DSAC Minutes 04/03/2002 RApril 3, 2002
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Naples, Florida, April 3, 2002
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Development Services
Advisory Committee, in and for the County of Collier, having
conducted business herein, met on this date at 3:30 p.m. in
REGULAR SESSION in Conference Room "E", 2800 North
Horseshoe Drive, Naples, Florida, with the following members
present:
CHAIRPERSON:
Dino J. Longo
Tom Masters, P.E.
Charles M. Abbott
Dalas D. Disney, A.I.A.
Robert L. Duane, A.I.C.P.
Marco A. Espinar, P.E.
Herbert R. Savage, A.I.A.
Bryan Milk
Anthony Pires, Jr., Esquire
Justin Martin, P.E.
Peter Van Arsdale
ABSENT:
Blair A. Foley, P.E.
Thomas R. Peek, P.E.
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April 3, 2002
C. Perry Peeples
Brian E. Jones
ALSO PRESENT:
Patrick White, Assistant County Attorney
Denny Baker, Community Development
Business Manager
Edward Perico, Building Review Permitting
Director
Tom Wides, Interim Administrator Public
Utilities
Joe Schmitt, Administrator Community
Development Environmental Services
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April 3, 2002
CHAIRMAN LONGO: I'm going to go ahead and call this
meeting to order. I need an approval of the agenda.
MR. ESPINAR: So moved.
MR. MASTERS: Second.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Is there discussion? Ed, do you want to
amend the agenda at all? MR. PERICO: No.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Do you still want to do your
presentation?
MR. DUANE: I do. I'd like to add something to the agenda.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: And what might that be?
MR. DUANE: That would be LDC updates, getting policy
available to the public in a more timely manner. CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay.
MR. DUANE: Won't take a minute.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. We are at-- Justin.
MR. MARTIN: I also have -- would like to mention that the
agenda Item 2 -- I don't see that it includes where we left off at the
last March 27th meeting.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
Someone else had a question.
Okay. I'm going to make a proposal.
Peter, was it you?
MR. VAN ARSDALE: I was wondering if we can get
an update on the building permit operation's issue.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Let me put this before the committee
real quick. We have 60-something pages of LDC amendments to get
through. I've already asked Ed if he needs to do his presentation
today. You may have gotten an e-mail saying that he -- we added an
agenda item. He is willing to do that next month. It's on the
construction of the new building. He's actually not 100 percent
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April 3, 2002
prepared today, so he still may be lacking some information, so we'll
move that to next month if that's okay with the committee. Dalas.
MR. DISNEY: Comment on that. You're going to go another
30 days, do you know the production of those documents, I got 12
items here that I sent in.
MR. PERICO: If you want a response, I'm ready to address
those items if you want to.
MR. DISNEY: It just seems to me that -- that we've asked
questions month after month. All of that gets put off, and it's going
to be a month further down the road, and if we've got any problems at
all with it, it's just going to be too hard to deal with at that time.
MR. PERICO: And I'm ready to proceed. I got all the answers
to -- I didn't remember questions.
MR. DISNEY: Just a comment.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: All right. I need you guys to tell me
which way to go. These LDC amendments are going to take awhile.
We got through 40 pages of 103. How long is the presentation?
MR. PERICO: It's going to take a while if we're going to
address every question that Mr. Disney had. What I can do is pass
this out to the board members and let them look at it with the answers
to the questions that Dalas had raised and talk about it next month if
you like or if you want to go at it today.
MR. DISNEY: Makes no difference to me.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Would you rather show up to the
subcommittee next Wednesday?
MR. DISNEY: Just so it gets dealt with in a timely manner.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Let's go ahead and move that to
an agenda item on the subcommittee, Codes and Construction, for
next Wednesday. That will be a three o'clock meeting.
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April 3, 2002
The other thing I've asked Tom Wides if-- if at the committee's
discretion if you want him to give a report on water and sewer real
quickly today. Otherwise, he'll leave. But if you want him to give a
quick report we can have him bring us up to snuff quick.
MR. WIDES: The other one is the landfill piece if you want
that.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Any comments from the committee?
MR. YILMAZ: We can take any questions you'd like for the
landfill; one less agenda item for you next time.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: If that's not pressing, I'd rather move
that and get to the LDC amendments today if that's okay with
everybody else. Okay. So I have a -- I have a motion to accept the
agenda. We have added one item by Bob Duane. We are going to
kick Ed off the agenda today and move it to the subcommittee. We're
going to go ahead and let Tom --
MR. VAN ARSDALE:
of building permits?
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
MR. VAN ARSDALE:
Can we just get an update on the status
Real quickly.
I mean, from Ed. I mean, I've done
something on the 28th, and they can't even find it six, five weeks
later, and we don't know where this stuff is.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
MR. VAN ARSDALE:
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
Hold on.
MR. WHITE: You have a couple gentlemen here.
that they're formally on the agenda under new business.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: And they are?
Let me get through this motion.
Okay.
Any more discussion?
All in favor of the agenda -- I'm sorry.
I'm not sure
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April 3, 2002
MR. WHITE: With regards to the pool code.
MR. WALKER: Collier County Department of Health. Couple
amendments to 99-65. We want to make a pool ordinance, and I
think Connie had e-mailed out.
MR. WHITE: Do you have an objection to it being added as a
new item?
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Is it a long presentation?
MR. MASTERS: This is going on this LDC amendment?
MR. WHITE: It's not part of the LDC. It's part of the code of
laws, the bigger fat book.
MR. MASTERS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Before we approve the agenda,
any other comments on it, and do we want to add that to the agenda?
MR. DISNEY: My opinion is it could wait. I mean, it's not on
the agenda, but I defer to the committee.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Any other opinions? Can it
wait?
MR. MARTIN: I agree. I think we need to tackle the -- where
we left off in the last meeting.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Is there a time constraint or issue that
you're under?
MR. VAN DERBEEK: More or less, you know, we're trying to
tie this in with some other billing -- ongoing topics from two years
ago where I made a presentation.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Could you make a presentation before
the subcommittee next week? Then we can make a recommendation
to the full committee the following month.
MR. VAN DERBEEK: Sure. That would be great.
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April 3, 2002
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. I'll put them on the agenda as
well for next week, the subcommittee. That meets at three o'clock in
Conference Room C next Wednesday, three o'clock.
MR. WHITE: Subcommittee, Mr. Chairman, would be the Land
Development Regulations Subcommittee?
CHAIRMAN LONGO: No. That would be the Construction
Codes Subcommittee.
Okay. All in favor?
(Unanimous response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Thank you. Ayes have it.
We're going real quick to staff announcements and
transportation. And transportation here? No. We'll go to Tom for
the utilities update.
MR. WIDES: Okay. For the record, Tom Wides, Interim
Public Utilities Administrator. The only thing I wanted to mention to
you folks today, which is obviously the most topical for everyone
right now, is what's going on with the water situation. All right. Last
Saturday we went to the board and asked them to convene an
emergency board meeting and declare a water restriction throughout
Collier County, at least for the water/sewer district and, in fact, which
meant no usage of water for other than essential uses, primarily
washing, cooking, and bathing. Irrigation, it's -- basically 40 percent
of our potable water in the county is used for irrigation purposes.
So what's the affect? Bottom line the board did -- did approve
the resolution on Saturday. The restriction is in effect through this
coming Friday, day after tomorrow, until 6 p.m. No irrigation use for
water, potable water. It does not include reclaimed water for
irrigation. It does not include wells for irrigation. It just merely
affects where, in fact, our plants would be putting water out to -- for
potable water purposes.
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April 3, 2002
In particular, operational things that went on. We had a series of
small things that started to roll up on us. Do we have enough
capacity? Yes, we have enough capacity. The plant can put the
water out if we can get the wells to get the water into the plants.
Okay. Where did we run into problems? We ran into problems with
our wells initially. We had some of the brackish water wells, they
started to act up on us. Then it turned into motors burning out. And
then finally our RO section of our plant, our D-cell section of our
plant started to have filters going bad.
So we went in through a series of items, tried to recover it all the
way to Saturday, and realized we weren't going to get there. Our
storage capacity got to a critical low, 20 percent, which is about six
hours of storage capacity. That's why it was all hands on deck on
Saturday. Okay. It was real. Okay. But I can tell you right now, as
of this afternoon, we're at about 76 percent storage capacity. We
want and expect to be back at 100 percent by Friday.
Now, hold onto your hats, folks, because Friday night I know
what's going to happen, and I know what's going to happen all day
Saturday. We feel we can get past that hump, but in the situations
where you're using it for your own family use -- okay. We had a
little conversation earlier today -- or friends, neighbors, businesses,
don't flush it all back through. Okay. Please is the only thing I can
ask. We're coming back out of it. We're getting the pumps back in
place. We're getting those wells back in place. Longer-term plans
we'll be discussing at the board meeting on Tuesday which includes
an irrigation ordinance that we will be putting in front of the board on
Tuesday. Okay.
So bottom line we're coming back out of this. We'll be okay,
okay, unless folks just want to sit there and want to water 24 hours a
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April 3, 2002
day for the next three days. Then we'll be in trouble again. Okay.
That's the short form, Dino. I'll just leave it open to questions.
MR. MASTERS: I just have one more quick question. I also
noticed the affluent has been reduced as well.
MR. WIDES: Yes. Yes. We had a little problem at the -- I
believe at the North Plant with our turbidity, and it should be coming
back on today.
MR. MASTERS: Great.
MR. WIDES: So that's -- yeah, our turbidity got a little high, so
we couldn't go to effluent with it to reclaim wateR. That's been about
three or four days here.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Ed.
MR. RILEY: I have one question. How does this affect our
ability to do flow tests, flow tests and acceptance tests?
MR. WIDES: I would suggest until Friday to the extent you
can.
MR. RILEY: We basically said we're not going to do any until
next week until we get word. I want developers to understand that
that may hold up an application process or something where they're
requesting flow tests because of this situation we can't do them.
MR. WIDES: I've got to go back to the resolution to give you
the accurate answer. The answer is essential use; bathing, cooking,
okay. Everything else and I have had businesses call me. I wash cars
for a living. I -- you know, et cetera, et cetera. I'm sorry, folks. We
asked the board, and the board accepted essential use only. And, by
the way, it's for about a week period. Okay. So that hurts small guys
with revenues coming in. There's no doubt about it for that business,
but we need the help from the community here to get past it. But to
answer your question, that's not an essential use.
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April 3, 2002
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Any ramifications from DEP or
anything like that because of all this?
MR. WIDES: We were -- I believe we were up there earlier, I
think -- today's Wednesday -- Tuesday. We don't expect any
ramifications, no consent orders. They see that it's an operational
issue. We've got to do -- and here it comes, we've got to spend some
more money on backup pumps. Okay. We've got to spend some
money because we've been keeping it as trim as we could. But we
don't expect any consent orders or any fines at this point.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
Thank you. Any other questions?
I think I'm going to take -- Robert, I'm
going to take your question real quick or subject real quick.
MR. DUANE: Yeah. Just a short one. I had this problem for a
year. And some of you are new members, but it's taking an
inordinately long time to get these amendments to the Municipal
Code Corporation or getting them on the Land Development Code.
We need to not have the amendments that were approved in June
cycle last year. If you're out there working, you will recall amending
it, but I had to call someone at the county to get the language because
I couldn't find my year-old documents, and I would like to put on our
subcommittee report a report from the attorney just so we have a
regular pulse on what the status is of trying to get these documents to
the public.
I spoke with Patrick White before the meeting, and he suggested
that possibly we could enter into a little different arrangement with
the Municipal Code Corporation where we at least get on the internet
the documents like right-of-way and then within some better defined
period of time making sure the supplements are available to the user.
So I know we've got a busy agenda today, but if Patrick White would
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April 3, 2002
be prepared to share some of his thoughts at our meeting next month,
and with your indulgence I'd like to put that on as a subcommittee
report with the pleasure of this board, of course.
MR. DISNEY: I think that's a great idea.
MR. DUANE: Thankyou.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Do you want to state that in the form of
a motion?
MR. DUANE: Yes, sir. I'd like to make that motion that we
have an update status report on the LDC amendment being mailed to
the public, and after a second I think Pat would like to chime in here.
MR. DISNEY: I'd like to second that.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Discussion, Patrick.
MR. WHITE: Yes. Assistant County Attorney Patrick White.
The Supplement No. 12 from last year that went into the books
September 2001 included the June ordinance from last year. The ones
that are, quote, out of cycle coming in as far as going to be called
Supplement 13 to the Land Development Code does unfortunately
include a series of ordinances, the most recent of which were the two
passed in January. But there was also Ordinance 01-60 from last fall.
That was the, quote, special cycle. It is the one that I think is
problematic, if you will, in terms of the timing.
We were working under the premise that we'd be able to get 60-
day turnaround time from Municipal Code from the date that we
provided them our ordinances until the date they were, quote,
available for publication. There were a number of things that we did
to improve that to get that 60-day turnaround time. One of them
included sending electronic or digital version of the documents,
ordinances up to the Municipal Code.
Unfortunately, although that occurred they neglected to tell us
that there was one other little piece of information they needed,
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which was essentially the date it was filed with the Secretary of State.
Now, they didn't tell us that, unfortunately, until roughly February of
this year. So we had essentially downtime even though we had given
them the very next day, after the board passed those ordinances, the
digital version.
So there's some responsibility on their end; there's some
responsibility on our end for not having caught the fact that there was
nothing coming back, but we solved that little problem with them
both from our end and their end, so it ought not occur again. And I
believe that we're at a place where we're going to have better
implementation closer to the 60-day turnaround time here forward.
That is a slightly different issue because it only pertains to the
paper copies of the supplements and the new issue, if you will, that
we're looking to implement -- we'll be attempting to have a, quote,
digital -- excuse me, version available either on the web or through
some mechanism that perhaps the staff may publish on our web site.
So that's the explanation.
MR. DUANE: Thank you. We have a motion on the floor. All
in favor.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: All in favor. Any more discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: All in favor.
(Unanimous response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Any opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Ayes take it. Thank you. We're going
to move into the LDC amendments now. Susan.
MS. MURRAY: Susan Murray for the record. Dawn Wolfe
and Norm Feder are supposed to be here. I called their office, and
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apparently they are at the county manager's office and on the way
here.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Quick question for you. And
we don't have it before us, but it would behoove us and probably help
us today if we had had a summary of the actions taken, at least on the
LDC amendments we went through last week.
MS. MURRAY: I could get you a copy of that right now.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. That -- that would be nice, and
then we could get started, and we need to backtrack to one. The --
one of the amendments we did take a look at concerned fire hydrants
and talk about that a little bit if the committee will allow us to do
that for a moment. And the one I want to backtrack to is LDC
Amendment 3.2.8.4.8 which was listed on page 33 of the
amendments if you brought them with you again today. And I have
Ed Riley here, the fire code official.
There was -- we rejected this proposed amendment as the
language sits because we weren't sure what it really meant, and Ed's -
- Ed's here kind of to explain it. But the best explanation I can give
you guys right off the bat is it does -- even this language does not
conform to the statute that the fire code officials govern by. So we
want to take a look at this again and maybe amend our rejection on it
as to whether we can change the language on this to make it right.
The easiest way to do this would probably be to say in one or
two families land developments with not more than ten dwelling units
per acre to let the fire code official determine the spacing of the fire
hydrants per his NPA 24?
MR. PERICO: NFPA 24.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: NFPA 24, which as authorized through
the Florida Statute to give him the authority to do those things. I'm
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going to let Ed stand up and talk about it real quick, even though
Susan's not here, just for the discussion of the board.
MR. RILEY: For the record, I'm Ed Riley, fire code official for
Collier County. A little information on the way the fire code has
evolved here. It is a part of the building code. Our portion went into
effect January 1st of 2002. The building code went March 1st of
2002. We are a part of a companion document, if you will, of the
building code. The building commission in the fire marshall's office,
they put a commission together and worked together to put both
documents or all the building code documents together.
The main documents that we deal with are NFPA-1 and NFPA-
101. They are considered, quote, the basic fire code of the State of
Florida. Florida Statute 633 is what sets forth the procedure for
adopting those documents and any amendments or anything to those
documents. That refers to Florida Administrative Code 4-A-60
which is also known as the State Fire Marshalls Rules and
Regulations. That is where you get the detailed information on what
is included in the fire code. And it includes NFPA-1, 101 and all the
other companion NFPA documents that they deemed necessary to
adopt. Included in that is NFPA-24. NFPA-24 on hydrants basically
says that the number of hydrants, the location of hydrants, and their
spacing is to be determined by the authority having jurisdiction,
meaning the fire official as it is a fire code.
We used to use NFPA-1141 for a number of things on
development standards. Through the beginning of the process of this
new code, 1141 was included in that process. Somewhere along the
line it got dropped out, and not everybody was aware of it. We
missed that it got dropped out.
It's significant in that the fire districts of Collier County have
relied on that document for the way that they have developed their
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April 3, 2002
growth in their department; how they staff, what their equipment
ratings are, the types of equipment they buy, and different levels of
training that they go through depending on each department. With
the loss of that particular document, probably 85 to 90 percent of the
things that were in that document are included in other areas such as
turning radiuses, cul-de-sac sizes, fire-lane dimensions. All those are
covered in NFPA-1, but as I said, water requirements are in NFPA-
24. But there are a couple of things that were in NFPA-24 that are no
longer applicable, such as sprinklering residential occupancies with
more than four living units. That's no longer there.
So there are a number of things that the fire districts are looking
at right now to produce for a local amendment to the Florida Building
Code, and that exact portion, as I said, that sprinkler thing Orlando
has already done, and I have a copy of the language they used to
make that happen. But the important thing to understand is that any
of the regulations that you have on a local level that you had in place
before the building code -- the Florida Building Code went into place,
if they conflicted with that new Florida Building Code, they sunset at
the adoption date for the implementation of the new code. So where
we had the local fire protection ordinance and the Land Development
Code, as they relate to issues that are covered in the building code
and the fire code, they have sunset. They are no longer valid because
they can't -- unless they are more stringent and even though -- even at
that they sunset.
If you wanted to make a local amendment that is more stringent
than the code itself that's been adopted, you must go through the
involved process of public hearings and justifications, and once
adopted at the local level it has to be sent to the state for their perusal,
if you will, to make sure it meets all those things. And then they
have several options, which could be an emergency amendment to
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April 3, 2002
the code; it could be giving you your local amendment and then wait
till the cycle ends. If they want to adopt it in the next cycle, they can.
If they don't want to adopt it, then your local amendment sunsets, and
you have to readopt it at that time. But there are a lot of legal steps in
that process to get that done.
So the point here is what's written or what was proposed for the
hydrant spacing isn't in compliance with what has been adopted by
the state as far as hydrant spacing goes. Although there is not
specific hydrant numbers and locations and spacing specified, it gives
that authority to my office or to the fire districts in Collier County. I
have already met with the fire marshalls of Collier County, and what
we are attempting -- or what I'm attempting to do now is to keep the
300-foot spacing which has been in effect in Collier County for some
15 to 18 years in 11-41 even though it conflicted with the Land
Development Code. It's always been there. It's been more stringent
and was supposed to be the spacing that was to be enforced.
But what I'm trying to do is to get a little flexibility from the fire
districts on this to say that we will keep -- in all commercial areas and
multi-family areas require the 300-foot spacing on hydrants, but all
single-family areas and duplexes, if they have duplexes, that we
reduce that spacing to 500-foot spacing depending on the size of the
houses. If we have over five or 6,000 square foot wood frame house,
we may want the hydrants closer such as in Grey Oaks where we
actually had a fire that we had difficulty getting enough water to in a
residential area.
We had over 2,000 gallons a minute running. We could barely
put the fire out because of the size. They're great big wooden
structures with a lot of fire load. So it's important that we analyze the
subdivisions that we're putting these in, the size of the lots, and what
kind of house we could have if it's going to be single family and then
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April 3, 2002
put some restrictions to the size of homes that would be submitted
there and decrease to -- or decrease the spacing closer to 300 in some
cases. But the flexibility, if we have it and can use it, I'm all for
trying to do that. And preliminarily I've gotten from the fire districts
that they're pretty much buying into that, but we don't have final
approval on that yet.
But, again, in order to put something in the Land Development
Code, if you're going to reference actual hydrant spacing or it should
reference State Florida Statute 633, Florida Administrative Code 4-
A-60 and NFPA-24 which are the actual documents that have been
adopted by the state that actually speak to hydrants in particular and
those requirements. If anybody has any questions, I'll try to answer
it, but that's pretty much it in a nutshell.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Joe.
MR. SAVAGE: Hydrants only?
MR. PERICO: That's fire hydrants only on this particular item.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Joe.
MR. SCHMITT: For the record, Joe Schmitt, administrator. So,
Ed, what you said in all that was the numbers that we have now in the
LDC amendment are incorrect, and the wording's got to be changed
to say, "up to the discretion of the local fire authority"?
MR. PERICO: Correct. And we are going to set forth the
policy that's based on -- which will be a strict policy on the spacing
requirements which will pretty much mirror or be less restrictive than
we previously had in effect in Collier County.
MR. SCHMITT: Where do we go with this LDC amendment
for the DSAC? We're in a position now that --
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Where we are with it is we rejected it as
it was written last Wednesday, and Ed was asked to come here to
speak to it because we didn't really know what the language should
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April 3, 2002
be. And so he's given us the explanation, and now we need to change
it. It's not in conformance with his statutory guidelines that he's
required to follow, and what he's telling us is that in years previous
he has been more stringent than our LDC amendment, but in order to
give him the flexibility in the future he would like it just to say per
630, 4-A-60 and the NPA-24 or to the fire code which gives the fire
code official discretion of--
MR. SCHMITT: Is that going to give you enough information
to do --
CHAIRMAN LONGO: I believe so. I mean --
MR. PERICO: What we're going to try to do is a companion
ordinance where we're going to put all this information together and
include it as a new fire prevention ordinance, and at that time we can
add language to this or amendment to say, "See fire protection
ordinance," but we don't have that in place yet. CHAIRMAN LONGO: Herb.
MR. SAVAGE: Herb Savage. Mr. Chairman, I heard you say a
few minutes ago in some areas you may have to reduce the amount of
square footage for a residence. MR. RILEY: No.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: That's not what he's saying.
MR. RILEY: I'm saying we need to change the spacing on
hydrants depending on the square footage of a residence. We would
not limit the size of the house anymore than we do now. For
instance, if we don't have adequate fire flow for a building that wants
to be constructed, it has to be sprinklered, or it couldn't be built under
the current law, and that wouldn't change.
MR. SAVAGE: Zoning sets the rules on how big a building is
going to be.
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April 3, 2002
MR. RILEY: Yes. But you have to have fire protection to be
able to put that fire out. There are other rules that are also in place
that require a certain fire flow to be able to control fire in that
structure.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Justin.
MR. MARTIN: Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a motion
since this was rejected as written at the last DSAC meeting that it be
rewritten and represented to the committee for review at that time.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: There's a motion on the table.
MR. PIRES: Second.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: There's a second. I need discussion.
Patrick.
MR. WHITE: Yes. If we leave the code as it's written, does
that still comply with the requirements that you were going to operate
under?
MR. RILEY: No. Because you're specifically -- the way it's
written now it's 300-foot spacing.
MR. WHITE: It's 500 as presently written, and it's proposed to
be 300.
MR. RILEY: Right. And it's still not-- the way we wrote it
now it's 300-foot spacing which is what the requirement is going to
be, is now, and has been in the past based under our ability under
NPA-24. What we are going to try to do is go to 500-foot spacing in
single-family and duplex areas -- developments. CHAIRMAN LONGO: Dalas.
MR. DISNEY: I'm not getting in the middle of what Patrick's
talking about too much, but it seems to read "space not greater than
500 feet." 300 feet is less than 500 so --
MR. RILEY: But the interpretation by the development
community has always been that we can space them at 500-foot
Page 19
April 3, 2002
spacing, and there is no restriction to go below that. There's no
requirement there to go to the 300-foot spacing.
MR. DISNEY: Well, they come to you -- you get to see an SDP
or a PUD no matter what, so your comments are going to override
that anyway.
MR. RILEY: Well, what we're trying to do is clear up the
language so that they can't misinterpret something there, which has
happened in the past.
MR. DISNEY: That-- that language is not a part of this, and I
guess the attempt is to -- to keep this going and not cause you any
harm in the process, and by the time you get to rewriting this, it's into
the next cycle.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Tom.
MR. MASTERS: Would an easier way to take care of this
maybe be, rather than scrap the whole thing, go with reduction to
300-feet commercial because it sounds like that's going to go through
anyway and perhaps leave it at the 500-foot spacing in residential and
not change that? Would that be closer to what you need, or be better
to just come back later?
MR. RILEY: I think it would be better to come back later. I'd
hate to put language in now that we're going to have to change a
whole lot later unless you leave the language pretty much unchanged,
as Patrick was saying, and then just change the whole thing later and
don't really make a big change now. I understand what you're saying
because it does still provide for a conflict, but we can always go back
later and make that -- that change and a reference to the fire
prevention ordinance.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Do we have a motion?
MR. MARTIN: It's been seconded.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Oh, I'm sorry. We had a discussion.
Page 20
April 3, 2002
MR. ESPINAR: Could you please reiterate that motion, please.
MR. MARTIN: The motion was to -- since the -- how it is
written was rejected at the last meeting, that it be rewritten and
represented to the DSAC for review and approval at that time. MR. MASTERS: Prior motion stands.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: It was seconded, and we had
discussion. Now I guess -- Patrick.
MR. WHITE: If I could just add and just note that if no other
language is brought back to you then the code will remain as it exists
today.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Everybody understand that? Okay.
Question's been called. All in favor of the motion. (Unanimous response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Thank you.
MR. SCHMITT: Get clarification for Susan here. We're at a
point now where you're saying rewritten and represented, so it'll be
now moved to the next LDC cycle, and you're -- you're -- and that's
acceptable to you right now?
MR. RILEY: But as Patrick had said if there was a lacking of
that, it would stay as it currently is.
MR. SCHMITT: So stays as it currently is, but, Ed, you're still
going to make the call.
MR. RILEY: We're still going to make the call because we can
still do it the way the state law is written.
MR. SCHMITT: The only thing we're trying to do is provide
guidance to the development community so that they don't waste a lot
of time and money designing something that doesn't conform with
current code.
Page 21
April 3, 2002
MR. RILEY: Unfortunately, I couldn't be here last week. If I
would have had new language for today. I wasn't sure what the
question was.
MR. SCHMITT: We could still -- don't we still have time to get
language because we -- we don't go to the board until June, end of
June on this.
MR. RILEY: I would be willing to sit down maybe with Patrick
and try to work out some language to bring back.
MR. SCHMITT: Dino, we may not get it before DSAC because
CHAIRMAN LONGO: We can get it next month. We can get
it next month.
MR. SCHMITT: Well, yeah. We could still do that, but we'll
continue with the same track until we go to the Planning
Commission, but -- well, thanks. Got the schedule. Next week is
Planning Commission, and then we have two weeks, May 8th again
Planning Commission and the board the 29th and, again, June 19th. I
would like to try and keep this.
MR. RILEY: I would love to get the language thing down now.
MR. SCHMITT: I would like to get the language straightened
out so that we could get it clarified in the LDC so that you-all have
the rules to operate by.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Patrick.
MR. WHITE: I think we can get it done. We may have to have
a handout for CCPC next week, but we certainly can bring it back if
you want to have us bring it back to the land development regulation
subcommittee. I may be able to do that and then bring it back to you-
all. It'll be a little bit out of step with traditional process in order of
review, but certainly we will have it to you before it's considered
by the board.
Page 22
April 3, 2002
MR. SCHMITT: This is not -- it may be an issue of timing, but
it's not a major rewrite.
MR. MASTERS: I don't know that it wouldn't be out of order,
perhaps, to present a motion that basically as long as things carry on
in the direction you just described, essentially, that we're going to go
to 300 foot for commercial and then we're going to go to 500 -- 500-
foot spacing for most residential, except in the cases where you think
it needs to be reduced because of the structure size or whatever the
case may be. I think in theory I'd like to put a motion forward that
we'd be willing to accept that as long as that takes that form.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: I think you need to reference the
NFPA-24.
MR. MASTERS: I think the new form will include that, but it's
basically going to have the constraints that he just described, though.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Dalas.
MR. DISNEY: If I'm not mistaken, Justin's motion allows that
to happen. You just rewrite it and bring it back to us. I mean, we're
already there.
MR. MASTERS:
it come back before us.
in concept we've already approved those separations, those spacings
or not. Perhaps people won't agree to that. CHAIRMAN LONGO: Patrick.
MR. WHITE: Staff were willing to commit to have it back to
you before the board hears it at its first meeting in May.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Let's move forward.
MR. MARTIN: Vote?
CHAIRMAN LONGO: We did vote. Okay. We'll pick up
where we left off then.
Well, we may not have an opportunity to have
This way
Page 23
April 3, 2002
MS. MURRAY: Susan Murray, again, for the record. I called
the office again, and when I called the phones were dead. I tried on
my cell phone to call our transportation. I think their phones are dead
too. Dawn was aware of the meeting. I don't know if you-all want to
carry on with your discussion about it, and hopefully she'll show up.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Well, I'll start with Justin.
MR. MARTIN: I may save us some time. I wanted to make a
motion to defer our vote on it until the policy and procedures manual
is published because that's one integral part of this proposed
amendment that -- who knows, that could be a 100-page document
that none of the committee members have seen, and how can we vote
on it until we review that. That hasn't been published yet from what I
understand.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Are you making that in the form of a
motion?
MR. MARTIN: I'd like to make a motion that we defer our vote
on LDC Amendment -- amending 3.15, adequate public facilities,
until the policies and procedures manual is published, presented to
the DSAC, reviewed, and up for a vote.
MR. DUANE: I'd like to second for discussion purposes.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: It's been seconded. We have
discussion.
MR. DUANE: I believe that was Jeff Perry's point at our last
meeting. I think you were the one that raised that issue. I placed
some weight on that. Dawn said she would try to get back to us
within a reasonable period of time. Do you recall what that was,
Jeff?. She talked about doing it soon, I thought.
MR. PERRY: I don't recall whether -- for the record, Jeff Perry.
I don't recall whether or not she said she would have it for this
meeting or whether for the Planning Commission. I think their intent
Page 24
April 3, 2002
is to try to get something before this gets to the Planning
Commission.
MR. DUANE: I for one -- the devil's in the details, and I think
it's important that we understand those procedures. I for one am
going to have some questions about how capacities on these
roadways are determined. Is it projects that haven't started up yet?
How are we going to consider the whole, you know, mix of things?
And I'd sure like to have some more information. That's why I
seconded the motion.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Other discussion? Call the
question.
MR. SAVAGE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
one more time.
MR. MARTIN: I move that the vote on LDC amendments to
LDC Section 3.15, adequate public facilities, that vote be deferred
until the policies and procedures manual has been published,
distributed to the committee members, and reviewed at a future date.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. And that's been seconded. All
in favor of that motion.
(Unanimous response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Any against?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Motion passes.
Tom.
MR. MASTERS: I hate to open up something that I think we
already closed the lid on, but maybe Susan can clarify for me. I
know in our last discussion about the beach ordinance when we
discussed that -- when we had the vote, it was my understanding that
that 25-foot allowable with the pavers and whatnot wasn't going to
Okay. You want to restate your motion
Page 25
April 3, 2002
affect how things currently are. After I was having another
discussion with your staff person, and Alex basically said what it will
allow is Lely and Barefoot Beach to do exactly that, to go out in front
of their units now and add 25 foot of space into the dune area. My
understanding was that this wasn't going to affect the dune area
whatsoever, and that's exactly the opposite of what I thought. And I
was hoping you could clarify that. Maybe I'm the only one that was
confused on that.
MS. MURRAY: I think as you described it you're correct. Let
me see if I can grab Barb, though. I don't want to give you any
misinformation.
MR. MASTERS: Because -- yeah. Because I thought at the
meeting staff specifically said that this ordinance would not allow us
to interfere with the dune and, in essence, that's the exact opposite is
what's going to occur.
MS. MURRAY: That's what I heard.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Marco.
MR. ESPINAR: MR. Chairman, in fact, that was one of the
reasons why I was so adamantly opposed to this. Not only does it
allow for, like, non-native vegetation, but if you read it, decks, you
could put pavers, so you could have a sidewalk.
MR. MASTERS: No. And, I mean, my position on that was I
was adamantly opposed to anything occurring in the dune area, and I
would have voted against -- in the opposite way I voted if that was
the case.
MR. ESPINAR: And if I could add one more thing here, if
we're going to allow this to be done by single-family homeowners,
okay, who's to say we cannot -- I mean, in all fairness, motels and
hotels should be able to do the same thing, in all fairness.
Page 26
April 3, 2002
MR. MASTERS: My question was -- and I think you and Alex
and I were talking after the meeting. My impression at the vote was
that the changes would not allow any changes to occur in the dune
area, but when we discussed this afterward you said the opposite was
the case, so we were hoping --
MS. BURGESON: It would depend on where the property is.
On Lely Barefoot Beach probably most of those single-family homes
or maybe half of them have had violations over the years, so they
have already damaged the existing dune vegetation out there, and
maybe the impact in those areas would not be to existing dune or
dune strand vegetation. However, in the Strand at Pelican Bay, those
homes are built up to the line. And from that line to the beach on all
of those parcels is very high quality existing heavy dune and strand
vegetation. So they are -- your permit would allow -- actually permit
someone to remove 25 feet of existing dune or back dune vegetation
to put in the lawn or-- which is why our numbers have been 15 to
minimize the impact.
MR. MASTERS: IfI was the only one that that might have
affected their vote, it's a nonissue. If anybody else has an issue with
it, I guess I'm just throwing it back out there.
MR. ESPINAR: I wish this board would reconsider considering
the cumulative effect of what might occur here. This is then every
single family -- not just in Lely. And like I said, in all fairness, if
we're going to allow single families to do this, why not hotels and
motels? If that's the case, the Ritz can put up -- might as well take
the dune down and put a sidewalk on it and expand their decking in
the restaurant, because there's nothing that will prohibit that use --
them from doing that.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Robert.
Page 27
April 3, 2002
MR. DUANE: I thought that amendment that we approved last
week only addressed the area behind the dune. There was no intent
to comingle that with the dune area.
MS. BURGESON: The area is -- has nothing to do with, and it
does not state that it's behind the dune in any of the language. The
language says -- it's addressed immediately forward of the CCSL
variance. Whatever happens to be immediately forward seaward of
that variance is what's impacted. In some cases that's existing dune.
In other cases it's lawns that have been placed there, inappropriately I
should say.
MR. ESPINAR: In fact, Bob, in a way that's what I was saying
last week. It's kind of rewarding that behavior because, in essence, I
could build my house up to the CCCL line, okay, but then I want a
yard. Oops, let me come back to the county and let me get an extra
25 feet.
MR. MASTERS: My other question would be, Barbara, in
those instances where they had an existing yard for years and years
and years, there is a process they go through and get a variance or a
permit to actually continue to have grass on there, isn't there?
MS. BURGESON: Not the way the Land Development Code is
right now and their PUD. The LDC has language to protect the dune
and anything beyond the CCSL, and in conjunction with their PUD
their PUD very specifically states that beyond that CCSL it has to be
only native vegetation. There may be a requirement even in the
CCSL and LDC amendments to also amend the PUD to do this.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Joe.
MR. SCHMITT: Barbara, I thought, though, that we were
basing our approval only when DEP issued a permit. DEP would
never issue a permit to go across and go into the dune line. So wasn't
that the proviso, that if DEP -- that's what I recall we discussed that,
Page 28
April 3, 2002
but our fail-safe mechanism was DEP permit; that if DEP approved
it, afforded the Department of Environmental Protection, if they
approved it, then that means we're not into the dune line. Would they
never -- I don't see how they would ever approve us to go into the
dune line.
BURGESON: They have in the past on a couple of
MS.
occasions.
MR.
MS.
MR.
SCHMITT: I find that amazing.
BURGESON: I do too.
SCHMITT: I find that absolutely amazing.
MR. SAVAGE: Let me ask, Mr. Chairman -- Herb Savage -- let
me ask a question. You say to the lot line, and it's further than 25
feet to the dune line. What's wrong with them being able to do that if
it is not interfering with the dune?
MR. MASTERS: But the way it was approved, regardless of
whether a dune there or not, which I'm worried about. If there is a
dune is within that 25 foot, now they're allowed to go up to 25 foot
no matter what's out there.
MR. SAVAGE: I was under the impression none of these -- the
dunes would be affected in that 25 feet.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: That was my impression as well.
MR. MASTERS: That's what I understood at the meeting, but
after the meeting I got a further clarification, and I don't believe that
is the way it is. They can take 25 foot no matter what the existing
situation is.
MR. SCHMITT: Well, also we got talking about the impact on
native vegetation which is why we reduced it to protect. Regardless
of how far you were from the dune, our intent was to protect the
native vegetation.
Page 29
April 3, 2002
MS. BURGESON: Fifteen feet was so that we wouldn't have to
get site specific. Stay back within Lely Barefoot Beach you would be
allowed this much or within the Strand you would be allowed this
much. We tried to make it one consistent Land Development Code
change, and the 15 foot was so that if you were allowing them to
impact existing dune or strand vegetation you were minimizing that
impact.
MR. SCHMITT: Okay.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Peter.
MR. VAN ARSDALE: I guess the only comment I'll make is
that this coastal construction control line is a moving target that's
adjusted every now and then. Shooting some committees, like the
city, houses are fully seaworthy, the coastal construction control line.
And I -- and I don't think it's unreasonable for a property owner that's
affected by this moving element to have the right where he could
create sort of a landscape buffer adjacent to the front of his house.
Let's say the dune comes all the way up to the house. He's stuck with
living with this dune right there forever.
To me I think what we passed last week is reasonable, and it
affects the dune on a limited basis. The property owner's the one that
benefits really from that dune either being there or not being there,
and I kind of see it as a right, too extreme. CHAIRMAN LONGO: Tom.
MR. MASTERS: I'd like to say one thing again. And during
the county beach renourishment project, the county paid to have that
dune built. So it's our tax dollars that they're going to go in and rip
out that vegetation. So I disagree that it doesn't affect --
MR. VAN ARSDALE: Well, it's private property that it's built
on, and it's there to essentially protect the home.
MR. MASTERS: Right. The county paid to put the sand there.
Page 30
April 3, 2002
MR. VAN ARSDALE: I just think it's a reasonable buffer to
have between the structure and create maybe a yard that's out there in
front of their house.
MR. MASTERS: Not to belabor it, I'd like to make a motion,
and basically my motion would be to mirror the EAC
recommendation. Basically we kept part of it but that we reject the
15 foot that was in the amendment overall which is Section 3.1383.3
through 3.1383.4 and not give them the option ofjust carte blanche
taking that 25 foot. So I would go with exactly what the EAC
recommended as a motion.
MR. ESPINAR: I will second that motion.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. We have a first and a second.
Do we have more discussion?
MR. VAN ARSDALE: Well, the comment I will make
is people were here from Barefoot Beach last week to address this
issue, and they left with a certain understanding. I don't think it
would be right to change it without at least inviting them to come
back.
MR. SAVAGE: Absolutely.
MR. PIRES: I think also what I'm hearing, at the last meeting --
unfortunately I had a conflict, but I think from Tom's perspective it
appears that the full play of information was available to the
committee when they made their determination-- recommendation.
MR. ESPINAR: It was also to the Planning Commission and
two more Board of County Commission hearings which are public
hearings which they can present themselves. And actually if they are
very interested in this ordinance, they should be before the Board of
County Commissioners to present it, period, irregardless of what we
vote on.
Page 31
April 3, 2002
CHAIRMAN LONGO: I think it would be right if we have a
record of this, people that were here last week, to notify them that it
did get changed, and then we'll go ahead and call the question.
MR. MASTERS: I agree.
Would you make that as an amendment to this
MR. ESPINAR:
motion?
MR. MASTERS:
I'll add that to the motion that we notify the
two gentlemen that were here and made their presentation that we --
if it is approved, that we changed it. MR. ESPINAR: I second that.
MR. MARTIN: Question. Does the motion as presented affect
the -- their concern of being able to maintain their buildings or
whatnot in that 25 feet? Does that -- the motion, does that now
eliminate their concern or their request?
MR. MASTERS: I have to go back and look at which section.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: If I recall, I think it does.
MR. DUANE: I think it does. They went to great pains to talk
about the thousands of sea oats and the dune they reconstructed; that's
why I thought it was only going to apply to behind the dune area. Is
anyone persuaded if we revise this language to require -- to allow the
25-foot maintenance easement but only behind dune area? Is there
any support for that?
MR. MASTERS: Barbara pointed out there's a lot of these that
are not in compliance at the current time, so just because they went
out last month and ripped out the sea oats and put down sod doesn't
make it right. There is a motion.
MR. SAVAGE: Mr. Chairman, I can't understand how we can
sit here and talk about a policy like this. I don't know whether it was
1 or 500 or 1,000 situations like this. You-all have a record of how
many are on the beach and how many places are affected. Do we
Page 32
April 3, 2002
know that in this group here that we're making this motion? You
know, are we taking the word there's only going to be 2 or 3 of these
things or 500 of them? You know, we make a motion, it should be
affected so everybody can work to it and not just -- do I make myself
clear? You're making a situation very difficult for me to understand
that everybody's going to have to follow this policy because it only
affects 2 or 3 properties, or it's going to 500 of them? Do you have a
picture or a layout of the city or the county where the beaches where
this occurred?
MS. BURGESON: Yes. It will affect approximately 22 homes
in Lely Barefoot Beach and 10 or 12 homes in the Strand.
MR. SAVAGE: Okay. Compared to how many other homes in
that same general area? It's like the turtles.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. We have a motion, and we have
a second. I want to call the question. All in favor of Tom's motion.
(Included Chairman Longo, Tom Masters, Dalas Disney, Marco
Espinar, Bryan Milk, and Anthony Pires.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: All opposed. All opposed raise hands,
please.
(Included Robert Duane, Charlie Abbott, Herb Savage, Peter
Van Arsdale, Justin Martin.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: I think it was 6-5.
MR. SAVAGE: MR. Chairman, Herb Savage. That is exactly
why we ought to do some more thinking about how it affects
everyone. Six to five, you know, that's incredible. We're not
satisfied with that whether we're for or against it.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Well, actually, I think it's not a bad
idea, Herb. I think Tom's brought it back to the original language
proposed by staff, and now the property owners have a chance to go
back before the county commission and state their case, and let staff
Page 33
April 3, 2002
and them work out the nuances of how they want to address what's
already happened and what might happen in the future. Susan.
MS. MURRAY: For clarification, I understood the motion for
approval to be consistent with the EAC's recommendation; is that
correct?
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Correct. With the caveat to notify
those representatives from Lely Barefoot that we reversed our
position from last week.
Okay. Moving right along. The floor is yours finally, Susan.
Start with page 41, I guess.
COURT REPORTER: Susan, could I get you to move down
here.
MS. MURRAY: I don't anticipate talking. We really covered
everything except 3.15.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Right.
MS. MURRAY: Dawn and Norman are here, but they didn't
realize that you-all have taken a vote on that, so we really completed
everything.
MR. MARTIN: There's one at the very end of this that we
haven't discussed, and it's 6.3.
MR. SCHMITT: Can we go back just so Norman and Dawn
understand where we were? Before they came in Norman and Dawn
never discussed it. Can you let them know what your point was?
MR. MARTIN: We voted to defer a vote on this until we see
the policy and procedures manual, till that's been published,
distributed to the committee and the committee's had a chance to
review it.
MR. FEDER: What I will say for the record is -- Norman Feder
-- that we're in the process of trying to keep you involved as we
Page 34
April 3, 2002
develop this, but I can tell you a lot of the issues that you're looking
to see -- and that's fine -- that aren't going to be developed until we
get to the policies and procedures portion. What we're trying to do is
make sure you're aware of where we're going and how we're trying to
approach it. And first we've got to get the Land Development Code
policy and issues together before you can start developing the
specifics in that procedure.
If this group just feels it's best to defer it until you've seen all the
pieces of the puzzle, that's fine. We just want to lay out to you as we
go along in the process the pieces of the puzzle, any thoughts you
have as you see it taking shape, and try to account for that as we try
to get the rest of the puzzle filled in.
MR. SCHMITT: And I just want to make sure you-all
understand this will still continue to go through the process. It'll go
before the Planning Commission and subsequently to the board. This
is an item that the board wants to see, and unless Norman chooses to
pull this from this LDC cycle, it will continue to go forward.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Tom.
MR. MASTERS: And I think-- as we saw in the subcommittee
as far as the LDC amendment goes, I think we're fairly comfortable
with most aspects with some changes that you-all were going to go
make. We're just a little nervous about putting in place just that it
allows the policy manual to become the governing body, and we
haven't seen that yet.
MR. FEDER: And, again, as we go to develop that, we'll
continue to seek any input and recommendation you have.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Peter.
MR. VAN ARSDALE: I guess my only question is, aren't there
components in here that will govern the structure and language and
policy?
Page 35
April 3, 2002
MR. FEDER: Of course, and that's why we're presenting that to
you. This is the framework for the flushing out. It's the skeleton, if
you will. We still need to put meat on the bones, so I can't tell you
exactly what it looks like with all the meat on it yet. I can show you
the skeleton and what will be the basis for what it's going to look like
in the end, and that's why we want to share with you, as I said, the
pieces of the puzzle to go along. And if you want to defer until all
the meat's on the bones, obviously, that's -- that's your choice, but we
will keep you informed as we start putting the layers on, and as we're
getting it we will share it with you.
MR. DUANE: When might that be?
MR. VAN ARSDALE: To follow up -- I mean, if there's -- if
there's five ribs here and we really think there should be four, this is
the time to deal with it and not because it's going to come out in the
policy and procedures manual as five and not fouR. So I don't know
if there is -- what the substance of the issues are in this ordinance, but
that's -- this is going to be the foundation for creating the policies and
procedures manual.
MR. SCHMITT: That's kind of my point because we're looking
for you-all -- specifically on page 44, what is your definition of
concurrency, because there will be a presentation before the board on
Tuesday from a group that wants to redefine, wants to force the
county to redefine its definition of concurrency. Their definition
means concurrency starts at the -- at the PUD process; whereas, this
definition clearly is a little bit different, and I think what I'm trying to
stress is I don't want you-all to be out of step with -- with the process,
because this is going to continue to go forward. I don't know if we
have time to come back unless you call a special meeting again. This
is going to continue to go through -- bedded through the review
process up through till the June cycle.
Page 36
April 3, 2002
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Isn't there a state definition of
concurrency?
MR. SCHMITT: Yes. Yes.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Does our definition of concurrency
apply?
MR. FEDER: For which you cannot exceed the -- it can be
more stringent than.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay.
MS. WOLFE: Dawn Wolfe for the record. The Collier County
definition for concurrency and what ours is is available capacity
under concurrency is more stringent than part -- than the maximum
allowed under statute, but it's not as restrictive as it could be. MR. FEDER: Being proposed.
MR. MASTERS: I guess just to drop back -- and, again, we
didn't know whether you were going to show up or not, so we had to
deal with the information on hand. Subcommittee, just for the record,
spent an hour and a half or so going through this document. We
recommended several changes. I don't know whether it would be
worth maybe Dawn just going through and outlining some of the
changes that were made so that we could feel more comfortable with
the LDC amendment or not.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Do you have -- do you have a summary
of those changes that came out of subcommittee?
MR. FEDER: Do you have the changes that came out of the
subcommittee that made changes to the document? That was already
put into your current draft. From the first meeting, we modified
based on your comments, and your current draft should reflect those
changes that were made. Is that not the understanding you have?
MR. DUANE: And I reviewed the document, and I believe that
most of the changes we discussed at the subcommittee were put in the
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April 3, 2002
document. I made one more clarification last week to Dawn to make
sure that whatever existing adequate public facility certificates are
out there today that they're basically vested, if you will, as long as --
you know, they're in effect. I know you've got some five-year
certificates out there, but I think the window was of a shorter period
of time, and Dawn indicated last week that she would rectify that. I'll
trust her at her word.
MR. FEDER: What I will say for the record, we feel the issues
that were brought up at the first meeting with you that we've
addressed. Now, obviously, this is a living document. It's evolving.
As we understand changes, we'll try to share them with you. As it
grows and gets meat on the bones, we'll continue, as I said.
Also, it's going to have some other groups that are coming
before the board relative to issues as well as yourself and others, the
Planning Commission, as well as we evolve into this to find out other
issues we have to address, modifications of the Growth Management
Plan, how that change would factor into this.
So I don't want to infer to this group -- although we came up
with a draft. We sat with you and tried to make changes, and we will
continue to do that with you -- that won't change. So it's an evolving
process, and we'll continue to try to share those changes with you.
To date, at least for the draft that we have, to the comments we
received, we're pretty comfortable you responded to those.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Has the subcommittee seen the revised
MR. MASTERS: Bob said he did have time to get through it.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: The subcommittee has? I know you
said you did, but the subcommittee has?
MR. DUANE: In their last -- our last document in our package
here.
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April 3, 2002
CHAIRMAN LONGO: What was the recommendation from
subcommittee?
MR. DUANE: We recommended approval, you know, with the
caveat that certain changes be made. I was particularly pleased that
had staff got back and put some time frames for approval of capacity
certificates because it was rather open ended, and I'm happy to say
that I think Dawn actually reduced the length of time to review those
from 15 days to 10. So I'm very happy we got clocks in there. We
made a number of other suggestions also that I believe all of them are
incorporated or codified in the last draft. CHAIRMAN LONGO: Tom.
MR. MASTERS: So really getting back to Peter's question,
then, you know, that we're not even giving them a push in the right
direction. I think we did that. I don't know that anyone else that was
in the room that would have any additional comments. If there are
additional comments, I'd like to get those on the record now so that
Dawn can adjust, because I think she did a good job of going back
and seeing what we needed to happen in there. I don't know that
maybe a better position would be that we perhaps approve the LDC
amendment with the caveat that we're just extremely cautious of what
ends up --
CHAIRMAN LONGO: You already have a motion to put this
back on the back burneR. Now Justin-- go ahead.
MR. MARTIN: I just wanted to make a clarification that you
had asked what had the subcommittee recommended. I just want to
read from the summary sheet. It says for the DSAC subcommittee
recommendation on 31402 (as read): "That requested concurrency --
concurrency management procedures manual to be presented to the
DSAC." So I think that was one of the outstanding items the
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April 3, 2002
subcommittee had recommended they wanted to see prior to
approval.
MR. PIRES: Which is consistent with the motion you passed
and what Peter's saying and the concern of the committee.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
on this?
MR. VAN ARSDALE:
Do we have any action we want to take
I guess the only thing -- I mean, I think
we should act on this as opposed to -- CHAIRMAN LONGO: Well, we've already deferred it, so if
we're going to bring it back in --
MR. VAN ARSDALE: Maybe we should reconsider that
action. I guess I don't see the logic --
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Make a motion.
MR. VAN ARSDALE: So I'll make a motion that we endorse
this section adopting the recommendations of the subcommittee, and
I don't even want to add language on the policy procedure manual. I
don't know what -- what it would be. I mean, it's understood that that
will happen.
MR. DUANE: When-- Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: We have a motion on the floor right
now. Do we have a second?
MR. MASTERS: I would second that, but my understanding is
that you still endorse the action that we're going to get a chance to
look at the procedure manual before it goes before the board.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. We have a first and second.
Let's go ahead and discuss it now.
MR. DUANE: He satisfied my concern.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Anthony or Tony.
MR. PIRES: I think Patrick has a comment.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Patrick.
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April 3, 2002
MR. WHITE: I had hoped that I would not have to make this
statement on the record, but apparently based on this most recent
motion I don't have much of a choice. There is a provision that has
been law but not included in the codified versions of the code and
came to light since the first of the year, and as a result I have to tell
you that what we're going to have to consider is the applicability of
that provision. It was amended to change its section number back in
1999, and it has been out of code since that time. The section of code
is 3. ! 5 7.3 1.4, and it follows close on the heels of the provision that
was deleted in January with the special -- the ordinance that the board
passed in the later part of January.
The affect of that provision is essentially to keep the current
practice with regards to handling certificates of adequate public
facilities in place with respect to payment of impact fees and use of
escrow fund accounts. Those folks who want to pay their impact fees
prior to building permit. All other folks are required to have an
approved waiver and release. I understand from the brief discussion
with Dawn today that that may be a provision that we'll have to have
a further discussion about potentially deleting, but I have to tell you
based upon this motion that it was our intention from our office to
make sure that that was included as part of what would be the
codified version approved under Section 3.15. MR. FEDER: To include it or delete it.9
MR. WHITE: It is law and, therefore, should be included. If
there's going to be a staff proposal to delete it, then that is something
I think -- the whole reason why I'm bringing this to this committee's
attention so that they would need to consider the appropriateness of
deleting that provision or not.
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April 3, 2002
MR. FEDER: Before you go to your vote, what I'm going to tell
you is that's in direct conflict with action recently taken by the board
which is to eliminate that option from the Land Development Code.
MR. WHITE: You can say whatever it is that you believe it
accurately reflects, but I'm telling you what the law is.
MR. FEDER: And I'm telling you that our recommendation
would be to -- to remove that in considering your vote because you
know what our intention is.
MR. WHITE: That's fine with me. I just need to let the
committee know what the status of the law is, even though it's not
apparent when you read the code.
MR. DUANE: Delete the provision for waiver and release, is
that what you're saying?
MR. WHITE: No, sir.
MR. DUANE: Okay.
MR. WHITE: I'm saying that there's a provision that's been law
but not been in the code that details the manner in which impact fees
are paid prior to building permit for folks that want to get it at
subdivision or SDP and obtain a certificate. Otherwise you merely
pay a building permit and there is no, quote, certificate.
This provision, unfortunately, has, as I indicated, not been on
anyone's radar, even though it's been the manner and means by which
we've operated. The belief on staffs part has been that the deletion of
text in January of the section known as 3.15 7.3 1.2 that only in my
opinion deleted an open-ended opportunity to come in and obtain a
certificate. It left in place this uncodified but still law provision that
said you can come in and get a certificate at final plat or SDP. And
the alternative, as most folks do, they get an approved waiver and
release and do not, quote, pay their impact fees until building permit.
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April 3, 2002
I believe it's -- I'm hearing staffs intention to create a process
where the only time you would be able to lock your capacity would
be at building permit.
MS. WOLFE: Dawn Wolfe for the record. The modifications
that are contained in the revised 315 Section 3 for transportation
consistent with other areas and recommended procedures for
applying roadway, adequate public facilities is not going to require
the prepayment of impact fees in order to obtain a certificate at a
level of service or adequate public facilities. That will -- those
payments of those fees will still lie in at the issuance of the building
permit and be required to be paid at that time. There will not be the
ability to prepay in any manner to preserve or retain a reservation of
capacity. That's consistent with other applications throughout the
state. So by virtue of deleting it, it's not inconsistent because the
mechanism will not be necessary.
MR. WHITE: The exception I take to that is that it still may be
necessary for all other forms of public facilities except transportation,
and to that extent there may be some reason someone might want to
do that for all of those other forms of public facilities. I don't know
why because they are -- theoretically will always be more than
enough capacity for those. It's only generally the transportation
facilities that there's a question about. So we may need to give you
some amendment to this law but not codified provision for your
further consideration, and that's the whole thing in a nutshell.
MS. WOLFE: It may need to be retained for Sections 1 or 2
which are exclusive of roadways.
MR. WHITE: If anybody's not confused by that.
MR. DUANE: I finally understood it and, frankly, it's consistent
with the whole thread of what we're trying to do is allocate capacity
in a reasonable sort of way, and we don't want people hording it
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April 3, 2002
unnecessarily and the legitimate end useR. So it accomplishes that
purpose. I can support that.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay.
MR. WHITE: As long as you're going to be bringing it back for
further consideration, you didn't have to know about the, quote, hole
in the fabric.
MR. DUANE: Thank you for sharing it.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Peter, I'd like you to restate your
motion, please.
MR. VAN ARSDALE: I think it was generally a motion to
approve section -- let me find it here -- 3.15 as presented and
amended by the subcommittee with the understanding that review of
the policy and procedures manual would be made by the DSAC.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Who originally seconded that?
MR. MASTERS: I did.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Tom actually seconded that. I'm going
to open for discussion one last time.
MR. MARTIN: I -- I still can't support approving it without
having seen the entire -- I haven't even had a chance to read through
this entire thing so -- approving it while still not seeing the policy and
procedures manual which we don't know what's going to be in there.
I can't support that. It's just my opinion. CHAIRMAN LONGO: Dalas.
MR. DISNEY: We've -- we've been down that road a number of
times, and in my experience it has haunted me a couple of times. I
can't think of a good example to present to you now, but I do know
that if we hadn't done this before and trusted this wasn't going to
come through, I wouldn't be stuck with this particular situation that
I'm now dealing with. I'm of the same mind as Justin as well. I don't
want to slow down this process. I also don't want to blanketly say,
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April 3, 2002
"Yeah, okay. Go ahead" without knowing what it's going to be or
having some idea at least.
MR. SAVAGE: MR. Chairman, what's the time element? Do
we have time to look at it again?
CHAIRMAN LONGO: As Joe stated, they are going to
continue moving this forward to the Planning Commission. It's going
to keep on the track it's on. We're going to take an action today via
motion, whether it's the one that Justin -- that we've already passed
with Justin, or it's going to be get superseded by Peter's motion, but
it's still going to roll through. I mean, it's still going to go before the
Planning Commission according to this schedule. Peter.
MR. VAN ARSDALE: I think my point is that if we're
attaching an amendment to request the approval of the policy and
procedures manual -- which I think is good. I think if we just stick
with our previous motion that we're -- we're opposing this essentially
and that we want to see the policy and procedures manual first, the
whole development of policy and procedures manual, we may be left
out of that have process because of it -- because, in other words, in
terms of who reviews it or -- I think the language that we just -- that
we're talking about requires that we get a chance to review it. I think
as it stands from a personal issue we don't get a chance to review it.
MR. PIRES: I think what Justin was saying, the concept that
we're not seeing the entire picture. We're just seeing little bits and
pieces here and there, and so you try and fill in the blanks with what's
available, but we're assuming a lot. I think we don't need to do that.
I tend to agree with -- stay with the initial action to defer until a more
full --
MR. VAN ARSDALE: What assurances do we have that we
will review the policy and procedures manual7
MR. PIRES: Staff advised that they will provide that to us.
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April 3, 2002
MR. FEDER: What I would note to you -- how ever you decide
to vote here today, then, that's your choice -- we're going to continue
as we evolve in this process. It's a fairly short time frame. As we see
any changes in the issues, we will try to bring it to you and give you
an opportunity to view it and, obviously, that includes the procedures
manual how ever you vote on this.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Dalas.
MR. DISNEY: I was just going to equate this to my particular
trade which is architecture. I can't bring a set of plans in here and say
to the plan reviewer, "Well, I've got half the information here. Go
ahead and give me my building permit. I'll bring you the rest of it." I
can't do that. That's -- that's kind of where I am with this. I want to
read it, understand it, and know that I can stand behind it.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: I'll call the question. We have a motion
on the table. We have a second. All those in favor.
(Includes Mr. Masters, Mr. Savage, Mr. Milk, and Mr. Van
Arsdale.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: All those against.
(Includes Chairman Longo, Mr. Pires, Mr. Duane, Mr. Abbott,
Mr. Disney, Mr. Espinar, and Mr. Martin.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. The motion fails.
MR. SAVAGE: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Yes, sir. Before you leave -- and I want
to make this public. It's been on my mouth many, many times, and
every time I go on U.S. 41 I think of this man right here (indicating),
and I want to tell him again publicly. Thank you for your
landscaping approach on the sides of the road as well as the median.
It doesn't look like McGregor Boulevard. Thank goodness. It's very
creative.
MR. FEDER: Don't want palm trees.
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April 3, 2002
MR. SAVAGE: Whether you like it or not, I hope you-all take
time to look at it.
MR. FEDER: With the group's indulgence, one last thing, if I
could. To the point that was made, just to your understanding we
want to work with you. As an architect, no, you can't come in and
get full approval without your full plans in there, but if you don't
have a sketch, a concept, and have that concurrence with your client,
then you're going to spend a lot of time doing a full set of plans and
not knowing where you're going and not getting approval. So we will
continue working with you.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Thank you, Norm. Norm was supposed
to also give us a transportation update today. If it's committee's wish,
he still can; if not, he can defer again until next month.
Anybody have any comments? As far as that we're at five
o'clock, little bit after.
MR. DISNEY: Next month is okay with me.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Is that all right with everybody else?
Okay. Basically, I think we're pretty much done. Go to committee
comments. Any comments? Justin.
MR. MARTIN: There was one other amendment we hadn't
voted on.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Oh, I'm sorry. You're right.
MR. MARTIN: It's in the very back of the last page. I don't
think there's been any discussion on this.
MS. MURRAY: I withdrew that at the last minute.
MR. MARTIN: Oh, you did?
MS. MURRAY: Yes, page 104.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. So 104 is withdrawn?
MS. MURRAY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay.
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April 3, 2002
MR. MARTIN: My mistake.
MR. ESPINAR: That was an easy one.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Start with you, Robert.
MR. DUANE: Norm, we want to approve this ordinance, so I
went along with my colleagues here. As soon as you get something
to us.
MR. FEDER:
MR. DUANE:
incorporated subcommittee.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
MR. MILK: Nope.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
I'll also note any changes that are made.
Thank you for the work you did on the
Thank you, Dawn.
We'll go around the table. Bryan?
Tom.
MR. MASTERS: I just want to reiterate, Bob, nice quick work
on that.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Tony.
MR. PIRES: No.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Herb.
MR. SAVAGE: Strangely enough, no.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Moving right along. Dalas.
MR. DISNEY: No, thank you.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Peter.
MR. VAN ARSDALE: Just a quick follow-up question with
Norm. Once this ordinance is adopted, this will be the policy of the
county?
MR. FEDER: Yes.
MR. VAN ARSDALE: So you will be implementing this
without a policy and procedures manual?
MR. FEDER: No. No. We will-- we will go through this
process, growth management change. Policies and procedures you
cannot implement until -- policies and procedures as well until I've
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April 3, 2002
done what I'm doing right now which is a lot of work through a
consultant data collection system to be able to do this. We're looking
at about mid June or July before you could implement in any event.
MS. WOLFE: Unless we need some concurrent comprehensive
plan changes whereby it may fall into the probably 1st of January or
after the full adoption of any comprehensive plan amendment
changes that may be necessary, again in this cycle, they would not be
enforced for adoption until December or January. This will be a
time-effective date concurrent with all other pieces being put in
place.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. Marco.
MR. ESPINAR: No comment.
MR. SCHMITT: Everybody got what Dawn just said because a
piece of this is the Growth Management Plan. I think that will be
done probably within a special cycle which Stan Litsinger will be
working.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Justin.
MR. MARTIN: I -- I question about this last LDC amendment
that we supposedly looked at last -- I don't see it in the summary
sheet, and I don't remember discussing it. What was voted on?
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Which one?
MR. MARTIN: This is 6.3.
MR. ESPINAR: It was withdrawn.
MR. MARTIN: It was withdrawn? Okay. I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Okay. One more item we had on the
agenda real quickly, Peter, you had a question on building permits,
and Ed is gone.
MR. VAN ARSDALE:
CHAIRMAN LONG0:
Wednesday.
I would just kind of like an update.
We'll have him update us next
Page 49
April 3, 2002
MR. VAN ARSDALE: I don't know where we're at.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Tom.
MR. MASTERS: One more thing while Susan's still here. Are
we making any progress on the staffing in your department?
MS. MURRAY: Sure. We just -- Don Schneider from Hawaii
just started this past week, last Monday. And we just made an offer
to another planner. He'll start at the end of April. And then this
Friday we have one last interview, and then we hope to be making a
decision Friday after we finish our last interview, and that should
staff us up for our current vacancy.
MR. SCHMITT: I made an offer already to -- for administrator
for planning services -- director, I'm sorry, for planning services, and
she will be starting --
MS. MURRAY: July 1st.
MR. SCHMITT: -- July 1st coming out of Rochester. I'll be
sharing her resume with you also.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: And a quick question for you, Joe.
Does this summary sheet get forwarded on and part of commissioners
packet when they go to discuss the LDC amendments? MR. SCHMITT: It gives them a snapshot.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Very good. I appreciate you doing this
because it really -- it defines our actions taken.
MR. SCHMITT: I would encourage that members of this
committee keep a finger on the pulse when it goes before the
Planning Commission, because even though they may have your
written input, you may want to choose to appear before that
committee so that they understand from your perspective -- you can
even participate as public participants -- so they understand your
perspective.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Patrick.
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April 3, 2002
MR. WHITE: Just to follow up on that, if you're going to
discuss anything relative to what this committee has done, you have
to do it as a citizen, unless you vote to have a representative from this
committee appear and make comment with respect to the actions
you've taken. Just so you understand how you would be appearing.
MR. SAVAGE: Mr. Chairman, I think if that's the case I would
like our chairman to do that at the proper time, and he is very capable
of doing that.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: I have no problem attending these
meetings if it's the wish of this committee for me to be at those
meetings. I don't have a problem with -- if you guys want to vote on
that now and leave that up to me whether I actually attend or not.
MR. SAVAGE: I'll make that motion, Mr. Chairman, and ask
the Chairman to represent this board at those hearings.
MR. DUANE: Second.
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
(Unanimous response.)
CHAIRMAN LONGO:
adjourn?
MR. ESPINAR: So moved.
CHAIRMAN LONGO: Thank you.
Okay. Any discussion?
All in favor.
All right. Do I have a motion to
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 5:10 p.m.
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April 3, 2002
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
DINO LONGO, CHAIRMAN
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF DONOVAN COURT
REPORTING, INC., BY CAROLYN J. FORD, NOTARY PUBLIC
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