CCPC Minutes 11/06/2008 R
November 6, 2008
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Naples, Florida
November 6, 2008
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Planning
Commission, in and for the County of Collier, having conducted
business herein, met on this date at 8:30 a.m. in REGULAR SESSION
in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida,
with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN:
Mark Strain
Karen Homiak
Donna Reed-Caron
Tor Kolflat
Paul Midney
Bob Murray
Brad Schiffer
Robert Vigliotti
David 1. Wolfley
ALSO PRESENT:
Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney
Joseph Schmitt, CDES Administrator
Ray Bellows, Zoning & Land Development Review
Thomas Eastman, Director of Real Property, School District
Page 1
AGENDA
Revised
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET AT 8:30 A.M., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008, IN
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ROOM, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, COUNTY
GOVERNMENT CENTER, 330 I T AMIAMI TRAIL EAST, NAPLES, FLORIDA:
NOTE: INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO 5 MINUTES ON ANY
ITEM. INDIVIDUALS SELECTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN
ORGANIZATION OR GROUP ARE ENCOURAGED AND MAY BE ALLOTTED 10
MINUTES TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM IF SO RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
PERSONS WISHING TO HAVE WRITTEN OR GRAPHIC MATERIALS INCLUDED
IN THE CCPC AGENDA PACKETS MUST SUBMIT SAID MATERIAL A MINIMUM
OF 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE RESPECTIVE PUBLIC HEARING. IN ANY CASE,
WRITTEN MATERIALS INTENDED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CCPC SHALL
BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY STAFF A MINIMUM OF
SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL MATERIAL USED IN
PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE CCPC WILL BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF
THE RECORD AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IF APPLICABLE.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THE CCPC WILL
NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO, AND
THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE
PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND
EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
3. ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
4. PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENCES
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 18,2008, REGULAR MEETING
6. BCC REPORT- RECAPS - SEPTEMBER 23, 2008, REGULAR MEETING
7. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
8. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
A. Petition: CU-2006-AR-II046, VI Ltd. Limited Partnership, represented by Richard Yovanovich of
Goodlette, Coleman, Johnson Y ovanovich & Koester, P.A., requesting a Conditional Use for the Moraya
Bay Beach Club to allow a private club in the Residential Tourist (RT) zoning district and the Vanderbilt
Beach Resort Tourist Overlay district (VBRTO) of the Collier County Land Development Code (LDC), as
specified in Sections 2.03.02.E for the RT Zoning District and 2.03.07.L. for the VBRTO. The proposed
private club will be located within the residential building. The subject property, consisting of 4.96'" acres, is
located at 11125 Gulf Shore Drive, on the corner of Gulf Shore Drive and Bluebill Avenue, in Section
29, Township 48 South, Range 25 East, Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: Kay DeseIem, AICP)
B. Petition: CU-2007-AR-I2619, K.O.V.A.C Enterprises, LLC, represented by Tim Hancock, AICP, of
Davidson Engineering, is requesting a Conditional Use for a refuse system in the Industrial (I) zoning district,
as specified per the Collier County Land Development Code (LDC) Subsection 2.03.04.c. 16. The +/- 3.73-
acre subject property is located at 1995 Elsa Street, Section I I, Township 49 South, Range 25 East, Collier
County, Florida. (Coordinator: John-David Moss, AICP)
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9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Petition: PUDZ-2007-AR-12097, The Covenant Presbyterian Church of Naples, Inc. and Florida
Community Bank, Inc., represented by Michael R. Fernandez, AICP of Planning Development, Inc., are
requesting a rezone from the Residential Single-family (RSF-l) Zoning District to the Community Facilities
Planned Unit Development (CFPUD) Zoning District for a project to be known as Heavenly CFPUD, which
would memorialize the existing church uses and would permit redevelopment consistent with a master site
plan to a maximum of 100,000 square feet of houses of worship, children and adult day cares, a Pre-K
through 3,d grade school, and various accessory uses; and an additional 20,000 square feet of children and
adult day cares, Pre-K through 3rd grade school and accessory uses contingent upon Conditional Use
approval. The 15.93-acre subject property is located at 6926 Trail Boulevard, and comprises the entire
block bounded by Ridge Drive, West Street, Myrtle Road and Trail Boulevard in Section 3, Township
49 South, Range 25 East of Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: John-David Moss, AICP) CONTINUED
FROM 10/2/08
B. Petition: SV-2008-AR-13374, Naples Grande Beach Resort, represented by Hunter Hansen, requesting
seven variances. The first six Variances are from the Land Development Code (loDe) Section 5.06.04 c.1.,
which requires a minimum separation of 1,000 lineal feet between signs, to allow a sign separation of 66",
feet, 40"' feet, 156cl feet, 66", feet,71+ feet, and 96", feet. The seventh Variance is from LDC Section 5.06.04
C.I., which permits a maximum of two pole signs per street frontage, to permit a maximum of four signs
along a street frontage. The subject property is located at 475 Seagate Drive, in Section 9, Township 49,
Range 25, Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: John-David Moss, AICP) CONTINUED FROM 10/2/08
C. Petition: BD-2008-AR-13305, Peter D. Donahue, represented by Ben Nelson, Jr. of Nelson Marine
Construction, Jnc., is requesting the addition of a boatlift to slip number one in an existing 24-slip dock
facility that protrudes 44 feet and six inches into the waterway. Proposed change includes adding a boatlift,
extending it approximately J 0 feet further into the water for a total distance of approximately 54 feet and six
inches from the mean high waterline (MHW). The subject property is located at 4895 Bonita Beach Road in
Hickory Bay West, a condominium, in Section 5, Township 48 South, Range 25 East, Collier County,
Florida. (Coordinator: Ashley Caserta)
D. Petition: PUDA-2008-AR-13494, Kite Kings Lake, LLC, represented by D. Wayne Arnold, AICP, of Q.
Grady Minor and Associates, P.A. and Richard D. Y ovanovich, Esq., of Goodlette, Coleman, Johnson,
Y ovanovich and Koester, is requesting a PUD Amendment to modify the permitted commercial uses within
the Kings Lake PUD (Ordinance No. 82-52). The 9.63-acre subject property is located at 4890 Davis
Boulevard, in Section 7, Township 50 South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: John-
David Moss, AICP)
10. OLD BUSINESS
A. To have the Collier County Planning Commission (CCPe) review and consider two proposed ordinances as
follows: I. To amend Ordinance Number 90-17, known as the "Collier County Noise Ordinance", codified
as Chapter 54, Article IV, of the Code of Laws and Ordinances of Collier County, Florida, which Ordinance
subsequently was amended by Ordinance Numbers: 93-77, 00-68, 04-15, and 07-61 that is intended to
provide sound levels that are not detrimental to life, health, enjoyment of his or her property; and 2. A
proposed Ordinance providing for a permit to authorize the operation of outdoor serving areas; specifying
outdoor serving area permit application requirements; providing for suspension of such permit; providing for
operating regulations; providing for conflict and severability; providing for inclusion in the Code of Laws and
Ordinances; providing for repeal of three specified ordinances; and providing an effective date.
(Coordinator: .IeffKlatzkow, County Attorney; Jeff Wright, Assistant County Attorney)
II. NEW BUSINESS
12. PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM
13. DISCUSSION OF ADDENDA
14. ADJOURN
11/6/08 cepe AgendalRB/sp
2
November 6, 2008
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to
the November 6th meeting of the Collier County Planning
Commission.
If you'll all please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
(Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
Item #2
ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, roll call by our secretary.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Mr. Thomas Eastman?
MR. EASTMAN: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Tor Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Brad Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Good morning.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Donna Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Present.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Strain?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: What, I don't get a good morning? But
I'm here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Good morning to you. I said
good morning to you before.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Boy, Paul is the only one that gets good
morning during that.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Here.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: And Commissioner Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Threw you off, didn't I?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yeah, you did. I just lost my
whole train of thought right there.
Item #3
ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, addenda to the agenda. We have
our bimonthly continuation of the Heavenly PUD again. So I think
this is the third or fourth time. But if anybody's here for the Heavenly
PUD, which is in Pine Ridge, it is being continued until -- December
4th was what was in our request to continue. So it should be at least
that time, if not later. So if anybody's here for that matter, it will not
be heard today.
Item #4
PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENCES
While we're on the agenda -- well, let's go to the planning
commission absences, and we'll discuss some upcoming meetings.
We have comprehensive staff here today to ask us about some
dates in January and February to review the CIE and the 10-year water
facilities plan. And Randy, or whoever's going to do it, I don't know
who's representing compo planning to discuss this issue, but you
wanted to be first up, you are. So -- and your guy's not here. But it's
pretty straightforward. They're looking at dates for January 16th and
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November 6, 2008
January 20th in the afternoons only in this room. And then makeup
dates if need be on January 29th or February 3rd.
And I need to ask the commission if they have any preferences
or time frames or conflicts on those dates.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And the 16th and the 20th of January in
this room -- well, the 16th is a Friday, the 20th is a Tuesday. They will
start in the afternoon, so I would assume sometime between 12:00 and
1 :00, 12:00 or 1 :00, whatever we set, we'll go from there.
MR. SCHMITT: We would have the room after 12:00, so we
could start at like 12:30, whatever time you want to start.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I would suggest, if there's no conflicts
from the planning commission, we just nail it for the 16th and 20th,
both afternoons, and get it done. It may not take both, but if we have
both reserved, we shouldn't need more than two afternoons to do it in.
MR. SCHMITT: Note that your regular meeting is on the 15th of
January. That's -- and I believe we have six petitions scheduled for the
15th of January. And then you'll meet on the 16th. The 20th was an
alternate date. Again, that was just the afternoon.
But the intent was to meet on the 16th. That way we would have
it ready to bring back to you for your regular meeting on the 5th as
part of the summary agenda.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, you know, in the other alternative,
instead of the 16th, which is the day after our regular meeting, if we
did -- if the first meeting we had was scheduled for the 20th in the
afternoon, if we needed a carryover, we could do the 29th. Neither one
of those weeks we have another meeting scheduled. That might make
it easier to --
MR. SCHMITT: Martin Luther King holiday, just so you know,
is the 19th. So ifanybody's planning any type oflong weekend, the
19th is a holiday.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, it gives them more time to read
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November 6, 2008
the document then.
MR. SCHMITT: David, was the 20th one of the dates available?
Was that a -- yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: 20th and 29th are both available in the
afternoons.
MR. SCHMITT: 29th becomes very difficult for us to get
something back to you in summary for the 5th, because those books
are going out -- normally on the 27th or 28th we're sending you
documents for the consent -- well, for the consent agenda on your
regular meeting on the 5th of February.
So the 20th would be -- would be the preferable date. Actually
the preferable date would be the 16th, but we'll take the 20th, if that's
what you'd prefer.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I don't mind the 16th and the 20th as a
backup to the 16th. But I'm not sure how the rest of you all feel about
how much reading we may have.
Now, there's six items scheduled for the agenda on the 15th,
from what we're told.
MR. SCHMITT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But at this far in advance, six usually
don't hang in there.
MR. SCHMITT: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We might get down to two.
MR. SCHMITT: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: What is the feeling of the panel?
COMMISSIONER CARON: I'm good with the 16th and the
20th.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is everybody else okay?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yes.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yeah, I think it's best to --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, well, let's do it the 16th and 20th,
Randy.
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November 6, 2008
MR. COHEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Would you send out confirmation
e-mails and time to start?
MR. SCHMITT: Yeah. And we'll have the advertisement done
for those -- for the date. The 16th is the primary, and then of course
you could always continue it to the 20th.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Mark, what is the time on the
16th and 20th?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, they would start after 12:30.
12:30 or 1:00, Tor, whatever staff feels is the appropriate time to start
we'll make that happen.
MR. COHEN: We will send out the confirmation e-mails, and
we appreciate your consideration early on this morning. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you, sir.
MR. SCHMITT: Those are the only dates of availability of this
room. Otherwise we'd be back over at Horseshoe sometime and--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, those dates work. We're good to go
on those dates.
Okay, the next meeting of the planning commission is on the
20th of this month. That would be our regular meeting. Does anybody
know of any conflicts they may have where they may not be here?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, good.
Item #5
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 18,2008, REGULAR
MEETING
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: With that, we will move on from
planning commission absences to approval of minutes of September
18th at the regular meeting.
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November 6, 2008
Is there a motion to approve?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion made by Commissioner
Vigliotti, seconded by Commissioner Caron.
Comment?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
Item #6
BCC REPORT - RECAPS - SEPTEMBER 23, 2008, REGULAR
MEETING
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ray, do you have a BCC report?
MR. BELLOWS: Yes. The Board of County Commissioners
heard the conditional use for the public facilities adjacent to the
Moraya development. That was approved by the Board of Zoning
Appeals by a 5-0 vote.
The board also heard a PUD rezone for the North Church -- or
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November 6, 2008
the Naples Church of Christ mixed use planned unit development --
MR. SCHMITT: That Moraya Bay was not approved. It was
approved to continue it.
MR. BELLOWS: Oh. Motion to -- yes, it was -- sorry.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's a minor technicality.
MR. SCHMITT: Minor technicality.
It was a motion to continue that item. It will be heard at the
December meeting, along with the other two petitions associated with
that. It will be -- at the December 2nd BCC will be the Moraya Bay
conditional use for the restroom, conditional use for the -- or the
variance for the trellis and the conditional use for the beach club. All
three will be heard at that meeting. At least tentatively scheduled.
Just correcting you, Ray.
MR. BELLOWS: Yeah, thank you.
The North Naples Church of Christ mixed use PUD, that was
approved, and it has an Ordinance No. 08-62, so I know it wasn't
continued. And that was approved 5-0.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Item #7
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, chairman's report. I have two
items. The first one I want to mention is we have a young man in the
audience today auditing our planning commission, or reviewing it to
make sure we stay on track. And I think the gentleman's name is Jeff
O'Donnell?
MR. DONAHUE: Jamie Donahue.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Jamie Donahue. Well, I was close. I had
the J and D right. Welcome, and I hope we entertain you today. We'll
try.
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November 6, 2008
The second item I have to discuss is some paperwork that we've
all received concerning the RLSA cancellation of the meeting. Now,
as you all know, there was a Phase II report scheduled to be discussed
by this board on December 1 st. The Phase II report followed the Phase
I report that we heard on May 1st of2008.
And if you recall, during that meeting very clearly we asked
numerous times of the applicant -- or not the applicant, I'm sorry, the
chairman of that group, as well as comprehensive planning about a
series of questions that we had. And I know Ms. Caron had specific
questions, I had specific questions, Mr. Murray I think did, and others
had.
They were given nine pages, I believe, of questions during that
meeting. And it was very clear that we wanted those questions
answered as part of their Phase II report. And we even asked the
Board of County Commissioners to stipulate such, which was done.
Last week the RLSA committee voted to combine the Phase II
report with the Growth Management Plan amendments into one event
and go straight first to the BCC and then supposedly back to us.
The downside of that is if you've taken a Phase II report, which
according to their management plan was supposed to have very
specific narratives and discussions, and combine them automatically
into the finished product of the Growth Management Plan, you're
really not getting the benefit of a -- at least in my opinion, the benefit
of an open discourse in response to our questions. You're basically
going to have the questions answered by what they believe are the
GMP results.
I didn't anticipate it coming this way. When we were -- when
they were before us, in fact, at that meeting I'll read something that
was said.
Chairman Strain: The point I was trying to make with my
question was now that we've got the committee and the committee has
accepted the fact they're going to try to respond to the questions that
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November 6, 2008
we imposed by these groups and myself, I wanted to make sure that
you guys didn't get close to the end and say, you know, darn it, we just
don't have time. It's important that everything gets addressed is what
I'm trying to say.
Now, we predicted it. They assured us. And the response from
staff and from them was that they would come back to us.
And last week they voted, from what I understand, to change the
process. It is going to go to the BCC I guess with their request.
I'm relaying all this information to you so that if you have any
need to discuss this with the commissioners that have appointed you,
you certainly feel the -- you might have some more of the background
to do so.
I know their effort is to expedite the process. I'm not sure in
these times why we need to do that. And I think the problems that
we've all seen on this board was from expediting the original Growth
Management Plan for Collier County back in '89 when it shouldn't
have been.
So that's my thoughts on it. You have paperwork from other
people. I know two commissioners that would like to speak, Ms.
Caron, then Mr. Wolfley.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, I just wanted to comment
that I was the one that made the motion that we receive and accept that
Phase I report. But it was with -- specifically with the stipulation that
the nine pages of questions submitted by at the time Commissioner
Strain and Ms. Ryan from The Conservancy be addressed in the Phase
II presentation before this body.
And Mr. Hamel, as well as Mr. Greenwood, all assured us and
agreed that it would be coming back, the Phase II report would be
coming back to us for a thorough review.
And I would just like to suggest that we may formally have you
as the chairman write a letter to the BCC stating that we prefer to have
it come back --
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I'll second that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- as we were assured.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I second that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Before we have a motion and a second,
I wanted to finish with, though, the panel discussion.
And Mr. Wolfley, did you have a comment you wanted to
make?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yeah. I had passed out some
information that you may not have had.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Did Cherie' get copies?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: It's right here. I haven't gotten
down there yet.
Mr. Klatzkow may have one, you guys can have one.
As you know, I'm on the RLSA committee. And I just want to
assure you that there was a dissenting vote for that directly to the
BCC. And we can probably imagine who that would be.
And it's opened my eyes to this process, more so than even the
planning commission, because it's -- you know, you can see how these
things can get railroaded and jammed forward without the knowledge
of and reasoning why. And it's -- hopefully with the material that I
passed out, you'll see the reasoning, and you'll see some of the backup
and why this happened.
But I'm in full agreement with -- I think that Mr. Strain ought to
-- Chairman Strain ought to send a message to the BCC. I know I'm
going to be talking to my commissioner, and I hope everybody here
talks to their commissioner. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you. And I did talk with Al
Reynolds, because he was the individual who initiated this consent
with the RLSA. His point to me was that the Phase II report in their
eyes -- or his eyes, maybe; I don't know if he was speaking for the
whole group -- was to be now the rewrite of the GMP.
I expressed to him that that's a little bit putting the cart before the
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November 6, 2008
horse, because the public ought to have the right to respond to the
narrative and the concepts of the RLSA and how that has developed
over the last five years first, before we go right in to writing rules.
Because if you jump to the second step, it's almost like
acknowledging the first step is an agreeable point. And I think that
discourse needs to happen before the second step does. And I
expressed that to him, so we're in disagreement on that point.
Go ahead, Mr. Schmitt.
MR. SCHMITT: Can I put on the record for clarification, Mr.
Greenwood is the staff liaison to that committee. That committee was
a board appointed committee. The staff provides logistics and
administrative support, logistic administrative support to that
committee. The committee is a board committee, and we will -- we
take direction based on the committee's vote.
And we will take that to the Board of County Commissioners in
an executive summary. And certainly then the Board of County
Commissioners can so direct to do with what they want to with both
the report or any of the comments.
But it's not my place to circumvent the authority of that
committee. And I just want to make sure you understand that staff is
reactive in this role and it's not that we don't have any responsibility or
authority from -- or I'll say responsibility, but authority in steering that
committee one way or the other.
And as David knows, it was a vote of the committee and all
we're doing is responding to the vote.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you very much, sir, we
appreciate it.
With that, there's been a motion made by Ms. Caron, seconded
by Mr. Murray that the chairman write a letter to the Board of County
Commissioners expressing our concerns over this alternative process,
which I will certainly do if the committee wishes that.
All in favor of that motion, signify by saying aye.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries, 9-0.
Item #8A
PETITION: CU-2006-AR-II046, MORAY A BAY BEACH CLUB
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, on to bigger and better things.
The consent agenda items. We have two of them on today's agenda.
First one is Petition CU-2006-AR-II046. It's the VI Limited
Partnership for the Moraya Bay Beach Club.
Any comments on the consent document that's been submitted
for our approval?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I can't comment on the
document per se, but in terms of a vote, I was not present for the
conclusion of the meeting, I missed a number of bits of information,
so I would ask the County Attorney to confirm that I believe that I'm
not able to vote in this matter.
MR. KLATZKOW: That's correct, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there any comments on the
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November 6, 2008
document itself?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It was a tie vote at the time. It's going
forward with the documentation indicating that -- our preference on
that. So I don't know if anything else should be done.
If there's no comments, is there a motion to recommend approval
of that item on the consent agenda?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley made the motion.
Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti.
Is there any comments?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All those in favor signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
And show Mr. Murray abstained. 8-0.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: However, I would have made
one point, that had I voted, I probably would have voted in favor.
Item #8B
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November 6, 2008
PETITION: CU-2007-AR-12619, K.O.V.A.c. ENTERPRISES
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Petition CU-2007-AR-12619,
K.O.V.A.c. Enterprises is the next item on the consent agenda.
Are there any comments from the planning commission on this
particular item?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Same thing, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray will be abstaining for the --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- same reason that he previously
abstained. Although we may get a dissertation afterwards, I'm not
sure.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I wasn't here for the vote either.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Midney wasn't here for the vote, so
we have two abstentions that will occur.
And I have mentioned to staff, there are two issues that I wanted
to make sure were clarified. And I know 1.D.'s here, so why don't we
start addressing number seven and number eight.
Number seven in the development conditions talks about the
southern buffer that was supposed to be more lush planting material in
order to really provide a buffer to the businesses to the south.
If you recall, we moved the preserve area -- which really was a
needless exercise to have a preserve in the middle of the industrial
park -- to the south part of the site, have it combined in a green space
area in which more vegetation could be planted to provide a better
buffer for noise and dust and everything else. And that seemed to go
over well with the people that were here that day as well.
I'm worried that seven doesn't get us here. And for the record, I'd
like to know if there's any way of clarifying it.
MR. MOSS: Sure. For the record, John-David Moss, Department
of Zoning and Land Development Review.
I spoke with the county landscape architect about this, and we've
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November 6, 2008
revised the language.
The second sentence in number seven, after where it says
abutting uses, period. The next sentence where, make that a small
"W", so this will be a continuation of this sentence. Where this buffer.
And then we're going to delete intersects with the .37-acre
preserve, planting shall be native species and. We're going to delete all
of that.
And so the provision will read, where this buffer shall not count
towards those plantings required to recreate the preserve. That way the
buffer will be separate from the preserve.
And that was his main concern as the viability of that preserve.
Because of all the dust that's going to be traveling, he thought that it
would better to have the Type B buffer separate from the preserves,
because that's actually what's going to capture the dust passing to
those commercial uses to the south of the operation.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, but now let's -- if we look at the
plan, that creative preserve area in the south, you're saying that the
landscaping material does not count towards the plantings required to
recreate the preserve. Yet they're still going to be required to recreate
the preserve.
MR. MOSS: They're going to be required to recreate the
preserve. But the problem with Exhibit C, when it was revised, they
located the preserve on top of the Type B buffer. And those really
shouldn't intersect at all, they should be two separate areas.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, but if you -- the concern was a
recreative preserve does not provide a lot of -- it could be very sparse.
That doesn't help the residents --
MR. MOSS: That's right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- the business to the south. So how is
relieving the language in there that you're going to have to recreate an
area specifically as a preserve help?
MR. MOSS: Well, the preserve is just going to satisfy the
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November 6, 2008
requirement of environmental staff. The Type B buffer is going to
satisfy the concerns of the residents that dust will not be able to travel
on their properties.
The landscape architect felt that the Type B buffer was going to
be the most effective barrier between the uses and that the preserve
should be planted in that location to assist with screening out
windborne materials, but it's not going to provide the same sort of
protection that a Type B buffer would.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I had thought that this area -- the idea of
recreating a preserve in an industrial park that never had one there in
the first place doesn't make a lot of sense. And it was acknowledged
there are no endangered species living --
MR. MOSS: That's right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- in that industrial park. So I'm not sure
why we're putting a member of the public through this effort when all
we're really trying to accomplish is more vegetation for both dust,
debris and noise blowing from the property onto the properties to the
south.
Why are we still focusing on this idea that we got to create a
preserve? Because now you're talking various strata and species of
plant material that is really incompatible with that area. There's no
need for it. Where's the practical point there?
MR. MOSS: It was just to fulfill a requirement of environment.
From my position, the Type B buffer is really what's going to
prevent dust from traveling onto those sites south of the property. And
that was my concern.
Again, it was environmental services that have LDC criteria
requiring a preserve to be recreated on the site. And according to your
recommendation at the last hearing, it was better to put it there so that
it could assist somewhat with the dust.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Does anybody else on the panel have
any recollection of the direction?
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I just know it's a
requirement. We moved it so that it would be helpful. And we all
acknowledged that the buffer was the most important part of it.
But yeah, they are required to recreate that preserve.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think it's kind of hard to fix it at this
meeting, but your language is better than what was there, so I guess
we should go with it.
Although I wish I had understood the intent more at the time we
discussed it. Because I see honestly absolutely no reason to recreate a
preserve in an industrial park, especially one of .37 acres.
MR. MOSS: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It does nobody any good but spend
money.
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: You know, I wish we had the
transcript so that we could refer back to it in discussion, and we don't
have that yet.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, on --
COMMISSIONER CARON: I don't believe.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Hancock, you're the representative
of the applicant at the time. Would you mind -- do you have any
problem with the language that's being put forth by staff as a
correction to number seven?
MR. HANCOCK: W e'lllive with it. But I don't think it's
consistent with the discussion that we had.
And what we talked about at the meeting was to -- and I'm sorry,
for the record, Tim Hancock with Davidson Engineering.
What we had talked about is instead of recreating a preserve of
three strata, which doesn't make a lot of sense, was that we'd focus on
the upper and midstory --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
MR. HANCOCK: -- within the preserve, which would have the
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November 6, 2008
greater effect.
And now what we're doing is we're saying -- and we agreed to
the Type B buffer within -- you know, in that same area.
So we'd have a Type B buffer and then the balance of the
preserve would be focused on midstory and upper story plantings
instead of groundcover to have the effect that was desired.
What we're now doing is we're actually asking for a .37 -acre
preserve outside of the buffer, which is actually more land for
something that everyone felt didn't make a lot of sense to start with.
My suggestion as a cleanup to this would be that in addition to a
required Type B buffer that the balance of the creative preserve area
focus on midstory and upper story vegetation to achieve the desired
buffering effect. I believe that is 100 percent consistent with the
direction of the planning commission at our prior hearing.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I agree with you, that certainly seems
more in line with what I recall. And I appreciate you reiterating that to
us.
I would like to get this language redone correctly. Let me see if
there's any objections to that. I think what you're proposing sounds
reasonable.
Go ahead, J.D., did you have something else to add?
MR. MOSS: I do. I just wanted to say Susan Mason is here and
she just wanted to let you all know of the requirements in the LDC of
these recreated preserves, which she feels might conflict with what's
being recommended.
MS. MASON: Good morning. For the record, Susan Mason with
Environmental Services.
I'm not sure it would really conflict, I just wanted you all to
understand that recreative preserves have a larger plant material
requirement than landscaping requirements. The trees have to be a
minimum of 14 foot in height. And spacing may be different. I don't
know what the spacing is in a Type D buffer.
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November 6, 2008
It's to be planted naturally. And it's larger midstory plants with
very close spacing, and also understory plants.
And from my conversations with landscape reviewers, they said
that it's actually much more dense than most buffers are as far as
landscaping. I can't really answer the specific details, but it is larger
plant material than the landscape code normally requires, and it is
rather dense planting, too.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are slash pines considered something
you could put in a recreative preserve?
MS. MASON: Yes. It has to be a native vegetation that's
appropriate to the site where whatever the elevation, final elevation is
going to be, and it does have to be a native vegetation.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So they could go out and buy buckets of
slash pine and put them in the ground.
MS. MASON: That would be something that would be accepted
by environmental staff.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. And that doesn't provide any
buffer at all. And that's the concern.
I would rather see us put midstory and upper story canopy trees
as suggested by the applicant to a point that we have a better buffer in
an area that's more practical for a buffer than a recreative preserve.
So I'm still in favor of suggesting that we provide the language
as suggested.
MR. MOSS: Mr. Hancock suggested that he and I get together
and work on this language and maybe bring it back to you in a half
hour's time, if that's okay?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's fine. We have to wait for a break
between one of the other cases, but --
MR. MOSS: Perfect.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- that would be better.
And we have one other point to discuss. I know this is just a
clarification. On number eight it says the first 250 of the site's entrance
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November 6, 2008
drive shall be paved.
I went back and checked my notes and in two different locations
I show the number 150. It doesn't -- I don't think it's a big deal, but I
want to make sure that if it's supposed to be 150 and that was the
motion, that that's what we put there. But I don't know if that got
changed in discussion.
Did you review the tape?
MR. MOSS: I tried to review the tape. Unfortunately the
complete hearing is not uploaded. But I did speak with Mr. Hancock
about it, and that was his recollection as well, that it was 150.
So that is a typo there. It should be the first 150 feet in number
eight.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I think we can easily just take a
measure of the throat, because that's what it's supposed to be.
Whatever that measurement is, whether it's 150 or 250, it's whatever
the throat is --
MR. MOSS: That's right.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- is what we agreed on.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Would you guys check that during your
time and --
MR. MOSS: We sure will.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- then when you come back between,
we'll clean it up. Okay.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Mark, on that point.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah, David, also bring back
what's the distance of the adjoining property along that roadway.
Because the intent was to pave at least that distance.
MR. MOSS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: All right, thank you.
Item #9B
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November 6, 2008
PETITION: SV-2008-AR-13374, NAPLES GRANDE BEACH
RESORT
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you.
And with that, we'll come back and visit that one in a little while.
In the meantime, we'll move on with our regular hearing. The
first one that was supposed to be up today, and again, I'll repeat, the
Covenant Presbyterian Church, also known as the Heavenly CFPUD
on Pine Ridge Road (sic) has been continued to at the earliest would
be December 4th or later. So if you're here for that one today, that will
not be heard. We'll be moving straight into Item 9(B), which is the
Petition SV-2008-AR-13374, the Naples Grande Beach Resort,
requesting seven variances for signage issues. This was continued
from October 2nd to today.
All those wishing to testify on behalf of this item, please rise to
be sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there disclosures on the part of
planning commission?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yes, I do. My son works for a
company, a vendor that supplies services to the hotel, but this does not
affect him in any way, shape or form, nor would it affect my opinion
of voting on this matter.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, is there a presentation by the
applicant?
MR. HANSEN: Good morning. For the record, Hunter Hansen,
Managing Director of the Naples Grande Beach Resort. And Mr.
Chairman and Commissioners, thank you for hearing me today.
You'll see that I don't have my graphic in front of me. J.D.,
maybe you can help with that graphic. Maybe we can -- this will help.
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November 6, 2008
I don't know how to use the equipment very well, so you can guide us
through this a little bit.
We're looking at two different issues. I'll start with the first, the
fairly simple one. A little bit of background.
Before the name change and change of ownership, the name of
the resort was The Registry Resort. There was a large "R" on the east
facing side of the building that could be seen for miles.
There were also small letter "r"s on the columns that are flanking
the entrance of the resort that you have in your paperwork, and is
shown here on the screen.
When the ownership changed and the name changed, we
removed the "R" from the east facing side of the building, therefore
eliminating visibility from the building within a couple mile radius.
So as new customers or even existing customers are driving
down Seagate Drive, there was no visibility as to what that tall
building represented and what it was.
We did replace the letter "R"s that flank on the column of the
entrance to the letter "N"s, and we thought those were just simply
signs that would not be obtrusive.
We also developed and installed what we call a low monument
sign. It's sign A on your paperwork that shows Naples Grande Beach
Resort.
Weare in violation of some ordinances because those three
signs, signs A, Band C, are within 100 feet of one another.
We didn't think that the little "N"s -- we replaced the "R"s on the
columns with "N"s. They're approximately three by three. I think
you'll see in your paperwork what the exact measurement is. We didn't
believe that those "N"s were really in -- we didn't understand they
would be in violation, because we were just replacing them from the
previous letter "R"s.
So we think that we just -- we would like to have those letter
"N"s remain. We think that it's important as people drive down
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November 6, 2008
Seagate Drive, because there is no large visibility on that east facing
tower any longer that customers can actually see what they're driving
into.
And it's a simple design. It's only a three by three-foot square.
They are not obtrusive. And it is just more of an architectural feature
versus a SIgn.
I'd also like to add that in doing some research, our neighbors up
the street that is also a very large well known resort in the community
have a very similar logo'd letter on their columns as you face -- as you
drive into their resort.
So there is some precedent there, I believe, that these signs were
permitted at some time in the past.
That's my story on the first set of variance petitions we are
submitting.
And I believe staff recommends that those "N"s be allowed.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there any questions of the
applicant?
Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I don't have a question, but I did
do some surveying of the LDC, and I'd like to give some commentary
on the intent and purpose of the LDC relative to signs.
LD Section 5.05 -- 5.06.01(A) states that in general, and I quote,
increased numbers in size of signs distract the attention of motorists
and pedestrians and interfere with traffic safety, and the indiscriminate
erection of signs degrades the aesthetic attractiveness of the
community, closed quote.
The LDC goes on further to state that, the intent and purpose of
the sign code is to authorize the use of signs that meet the following
five criteria.
Would you put that photographed one that I gave you up, please,
Ray.
This is a photograph of the entrance to the hotel. And you can
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November 6, 2008
see the large sign there in the center of the end of the driveway up
there just about in the middle of the photograph.
In looking at this, and consider the compatibility with the
surroundings is one of the requirements of the sign code.
And the surroundings are residential. The grouping of four
different size, shape and type of signs, all within the small area in
residential district is not compatibile with the surroundings. It is
residential to the north, south and east of this site.
Appearance gives it a commercial use rather than a residential
use with a grouping of signs.
Number two, the signs shall not endanger public safety or
unduly distract motorists. In traversing up the entryway, motorists and
pedestrians will pass four different signs in a short 150- feet length of
roadway. They will be unduly distracted and endanger public safety.
Three: Signs should be appropriate to the type of activity to
which they pertain. Naples Grande is primarily a hotel. Its ancillary
activities such as multiple dining facilities, spa services, et cetera, are
primarily for the hotel residents.
These services, as now offered to the general public, are not
appropriate to the primary hotel function, which is a hotel.
These ancillary services could be placed on such spare space of
the existing main sign.
Could you put up item two that I gave you, please, Ray.
This is a closeup picture of the main sign there. Signs should
also be large enough to convey sufficient information and small
enough to satisfy the regulations.
Well, this sign can be visually seen 150 feet up the roadway
where I took the last picture.
The main existing sign as it is meets this criteria. The sign can be
seen about 150 feet from the roadway. However, the permitted sign
area is even greater than the actual sign area and more text could be
added, if necessary.
Page 25
November 6, 2008
Five: Signs should be reflective of the identity and creativity of
the individual occupants. The addition of the fourth sign on this
relatively small area is not reactive of creativity.
Here again, the underlying purpose and intent of the LDC is to
prevent the proliferation of signage as is evidenced since the entire
sign code Section 5.06.00 limits the quantity of signage. No less than
four pages of the code are devoted under a common heading
maximum number of signs allowed, which lists limits on different
types of all signs. Four signs that are confined within a small area is
not reflective of creativity.
And I believe that this petition does not follow through with the
intent and purpose of the LDC.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: When I was reviewing this I
was thinking that I had forgotten totally that The Registry had been
sold, but I -- in looking at this, I've been down there in the end, been in
to many conferences there.
My thought is because of the location where it is, it's kind of a
strange deal, because if you miss the hotel, you're going to go right
into a residential area. I find it pretty critical to have this sign that's
shown up now so people don't pass it and go on into the residential
areas. I just think it's good looking, it seems compatible to me, and I
just wanted to add that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any other comments?
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah, my question is this: I
think the biggest problem is the Strip House sign, which is out
wandering, you know, on the lawn there.
I have no problems with the monograms on the column, and I
kind of share your feelings, are these really signs anyway or just a
tasteful little monogram.
But would you have a problem pulling the Strip House in past
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November 6, 2008
those signs?
MR. HANSEN: Well, I was going to get into that discussion
secondly after this discussion, talk about these three signs first and
then go to the fourth sign.
That's certainly a possibility. And again, I'll get into more
explanation of that as I get into the next discussion.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll wait. I'll wait. I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go ahead, Ms. Caron, then Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, I was just going to say that
-- and I think I said this at the last meeting, I have no problem with
this main Naples Grande Beach Resort sign at all. And if the Strip
House Restaurant can be listed on that sign, I have no problem with
that either.
I agree with you, that I consider the columns an architectural
feature more than anything else, and I don't consider it a sign, so I
have no problem with the columns either.
My main problem is with the Strip House Restaurant sign being
out on Seagate Drive.
MR. HANSEN: I certainly understand that, Commissioner. And
I'll address that in a minute, but I certainly understand your consider.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRA Y: I'm going to also join the chorus
and suggest that the monograms as they've been noted, they're fine,
they're an identity. This is a business and yet it's in residential, and it
provides residential services as well as commercial services. It's the
beast that exists because we like it to exist.
The sign that I'm looking at on the visualizer now is I think
tasteful, effective, and I would have to agree that if we -- if you really
do want the restaurant's name, then you would have to withdraw that
from the area to make -- perhaps this is a good location for it. Thank
you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
Page 27
November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I agree with everything else,
with all the other commissioners, this really is a nice sign, doesn't
cause a problem, and the letters on the columns are more architectural.
But Ray, I have a question for you. Suppose the hotel changes
names and they want to change the "N" on the columns or change the
graphics on this sign. Would they have to come through this process
again?
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, Ray Bellows.
The sign variance can be tailored to the individual current owner
requiring any subsequent owners to come in for another variance, or
you can tailor it to run with the property and the sign.
So like any other pole sign, when there's a change of use, they
just get their permits.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Okay, no, I'd like to then just
bring that up in case it changes again, they want it changed again back
to an "R" or a "Q" or an "L" or a "W", I don't want to see them go
through the process again.
MR. BELLOWS: Mr. Schmitt raises a good point, too. If the
sign code changes, then they would have to comply with any changes
in the code as new signs or replacement signs.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: That's fine. But under normal
circumstances, they could just --
MR. BELLOWS: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: -- get a permit to change the
letters. Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other comments before the
petitioner --
MR. SCHMITT: As long as they stay within the size.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Exactly. In other words --
MR. SCHMITT: If they change the --
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: -- here the issue was "R" to
"N"s.
Page 28
November 6, 2008
MR. SCHMITT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other comments before the
petitioner continues?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Okay, sir.
MR. HANSEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
If I could again just have a few more minutes about the
controversial sign and that's the Strip House Restaurant sign.
And I very much understand your concerns, but I'd like to
provide a little bit more background, provide some perhaps different
understanding.
The Strip House Restaurant has been in the hotel approximately
one year. It is very different than other specialty restaurants in other
resorts hotels, because it's a leased restaurant. It's a third party. The
ownership of the hotel does not own or operate that restaurant.
Specialty restaurants in large resorts really require significant
revenue from the public in order to maintain their business. A
specialty restaurant like this would really need about 70 percent of
their volume, that's 7-0 percent of their volume from the outside,
versus hotel guests to maintain their liquidity. Otherwise, the
restaurant would not financially do well.
If specialty restaurants do not get that kind of volume from the
outside, they become lost leaders in a resort. Especially restaurants
that are owned and operated by resorts that are lost leaders, the resort
is willing to accept that restaurant as a lost leader because it just adds
more value to the total resort.
In this case because the ownership is a third party, they will not
-- if they don't make money over a period of time, they will go out of
business.
There are approximately 70 employees in that restaurant and
they are a complete separate entity. So I'm really speaking on their
behalf. In order to maintain their volume, they're seeking visibility and
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November 6, 2008
they're seeking some awareness in the community.
And again, as people drive down Seagate Drive, although
someone has called them and made a reservation and knows the
address at 475 Seagate Drive, as people are driving down Seagate, you
don't really know where 475 is until you make that right-hand turn
into the resort and you see the 475 on the monument sign.
So unless a previous guest has been there before and they know
the restaurant is in the confines of the Naples Grande Beach Resort,
they really are looking around for an address of where is 475 Seagate
Drive in looking for this restaurant.
Therefore, the proposal to install this low monument Strip House
Restaurant sign just outside the entrance is so that people driving
down Seagate have some visibility as to where this restaurant is
located.
Yes, restaurants like other businesses can advertise in the
newspaper and they can have direct mail campaigns and things like
that, and all of these ads state the address of the restaurant. But again,
unless you're driving down Seagate Drive, you don't know where 475
is, you will have no idea where that restaurant's located.
And again, we could put that sign inside the entrance, to your
point Mr. Commissioner. We could do that somehow. But until -- if
you picture yourself driving down Seagate Drive, this sign you're
seeing on the screen is not immediately visible as a straight-on shot.
You really have to turn right to see that as you're coming to the
entrance. The only thing you see as you're driving on Seagate Drive
are those "N"s on the column, with no visibility of the entrance.
So there's -- that's our reasoning or our recommendation as to
why we would like to have some sort of visibility on Seagate.
Otherwise, in all likelihood this restaurant may go out of business.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Sir, if this restaurant were in fact
a lost leader owned by the hotel corporation, would you have had any
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November 6, 2008
difficulty in placing that information on your sign that we're seeing in
the viewer right now?
MR. HANSEN: I'm sorry, Mr. Commissioner, I don't quite
understand your question.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Sure. If in fact, rather than this
be a separate entity business, had it be a lost leader, as you portrayed it
could be, would be, if it were your restaurant would you have a need
still to have it out into the residential area, into the right-of-way, so to
speak, for people to see, or would they not perceive it as being Naples
Grande restaurant?
MR. HANSEN: Mr. Commissioner, if I owned that, it would be
nice to have that sign outside the entrance. Not necessary to have,
because it would be a lost leader, so I wouldn't consider it in my total,
total financial perspective.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Right. So --
MR. HANSEN: It would be nice to have, not necessary to have.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So the hinge here is that you're
trying to make sure that the restaurant that you have sustains.
MR. HANSEN: Correct.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And I can appreciate that.
But I will agree with my fellow commissioner who indicated
that it is a residential area, and from the photo that was shown, it
appeared that from 150 feet away, as the statement was made, a
person can, who is looking for 475, be able to visualize the address.
And I'm not sure whether or not you're suggesting by the way you're
offering it that you're looking for capture traffic, that you're looking
for somebody who might be driving by and say, oh, here's a
restaurant. I'm not sure in that area what that would all get you
anyway.
It would seem those persons -- and this is conjecture, I recognize
it -- those persons who are going to suggest that they meet at the Strip
House say, it's at the Naples Grande, and they're going to know that
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November 6, 2008
somehow.
I recognize that somebody driving along might be tempted to go
into the Naples Grande for sustenance, if they happen to have seen the
Strip House sign outside. But they may just as likely see it from
inside.
So I think -- I know that from my point of view, if you were
more in favor of accepting the premise that it belongs somewhere
closer to that sign or perhaps on that sign, I think you might do well
with this commission. But I'm just guessing that.
MR. HANSEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes. Ray, would you put up
Tor's photograph one?
And while he's doing that, in your development you have a
freestanding restaurant. Is that the Strip House now, or is it within the
lobby of the hotel itself?
MR. HANSEN: The restaurant itself, sir?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes.
MR. HANSEN: The restaurant is within the columns, back up in
the area of the resort, yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But in recall, there's a
freestanding restaurant. In other words, it's not in the actual building
of the hotel --
MR. HANSEN: That's correct. It's one of the floating buildings.
It used to be called the Brass Pelican Restaurant, if I recall.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So as we're looking down
this road here, you see your main sign in there. What if you put this up
on the grass to the left of that; in other words, behind the columns? I
mean, I kind of like the idea of getting it off of the street and getting it
behind your monogram column somewhere. Is that a location -- I
mean, you could see --
MR. HANSEN: It's certainly a possibility.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I think if you do put it there, by
the way, put an arrow to make sure they don't drive up the lane
backwards.
MR. HANSEN: Right.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But the biggest problem and the
only problem I have with this application is -- I think the sign's okay.
The fact that it's contrasting the taste of your other signs, I understand
that, I think. But I do think it should be inside your property more than
-- at least behind your entrance gate --
MR. HANSEN: Okay.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- than out in the residential
neighborhood. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: The sign is on your property,
correct?
MR. HANSEN: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. I'm just wondering, is the
issue of the sign the location of it? Do we have a picture of where the
sign is now? That's it right there. Okay.
Is it that right there that we're objecting to, Strip House, with no
restaurant? And they've added the restaurant. But, I mean, is it the
name or is it the sign?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It's each one of us will have our own
decisions on that, Mr. Wolfley. I mean, you have --
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I wasn't expecting an answer, I
just --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Just rhetorical.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you have anything any other --
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: No, that's it. I'm sorry. Thank
you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions?
(No response.)
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November 6, 2008
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sir, I've got a couple -- or actually, Ray,
I think the question may be more of you.
MR. HANSEN: There's a better shot, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is this considered an accessory use to
the hotel?
MR. BELLOWS: The restaurant?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN : Yes.
MR. BELLOWS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Then it would have benefited from the
reduction in parking?
MR. BELLOWS: I'd have to check the site plan, but I assume it
would, yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you know why the reduction in
parking was placed in the code for restaurants that are amenities or
associated with -- accessories to hotels?
MR. BELLOWS: Yeah, it's basically an accessory to the hotel,
which is the main driving force for people going to the facility.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. And the accessory use
computation for a restaurant is 50 percent of normal requirements.
Why did we pick 50 percent?
MR. BELLOWS: I'd have to do some research on that. I can't
tell you offhand.
COMMISSIONER CARON: The point I'm trying to make is this
restaurant's reliance on predominantly outside activity of what you
indicated earlier was 70 percent. I would think then the parking may
have a problem, because we're only giving you 50 percent of the
parking. You only would have provided 50 percent of the parking if
you labeled this as an accessory use to the hotel.
Second of all, I've lived in this community 30 years, and The
Registry before your company took it over was built a long time ago. I
live 12 miles, 15 miles out and every morning I get up and I can look
down the road and there's this gold dome shining at me, or copper
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November 6, 2008
dome or whatever you want to call it. That's a pretty significant
landmark in this community. And if anybody wants to find a
restaurant associated with that hotel, I think it's pretty easy to
designate where it's at.
So I'm not sure the sign is needed to tell people that you're at that
hotel more than it is to pick up pass-by traffic, which I'm not sure is
the intent to get your 50 percent above what you're supposed to be
supplying from the hotel itself based on the parking calculation. And
so from that point of view I'm not sold yet on the need for sign D at
all, where it's at or even moving the location, so --
MR. HANSEN: Mr. Commissioner, if I could please respond to
your comments.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sure. Go right ahead.
MR. HANSEN: The first comment about the accessory -- I'm
not familiar with that term but I guess it's the number of parking
spaces for the restaurant.
The exact location of the Strip House Restaurant was previously
a restaurant. It was previously called the Brass Pelican. It was owned
and operated by the hotel. It was a lost leader. It had the same if not
more seats than this Strip House Restaurant does. So relative to seats
in the restaurant versus the parking ratio, that really has not changed.
The second comment, Mr. Chairman, people like yourself that
have been in the community for a length of time certainly know what
the building stands for. There are a large number of customers that
have been to the hotel for the first time that have never -- from outside
of Naples. Half of our business is convention and group related, which
are coming from all parts of the states and all parts of the country.
So at least 50 percent of our customers, if not more, are not
Naples residents and don't really know the building as well as you do,
SIr.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, and I understand. I just -- I'm not
quite sold on the need for that sign yet.
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November 6, 2008
MR. HANSEN: I understand.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I'm not -- I certainly have no problem
with all your other requests. But that one is still, I'm just not -- I
haven't seen the need.
MR. HANSEN: Well, we're certainly sensitive to the name and
essentially the location, and that's why we tried to make the sign as
professional and unobtrusive and low and good looking and
unobtrusive as we possibly could and still obtain our objective.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any other questions of the
applicant?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, I just want --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: -- to make one comment.
Looking at that photo, the sign may in your mind may be
unobtrusive, but it stands out from the property.
MR. HANSEN : Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And that's where my problem is
personally. It -- I don't have a problem with the name. Anybody can
read in anything they want in a name. It's a catchy term; I suppose it's
intended as such.
But I do have a problem with the fact that it seems to me anyway
to be rather glaring right outside your monuments. And it really is an
intent to show here's a commercial establishment, come and eat. And
that's fine, except that I think personally it belongs inside to be able to
make that point.
And I don't know where you can put it in there, but -- I don't
know. That's a problem I'm having, too.
MR. HANSEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any other questions of the
applicant?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
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November 6, 2008
MR. HANSEN: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We'll hear staffs report now.
MR. HANSEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. MOSS: Thank you, Commissioner. For the record,
John-David Moss, Department of Zoning and Land Development
Review.
I would just like to draw the commission's attention to the letter
that was received on October 15th contained in Appendix One of the
supplemental staff report.
I would also like to say that with the recommendations and
stipulations made by staff, this project would be consistent with the
GMP and the Land Development Code.
I would also like to draw your attention to the new conditions of
approval dated October 20th, 2008 that are contained in the ordinance.
And note that we did make the corrections about the separations
between the signs. And staff is still just recommending approval of
signs A, Band C and not D.
If you have any questions, I'll be happy to try and answer them.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any questions?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: John-David, ifhe brought the
sign inside and essentially beyond the monogram signs, do you have
any thoughts on that? Is it the location of it or just the sign itself?
MR. MOSS: It's the sign itself. They could put that information
on the existing Naples Grande Beach Resort sign there, but they can't
have a separate sign on the property. So it doesn't matter if it's out
where they have it located now or if they move it interior to the
property.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: It still requires a variance. But
you still would probably object to it then even though it's -- I mean, I
think the in -- the reason they make the sign -- the two signs are
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November 6, 2008
designed exactly in contrast of each other, and I think that's the intent,
that the restaurant's in contrast with the hotel. But the -- so if we
brought it back in, you would still be objecting to it, do you believe?
MR. MOSS: I still think it would fail to meet the purpose and
intent of the sign ordinance.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. And then the other
question is these monograms. Do you think those are signs or just
somebody puts a decorative letter on the column? Do you really treat
it like a sign?
MR. MOSS: No, I'm with you on that. I think it's just a
decorative embellishment. I don't think it's really a sign, even though
the LDC considers it one.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Yes. If you remove those
decorative elements, would that pile revert to an accessory structure?
MR. MOSS: No.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Why not? It's about as large as a
shed you could have as an accessory structure physically. Just because
it's not hollow doesn't mean it's not a structure.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: It's a wall.
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, Ray Bellows. It's a structure
but it's not a -- wouldn't be classified as a sign. More of a wall type of
structure. And it still would be allowed. A colonnade would also be
allowed.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Does it stay within the setback,
the front yard setback --
MR. BELLOWS: A wall can go within the setback.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It would be an architectural feature--
MR. BELLOWS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- more than it would be a building.
MR. BELLOWS: Correct.
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November 6, 2008
MR. MOSS: And for the record, I've never received any
objections or heard of any complaints about those columns from the
community.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions?
Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yeah, I was going to ask you
that, if there's been no objections from the community.
MR. MOSS: No.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I'm not a big fan of signs, but
the restaurant I think may need a sign and possibly in that area.
There's been numerous restaurants went out of business within a few
miles of that. And major restaurants: Ruby Tuesday's, Silver Spoons,
Kona Grill, Macaroni Grill.
And having another restaurant close I don't think helps anybody.
Restaurants provide jobs. They in addition pay taxes, they pay the
intangible tax, and I don't think a small sign in this area is going to
hurt anybody.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, anybody else?
Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yes, I'd like to echo what Mr.
Vigliotti said. I think the Strip House sign is tasteful and I think they
need it to promote their business.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ms. Caron and Mr. Wolfley.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, I think it's very easy for the
Naples Grande to put the Strip House signage on their own sign. They
can lease it to them if they don't want to give them the space. But that
sign has plenty of room to move and accommodate the Strip House
Restaurant signage there.
So I think there are things that can be done that would be
perfectly fine with the community and with the variance process.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any other questions before we go
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November 6, 2008
to public speakers?
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yeah, I just want to also go
along, I think the sign is fine just where it is. If anything, I would
move it closer to -- further away from the hotel to differentiate it. But I
think it's fine the way it is.
Possibly it's the red, but the red is part of the logo. If it were
green, it'd blend in. But I think it's appropriate and just fine the way it
IS.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other comments before we go to
public speakers?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ray, do we have any public
speakers?
MR. BELLOWS: No one has registered.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is anybody here from the neighborhood
that would want to speak and didn't know they had to register?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Then I'll make a motion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, let's close the public hearing. I'm
sorry, I thought you had another contribution.
COMMISSIONER CARON: No, no, that's fine.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that we'll close the public
hearing and we'll entertain a motion.
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes. I move that Petition
SV-2008-AR-13374, Naples Grande Beach Resort, be approved as per
staff recommendation.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion made by Commissioner Caron,
seconded by Commissioner Murray for approval with stipulatingp
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November 6, 2008
staffs recommendations.
Discussion of the motion? We'll start with Mr. Kolflat and work
our way across.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I've listened to all the
comments. The problem I still have is that the LDC lists eight general
guidelines and evaluative criteria to be followed by the CCPC and the
BCC when considering a variance. I think this is a required charge on
our part. It's not something discretionary that we can ignore it.
In reviewing this petition relative to these guidelines, there are
no special conditions peculiar to the land of structure characteristics.
Staff report and site inspection concur that the existing permitted
sign is visible from the roadway and of sufficient size to advertise both
the hotel and on-site steakhouse.
Two: There are no special circumstances such as preexisting
conditions relative to the property. Removal of an existing illegality is
not justification for a variance.
Three: A literal interpretation of the LDC will not work an
unnecessary or undo hardship on the applicant. As the staff report
states, the applicant retains its existing principal sign in its present
location and can include text advertising on the site steakhouse.
Applicant contends there is still a hardship and that the sign
would have to be replaced in order to add the restaurant name.
And I would like -- Ray, could you please pick up this paper I'd
like to put on the overhead?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: J.D., you could have made it up here
quicker. It's coming. A slow train.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: The bucket brigade.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I should have picked a younger
man.
And can you slide that up so the yellow highlighted part would
be readable, please?
Can you identify that, Ray, for the people watching it?
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November 6, 2008
MR. BELLOWS: There's no highlighted--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That one didn't have highlighting on it
as we passed it along, Mr. Kolflat.
COMMISSIONER CARON: J.D., would you come up and get
the yellow highlighted one and save us?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Give me that other one back,
please, too.
What I'd like you to refer to is the yellow highlighted part which
pertains to the determination of a hardship.
Relative to a variance, a legal hardship exists only in those cases
where the property is virtually unusable or incapable of yielding a
reasonable return. Replacement of this sign does not meet this
standard of hardship.
And for your information, that memorandum is to the Board of
County Commissioners dated January 23rd, 2006, and is authored by
Jeff Klatzkow as an interpretation of what constitutes a legal hardship.
This in no way can I see as construed as a legal hardship
whatsoever.
Furthermore, the variance will not be in the minimum allowing a
reasonable use of land, building or structure since the permitted sign is
13 percent larger than the existing actual sign. In other words, there's
-- room on that permitted sign that he has is to enlarge the sign, if you
would like, and also add more text to it.
Granting the variance will definitely confer on the applicant a
special privilege denied to others in the area. Granting the variance
will not be in harmony with the intent and purpose of the LDC, which
is to prevent the proliferation of signage.
Continuing: There are no natural or physically induced
conditions that ameliorate the goals and objectives of the regulation,
such as natural preserves, lakes, golf courses, et cetera.
Lastly: In granting a variance, the four signs concentrated in a
small area would create the impression of a commercialized area in
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November 6, 2008
the center of residential districts to the south, north and east and be
inconsistent with the Growth Management Plan.
The CCPC is charged to consider these eight guidelines and
evaluative criteria, and I think we should follow these as is our
direction.
Based on the preceding analysis, I believe we have no other
choice than to deny this variance. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: What about me?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh, I didn't know you wanted to
comment.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I thought you were going to run
down the line.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Only to those that raised their hand, but
go ahead, Brad. I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Anyway, first of all, I don't
really think there's four signs here. There's two signs here. One is the
main, the Naples Grande sign, the other one is the Strip House that's
floating around.
I'm going to be voting against the motion, because I believe we
could find a location for that beyond the columns inside the property.
And if the motion fails, I'll be making a motion to that effect.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I'll also be voting against the
motion for the reasons that I stated.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, I believe that for the
purposes of making this determination, Mr. Kolflat, that we are
adhering to the guidelines that we are supposed to be adhering to.
The main sign is not an issue. We're not approving the outside
sign, the separate freestanding restaurant sign. And I think that the
columns with the letter "N" on them, which have been there forever
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November 6, 2008
and a day, I consider them merely architectural features and not
signage. So I believe that what staff is supporting is the way to go.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Would the motion maker want
to add the fact that if the hotel does change the sign, they can change
the "N"s and the "W"'s or "Q"'s or whatever may be down the road,
rather than come through this process again?
COMMISSIONER CARON: I think it's unnecessary right now
to do that. I don't think the Naples Grande is going away, and if and
when that's necessary, then whoever can--
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Then they've got to come in for
another variance?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, but it will be somebody else
and they'll have to deal with whatever the issues are. It's -- you know.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Again, I have to repeat, I'm not
a big fan of signs, but a small sign is a little price to pay for another
empty restaurant. We have a lot of empty restaurants and it doesn't
look good. We're a tourist town. When tourists come down and see all
these empty restaurants, it doesn't help anybody.
Unemployment, people lose jobs, we lose taxes. I think it should
go through just as is.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I had been hoping that the
representative of the Grande would have offered to include the sign on
the sign that's within the -- denoting the Grande.
Not doing that, I joined in the motion to accept what those three
signs -- or I agree that monuments, the obelisks, are -- they're just
monograms. The true sign is in the back.
We're complying with the LDC by hearing this and evaluating it.
And irrespective of the fact that we're losing businesses, that's
happening throughout the country. No one likes to see that. But we do
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November 6, 2008
have some rules about how we want our community to look, and in
my view I think a restaurant that serves the Grande should be clearly
more contained within its property. And I've said it three times.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I just have a question. Should
the vote all be in favor of Ms. Caron's initiative and I vote against it
and it passes, will that mean that it looks like I didn't want any signs
there at all? I would only be voting for what the hotel wants, in other
words, both signs, the monograms aside, the two signs, inside and
outside the columns.
I'm in agreement, I just think the signs ought to stay the way
they are. If I vote against it, will it -- when it goes to the
commissioners, are they going to know that I wanted all signs or think
that I didn't want any?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: First of all, the motion was to support
staff's recommendations.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Exactly, which is --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So you need to know that's what the
motion's for.
The record speaks for itself. If you have objections and you state
them on record, that's fine.
Mr. Bellows, you had a comment?
MR. BELLOWS: Yeah. I just wanted to add that we would note
in the executive summary to the board your concern. And if you just
were in favor of the other signage but not the Strip House or the other
way around, we would reflect that.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Yeah, I'm in favor of the motion
as it is, but I don't know if it could be amended or -- I don't know,
maybe Brad said he was going to make another motion after that that
the Strip House sign be included on the Naples Grande sign?
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November 6, 2008
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think that can be done without a
vanance.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: If they can, they can, or if they
don't, they don't?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It can be done without a variance. So
there's no need -- I mean, if that's the motion, it's still moot, because
they could combine the signs and do that anyway. I think that's part of
what Ms. Caron's argument was.
But I mean, Ray or somebody, is that a true statement or not?
MR. MOSS: Yes, it is, they could put that information on the
existing Naples Grande Beach Hotel sign.
And in fact, that sign can even be enlarged a little bit to include
the text.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley, wait till Ms. Homiak gets
done.
MR. MOSS: And that could be done according to the LDC with
no variance required.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: All right, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Now, Mr. Vigliotti, then Mr. Wolfley,
then Mr. Schiffer.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: If the petitioner would suggest
that he would take the Strip House sign and put it next to the Naples
Grande --
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I don't think it would look
good.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: You don't suggest that?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I don't think it would look
good.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Because I know, Brad, you had
suggested that?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti, any changes to the
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November 6, 2008
number of signs or the size of the signs would have to come back
through the process. So you may want to suggest that today, but we
wouldn't know the outcome of that till it went back to staff to analyze
it as to what variances may be needed. The distances would change
because you now have two signs instead of one.
I'm not saying it's wrong or right, I'm just saying we can't
reengineer it here at this meeting today, so --
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I thought that's where Brad
was gomg.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: He might. But we're not discussing
Brad's motion right now, we're still discussing Ms. Caron's.
And Mr. Wolfley, I think you were next, then Brad, then Ms.
Caron.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yes, sir. I was just going to say,
John-David, is there any restrictions to -- I mean, in other words, they
can take the Strip House Restaurant or just the Strip House and put it
underneath their Naples Grande sign?
MR. MOSS: It has to be on the face of that sign.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: On the face of it, but it could be
red, it could be --
MR. MOSS: Right, right.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: -- exactly like the--
MR. MOSS: There's no problem with the way it's contained in
the exhibit.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. And that would be his
fallback position ifhe had to take the sign that's outside the pillars, he
could do that?
MR. MOSS: He could mount it on the face of that sign, uh-uh.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And John, stay there.
My point is be careful what you wish for. He could make that
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November 6, 2008
sign bigger, too, correct? He may not be -- it's a huge property. So I
mean, what you may wind up with here is between these beautiful
monogrammed signs you have a billboard right in the center there.
So I'm still a fan of the separate sign walking around near it, but
enough on that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I think that -- you know, that
extreme is sort of a red herring, because they are obviously not going
to do anything to affect their main business in a detrimental way.
They have the right to increase the size of the Naples Grande
signage without a variance. They have the right to put the Strip House
on the Naples Grande signage as it exists right now today and/or on an
extended sign.
So the Strip House has -- and the Naples Grande all have
options, and so I would hope I would get support for the
neighborhood.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And I have just a comment. And Ray, I
may need your reading on this, or J.D.'s.
So I understand the motion, staffs recommendation is to approve
variance one, two and three, which involve signs A, Band C, and to
modify variance seven from four to three; is that correct?
MR. MOSS: (Nods head affirmatively.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Could you say yes for the record so we
know --
MR. MOSS: I'm sorry. Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you.
With that in mind, I will support the motion. I don't -- and the
reasons I will support it is in reference to what I don't see qualifies
sign D. I see no need for sign D, no special conditions, no hardship, no
unreasonable uses left if it's denied, it would confer a special privilege,
there are no natural conditions that dictate the need for it, and it is
inconsistent with the intent and purpose of the LDC.
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November 6, 2008
Now we've all been heard, we've all voiced our opinions. I'm
going to ask for a motion -- we have a motion and it's been seconded.
Mr. Kolflat, do you have something else?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Could you restate the motion,
please.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron made a motion to support
staffs recommendations.
COMMISSIONER CARON: To support staffs
recommendations.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And I'm going to ask by signifying aye
and raising your hand.
All those in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye and
raising your hand.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: This is for or opposed?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: This is --
COMMISSIONER CARON: This is for the motion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- for the motion to support staffs
recommendation.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: One, two, three, four, five.
All those opposed?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: One, two, three, four.
Motion carries 5-4.
Page 49
November 6, 2008
Sir, you got three and a half. So good luck with the BCC.
MR. HANSEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
We have about 20 minutes before a break. It would be a good
time to finish up the consent agenda item.
Mr. Hancock, are you here?
MR. SCHMITT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: There he is.
MR. SCHMITT: Just for clarification, I don't know if Mr.
Kolflat was confused. For the record, the staff recommendation was
for the signs except for the Strip House sign. That was a
recommendation of denial.
And I thought that's what you had --
MR. BELLOWS: It was the other way around. It was approval
of the signs but not the steakhouse.
MR. SCHMITT: Right. It was approval of all the signs,
excluding the steakhouse sign, which was a denial. And I thought
that's what he put on the record. But then he voted against it. So I just
want to make sure and clarify that that was your extent.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat, the motion was to approve
the big sign that says Naples Grande, the one that was in the center of
your position, and the two on the side and that's all.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I was against the motion.
MR. MOSS: He was against the column signs. Is that correct,
Commissioner?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Yes. I'm against it because it's
not in accordance with the guidelines that the County Commission has
given us to follow in coming up with eight criteria --
MR. SCHMITT: I understand.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: -- to support at this time.
No one has defined to me what a true hardship is that violates
what was told me by Jeff Klatzkow in that memorandum that this is
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November 6, 2008
not a true hardship.
MR. SCHMITT: Okay. Just for clarification. Thank you.
Item #8B
PETITION: CU-2007-AR-12619, KO.V.A.C ENTERPRISES-
CONTINUED
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Hancock and J.D., have you guys come back with some
language for the consent agenda item involving the KO.V.A.C.
Enterprises?
MR. HANCOCK: While J.D. switches from one to the other
quickly --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Now, before we go too far, we normally
don't swear in since this is data that's going to go on record. Would
you mind swearing both of them in for this matter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
MR. HANCOCK: Mr. Chairman, I've put some language
together and worked with John-David while he was handling the item
before you previously. And I think we've come to something that
contains the spirit and intent of what this body directed us the last
time.
Through the assistance of the BCC administrative staff what
we've done is kind of retyped items seven and eight on the conditions
page. Item seven to read: To screen views of the piles and to help
prevent dust from traveling offsite, a Type B buffer shall be provided
along the site's southern and southwestern boundaries at the interface
of abutting uses.
Where this buffer overlaps, the .37-acre preserve type B
minimum plantings shall be maintained at all times within the buffer
area.
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November 6, 2008
The balance of the creative preserve shall consist of approved
native mid-story and canopy species to achieve the desired buffering
for properties to the south.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
MR. HANCOCK: Item eight, the only change to item eight was
to change 250 to 150 as the third word of the first line as it reads
before you today. And I do have a copy for you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Did you get the measurement
of that, in quotes, throat?
MR. HANCOCK: Yes, sir, it is 150 feet.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: That's what I thought. No
problem.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And the property line
dimension is?
MR. HANCOCK: That's the 150 feet.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, thank you.
MR. HANCOCK: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, so I think the revised language is
more in line with what we had recommended. And certainly the 150
now IS.
SO does anybody have any problems with this item with the
recommended language that's on the screen in front of us?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Nope.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, it's a consent item. All those in
favor of the motion? I know two people are going to be abstaining. All
those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
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November 6,2008
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries, what is that eight to --
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Seven.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Seven.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Seven to nothing. Two abstaining, Mr.
Murray and Mr. Midney abstained.
And I have the copy of this for you when we get going.
Okay, with that, we normally take a break around 10:00. We'll
take it now since it's a good time in between, and we'll come back and
resume with the second item on our agenda which is the boat lift, Peter
D. Donahue boat lift. So we'll take a break until five minutes after
10:00.
(Recess. )
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, welcome back from break,
everyone.
Next item up on today's agenda is Petition BD-2008AR-13305,
Peter D. Donahue, requesting the addition of a boat slip to slip number
one in an existing 24-slip (sic) dock.
All those wishing to participate in this hearing, please rise and be
sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Disclosures on the part of the planning
commission?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: I went and visited the site and I
also discussed the matter with Mr. Donohue, who is the owner of the
property .
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, anybody else?
(No response.)
Page 53
November 6, 2008
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that, will the applicant
please proceed with the presentation.
MR. NELSON: Good morning. It's still morning, right? Okay,
good.
Ben Nelson, for the record, Nelson Marine Construction.
We've applied here on this multi-slip facility to -- for an
extension of 10 feet in order to put a boat lift in an existing slip. And
I'm going to switch gears on you here.
This is a representation. You can see to the far -- right over
towards -- this is going well. Right over towards this end right here is
where the boat lift, proposed boat lift is right here on that end of the
facility.
All these finger piers that you see there are all around 12 feet
long. They're considerably short.
There's a restriction there that the boats can't be any longer than
22 feet long, the hull of the boat, in this area here.
And stick with me here. I'll need your help again there.
This is the drawing, kind of a closeup of the drawing. It shows
the positioning of the boat lift right there, the proposed lift. This is the
existing finger pier right here. And you can see there that what we're
doing it is actually sticking out an extra 10 feet into the water.
At the bottom there, you see that shows the water depths. The
water depth at the bow of the boat, whether it's sitting in the water or
whether it's on the lift, of course, is approximately 1.8. That's how
deep it is at low tide, which is around one foot, nine inches deep.
Towards the stern of the boat it's going to be about
three-and-a-half feet deep. So that's the view there.
I'm now going to put a drawing there that shows how the boat
sits on the lift, would sit on the lift. If I do that right. Whoops, upside
down.
All right. As most of you know that have a boat, the center of
gravity of a boat is not in the middle of the boat, it's about two-thirds
November 6, 2008
towards the back because of the motor. And so when it sits on a boat
lift, that has to be towards the center of the lift. That's the 22-foot boat,
and it shows how it would sit in the slip.
Now, this is how it would sit in the slip regardless ifthere was a
lift or not. If there was no lift there, it's going to float in the water
there. And as you can see, it's going to protrude into the waterway that
distance regardless. Regardless if there's a lift there, regardless if
there's not a lift there, that's how the boat will sit there. The applicant
just wishes to put a boat lift there for the obvious reasons that anybody
would want a boat lift in Florida. There's sufficient room there, there's
sufficient depth for his boat.
And the next one I want to show you is the positioning. I don't
know how good an aerial this is. I'd like to show you how it's
positioned -- yeah, see how that shows up. Yeah, not too bad.
All right, you can see the arrow that says project site. That's
where it is in relationship to the bay. There's Hickory Harbor down
this way is another condominium with some other slips.
The route for the boats to come along is come along towards the
back of these slips along here and then go out towards the bay out this
way.
So this particular site is at the very far end down towards this
way. That's probably almost as far away from there as you could
possibly get.
Just a couple additional things here. In my opinion, I think in
staffs opinion -- staff, I won't speak for you, I'll let you do your own
speaking. But I don't believe there will be any impact on view here, I
don't think there will be any impact on navigation.
The bow's going to be sitting like I said on approximately one
foot, nine inches of water, the stern in about 3.6 inches of water. And
basically with the width of the waterway there, at around 3,150 feet, I
don't think that a 10-foot protrusion is too much to ask for. And I
would answer any questions you'd have.
Page 55
November 6, 2008
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Questions ofthe applicant?
Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Yes, Mr. Nelson.
MR. NELSON: Hello.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I have some questions, but in
the interest of time I've written them out, so I'll read them through so
we can move through them quickly.
Does slip number one area and structure revert to a single-family
lot upon purchase from the condominium? A little interest in the
ownership here. Because originally all of these boat slips were owned
by the condominium. And I understand Mr. Donahue now owns just
slip number one.
MR. NELSON: I'll take your word for it. I think that that's exac
-- I think that's what it is. Mr. Donahue outright owns slip number
one?
Yes.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Does that include also the land
underneath the water, the submerged land?
MR. NELSON: I know that the state does not have any deed or
any rights to these lands. The state doesn't. So I don't know about
owning the land underneath the slip. But it's just kind of a fee simple
thing, I think.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, the width of the land that
now is owned then by Mr. Donahue, is that about twice the width of
the boat?
MR. NELSON: The width?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Width of the land if you --
MR. NELSON: It would just be the individual slip I think is
what it would be.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: So it would be as wide as
between the two piers there, that's --
MR. NELSON: Yeah, halfway between the two piers, yeah.
Page 56
November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: The reason I ask is the criteria
addresses single-family units as well as multi-family unit slips. And
this then I think would fall under the single-family one, because it
would be just one person that owns it.
MR. NELSON: It would probably more likely still fit under the
multi-family. That's the way it was treated through the process, and it's
been treated as a multi-family slip, so -- but I can let staff address that
probably better than 1.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, one thing in looking at
this that concerned me when I went down and inspected it was
whether this petition would set a precedence for installation of similar
lifts in the other 23 similar slips.
In other words, is there any protection on that from the --
MR. NELSON: Well, I can't speak as to setting a precedent. I
think each individual one would have to be treated as its own entity
there.
I want to show you another aerial to give you some idea of what
we're dealing with here. Hold on. I'm going to get seasick here
watching you do that.
Okay, this is kind of interesting. This is a view of the bay right
here. If I make a mistake and point out the wrong site -- can you zoom
in a little closer? Okay, that's good.
There are a considerable number of boat slips with docks. These
two -- this is weird. These are further down the way. And these
particular slips down here all have boatlifts on them. Every one of
them have boatlifts. And these are further down the way.
The subject site -- this is hard to do. The subject site is right
around in this area right here. None of these have boatlifts that I'm
aware of. But there are, you know, a few boats in there. So this would
be the first boatlift in this slip.
But all of these, all of these down this way, as far as I can tell,
have boatlifts. So it's not unusual for that general vicinity for the multi
Page 57
November 6, 2008
slips to have that, just not at this one place.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Well, since all those 24 slips are
so similar, my only concern was the possibility of establishing a
precedence in this petition that would prevail. I recognize they would
have to come before the commission for approval, but still they would
possibly -- with precedence.
MR. NELSON: Okay.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: But let me go on, in could,
another question I had on this.
The application, Page 3 of 8, calls for application to be
accompanied with the site plan to scale showing dimensions and
locations of existing and proposed dock structures.
The plan that you had there before, if you could go back to the
overhead plan of the slip? That's the one.
Does that -- the dimensions that are missing there, and in the
interest of time I've scaled and would like confirmation or correction
for the record of what those dimension are. As I've scaled it, the
existing finger pier widths are three feet wide. Do you concur with
that?
MR. NELSON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: The existing finger pier lengths
are 12 feet, four inches long. Do you concur with that?
MR. NELSON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: The existing finger pier
separations, that is, the distance between the two piers, each pier, is 20
feet, do you concur with that?
MR. NELSON: No, they vary. They vary considerably. They go
anywhere from 20 -- I believe are 20 feet anywhere to 22 feet along
there. We have a survey that kind of shows those distances. So they're
not real symmetrical.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Now, if you could put on that
overhead that shows the cross-section elevation of this slip. There it is,
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November 6, 2008
down in the bottom.
Now, I scaled off that lift height, the top of that lift height is 10
feet above the finger tier (sic). Do you concur with?
MR. NELSON: No. Generally the lift -- the top of the beam is
around six feet to six foot, three inches above the deck. That's the
usual heighth.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So this would be six feet rather
than 10 feet.
MR. NELSON: Approximately six feet.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, according to the scale I
came up with 10 feet, so I appreciate the correction.
Now, on the other overhead that you had, not the aerial but the
other one that shows the waterfront site plan. If you could you put that
up.
MR. NELSON: This one?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Yes, that one.
Now, how many spaces in there between the finger piers do you
come up with?
MR. NELSON: Looks like two, four, six, eight, 10, 12, 14, 16,
18,20,22 in between the finger piers. And then if you count the
outsides of them, it would be 24.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So that's how you come with the
24. One boat is moored on the outside of that last finger pier; is that
correct?
MR. NELSON: Yes, there's opportunity for that.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Even though the catwalk does
not go that far.
MR. NELSON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, the drawing shows there I
think of276 feet.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: 86.
MR. NELSON: Yeah, 286 feet.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: But if each finger pier was three
feet wide and there were 12 slips so to speak for 24 width, that would
be 276 instead of286. Well, it's not an important amount because it's
so much --
MR. NELSON: Yeah, like I said, they're pretty inconsistent, so
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: All right, what is the length of
boat of the LOA?
MR. NELSON: I beg your pardon? LOA?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: What was the LOA of the boat
that you're going to put there.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Length overall.
MR. NELSON: Oh, I'm a marine contractor, I don't know that,
right?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat hates acronyms.
MR. NELSON: Whoops. So much for my 30-year resume there.
I'm going to mark that out there.
The overall length of the boat probably would be, including the
motor, would be about 24 feet. We figure 22-foot boat, which is the
hull, the maximum hull length that you could have in there, with
another two feet of motor sticking out would probably be about 24
feet.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So the LOA would be 24 feet.
And the draft is what?
MR. NELSON: I think the hull depth is going to be about one
foot, six inches, the actual hull depth. And then, you know, with
outboard motor, you know, you bring the motor up or down, probably
the maximum depth for the motor would be three feet, if you put it
down.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: So it could be anywhere from
two and a half feet to three foot?
MR. NELSON: Foot and a half to three feet.
Page 60
November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Now, this 7,000-pound Alamo
hoist that you reference kind of intrigues me, because I've had a lot of
boats in my lifetime, but I've never seen --
MR. NELSON: I'll give you my card before I leave.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Can you describe this Alamo
hoist that you're going to have there?
MR. NELSON: Yeah, it's a standard four-post lift. And what it
is, there's an aluminum cradle with bunks and it's a cable lift,
electrical, so it picks it up. You come in and there are wooden bunks
that support it like a boat trailer. So yeah, it's a pretty standard lift for
the area.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Are there straps underneath or
hard copy?
MR. NELSON: You can do either one. In this case we're
assuming that we're going to be able to do the aluminum cradle. But
there is an option to do the straps there if the water depth is really
shallow. You know, if it becomes a problem, we can just put straps
underneath it.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: And the overall height would be
the same regardless of what it was --
MR. NELSON: Regardless.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Will any maintenance or repair
activities be performed with the vessel in the elevated position?
MR. NELSON: No, it would be virtually impossible for that to
happen, unless it's just minor, you know, inside the boat.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So you plan no maintenance
activity there.
MR. NELSON: I wouldn't think that there would be anything
there.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Will the lift have a canopy top?
MR. NELSON: No.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Could it have a canopy top in
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November 6, 2008
the future?
MR. NELSON: Not without permission of the association. And I
doubt that that would happen. As a matter of fact, I could pretty much
guarantee that that wouldn't happen.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: I have just a few more, in can
get my papers in order.
You submitted with your petition an agreement with the
Department of Environmental Protection. Do you recall that?
MR. NELSON: Yeah, sure.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Could you turn to that? Because
I will have some questions on that.
MR. NELSON: While I'm looking for it, go ahead -- oh, I found
it, look at that. That was an accident. Go ahead.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: It has a big seal on the center,
the State of Florida.
MR. NELSON: Yep. Yes, sir, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Okay, under one there under
that agreement, it states that this condominium association in putting
the slips in will have construction of 16 boat slips. Now, that differs
from the 24 that you're putting in.
MR. NELSON: Okay, yeah, you're looking -- we've got several
DEP agreements. The DEP exemption that we have is a different
document. You're looking at the one that is for the docks itself, the
older agreement?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I'm looking at the one you put
with your packet that I received.
MR. NELSON: I think both of them were put with the packet?
Yeah, I think both of them were put there.
There are actually two DEP agreements. The one is for the
original permits for the dock. And then the other one, we actually
went and got an exemption from the DEP for the individual lift. That
one's included in the packet as well.
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November 6, 2008
But go ahead and ask me the question.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: There was a discrepancy
between the 16 and the 24 boat slips that concerned me. I mean,
you've got two documents. One here, your petition says 24 boat slips
and the State Department document says 16 boat slips. My concern
being has the Department of Environmental Protection reviewed the
24-slip one? That's on item one on the first page of that --
MR. NELSON: Okay. Yeah, I can't account for that, because the
drawing that accompanies that does correctly indicate the 24 slips, so
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: I have a copy here, if you'd like
to --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sir, I'm sorry, we can't have comment
from the audience, unless you want to come up and use the speaker.
You're more than welcome to.
MR. NELSON: Yeah, anyway--
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, I have trouble with the
lack of consistency between the documents that say the number of
slips we're talking about.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, well, why don't we go on--
MR. NELSON: I think staff can probably help you with that
question, if you want to go ahead and finish with me and then --
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, let's continue with the
same document.
Go to Page 2, down item 14 on the bottom of that. Do you have
that?
MR. NELSON: Well, what's your question? Because I'm having
a hard time finding any of this anyway. So go ahead and ask me.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Well, I can let you use mine, if
you want.
MR. NELSON: No, that's okay. Ask -- what would you like to
know.
Page 63
November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, it says only boats drawing
1.5 feet or less shall be allowed to moor at the docking facility.
MR. NELSON: Yeah, I think this was a 1988 document. It
wasn't unusual for them at that particular time to put restrictions on the
hull depths.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: But does this document still
apply?
MR. NELSON: I don't believe it does. And when I talked to
people at the DEP -- I don't believe it does at this particular time,
because the state lands doesn't really have jurisdiction over this
particular body of water right now.
But regardless, I think the hull depth, the actual hull depth on
this boat is consistent with that.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Well, the hull depth that you
testified to is three feet --
MR. NELSON: 1.5 feet.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: And it says it must be less than
MR. NELSON: Foot and a half.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: -- one and a half to be used--
MR. NELSON: The hull depth is a foot and a half.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat, could you pull your speaker
closer to you? I didn't know you're -- how long you're going to take,
but we need to be able to hear more of what you're saying.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Okay.
Well, here again I'm concerned because one document says one
thing and another document says a different time and there's nothing
that says that the Department of Environmental Protection document
no longer exists.
MR. NELSON: I do think it's consistent with that, though, I
believe. And if this applicant's not consistent with it, then there's a
whole lot of people in trouble down there, so --
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: That's all the questions I have,
Mark.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer, then Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: One question I have, and you
can -- you have a drawing that shows the property line. The work
you're going to be doing is over the property line for the condo. Is that
a concern or is that --
MR. NELSON: No. And, you know, there is an inconsistency.
Mark Allen's survey shows that property line out in the water, but I
believe it's Trigo drawing shows that it's not.
Here we go. You never can have enough paperwork here.
See, that was the original survey used for the deed permit. And
as you can see, it shows that it's not going to be when we scaled that
off there. So there is a little discrepancy in that positioning, so -- but
regardless, regardless of where that property line is, because state
lands has no jurisdiction over it, it doesn't matter.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So you could build in--
MR. NELSON: Sure.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- over the line?
MR. NELSON: Absolutely. And it's not at all uncommon for
that to happen.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Second question is, are you
going to extend the dock itself, the wood walking surface?
MR. NELSON: No.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And then can you put up that
one picture you have where that boat's sitting on the lift.
And in your request, you're measuring to the center line of the
lift itself, the support for the lift. Should you be actually asking for a
little more area? Because I think -- and maybe John-David can answer
this, but I think it's the actual boat length itself that we have to
establish here today.
MR. NELSON: I don't understand your question. Rephrase that,
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November 6, 2008
if you would.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, in other words, the
dimension you're requesting takes you to the center line of the lift pile.
MR. NELSON: Oh, I got you. I got you.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And you're actually going to go
sticking out a little bit more. And just, in other words, should we be
adding a little bit more on there?
MR. NELSON: I don't know. That's a good question. The
request was to -- for the request to be to the end of the piling there.
But if the boat's sticking out over the end of that, so --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And all of your dimension are
to the center of that pile so --
MR. NELSON: Yeah, center pile. So --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- we might want to tweak--
MR. NELSON: -- I think that -- yeah. I think that it's a good
point. And when we do these, we actually go to the outside of the
piling. So actually it wouldn't be done as drawn there. We always try
to err on the side of safety and come back this way a few inches,
because there's nothing worse than being turned down and have to
redo it because it was four inches over the line there, so --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And I'll wait for Ashley,
because I think we might want to measure to the boat itself. Thank
you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Mr. Nelson, Commissioner
Kolflat had a series of questions, and one of them that piqued my
interest, and you made a response when he asked you if there'll ever
be a canopy and you said well, I don't think so, it pretty well precludes
that because of the condo.
MR. NELSON: Right.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: However, you also indicated that
Mr. Donahue bought the property in fee. Does he not have heir rights?
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November 6, 2008
I would assume that he does.
And my point here is this, and maybe it's answerable, and
perhaps not. But in terms of the condominium, I can't imagine that the
condominium association has any document that presumed that such
an event would occur. And so I do not know. Ifhe's the owner of that,
solitary owner of that particular one, I don't know that you can make
that statement.
And it's important to us, and I'm not merely being picky.
Because there have been requests for covers, and those requests I
believe this body agreed that those types of things can be put on there.
So you are basically saying that it can never happen. I think you
need to go on the record to be absolutely certain that you know that as
a fact.
MR. NELSON: Well, I mean, what I'm basing that on is before
-- it's been my experience that in these situation, regardless if someone
owns the slip or whether they just have first right to use it or whatever,
you still -- we still had to get permission from that condominium to
put the lift in. Because it's the -- he doesn't own the dock. He just owns
the rights to the slip is what you own.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So he doesn't own it in fee then.
MR. NELSON: He doesn't own the land or anything like that.
He owns the slip.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay, well, then that's the
mistake --
MR. NELSON: As I understand it.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay, then, it's a different story
entirely.
MR. NELSON: Thank you for the question.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I'm just curious, why does this
slip need a lift and the other 23 in this section don't?
MR. NELSON: I think it just boils down to the other people
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November 6, 2008
haven't asked for one.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: They're not intending to get a
longer boat or a bigger boat than the other ones?
MR. NELSON: No, you know, I think it just varies in there.
You'll see different size boats along in there. To be quite frank with
you, most people don't go through this process, they just go ahead and
let their boats sit in the water rather than go through the process. And
my client here just wants to be able to pick his boat up.
These docks have been here for quite a long time, I guess since
1988 or whatever, and it's just -- it's more of a trend to start adding
these boatlifts. And unfortunately for this board, you probably see
more of these throughout the county because of that.
Most people, including the DEP -- the DEP would rather see you
have the boat sitting out of the water than have it sitting in the water.
Just environmentally it's the best thing to do.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: There's no restriction on boat
length or boat draft here?
MR. NELSON: There's a restriction on boat length, the 22-foot
hull length here.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Thank you.
MR. NELSON: And like I said, there is the foot and a half hull
depth restriction in that '88 DEP permit.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions of the applicant?
Mr. Kolflat, and Ms. Caron next.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Could you put that overhead
again showing the entire frontage of dockage with the catwalk on it?
MR. NELSON: That one?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: No, the other one.
That's the one. Yeah, that's correct.
Now, as I understand it from being -- visiting and talking with
Mr. Donahue that the channel from the boats down to the east of this
would traverse along the front of this. And which number slip would
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November 6, 2008
they make the left-hand turn to go out of the bay? Can you identify
that by how many from his slip there would be to make a left-hand
turn ?
MR. NELSON: Well, being on open waterway and depending
on the tide, there's all kinds of different ways to get across that bay.
But, you know, a lot of people would probably argue that they will
hug the fronts of those docks almost down towards the end and then
cut across wherever they can.
I want to put a picture on here, it's not a very good one, that
shows a boat coming in. And I'm not going to tell you that this is
typical, because there probably may be no typical way to really come
in and out of here, but let me put it up here. Or let me let him put it up
there, since I don't know what I'm doing.
Now, the slip in question is right over here. Right about there.
That's where the slip is. And you can see that the bank is all the way
over towards this site over here.
So people will actually come along here probably and then turn
at some point. And you know what? The fact of the matter is -- I'd like
to point out again that whether there's a lift there or whether there's
just a boat there, it really -- the boat sticks out further than the lift
would. So they're going to have to drive past the boat, even if it's
sitting in the water or if it's sitting on the lift. In my mind, regardless.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: But my understanding with Mr.
Donahue when I visited with him down there was that people coming
from the left side, which is the east, would go along the front there but
they would make a left-hand turn to get out of the way long before
they reached his slip number one. It might be slip number five, slip
number six, slip number eight.
And my question was: Can you identify for me which number
slip it is they would be making the left-hand turn?
MR. NELSON: No, I can't. Because you know what? People are
-- some people are going to insist on going all the way down past the
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November 6, 2008
end and some people are going to probably turn earlier than that. And
people here in the audience will probably tell you where they're likely
to turn at.
But I would argue that it's probably not relevant, mainly because
if there's going to be a 22- foot boat there sitting in the slip, and there is
going to be one sitting there, they're going to have to drive past it one
way or the other. It's -- it just is.
Whether there's a lift -- if you don't approve the lift today, the
boat's going to sit in the water and they're going to have to drive past
the boat. If you approve the lift today, they're going to have to drive
past it.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: The point I'm trying to make in
defense of your client, Mr. Donahue, is that boat traffic coming from
the left will make a left-hand turn long before it gets near his slip or
boat. So the property of interfering with any kind of a channel,
whether it's chartered or not chartered or just using a general nature is
very remote and not possible.
MR. NELSON: Yes. And I think that this boat here probably
represents Mr. Donahue's opinion of where that they -- the traffic
usually goes.
And if you -- it's probably -- the direction that the boat's coming
in at, they're probably going to be ending up intersecting where the
boats are that you see sitting in the slips, it's probably going to come in
probably at that fourth or fifth slip there.
So it's probably consistent with the conversation that you had
with Mr. Donahue.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Right. Thank you.
MR. NELSON: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions before we go to
staff report?
Ms. Caron. Sorry.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, looking at that picture right
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there, none of the boats in those slips come out beyond the end of their
slip other than the motors themselves kind of hang, it looks like.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: They do.
MR. NELSON: I've got another picture. An actual picture here.
It's kind of hard to tell from that angle, to tell you the truth. But I can
guarantee you, they're not 12 feet long. Typical boat there is going to
be -- very seldom are you going to see a boat shorter than 18 feet long
anymore. I mean, it's possible. But usually they'll be 18 to 22 feet
long. So here's a picture -- my lovely assistant. Thank you very much.
MR. BELLOWS: Vanna.
MR. NELSON: You don't pay him for this, do you?
COMMISSIONER CARON: That is a much better picture.
MR. NELSON: Now -- and you can see the end of the dock
there and you can see some of the other vessels down the way sticking
out, pontoon boats, other boats sticking out past there. So it's just
typically that's what you'll see there.
I'm not going to tell you it's the best dock design in the world.
It's obviously not. I can't tell you why they were made to that length
there, but obviously they weren't anticipating 12-foot long boats. I
mean, I don't think that that was -- because they put the restriction at
22 feet long. But there you have it, so --
COMMISSIONER CARON: I did want to just clarify one thing
that you said, that the draw on Mr. Donahue's boat would be anywhere
from 1.5 to three.
MR. NELSON: Approximately, yes.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Okay. I think Mr. Kolflat is right,
you are under a DEP agreement that says specifically that only boats
drawing 1.5 or less, not or more, not or three, shall be allowed to moor
at the docking facility for the life of the facility. So Mr. Donahue
should just be aware of that. That's the agreement he's under right
now.
MR. NELSON: Right. And that isn't the only restriction on
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November 6, 2008
there, too. There are signage and all kinds of things that--
COMMISSIONER CARON: Absolutely.
MR. NELSON: -- the condominium is responsible for doing
there.
COMMISSIONER CARON: It goes on for 17 or 18 items.
MR. NELSON: Yeah, there's a lot.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I just want to make sure he's aware
and that his boat is complying.
MR. NELSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else before we go to staff
report?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ashley?
MR. NELSON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
MR. NELSON: Let me clean up my mess here.
MS. CASERTA: Good morning. For the record, Ashley Caserta,
Department of Zoning and Land Development Review.
This is an existing multi-slip facility, and there's no additional
decking being proposed.
They're proposing to protrude an additional 10 feet. And I just
want to put on the record that the protrusion is only for slip number
one, and any additional lifts that would be proposed to go out into the
water further than what is existing would be required to come back for
another dock extension.
Commissioner Schiffer, your point that the vessel protrudes into
the water past the lift would be applicable. The dock facility does
include the vessel. And the protrusion requested should include the
vessel. That was not shown within the application. That's the first time
that's been shown.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Mr. Chair?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, Mr. Murray had his hand up first.
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November 6, 2008
But if you want to respond to her direct inquiry of your comment, go
right ahead.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So Ashley, essentially the
dimensions shown should be greater? Because it does have to include
the actual boat itself, correct?
MS. CASERTA: Yes. Within the application, the protrusion was
shown to the edge of the lift. And there was no vessel shown sticking
out past the lift.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I think actually it's shown to the
center line of the support for the lift, the pile.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Pull the mic. closer to you, Brad.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah, it was shown to the
center line of the support for the pile.
So, I mean, are we allowed to lengthen that at this hearing or
does that affect the advertising, or what's the --
MS. CASERTA: I'll have to check into the advertising. County
Attorney, I'm not sure if you know that, or--
MR. KLATZKOW: We didn't have any issue with the
advertising. We did look into it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, she's suggesting if it has to go to
13 feet in lieu of 10 feet, is that going to change the ad.
MR. KLATZKOW: No, this -- okay.
MS. CASERTA: That could be revised within the resolution and
would come back.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: All right, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yes, hi, Ashley.
Reference Page 8, please.
MS. CASERTA: Of the application?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Of your staff report. Staff
recommendations page.
MS. CASERTA: Yes.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Just a couple of questions on
there. I noted on here items one through four. Are they not already
there? Is that not already in place, those requirements? Reflectors,
dock numbers, manatee protection signs.
MS. CASERTA: Well, two through four would be number one
we added, which reads the extension is granted exclusively for slip
number one, and wouldn't apply to the rest of the slips.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, that I can appreciate. But
my question there would be the question of ownership. I think it's
more exclusive right, but that's all right.
But regarding corresponding permits, reflectors, dock numbers,
manatee protection signs, I recognize you just put them in there to be
sure, but are they not there already?
MS. CASERTA: They should be. I didn't check for them--
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: You didn't visit the location?
MS. CASERTA: But yes, it's an existing facility, and those
requirements would be in place.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay, under number five, we're
speaking about all prohibited exotic species, as such term may now or
hereinafter be established in the LDC, shall be removed from the
subject property.
If he has exclusive use of a slip, what exotic species do you
expect him to have that he'd have to deal with? Because this one
relates directly -- to you said exclusive use. I know it's been asserted
ownership, but let's say exclusive use. What exotic species would he
be dealing with? Especially hereinafter.
You're effectively requiring of this individual or subsequent
exclusive right to use person, in perpetuity you're saying that they
have to effectively comply with a certificate of completion? What all
are we doing there?
MS. CASERTA: That is a standard environmental stipulation.
COMMISSIONER MURRA Y: I know.
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November 6, 2008
MS. CASERTA: And that would be -- I guess it's subject to the
entire property.
Susan Mason may be able to answer that a little more clearly.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I think it needs to be
answered or it needs to be removed, quite frankly. I don't think it
belongs there.
And then also under number seven we talk again about
prohibited exotic vegetation shall be removed from the site.
I recognize that it's a matter of some convenience to take things
from -- and put them in. But I think in this case we probably shouldn't
do that. Susan?
MS. MASON: Good morning, again, for the record.
Removal of exotics is required for any type of development in
the county, and maintenance in perpetuity is also a requirement.
On a site like this where it's largely water, if it ever silted in
there might be some exotics that would be removed. But I would
believe mostly the maintenance of the site. The property owner isn't
going to want any vegetation growing where his boat slip is. He's
going to keep it maintained and cleared so a boat could come in there.
It is a requirement of the LDC whether or not the condition was
put in there that exotics would have to be removed.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I guess I must just have woken
up, because honestly, I don't remember this being in any of the boat
dock set of recommendations.
MS. MASON: It's a standard part of our checklist. And I don't
know if it always has been put in staff reports or not, but it is a
requirement.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I don't know. In this case
this gentleman is attempting to put in a lift. He already has a right to
use the water, and the posts between or whatever. I don't get the exotic
species part of it.
But what I'm concerned about is the hereinafter portion of it that
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November 6, 2008
-- subject property shall be removed and prior to issuance of required
certificate of completion.
MS. MASON: Whenever the building department does
inspections on anything, part of their review, and I believe sometimes
it's maybe even some staff from the engineering department, when
they go out and do the reviews, they make sure -- excuse me,
inspections -- that exotics are removed prior to C.O. or whatever kind
of certificate of completion is --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: In the water.
MS. MASON: Wherever it's done. I don't -- I don't know of any
time there would be exotic vegetation in a boat slip area. I doubt that
. ,
It s --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Why don't we just short-circuit this and
drop -- and strike staff recommendations five and seven.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That's what I'm trying to get to.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I know, and I think you're right. And
this is kind of silly, because the property in question is boat slip
number one, which is under water.
So Mr. Murray, you're 100 percent right, it's something that if
we've missed it before I hope we don't miss it again. So thank you for
pointing it out.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: You just did it.
MS. CASERTA: I believe that was requested by environmental
staff to be added --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. It's impractical and it doesn't
surprIse me.
MS. ASHTON: -- for this petition.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any other questions of staff?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: With that, is there any public speakers,
Ray.
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November 6,2008
MR. BELLOWS: No registered speakers.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody in the audience wish to speak?
Sir, you have to come up and identify yourself for the record.
MR. DONAHUE: I'm the applicant, Peter Donahue.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Were you sworn in at the time we--
MR. DONAHUE: Yes, I was.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you.
MR. DONAHUE: I have a few handouts that may be helpful,
just kind of give you an overall picture of -- some of these have
already been put on the overhead.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Did your wife vote?
MR. DONAHUE: Yes, we voted.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Those are all pictures that have been on
the overhead, yes, sir.
MR. DONAHUE: Correct, they have been.
I guess to answer Mr. Kolflat's question about setting a
precedent, I am the only one in this situation where I own a slip.
The developer, when they originally built this condominium, set
aside -- he sold two slips to individual unit owners. And I own one
slip. The other slip is to the west of me, at the very end.
So there will be no precedent set, because everything else is a
limited common element. It is for the use -- and same thing at Little
Hickory Bay. Any of the unit owners can use the slip, first come/first
serve basis. And they cannot improve the slip because they don't own
it. It is a limited common element. I am the only one that owns the
slip.
As far as the draft of my boat, it is not 1.5. That's almost a
sailboat. I probably don't draw more than 12 to 18 inches of water.
And with a boat down it may be 1.5.
But I own a 19-foot, six-inch Hurricane deck boat. I'm probably
going to get a 20- foot fishing boat, but it will not have a draft
anywhere close to 1.5.
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November 6, 2008
No canopy. I have no problem whatsoever, if you want to
approve this with the restriction that there'll never be a canopy added.
I know that I own this slip subject to the rules and regulations of the
condominium association. Anything else I would do would have to be
subject to the approval of the condominium board.
The main point I'd just like to point out is whether my boat is in
the air or in the water, it will have the same distance off the dock. And
people do not come all the way down to my end of my dock to go out
into that bay. There is plenty of room to turn way before they get to
my dock.
And again, whether it's in the air or in the water, it protrudes out
the same distance.
And if you have any questions?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
With that, we'll close the public hearing and entertain a motion.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll make it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I move we forward Petition
BD-2008-AR-13305 to the Board of County Commissioners with a--
well, wait a minute, it ends here.
COMMISSIONER CARON: This is it.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: That we approve
BD-2008-AR-13305, with the following revisions to the staff
recommendation.
I think changing the 10 feet to 13 feet. Changing the 54 feet to
57 feet. And I guess removal of four and seven --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Five and seven.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Five and seven.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's the exotic language.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. Yeah, four looks like it
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November 6, 2008
on mme.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Four?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm looking at the actual
resolution.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh.
MS. CASERTA: It's different in the staff report and the
resolution, I just realized. But I noted which ones you were talking
about.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Schiffer, if you go look at the
exact resolution, you're right, it's four and seven. You know what one
we're -- the two exotic ones.
MS. CASERTA: Yes, I noted them. They're five and seven I
believe in the staff report.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And Mr. Schiffer, did you have any
more conditions?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: No, that's it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Murray seconded.
Now discussion.
Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Yes, I'm going to vote for the
motion for the following reasons: Section 5.03.06(E)(1) states that
boat dock facilities shall not protrude more than 20 feet into the
waterway. The facility in this petition extends 54.5 feet into the
waterway. Therefore, primary criteria one is not met since the literal
interpretation of 11.17.94 as the most restrictive applies.
Primary criteria two is met since ample water depth is available
for safe launching and mooring.
Primary criteria three is met since navigable channel turns away
before reaching slip number one.
Primary criteria four is met.
Primary criteria five is met, since facility will not interfere with
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November 6, 2008
the use of neighboring docks.
Secondary criteria one is met, since slip is legal, nonconforming
in use, and lift addition is a modification of existing use.
Secondary criteria two is met since facility allows reasonable
access without the use of excessive deck area.
Secondary criteria three is met since owner of slip number one
also owns upland of slip and boat width is greater than those waters of
no merit or barren.
Secondary criteria four is met, since large growth of mangroves
along waterfront block out the view of the moored boats; the beautiful
stand of mangroves there that block out the view, if anyone has
objection to a boatlift view.
Secondary criteria five and secondary criteria six are both met.
So I'll be voting for the motion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Is there any other comments on
the motion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All those in favor, signify by saying
aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Nelson, thank you, you won one. By the way, was it Nelson
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November 6, 2008
Construction that built those original docks?
MR. NELSON: No, it was not.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I kind of knew you'd say no, but thank
you.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: They're awful good looking,
though.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, that takes us on to our third item.
And it's going to take longer than possibly the time we have before we
break for lunch. And just in case it does, I want to make everybody
aware that we take lunch about 11:45. We tried a few times thinking
we'll be finished with something and finish it before lunch, but it
ended up taking till 1 :00 or 2:00. So we tried to adhere to about 11 :45.
So if we don't finish this by then, we may take a break, if we're not
very close to the end of it.
Item #9D
PETITION: PUDA-2008-AR-13494, KITE KINGS LAKE, LLC
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: With that in mind, the next item up is
PUDA-2008-AR-13494, Kite King's Lake LLC, the King's Lake PUD.
All those wishing to testify on behalf of this item, please rise to
be sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there disclosures on the part
of the planning commission?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes. I had e-mail correspondence
with Mr. Y ovonovich.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ms. Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Yes, I've had a phone
conversation with Mr. Y ovonovich, an e-mail, and conversations with
Ron Cummings and ENCA, East Naples Civic Association board
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November 6, 2008
members.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I'm sorry, I should include Mr.
Cummings.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Did you finish yours, Karen?
MR. SCHMITT: We couldn't hear her on the microphone.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, you want to repeat that, just so
we're clear, then Ms. Caron's got a clarification. And then Mr. Murray,
then Mr. Vigliotti.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I had a phone conversation with
Mr. Y ovanovich, an e-mail from Mr. Y ovanovich, phone
conversations with Ron Cummings, and I also spoke with the East
Naples Civic Association board members.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron, did you want to clarify?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes, I just wanted to clarify that I
also received correspondence from Mr. Cummings.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray, did you have something?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I had a conversation with Mr.
Y ovanovich.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So did 1. I also had a
conversation with Mr. Y ovanovich.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, and I had a conversation with Mr.
Cummings, Mr. Drumm, Mr. Y ovanovich and Mr. Arnold, all about
issues that will be discussed and repeated here today.
No further disclosures, we'll go forward with the presentation by
the applicant.
MR. YOVONOVICH: Good morning. For the record Rich
Y ovonovich, on behalf of the petitioner. With me are Eric Strickland
with Kite Realty and Wayne Arnold with Grady Minor and Associates
that can answer any questions you might have regarding the petition.
The King's Lake PUD was approved in the early Eighties, in
1982. And the list of permitted uses in the PUD are more generally
described versus the SIC Code method that we're doing now in PUD's.
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November 6, 2008
We were looking at putting in a health club in one of the vacant
spaces within the existing shopping center, and the existing generally
described uses didn't clearly identify that use. So we are attempting to
amend the PUD to add that specific use, and at the same time put the
PUD in a format that we're all accustomed to using, which is the use
of SIC codes to describe the types of uses that would be allowed on
the property.
I believe you all have a November 5th memo to John-David
Moss from Ron Cummings regarding the King's Lake PUD. Do you
all have that?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It was passed out to us I think sometime
this morning.
MR. YOVONOVICH: Okay. And we've got it as well.
And what that does -- we got Mr. Cummings' October 29th letter
indicating some uses they do not like, or did not like or wanted some
clarifications.
We responded to that with changes to the PUD document to
address their concerns. And then they've produced this November 5th
memo basically saying okay, they've reviewed our response and they
still have the following additional comments. And you'll find those
comments on Page 2 of the memo.
Essentially we don't have any objections to their requested
revisions to the last document we provided to them. So except for
there's two clarifications we want to make. They're item number seven
on Page 2. And I think they agree is we can have convenient stores,
we just can't have convenient stores with gas pumps. So we would
make it clear that we can have convenient stores without gas pumps.
And then on item nine I think the correct terminology should be
video tape rental except adult moves of any kind. I don't know that
x-rated is the right terminology, and I don't think they have any
objections to that clarification to the videotape rental uses.
So I hope -- I believe -- I think we're in agreement with the
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November 6, 2008
comments from our neighbors in King's Lake.
Again, we're just trying to clarify the PUD to bring it up to the
current terminology we're all used to using when looking at what uses
are allowed or not allowed on that commercial portion of the PUD.
We're available to answer any questions you may have regarding
our request and our agreement with the community. And of course we
would come back at the consent agenda to make sure we properly
clarify the PUD to address the comments in the November 5th memo
from the residents.
And with that, that's our presentation, and we're available to
answer any questions you may have. And staffs recommending
approval and I think the community is now comfortable. And we hope
that you all can also recommend approval to the Board of County
Commissioners.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there questions?
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Rick, just a quick question to
start.
In our packet we got two copies of section six in strike-through
version. Which one's the up-to-date one, and which ones should we be
using? They are a little different.
MR. YOVONOVICH: The one that goes with the ordinance in
your packet, which would be -- I believe if we're in the -- it would be
the last three or four pages.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So the standalone one,
ignore that.
MR. YOVONOVICH: Yes. John-David says yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, let me suggest something. There
was one attached to the staff report.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And the staff report is dated more
recently than the document you submitted for your original
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application. So I was wondering, wouldn't the one with the staff report
reflect the most recent?
MR. YOVONOVICH: I believe what John -- can I ask
John-David to make sure we're all on the same page, literally, to
address which version?
I believe it's the ordinance, the '08 ordinance, which is the last
document in my package. There's an '08 ordinance, and then the
strike-through follows that. And I believe that's what John-David is
saying is the most recent version for us to work from and then address
the community's concerns from that document.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's correct. When you said last, the
last one in my packet is the one you provided originally with the
application.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Ours our -- we have a different order.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I wanted to make sure we weren't
looking at that one versus the one now you're saying is the right one.
MR. YOVONOVICH: Okay, okay. Yeah, it's just an ordering.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, that's all I had.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah. On the list of uses, under
one, amusement and recreation services. Category 7911. Are you
intending disco techs?
MR. YOVONOVICH: Well, I would imagine that that probably
falls --
COMMISSIONER CARON: I mean, I know you're a party
animal, but --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: How do you know that?
MR. YOVONOVICH: You know, I have no response to that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: His reputation precedes him.
MR. YOVONOVICH: I have -- well, that may be my twin.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Evil twin.
MR. YOVONOVICH: Yes, there's the evil side. It's the bad
November 6, 2008
witch that's up here on this shoulder.
I would think that if we need to make that clarification, we can.
But I would say that that's probably a bar, and we're specifically
prohibiting bars as an allowed use on this property.
So I would say a disco tech probably is in that category versus a
dance studio, you know, ballet and things like that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I'm just reading from the SIC Code
book.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Okay.
COMMISSIONER CARON: So disco techs, except those
serving alcohol, are listed there.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Let me put on -- we have -- if! could put
on the visualizer, this is our proposed response to their October 29th,
which will have to be further refined, but we had already eliminated
bowling alleys. In the seven 7911 we're only asking for those four
uses.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: She -- just as I was concerned, the
document that we had talked about that was at the end of our packet,
that's the one Ms. Caron was referring to. Your newer updated one did
eliminate 7911.
MR. YOVONOVICH: Right, okay. Okay.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, go ahead, because I had lots
of notes from --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ms. Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: At the neighborhood meeting,
were all of these -- anything that was under on some of these, like
business services you have a number of different SIC numbers there.
Was every specific thing listed for the people to see what was under
them, or just the number?
MS. ARNOLD: If! might, I'm Wayne Arnold with Grady
Minor.
And at the neighborhood informational meeting we had at the
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time filed the original application. We were schedule for hearing, and
that's the point at which we had that neighborhood informational
meeting.
Since that time we have further restricted these uses. We've
clarified some of those uses and further restricted them, but I think we
went over with them essentially what our application was. I don't
believe we've --
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: But they didn't specially see
every -- a list of everything that could possibly be there under those
numbers?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, the list that they passed out today
reflects that they must have, because the numbers in between are some
of the numbers that show up on the list that don't show up on the
read-out in front of us. So somebody apparently went into the SIC and
looked at those ranges, because some of the numbers that aren't here
are from those ranges within the numbers that you don't see.
MS. HOMIAK: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So somebody had them. I don't know if
it was at the meeting, though.
MS. HOMIAK: What I'm asking, if the people saw them at the
meeting, not --
MS. ARNOLD: I don't -- I mean, we had them with us, and there
were a couple of people who were interested enough and knew enough
about SIC codes to talk specifically about it.
Since that meeting obviously somebody had contacted
John-David, and we also made available to anybody who wanted them
electronic copies. I know our office provided copies to at least a
couple of different residents who had e-mailed saying can you please
keep us up to date, so we've provided electronic copies to those people
who requested it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Just --
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November 6,2008
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Rich, in the strike-through,
you're going to take out the minimum off-street parking requirements.
Essentially that means it defaults to the current Land Development
Code; is that right?
MR. YOVONOVICH: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: The current Land Development
Code, not the one at the time of this PUD.
MR. YOVONOVICH: Correct.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Why aren't you taking out
off-street loading and unloading spaces and do the same with that? Is
there a different requirement in the PUD than is in the current LDC?
MR. YOVONOVICH: I don't know the answer.
Wayne, do you?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: While he's doing that, Rich, the
concept of current, does that mean the LDC in effect today that you're
taking this off or whatever is in effect in the future when somebody's
building something now?
MR. YOVONOVICH: Let me look at the beginning of the
document. I don't see the -- in some -- this is an older PUD, and I'm
looking at the very beginning of the document.
In some of -- in some of the older PUD's it makes specific
reference to the PUD in effect at the time the PUD was adopted. I
don't see that language in there.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So that would mean 10
years from now if somebody's trying to use one of these activities
when he's applying for that permit, he will be providing parking as per
the code 10 years from?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: It appears to be that way, Mr. Schiffer.
We haven't asked to change any of those provisions within the PUD
document.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Then I guess the only question
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November 6, 2008
is why is the loading not struck.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: We're looking. But I'm assuming since it
didn't -- since it had that requirement there and didn't specifically
reference an existing code at the time, there either was not a standard
at that time or it was different than what the standard was.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: So, I mean, I'm -- in an abundance of
caution to make sure we -- since it's an already built shopping center, I
don't want to run the risk of creating an inconsistency.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else? Ms. Caron, did you --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, well, I'll make a correction,
and I think I e-mailed you this correction on what is now number
eight, depository and non-depository institutions. I think it's groups
6021 through 6099, not 199.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Right. And if you -- if you look on the
visualizer, we've made that correction to 6099.
COMMISSIONER CARON: All right, I'm looking at what--
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I know. We've -- again, we've been
working with -- there were some comments we'd gotten from the
community on October 29th. We've done one revision to the
documents and we'll do another based on their November 5th memo.
And you'll see all of that at the consent agenda.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And so basically you're in
agreement 100 percent with this list.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Except for the two things I said. I wanted
to clarify convenient stores, without gas pumps we agreed to, and use
-- instead of x-rated, we would use the word adult videos.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions of the applicant?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Richard, let's start on page -- the second
page of section six, top, number one. You have bowling centers, 7933.
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November 6, 2008
They're very loud --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: We've eliminated them.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
You have, on number 20, liquor stores. Do you need liquor
stores?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yeah, I think we already have one. We
have one there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, I'll leave that in.
Personal services. And I didn't bring my -- I forgot my book. So
Ms. Caron --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Got it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: 7217 I had marked and 7219 and 7221.
Could you tell me what those are?
COMMISSIONER CARON: 72 --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: In the back there's a table that just lists
the uses.
COMMISSIONER CARON: That's easier than going to--
MR. YOV ANOVICH: You said 19,21 and--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: 7217,7219 and 7221.
7217 is carpet and upholstery cleaning.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: 7219 is laundry and garment services,
NEC, which is anything that doesn't fall under any other category.
And 7221 is photographic studios -- no, that's the wrong -- that one's
okay, I'm sorry.
So I was just -- the two heavier cleaning industries are like
power laundries are heavier in nature, they've got more equipment,
they run more chemicals, and I was just wondering if you needed
those.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Well, that's where you would find tailor
shops, storage of furs, cleaning of furs. That's what 7219 lists. It lists
dressmaking, fur garment cleaning, repairing and storage, garment
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November 6,2008
alteration and repair shops, hand laundries, pillow cleaning and
renovating.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: What about 72177
MR. YOV ANOVICH: 7217 was carpet cleaning and repairs. I
mean, it was not an issue that the neighbors raised as an issue.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, I'm just -- if they didn't, then I
don't --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, then what it says here is dry
cleaning and laundry pickup stations only. So I don't think they could
have any of the heavier --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's in the reference to 7212, I think.
And then they go in and say -- then it goes groups and it lists the other
groups, and that's the only -- but if the neighborhood's not concerned
about it, I don't need to be.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Chair?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I don't know that the
neighborhood really knows all of what is under each of one of these
numbers, that's my point. I don't think that they -- right here you have
-- after that it says including only. So that means that's it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's for 7299 only. Because that
comes after the comma. So it says comma, 7299, including only car,
title and tag service, et cetera. I'm just wondering if it --
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I don't think that people are
aware of that.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Of course not.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: And they don't know -- I just
don't think people are aware of everything that's under all of these
numbers. And it's not clear to the whole community. I just really don't
think that's --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Well, I got the impression, and it may be
a wrong impression, that Mr. Cummings went through the list and
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November 6, 2008
they identified the categories that they didn't like. And they were very
specific in their responses as to the list within the subheading the
things they didn't like.
And so I think at least the individual or committee that looked at
the individual lists knew what they were doing as far as the analysis
goes.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I still don't think the community
is aware of all that could happen. I mean, to me it looks -- there's just
way too many changes for something that's supposed to be a shopping
center to supply services to the surrounding communities that are all in
-- they're all linked together. You know, Lakewood, the Glades,
Winterpark, Queens, Park, they can all go there for specific services,
and this is just -- makes me think that, you know, the property could
be for sale at some point and all torn down and something else put
there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you know if during the -- you had
said you were at the civic association meeting. Did they -- during that
discussion did they understand about the SIC codes?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: They were in agreement with the
-- what the community had written on the list that they didn't want
there. But I don't -- I still don't -- I don't think that they are aware of
everything that's under each of these numbers. I don't think that they --
you know, they didn't--
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Well, the existing PUD provides for
laundry and dry cleaning pickup establishments and self-service
laundries; that's in the current PUD.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: And it also provides for tailoring,
millenary garment alteration or repair. So those are uses that are
already in the PUD that we're just establishing the SIC Code that goes
along with that.
Same thing with the general category of financial institutions. I
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November 6, 2008
mean, we're trying to put it in the -- we took what was there and tried
to put it with the appropriate SIC codes that you all are familiar with.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: As long as you're not adding
anything to those SIC codes. In other words, if you're using the
original list of uses and you are trying to apply a SIC code. Sometimes
when you apply the SIC code, it also gives you additional uses that
were not anticipated by the original --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: And we tried to not do that by the
limitations that we put with the SIC codes.
And it changes. I mean, we took out -- for instance, you can
have today a cocktail lounge. We took that use out, because that's been
-- is no longer customarily accepted in a shopping center. So we tried
to modernize it to what's been going through the process recently.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, I have a question relative
to the civic association meeting. I guess we have to ask Ms. Homiak.
Was there a motion made in any way in support -- in other words, I'm
trying to find out if this is a civic association acting on behalf of the
community, or was the association just given information?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: They were given information and
the board was supporting the King's Lake community.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: By motion?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: There was a motion made.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I don't have a problem with
modifications that are being spoken of, but this PUD was a C-1
through C-4 use, and staff said let's get together and see if we can
make this right by -- you know, it's not going to get built out any
further. I have no objections to what changes are being asked for. I
don't know whether or not in NIM's do we actually go through every
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November 6, 2008
detail in the SIC codes?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: We bring the SIC code book with us, we
tell them what we're doing. And if there's any question -- for instance,
if they said what does boat dealers group 5551 include within the
5551. We'll open up the SIC code book and say okay, the following
eight things -- and I don't even know if there are eight things in the
5551 right now -- are within that category. And then we'll have that
level of discussion.
But do we prepare and hand out a matrix of every sub-use within
those categories? No, we don't typically do that in a neighborhood
information meeting.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: But anyone there can ask a
question and can obtain the information that they want; is that correct?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Sure, sure.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Richard, let's go back to the
beginning.
You struck bowling centers. Under 7997 -- and this is trying to
make sure in case the neighborhood didn't read all the SIC codes, we
got this as tight as need to be.
7997 is one of your catchalls. Memberships, boards and
recreation clubs, could we indicate inside use only?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Sure.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Number three, automotive
services, group 7542, car washes. That's a real intense use. In fact, we
have special sections of the LDC just to prohibit car washes in a
certain manner.
Do you really need car washes?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: We can get rid of that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Number six, building materials,
hardware and garden supply groups, 5231 to 5261. Were you planning
on putting a Home Depot or a Lowe's in there? Not that they're -- I
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November 6, 2008
mean, they're great stores, I go in them constantly. But this is a small
shopping center and that would be rather inappropriate for a smaller
shopping center. It would be number six on your list.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yeah, we have hardware store only. I
don't believe we -- I don't believe the lumber yard use falls within that
category .
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: True Value or Ace Hardware is what
you have? Because those are fine.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes, yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It's your bigger big box that has a lot of
odd hours and more noise and delivers.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Mr. Strain, number 12 I think might give
you a little level of comfort on that issue.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Warehouse clubs and discount retail
superstores. That would mean you couldn't come in with your typical
Target and Wal-Mart here, right?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Right. I think that the warehouse clubs --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But I'm more worried about Home
Depot and a Lowe's and a building materials, hardware and garden
supply under number six is what I'd be concerned about there.
Do you have any problem limiting number six to hardware
stores, not outside -- no outside sales?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Do you have a problem with garden
supply?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I don't think that's a problem.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: And so you just want no outside --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, lumberyards and uses like that.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: No lumber?
Why don't we say no lumberyards.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That works. I think that would be better.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Big box hardware store.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Unfortunately we don't have a definition
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of big box.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Sure. Of course you do. I hear
it all the time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Number nine, eating places. You have
eating places and drinking places. And I know that they were in the
previous one in the sense that it was under cocktail lounges.
Did I hear you say you're limiting -- there's no standalone
drinking bars?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: That's correct. We only -- it says eating
places and drinking places, only cocktail lounges in conjunction with a
restaurant. So the standalone bar that was previously allowed is no
longer.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And hopefully if we get through the
noise ordinance this afternoon, then you'll come under that noise
ordinance, so that would take care of any neighborhood noise that we
have.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Me personally, or --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN : Yes.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yes, you specifically.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's it for the uses.
I did go through, Karen, the SIC Code and tried to figure out
which ones were problematic. I don't know if I would have looked at
them the way the neighborhood necessarily would, but I tried to find
some of those. And most of them have been caught. For example, the
neighborhood has cut numbers 8731, 8734, 9222, 9223, and a series of
other in-between numbers. So that's a good sign. At least somebody
has looked at them and suggested those are inappropriate.
Richard, I want to ask you about that. The first document we
received from the neighborhood association, they had a series of
numbers that they objected to. For example, under No. 22 on your
sheet, they had number 7261, which would fall in between 7219 and
7291. They had struck 7261.
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November 6, 2008
MR. YOV ANOVICH: And we have as well.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, where did you take that into
consideration? What document -- do you have a doc --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I have an interim document that
obviously we don't hand out anything. After you get it we pair it after.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's a good move. Stops the
continuance.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yeah.
We have prepared that document based upon their October 29th
letter. And then we responded to them. We wrote deleted, modified,
depending on the response.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So those numbers that were in their first
letter, you've included those as exceptions to the groupings that you
had in your document that we currently have in our packet; is that
right?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Correct. We have modified the document
you have to take -- to delete several of the items and then modify
them. And then they looked at that document and that generated their
November 5th memo. And with further modifications based upon their
review of our response to October 29th, they narrowed it down to nine
other items to which we have no objections to those further
clarifications other than what I had stated.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, so the -- go ahead, Ms. Caron.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I think -- so then we need to
go to the final page of their second letter. And it says -- so you have --
you agree with all of their restrictions on this page, or --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes. And deletions.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: On number seven, Richard, the
convenience stores with gas, and number nine, x-rated is substituted
with adult.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And -- understood. But hotels and
motels?
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November 6, 2008
MR. YOV ANOVICH: That's listed as a conditional use in the
PUD document.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And it will still be --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- in the new document?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, it's not listed as a conditional use in
the original document.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Actually, it's an easier --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You're trying to put it in--
MR. YOV ANOVICH: -- process than the original document.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- as a conditional use, and you know
I'm going to be objecting to that in a minute. So before you give her
the affirmative answer and she says yes, let's talk about that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: No, I'm not going to say yes,
because --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Let's talk about that when we get to it.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- I don't think it should be in here
from the beginning.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: What the list that Ms. Caron just
brought up does, it says in the beginning they have removed most of
the troublesome uses. So it doesn't repeat the ones they previously had
objected to. That's what I'm pointing out. We don't see those removed.
You're telling us you have an interim document that has
removed those. And in addition you agree to all the additions of one
through nine with those two word clarifications.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, I understand that, and I think we
got that. I think it's easy enough to check because we have the original
letter.
Going on to your uses on the last page, 6-4, up on top it talks
about accessory uses and structures customarily associated with the
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principal uses and structures, including but not limited to uses and
structures that are accessory and incidental to the permanent uses
within this PUD.
Isn't that kind of redundant, one definition being used for itself
all over again? Why do we need A? Why wouldn't you just say
accessory uses and structures customarily associated with principal
use and structures, period.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I think it sounds okay what you're saying,
but let me --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That cuts out some of your legal billing
verbiage, but -- we're trying to get --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: I won't be able to be a party animal
anymore.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I know.
What is two in there for, when it's already in up above on
number nine?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: You know, that's a good question. But we
have historically put it in both places, both under the permitted uses
and the accessory use.
I'm not saying that's necessarily an appropriate practice, but
we've historically put them in both places.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But if you want to go by history, we
don't need to change the PUD. So now that we are, why don't we
correct it? And if it's not needed, let's just not have the redundancy.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Delete number two, you're suggesting?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And now we get to the fun one.
The property may be used for the following, if approved. And it
basically said -- it said before, a majority of the coastal area planning
commission, which means there are certain uses that go through the
planning commission, depending on how much of a change they are
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within a PUD.
And it's either a -- there's several -- there's a minor change, an
insubstantial change and a substantial change process. Minor change is
staff. An insubstantial, like a small map change or something on a
PUD can go strictly to the planning commission. And then there's a
substantial change which goes through the whole process.
I'm not sure what C's process was back in 1973, but I don't like
the idea of taking a conditional use process and adding it to a PUD
when if you want any of the conditional uses, why don't you just
amend the PUD since it's a similar public process? Why are we
making it a separate second zoning process within one zoning
process? I think that's a mistake. And I know I spoke to you about it
and you're smiling, so you must have some kind of answer.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: We -- I understand, Mr. Strain, and we
don't have an objection to amending the PUD versus having a
conditional use process.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. So Item C would basically be
gone.
And if you want any of those uses, you just come back and
amend the PUD.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: And we'll amend the PUD and come -- I
mean, the conditional use I'd be going through essentially a very
similar process anyway, so --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. Okay.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Good, because I certainly would
want motes to come through as a PUD amendment.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motes?
COMMISSIONER CARON: It says here, hotels and motes.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Well, see, the motel is actually a
permitted use, it's just the mote around it that --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. So on the consent agenda,
whenever it comes back, C would be struck. And that is the extent of
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the questions I have at this time, pending anything staff might throw
into the mix.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: That's the problem with spellcheck, you
know. Doesn't catch it when you actually spell a correct word.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any other questions of the
applicant before we go to staff presentation?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, J.D.?
(Speakers was duly sworn.)
MR. MOSS: Thank you. For the record, John-David Moss,
Department of Zoning and Land Development Review.
I just wanted to point out what was stated on Page 3 of the staff
report, that this project is consistent with the Growth Management
Plan.
Because it was approved -- or found consistent by policy, it
allows the property to be rezoned, provided that the new zoning
district is the same or lower intensity than the existing, and that the
overall intensity of the commercial land uses allowed by the existing
zoning district do not exceed the new one.
And all of the originally approved uses were found to be C-1
through C-4 uses, so staff, both comprehensive planning staff and I,
went through all of the uses and found them to be consistent with the
C-1 through C-4 uses.
And Commissioner Homiak, when we did attend the NIM
meeting, these uses were not broken down like you see here. I'm the
one that went through the document and kind of broke them down
further than they were. Because those SIC codes are so confusing to
people and you don't really know what they represent.
But the community that -- the homeowners association group
that did review the document, I mean, they're very savvy, they had an
SIC code book and they did go through these one by one. So I know
that they are satisfied with everything that's being proposed, except for
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November 6, 2008
the recommendations that they cited in their most recent letter.
So if we're going to incorporate those changes, I think they'll be
happy now.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Any questions of staff?
Ms. Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: The letter that went out, the first
letter that went out for the meeting, did it just say that King's Lake --
they were looking for a change to put in -- so that they could put a
fitness center in.
MR. MOSS: To change the commercial uses, they didn't specify
a fitness center, I don't believe, but it was definitely discussed at the
NIM that that was their priority, because they actually had a
representative from the fitness center there.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: This type of thing -- this wasn't--
MR. MO: No, no.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: -- included in the letter, it was
just that they want to put a fitness center in --
MR. MOSS: Right.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: -- and that was what the meeting
was for.
MR. MOSS: Right.
But they did -- as Mr. Y ovanovich mentioned, they did discuss
what some of the other uses were. If anyone had a question about what
the specific SIC Code represented, they did explain it to them.
But those codes are really cryptic, and I don't think people
understand what they are. But it's not unusual for applicants to do this.
It's done all the time. So what they did is not atypical.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: And so this was advertised
properly for all --
MR. MOSS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: -- these changes just with that
letter --
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November 6, 2008
MR. MOSS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: -- for the fitness center?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any other questions of staff?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ray, do we have any public speakers?
MR. BELLOWS: No one has registered.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you want a rebuttal to staffs
negative comments?
MR. YOV ANOVICH: No.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, it's my understanding then that
you have -- you're going to create an interim document that will
basically strike most if not all of the items on the first letter from the
community, subject to the clarifications in the second letter, subject to
the text changes that you brought up to us.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And that you also understand the
comments that we've made during this meeting in regards to some
additions and strike-throughs that we talked about in eliminations. Are
you --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Based on that, and there's no
public speakers, we'll close the public hearing and either entertain a
discussion or motion.
Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I'd like to make a motion to
approve based upon all the changes that we've here discussed.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, motion's been made and
seconded. Motion made by Mr. Vigliotti, seconded by Mr. Murray.
Motion was made based on the discussion that we just had. And
I want to reiterate the discussion so that the motion maker accepts it,
and that is that the first letter issued by the neighborhood with their
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November 6, 2008
objections will be incorporated into the corrections on the uses,
subject to the further refinement of those corrections that were in the
second letter, with the exception that in the second letter there are two
textual changes, Mr. Y ovanovich suggested for clarification, which
seemed logical.
And then also subject to the walk-through that we just had over
some additional verbiage and strike-throughs on the usage and the
accessory definitions and the conditional use application.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yes.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Is that your motion?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray, is that where you--
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I have a question. The two
letters, were they authored by the same individual?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes. And I think probably the better way
to phrase it is that we'll revise the PUD to be consistent with their 11-5
letter.
Because what happened was, you know, I think they had asked
for the elimination of -- on the 29th, they had asked for the elimination
of -- where did the letter go? Did you pick up my 29th letter?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Richard, before you go there, I have no
problem with referencing that it be consistent with the 11-5 letter,
because that to me takes preference --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- over the earlier one, because it talks
about --
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Because there was give and take back
and forth and the 5th is -- yes, that's what I --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But the problem I have is the second
letter doesn't reiterate all of the concerning numbers on the first letter,
and the documents we've received from staff don't include those, so
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November 6, 2008
they're not on record here today. I know you're working on an interim
document, we know what the numbers are, but we want to make sure
the motion includes you incorporating those to the extent that they're
refined in the November 5th letter.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Right.
MR. YOV ANOVICH: Gotcha.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion maker and the second--
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Now we have a good motion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- both accept. Okay.
Any other discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All those in favor of the motion, signify
by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries 9-0.
It will come back for consent.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Mr. Chair?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes, sir, Mr. Schiffer.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Before we go on to something
else, could we discuss this concept of SIC codes? I agree with the
concern you have.
First of all, all of us are probably looking them up as we review
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the report. I do it on a computer, you do it in the book. What a wasted
task, nine of us doing the exact same thing.
The neighbors, it's very easy to blind something behind the
numbers. So could we see if staff could come up with a way that when
SIC codes are referenced in an application that there's some sort of a
summary sheet that summarizes it?
Now, my suggestion in the computer world would be build a
data base that would note that a number's used and would print out,
you know, at least the line description. Like you say, in the back of the
book there is a simple description. But to have everybody looking
them up, to have -- the community mayor may not be able to look
them up, or know how to look them up.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, let me suggest something. On
Page 427 of the SIC Code is a line-by-line narrative of what each
number means. I'm not suggesting that you put it in the PUD, because
it would make the PUD many pages long.
But for every number in a grouping that isn't defined in the PUD,
if the applicant was required in part of their PUD submittal to just list
the number and what it was next to it as a supplement document that
could be passed out to us, it certainly would help resolve the concern
that Brad has.
And I share his concern. Because you've got to pull these books
up and look.
The best source of that, though, is starting on Page 427 of the
SIC and it goes for about 20 pages. And it's basically a summary. It's
short. But if you need further refinement, then you can go into the
body of the book.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And I think the summary -- I
mean, it's easier for one member of the staff or the applicant does it
than it is for nine of us, how many neighbors, how many other staff
members are doing it. We're really wasting time on that. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I would make a thought on that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go ahead, Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Is it more appropriate for the
staff to take on that work, or would it be more appropriate --
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, I--
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Or would it be more appropriate
for the petitioner?
MR. BELLOWS: Historically, about -- I would say it was about
eight to 10 years ago staff did provide copies of the SIC codes with
each application. However, that became very problematic for the
planning commission at that time, so we stopped doing it.
But I like the idea of revising our application process to require
the applicant to provide a summary of the overall group heading that
explains what the many numerous uses are underneath that particular
group --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, if they supply that pursuant to
starting on Page 427 like when they say 7217, it says there carpet and
upholstery cleaning. If you want to know what that says in the whole
paragraph you can go into the heart of the book to get that. That would
be too burdensome to supply.
But just to make a listing -- it wouldn't even take a page for these
PUD's to make a listing of every number in those groups that applies
and have it listed there so everyone readily could see gee, I wonder if
that means something I don't think it means, they could look further if
they wanted to.
I think it would save a lot of time. Mr. Schiffer's 100 percent
right, it might be something you ought to consider looking at.
MR. BELLOWS: Yeah, can I study it and get back to you at
your next meeting --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, I would hope you would.
MR. BELLOWS: -- and I will have some recommendations.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, sounds good.
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November 6, 2008
Brad, does that work for you?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm fine, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, and rather than get into the noise
ordinance, we will go to lunch and come back here at 12:35 and start
the noise ordinance at that time.
(Lunch recess.)
Item #10
OLD BUSINESS
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, everyone, we hopefully are all
back from lunch, at least enough of us to continue on with the
meeting.
We're done with our public petitions. The last item on today's
agenda, it says old business, it really means ancient, ancient, very old
business, and it's the noise ordinance that we started, I don't know, a
year and a half ago. Hopefully today we may be to some point where
it can be concluded.
So with that in mind, Jeff, you provided us with a new write-up.
I'll certainly -- if you have any opening comments, and whenever you
feel like it, we'll just start and go through a page at a time then like we
have before.
MR. WRIGHT: Okay. Thanks, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
For the record, I'm Jeff Wright.
I just wanted to point out that Lisa Schott, our noise consultant,
is not here. And this has been throughout this process kind of a twin
effort with the legal and the technical. We're kind of a little
handicapped on the technical side of things, but we'll do our best to
answer your questions.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, we learned so much last time that
we may have -- be able to give her some pointers, so --
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Technically handicapped.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we just start through the
document then? And I guess we'll take the definitions section all in
one lump.
Anybody have any questions in the definition section of the
document? Which really takes us over to Page 8. So the first eight
pages of the document.
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I have a question just to start.
Jeff, one of the things that we were going to do last time, and
there's a lot of technical stuff here. Has anybody ever done a test based
on this calibration of any of the known noise violators, or potential
noise violators? Have we ever done any tests yet?
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I know that they have readings, for
example, from LaPlaya. I'm not sure if that's what you're talking
about.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, that's a start, yeah.
Okay, when we get there, we'll get there.
But, in other words, one of the things that -- the most important
thing is we're going through the words. The words are starting to
really get old. But the point is we have no idea whether this works.
We've never shot these numbers at a sound source, so -- you know, if
that's been done at the appropriate time, that will be great, but --
MR. WRIGHT: In coming up with these standards, we deferred
to the consultant and she did a review of national standards and what
are the reasonable national standards and that's what we are using in
this ordinance.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. I guess we'll wait till the
right time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Well, the first eight pages are
definitions.
Mr. Kolflat?
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: No, not definitions, but weren't
you going to consider the possibility of having a demonstration here of
different sound levels that we could get a feeling for what they
represented?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes, the consultant had said that she's able to do
that. I guess it's a bit of an effort. She couldn't be here today. But if
you want to recommend that she come back with that, I'm sure she
could do it.
She's also indicated for the BCC that she'd be prepared to do the
same.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I would rather reserve that request
until we finish and then see if the need -- because it's expensive to
keep bringing people in. And if she can be brought in to finalize any
final tweaking in front of the BCC with a recommendation from us,
that might be as sufficient.
So we'll just see where it goes as we get through this document
then.
So back to the first eight pages. Any other questions on the
definitions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ifnot, we'll move to Pages 8 and 9.
Anybody have any questions on Pages 8 and 9?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Page 10?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Page II? Page 11 starts our first table.
It's table one, which talks about the sound level limits.
Any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Jeff -- go ahead, Ms. Caron.
COMMISSIONER CARON: No, go ahead.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Jeff, at the last meeting, we asked that
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November 6, 2008
we have a consideration of some special areas of the county. And the
lady that was here from Corkscrew, which is predominantly an
agricultural area, was commenting about how the agricultural
operation next door, even though she's agricultural, is real problematic
for them. And we actually recommended that you come back or
somebody come back with some kind of way of looking at how those
unique areas could be addressed.
I don't see that on this table. How did that get handled?
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I spoke with our consultant about it and
reviewed some of the relevant law. And I have most sound ordinances.
There are some exceptions, but most will set the residential at the
lowest level. And they don't carve that residential further out and have
especially quiet areas, which I think is what you're getting at. And the
reason for that is, for example, environmental laws have been
overturned where they're biased to bring more polluters into a
particular area. And there's some concern that it might have the effect
of directing all sound noise into certain spots and away from other
spots, and we might end up with some legal problems related to that.
And using the environmental laws as an analogy, those laws are
often challenged and have been turned over where they kind of direct
the pollution to a -- somewhere. If you look at noise in the same -- in
an analogous way, it is a form of pollution, an annoyance, that we
could run into problems.
And that, combined with the lack of models in other jurisdictions
makes us very reluctant to have separate quieter than residential zones.
Not to say it's not possible to do that.
I found an example in Massachusetts, for example, where they
do have -- they kind of address it by saying no more than 10 dB above
the background sound level. And they call them sensitive sound areas.
I just don't see the support for that in the case law and in other
jurisdictions to feel confident going that way.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: See, I think the problem's a little
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different here. In the agricultural area we have homes. There are
homes out there. They're on -- especially in the Corkscrew area, the
homes are on, you know, bigger, maybe estates size tracts, but I
believe they're agriculturally zoned.
And because they're in that agricultural zoned area, the decibel
levels, even though they're residential dwellings, by this table wouldn't
we be looking at a 75,87 decibel level?
MR. WRIGHT: We would be.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Is there a way that we can except
out agricultural areas that are used for residential and that within the
property boundaries of the residential tract they have to resort to the
residential readings here?
MR. WRIGHT: We could. And again, I just -- I'm not 100
percent comfortable that that will withstand legal challenge. I'm just
afraid that it will direct the noise into other areas, and some people
that might be affected by that would speak out and say that they're
being treated differently under law and affected differently adversely.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, doesn't any of these do that?
I mean, okay, the residential area in the top line has lower levels than
the agricultural area.
So if you want to operate and do some kind of noise, you're not
going to go in the residential area, you're going to go into one of the
other areas that are already directing noise to specific areas. I'm just
wondering how that differentiates from what you just said.
MR. WRIGHT: Well, we can say that -- you can discriminate
based on zoning. Discriminate is probably not the best word, but
differentiate standards based on zoning.
Where we don't have that zoning boundary to guide us, it gets a
little bit dicier. And that's where you run into -- I can't find case law
that would support discriminating on another basis, a tract basis, for
example.
Not to say it's not doable, but without firm legal foundation for
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it, I'm not 100 percent comfortable.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go ahead, Ms. Caron, then Mr. Midney.
COMMISSIONER CARON: But what is to say that the
agricultural zoning area should be at 75 as opposed to 65?
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I think this might be -- Lisa kind of
looked at models around the country and Florida, and I think that she
-- based on traditional use of agricultural, they tend to have more
machinery and louder equipment. So therefore the generally
recognized standards kind of crank it up in those agricultural versus
residential.
And another way of putting it is residential always has the
lowest noise levels. I realize --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I was sort of picking
something halfway in between. It's not the 60 and 55 that our
traditional residential would have but, you know, it's what the
commercial tourist area would have. Just something that would make
it less, because we do have a hybrid here. We have areas that are not
just ag., it's residential with an underlying ago zoning.
MR. WRIGHT: I agree.
COMMISSIONER CARON: So I don't know why we can't just
pick a number.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think we're going to have to explore
that a little more.
Mr. Midney was next, then Mr. Vigliotti.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I think in the north we used to
have something called hospital zones where noise was restricted. If
that would be legal, it would make sense to have something like a
ecotourism zone in respect to noise.
Because at Corkscrew I know sound travels very well through
the cypress swamp, and you wouldn't want to have something on the
borders of that area that was noisy.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Back to the schedule. You
come up with residential, the change would be at 10:00 p.m. Then you
go to commercial tourism, and you still hold it at 10:00. Wouldn't it
make sense to make that later? 11 :OO?
MR. WRIGHT: It's really a policy call.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Why would you want to go
longer?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, why would you --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Maybe somebody would react if
you said sooner.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ray, Joe, or whoever would know how
to answer this, getting back to this agricultural issue.
The RLSA, the entire eastern lands are all agricultural. When
they go in for their stewardship credits and they get the right to build
there, does the underlying zoning of that land change, or is it still ago
with an overlay?
MR. SCHMITT: Well, you create an SRA, which is essentially
equivalent to a PUD. So you do create zoning through the stewardship
recelYmg area.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So when they do that, their property,
because it's then more or less rezoned into a residential district, the ago
adjacent to them has to be restricted to the residential impacts when it
hits the tract line of this residential number here, right?
MR. SCHMITT: I would doubt that. And the reason I say that,
and I --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Wow.
MR. SCHMITT: Yes and no. But that's a legal opinion.
But I have to say that the ago which was out there, and it's been
operating for years and years and years. Let's say it's an orchard,
orange groves or tomatoes and, you know, they're running pumps for
irrigation or whatever.
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November 6, 2008
Because something comes in, it's the old analogy, which came
first, the airport or the residential. I go back when Dulles Airport was
built, that type of thing.
I can't through my rezoning now all of a sudden create
restrictions on something that's been operating for years and years and
tell that farmer you no longer can now plant. Because the dividing line
between the RLSA or the SSA -- I'm sorry, stewardship receiving
area, SRA -- and let's say right at the edge of the SRA are the tomato
fields. They still have every right to operate as an ago organization.
Now, there may be distances associated with that.
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I think we've taken care of
that. On Page 24 it says exceptions for existing operations. And I
asked the question, so it's which came first, and not the zoning. So if
it's been ago and suddenly homes move in --
MR. SCHMITT: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- you know, operating ag., not
fallow ago But if it's not just zoned ago
MR. SCHMITT: Right.
COMMISSIONER CARON: But if somebody's had an
operation, then -- is operating a business, then they take preference
whatever was there first. That's what we were told the last time
around.
MR. SCHMITT: Right. It's -- but it's -- there are certainly places
in the county where you're -- you have homes that are in ago areas. I
think it -- and I turn to Jeff and Jeff. I think it's going to be somewhat
difficult legally to now because somebody built a house all of a
sudden create and put a new requirement on what may have been ago
for 30, 35 years out there plowing fields and operating a tractor. Those
kind of things do create noise.
MR. KLA TZKOW: You have a Right to Farm Act that would
protect this. If I have an existing farm operation, just because
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somebody builds a house across the street because it got rezoned,
that's not going to put me out of business.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. So then the noise ordinance, what
you're saying, there's no way that you can write the noise ordinance to
protect a lady like presented to us last time in Corkscrew who lived in
an ago area and was complaining about the ago operations next door to
her.
MR. KLATZKOW: You know, I don't know what to tell you.
When you live in an urban area, you get urban noise; when you live in
an agricultural area, you get --
MR. SCHMITT: Exactly.
MR. KLATZKOW: -- agricultural noise. I mean, it's --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I just want to make it clear for the
record, Jeff.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Because the question's going to come
up. I mean, people are going to say, why didn't this fix this? And we
want to have an answer.
MR. KLATZKOW: Because quite frankly, if we want to lower
the decibel level, okay, to the point of whispering, everybody's going
to be out of compliance. I mean, these are national standards that
we've been given us, and if we lower them, I mean, Joe's shop is going
to be running with code enforcement non-stop. It's just what we are.
It's what everybody is.
MR. SCHMITT: Well, it becomes a law that's almost
unenforceable. And I understood exactly what she was saying, but it's
sort of the caveat emptor, let the buyer beware. They bought out there.
Yes, there are going to be pumps, there are going to be other ago type
of impacts. I just don't know how we can prevent somebody from not
being able to farm or operate in what has always been ago
MR. KLATZKOW: I bought my house near Gulf Coast High
School because I wanted my kids to be close to school. And every
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Friday during football season I get the announcements, and -- you
know, I can tell you, even when my lanai doors are closed, when Gulf
Coast goes to touch down who scored that touchdown, you know,
whatever. I'm a good mile away. I mean, you know, it's just -- it's what
I chose to do and now I've got to deal with that noise.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray, Mr. Wolfley, Ms. Caron,
then Mr. Homiak.
Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, the comment would be
absolute silence is guaranteed upon death, I think.
But all property, all land, rather, is zoned ago in Collier County.
That's the base zoning. So how would you get to a differentiation?
Somebody builds a house residential here, they've changed the zoning,
all around them there's ago I just -- I don't want to repeat what Mr.
Klatzkow has just said, but that's my view too. Weare a changing
society and a certain amount of ambient noise is going to grow.
I might feel bad for the lady who suffers the problem of the
noise, but I think we have to learn to live with each other, the
so-called social contract. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I don't recall her complaining
about the farming operations, I only recall her complaining about the
noise from partying and so on. But I just don't recall a farming issue. I
mean, that would have been moot to me. That's all.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I think that part of the issue
is just that the way things are worded now, in the ago area it's 75 under
the A scale and 87 under the C scale at all times. Why isn't it
appropriate to do 75 during the day and 65 at night?
MR. WRIGHT: That's another policy decision. There's nothing
wrong with that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Again, that's -- you know, Mr.
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Klatzkow's example of moving in next to the school is sort of like
people moving in next to airports, you do have to have some
awareness. But at that school, they're not there at 3:00 in the morning
creating the same kind of noises that he can hear even with his doors
and windows closed at 3 :00 in the morning.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Can I make a comment, please?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, Ms. Homiak was next, then Mr.
Schiffer, then Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I was -- my comment was just the
same as Mr. Wolfley's, actually. I don't remember the woman saying
anything other than she was complaining about the partying on the
weekends.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And two things. Donna, at night
in agricultural, if there's a freeze coming in, they're going to be
making a lot of noise out there.
The -- Jeff, one thing, though. Here we are with the numbers.
How do we know what these numbers are going to do? I mean, we
don't -- do we have any field tests? In other words, can you -- you
know, we have some classic concerns with noise. Has anybody gone
out and tested those sites with this data so we could see if it works?
Because, I mean, we're going to study the outdoor seating. If
we're not picking up noise violations, then why -- you know, then the
numbers should maybe be changed. But if they're sufficient or --
MR. WRIGHT: We do have some data to guide us. It's not really
air tight. But Dave, for example, has readings at LaPlaya. Lisa, who
you met at the last meeting, has her old report on her work at Stevie
Tomatoes that contains detailed decibel readings. I'd be happy to
distribute that just for your edification.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And it has A and C also?
MR. SCRIBNER: No, we don't have the C scale.
MR. WRIGHT: I think it's just octave band is what she used.
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A and octave band?
MR. SCRIBNER: These readings that we took, we took using
the decibel, the A scale. We have not adopted -- the ordinance hasn't
adopted the C scale. And the C scale, in very simple terms, takes the
octave band and the decibel levels, puts them all into one unit.
And it doesn't change the actual what you hear, it's just a
measurement, a simpler measurement so that people can get a noise
meter, use the C scale. Because we have a lot of people who call up
and say hey, I took a noise reading and it's 87 decibels. That's way in
violation of the ordinance. Well, they're using the C scale. And our
ordinance, as it's written right now, is all in the A scale.
I have -- and unfortunately I thought it was in your packet, and I
apologize that it's not. I've got some handouts I'll give to everybody.
These are some of the readings we've taken as part of the LaPlaya
issue that came up, and taken across the water. It's taken from 560
feet, which is the property line of the complainant in this issue. And
taken on different days. And you can see some ambient readings, as
well as with the source on.
Back to the issue of agricultural noise. We have not had any
readings taken from Mrs. Gay's property, because when we've gone
out there the noise that she was complaining about wasn't audible.
I can tell you from experience in some other agricultural issues,
usually what comes up is a pump running, and they'll have a pump
going 24/7.
And I had one in North Naples that we got a complaint on. We
contacted the farmer. They built a very simple little box around it,
alleviated the issue, problem solved.
We try and work with farmers. We try and work with everybody
to resolve the issues rather than just going forward and trying to cite
someone. And usually we can come up with some solution.
Sometimes it may be as simple as putting a piece of construction
equipment in front of a pump to block the noise. We did that down in
November 6, 2008
Lely.
So if you'd like, I can hand out this and you can all get an idea of
what some of the noises that -- decibel levels that we're running into.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray, did you have a question
you wanted to ask while it's being handed out?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, it had to do with -- I
wanted to answer Commissioner Caron, and it was about the pumps. I
mean, at all times, because if the pump sounds at 75 decibels, it would
operate 75 decibels throughout the night as well as throughout the day,
and that would be a basis for saying at all times. That was the thought
that came to my mind. But the gentleman stole my thunder.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Chair, I've got one thing.
Chair, did you recognize me or did you hear me?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I'm sorry, I didn't hear you, Dave.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Oh, okay. I've got one.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go ahead, sir.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: We've got -- in going through
this thing, we've got to keep in mind that there are people out there
that have to administer what we come up with. And two of them are
sitting here in the audience. They've got to have a way to find out and
figure out when they get a complaint and they go make a call on the
complaint, figure out if they are in fact in compliance or they're out of
compliance. And I think that's the point I was trying to make by
getting some typical sounds that we hear every day and finding out the
decibel levels. Because that's what these guys are going to be coming
up against. Unless we're going to issue a few hundred meters to
everybody, it's -- I mean, we've got to keep this simple and somehow
be able so that the law enforcement officers can actually do their job
effectively. I just feel for them. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: My concern, as Joe Schmitt
has said, we don't want to create a document that they can't enforce
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because it's too strict and then we accomplish absolutely nothing.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So looking at this thing, and
David, everything was done before 10:00, but essentially there's no
violation prior to 10:00. Yet some of these, especially at the bottom, if
they started to occur after 10:00, then you would have grounds for a
violation.
MR. SCRIBNER: Potentially. I can't say that, because you have
to take into consideration what the ambient noise is. And as you
remember through this ordinance, you have to do a subtraction based
on what the ambient noise is versus the source on noise is, and there's
an adjustment made.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So procedure-wise, how would
you get an ambient reading if the noise is occurring? Would you come
back some other time?
MR. SCRIBNER: No, what we would do until the noise is off,
we might do -- walk down the street to an area that doesn't have that
noise source readily available. We'll take the noise in the
neighborhood. We may go down the street quarter of a mile, take the
noise so we can get an idea of what that noise is.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: You could maybe go on the
other side of the building or something?
MR. SCRIBNER: You could go on the other side of the
building, yeah.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And then let's say we came up
with a number. We would then subtract -- and it's on the next chart, I
guess.
MR. SCRIBNER: Based on what your ambient noise is and
source on, you have to go through a mathematical calculation, yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Now, since the A scale was
always there and we're not changing the numbers on it, you have not
been able to flag any of these supposedly nuisance noise sources, so
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you're really counting on the C to bring these things in then.
MR. SCRIBNER: Well, I didn't include in this because they're
multiple tables. There were no octave band violations involved in this
case. Usually with -- octave bands measure the frequency, and it's
usually the low bass. In other words, we talked about that at the last
meeting, that thumping sound. It's usually the lower basses that we'll
find a problem with.
And in this case here that we presented, we didn't have those
issues. They were primarily voices and some music in the background,
but it wasn't the low bass.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But can we just do this one?
You do have an ambient reading. Let's pretend that's the reading you
got that day of 46, and let's pretend these lower ones are at night.
Would this is be a violation?
MR. SCRIBNER: Well, you'd go to your table. And I believe it's
-- ifthere's a difference of nine, you subtract --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Zero.
MR. SCRIBNER: -- zero. So 57 after 10:00 would be a
violation.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: You would do it, okay.
MR. SCRIBNER: These readings were taken before these time
periods, because this is the time the complaints were coming in.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. And I'm just trying to get
a hyp -- so in other words, essentially there is a condition where you
would be able to get a violation at LaPlaya, if numbers are around or
similar. I mean, I'm not saying you will, but you could.
MR. SCRIBNER: Clearly you could have a violation there. We
haven't identified one as yet.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: In the Stevie Tomatoes
situation, and Jeff referenced the study they did, is that something that
you think this new system would generate a violation for?
MR. SCRIBNER: For one thing, they have no amplified music
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out there. The issue's going to come up with voices. And as we've got
in the ordinance right now, reasonable use of a human voice
unamplified. And it's all going to come down to that what is
reasonable use, you know, unamplified human voice.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And that's a non-metered test?
MR. SCRIBNER: I would -- you know, I'd hate to stand here
and say oh, this is going to solve the Stevie Tomatoes issue. Because
if it did, I'd be asking for more money.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But it's not in your pay scale.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And you'd be getting it.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But isn't that section of code
with the unreasonable voice, isn't that in there already? I mean --
MR. SCRIBNER: Yes, it is. Yeah, we've added that. That's been
added in.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, we worked it. But in
other words, you had that opportunity prior to even this --
MR. SCRIBNER: No, that was not in the previous code.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, that's not -- okay. All
right, then let's wait till we get there. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I'm concerned and confused.
This whole noise ordinance for the most part was redone and we're
working on it because of the Stevie Tomatoes problem. And you're
saying that this may not even resolve that problem or address it
properly.
MR. SCRIBNER: Well, I think I would be remiss if I said that
you're going to solve a zoning issue with a noise issue. And really, it
comes down with that.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Okay.
MR. SCRIBNER: Probably not what anybody wants to hear, but
that's the realty of it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, well, let's move on and we'll get
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through it the best we can and decide what the best way to proceed is.
Page 12 and 13, they're not even full pages because of the
cross-outs.
Anybody have any questions on 12 and 13?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: How about 14 and 15?
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Jeff, just to make sure it's clear
is that within mixed use projects you're going to be able to have sound
violations that Collier County would be dealing with, as opposed to
the homeowners association or whatever governing thing would be
below Collier County in there?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes. In addition, I think that there are going to
be two separate ways to address the noise complaint. If you live in a
place that has private covenants that address noise, you can always
rely on those. It's a private remedy. But from the code enforcement
department's perspective, this ordinance would be their tool, not the
HOA documents.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. I mean, I kind of have a
concern going -- because mixed use projects are going to have noise. I
mean, you live above a restaurant by choice, you know, it's going to
happen.
So in other words, Collier County's going to start coming in and
being called upon to protect people in that situation when essentially
isn't it the -- I call it a homeowner, but the local government for that. I
mean, should we get involved in that or should we just stay out of
mixed use areas?
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I feel that if we weren't addressing the
mixed use context, the question would be why aren't you addressing
the mixed use context.
Now, if you're the person, the victim of sound and you have two
remedies available, maybe that's a good thing for you. You can go to
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November 6, 2008
your HOA, maybe that's more effective than calling code
enforcement, I don't know.
But under this, you can call code enforcement and address the
sound issue if you live in that setup, in that setting.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else on Pages 14 and 15?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: If not, we'll move to 16 and 17.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I have on 16.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go ahead, Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And 17.
Construction sounds. And it's the -- I guess the second sentence
down where it says construction equipment that must be operated near
a residentially zoned area.
We've tried often to qualify distance. Near is -- I understand the
intent, but why did we choose near? Could we choose a better word, a
better description?
MR. WRIGHT: I agree, near is vague. I'm not sure why we
chose it, and I'd be open to any suggestions for maybe a--
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I first wanted to find out
whether you intentionally had it or whomever had it there
intentionally, because they didn't prepare to give you an alternative at
this point. But I just wondered. It seemed. So we'll take that under
advisement. Let's go to 17 then.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, Mark, 16 I still have--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I said 16 and 17 at the same time,
so let's let Mr. Murray get finished and Brad, we'll get you next.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And then under 17 where I'm
pointing to item three where it speaks to exceptions and, you know,
it's the issue that Donna Caron has raised and I have echoed about
federal, state and county governments. But we also hire businesses, we
hire companies to do our construction work. Does that extend that
authority to those companies as almost as though they were our
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November 6, 2008
agents, or they are in fact our vendors then or -- I'm trying to think of
the right word -- contracted party. Do they -- are they an extension of
the government in that context?
MR. WRIGHT: I think if they're hired to do government work,
they would be --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I do, too.
MR. WRIGHT: -- an agent of the government.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That's why I'm asking that.
So we're exempting them, and I know that's always become an
issue, a touchy point.
Well, I don't know, I think that that is one step further down the
road to not a good thing.
MR. WRIGHT: If! can clarify, that exemption is an exemption
from the emergency construction permit requirement. It's not an
exemption from the sound level limit stated in the ordinance. So they
still have to comply with the sound level of --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And I got it. I mean, I appreciate
that and I recognize that it's probably something that you can't do
much about, and I won't focus on that one. And I'll try to work on a
better word for nearer than in that other one while you're talking.
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Jeff, the phrase at the bottom of
mixed use project it states, for purposes of this ordinance -- the top of
Page 16 now -- sound level limits applicable to mixed use projects
shall only apply to sound affected residential land uses or zoning
located outside of the mixed use project and shall not apply to
residential within the mixed use project.
And that's conflicting with the thing we talked about on the other
page where it's located within the same mixed use project.
Is there -- I mean, I like the part that it doesn't include it. But if
you look at the start on E, the first sentence of E and the last sentence
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before the chart, aren't they conflicting with each other?
MR. WRIGHT: I think, and maybe I should clarify and ifneed
be fix the language. But what the intent is for mixed use projects is to
set a sound level limit that's lower, based on the enclosed unit.
Now, if they're -- let's just say a mixed use project has
commercial and residential. You want -- let's just say they're stacked
on top of each other and the residential is a victim of noise, so they
call up code enforcement, close all the doors and do a measurement
based on this scale.
Now, if there's residential property located outside of the mixed
use project, as mixed use project is defined, then these lower levels
would not apply to that. The normal levels would apply.
And that's what we're trying to capture with that last sentence.
These levels -- these lower levels apply only to the sound affected
within the mixed use project and not outside of it. Outside of it you
have higher levels.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But if you look at the sentence
on the top of the page, it's essentially saying the opposite of that, isn't
it?
MR. WRIGHT: I see what you're saying. It should maybe be --
clarify what the actual intent here is.
The intent is to not have it -- have these lower levels apply
within the mixed use project but not to residential areas that are
located outside of the mixed use project. That's the intent. And I could
make a note to look at the language and make sure that there's no
ambiguity.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: That sentence is actually saying
the opposite of that. It's actually stating that it doesn't -- it applies to
residential units -- it does not apply within it.
But let's just go to the concept here. What you're saying, we're
going to have a concept of higher decibel ratings; within enclosed
residential units, the doors are all closed, we're going to have a lower
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November 6, 2008
standard -- meaning a higher standard -- but I mean lower decibel
ratings within those units only in mixed use projects?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes. And multi-family projects. They both have
that lower level.
And the idea -- this is a little bit beyond my expertise, but what I
was told is that when you're in an enclosed unit, you generally have a
lower ambient level and you can base your readings on lower levels.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. I just --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Can I get --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Just a minute. Ms. Caron, she was next,
then I'll get Mr. Vigliotti and Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I'm not objecting to these levels.
I'm just wondering why for regular residential those levels can't be 53
and 45 instead 60 and 55.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Table one. Why couldn't we use those
same for residential on table one?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aren't we at a property line on
table one?
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I think the whole idea is you're inside of a
box where everything's closed, and the sound that you do hear is going
to be easier to hear if you're inside of that box. So that's why they
lower those levels for measurement purposes.
Now, if we put those lower levels, the 53,45 levels, if we move
those over to the residential in table one -- I think that's what you're
suggesting?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Uh-huh.
MR. WRIGHT: I think it would have a huge impact on
residential areas and their ability to make sound. I mean, conversation
alone is in the 60 range. So I mean, you'd have trouble with virtually
any regular type of sound that's around the conversational level and
above.
Now, if you're inside of a closed residential dwelling, a mixed
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November 6, 2008
use and you hear let's say the coffee shop's got a musician playing and
you think it's too loud and you close all the windows, now if you
spoke, that would be about 60. Now, if you hear those sound levels
exceeding 53, it's basically saying that that commercial venue below
me is so loud that it's like having someone talk to me in my own place.
And that's why those levels are a little bit lower.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti, then Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I'm really concerned again
about this three-story -- the mixed use project with the residential.
When they buy, they know what they're buying, and I don't want to
make it too strict or too stringent on them when they buy a residential
unit above a cafe or above a coffee shop.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, I've been working to see if
I could come up with something better on this business, and I'll give
you something, we should relate to it a little bit more.
My first thought, well, maybe we should just require shielding
regardless, and that would be a burden on some equipment, but
perhaps not.
I guess the intent here is that near the residential -- now, near of
course is a judgment call because somebody could be a mile away,
somebody could be 100 feet away, and that's what's disturbing about
that. But the intent here, if I understand it correctly, is that we want to
make the sound muffled enough that somebody who might complain
will have a reason to complain. That doesn't make sense, my sentence,
but I think you understood what I'm trying to say.
And I'm just wondering if we can't just -- can we require that
they shield it if they're anywhere proximate, if that's -- and I don't
want to be vague either, but I'm struggling -- anywhere proximate to
residential zoned properties?
Does that make sense?
MR. WRIGHT: Oh, it makes really good sense. I know what
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you're saying.
And what we did with the amplified sound, which we'll get to in
a little bit, is we don't want to be arbitrary, but we do want to base this
on something reasonable and we have 2,500 feet that we felt was
reasonable.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, that's what I called to your
attention that we tried in the past to relate.
But 2,500 feet under certain circumstances, you know, it could
be 250 feet, too. Because the word near is the one that kicked it off for
me. And proximate may not be much, much better, but proximate does
convey something a little bit closer than near, because -- I think.
You've got to be a grammarian here in order to do this job.
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I think -- I mean, near and proximate to
me are synonomous. But I think -- I like the idea of an objective
distance. And I think maybe 250 feet.
I want to talk to the noise consultant to make sure that she can
nod at the suggestion of a certain distance. If she can say 250 feet's
reasonable, we can at least say that we have an objective opinion.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, I think that would be
better than the two words that were used, yes, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: On the table three, the residential
dwelling unit in the mixed use project, you're talking about inside
ratings; is that what I heard you say?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: On table one, when we talk about the
readings for the various other zoning districts, we're talking about
outside readings; is that right?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Could we add the inside readings as
another subset to residential? And that accomplishes a balance
between and consistency between what residential is expected to be,
whether inside -- whether they're in a mixed use project or outside.
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November 6, 2008
MR. WRIGHT: It makes sense to me. I'm not sure if there's
technical issues with it. But I think you're saying that two standards
would apply, inside and then outside.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. And then if the people across
from LaPlaya go into their homes, shut all their windows and doors
and they have an inside problem that exceeds that decibel level, then
that's another avenue to which they could explore as far as having a
violation.
MR. WRIGHT: It makes sense to me, and I'll make a note to
discuss it with the consultant to see if there's any problems with that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Let's move on to Pages 18 and 19.
Anybody have any questions on those two pages?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I do on Page 18, Jeff. Under G-1, the
fourth line down, it talks about a one -- towards the middle of the line,
a one-time site specific amplified sound permit will be required for
any commercial business or nonresidential land use.
Can you explain to me how that works? What's -- I just don't --
I'm trying to understand how this one time would work. Do they
actually come in and apply for a permit and they say we're going to
make this much noise and they get a permit to make that much noise?
MR. WRIGHT: Well, if they come in and ask for a permit
saying that they're going to be amplifying sound, then they would get
a permit for that. And until they violate the permit by violating the
sound ordinance, they would be able to operate without having to
come back to the county and ask for annual permission.
Now, that's something that's up in the air as to whether it's
annual or one time, but --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, well, that's what I was getting at.
So the one -- that's why I didn't understand why it was just one time,
but you haven't -- that's another where we could go annually or every
five years or whatever.
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MR. WRIGHT: Yes. And I had a note this morning from Ross
Gochenaur. I don't want to speak for the zoning folks, but they might
have a preference as to one or the other.
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, it's my understanding that
permitting a nightmare would be greatly problematic for an annual -- a
one-time permitting thing seemed to be a much more fair way and--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I don't have a problem with that. The
annual didn't seem -- I mean, that just seems a huge cost expense that's
not needed. No, I wasn't trying to go there, I just want to make sure I
understood what the sentence said.
On Page 19, on 6-A, fifth line, has a new sentence that starts,
this distance will be measured according to a survey, if provided by
the applicant or by the official zoning map, aerial photograph, other
reliable or accurate means.
So if the survey -- if the applicant doesn't provide a survey, then
who pulls up the other document, staff, and they just scale it on the
document?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Under denial, the only basis for
denial shall be a prior application -- adjudication of violation. And that
is on that property by that applicant, or can it be on that property by a
different owner or by a different or subsequent operator or something
like that?
MR. WRIGHT: Well --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I mean, if one guy violates it, it
precludes anybody from ever operating on that property again?
MR. WRIGHT: What we were trying to capture is the same
amplified sound activity. Regardless of whether or not the ownership
changes hand, you would have whatever that approved activity is.
If there's a violation of the ordinance relating to that approved
activity, then we could deny them when they ask for a permit.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: As long as the activity stays the same, it
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doesn't matter who the owner is. Yeah.
MR. WRIGHT: I believe that's how it's written now. It's
something that we could change, though, that's why we're here.
MR. SCRIBNER: One of the things we wanted to capture is to
make sure that if someone came in and got an amplified music permit
and were found in violation, they didn't turn around and just sign the
business over to their husband or their wife and then get another
permit and we're back in the same place that we were to begin with.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I'm there. That's all, I was just trying to
understand.
MR. WRIGHT: Mr. Chairman, if! may point out on Page 20 at
the top, change of ownership or change of business will not invalidate
the permit, so long as the use remains the same.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. Okay, let's move on to Page 20
and 21. Are there any questions on 20?
Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: On item nine, enforcement, it
refers to provisions of section 6-B, and when I went to 6-B I got really
confused. Maybe I just don't understand what I'm doing here, but I
went to Page 23, which is section six, and I don't know what
happened.
MR. WRIGHT: This is -- it's a drafting issue. If you'll see on
Page 23, for example, you have the title in the ordinance in bold that
this is section six of the ordinance, but it changes section seven.
And within that section seven that we're updating, there's a
reference to subsection 6-B. And I believe at subsection 6-B is where
you'll find your sound level limits.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, help me, get me to that,
because I looked all over.
MR. WRIGHT: It would be Page 9, right in the middle. And if
you look at Page 8, you'll see kind of the flow of this drafting, where
there's a section five which amends section six.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Whoa. Okay, Page 8 on my
document.
MR. WRIGHT: Yes. And on Page 9 you'll find the specific 6-B
that the cross --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I wasn't smart enough to
go there. Sorry about that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I don't think I got that either.
You're not alone.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions on 20, 21?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: If not, we'll move to 22 and 23.
Anybody have any on those two pages?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: 24 and 25?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay, under L, operation of
equipment. I know we talked about mosquito fogging and we talked
about refuse collection. I'm not sure we wanted to include it in that
part of it.
We're going to now make it that mosquito fogging is not
possible? You don't mean airplane fogging here, do you?
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I tried to make a change to reflect this
concern that you have. And if you look at the top of Page 24, I added
including noise from mosquito fogging aircraft --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah.
MR. WRIGHT: -- to that exemption for aircraft.
Now, the context of that paragraph L you're referring to is
residential and agricultural type of activities, including mosquito
fogging. So the implication there is it's the handheld version, not the
airplane version.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Oh, okay. You know what? I
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didn't pick that up until this very moment.
But the other question about refuse collection, Waste
Management gets out real early, we know that from the Stevie
Tomatoes document. Can we -- is that going to be something that's
going to create more trouble than it's worth? You would know best on
that.
MR. SCRIBNER: They're still subject to the noise ordinance,
those early morning pickups.
This exempts them during those hours that they wouldn't be
subjected to the noise limits. So they're picking up refuse at 4:00 in the
morning, they're going to have to comply to the noise limits.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Good.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, we saw a video, and
unless it was highly amplified for our benefit, and I don't think it was,
I don't see how they can comply. And then you folks have to be there
at the moment in time when that occurs --
MR. SCRIBNER: Right. My understanding is they're working
on a separate solution to that, that particular Stevie Tomatoes.
But I have another commercial property that we're working with
right now that has that very same issue. And, you know, I'd love to be
able to tell Waste Management that they can't pick up trash before
7:00 in the morning, it would solve a lot of issues.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I'm not sure I want to
prevent them from doing a job that they need to do early in the
morning. What I'm concerned about is whether or not we have a
realistic -- you know, if I could turn to it and say this is not realistic,
somebody who's in the business of doing that for a living can also
maybe neutralize this ordinance.
MR. SCRIBNER: This says they can do it between 7:00 and
10:00, they don't need to conform to decibel limits. After those hours,
if they're picking up at 3:00, 4:00 in the morning, they're going to do it
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quietly or they're going to be in violation of the ordinance.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But in regards to Stevie Tomatoes, that's
more along the lines in which you said earlier. That issue that they're
picking up there is a zoning problem. When that SDP was approved or
when that PUD was approved, one of the things that we should have
looked harder at, and every board should now look at it and they
probably will, is the location of dumpsters and making sure the
separation is further into the heart of the project and not along the
perimeter where they keep wanting to stick these things, where they're
closer to residential.
MR. SCRIBNER: And it's not only looking at what's there to
mitigate that, but the distance -- you could have a long distance
between a commercial property and a residential property. And
Carillon Shopping Center is an issue that we're dealing with right now.
They've got water behind that shopping center that's letting that sound
carry right across into that residential area. And we're having to deal
with that as we speak.
And dumpster issues are one of them, sweeping parking lots,
another issue that we run into. They sweep parking lots 2:00,3:00 in
the morning and making noise.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Which you can't do during the
day.
MR. SCRIBNER: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions on 24 or 25?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ifnot, we'll move to 26, 27?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, the next two are 28 and 29. Pages
28 and 29, anybody have any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, the next section is Pages 30 and
31.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I still have a problem with
confiscatory practices. I think they are a double slippery slope.
I know you've kept it in here probably after due consideration,
but -- and I understand the intent, I truly do. But I worry about going
down that slope of confiscation. Confiscation of people's properties is
a serious act, so I don't know.
And then further on D you have lawful possessor. And I
appreciate that, that's somebody who is entitled to have jurisdiction or
responsibility. But they're punishable no matter who does it. So in
other words, it's like the classroom teacher, all right, if nobody admits
it the whole class stays after school.
I don't know, is that theory still working today? Is that a good
one?
MR. SCRIBNER: Well, from an enforcement perspective, we
want to make sure that we don't become property managers. The
county should not be in the business of trying to deal with tenants and
owners of property and getting in the middle of that. We hold the
owner of the property responsible. If they've got a bad tenant, they
need to deal with that tenant. And that's really what we're looking at in
not only this ordinance but in other ordinances.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: But do you not deal with that
bad tenant?
MR. SCRIBNER: We certainly do. We will have the noise
violations. There may be a business operating there, but if we've got
the responsible property owner, we involve them in the process also.
It's not going to be just with the tenant and code enforcement or the
county, we're going to get the property owner involved too and make
them a stakeholder in the whole issue.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I do appreciate that. You do
have to get to the person who's really responsible to hold them
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accountable, I do. But I'm just wondering, there's so many potential
circumstances.
Being reasonable, I think we'll be okay, but I still have a great
deal of trouble with this confiscation part of it.
I gave you an example. I know you probably didn't want to have
to deal with that example, but I think it's a valid type of thing.
Do we have any other confiscatory practices in Collier County?
MR. SCRIBNER: From a code enforcement aspect, I can't think
of any right off the top of my head. I can tell you, we have not
confiscated anything. And code enforcement would not confiscate. As
you notice, the ordinance is very clear, it's a special magistrate --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, I understand.
MR. SCRIBNER: -- or the Code Enforcement Board that would
order anything like that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Isn't the confiscation after three
convictions -- three more or less adjudications of violation? So that's
someone who is flagrantly violating numerous times before they --
and they're found guilty of those three times, and then the final
conclusion is you're not going to stop, we're going to stop it for you by
taking away whatever it is you're causing the noise with.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, make no mistake, I'm not
in favor of the person who is the baddie in this case. I'm only
concerned with the unintended consequences of allowing something
as a practice that can be misused. And that's where I'm coming from,
not in favor of the person who's repeatedly violating the law.
MR. WRIGHT: If I may, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sure.
MR. WRIGHT: We had comments from the public pointing out
other jurisdictions that say just take the equipment away when they're
making noise. So this is an attempt to strike a balance between those
concerns and reality. It does give the option for confiscation, may be
compensated, shall be grounds for confiscation. Hasn't ever been used
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and it probably is not going to be a route --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I would guess 99.9 percent of
the people who were threatened with that would tend to obey. And I
guess I'm going to drop my argument on that one.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: The key word is may.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: On your Item B on Page 30 about the
middle where it's underlined board and special magistrate or court
following the, and it says third adjudication, could you just add the
words of violation?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Oh, and I have one other, please.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go ahead, Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Under D, let me read it to you
and see if it makes sense to you. It shall not be a lawful defense to
assert that some other person caused such sound, but each lawful
possessor or claimant of the premises shall be responsible for
operating or maintaining such premises in compliance with this
ordinance and shall be punishable, whether or not the person actually
causing such sound is also punished.
I think there's a word missing in here. Somebody shall be
punished or the act shall be punishable.
Do you understand what I've just referenced?
MR. WRIGHT: Yes. I think the act is a good suggestion. The
offending act.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Right, that's all.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Pages 32,33, anybody have any
questions?
Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: 33. Just a question on that
Section 13, use of loudspeakers. Other or other purposes. Are we
working into the world of political speech by any chance?
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Loudspeakers or public address systems used to produce sound signals
from any source for either advertising or other purposes may not be
operated.
Political speech, does that get into it?
MR. WRIGHT: No, that's a good point, because we are also
doing the sign ordinance, and when you do specify advertising type
message or noise versus some other type, you do run into a content
based restriction. So I think that's a great point. I'm going to circle that
and make sure that -- we don't want to be drawing distinctions
between -- among content of the message, unless we have to.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I think so.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Pages 34 and 35, anybody have any
questions?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Thirty-five.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Jeff, on parenthesis four on 35,
it's exempting lawful businesses, professional occupations. Now, this
section 12 is sound complaints without using a measured device.
Does this give an argument to somebody, again, the infamous
Stevie Tomatoes, that in their lawful use of an outdoor bar these
noises that they're generating are essentially something to be expected
from that business?
MR. WRIGHT: I think so. I think you're absolutely right, it is
typical to the business.
Now, either way we're going to have -- you know, with the noise
itself coming from voices, I'm not sure that measuring without the use
of a device would be something that we'd be doing out there. I would
agree, though, that it is kind of typical to that type of a business.
Again, we run into that zoning problem.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: This is the defense, yes.
And then since this is the last page, one other question, and it
does on the prior page reference residential, as per section six, and it
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defines residential as a couple classifications. One is if it's I guess
habitually slept in or something, or habituated. What would we do
with a caretaker that is allowed in industrial zoning and stuff like that?
Should we exempt that residential thing or not? In other words, there
are situations where caretakers -- and I guess go back to section six,
the first --
MR. WRIGHT: I think I understand your question. Where are
the boundaries around that habitually occupied residential use.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah, Section 6 would be A,
parenthesis one. Should we put an exemption for caretakers? The code
calls them caretakers. They're clearly allowed in certain -- but it's
mostly industrial areas where you would expect it to be noisy. I mean
MR. WRIGHT: Well, I think that a caretaker would have a very
good argument, regardless of where they're located, that they are --
especially if they sleep there every night, that they're occupying
habitually occupied sleeping quarters. Regardless of where they're at,
those shall be considered residential use. There is some question about
where are the boundaries for that. Is it the property line? And that's not
addressed here. But I think in the case of a caretaker, we can add the
word caretakers.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, do we want to -- I was
thinking of exempting caretakers; in other words, not to include
caretakers. Do we want to provide this kind of noise protection for a
guy sleeping in the middle of an industrial zone? I mean --
MR. WRIGHT: Well, foreseeably it seems that the caretaker
would probably be working for that same sound generator. And if he
really wants to raise a stink, he might not be sleeping there.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, he could be the caretaker
across the street in, say, a mini storage or something and he's watching
-- you know, he's asleep at night; he's got nothing to do with that
business.
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I don't know, I just think if the caretaker section is really allowed
for industrial kind of things for more security, I don't think we need to
give that guy the same protection that these other residential areas
would have. That's all, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we're at the end of that document.
The second document back is the outdoor seating document that
we stopped talking about a long time ago.
Hopefully the results are that the noise ordinance covers and
takes care of any issues that could be created by an outdoor seating
ordinance, and then we don't need to establish a separate outdoor
seating ordinance, we can establish a noise ordinance that addresses
the issues to the extent they can be addressed and the noise ordinance
goes by the wayside.
I think after the discussions and hearing some of the comments
from staff, I'm not sure anything we do is going to get us a solution to
the problems that we have that are based on zoning. But this is
probably a far better document than the one that's currently in place.
Ms. Caron, then Mr. Vigliotti.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I'd like to hear from the
Sheriffs Department again and see where they think we're going with
this and is it going to help them or not. They're the ones who get the
complaints. And are we solving issues or not? Or are they going to get
the same complaints over and over and over again and say the same
thing to these poor people who cannot sleep at night, I'm sorry, there's
nothing I can do about it, lady.
I mean, I want solutions.
MR. BAKER: Sure. For the record, my name's Mark Baker, I'm
currently the captain of the patrol division, Collier County Sheriffs
Office.
What you have in front of you that's been worked by several
people -- and I'd like to thank Jeffs work on it, and Dave Scribner,
code enforcement, along with us working to massage this where we
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can have something that's definitely livable, will more than likely pass
Constitutional muster.
One of the things that helps us as the sheriffs office was when
you all planned and rewrote the rewrite to decriminalize the noise
ordinance and make it a civil penalty in front of the special magistrate.
That gives us a lot of leeway that when we do arrive on scene -- and
most of our calls come in residential areas for a loud neighbor or a
loud party or they've set up a band or DJ. on the lawn. This helps us,
because we get there and we obviously hear it and it's loud, raucous,
jarring and it's out of time, out of manner, out of place, unreasonable
for this type of noise, we go up there and tell them to turn it off or we
-- an officer discretion will always play into that. We give them a
chance to extinguish the noise or pack it up or quiet it down or
whatever the case may be to solve that community quality of life
Issue.
Should they choose not to do that and we come back or even at
that first initial response, which generally we try to educate the
personnel first, the offender, educate them first, engineering and
education enforcement is basically Sheriff Hunter and Sheriff Elect
Rambosk's philosophy.
So if you can't do it with engineering, meaning some of the
businesses that we've had that we've working with code and
engineering, education on what's going on around, then it becomes the
enforcement issue.
With being able to go in there and just cite the offender the civil
citation and have them appear in front of the magistrate, that helps us
tremendously.
Will it solve the zoning problems that you guys are talking about
today? Probably not. And again, it depends on what the noise is and is
it unreasonable.
Does that answer your question?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Strictly from a noise standpoint,
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will the Pebblebrook neighbors be helped? Strictly from noise, not
from zoning.
MR. BAKER: If you're talking about the human voices outside,
no.
COMMISSIONER CARON: So it doesn't matter what time of
day or night, when people are sitting outside screaming and laughing
and swearing and whatever else we can find on those tapes, this will
not help those people.
MR. BAKER: Different point. If they're breaching the peace and
we have a complainant and we arrive there for a disturbance type of
issue where their peace is being breached, then it would require a
sworn statement from them, as well as the witnessing officer must
witness that and agree that this is a breach of the peace to cite that
person with a state statute of breach of the peace, which would require
the offending person to also provide testimony in the county court as
to that violation, as well as the officer's own witness of that. They
would have to witness that violation.
In areas regardless of what location it is, if people are at a
location watching Sunday night football and the game ends and they
walk out of that establishment in the parking lot, some hundred people
and they're talking about how well their team did, that's probably not
going to rise to the level of unreasonableness to cite a person that we
could identify in that group that's causing a loud, raucous, jarring
nOIse.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: No.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh, I thought you had something.
Anything else, Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, I'm just -- you know, I keep
trying to think of the examples. I know that the Sheriffs Department
was called out to a condo in Imperial for -- and I don't remember the
name of -- Jack's Bait --
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November 6, 2008
MR. BAKER: Jack's Bait Shack.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- Shop is it -- yeah, Bait Shack.
Is what we have, is that going to be solved here?
MR. BAKER: We worked with code enforcement and Jack's
Bait Shack as far as bringing in acoustical engineering. Although we
didn't work as their agent, we tried to put all parties together, the
offended party, as well as code, and Dave Scribner can help us with
that. We took several readings at different times.
And the violation -- and please correct me if I misspeak -- the
noise meters that we use in the Sheriffs Department does have those
as well. Not every member, but we have an amount. We take the
readings and then they have to go back and be downloaded into a
piece of machinery that reads that out.
Now, we have worked with them. Now, at times they've not
been in violation when the person has made the complaint. So if
there's no violation, there's no violation to be cited.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Right.
MR. BAKER: And that's just where we're at. I mean, we can't
obviously enforce something that's not a violation of an ordinance or a
law.
COMMISSIONER CARON: No, I understand. But you did have
violations.
MR. BAKER: And I believe they did have two there.
MR. SCRIBNER: Yes, we did. We did have a couple of
violations there. They were cited. And we worked with them
afterwards. And really, what the violation was is the back door was
being left open. Music was going out through that door. Just keeping
the door shut solved the problem. But they were cited several times.
COMMISSIONER CARON: In a lot of these instances, it
usually can be something pretty simple. But unless you all are there to
tell people to do this, they won't do it. And people then will continue
to call, and we shouldn't be using our resources, our sheriffs resources
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or even code resources that way if it's as simple as shut the door.
MR. SCRIBNER: Well, I wish I could teach common sense, but
that's not always possible.
We have been able to work with that particular establishment.
And I don't know that we've had a complaint for a year or two --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Good.
MR. SCRIBNER: -- on that place. But others pop up. I mean, I
could name a half dozen right now that we have complaints about.
And we're taking a more active approach. Not waiting for
complaints to come in, we're actually sending people out with the
Sheriffs Department, taking noise readings around different
establishments to establish noise levels. And if we find some issues
that are coming up, we're getting on them before it becomes a
problem.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Let me ask the Sheriffs
Department, do you have equipment that has both the A scale and the
C scale?
MR. BAKER: Yes, we do.
COMMISSIONER CARON: So all of your equipment is that.
And you say a good majority of your officers have that
equipment, or what?
MR. BAKER: I don't know a number offhand. We have so many
in each district. And as you know, the county's divided into six
districts.
So if we have a -- the one good thing about this noise ordinance
that's drafted, we have those specific areas where we don't have to use
the meter. Now, if we have a repeat offender such as a business, then
that makes it easier for us to coordinate with code, have them come
out and let's work this as a case file to where we may even have a
nuisance abatement issue here or some other remedy, like I said, with
the engineering and education enforcement.
So a long-term established business there or a business that's
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creating noise, we definitely probably do not take action right at that
time if the officer does not have a meter present. But they would
document that incident. And if it meets the loud, raucous jarring,
obviously we can have them tone it down or we could now cite them.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Sure.
MR. BAKER: But if we don't feel like we're on solid ground
with citing them due to the ordinance or the officer's discretion, then
we put together a case file and we work with our partners to try to
solve that case.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Okay, great, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Commissioner Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And I don't, Dave, you can
answer it, you mentioned you were at the Bait Shack and there were
times where you couldn't cite them. But obviously were they making a
nuisance at that time?
In other words, what I'm trying to get at is we really want an
ordinance that if they're a nuisance, if they're making noise, they are
disturbing, that the ordinance will catch it in the reading.
MR. SCRIBNER: I can tell you that any time we found a
violation of the ordinance, we cited them for that. We gave them one
opportunity, we came back a couple of times, found violations. I think
they got two citations.
And it's the residents behind there. I wouldn't say -- I mean,
some people are obviously going to think it was a nuisance. I don't
know what happens when people leave the bar sometimes, that's an
issue, cars squealing in the parking lot. But we addressed it whenever
we found the violation.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But when you were standing
there and it's to you a nuisance just by your own personal instincts and
you -- were you getting readings that would cause a nuisance, or were
there times when you felt it was a nuisance but the readings just aren't
coming in?
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November 6, 2008
MR. SCRIBNER: I didn't take the readings myself so I can't
testify what the noise level was at that particular location.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Was that a frustration maybe
the Sheriffs Department has? Do you stand in situations where it's
obviously a nuisance, it's obviously annoying, yet your equipment is
not giving you the numbers you need to cite it?
MR. BAKER: This ordinance will allow us to cite them.
Because if the officer feels it's unreasonable, loud, raucous, jarring,
then we -- and we can find the offending party and we witness that, we
will cite them a citation that they would have to appear in front of the
magistrate.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. And you're familiar with
the Stevie Tomatoes situation a little bit?
MR. BAKER: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So if you were standing in the
neighbor's yard, would you cite these people out there screaming?
MR. BAKER: Well, and again, you're talking about officer
discretion, what they find to be unreasonable. So it is a subjective
standard.
The problem is, is when that group lets out, and I know we want
to focus on Steve Tomatoes, but it could be any establishment. When
a group of people walk out talking about how well their team did or
whatever they're happy about, all those voices together at one time in
a concrete environment of that cul-de-sac is probably going to be loud.
Now, is it going to be raucous, jarring and unreasonable for the
time, the location and the activity? I can't attest to that unless I'm
there.
Now, if somebody's in the parking lot yelling obscenities,
jumping up and down, and we have somebody who's saying hey, this
person's out of control, they're breaching my peace, then obviously we
have a state statute that we can fallen (sic) under as far as if they'll
give us a sworn statement and we witness that. We can take care of
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that issue.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And I don't think we're
concerned about the spontaneous, you know, situation like people
leaving the bar. Maybe that happens periodically more than it should,
but it's the -- I think the thing that's constant that's disturbing them.
Let me ask David a question. David, the -- and I live in a
situation near a club where the music's fine, you could barely hear it
inside, but obviously they took the trash out every half hour and at that
time you heard it.
Would this ordinance stop that? Because remember, there is the
instantaneous thing. In other words, the timing of this might be that if
the guy opens the door and closes it, we wouldn't ever have a citation.
MR. SCRIBNER: Intermittent noise. The this ordinance isn't
made to make things absolutely quiet. I would be remiss to try and tell
you that it would be a violation or wouldn't be without actually being
there. I can't make that judgment at this point.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So there's nothing in here that
would force them to build a foyer or something to stop that noise.
MR. SCRIBNER: Again, if I went out there and I saw this
happening, and even if it wasn't a violation, our policy has always
been to go and talk to the owner of the business and say you want to
be a good business person, you want to succeed in this community,
you've got to get along with your neighbors. And most business
operators are very in tuned to taking care of their neighbors. Some
better than others. But for the most part we have businesses that do
complain. We have a lot of businesses in this community that are very
well within the noise limits. And we just have a few that have some
issues. And some comply, some work at it, and others we'll deal with.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: All right, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: The only statement I wanted to
make is I agree with you that this noise ordinance seems to be
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something that the Sheriffs Department thinks will work better and so
does everybody else, so I see no need for the seating ordinance at this
time also.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that, Ray, do we have any
public speakers? Thank you, gentlemen.
MR. BELLOWS: No speakers.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I see Doug even shaking his head no.
That means he blesses this, accepts this and says it's the greatest thing
since sliced bread, so --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Mr. Chair?
COMMISSIONER CARON: We must have done something
wrong.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. What I'd like to suggest is we
finally get this off our plate. And we've made some -- it's going to
come back on a consent for some tweaks that we've suggested.
I think out of everything we've talked about, the only one I --
Mr. Murray had a couple of cleanups to some language. We talked
about adding -- I mentioned one where we added a violation after
adjudication.
But the idea of adding the inside decibel levels from table three
to table one, is that the consensus of this group as well?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, we could, yeah, maybe
reference on the bottom of table one that it also has to meet that or
something.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I don't care how it's done. Is that okay
with anybody?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: As long as it's not technically
invalid, I can support that. And I think that you had indicated you
wanted to make sure --
MR. WRIGHT: I'll check on that, yes.
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November 6, 2008
COMMISSIONER MURRA Y: -- that it was not a problem.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there any other concerns that
we have?
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I do. And Doug was not in the
room when this was being done.
Doug, in the mixed use projects -- can you come up one second
and let me ask you a question.
Doug, is it your understanding that the mixed use -- and the
concern I had is that the first sentence of it on Page 15, and the last
sentence that starts on Page 15 seemed to conflict with me. But is it
your intent that this is an ordinance to be used within a mixed use
project, as opposed to the mixed use project to the surrounding
neighbors?
MR. LEWIS: Doug Lewis, for the record, with Roetzel and
Andress, here on behalf of Lutgert.
The intent is that the sound generating source within a mixed use
and where you have a sound receiving site, residential unit within a
mixed use community, if those are in the same, then the intent that
these standards would apply. When you're within the mixed use, you
would look at these indoor standards.
When you have a situation where you have a sound generator
from within a mixed use, a commercial business, projecting sound
outside of the mixed use project into an abutting residential
community, then the table one limits would apply.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. In other words,
remember that last sentence, let me read it read quick: For purposes of
this ordinance, sound level limits applicable to the mixed use project
shall not apply to the sound affected residential land use. Okay, I -- all
right. If you're comfortable with that. Because I know you represent
clients that build mixed use units. Okay, then I'm comfortable with it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we have reached a level of
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November 6, 2008
comfort, although maybe not complete happiness. We need a
recommendation to forward this document so it can come back on
consent to the BCC with the discussions as noted, and the same
recommendation to dismiss -- recommend dismissal of the outdoor
seating ordinance.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti made the motion as stated,
seconded by Mr. Wolfley.
Is there any discussion?
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: I would just say, somebody needs
to hang on to that outdoor seating in case we run into additional
problems.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And as we go on, if this needs -- if the
history shows or examples in the field show it needs to be tweaked,
I'm sure code enforcement will be back here recommending changes,
and it will be easier to change this than it would be other things. So
you still have that protection.
Okay, with that we'll call for the vote. All in favor, signify by
saymg aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
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November 6, 2008
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion finally carries 9-0 after 18
months or more. So glad this one's put to bed.
MR. WRIGHT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Or at least comes back on consent.
Hopefully that's simple.
With that, there's no new business, there's no public comment. Is
there a motion to adjourn.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti. Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
MR. WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We're adjourned. Thank you.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 1 :52 p.m.
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November 6, 2008
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Mark Strain, Chairman
These minutes approved by the board on
presented or as corrected
as
Transcript prepared on behalf of Gregory Reporting Service, Inc., by
Cherie' R. Nottingham.
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