Agenda 01/13/2009 Item #16B 3Page 1 of 1
Agenda Item No. 16B3
January 13, 2009
Page 1 of 6
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number: 1683
Item Summary: Request that the Board direct staff to bring back an amendment to Ordinance No. 2003 -37,
as amended, clarifying the purposesection of that ordinance to state that the Collier County
Land Development Code, as amended., does not apply to County Transportation Road
projects within road right of way, to separate the Construction Standards Handbook into two
separate handbooks consisting of the 2008 version of the Construction Standards Handbook
for Work within the Public Right -of -Way, Collier County. Florida and a new 2008 Collier
County Landscape and Irrigation Specifications for Beautification Improvements within the
Public Right -of -Way Handbook, and to authorize future revisions to each Handbook to be
made separately and by resolution approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
Meeting Date: 1113/2009 9.00:00 AM
Prepared By
Mitch Riley
Principal Project Manager
Date
Transportation Services
Stormwater Management
12/2312008 10:04:14 AM
Approved By
Norm E. Feder, AICP
Transportation Division Administrator
Date
Transportation Services
Transportation Services Admin.
1212312006 10:50 AM
Approved By
^
Scott R. Teach
Assistant County Attorney
Date
County Attorney
County Attorney Office
12/23/2008 12:08 PM
Approved By
Robert W. Tipton, P.E.
Traffic Operations Director
Date
Transportation Services
Traffic Operations
12!23/2008 1:24 PM
Approved By
Joseph K. Schmitt
Community Development &
Date
Environmental Services Adminstrator
Community Development &
Community Development &
12/2312008 4:49 PM
Environmental Services
Environmental Services Admin.
Approved By
Pat Lehnhard
Executive Secretary
Date
Transportation Services
Transportation Services Admin
12/2312008 4:50 PM
Approved By
Mark Isackson
Budget Analyst
Date
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
1212912008 10:23 AM
Approved By
James V. Mudd
County Manager
Date
Board of County
County Manager's Office
1212912008 3:23 PM
Commissioners
file: / /C: \AgendaTest \Export\ 121- January %2013 %202009\ 16. %2000NSENT %20AGENDA \... 1/7/2009
Agenda Item No. 16133
January 13, 2009
Page 2 of 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Request that the Board direct staff to bring back an amendment to Ordinance No. 2003 -37,
as amended, clarifying the "purpose" section of that ordinance to state that the Collier
County Land Development Code, as amended, does not apply to County Transportation
Road projects within road right of way, to separate the Construction Standards Handbook
into two separate handbooks consisting of the 2008 version of the "Construction Standards
Handbook for Work within the Public Right -of -Way, Collier County, Florida" and a new
2008 "Collier County Landscape and Irrigation Specifications for Beautification
Improvements within the Public Right -of -Way Handbook," and to authorize future
revisions to each Handbook to be made separately and by resolution approved by the
Board of County Commissioners.
OBJECTIVE: That the Board of County Commissioners direct staff to bring back an
amendment to Ordinance No. 2003 -37, as amended, to clarify the purpose section of that
ordinance, to state that the Collier County Land Development Code, as amended, does not apply
to County Transportation Road projects within road right of way with the exception of the
matters identified on attached Exhibit "A" agreed upon by Community Development and
Environmental Services ( "CDES "), to separate the Construction Standards Handbook into two
separate handbooks consisting of the 2008 version of the "Construction Standards Handbook for
Work within the Public Right -of -Way, Collier County, Florida," (the "Construction Handbook ")
and a new 2008 "Collier County Landscape and Irrigation Specifications for Beautification
Improvements within the Public Right -of -Way Handbook" (the "Landscaping Handbook "), as
well as authorizing future revisions to each Handbook to be made separately and by resolution
approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
CONSIDERATION: At the December 2, 2008, Board of County Commissioners' meeting, the
Board moved to continue this proposal identified then as Agenda item IOJ and directed staff to
bring back a modified proposal that clarified the recommended course of action regarding the
application of the Collier County Land Development Code, as amended, to County
Transportation Road projects within road right of way. Since that meeting, the Transportation
staff has coordinated its efforts with the CDES to comply with the Board's direction.
The standards for work within the County rights -of -way has been revised several times since
1977 when it was first enacted. The essence of these standards was to provide for consistency
and quality of workmanship for all materials and construction activities within County rights -of-
way. A procedure for issuing permits for any such work was established along with standard
requirements for site plans and inspections.
In 2008, the need to revise, enhance and upgrade the Construction Handbook to provide for
updated methods and materials became apparent. It was also realized that the growth of the
landscaping program required more frequent revisions and changes to that portion of the
Construction Handbook. Staff recommends amending Ordinance No. 2003 -37, as amended, in
order to separate the two Handbooks for more flexibility in necessary future revisions. As each
Agenda Item No. 16B3
January 13, 2009
Page 3 of 6
Handbook may be revised separately by resolution of the Board, revisions will be accomplished
in a timely and efficient manner.
Finally, staff wishes to clarify the "Purpose" section of the Ordinance to state that the Collier
County Land Development Code, as amended, does not apply to Collier County Transportation
projects and related amenities located within the road right of way and required as components
of public roadways, except as identified on Exhibit "A," attached. CDES will seek a future
modification to the Land Development Code to reflect those exceptions identified in Exhibit
"A
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this Executive Summary.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed and approved by the County
Attorney's Office, is not quasi - judicial and requires no ex parte disclosure, requires only a
majority vote for approval, and is otherwise legally sufficient for Board action. —SRT
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated
with this Executive Summary.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board approve this item directing staff to amend Ordinance
2003 -37, as amended, to clarify the "Purpose" section to state that County Transportation Road
projects, including amenities related to improving the public roadways are exempt from the
Collier County Land Development Code, as amended, within road right of way, except as
identified in Exhibit "A," to separate the Construction Standards Handbook into two separate
handbooks consisting of the 2008 version of the "Construction Standards Handbook for Work
within the Public Right -of -Way, Collier County, Florida" and a new 2008 "Collier County
Landscape and Irrigation Specifications for Beautification Improvements within the Public
Right -of -Way Handbook," and to authorize future revisions to each Handbook to be made
separately and by resolution approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
Prepared By: Nick Casalanguida, Planning Director, Mitch Riley, Right -of -Way Permitting
Manager, and Pam Lulich, Landscape Operations Manager
Attachments: Exhibit "A" (list of exceptions); December 9, 2008, Memorandum from County
Attorney regarding whether county road projects require permitting through
ODES.
Agenda Item No. 16133
January 13, 2009
Page 4 of 6
The Transportation Division and Community Development and Environmental Services
( "CDES ") Divisions acknowledge that although the Collier County Land Development Code
generally does not apply to County Transportation road projects located within the road right of
way, including related amenities required as components of public roadways, the following three
(3) situations require distinct treatment:
Collier Area Transit Bus Shelters
As in the past, the Transportation Division will continue to obtain all necessary permits related to
the construction and installation of Collier Area Transit Bus Shelters located within the road
right of way. In this regard, the Transportation Division will continue to coordinate and work
with CDES staff as required for all permits related to the location and construction of such bus
shelters.
Road Noise Walls
The installation of Road Noise Walls is not referenced or otherwise defined in the Land
Development Code. The county policy followed by the Transportation Division as to the
construction of Noise Walls is as follows: (1) if required as part of a Transportation road project,
a Noise Wall located within the county road right of way is not subject to the Land Development
Code, (2) if a Noise Wall is not located in the county right of way and is not a required
component of a county road project but rather is desired by private citizens for placement outside
_. of the road right of way, then the persons seeking the construction of such a wall shall be
directed to go through CDES and obtain the permits required for the installation of a decorative
wall as defined in the Land Development Code.
Sim
All signs installed by the Transportation Division within the county road right of way required
by the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration as set
forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) are not subject to the
requirements of the Land Development Code. All non -MUTCD signs such as commercial signs,
signs identifying neighborhoods, and similar non - roadway signs, determined as permittable by
the Transportation Division within the road right -of -way, are subject to the Land Development
Code and shall meet all such requirements.
Exhibit "A"
Agenda Item No. 16133
January 13, 2009
Page 5 of 6
OFFICE OF THE COUNTYATTORNEY
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Nick Casalanquida, Director, Transportation Planning
Robert C. Wiley, P.E., Principal Project Manager, Engineering and
Environmental Services Department, CDES
CC: Jeffrey A. Klatzkow, County Attorney
Joseph Schmitt, Administrator, CDES
Norman Feder, Administrator, Transportation
FROM: Heidi Ashton - Cicko, Assistant County Attom tf
DATE: December 9, 2008
RE: Whether Road Projects are subject to CDES review including
Floodplain Management Review
RLS #08TR000150 and 08EIS01661
Issue: The issue presented is whether Collier County road projects require permitting
through the County's Community Development and Engineering Services Division
(CDES) under the Land Development Code for Floodplain Management or the
Floodplain Management Ordinance.
Answer: No.
ANALYSIS:
Staff has advised me that the Transportation Department has never permitted any
roadway capital infrastructure projects through CDES including floodplain management
review.
Road projects are reviewed and permitted through the US Army Corps of Engineers, US
Fish & Wildlife, South Florida Water Management District, Big Cypress Basin and
Florida Department of Transportation, as applicable, following the design standards in
the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Florida Department of Transportation
standards and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
standards.
Section 1.04.01 of the LDC provides that "the provisions of this LDC shall apply to all
land, property and development in the unincorporated area of Collier County except as
expressly and specifically provided otherwise in this LDC."
Agenda Item No. 16133
January 13, 2009
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' The term development is defined in Section 1.8.02 of the LDC as follows:
"Development: The carrying out of any building activity or mining operation, the
making of any material change in the use or appearance of any structure or land, or the
dividing of land into 3 or more parcels. The following activities or uses shall be taken for
the purposes of this Code to involve "development":
a. A reconstruction, alteration of the size, or material change in the external
appearance of a structure on land.
b. A change in the intensity of use of land, such as an increase in the number
of dwelling units in a structure or on land or a material increase in the
number of businesses, manufacturing establishments, offices, or dwelling
units in a structure or on land.
C. Alteration of a shore or bank of a seacoast, river, stream, lake, pond, or
canal, including any "coastal construction " as defined in Sec. 161.021,
F.S.
d. Commencement of drilling, except to obtain soil samples, mining, or
excavation on a parcel of land.
e. Demolition of a structure.
f. Clearing of land as an adjunct of construction.
g. Deposit of refuse, solid or liquid waste, or fill on a parcel of land."
This same definition of development is also in Section 380.04(1), F.S., located under
Chapter 380 entitled "Land and Water Management" of the Florida Statutes. Section
380.04(3) contains exceptions to the definition of development. Subsection 380.04(3)(a)
expressly excludes "Work by a highway or road agency or railroad company for the
maintenance or improvement of a road or railroad track, if the work is carried out on land
within the boundaries of right of way."
Although "work by a road agency within right of way" language is not expressly included
in the current LDC as an exception to the definition of development, my opinion is that it
is intended to be an exception. I note that road projects are infrastructure that serve
development. My opinion is supported by the fact that CDES has never reviewed a
Collier County road project for permitting. My opinion is further supported by the fact
that the definition of "development' in the former LDC, Ordinance No. 91 -102 is
"Development has the meaning given to it in Section 380.04 F.S." When the text of
Section 380.04(1), F.S. containing the definition of "development', rather than the
reference to Section 380.04, F.S., was added in the LDC as part of the re- codification in
Ord. 2004 -41, the "work by a road agency within right of way" exemption language was
left out of the LDC. It appears that this was inadvertent and not intended to be a
modification of the definition.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.