And now we are not allowed to do
that because of zoning. These are other issues that will come to
pass as we go into the overlay aspects and the things that will
be amended to this overlay later.
However, one thing I would like to be clear and I think we
should all consider: Set aside the condo aspect, on the 45-foot
lots with a square footage of non-conformance. We also have
other zoning areas in Goodland which have not been mentioned
in this. One being RSF-4, which are predominantly 50 by 100
lots. And they are nonconforming in square footage and in
setback.
In my home I have about a three-foot lot line. My horne's
100 years old. It was moved from Caxambas in 1948. Whether it
be termites, whether it be my will or whether it be a natural
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November 15, 2000
disaster, I would like that included also, all of the zoning.
Whether it be C-4 -- maybe not the commercial. That's an issue
that maybe the owners could take up. But as far as residential, I
think we should speak out of one voice, one mouth for the
community and not be separated in the community.
So if this is going to be addressed and sent to the
commissioners for their vote on this part of the overlay, I think
the square footage issue of nonconforming should relate to all
residential properties. And that's basically why I'm here. And
thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you. Next speaker?
MS. HOLLAND: Good afternoon. My name is Vivian Holland.
I'm an 11-year resident, full-time resident, of Goodland.
Well, I can't give you my opening statement now, because
it's been shot to pieces by what these people have said. But
today I would like to correct some statements that have been
misrepresented to you by our opponents.
Mr. Yovanovich continues to state the community of
Goodland is not supporting our effort, that it is a select few
pushing zoning overlay, moratorium requests and the appeal of
the SDP for Dolphin Cove.
As Mr. Fullmer said, a mailing was sent out this year to all
Goodland residents to get approval for the GCA board to retain
an attorney. Of the 340 mailings sent out to all property owners,
only three of the 200 plus responses were against hiring an
attorney.
I should also add, we have had over 30 donations toward a
legal fund from our residents, which more than paid the attorney
in full. Although these monies were allocated to our fight against
Dolphin Cove, it certainly shows community support for the
issues at the front, which are height and density.
In any community there are supporters and there are doers.
Goodland is no exception. We have a group of residents that
have devoted two years of their lives to stop this inappropriate
development in our tiny village. We have done this with a solid
support of our people.
Mr. Yovanovich also said that our zoning overlay committee
was somehow a select group of biased members. The
committee was selected by the GCA president, John Carter, at
the request of Mr. Bellows. It was formed as a fact-finding
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November 15, 2000
committee only. Information on lot sizes and zoning districts
were presented to Mr. Bellows, the committee was disbanded,
and the county from that point on determined the direction of the
overlay. The county made suggestions and listened to our
discussions among ourselves.
Unfortunately, some of our residents harbored a common
distrust of county officials, and it took much explaining and many
arguments to make clear Goodland's final goals for this overlay.
But in the end everyone understood the process and agreed on
our goals.
After much more discussion and input from everyone, the 40
questions submitted to the county were narrowed down to a final
17, which the county felt had the potential to become major
issues in our overlay.
The foremost issues are and have been from day one height,
density and lot site. When height was first addressed, we were
told by Mr. Mulhere height could not be an issue. He suggested
that the way to reduce density was not to reduce height but to
reduce habitable floors.
We had a question on our initial survey to property owners,
asking if the height should be changed, but that question was
removed by the county in the final overlay questionnaire. We
have always listed height as our number one priority.
Mr. Yovanovich insists that our efforts are a personal attack
on his client. Whether we like his client or not is irrelevant. We
do not like the Goodland unfriendly developments that -- pardon
me. We do not like the Goodland unfriendly developments. They
will benefit Goodland in no way. They will serve one purpose and
one purpose only: To make his client money at the cost of our
tiny community.
We will be faced with a 100 hundred percent increase in
population, an unbelievable increase in traffic and a major
increase in boat traffic in this designated critical mariatee
habitat. But the most important impact will be the loss of our
way of life. We will never again be Goodland, the historical,
quaint, charming fishing village everyone loves to visit. It will be
gone forever. Make no mistake, that by not taking measures
now, Goodland is forever lost.
Mr. Yovanovich also has claimed his client has not been
treated fairly. He cites a lack of information regarding our
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November 15, 2000
objections to her development. His client is member of the
Goodland Civic Association, has attended, with and without her
hired representation, meetings of the general membership and
many overlay meetings. All meetings are publicly advertised and
his client receives all mailings concerning GCA material and
overlay material.
Her purchase of the two-acre site in Goodland was done one
full year after Goodland's highly publicized protest and
objections to this type of development began. His client bought
with full knowledge of our position on VR multi-family housing.
Never in the past two years has any of our information not been
public record.
I might add, this two-acre parcel may not seem to be of
significant size, and if it were in Marco or Naples or Fort Myers,
we would agree. But in Goodland, a one square mile island
surrounded almost completely by water, two acres is a major
portion of our community.
We are targeting this two acres, but also, we are thinking of
the future, combinations of property and one additional large
tract that could be available in the very near future.
We are asking this: We want a zoning overlay that allows
only two habitable floors over FEMA. We want to make all
nonconforming lots conforming. We want a reduction in height to
30 feet over FEMA in VR zoning. These issues are of utmost
importance to our residents and for the future of our tiny village.
If at this time it is determined all of these requests cannot
be recommended, then we again request that a moratorium on
multi-family VR zoned property in Goodland be put into effect
until necessary steps can be taken to implement our overlay.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Ron?
MR. NINO: Next speakers are Wayne Arnold and Rich
Yovanovich.
MR. ARNOLD: Good evening. For the record, I'm Wayne
Arnold. I appeared two weeks ago and made a presentation. I
know that a couple of the commissioners were not present at
that meeting, and I'd like to go back through those briefly, just to
state our position of why we think that two over one has its
problems and why a moratorium is unnecessary.
Page 13
November 15, 2000
I think, you know, I too have been involved in this thing
going on two years, and I think there's been some
mischaracterization of our client as a developer, which she is
not. She happens to own two acres of property that has for
many, many years under the VR zoning district permitted a
variety of uses, including commercial uses on this land. So that
over time, yes, the VR zoning district has been scaled back
somewhat.
A year and a half ago when the Goodland Civic Association
brought to the County Commission and to this Planning
Commission the request to change the building elevations from
what was then permitted to be, let's say, four stories -- but it
always said 35 feet; it never really said four stories, it said 35
feet -- that restriction was argued here without the benefit of
representation of my client.
The County Commission at that point in time did hear our
presentation and agreed with us that maintaining 35 feet,
whether you have three stories or two stories, is immaterial. You
have 35 feet of building elevation.
We also think there are some very significant design
considerations that make two over one not necessarily more
appealing or more in the character of Goodland than does three
over one, for instance. And I have some exhibits that do show
that.
I think there have been no bones about it, this has been
targeted toward one property owner; one property owner that
happens to own two acres of VR zoned property. The only other
property that from my research yields anything close to an acre
that's the minimum required for multi-family housing is about .8
acres, which easily requires lot assemblage to make that a
multi-family site.
But also then going back to any of the other lots, you have
to assemble up to possibly 10 or 11 lots, depending on the actual
size of those platted lots, to put a multi-family structure in place.
We don't think that it's eminent that there are other sites
that are going to be developed. They already have multi-family
housing on Goodland. There's already been an approval and
building permits approved for the project known as Dolphin Cove
that will be built.
The condominium use has been permitted for years, and
Page 14
November 15, 2000
maybe Mr. Mulhere, who I know has researched the history of
this, can attest to that. This has been the character of
Goodland. It just hasn't been built because the market possibly
wasn't there or the multi-family or condominium development.
Goodland has been discovered. There's no doubt about it.
People are finding Goodland and like it. There are waterfront
lots there. And no difference here. This property that's in
question is a waterfront property that's just slightly over two
acres and would permit multi-family zoning. It permits under VR
now anything ranging from mobile homes to multi-family housing
and everything in between. It has different density restrictions
for those uses, it has different building setback and development
regulations for those uses. You range anywhere from seven units
an acre to 14 units per acre.
Nothing in the proposal tonight to reduce height changes
density. It doesn't change the development standards, it doesn't
change any other aspect other than the number of stories that
you can put within that. And I'm telling you that to go ahead and
change the building footprint to make it a two-story building
envelope just makes you spread out your density across the site.
It doesn't mean that people aren't going to maximize their
density on the site. People are buying the land based on the
number of units that they can achieve on that land.
And it so happens that development standards have
changed to the point where your building setbacks maybe lose a
unit or two. That's one thing. But you're going to fill up more of
the lot to put the same number of residential units on it than you
do if you allowed someone to go to three stories and have more
open space on the site. That's just a given. CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Mr. Priddy?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I have a question, Mr. Arnold.
What can you go there today without -- coming through this
process, what could you have pulled permits this summer and
built, density-wise?
MR. ARNOLD: Multi-family building up to I think it's 14. -- 15
units per acre for multi-family housing.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: 14 units per acre. Could have
been 35 feet.
MR. ARNOLD: Right. Still 35 feet. Could have been
multi-family. We could have easily equally pulled permits to build
Page 15
November 15, 2000
-- put a site development plan together for a mobile home park on
the same property. That's the other alternative and the other
end of the spectrum.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: If-- and irregardless of whether
two stories over or three stories over is approved, the same
number of people are going to be living on that property at some
point in the near future.
MR. ARNOLD: Correct. This doesn't change the population
of Goodland, it doesn't change the density of Goodland. The
density is already assigned on that property because the VR
zoning district was reviewed during the original compatibility
exceptions of the zoning reevaluation ordinance back in 1991
and 2, I believe.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Okay, so the only argument here
tonight is not that people are going to live there, that more
people are going to be clogging up the roads, but as to whether
they're going to live in a two-story or three-story building. MR. ARNOLD: That's the way I see it.
And I think that -- to go back, a lot has been said. I heard
Mr. Fullruer mention a number of surveys. And I know the
Goodland Civic Asso¢iation's sent out a number of surveys over
the course of the last couple of years, but the county sponsored
a survey that was submitted as part of the zoning overlay
process over the last year. 352 property owners received it. The
county extended the deadline because response rates were not
very good. They extended the deadline in order to receive more
responses.
Well, out of those responses, less than 45 percent of the
residents responded to that survey. The survey question never
asked whether you supported two over one, three over one or
anything else. It said do you support, as part of this overlay, we
looked at building heights, period.
Yes, building heights should be addressed as part of this
overlay. This has been sort of taken out of context and pushed
into this amendment cycle because this is the same agenda that
was pushed by the civic association a year and a half ago.
County Commission heard the same arguments and agreed that
three over one was the standard that should be applicable. So
now going back a year later, we're having a Land Development
Code amendment that affects one piece of property. We're
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November 15, 2000
talking about a moratorium that affects one piece of property.
Blatantly targeted and blatantly unfair.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Well, I think certainly in my mind
the initial misconception could be is that if you limit the height
you're going to limit the number of people, and that simply isn't
taking place.
Looking through some of the pictures that the civic
association sent out, there are certainly a number of buildings on
Goodland that are 35 feet in height.
MR. ARNOLD: That's correct. Yes, and don't forget, there
are also a number of C-4 commercial and C-5 commercial areas
that allow heights up to 100 feet that are not being addressed.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: In your mind, what are the
benefits of trading off the spreading out for the going up? I
mean, there's got to be open space, landscaping, things that can
be achieved if the footprint is taller rather than wider; is that
fair?
MR. ARNOLD: I think it is. And the exhibit that I have back
here on this board, the top shows a two over one story parking
building configuration. Same number of units. The bottom of that
exhibit shows the three over one. And you can clearly see that
the building separation automatically increases, because the
way the county says that you have to separate buildings based
on their height.
And it also requires open space. We have 10 percent more
open space in the diagram with three over one than we do two
over one. And I would argue that on a waterfront lot, having
more water view and less lineal coverage of your lot is an
enhancement rather than a detriment.
I think it also, when you look at some of the other exhibits
that we presented, and I know -- you know, forgive me, I know
that the Goodland residents do not like these exhibits, but on the
left you see a 35-foot high two-story building over parking. On
the right you see a 35-foot high three-story building over one
floor of parking.
You can embellish a three-story building to make it look very
attractive and very nice. You can see that the building, to get
the same number of units, is longer and boxier on the left. It
doesn't mean that you can't embellish that. And I think that
that's a fair criticism by Mr. Fullruer. Yes, that could have been
Page 17
November 15, 2000
gingerbreaded up to make it look more attractive. But the fact of
the matter is, three stories doesn't have to be unattractive
either, and it's still the same height.
You know, again, I would argue that there's no need to
change the standard that's been in effect for the last year that
was argued and adopted by the County Commission. And clearly,
going for a moratorium is unprecedented for any other overlay.
We've had overlays in Marco, in Immokalee, Golden Gate Estates.
We've had I guess the attempt in North Naples, none of which
resulted in a discussion on moratorium. Especially something
that would be targeted at one property.
So I would encourage you to leave the standard as it is
today and have the committee go back and work through the
balance of the overlay to come up with standards that are
appropriate for the other issues that were raised and addressed
in the survey.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: To staff, are there any 30-foot
limitations anywhere else in Collier County?
MR. NINO: Well, anything that's zoned VR is limited to 30
feet. But the -- all of the RSF-1 through 6 zoning districts -- and
there are RSF zoning districts in Goodland where the height
limitation is 35 feet.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay. Any further questions before the
next speaker?
MR. YOVANOVICH: For the record, Rich Yovanovich, whose
name was mentioned a few different times so far.
To embellish a little bit on what Ron said, I believe in the VR
zoning district you can go up to 35 feet, so there's not a
limitation of 30 feet in the VR district. But he is correct, on a
single-family district on the island you can go to 35 feet. So
there is a consistency between the VR district maximum height
and the single-family district maximum height.
I don't want to repeat a lot of what I said last time, because
I know the Chairman doesn't want me to, but I do feel like I need
to address a couple of points that were made by some of my
previous speakers.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY.' Chairman has an ally in that
regards.
MR. YOVANOVICH.' I understand, Mr. Abernathy, and I will
be very, very brief.
Page 18
November 15, 2000
I think it's important to note that this is not a staff
recommendation. The staff is just merely the messenger on this
petition. As Wayne pointed out to you the first go around, there
was no notice to our client that there was even an L. DC provision
under consideration. When we did find out, we jumped in on the
process right away. So that explains why there was no
opposition, and why maybe the Planning Commission voted the
first time in favor of two over one, because clearly there was no
opposition.
There is opposition, and that opposition was presented to
the board, and the board did look at these exhibits and
recognized the trade-offs of three over one versus two over one.
It is -- it is a very important -- and I think Mr. Fullmer
summed it up very clearly how this process has worked so far.
He believed it was a Goodland process. And for it to be a
Goodland process, you had to live there. That is not the process.
The process is a property owner process. And our property --
our client is the predominant VR --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Excuse me just a second.
MR. YOVANOVICH: Did I say Goodland?
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Because last time I made you be quiet
while staff spoke, so I would ask staff to be quiet while you
speak, okay? Thank you.
MR. YOVANOVICH: That's okay, they weren't distracting
me.
But anyway, the process was intended to be a process that
involved all the property owners. The committee was set up by
the Goodland Civic Association. As Vivian pointed out, my client
is a member of the Goodland Civic Association, and my client
requested that she be on the committee. My client in fact was
the property owner that they're targeting. And they did not invite
her to be on the committee.
I think they summarized better than I can summarize, that
they didn't -- she's an outsider. I'm an outsider. Wayne, who's
been promoted to architect instead of planner is an outsider. We
were not welcomed into this process. We did try to interject our
opinions, and it just was not a process that was -- where we were
welcomed. And that's why we're here today, disagreeing with
the conclusions.
It is important to understand, we have been involved in this
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November 15, 2000
process now. We weren't originally. We're standing involved in
this process. My client is not a developer. My client basically
inherited the property; is just simply seeking to keep the
alternatives available that she has. The current code provision
was heavily debated. It was -- the board voted for three over
one.
There's no reason for a moratorium. It's one parcel of
property that can be impacted by this moratorium. There would
have to be other properties assembled. Wayne has pointed that
out to you.
We request that you do exactly what Wayne has said, leave
it at three over one, do not impose a moratorium. There's no
reason to have a moratorium. Go forward with it. In they want to
continue to go forward with an overlay, let's do a comprehensive
overlay and address the issues that I heard them address, and
that was character. Let's address the character through the
overlay process. But let's not punish a property owner by
imposing a moratorium on her property by giving her a choice of
-- an unacceptable choice of two over one or a moratorium. As I
said previously, that's not a choice. That's being backed into a
corner and taking the lesser of two evils. And we request that
you not put our client in that position.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Any questions?
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: It was stated that staff had not
recommended this two over one possibility? Which seems to
sustain the wish of the people of this rather historic area, to
maintain the same ambience.
MR. NINO: Well, I had said that staff did not initiate this
amendment, but we were the messenger for the Board of County
Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I'm real confused on how two over
one is going to maintain the ambience of the community as
opposed to three over one when you're going to have the same
number of people. I mean, it seems to me what the neighbors
and the people ought to want is the best fit on the piece of
property, whether it's a single-family home or multi-family home
or commercial, is that they want the best that they can get on
that piece of property.
And I fail to see how spreading a -- you know, spreading that
out over the lot is going to in the long run be satisfactory to
Page 20
November 15, 2000
everyone that lives if they're looking at the same number of
people live and spread out over that (sic). So I'm having a lot of
trouble, you know, with that argument of coming down to two
stories. Because the same number of people are going to be
living there.
You know, it's just a matter of what you're going to be
looking at in the way of a home. And, you know, I don't -- I'm not
understanding how reducing that down to two accomplishes
anything for the folks on Goodland.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Have we closed the public
hearing?
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: No, I have not. And the Chairman is
going to take a little latitude here, because it is an emotional
issue. Briefly, please.
MR. FULLMER: Thank you.
Yes, I'd like to have Wayne bring his pictures back up here
that he drew, if you don't mind. I'd like to show you --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: If he's willing to do that.
MR. FULLMER.' You might not have been to Goodland.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I've been there.
MR. FULLMER: And the brown roof motel that he drew last
year, he changed the color of the roof to red this year.
The residents in Goodland would rather see that than the
gingerbread that he had over there. That's the way Goodland is.
And the two over one is the height. Where he has this drawn --
this one here is probably more important because what he's
showing you here, this is a narrow strip of property along a
canal. And on the other side of the canal here is trailers, people
that's been there for years living in trailers. This is the canal and
then sunset.
For him to build three stories here and have them looking
down on these people, it's more common sense to the people in
Goodland to have two stories here with a longer footprint. That's
the way Goodland is.
We have one fishing village, was supposed to be, that turned
into a condo association down on the other end of the island.
And it's spread out like this. There's 13 units together. He's not
showing 13 here, but we have 13 units. Koon Key Fishing Village.
It's one floor over parking. It fits in with the community.
This does not fit in. This is what they just built up here at
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November 15, 2000
the Gordon Bridge. If they want to build these, let them build
them at the Gordon Bridge, not in Goodland. We prefer the brown
roof motel over here two over one, if it's spread out.
Now, we tried to negotiate with Mr. Yovanovich and Wayne
long before on Dolphin Cove, and we told him at a meeting
between our executive board, our president, Mr. Graham and
myself, that we would back off of two over one if he would
reduce Dolphin Cove to three over one. And he told us no way.
They got a permit and that's what they're going to build.
And I can't see anybody building something like that, and
the only one in Collier County putting four floors in 35 feet. And I
think you people have to go along with us and trust our judgment
and not the developer -- I mean, I'm sorry, the property owner,
because she don't develop. It's what the family's been doing for
years, they buy a piece of property, jack the price up and sell to
somebody else and let them develop it. And they're making good
money at it. They just made close to --
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Well, that's irrelevant.
MR. FULLMER: But anyhow --
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: We're all Americans.
MR. FULLMER: -- people in Goodland wants Goodland to
stay the way it is. We don't want the gingerbread. We'd rather
have this.
MS. HOLLAND: May I have 10 seconds?
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Briefly.
MS. HOLLAND: I want to note that when Mr. Bellows, Mr.
Nino and Mr. Mulhere speak about what we want in Goodland,
they always use the word height. And somehow height has been
translated into floors. Height has been our number one main
issue in Goodland. Floors -- height got translated into floors
through this process. And we're still talking height. Mr. Bellows,
Mr. Nino, Mr. Mulhere say height. That's the issue.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay. Just a second, let me clarify
something. They can build 35-foot two-story over parking, they
can build 35-foot three-story over parking. And I think that's the
height issue. They certainly don't have to tell us what it's going
to look like, but they can go to 35 feet with two stories. Briefly.
MR. CAMACHO: Stephen Camacho.
I think there's some conflicting interests here and
Page 22
November 15, 2000
conflicting conversation. The main objective that Goodland --
and I think I speak for everybody, is density, population. This
gentleman, Mr. Priddy, he hit it -- he hit the nail on the head.
Once again, I want to reiterate what I said, and maybe I
didn't bring it out properly. There's a way to do this. There's
Barefoot Beach, there's Hideaway on Marco. I think if the
proponents of the development crunch the numbers, they can get
the same return on the dollar, keeping it a single-family 35-foot
dwelling with zero lot line or very little lot line on two acres. I
think they can reach their return and keep the ambience with an
old Florida style, private, less impact on the boat docks, less
impact on the environment, as far as that goes.
You're going to have to have a lot of boat docks with this
density as well. And so I think it's an option that should be
looked into. That's all.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: In regard to those boat docks, has
there been any expression of interest by The Conservancy or any
similar bodies in regard to what effect this would have on the
environment?
MR. FULLMER: Yeah, they get a free dock.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: No testimony from the audience,
please.
MR. NINO'- We're not really-- Ron, we're not really
addressing that issue. We're addressing an issue of--
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Of height.
MR. NINO: -- of establishing a maximum number --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Not height, but floor.
MR. NINO: -- of floors.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Mr. Yovanovich. The last guy may get
shot here. Patience is wearing thin.
MR. YOVANOVICH: That's fine. That's fine. I understand
that, and feel free to shoot.
I'm going to have to respond on behalf of my client and the
comment about her family and her family's name. That was a
cheap shot regarding what the Fiske family does, buying up
property, jacking it up and selling it off.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: That is academic here, as you know.
MR. YOVANOVICH: I know. And I just felt that --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Monetary is not a part of our issue.
Page 23
November 15, 2000
MR. YOVANOVICH: I understand that. I just felt that this --
since this group is not familiar with Sandy Fiske, I think you're
familiar with the family. And we need to state on the record that
is not what that family does. The family has been a good family
in Collier County.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you. I will allow any further
questions from the commissioners. If not, I think we close the
testimony part of this.
It's my understanding we need a motion strictly on 2.234.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: On what?
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: On the Goodland zoning overlay.
MS. STUDENT: Mr. Chairman, I just need to advise again
that if the vote is to adopt the overlay, then the moratorium falls
out. And then -- you know, as an alternative.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: I move that we create a Goodland
zoning overlay district that reduces the maximum building height
from three levels of habitable space to two levels of habitable
space for property zoned village residential VR in Goodland only.
And then in addition, the minimum lot area for single-family
and mobile home lots in the VR district should be reduced from
6,000 square feet to 4,275 square feet, and the minimum lot
width reduced from 60 feet to 45 feet.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Well, I'll second it just to put
it in play. I'm not convinced I'm going to vote for it, but I think I
can still second it. This -- I'm torn between these two
alternatives. I don't think either one is very good. I don't know
how we got here precisely, because it seems to me Mr. Camacho
has an issue that isn't covered by this, lots other than these
45-foot lots. And there are other issues swirling around.
I'm not sure this is what the people in Goodland want. And --
or at least not what all of them want. It seems to me if
Goodland, we don't hear from them very often, they ought to be a
package together that expresses all of their desires at one time
and go forward with it. This proposal does weigh heavily on this
one developer that we've heard again and again, and doesn't
necessarily give all the relief to the people of Goodland that I
understand that they want.
On the other hand, I think a moratorium is a rather
draconian remedy.
Marjorie, maybe I can ask you.' How much latitude does the
Page 24
November 15, 2000
BCC have in amending and toying with this proposal? Can they--
could they implant 30 feet in there if they wanted to in the
height?
MS. STUDENT: With the appropriate, you know, staff
recommendation and staff foundation for it they can.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: But not just on the basis of
evidence at the hearing?
MS. STUDENT: Yeah, evidence at the hearing as well. Which
gives staff an opportunity to give its professional opinion.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Well, maybe that's the best --
if this is the vehicle to get it in front of the County Commission
and let them resolve all of this, maybe this is -- it certainly beats
a moratorium, I think.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I can't support a moratorium of
any kind, so --
MR. NINO: Mr. Chairman, if I may, remind you that Ray at
the outset said that our direction from the county board was to
do a comprehensive study. Time did not permit that. As a
matter of fact, as Ray pointed out, the hearings in Goodland were
not that clear in terms of the magnitude of their objectives.
What did come out of that process was what we think is
perhaps an interim -- an interim measure, and that was the
aspiration that the community limit the number of habitable
floors to two floors.
Since then we're now hearing that they want that
strengthened with a 30-foot height limitation, and perhaps no
multi-family housing of any kind. That could very well have all
been the discussions back a year ago, but it simply did not come
to fruition. And you don't have to vote on either one of these, for
that matter, if you think it would be better that the community go
back and develop a more holistic overlay district that meets the
objectives that they're now discussing at these meetings.
I want you to appreciate that we simply did not have the
time within this window, nor were the discussions at the civic
meetings leading us to any overwhelming consensus of anything
more than this height limitation, this -- I mean, number of
habitable floors limitation.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Well, in this interim between
-- if we were to send this back and say come back later, the
developer could go ahead with his plans, could he not? So
Page 25
November 15, 2000
people in Goodland would lose that -- MR. NINO: That's true.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: -- part of the struggle.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: And that's fine. I do think we do need
to pass a recommendation on to the Collier County Commission.
And I want to interject a comment here before I give my
idea. And I would hope that an event as coagulated to the folks
of Goodland, irregardless of what we do tonight or what the
Board of County Commissioners does, you need to carry this
thing forward for an overlay of all the property on the island. It
needs to be done in an orderly fashion. I know Ray spent many
of his personal hours probably down there.
Having said that, I'm not going to support the motion. I've
been down there. In fact, I've been down there since the last
meeting. I've driven -- I've been in Goodland many times. I have
to agree with my colleague, Mr. Priddy, I would -- I suspect that
even if it's two stories, they're going to use up most of the :35
feet. You're going to have the same amount of people there,
you're going to have the same amount of traffic, irregardless.
I would rather look at a three over with a footprint like that.
And I realize neither of the buildings are going to look like
anything -- any of those (sic) Days Inn drawing that's up there.
Anybody else, before we vote? We've got a motion by
Commissioner Young, second by Commissioner Abernathy.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Nay.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: 4-1.
Having done that, Marjorie, we do not need to take up the
moratorium; is that correct?
MS. STUDENT: Well, the motion to approve, as I understood
it--
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Failed.
MS. STUDENT: -- failed for the overlay; is that right?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Yes.
MS. STUDENT: So what the board was looking for was --
Page 26
November 15, 2000
that didn't go through for some reason, the alternative, the
moratorium. So I think to give a complete packet to the board,
what you need to take action on -- you know, vote on that.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: That's what I wanted to know.
I need a motion on 2.2.35.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Mr. Chairman, I move that we not
have a moratorium.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE-' Second.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Moved by Commissioner Priddy,
seconded by Commissioner Pedone.
Any discussion? All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: Nay.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: 4-1 also.
MR. NINO: Mr. Chairman, if we may go on to the second
item that has some registered speakers. And we're dealing with
Page 70 and 109, annual beach events permit. And Page 109,
vehicles on the beach amendments.
Since your last meeting, Barbara Burgeson has made some
amendments -- has facilitated amendments to this as a result of
information we received. And Barbara, how about the exemption
paragraph? Didn't we exempt some paragraph, or was that
accomplished at the last meeting? Oh, I'm sorry.
That being the case, nothing has changed. Our
recommendations still stand as the material that's before you.
We do have two speakers, Justin Finch and Carl and Ann
Johnson.
MR. FINCH: For the record, my name is Justin Finch. I'm the
manager of Gulf Sea Adventures. We're the beach concession
located behind the Vanderbilt Inn. We're at the northernmost
end of Vanderbilt Beach.
I wanted to comment on the proposed amendments to the
vehicle on the beach regulation. In the beginning of the proposal
it states, the reasons for adding these amendments are, quote,
to allow beach front hotels to use vehicles to set up parties on
the beach, and to have their concessions to use vehicles to move
Page 27
November 15, 2000
their equipment up and down the beach.
Unfortunately this is not the result that these amendments
will allow. In my paper -- it's changed in the paper you have
before you. I believe it's Article 5.4 in yours. States, permits
shall only be issued for ATV's when staff has determined that
due to the distance and excessive weight of the equipment that
it would be prohibitive in nature to use push carts or dollies.
As I interpret this, my concession meets these terms. On an
average day in season we can move approximately 3,000 pounds
in just chairs and umbrellas alone. I can tell you firsthand that
this -- moving this volume of equipment is prohibitive using only
push carts.
According to the senior environmental specialist, we do not
meet the conditions of this article. By her definition, the only
concession that qualifies is The Registry Resort. In my opinion,
this article is vague and open to inconsistent interpretation.
If the author's reason for these amendments was to allow
concessions to use vehicles to move equipment, why is it only
written to apply to one concession? I ask that the board change
this article or not allow it and allow all concessions to have an
equal opportunity to partake in the advantages of using these
vehicles.
In the proposal I received, it states some concerns over the
operational impact from the use of these vehicles, specifically.
It may be seen as an imposition to the public and may also be
considered less aesthetically pleasing.
At my concession, the ATV would be used in the morning for
between the hours of 8:00 and 10:00 a.m., depending on the time
of year. That would allow 40 minutes for beach cleaning and
raking and 20 minutes for equipment setup.
At that point the ATV is stored off the beach and concealed
from public view. At our closing time, which would vary between
5:00 and 6:00 p.m., I would use the ATV to clear the equipment
from the beach.
By limiting our use of the vehicle to low traffic times, this
would prevent it from being considered an imposition to the
public.
Another point of concern I have is Article 5.7, just below
that, prohibiting vehicle operation during sea turtle nesting
season. Now, I understand the need for protection of sea turtle
Page 28
November 15, 2000
nesting sites, but county code already permits use of the ATV's
for beach raking during the sea turtle nesting season. With
operational restrictions, the vehicles could be able to operate
with the added task of equipment transport without endangering
nests or hatchlings. Restrictions such as limiting traffic to the
area furthest from the water, 20-foot boundaries from turtle
nests, limiting vehicle speed to five miles per hour, and limiting
the types of equipment that could be moved with an ATV during
that nesting season.
Now, during the past year I've spent $6,000 to comply with
the senior environmental specialist's recommendations. This
shows I'm more than willing to work with county staff members
to help resolve this situation. But to totally refuse us the right to
move equipment during nesting season is unfair and
contradictory to the codes and practices already in use by Collier
County.
In the mornings the turtle inspector comes out and ropes off
the turtle nests. For the rest of the day, these nests are left
unprotected. Despite warning tags on the nests, this is an
unresistible attraction for children and some adults. For my staff
and myself it's a daily event, preventing people from interfering
with these nests. I've seen similar efforts by the staff at the Ritz
Carlton and the La Playa.
Also this past year we've distributed literature on sea turtles
to help increase some public awareness. I know we can not only
coexist but can be considered an asset to the sea turtle
population. I ask that we get the opportunity to show that this is
possible. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Any question? Any response from
staff?
MS. BURGESON: In response to that, Barbara Burgeson with
planning services.
The proposal as we have it submitted right now would allow
hotels such as the Vanderbilt Inn additional use of vehicles,
although they would not be ATV's. At this point they are not
permitted vehicular use, even the push carts, to move their
concession equipment. So this amendment would allow them to
use the carts or the dollies.
And in discussion about the sea turtle nesting season
issues, Bob wanted me to remind the board that because we had
Page 29
November 15, 2000
no one participating in this round of amendments that might have
been interested or involved in those issues, that we could
address that in the future with another cycle of amendments, if
we wanted to discuss the potential or the possibility of
additional vehicles during sea turtle nesting season.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: How are we letting one person
use vehicles to move around on the beach and not others?
What's -- I'm not understanding that.
MS. BURGESON: The language that we put in here to allow
for ATV's was when the distance and the weight made it
prohibitive for them to use push carts.
And the only reason that staff came up with the -- the initial
reason was an example such as The Registry where they come
to the public beach facility at The Registry and they may need to
bring their kayaks all the way down to the pass. It would be
prohibitive for them to take kayaks on push carts a half a mile
down to the pass. It wasn't to allow concessions to go from the
top of the beach down to water with their equipment.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay, any further questions? And this
also is not only talking about vehicles on the beach, we're also
taking in annual beach permits at the same time; is that correct?
MR. NINO: Is Carol Ann (sic) Johnson here? I'm sorry,
Caroline -- Justin Finch, you just spoke. I have a Carl and Ann
Johnson registered on this issue.
MR. JOHNSON: I just --
MR. FINCH: I will state their opinion.
MR. NINO: Okay. Then there isn't any more. I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you. I will entertain a motion on
3.1 -- 3.14.3 and 2.6.34.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: I'll make a motion to forward
each of those, recommending approval.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Is there a second?
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Yeah, I'll second.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Motion made by Commissioner
Abernathy, second by Commissioner Pedone. Any discussion?
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Aye.
Page 30
November 15, 2000
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: 4-17
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY:
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: 4-1, yeah.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Ron?
Yeah.
MR. NINO: Yes, we have an issue relative to the Bayshore
overlay. Have there been any changes, Debrah, since the first
meeting that you need to advise the members of?
MS. PRESTON: For the record, Debrah Preston, with the
comprehensive planning section.
We did hand out a new revised Bayshore overlay at your last
meeting. And since that time, the only other change that we've
made, and this is due to legal opinion, is that under prohibited
uses we had to change the name from adult entertainment to
sexually oriented businesses, as defined under our Ordinance
91-83.
And also, I'd like to note that on Page 48 of your packet,
under 2.2.33.23.14, staff would like to make a statement in there
that says "or as consistent with the comprehensive plan."
We currently have a comp. plan amendment being reviewed
by DCA that would allow for some additional density in this area.
And until that is adopted, we will not be able to have the up to
12 units per acre until that comp. plan was adopted.
Those are the only changes that I'd like to bring to your
attention right now.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE.' Okay. Ron, do we have any speakers
on that?
MR. NINO: Yes. Elmer Wheeler and William Kerrigan. And
Deborah Russell.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Go ahead.
MS. RUSSELL: For the record, my name is Deborah Russell
and I live on Lakeview Drive.
And I am imploring you not to recommend approval of this
amendment as it's been presented to you for the primary reason
that this amendment that was presented to you by handout at
the last meeting has a provision in it that was never ever
presented at any of the neighborhood meetings.
Page 31
November 15, 2000
And I ask you to look on Page 45 of tonight's packet. And if
you'll look at Section 2.2.33.19, conditional uses marina,
subsection B, increased building height to a maximum height of
100 feet in the waterfront subdistrict.
At every single meeting, neighborhood meeting, which the
first meeting started in June, what was presented to all of the
residents is that the maximum building height would be 42 feet.
The one exception to that would be in the commercial districts,
if they had mixed use residential, they would allow a building
height of 56 feet, but only if there was going to be residential
use.
Now, people want to know how some of these giant boat
barns have gotten built in Collier County. And I submit that this
is how they have gotten built. If they -- if the owner right now
wanted to build a 100-foot building on that site, I don't know if it
would be allowed under current zoning. I would submit that at
least there would have to be hearings, there would have to be
notification. That's not what has happened with an allowing of
100 feet here.
And I have sent -- I sent E-mail messages asking how did
this happen? And the response that I got, well, I don't know. I
asked the marina owner, what are we talking about with 100 feet
here? And his response was, "Well, I don't really need 100, all I
need is 65."
What was presented to us was 42 feet. And I do not think
this plan should be approved, allowing 100-foot height building in
the marina area.
If you'll look down at the landscape buffer requirement for
the conditional use marina, it includes a six-foot buffer wall and
plants up to 24 inches in height. Now, how much of a buffer is
that going to be when, if you'll remember, that this zoning
overlay is on residential property. It goes right next to a house.
Yes, you're going to have a 20-foot buffer, but you might have a
10-story building there.
This plan was presented as being low intensity commercial
use. We already have a marina there. I have no objection to
having a nicer looking marina there. The marina was there when
I bought my house there. But I do object to sliding in a 100-foot
maximum building height that's never been presented.
The first time that came out is when those plan -- the
Page 32
November 15, 2000
amendment was passed out to you. I asked for a copy of that.
When I spoke two weeks ago, I hadn't had a chance to read this
yet.
Then I would like to reiterate my other concern. What's been
brought up is the fact that what we are passing has to be in
conformance with our comprehensive plan that we have. If we're
going to have low intensity commercial use, let's keep it low
intensity commercial use.
And I'd like to bring up again what I mentioned two weeks
ago, is we're still not addressing the drainage problem. Let's not
be in a rush to do this. If we're going to have a zoning overlay,
let's do it the right way so that six months from now we're not in
the same problem that we faced with the Goodland group
tonight. Because only some of the issues were addressed.
I think if we're going to allow more intensive use on
residentially zoned property than what is currently allowed, then
you need to address whether or not there is adequate
infrastructure in place, and there is not. The neighborhoods
flood. And the idea that we can address it on a case-by-case
basis doesn't cut it. And my own house is an example of that.
We have 60-foot wide lots. When the lot next to me was built up,
there's supposed to be a swale. When you have a 60-foot lot and
you have a seven and a half foot setback on each side, you don't
have enough room in seven and a half feet to have a swale to
drain off the water.
What I would suggest is that we go ahead, that you not
recommend this, that you send it back to them and ask them to
first of all have the planning department address the draining
issues. And second of all, not to go ahead and have a provision
in here that is contrary to anything that was presented to the
residents of the area. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you.
MS. STUDENT: I can address part of the history about the
change in the height. It came from the Development Services
Advisory Committee. Correct me if I'm wrong. And there was a
legal concern about the Burt Harris Private Property Rights Act.
And there have been cases brought over on the East Coast under
that act where there have been changes and reductions in height
limits. That would be a -- that was a legal issue. And they may
well have a Burt Harris claim.
Page 33
November 15, 2000
But it was put in there as a conditional use so there would
be further public hearings on the increased height, it wouldn't
just be done. And part of the criteria for the conditional use are
compat -- one of those is compatibility, consistency with the land
code and comp. plan, noise, odor and glare effects on adjacent
properties, and the impact on property values of adjacent
properties.
It would go through a public hearing, it would go to this
board, it would go to the Board of Zoning Appeals, which is the
Board of County Commissioners. So it's not like it's just a done
deal. And it was to protect the county legally to permit this.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Marjorie?
MR. NINO: But are we --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: One question at a time.
Mr. Abernathy.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: If you're talking Burt Harris,
is the building height there now 100 feet?
I was told that in talking with staff that
MS. STUDENT:
there was --
MS. PRESTON:
standard.
MS. RUSSELL:
In C-4 zoning, 100 feet is the current
But that's only in C-4 zoning. That doesn't
apply to the residential lots. And what we're talking about doing
is we're talking residentially zoned lots where we'll allow
commercial zoning. Now, so this would allow 100-story build --
100-foot buildings on lots that are currently zoned residential.
And one of the reasons I am so concerned about this is on
two of these lots right now, they have been -- within the last
month, they have been completely bulldozed of all vegetation.
Now, this was -- the work was begun without a permit. There is
now --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Ma'am, I know you're emotional, okay,
but the Chair will recognize you if -- but that is not an issue that
you're just talking about right there. MS. RUSSELL: Okay.
MS. STUDENT: Mr. Chairman, I'm going to have to defer --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Let us finish our discussion. I'll give
you a chance to maybe speak again.
MS. RUSSELL: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay let's go back to Commissioner
Page 34
November 15, 2000
Abernathy.
MS. STUDENT: I'm going to have to defer to the planners on
that. It was my understanding that where this was going in, that
there was already a present requirement or provision that would
allow the 100 feet, and that we were taking that away. And
because we were taking that away, that can trip a Burt Harris
claim. Which there are cases of this over on the East Coast in
the City of Miami Beach for the very same thing. So it was to
legally protect the county.
Now, I -- it was not my understanding that this would apply
in the zone that heretofore this wasn't permitted anyway, but
that it was in the C-4 that would allow the 100 feet.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you, Marjorie.
MS. PRESTON: If I could --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Debrah, would you address that issue?
MS. PRESTON: Sure, if I could clear up. On the map that's
on Page 36 of your packet for the Bayshore mixed use overlay
district, the conditional use provision would apply in the
waterfront district now, and that does take into account one lot,
I believe, and a couple of lots in this one down here by Lakeview
that is currently residential.
The concern at the DSAC meeting was that because of the
marina type uses, that we were also limiting to certain areas.
Because right now in C-4, all along Bayshore Drive you could
have a marina all along Bayshore. And what we're saying is right
now you can only have a marina type use in the areas that have a
"W" on it for the waterfront district. It does extend one lot back.
We had talked to several of the marinas and we felt that the
42 feet seemed like a suitable height for them. And then when
we went to the DSAC meeting, they brought up the issue of the
Burt J. Harris, and also that because it was waterfront, if
someone wanted to go to 44 feet, because some of the standard
barns that they have for boat storage might be a little bit taller
than 42 feet, were we then jeopardizing them from the two feet
that they might need.
So we decided to go with the conditional use provision. That
way it would have to go through a public hearing again in order
to get any additional height.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Clear it up just for me. What can they
get with a permit without coming before us?
Page 35
November 15, 2000
MS. PRESTON: In the areas that are currently zoned C-4,
they could have full marina type uses and go up to 100 feet. This
does change the boundary and allow for some additional
commercial in the areas that are currently zoned multi-family
RMF-6, by one lot.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: And that's 40 foot wide? That's --
MS. PRESTON: Oh, the additional?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Yeah, the --
MS. PRESTON: Either 40 or 45 feet. How wide? 60 foot.
60 foot. And it's only the ones
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY:
that are next to the "W"?
MS. PRESTON: Right.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY:
Okay.
MR. NINO: Would it be possible -- Ron Nino, for the record.
What would you think, Debrah, of a modification that would
say on -- that the 100 feet applies only to properties currently
zoned C-47
MS. STUDENT: I think we have a legal problem there.
Because if you're allowing marinas in a different district and you
say well, you used to be zoned C-4 so you can have this, and
some guy next door wasn't zoned C-4 and he's still a marina, but
you only get that, you've got an equal protection problem there,
unless you've got a darn good reason, based on not history, but
based on something having to do with the configuration of the
property right now where you could justify that difference. You
have a constitutional equal protection problem.
MR. NINO: On the other hand, we have a residentially zoned
property now that's limited to 35 feet in height and is looking at
an increase in height to 100 feet. And I suggest that the
complaint has a lot of legitimacy to it.
MS. STUDENT: You can do what you want, and we might
have a Burt Harris. How it will turn out, you can't predict those
things. And then again, we may not. But that was put in there,
again, as I -- for the reasons that I stated.
MS. PRESTON: And I'd like to correct that this 100-foot
conditional use is not just in the waterfront, but it is in all of the
neighborhood commercial area. So that it would be anything
that's zoned "NC" or "W" on your map, which would protect the
C-4.
And then there's that one lot that we've expanded to go into
Page 36
November 15, 2000
the neighborhood commercial that right now is zoned
multi-family, which doesn't have a height limit, but does limit it
to three stories.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: I'm still confused.
MS. PRESTON: Confused?
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: You've got to have a conditional use
marina to get to 100 feet?
MS. PRESTON: That's correct. And also, in the
neighborhood commercial district there also is, if you want the
increase to the 100 foot, which protects you for your Burt J.
Harris Act, you'd have to go through a conditional use.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: So it has to go through the public
process.
MS. PRESTON: Right.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay. And I know you did this two
weeks ago, but once again, would you address the drainage?
MS. PRESTON: Yes. We're trying to work on that as
separate project from this. Because without the overlay of
course people can come in and develop right now under the
current standards under C-4 or multi-family or single-family, and
that doesn't change the drainage situation.
We are looking at talking to the Department of
Transportation to come up with a typical section for those local
streets and to design a plan; and of course the cost estimates
and how that would be funded to either put in swales or to put in
curb and gutter along those local streets.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Because I know that's not what you're
looking for, but I know they're working on it. And that's just a
promise.
MS. RUSSELL: I understand that.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: You have to come up to the speaker,
would you, please.
MS. RUSSELL: I understand that it is being worked on. And
my point is, well, let's not intensify the use of the property until
we have a solution in place. I don't think the answer is to go
ahead and allow more intensive use of property and then try and
figure out what the solution is.
I think that responsible government, if you're going to allow
more intensive use of property, has a responsibility to make sure
that the infrastructure is there first.
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November 15, 2000
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: If--
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Any questions?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: -- I'm understanding this right,
while we put this off and work on the drainage, the man can go
build 100 foot without asking permission from anybody.
MS. RUSSELL: But not on the residentially zoned lots.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Right. But we could still end up
with a 100-foot building without fixing the drainage, without
anyone coming back before government of any kind and asking,
they just go pull a permit.
MS. PRESTON: That's correct, for the properties that are
currently zoned C-4. And those are located next to the
properties that are currently zoned RMF-6, which mostly are
being developed with single-family homes right now, because the
lots are too small to allow for anything else but a single-family
home.
MR. NINO: The -- Ron Nino for -- the overlay district doesn't
exacerbate the problems that's already there, unless you rush to
the conclusion that because it has the magic of an overlay
district, that developers are now going to rush into this area and
develop at a far faster rate than it would have developed with
that conventional zoning that's in place.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you. Next speaker.
MR. WHEELER: My name is Elmer Wheeler, and I live on
Lakeview. And again, this 100 feet is all new to me also. Every
time I've been to the meeting, and I've tried to make every one of
the meetings, they've shown me this beautiful picture of
Bayshore, which it looks beautiful and that's what I want, too.
You know, any kind of new development. And every time they
show me a picture, it looks like Fifth Avenue, you know, down in
Naples. I said, well, this is beautiful. Well, this 100-foot building
that they're projecting, you're never going to see anything like
that on Fifth Avenue.
So again, just they want two more pieces of property that
are residential to be added onto something that's going to have
to be voted on also. So just the 100 foot is my problem. And I
see that it's all new, but just to let you know that I see a problem
with this also.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay. Any questions? Thank you.
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November 15, 2000
Any more speakers?
MR. NINO: No, we don't. I don't believe we do. So what is
your --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Okay, with that, we'll close the public
portion. I'd entertain a motion on 2.2.33.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I would move for approval --
recommend for approval.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: As is?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: As is.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Second?
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Moved by Commissioner Priddy, second
by Commissioner Abernathy. Discussion?
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: Aye.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Opposed?
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: 4-1.
Ron?
MR. NINO: 4-1.
We have a last item for your consideration; that is 2.4.4.7
(sic). Let's see what page that is.
MS. STUDENT: Landscaping, I think, Ron.
MR. NINO: I beg your pardon?
MS. STUDENT: I think it's landscaping.
MR. NINO: Yeah. 2.4.7.4. Page 57 of your packet.
Mr. Hoover -- yes, there's another one. I'm sorry, there's
another one after this. This has to do with --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Just -- am I the only one that --
MR. NINO: Page 57 has to do with --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: 57?
MR. NINO: Yes.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: I'm sorry.
MR. NINO: Has to do with amendments to the landscape
section dealing with buffers. Apparently in the Golden Gate Area
Master Plan there is a provision that specifies the type of buffer
that's required at a neighborhood shopping center; the effect of
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November 15, 2000
which is to screen the view of what's happening on the property
from the outside, which has some public safety issues related to
it. And it affects Mr. Hoover's project, and he raised the issue at
the board hearing and was encouraged to attempt to have the
issue rectified through the landscape provision of the landscape
ordinance.
And Bill, would you like to speak to it?
MS. STUDENT: And that was raised yesterday.
MR. NINO: Yes.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: And this doesn't?
MR. NINO: It doesn't.
Excuse me, Nancy, did you have a problem with it? Or you
don't know about it?
MS. SIEMION: Actually, I just found out about it. So -
MR. NINO: Nancy Siemion is our landscape architect, so we
rely on --
MS. SIEMION: I'd be happy to share with you what I know
about it in the last couple of hours and my concerns.
I understand that you're trying to make sure you have the
ability to view the property from the roadway for security
purposes, and that's good. However, I don't think we need to
throw away landscaping that helps a commercial project blend
well into the Estates neighborhoods. And I think we can work on
that a little bit further, if that's okay.
MR. HOOVER: Okay. Bill Hoover, for the record, of Hoover
Planning, representing Wilson Boulevard center PUD that was
approved yesterday.
I think the Planning Commission looked at this maybe a
month ago. And you sent this to the board with a
recommendation that the six-foot wall fence or hedge required
along Wilson Boulevard and Golden Gate Boulevard, we try to get
rid of that. We've had -- we've met with the Golden Gate Estates
Civic Association. They voted, I believe it was 21 to 2 approving
our project, but also trying to get rid of this.
We've had two members of the Sheriff's Department at that
meeting. They strongly opposed a six-foot screening in the front
yard because as they drive by -- they're putting a new Sheriff
substation out there. They have to drive inside the center to see
if a robbery is going on or a drug transaction or -- the civic
association was concerned about loitering.
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November 15, 2000
We don't have a problem putting in trees in there, hedge,
whatever is customary. We just don't want to have a six-foot
wall in the front yard that I think is totally inappropriate, as a
planner.
MS. STUDENT: I need to chime in here, too.
We need to do something, because the board directed that
this be done and come to the Planning Commission tonight. And
we have a legal problem where when new stuff comes up, that
it's got to go through the Planning Commission to get a
recommendation to the board. So we've got an exigent
circumstance here, I guess you could say.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: We're going to take care of this in
just a minute --
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Just a second.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: -- and let staff work on the other
part of it later.
MR. NINO: Yes. And Nancy has a rewording of it. Could we
go to the next issue and come back to this, Bill, and you and
Nancy get together?
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: We will temporarily set aside 2.4.7.4.
Next issue.
MR. NINO.' Who is the person who had an issue on fences?
Okay. I'm sorry, I must have -- yeah, William Kerrigan. Item --
MS. STUDENT: It's probably 2 something.
MR. NINO-' Item 2 -- Page 61 of your agenda.
You'll recall that staff brought to your attention the current
requirement, which is a requirement that was instituted about
five years ago by the then current planning manager that said
that the so-called structural member side, or was more popularly
referred to as the bad side, had to be constructed inward to the
property, rather than exteriorly to the neighbor.
If you drive around Collier County, and I've noticed hundreds
of fences that were built in the -- I guess prior to that regulation
that indeed have the structural member side to the neighbor,
neighbor's side. I personally subscribe to the proposition that if
I'm buying the fence, I want to look at the good side.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Amen.
MR. NINO: And I'm not so sure in today's marketplace, the
way fences are manufactured, that quite frankly there is any
good or bad side. There is a structural member side and a
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November 15, 2000
smooth side.
And I think about the comparison of you go into a so-called
modern restaurant today and you look at all the air ducts.
They're all showing there. Nobody thinks they're ugly. It's part of
the ambiance of that facility.
However, we did have some concerns about how properties
projected themselves along public streets. And the amendment
that finally came out of this process is one that says where the
fence is facing a public street, the smooth side shall face the
public street and the structural member side may face the
property owner, the next door property owner, on the interior lot
lines.
That is the amendment before you. Staff has recommended
it. The DSAC subcommittee and DSAC didn't have a problem
with it. And Mr. Kerrigan wishes to speak to that item.
MR. KERRIGAN: William Kerrigan. I live in Poinciana
Village. I'm president of the Poinciana Village Civic Association,
and I'm also treasurer of the Property Owners Association of
North Collier County, which Poinciana is a member of. And this
is how we've heard of this, through Jim Henderson coming to
Poinciana Village and Michelle Arnold coming before the property
owners,
One thing, I think one fallacy Mr. Nino has said, he said well,
fences look good on both sides now. Why even bother to change
it? If the hardware side looks great, well, you know, don't show
it in front of your neighbor. If it looks that good, keep it on your
side. I'd like to show you a couple of pictures. I wouldn't want
this facing me.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Give it to Mr. Priddy on the end.
MR. KERRIGAN: But that's on Goodlette Road.
And I have no problem with the county trying to do
something about that, you know, facing it. But, I mean, let's not,
you know, go into our neighborhoods and have that kind of fence
facing your neighbor. I mean, this idea that well, if I buy the
fence I want the good side looking at me.
Again, Mr. Nino says, well, both sides of the fences when
you buy them are good now. So if the hardware side is so good,
don't impact your neighbor. Be a good neighbor. So please, do
the right thing, keep things the way they are. Keep the hardware
inside there.
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November 15, 2000
The only thing I could see you might be doing is causing
people to -- that doesn't have a fence gets the hardware on him,
he has to go buy a fence to shield himself from that. That's not
fair. That's not right.
So please, let's keep things the way they are. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Thank you.
MR. NINO: Let me say that -- I forgot to mention that one of
the motivating factors behind this is that the current regulations
delegate to the planning services director the discretion of
deciding that for whatever conditions that there are, may be
special conditions on lots, and under those special conditions,
that office can rule that you can build a smooth side to the inside
of your lot.
The problem is, given that opportunity, we have gotten a lot
of requests, and it ends up amounting to if he pays $200, you
might get an administrative variance to build the good side in.
Well, we're not in the business of doing that. And if any
regulation is oftentimes abridged under an administrative
variance, then there's something wrong with the regulation.
As you've heard me say before, if you're always going to
grant a reduction in side yard from 10 feet to five feet, or
whatever, then there's something wrong with the regulation to
beginning with, or you wouldn't be granting the variance all the
time.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY.' Ron, what about PUD's, do
they specify if people build fences within their individual lots?
MR. NINO: No, they don't. Typically they only address
height.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY.' Couldn't they?
MR. NINO: They could, yes, they could.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: If people want a certain
uniformity and think this is a higher class way to do it, it would
seem to me the homeowners assoc -- well, that would be a
change in the covenants then, wouldn't it? MR. NINO: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: But they don't address it
nOW,
MR. NINO: No, they don't.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: Are we changing this then merely
because of the number of variances requested?
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November 15, 2000
MR. NINO: Well, it's a contributing factor. It's a contributing
factor. And our observations, what seems to be the preference
of the marketplace, then our observation of -- that there are far
more out there historically that are the unfinished side facing the
street.
And for all we know, this fence here is probably a product of
the ordinance as it was 10 years ago, or even seven years ago.
It's only been the last five years that the ordinance was changed
from the bad side to the good side.
MR. KERRIGAN: And that's a good reason why it was.
MR. NINO: However, I would have you appreciate, we're not
changing that. The ordinance -- the amendment as it stands says
if it's along a public thoroughfare, the finished side will face a
public thoroughfare.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE-' But it doesn't state if you're
putting up a fence between you and your neighbor, you don't
have to put the good side facing your neighbor.
MR. NINO: Under the current amendment, yes. Under the
current amendment.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: And on this --
MR. NINO: Under the current amendment it says that.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Okay.
MR. NINO: Under the current law, the current law is no, you
cannot face the structural member side outward from your
property. It has to face inward.
MR. KERRIGAN: Collier County -- many neighborhoods in
Collier County depend on the Land Development Code for --
they're older, like Poinciana Village. We were permitted in 1969.
We don't have -- we have covenants, but basically we depend on
this, the Land Development Code, to protect our homes and all.
I mean, if somebody has to jump through a few hoops to get
the member side over, and it looks good and all, well, let them do
that. But I mean, don't change it now. I mean, you know, we
depend on Collier County to do that. I mean, you know, we can
call this the uglification act of-- neighborhood uglification act of
2000. I mean, please, don't change this. There's no real reason
to do that, just to make some variances easier to get. Come on.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Takes the heat off the planning
services director, right?
MR. NINO.' I have nothing more to add.
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November 15, 2000
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Any further comments? Questions?
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: I got confused somewhere
along the way. This change will allow a fence builder to put the
structural side out any place except on a public right-of-way; is
that it?
MR. NINO: Exactly.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: It could be on his neighbor's yard.
MR. NINO: Exactly.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Okay.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: If I were building a fence, that's exactly
what it would be.
Any further questions? If not, I'd entertain a motion.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: I move that we do not pass this
section, since I would consider it to be a bad neighbor policy.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Motion.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Motion by Commissioner Young,
second by Commissioner Pedone. Any further discussion?
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: Aye.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: Aye.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Opposed? Nay. 4-1.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: We ought to help the building
industry by making them put two smooth sides. MR. KERRIGAN: That's right.
MR. NINO: Nancy and Bill, have you--
COMMISSIONER YOUNG: And the landscapers, by putting up
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Moving right along. Back to -- I've lost
my place.
MS. STUDENT: Landscape, 2.4.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: We're back to the buffer,
aren't we?
MS. STUDENT: 2.4.7. I think they're going to be submitting
some language, though, so --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: 2.4.7.4, landscape buffering.
MS. SIEMION: Hi. Good evening. I'm Nancy Siemion,
landscape architect with current planning services.
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November 15, 2000
And Mr. Hoover and I did discuss this issue, and we have
conceptually agreed on some language that I'd like to share with
you, and here it is: Buffers within Golden Gate Estates
neighborhood centers shall be exempt from the six-foot high
hedge wall requirement when located adjacent to a right-of-way.
A double row hedge of at least 24 inches in height at the time of
planting, and attaining a minimum of three feet height within one
year shall be planted. A continuous meandering landscaped
area, an average of 10 feet wide, shall be landscaped with
additional shrubs and ground covers, when adjacent to a
right-of-way.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: You agree with that, Mr. Hoover?
MR. HOOVER: It's a little lengthy and flowery, I guess is
maybe the right word, but we don't have a problem with that. We
just needed to get rid of that six-foot wall in there. And the
landscaping out there, we have 75-foot landscaped area on the
two back sides, so if we have quite a bit on the two roads, that
will fit in fine.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Any further questions? I will buy dinner
to the commissioner that can repeat that in their motion. I need
a motion.
COMMISSIONER PEDONE: I move the motion we
recommend approval, I guess it is, as stated.
MR. NINO: As stated by staff.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Second.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Moved by Commissioner Pedone,
second by Commissioner Priddy.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
Opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Carried.
MR. NINO: Do you have anything else you'd like to discuss?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Yes.
MS. STUDENT: We need to have approval of the rest of the
LDC.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I have a question first. I'm
looking, and I apologize for not being here on the first evening.
But I'm looking at the Immokalee Main Street overlay district,
and I'm seeing a line drawn down the center of lots one more
time. Tell me I'm looking -- that that's not correct.
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November 15, 2000
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Tell us what page you're
looking at.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Well, it's Page 29 in the old
handout.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Page 26 now.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Page 26 now.
And more specifically, the lots that would be along 846
coming into town, the ones on the left-hand side or to the north,
it seems like that overlay district runs right through the center of
those lots as -- and maybe that's --
MR. NINO: But are we changing it over what it currently is?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: Well --
MR. NINO: There is an Immokalee overlay district currently
in effect.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: And --
MR. NINO: Russell, it mirror images the --
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: The old one.
MR. NINO: -- the old one. So it's really not an amendment.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: It's not a change. All I'm asking
staff to do is verify if this overlay line goes through a lot, rather
than a lot line; the next time we do this, that you bring it back
and change it to where we're not splitting the lot line with some
overlay --
MR. NINO: Okay, got you.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: -- is all I'm --
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: Any other issues?
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I move that we forward this
package to the Board of County Commissioners with a
recommendation of approval, based on our straw votes.
MS. STUDENT: Well, those are recommendatory votes. And I
also need a finding of consistency with the comp. plan.
COMMISSIONER PRIDDY: I said recommend. And I find that
those are consistent with the comp. plan.
MS. STUDENT: Thank you for clarifying that.
COMMISSIONER ABERNATHY: Second.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: It's been moved by Commissioner
Priddy, second by Commissioner Abernathy. All in favor, signify
by saying aye.
Opposed?
(No response.)
Page 47
CHAIRMAN WRAGE:
tomorrow morning?
November 15, 2000
Carried. You will all be back here
MR. NINO: Tomorrow morning.
CHAIRMAN WRAGE: I think we are adjourned.
There being no further business for the good of the County,
the meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 7:05 p.m.
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
GARY WRAGE, CHAIRMAN
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICE, INC., BY CHERIE' R. LEONE, NOTARY
PUBLIC
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