CCPC Minutes 12/17/2009 R
December 17,2009
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Naples, Florida
December 17,2009
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
Donna Reed-Caron
Karen Homiak
Tor Kolflat
Paul Midney
Bob Murray
Brad Schiffer
Robert Vigliotti
David 1. Wolfley
ALSO PRESENT:
Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney
Ray Bellows, Zoning Manager
Thomas Eastman, Real Property Director, CC School District
Page 1
AGENDA
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET AT 8:30 A.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17,
2009, IN THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ROOM, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, 3301 TAMIAMI 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 MAYBE ALLOTTED 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK ON
AN ITEM IF SO RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRMAN. PERSONS WISHING TO HAVE
WRlTTEN 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 MATERlAL USED IN PRESENT A TIONS BEFORE THE CCPC
WILL BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF THE RECORD AND WILL BE
A V AILABLE FOR PRESENT A TION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION ERS
IF APPLICABLE.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THE CCPC WILL NEED
A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAfNING 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.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
3. ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. Revisions to the GMP amendment hearing schedule for the Transmittal of the Immokalee Area Master
Plan petition CP-2008-5
5. PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENCES
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 AUIR, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 AUIR, AND
OCTOBER 29, 2009 CONTINUE AUIR TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT AND GMP AMENDMENT
7. BCC REPORT- RECAPS - DECEMBER 1,2009
8. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
9. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
A. Petition: SV-PL2009-1165, Benderson Properties, Inc., represented by Bruce Anderson, Esquire of
Roetzel & Andress, LPA, is requesting a variance from Subsection 5.06.04.FA. of the LDC which allows
one wall, mansard, canopy or awning sign for each unit in a multi-occupancy parcel to allow two (2) wall,
mansard, canopy or awning signs per unit in a multi-occupancy parcel with one sign facing the abutting
road and one sign facing the internal parking area. The subject property is located at 13555 Tamiami
Trail North and 895 Wiggins Pass Road at the northwest corner of Tamiami Trail North (US 41
North) and Wiggins Pass Road, in Section 16, Township 48 South, Range 25 East, Collier County,
Florida. (Coordinator: Nancy Gundlach, AICP)
1
B. Petition: RZ-2008-AR-13951. Olde Florida Golf Cluh. Inc., represented by John Passidomo of Cheffy
Passidomo, and Margaret C. Perry, AICP, of Wi]sonMiller Inc., is requesting a standard rezone from the
Golf Course (GC) zoning district and the Rura] Fringe Mixed Use District-Neutral Lands Zoning Overlay
District to the Agricu]ture (A) zoning district and the Rural Fringe Mixed Use District-Neutral Lands
Zoning Overlay District. The subject property, consisting of 553.6H acres, is located on the Vanderbilt
Beach Road Extension, approximately 2 miles east of the Vanderbilt Beach Road (CR 862) and
Collier Bonlevard (CR 951) intersection, in Section 31, Township 48 South, Range 27 East, Collier
County, Florida. (Coordinator: Kay Deselem, AICP)
C. Petition: PUDZ-2007-AR-11398, Shoesop Properties, LLC, represented by Timothy Hancock, AICP, of
Davidson Engineering, Inc. is requesting a rezone from the Estates (E) Zoning District to the Commercial
Planned Unit Development (CPUD) Zoning District for a 25,000 square-foot commercia] retail and office
development to be known as Fakahatchee Plaza CPUD. The 5.46-acre subject property is located at the
northwest corner of the Golden Gate Boulevard (CR 876) and Everglades Boulevard intersection in
Section 6, Township 49 South, Range 28 East, Collier County, Florida. (Coordiuator: John-David Moss,
AICP)
10. ADVERTISED PU8LIC HEARINGS
A. Petition: PUDZ-2007-AR-12294, Theresa Cook, Executive Director of the Collier County Airport
Authority and CDC Land Investments, Inc., represented by D. Wayne Arnold, A]CP, of Q. Grady
Minor and Associates, requests a rezone from the Industrial (I) and the Rural Agricultura] with a Mobi]e
Home Overlay (A-MHO) Zoning Districts to the Airport Operations Planned Unit Development Zoning
District (AOPUD) for a project to be known as the Immokalee Regional Airport Planned Unit
Development. This project proposes to allow development of a maximum of 5,000,000 square feet of
aviation and non-aviation development on ] ,484* acres of land located north of CR 846, in Sections 25,
26, 27, 34, 35, 36, Township 46 South, Range 29 East, and Sections 2 and 3, Township 47 South,
Range 29 East, Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: Kay Dcselem, AICP) (CONTINUED FROM
NOVEMBER, 19,2009)
8. Petition: V A-PL2009-1460, Michel Saadeh of the Vineyards Development Corporation is requesting a
Variance of 34.6 feet from the minimum 50-foot setback requirement from abutting residential districts of
Ordinance No. 9]-75 (the Vineyards PUD) to allow a ]5.4-foot setback for a maintenance building from an
ahutting residential district; and a Variance Irom the IO-foot wide buffer width requirement of Land
Development Code (LDC) Subsection 4.06.02 C.I. to allow all ofthe required plant material to be located
in separate I O-foot wide buffer areas adjacent to the aforementioned abutting residential district. The 1.21-
acre subject property is located at 400 Vineyards Boulevard, in Section 5, Township 49 South, Range 26
East, Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: John-David Moss, A]CP)
C. Petition: PUDA-PL2009-781, Craig T. Bouchard of Tennis Realty, LLC represented by Michael R.
Fernandez, AICP of Planning Development Inc., is requesting an amendment to the Nap]es 8ath and
Tennis Club Planned Unit Development (PUD) (Ord. No. 8]-61) to revise the site development plan
approval process for the transient lodging facilities accessory use and adding development standards for
transient lodging facilities, by amending the development plan cover page; by amending Section II, Project
Development, Subsection 2.3.8.; by amending Section IV, Tract B: Rccreationa] Club Development,
Subsection 4.3.8.3); by amending Section IX. Development Standards, adding Section 9.12,
Transportation Improvements and any other stipulations or regulations that may result from the amendment
process pertaining to transient lodging facility units within the 20* acre Tract 8 of the 153.7 acre project.
The subject property is located on the west side of Airport-Pulling Road, between Pine Ridge Road
and Golden Gate Parkway in Section 14, Township 49S, Range 25E, Collier County, Florida.
(Coordinator: Kay Deselcm, AICP)
2
D. Petition: pUDZ-A-2006-AR-I0318. Pawel and Teryl Brzeski, Magnolia Pond Holdings, LLC and
Teryl Brzeski, Trustee of the Land Trust # I-B, represented by Davidson Engineering and Patrick White
of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, LLP, are requesting a rezone from the Magno]ia Pond Planned Unit
Deve]opment (PUD), Ordinance No. 98-49, and Rural Agriculture (A) Zoning Districts to a Mixed-Use
Planned Unit Development (MPUD) to be known as Magnolia Pond MPUD, pennitting 231 multi-family
dwelling units and/or an assisted living facility (ALF) at a floor area ratio of .60 with the applicant seeking
to add an additional 5 acres to the site. The subject property is 47.0H acres and is located on the north
side of the 1-75 right-of-way and half mile west of Collier Boulevard (CR-951) in Section 34,
Township 49 South, Range 26 East, Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: Melissa Zone)
11. OLD 8USlNESS
12. PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM
]3. DISCUSSION OF ADDENDA
14. ADJOURN
11/7/09 cepe AgendaIRay Bellows/ld
3
December 17,2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Good morning. Okay, everybody,
please take your seats. I've got to ask that you refrain from discussion,
because there's a lot of people in the room and we have to move
through this meeting today. Based on how many are here, looks like
it's going to be a long meeting, but that's what we're here for.
So with that, would you all please rise for pledge of allegiance.
(Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
Item #2
ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, will the secretary please do the
roll call.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Mr. Eastman?
MR. EASTMAN: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Ko\f1at?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Strain?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Vigliotti is
present.
Commissioner Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yes, sir.
Page 2
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: And Commissioner Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you.
Item #3
ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Addenda to the agenda. Ray, do we
have any changes to today's agenda?
MR. BELLOWS: None on my part.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, just so the audience knows, we
have quite a few controversial subjects today, so I don't know who's
here for what. But let me tell you what the process is. We have -- the
first part of the meeting will be some housekeeping matters, a short
discussion of what's called the consent agenda, and that will all be
done in a very short period of time.
Our advertised public hearings, we have four ofthem. The first
one up will be a continued item. And we normally hear continued
items first from prior meetings out of fairness, because they were here
at a prior meeting waiting to be heard. That one will be up first, and
it's the Immokalee Airport Master -- or PUD.
The second item is a variance request for the Vineyards; that will
be up following the Immokalee one.
The third one will be the Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
And then the last one will be one called Magnolia Pond, which is
a PUD out on 951 and 1-75.
And that -- I was kind of filling you in for those of you here for a
specific item. The way we handle our meeting -- and I'm going to
start talking slower, because I can tell Cherie's getting very impatient
with me.
We have a court reporter here. Everything is -- minutes are
Page 3
December 17,2009
taken, and everything is televised, so we do need to talk a little slower,
and we do need to not talk over one another.
You all are more than welcome to speak. We're here to listen to
you, and we will stay until you're through speaking. We certainly
want to hear what everybody has to say today.
I've got to ask, though, that you're respectful of the time. And if
you simply agree with the party that may have already said something
that you were going to say, just say so when you stand up. That will
be certainly helpful.
Item #4A
NEW BUSINESS - REVISIONS TO THE GMP AMENDMENT
HEARING SCHEDULE
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: The -- well, the first process that we're
going to get into is our new business item, which is a discussion of
master -- scheduling for the Immokalee Area Master Plan.
And David, that's another thing everybody should know, last
night the Planning Commission was in Immokalee; I think we left
there a little before 8:00. That means we got back and to our homes
between 9:00 and 10:00, and I had another meeting after that. So if
we seem a little tired or wired on coffee, we've been at it a long time,
so -- and David, I know I've got some comments about last night. And
I'm assuming you're going to talk to us about scheduling the
Immokalee Area Master Plan?
MR. WEEKS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: David, before you start, last
night we had it out in Immokalee. The turnout wasn't the best. There
was a few people from the public there. I expected more. Our next
meeting scheduled in February, I'd like to bring up to the board maybe
Page 4
December 17, 2009
having it here rather than us going out in Immokalee. The people in
Immokalee had a chance last night to step up to the plate and evidently
they don't have a lot of questions to ask. And they can come here next
time. So if this room is available and it's okay with the board, I'd
suggest having the next meeting here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, and I think we ought to -- the
board members ought to discuss that. Because, you know, we went to
Immokalee at the request of the CRA. They heavily advertised the
meeting. In fact, I had a pre-meeting with the CRA to discuss the
agenda. And even during that meeting I was told that there were some
churches that generally meet on Wednesday nights and it was causing
a conflict, but they would see to it that their parishioners and
everybody as much as they wanted to could attend that meeting that
we had last night, because it was that important.
As you know, when everybody settled in there was about, I
would estimate, 30 to 40 people, maybe 35, something like that. And
one of the members of the CRA asked for everybody who was a
member of the boards in the community to stand up. Well, that was
nice, but we were there to try to see what the public wanted to hear.
And when I asked them, I said wait a minute, before you all sit
down, just those that are members of a board or members who have
been involved with the process sit down and leave remaining those
citizens who have not been participatory in this and who are really the
citizens we are trying to reach. Well, as you saw, with the exception
of Nicole, we had nine or 10 people there last night that were really
maybe representative of citizens who had not been aware or involved
in the process.
As the night went on, we asked for speakers. I think you saw we
had predominantly one speaker. And that went on most of the
evening. And towards the end of the evening when everything was
wrapping up, a gentleman or two stood up to finally say something.
It was not the kind of turnout I had expected. 1 was very
Page 5
December 17, 2009
disappointed that with all the advertising -- and as you know, going
into town there's only a couple roads, and on one of those on the end
we came in there was a billboard that was flashing about the meeting.
So it wasn't like it wasn't advertised.
So I'm willing to move forward with whatever this board wants.
It's certainly not a sole decision of the chairman. But I ask that one
thing, whatever this board decides this morning, before we lock it in,
ifthere's time, I'd like to talk to the commissioner from the district to
explain to him what had occurred. Because he was there for the first
hour or so or two, maybe, last night, but then he missed the latter part
where the public involvement wasn't there.
Now, with that in mind, I certainly want to look to the rest of the
board members for any discussion on the matter.
And Paul, you're from Immokalee, what did you think? If you
don't mind me putting you on the spot. I'm sorry.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: That's all right.
I think that it's hard for people to understand our proceedings in
Immokalee. Not that it's not important, but our meetings are rather
abstract. And I think that it might not be too far out ofline if we did
come back here. I think that the people who are really concerned with
the process would probably come to the meeting out here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I think we need to be aware too
that the next meeting will not be an informal smiley relaxed meeting.
It will be a very intense meeting on the sentence-by-sentence,
word-for-word, paragraph-by-paragraph of 30 some odd pages of a
master plan.
Other than us, I don't know anybody in their right mind who
would want to sit through all that. So -- and I'm not sure we do either.
But it has to be done to do it right.
And what does the -- anybody else have any comments? Does
anybody object to the request of bringing it back here?
Mr. Murray?
Page 6
December 17, 2009
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I will just say that it was a good
thing that we attempted to do. It was the right thing to do. But given
the cost of all the equipment, all the personnel and everything else
relative to what we think we can expect as a turnout out there,
especially because this is going to be a very tedious activity, even if
people were to show up initially, I suspect in short order they would
be leaving. So I do think that it probably should be here where we
have the facility, we have the equipment, and if we need additional
staffwe can get them really quickly to answer questions. So I think
perhaps it's the right thing to do now to stay here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: David, lacking any objection, I think we
ought to look for -- look to try to schedule it in these chambers or at
least here in the coastal area at this point. I'll discuss it with the
commissioner and explain to him the circumstances so everybody can
try to understand the best they can.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: 1--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: -- need to ask David a question.
David, was it you that said that next time we meet for this that we
were going to meet in a community park?
MR. WEEKS: Ifwe meet in lmmokalee -- for the record, David
Weeks, Comprehensive Planning Manager for the county.
Ifwe do meet on February 16th in Immokalee, it would have to
be at the Immokalee Community Park.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That's what I thought you said.
MR. WEEKS: But the building we were at last night, that room
is not available.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And how many people would
that have held?
MR. WEEKS: That would accommodate over 100.
Page 7
December] 7, 2009
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But based on last night, I don't think
you'd have anybody but us and maybe one person in the audience, so
MR. WEEKS: If I might, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes.
MR. WEEKS: The -- Mr. Murray made a comment that touches
on the differences. As far as the expense goes, it's actually not
significant. Last night was far more expensive than it would be to
hold your hearing there, and the reason for that was because the sound
equipment had to be provided by an outside entity, which is much
more expensive. It would be no cost if it were provided by county
staff. But those facilities were not available, the equipment was not
available last night.
The other thing was we had a minute taker doing the summary
minutes last night. The cost for them is actually -- it's different than
for the court reporter. And because we're talking about a regular
advertised hearing, the court reporter cost would be the same,
regardless of the location.
But kind of get to the bottom line on the cost, to hold the meeting
out in Immokalee, approximately $100, a little bit over that. The
rental of the van to take you out there for those of you interested, and
then also for the rental of the meeting facility.
The more significant difference is that when you hold your
hearing here, it can be broadcast live. If it's held in Immokalee, then it
is taped and then replayed at a later date only.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: David, I saw a summary of cost
prepared by Joe Schmitt. It was nowhere close to the number you're
talking about. Last night's meeting, because of staff time -- if you're
telling me that for four -- including driving six hours, you only charge
the county $100, you're a great employee, and we need more like you.
And if that's the rate of pay you're willing to accept, I think that's a
Page 8
December 17,2009
good idea.
So you've got to factor in that on the master plan hearing, most of
the comprehensive staff would have to be there who's involved and a
myriad of other support staff. And it would need to be media
advertise -- everything would have to be done straight up like we're
here. So I don't want to mislead anybody, it's not $100. The van
might be, but there's a lot more to it than that.
MR. WEEKS: I'll clarify. I'm talking about out-of-pocket
expense. Because staff will be paid regardless of where the meeting is
at.
But you're certainly right, the travel time out and back, 15
minutes to get from our offices down here and 15 minutes back,
perhaps, traveling to Immokalee is about an hour each way, but I'll
stop there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: David, what's the matter?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I was just saying, I think we all
get it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I want to continue with the
conversation, David. I mean, we're not in a hurry to settle this. This is
an important issue for our 16th meeting. We need to get it resolved.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. Well, shall we take a
vote?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, I want David to tell us what's open
on the 16th of February.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay.
MR. WEEKS: These chambers are still open on the 16th.
They're still reserved for this body.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. At this point let's tentatively
keep it reserved. And when is your advertising date?
MR. WEEKS: It would be late January. We have time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. If something radical changes, we
always can -- we'll have another meeting or two before then. We'll get
Page 9
December 17, 2009
back with you.
Anybody object to that process at all?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
MR. WEEKS: Mr. Chairman, would you like us to put it on the
agenda for maybe your first meeting in January?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: As a check, yeah, that would be a good
move. Thank you.
MR. WEEKS: Thank you.
Item #5
PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENCES
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Planning Commission absences.
Our next meeting is actually going to be next year.
And Ray, am I right, in this -- well, am I right, is your calendar
right? It says January 5th we have a meeting?
MR. BELLOWS: Not on January 5th.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It's on your calendar --
MR. BELLOWS: January 7th meeting.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: The calendar that has yellow CCPCICIE
adoption hearing at 8:30 on January 5th. So I guess that's not right.
MR. BELLOWS: Yeah, I have I believe the revised calendar.
It's not shown on mine.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, well, I'll cross it off mine then.
We're looking at the 7th?
MR. BELLOWS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Next meeting is our regular meeting on
the 7th. Does anybody know if they're not going to be here?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I think I might not.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, maybe one no, so that's -- that
Page 10
December 17,2009
leaves a quorum.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: According to this calendar, we
have a CIE adoption hearing on the 5th.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's what we just talked about. Yeah,
that's the one that David -- that's not going to happen now.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Oh, okay. So that one--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So we can take that one off our
calendars and -- we have a quorum for the 7th, that's what counts.
And we'll have a meeting that day, like usual.
Item #6
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 AUIR,
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 AUIR AND OCTOBER 29, 2009
CONTINUED AUIR TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT AND GMP
AMENDMENT
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Approval of minutes. We'll have to take
them one at a time. And there's three sets. Is there a motion it
approve or correct September 21 st, 2009 AUIR minutes?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved to approve.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti. Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I will.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
Page 11
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
September 23rd, 2009, same. Is there a --
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Motion--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- motion?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: (Indicating.)
Seconded by Mr. Schiffer.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
And October 29th, 2009.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved to approve.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti.
Page 12
December 17, 2009
Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: (Indicating.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signifY by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
Ray, BCC reports.
MR. BELLOWS: Board of County Commissioners met last
Tuesday. There were no land use items on their agenda for that
meeting, so I have no recap for you today.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. And no chairman's report for
today. We have enough on our agenda without that.
Item #9 A
PETITION: SV-PL2009-1165, BENDERSON PROPERTIES, INC.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Consent agenda items. First one up is
the Petition SV-PL2009-1165, the Benderson properties. That's on
Wiggins Pass Road.
Page 13
"_""_"__<_'__'_'M._,.~_"~^_,.,~,, , .<..,c._..____,.."..'.",.""_.._,,._,~_
December 17,2009
Is there corrections, changes, concerns from the Planning
Commission?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ifnot, is there a motion to recommend
approval?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, I'll make a motion to
approve. I would like to ask one question of Mr. Schiffer.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Let's get a second to your motion first,
then we'll go into discussion.
Mr. -- who wants to second?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Now.
COMMISSIONER CARON: You had asked to have a change,
exhibit change. Is that satisfactory to you?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I think so, yeah. They've
moved the stuff out of the way.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Seemed to be to me, so I just
wanted to make sure. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, there's been a motion made,
seconded to approve.
All those in favor, signifY by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Page 14
December 17,2009
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries 9-0.
Item #9B
PETITION: RZ-2008-AR-13951, OLDE FLORIDA GOLF CLUB,
INC.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Petition RZ-2008-AR-13951, the Olde
Florida Golf Club. It's on Vanderbilt Beach Road extension.
Is there a discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is there a motion to approve?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti.
Seconded by? Anybody.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Second.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Me.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, the hand went up first. Ms.
Homiak seconded.
All in favor, signifY by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
Page 15
December 17, 2009
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
Item #9C
PETITION: PUDZ-2007-AR-11398, SHOESOP PROPERTIES, LLC
CJAIRMAN STRAIN: Next petition for final one on consent,
PUDZ-2007-AR-11398, Shoeso Properties, LLC, also known as the
Fakahatchee Plaza CPUD.
Any discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, is there a--
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- motion?
Mr. Vigliotti.
COMMISSIONER CARON: There is --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh, J.D.
MR. MOSS: Yes. Excuse me, Mr. Strain. For the record, I just
wanted to draw to your attention that the Exhibit A with this
ordinance, number 94 and number 151, staff has included that neither
of these uses will contain adult oriented businesses. And that was not
something that was recommended by the Planning Commission, but
we were afraid that it was something that would come up at the time
of Board of County Commissioners hearing.
And we spoke with the applicant, he has no objection to us
incorporating that. So as long as you all are satisfied with that.
The other thing is you had asked us to replace the transportation
exhibit that was used as Exhibit C in this PUD document with one that
was not -- that had removed all the transportation references to it. And
the wrong one was included and I have the correct one here, if I could
put it on the visualizer.
Page 16
December 17,2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go right ahead.
And J.D., on your other item about the adult businesses?
MR. MOSS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: They're prohibited by the GMP. We
have a list of prohibitive uses, I believe, in our GMP for Golden Gate.
I thought that was one of them. So in that case, that's why --
MR. MOSS: No, sir, I don't see it on the list of prohibited uses.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Really?
MR. MOSS: Because all of those from the GMP were
incorporated into the PUD document.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, well, thanks for catching it. I'm
going to double check the --
MR. MOSS: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Because I know we had that discussion
and it was supposed to be one, but somehow it got missed.
MR. MOSS: So those are the only changes I wanted to bring to
your attention.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, anybody have any concerns or
questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Vigliotti, your motion -- did
you still want to make a motion to approve?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Motion to approve with the
changes J.D. just brought up.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is there a second?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Seconded by Mr. Murray.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
Page 17
-'-.---""'----
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
Item #lOA
PETITION: PUDZ-2007-AR-12294, IMMOKALEE REGIONAL
AIRPORT PUD
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, that takes us to the first of four of
our public hearings. The first one is Petition PUDZ-2007-AR-12294.
Those wishing to participate in this item, please rise to be sworn
in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Disclosures on the part of Planning
Commission?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes, I spoke briefly last night with
Mr. Arnold. We haven't really discussed much, but --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, I think I had numerous
discussions with Mr. Arnold, but I think he's the only one involving
the issue.
Anybody else? Mr. Midney.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I had a lot of discussions with
Mr. Arnold. And also Shane -- I forgot your last name.
MR. ARNOLD: Shane Johnson --
Page 18
"'-"-"'.--,.,'.", "--~~'-'-'-~-'..'
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Johnson, thank you.
MR. ARNOLD: -- for the record, from Passarella and
Associates.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that in mind, we'll move
forward.
Wayne, your presentation?
MR. ARNOLD: Thank you. I'm Wayne Arnold with Grady
Minor, and I'm representing today the Collier County Airport
Authority on their rezoning of the property out at the Immokalee
Regional Airport.
With me today is Shane Johnson from Passarella and Associates,
the environmental consultant on the project. We understand that even
though the EAC approved the project, that there were possibly some
environmental questions, so Shane is in attendance to answer any
questions you may have.
Debbie Brueggerman, who is the new interim executive director
of the Airport Authority, will be joining us. I don't see her in the
audience yet, but she should be there. Oh, there she is. Thank you.
Debbie Brueggerman. Thank you.
I guess I'll start out with the location exhibit. I know that you
were all out in Immokalee last night and probably didn't venture far
enough to see the airport property, but the airport consists of about
1,380 acres, plus or minus, today. We're proposing to rezone that
acreage that's currently zoned industrial along with about 103 acres
that lies immediately east of the airport property that's presently zoned
agricultural. So the action today would rezone the entirety of those
two parcels to an airport operations planned unit development.
And as I start into that, I'd like to maybe talk a little bit about the
airport itself and what's there. It's an important asset for the
Immokalee community . You heard last night the master planning
efforts and the focus on economic amount development. So they're
putting a lot of emphasis on the airport as being this hub for future
Page 19
December 17,2009
cargo and research and development industrial opportunities.
Right now out at the airport you have three runways. Two are
active. Both are about 5,000 feet in length.
The proposed master plan that we're working on will show
opportunities for extension of the east-west runway that's on your
screen up there.
Presently there are about 10 hangar buildings on the property.
There are today three commercial/industrial buildings on the property.
There's a general aviation building, there's a fuel farm on-site, there's a
caretaker residence and there's also a utility site out there that houses a
water treatment facility. And I'll go through that a little more
specifically with you on the master plan.
One thing I wanted to talk about, and it's a little confusing so I
wanted to get it out on the table. Collier County Airport Authority
and your Board of County Commissioners have already adopted
what's known as an Airport Master Plan. That's a separate document
that is done in conjunction with the FAA. County adopted its latest
version in April of this past year.
That Airport Master Plan looks at existing facilities, it looks at
aircraft needs, it looks at maintenance, it looks at operations and then
it takes you into the future with a land use program that also then
looks at the operational characteristics that the airport will need to
respond to future growth.
That Airport Master Plan gets updated, I wouldn't say on an
annual basis, but it does get updated, and those get adopted by the
board. Those master plans do not come to the Planning Commission.
That's -- it's an exercise that's conducted between the Airport
Authority and the Board of County Commissioners.
But what we're attempting to do with the PUD process is to bring
forward a master plan that's part of the PUD that looks more similarly
to the long-term strategic plan that has already been adopted by your
board. Right now you have industrial zoning on the property. You
Page 20
December 17, 2009
don't have a master plan of development. That's problematic for the
county in a couple of ways. Because one, the county doesn't really
have any reference plan to look at because your community
development staff is not involved in the former master planning
exercise either. So they have conventionally zoned industrial land.
But when things like the National Guard or a spec industrial
building comes along, they really have no reference point to look at
the airport property and determine whether it fits in with the master
plan, how it relates to anything else that's happening. And if you have
more than one application pending at a time, it's problematic from the
way their review process is established.
So we hope that at the end of the day, by adopting a PUD master
plan and a PUD document that outlines the uses and where things will
be located out there, that it makes the economic development that is
going to occur out there occur more easily and that process works
more seamlessly than it has in the past.
So I wanted to get that on the table. Because we use these terms
kind of interchangeably as we've been working through Airport
Master Plan. But I'm going to try to be very specific. And if I
reference Airport Master Plan, that means the document that you all
have not reviewed, and I'll refer to the PUD master plan for the item
that you're reviewing today.
You heard the Immokalee Master Plan last night. That's a copy of
the adopted Future Land Use Map for the Immokalee Area Master
Plan. You can see the gray shading is the industrial designation for
the Immokalee Master Plan. You can see the airport facilities
highlighted inside that area. The one area that we're adding is not
shown on that, and it's an extension immediately to the east of 103
acres. You probably saw last night that the consultant working for the
CRA and working on the master plan update for the Immokalee area
does include that 103-acre as what's now going to be known as the
Airport Industrial Subdistrict. And we can talk about any of that as
Page 21
December I 7, 2009
we need to.
I wanted to also talk a little bit about not just the PUD master
plan, but I wanted to show you the future what's called the ultimate
airport land use plan, and that's out of the document that was known as
the Airport Master Plan for the Immokalee Regional Airport.
It's sort of similar to a Future Land Use Map, if you will, but just
for the airport property. And it identifies by color coding where we're
going to have those types of uses that rely directly on the airport and
its immediate facilities such as taxiways and the airports, and those are
known as aviation related development.
The yellow areas are known as some of the industrial
development areas -- I'm sorry, the gray areas are the industrial
development areas. And those are areas that do not have to have
airport access per se and could be standalone manufacturing, industrial
or any of the other uses we're proposing in the list of schedule of uses
that we have.
But I wanted you to see that, because it's sort of the basis for
establishing the PUD master plan that we have. And I've got a
colorized version of the document that's in your packet. That is our
PUD master plan. And it -- we didn't divide this one into aviation
related, non-aviation related. We looked at it more of an airport
operations, which is the area not only in yellow, but some of the
green. I highlighted what's known as a runway protection zone at the
end of those runways. They have other development restrictions.
They're still part of the airport operations tract, but they have
development restrictions with building heights and placement and
things like that. So I wanted to highlight those.
The other areas that are shown in gray are going to be primarily
the industrial development areas for the site. The area to the east that's
shown as the 103 acres is known as the expansion tract. And let me
talk about that and then get that out of the way and we'll focus on
really the airport operations.
Page 22
. .....,,--_..----.__.._.~,.
December 17, 2009
The 1 03-acre expansion tract is important for the very long-term
plan for the airport to have a runway extension. And that would then
potentially allow runway extension into that area. It then pushes out a
runway protection zone beyond their property boundary.
This property, the way we've added it to the PUD document,
because that area is technically in your rural lands stewardship
program area, we're restricted in our PUD document until that master
plan effort is complete and that the line work is changed to only those
uses that are allowed today in agricultural zoning, with the exception
of what's known as -- we added a reference to -- it's Item E in the list
of uses under this tract, and it's listed as navigational aides. And that's
really so that beacons or some signage related to the runways and
things like that could be placed there. But otherwise, we're restricted
to agricultural uses, and there won't be any industrial development
there until the future master plan is revised.
So for the most part I think our discussion today will focus on the
airport property that we have and in ownership today. And I should
mention too that that 1 03-acre tract is owned by somebody other than
the Collier County Airport Authority. It's owned by Collier
Development Corporation. And they've authorized us to represent
them as well on this application.
The -- also of note on that master plan that's on your screen is the
utility tract. That's one change that was made. Mr. Strain and I met,
and while it was always shown on our line work as an airport
operations tract, it really wasn't identified as the utility site that it's
intended to be. So we've labeled that utility site, and it's a small area
shown on the western side of the property.
We also have an extensive preserve. We have far more preserve
than the County's required preserve, because the county's preservation
requirements are based on existing native vegetation, and then the
preservation of that.
We have a preservation area that is much larger than required for
Page 23
December 17,2009
a couple of reasons. One, there's already a conservation easement that
encumbers all of that property, plus some additional land. So the PUD
zoning and a conservation easement that's in place don't exactly
match. And I know it's a little bit confusing, but the reason they don't
is because they were created for two separate purposes.
The conservation easement included some areas that were
already cleared, it includes some roads, some ditches and things like
that. We took those areas out for the establishment of our preservation
area for the zoning document.
So I can try to clear up that confusion, and that may be a question
we need Shane Johnson from Passarella to further address when we
get there.
I did want to talk a little bit about the overall process that we've
had. We did have a neighborhood information meeting out in
Immokalee it was not highly attended. But [ think too as the master
planning effort, this process has been ongoing. The Airport Authority
has had meetings in Immokalee, so there's been no expressed
opposition to the project. There seems to be wide community support
for it. And with that, it takes me into a couple of issues that are -- 1
mentioned to you last night and for the public's benefit that's listening
today. The airport is intended to allow industrial development and
some other uses that we've added to our list of uses that will relate to
the long-term development of the airport as an economic hub. But
there are a couple of unique characteristics for the airport that are out
there today, and we've made provisions for them. And that is on the
northern tract right now that's on our master plan, that is a sod farm.
And that's a good source of revenue for the Airport Authority. It's a
benign use to the airport operations that are ongoing, but it's a unique
aspect that I wanted to point out, because it's not a truly industrial use,
but it's certainly a revenue stream for the county and has been for
some years.
The other thing that's ongoing out there is the Immokalee
Page 24
December 17,2009
Raceway. And they have -- I think over the years it's been there, it's
operating on a I guess weekly basis at the moment. I know that
members of your staff have attended and we had conversations about
how we keep this use. Because your current master plan talks about
needing a conditional use to have race operations. And what I would
argues, that that race operation was ongoing at the time in 2007 when
the reference to conditional use requirements were put in place.
And what we have done to settle on I guess a middle ground, if
you will, with your comprehensive planning staff is to restrict the race
operations to only the eighth mile track operations that they have
today. And that any future expansion of that operation would go
through the conditional use process. And that's what's in your
document today.
We have a long list of uses that are in your PUD document in the
Exhibit A. And again, we have an airport operations tract that it was
set up specifically to permit all of those direct airport related
functions. That's where you'll find reference to also the vehicle
racing, because it takes place on one of the abandoned runways.
We also have a long list of accessory uses that are meant to
supplement and support the airport operation out there. And you'll see
in there, that includes things like hangars and administrative offices,
some minimal retail sales and even a recreational campground,
because camping does take place in conjunction with some of the race
events on some of the weekends.
We also then have the industrial development tract, which has a
long list of permitted uses that also includes all of the airport operation
functions and then lists out by SIC Code a long list of uses. And we
can talk about any of those you may want. I think most of those are
uses that we believe are going to be consistent with the long-term
efforts of the master plan.
We've also been involved with the consultant for the county's
Immokalee Area Master Plan amendments to make sure that the
Page 25
December 17, 2009
language there will permit everything we're trying to do through the
zoning process here.
I can take you through any of the specifics, but I wanted to also
mention that we have asked for several deviations from your standard
Land Development Code requirements. And I think most of those are
simply necessary because of the airport operations itself. They're
pretty unique. We don't have the same requirements for architectural
elevations on a hangar building, for instance, that you might on a
typical commercial building. Landscape requirements should be
different because we have a lot of pavement in those areas. Not to say
that we can't have some landscaping, but we can't have standard code
required landscaping.
There are other standards with regard to littoral plantings for the
lake system that's out there, and the need to try to not encourage water
fowl to be on the airport property because of the safety hazard that
presents itself there.
And I can go through each of those individually, if you wish, Mr.
Strain, or if you want me to respond to questions.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think just let's get questions from the --
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- Planning Commission. And if you're
ready?
MR. ARNOLD: I'm ready. I can talk, like I said, about any of
the specific components, but that I think's a pretty good overview of
where we are and what issues we have on the table.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And we did hear part of it last night, so
let's focus on our questions.
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: On Page 4 of 13 under principal
uses, number -- or letter K, oil and gas exploration. Do you know
where the closest oil and gas pumping station or current exploration or
Page 26
December 17,2009
MR. ARNOLD: I do not. That language was added because
that's how it's listed in the agricultural zoning district, as one of the
permitted uses, and that's why it's there.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yeah, well, I was just
wondering if that -- not that I'm against it. It just kind of caught my
eye, knowing the Colliers are pretty well into that.
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I think as you know, this happens to be on
the expansion tract you're looking at, I believe, and that is owned by
the Collier family. And there are extensive oil and gas and mineral
rights that they do control on a lot of their land holdings.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: So they're planning on selling?
In the future they may sell to the Airport Authority?
MR. ARNOLD: The County is attempting to purchase property
from them, yes.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. And they're just trying
to retain the oil and gas rights and mineral rights on that property until
and probably after sale?
MR. ARNOLD: I think that may be part of it. I think the easy
answer is we wanted to present to them the same opportunities they
had today for land uses. But your comprehensive planning staff was
concerned that until we have revision to the rural land stewardship
program to take this 103 acres out, that we needed to keep it consistent
with that. And we know that at some point we may be back amending
this PUD document. But that only supports and is necessary when the
runway expansion occurs, which could be beyond easily a 10-year
horizon right now.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. Then on 0, which is
schools, public, including educational plants, I know it's my failure,
and I'm just going to ask you if you could go through that, educational
plant.
MR. ARNOLD: I'll have to get Land Development Code and
Page 27
December 17, 2009
read you the definition, but I believe it is a defined term in the Land
Development Code.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: You're talking about a plant as
a green thing or a building?
MR. ARNOLD: We might want to ask Mr. Eastman to comment
on that. But educational plant was I think meaning more of the
support function other than just a schoo\.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Well, that's the way I took it.
I'm sure I didn't think it was a tree.
Okay, thank you very much.
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: I have two copies of Exhibit A.
One copy had blue and red marks on it, the other did not. Which one
are you referring to now?
MR. ARNOLD: I'm not sure which document you have, sir.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: It's Exhibit A.
MR. ARNOLD: Oh, the blue and red marks, that's the one that
was a strike-through/underlined version. I'm sorry.
For the most part, those are very similar documents. They're
from the list of uses; there was only a reference. And would it be
helpful for me to go through that?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Well, what--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think we just respond to the questions
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: -- does the blue indicate and
what does the red indicate?
MR. ARNOLD: Okay. Why don't we work from the one that's
red and blue.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Okay.
MR. ARNOLD: If everybody has that one.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you have any questions from that
Page 28
December 17,2009
one, Tor?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: No.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, Wayne, with regard to
that particular document, and I'm talking about -- about to talk about
the expansion tract, that would be on Page 3 of 14 of the Exhibit A, I
believe it is.
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And we have to introduce that,
or reintroduce the question of the potential expansion. Although you
say it's a 10-year horizon, perhaps it would be sooner. But
irrespective of that, on my document it says permitted uses, and one of
the principal uses is single-family dwelling.
MR. ARNOLD: Right.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And aside from that, if we're
going to have an expansion and we're going to give Collier the
opportunity to carry out whatever activities it wants to carry out,
should the county then or the Airport Authority acquire that property
in the future, wouldn't it be a heck of a lot more expensive? Because
they'd have to take all those structures and tear them down.
I'm trying to understand how that's a good thing for us. That may
be very good for Collier, but I'm not sure that that's really good for the
county in the long term.
Aside from that, I don't know the distance there from the end of
the runway. And then there's the green space, that area where
presumably a plane, if it had to land on an emergency basis, would get
tangled up in that material.
But I just -- I have a hard time appreciating that. Could you help
me on that?
MR. ARNOLD: Well, again, this list of uses tried to replicate
what they currently can do on this property today. And the county --
Debbie Brueggerman is here. And I don't -- they've been trying to
Page 29
December 17, 2009
negotiate a contract for purchase. I don't know if they're technically
under contract or not for the county to purchase the property from
Collier Development. That's what's intended to occur. It's intended to
occur now.
I don't think there's a real concern about constructing a residence
there, per se. Doesn't mean that they couldn't if in fact they decide to
abandon the idea to sell the property to the county. There may be
restrictions on the runway protection zone on what they can build.
The FAA does have standards that regulate how tall structures can be
within certain distances from the runway.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Appreciate. I don't -- I don't
know that anybody would even buy a home in the flight line of a plane
area, but that's certainly something.
I guess dairying, ranching, poultry and egg production, milk, so
all of these uses then are to be preserved for them, but you don't have
any expectation they'll use them.
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I think currently there are cattle that are
grazing on their holdings. And to the extent that those operations
occur, I don't think it would be inconsistent with what the airport used
to have, cattle grazing and other farming/ranching activities.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, that would be a benign
use, I wouldn't have a problem. I'm more concerned with any
structures that might be erected and I just wouldn't want to see the
county ending up having to pay more for something in the long run.
MR. ARNOLD: Right. And I wouldn't either. And the reason I
feel comfortable that that's not going to occur is because I think if they
haven't a complete contract to purchase, that it's really close.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That's my question, thank you.
MR. ARNOLD: Sure.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Wayne, just so I understand it, the
property that is Collier families -- Collier Enterprises right now is not
. .
m our possessIOn.
Page 30
December 17,2009
MR. ARNOLD: Correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But they're willing to allow you to
rezone it to PUD as long as they don't lose any of the current rights
they have on the property.
MR. ARNOLD: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And then we still are in the same
position we are, even if it gets rezoned PUD, to negotiate the property
just as though we didn't get the PUD; is that a fair statement?
MR. ARNOLD: I would say that's a fair statement.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Now, does anybody have any
other questions?
Mr. Midney, then Mr. Schiffer.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, I'd like to go back to that
runway expanSiOn zone.
Would it be out of place for us to say that in that runway
expansion zone we wouldn't want communication towers or oil
exploration there? I mean, that just seems so common sense. Or is
that something that we don't have the authority to request?
MR. ARNOLD: This is on the expansion tract?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah. The same thing we were
talking about, Exhibit A.
MR. ARNOLD: Right. And I guess my answer is I don't know
all the airport operations activities they may need. I'm not an aviation
person. Some of you may be. But some of the things that they may
need to support it could be an antenna, but it may be a low-level
antenna that simply supports a GPS unit that helps tracking.
You know, the technology changes. I don't envision that being
1 OO-foot tall communications type tower facility. I know it doesn't
say that. But again, we're dealing from a list of permitted uses in the
agricultural district.
And I guess -- I think the easiest way to compare what we're
attempting to do to the alternate scenario is that if we keep the zoning
Page 31
December 17,2009
today industrial and we do nothing, the Collier family still has the
right to put any of these uses subject to FAA permitting that could be
there on their property.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Okay. Well, I won't belabor that
point.
I want to go to the area of unified control. And I'm not a planner,
I don't understand it, but do people feel comfortable with the fact that
there are two owners currently? And right now how can you have
unified control ifthere's two people who are landowners? What if one
owner doesn't agree with what the other one wants to do? It seems to
me that before we approve this we should wait until there's real
unified control. You're asking for us to do this now I guess because it
would be more convenient. But usually the way we do things is we
kind of do things by the book.
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I don't think it's so uncommon that you
have multiple ownerships seeking a rezoning application. It occurs
maybe not on every application, but it doesn't occur infrequently.
And I think the unifying aspect of this is the PUD document, the
ordinance that gets adopted, along with the master plan. And keep in
mind too that there's an environmental resource permit that will
control any of the development that occurs and will have to have a
property owner's association established for long-term maintenance
for all of the common elements anyway.
I don't see it as a problem. And Mr. Klatzkow, you may be able
to add something to that.
MR. KLA TZKOW: I don't think it's the preferred way to do it. I
mean, I sort of agree with Commissioner Midney that, you know, in
the best of worlds we would have acquired that property already. But
having said that, we may never voluntarily acquire that property. We
may have to eventually condemn it. And the extension of the runway
is going to be vital to the future for that airport. So, you know, one
way or the other, whether it's through a voluntary purchase or
Page 32
December 17, 2009
condemnation, that tract is going to be part of the airport.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, I agree with you. And I
think that sooner or later it will be done and it should be done. But,
you know, what ifit -- what if we have to go that route? But you feel
comfortable with going ahead with this anyway, even though there is
MR. KLA TZKOW: Only because, you know, I think the reality
is, given the importance of the extension of that runway, that sooner or
later the Airport Authority will have ownership control over that tract.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Okay.
Still talking about that tract, on your map you're showing the
runway that's 5,000 feet, and you're thinking of extending it to 10,000.
How far into the expansion tract would that go?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: All the way.
MR. ARNOLD: I believe the 10,000 foot runway extends almost
to the eastern end of that expansion tract.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Almost to the eastern.
And how much of a safety zone -- how many feet is required at
the end of that runway?
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I think it depends on factors. But I think
generally speaking in this particular case we know that with the
ultimate runway expansion, the runway protection zone gets pushed
into another tract that's about 108 acres in size. And it would then be
encumbered with this runway protection zone status.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: This land that we're talking about,
the 103 acres, right now it's rural RLSA land, rural stewardship land.
And the purpose of that designation is to prevent urban sprawl. You're
talking about that you're not thinking about putting any industrial uses
on that land until it's annexed by the urban area of Immokalee, after
that you're thinking of putting industrial uses on it?
MR. ARNOLD: I think the likelihood that it would support
industrial uses is limited, as the plans for the airport continue and the
Page 33
December 17, 2009
runway gets extended. Because you have the runway protection zone
issues. But you do need to probably put more airport supportive
facilities there. There will need to be roads, there will need to be
some signage and things like that.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Because my concern is, is the
industrial area going to spill over into the RLSA? You also have
panther issues there now. Right now that's primary panther habitat.
And if you're talking about sort oflike if this is just the beginning but
afterwards we're going to be needing more land in that vicinity, then
it's sort of like a Trojan horse kind of thing. You know, we're asking
for 103 acres now, but is this the beginning of wanting to get more
annexation in a larger industrial zone? Because the purpose ofRLSA
is to avoid premature conversion of agricultural land. And is this
going to be the start of -- of that taking place?
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I think I look at this as a little bit ofa
refinement over the RLSA program we had. When that program was
adopted several years ago you didn't have the Jmmokalee area master
planning effort that's ongoing. You now have a new 2009 updated
Airport Master Plan effort that shows the runway extensions and
expanSiOns.
So I'd like to think this is just kind of the continual housekeeping
that you do for your planning efforts throughout the county.
The 103 acres is a very, very small component of your RLSA
program.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: It is.
MR. ARNOLD: I think to the extent that this property may
ultimately support a runway, I don't think you find that the runway
protection zone doesn't necessarily translate to having physical
improvements on it.
But J would also say keep in mind that under your current zoning
and permitted uses under the RLSA program you could have much
more intense uses than typical agricultural, should they take advantage
Page 34
December 17, 2009
of every opportunity they have in that program.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, I think that ifit'sjust kept
in its natural state that will best serve as the runway protection zone.
And I can see that it could be compatible with conservation in that
area, as long as it's not developed. I'm just worried that there's a
contemplation that there's going to be a further industrial
intensification on that eastern edge of the airport. And it's not spelled
out.
Corby Schmidt, when I had spoken to him before the meeting,
there was in his notes -- he mentioned that there were two large tracts
of land near that area. And I wasn't sure if that was in the context that
this would also be something that would be wanted to be converted to
industrial or not.
So I just sort of have kind of a doubt about what is the ultimate
intention in this area.
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I think that ultimate intentions may
change as the county continues to update all of its master plans. But I
think for the foreseeable future this represents everything that the
county needs for its airport operations in Immokalee. The -- any
further expansion is going to require a Growth Management Plan
amendment to both the Immokalee Area Master Plan and your Future
Land Use Map, and it would require us to come back through the
rezoning process here to amend the PUD.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: All right, another issue that I have
is the racetrack. Would you say that that racetrack was ever legally
permitted?
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I'm not sure how to answer that exactly,
other than I believe that it's being leased by Collier County -- or
Collier County leases to the operator of the racetrack operations.
The racetrack operations were never specifically permitted or
prohibited under the Immokalee Area Master Plan, and I believe that
racetrack operations were permitted as a conditional use in the
Page 35
December 17, 2009
industrial zoning district, which I think is how we had Swamp Buggy
when it was located off of Radio Road and things of that nature.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: In the correspondence that kind
of went back and forth between you and the staff, you talked about a
public meeting that sort of legitimized this. I was at that public
meeting, and it was packed with people. But I went out in the break,
two-thirds of the license plates were not even Collier County license
plates. These were people who were there to promote the racetrack.
I actually went, this was several years ago, with the intention of
talking about the noise issues. But I actually felt intimidated by the
people, because even when they talked about the fact that they were
wanting to do noise studies, people were booing, and it was a very
raucous group of people, very intimidating. It wasn't a neighborhood
meeting at all, it was really a meeting that was promoted to sort of
force this through. So I don't think that that meeting could have
possibly legitimized what took place.
And I think that the racetrack is something that we've gotten used
to. This planning board has had a lot of discussion about noises, and
there's noises that are pleasant or unpleasant. It sort of depends on
your cultural point of view. And we've talked about how
thunderstorms can be much louder than dynamite and how, you know,
some people just don't like the sound of revving motors in the evening,
you know, on a quiet evening when you're sitting outside. But to
other people, that's a very relaxing sound, it's something that gives
them pleasure.
Some people would like to be sitting on the end of a beach and
hear the surf pounding, which is also noisy, and, you know, so it's kind
of a cultural thing.
But I think that if it actually went before -- they actually did
apply for this, that it would be approved, because in Immokalee, like it
or not, we've kind of gotten used to that sound by now. It may not be
something we look forward to hearing, it is quite loud, but it doesn't
Page 36
December 17,2009
violate the noise ordinance. It's not that loud, it's more of just
something that you hear.
MR. ARNOLD: I guess I would add too that, you know, I would
like to think that this process legitimizes the existing facility to the
extent that it can, because it is listed in our schedule of uses. We've
talked about it at the neighborhood information meeting. It's
discussed on the airport plans that it's a source of revenue for them.
So I think there's been a lot of public acknowledgment that this facility
exists and we're restricting its operations to the eighth mile track
operations that they've been utilizing. And to expend that operation,
then we go through another process which obviously we'll vet it in the
public again.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Well, again, just like the unified
control thing, it's something that we're doing like for convenience.
But I don't know if that's really the way we're supposed to operate
here.
I don't know, what do you think, Mr. Klatzkow?
MR. KLATZKOW: I think that if this thing works out, you're
going to have more planes coming in and out of there, you know, than
you might think. I mean, the whole point of expanding this runway
and putting five million square feet of industrial uses to make this an
economic engine in your area, and, you know, you're going to get a lot
of noise. You know, you're worried about a drag race event every
now and then.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Well, it's every weekend.
MR. KLATZKOW: But planes are going to be every day.
They'll be more and more frequent. So this is what you're looking at.
I mean, this airport, the way it's designed, the hope here is that it's
going to change and it's going to change radically. So I don't know
what to tell you.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, I agree with that. My
question is, is should we do things by the book or should we just sort
Page 37
December 17, 2009
of let this slide?
MR. KLA TZKOW: We are doing things by the book. That's
why we're having this public hearing, this whole process.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Well, I mean, this will go -- I
guess if this goes through, us and the Collier County Commission, it
will sort of legitimize the racetrack. But is this the right way for us to
do it?
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, I suppose if you don't want the
racetrack, the recommendation should be, you know, to, you know,
recommend this petition without the racetrack and that would be the
end of it. So I guess this is the time right now to decide whether or not
you want this. And if you don't want it, you know --
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Well, I don't know if it's really
gone through the process of a true, you know, neighborhood meeting
which was, you know, not dominated by the people who are in favor
of it. And if it was, you know, permitted the right way in the first
place, or if it's an illegal nonconforming use.
MR. KLATZKOW: There's nothing illegal about it right now.
But we're going through the public process right now, and if the public
in Immokalee does not want that racetrack, you know, they need to
come down here and be heard.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Okay. And then the last thing has
to do with the preserve. And I've talked quite a bit with Shane
Johnson about this. In order to allow the runway expansion that took
place before this, in Immokalee we have something that's rather
unique, and things that are actually unique are rare, because usually
whether you talk about a preserve or a cypress strand, they're all sort
of comparable.
This airport property has something that is not found anywhere
else in Collier County, and that is the last population of Florida scrub
jays in this area. And it comes to -- in order to get the airport
expansion that they got the last time, they had to ask permission for
Page 38
December 17,2009
incidental take from the Fish & Wildlife Service. And there was an
extensive biological opinion that basically decided that yes, you would
lose some scrub jays; yes, they are endangered; yes, there are only a
few of them left. But you're going to have to maintain the scrub
property in as good a condition as you can and give us a report every
year, do a study to see how the jays are doing.
The last report that was done was in 2004. Basically what Fish &
Wildlife said was as a criterion of success you have to show that there
are at least five families of Florida scrub jays that are still able to
inhabit the site. And the 2004 study found exactly five families.
Since then a significant area of part of the scrub jay area was cleared
for line of sight areas in the center of the airport, and so the -- two of
the five scrub jay families were actually on the east side of the airport,
which was not even in the preserve.
Those -- you know, some people will think, oh, scrub jays, what
a nuisance. Here we have -- they're holding up the whole industrial
expansion ofImmokalee. But it's not just the Immokalee Airport scrub
jays. Those are part of the natural heritage of Immokalee and it's
something that's unique. And as the Airport Authority was legally
bound to try to give some protection to those birds, what kind of
protection or stewardship have they done? Since the 2004 study, they
haven't done any studies to see if the scrub jays are still there, after
they did that clearing ofland, which encompassed two of the scrub jay
family habitats.
Controlled burns were supposed to be done on a regular basis.
None have been done since 2006. And I just question the commitment
of the Airport Authority based upon their record to really preserving
this in accordance with what Fish & Wildlife had stipulated.
And so I do have reservations about their stewardship of this
area. And the record has not been very helpful.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is that a statement or a question?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: That's a statement.
Page 39
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Is that the last item you have?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Let's see. Yeah, I have
something else too. The transportation concurrency. Apparently
there's parts of this that are subject to concurrency and parts of it are
not. And at last night's meeting of the Immokalee Area Master Plan
we talked about the road problems there and the fact that we're trying
to improve access to allow industrialization to take place. But right
now all we have are two-lane roads going into Immokalee and no
plans to improve those for the next several years.
And we have a possible major expansion of the Seminole Casino
bringing in 4,000 new jobs, a 22-story hotel, and they're having no
obligation to contribute to any of the road improvements.
And I'm wondering if we're setting up a situation where in the
future we may have gridlock in Immokalee because the roads, some of
them are near failing now. If the Seminoles go through with their
plans to vastly expand their operation, will there be any road capacity
to allow any of in other industrialization to take place? I guess that's a
question for county staff.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Then let's wait till we get staff up here
and then you can ask that of them.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Okay, then I'm ready to stop.
MR. ARNOLD: If! might just add one thing, Mr. Midney.
Your transportation staff did add a condition that required us to do
traffic impact analyses at each next building opportunity out at the
airport to look at operational and safety characteristics of the roadway,
even if we are not subject to concurrency.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: John, we're not going to hear from staff
until we finish with questions of Mr. Arnold.
Go ahead, Wayne, I'm sorry.
MR. ARNOLD: All right, I'm sorry. That was my response.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Anything else, Paul?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: (Shakes head negatively.)
Page 40
December 17,2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Brad, I think you were next?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes, I am.
Couple of quick things here.
Under principal uses, A, does that also include aircraft hangars?
In other words, it's an accessory use, but I wouldn't want that to be just
an accessory use.
MR. ARNOLD: Just so I understand the question, does principal
use airport facilities also include hangars?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. Could a guy go out and
build just an aircraft hangar?
MR. ARNOLD: No, I think honestly the way that it's set up for
the airport operations tract, because all the physical improvements of
the runway and the terminal building and most of the hangars have
already been established in that tract, all of those things are really
accessory to the airport operation itself. And I think that's how staff
probably has viewed that as well.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So essentially then it is a
sub-use of A always --
MR. ARNOLD: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- and a standalone aircraft
hangar.
MR. ARNOLD: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. The other thing is on
Exhibit B, which is your chart of setbacks and things. You have a
separation of distance. But I think that should be a minimum. The
way it's worded you would actually require all buildings to be fixed at
those dimensions, and --
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- that would be -- in the design of
aircraft hangars that would be a real bad thing.
MR. ARNOLD: Would it be helpful then on Exhibit B under
separation of structures in that column just to simply add minimum in
Page 41
._------,---"~._-_.~.---
December 17,2009
parenthesis?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: However. Just the way it's
worded, it's a fixed number. Thank you.
MR. ARNOLD: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else have any questions of the
applicant before we go to county staff?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Wayne, I have a few. Let's go to Page 1
of 14 on the strike-through exhibit you passed out.
MR. ARNOLD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You added essential service operations
to 2.F.
MR. ARNOLD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It already exists in 2.H. Is there a
reason to have it listed separately in 2.F?
MR. ARNOLD: Well, the only reason I placed it in there, I used
a different word, I used the word operations because I wasn't sure if I
just needed to simply reference the water treatment plants or ifthere
might be some need to expand the water treatment operation to also
include something else, I didn't really know. I used it -- maybe it's not
even critical that it's added.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So your belief, 2.H where it says
essential services according to the Land Development Code does not
include essential service operations?
MR. ARNOLD: I don't -- I don't know. I mean, I don't get to
interpret that code. Staff gets to interpret that. I f we can all agree here
today that I'm covered, then I have no problem deleting the four words
that I added.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I was just curious as to why you
repeated it with two lines. If it adds additional clarification for the
needs in the future, then it's not hurting anything.
MR. ARNOLD: I was hoping it added a little bit of flexibility,
Page 42
December 17, 2009
honestly, for the airport.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Under I, you have retail sales under
accessory uses or display areas as accessory to the principal use.
In the Airport Master Plan that was adopted on March, 2009 by
the Board of County Commissioners under airport zoning it says the
following concerning -- the purpose of this district is to provide
industrial type uses. And it goes on to list some of those, but not to
include retail as described in the Land Development Code for the
industrial and business park zoning districts.
That paragraph you have there is verbatim out of the Land
Development Code for the industrial zoning district. So how can that
be consistent then with the Airport Master Plan?
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I think it can because it also references
industrial development. And if you go to the Immokalee Area Master
Plan industrial land use designation, it talks about not allowing --
excluding retail uses as a permitted principal use, but as an accessory
to those. And it specifically then talks about having limited retail
sales.
Because I think the situation we don't want to get into is that you
can't have a cafe or a sundry shop or something that supports the
airport. Because I don't think that was the intent. If we're going to
have that much industrial, I think you'll find references in the existing
Immokalee Area Master Plan to having specifically things like
restaurants.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, then what specific zoning
references in the Land Development Code for the industrial and
business park zoning districts was that sentence in the adopted Airport
Master Plan referring to; do you know?
MR. ARNOLD: I don't know.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, until we find that out, how do we
know if you're not including or including it? Because basically that's
the only reference I could find with the words retail in it in both
Page 43
December 17, 2009
districts. And I ran a word search on it. So if this is not referring to
that, then I'd certainly like to know what it's referring to.
MR. ARNOLD: Just so I'm clear, Mr. Strain, your reference was
to the conventional industrial zoning district, not finding that language
either?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I'm reading out of section two of
the adopted March, 2009 Immokalee Airport Master Plan. It's under
2.8, airport zoning. It's a paragraph that describes the intention of the
zoning district that's to be there.
The last sentence, after it lists the types of manufacturing uses
that they deem to be acceptable, says but not to include retail as
described in the LDC for the industrial and business park zoning
districts.
MR. ARNOLD: I see exactly what -- they are referring you
directly back to the Immokalee Area Master Plan language. That
language, if I could read it, it simply says right now in the Immokalee
Area Master Plan, and it says it allows business services, limited
commercial uses such as child care centers, restaurants and other basic
commercial uses except retail uses, as described in the Land
Development Code.
I think they excerpted a portion of that into the Airport Master
Plan. But if you continue to read on that paragraph that's in the
adopted Immokalee Area Master Plan, it simply says accessory uses
and structures customarily associated with the uses allowed in the
subdistrict but are not limited to offices, retail sales, campgrounds
accessory to vehicle racing and campgrounds accessory to special
events at the airport, such as air shows.
So I think you do find that in the adopted master plan today there
is a reference to having accessory retail sales there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And I agree with you.
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: In this paragraph in the adopted Airport
Page 44
December 17, 2009
Master Plan says but not to include those. That's my point. You just
verified what I'm trying to understand.
MR. ARNOLD: I think, you know, if we want to look at that
document and read the entirety of that paragraph, I'm just looking at it,
Mr. Strain, it does talk about the PUD retaining the broad range of
uses described in the Immokalee Area Master Plan and as those
permitted by the LDC.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I'm willing to move forward. I don't see
the problem with the retail. I only see the problem with the
inconsistency between what the adopted plan is and what you're
proposmg.
Between now and consent, assuming this goes forward, would
you check that with whoever wrote the adopted Immokalee Master
Plan and make sure there's a clarification there?
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's all I'm seeking.
MR. ARNOLD: All right, fine.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That also appears under two sections,
your airport operations tract and your industrial development tract.
So do you know who Ed Scott is? How's that for a shot out of
the dark.
MR. ARNOLD: I don't believe I know Ed Scott.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You should. Because he's the owner of
the entire Immokalee Airport. His name is on the tax assessor's rolls
as the owner of the airport. So can you help me clarify who Ed Scott is
and why he's listed as the owner of the airport? Because he's certainly
not on your application.
MR. ARNOLD: I cannot. I don't know that without maybe
looking at some of our additional information, Mr. Strain.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Klatzkow, what do we need in order
to suffice proof that the applicant is the proper applicant?
MR. KLA TZKOW: It's always been my understanding that we
Page 45
December 17,2009
own the airport, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I don't disagree with you.
MR. KLATZKOW: It's news to everybody in this room ifMr.
Scott has bought us out.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I don't -- I absolutely agree with
you, I'm just a little surprised the tax assessor is sending the tax
assessment bill to Ed Scott. And I have no idea who he is. I think it
ought to be straightened out, though, because whoever that gentleman
is, he's on the tax rolls.
MR. KLA TZKOW: We'll look at it during a break, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Mr. Arnold, I got the folio, if you'd like to see it during break.
MR. ARNOLD: All right, thanks.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: In the Immokalee Airport Master Plan
that has been adopted, there are two sections of land that are
inconsistent with the master plan for the PUD that you're presenting us
today. One is a further extension of the runway extension that you are
adding that is currently part of the RLSA. It actually shows another
section maybe even longer than that added to the runway.
MR. ARNOLD: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And then on the opposite side, which is
the west side of the runway, there's a future land acquisition of8.4
acres on the opposite side of Alachua Road that would be another
extension of the runway. Because we're going to be acquiring it.
Now, how do you go about acquiring that in the future? Why
wouldn't you then included in your -- at least included in your rights to
your PUD application now instead of saving -- and that would save
time and money as you go down the road.
MR. ARNOLD: Well, unlike the 103 acres that is a part of this
application, the county does not have and is not under contract with
those two property owners. We looked at what is known as -- east of
the 1 03-acre tract is an approximate 1 08-acre tract that we looked at.
Page 46
December 17, 2009
The county and that property owner were unable to reach a
satisfactory agreement to go to contract. I don't know the status of the
parcel to the west. But again, both of those would be PUD
amendments in the future if the county can acquire those parcels.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It's just more work and cost to have it
done in the future. The property owner to the east is the same
property owner that you're negotiating with and the one adjacent to it.
So it's the same group of people.
MR. ARNOLD: It is. And unfortunately too, you know, dollars
are tight for everybody, including Collier County government right
now. So there's not an unlimited supply of money to go buy
everything that they would like.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. That's all the questions I have at
this time of the applicant. Anybody else have any?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: If not, we'll have staff presentation.
And during that process, Mr. Midney certainly has a question that's
waiting to be answered by transportation. So Kay?
MS. DESELEM: Good morning. For the record, Kay Deselem,
Principal Planner with Zoning. We also have staff members here:
From compo planning, Corby Schmidt; from transportation, John
Podczerwinsky; and Susan Mason from the environmental staff.
You do have the staff report that's dated last revised 10/3/09.
The staff report explains the ownership information, the requested
action, the location and the purpose and description of the project as
noted in that document and as already discussed by the petitioner.
It also shows the surrounding land uses and zonings. And it has a
discussion at great length of the growth management consistency
issues. And you also had a memo from Corby Schmidt that addresses
it specifically.
The growth management discussion also goes into the economic
element, the transportation element and the conservation and coastal
Page 47
December 17,2009
management element. And staff is recommending that this project be
found consistent with all aspects of the Growth Management Plan.
There is an analysis of the request beginning on Page 8 of the
staff report, and that includes the environmental review, stormwater
management review, transportation, utility, emergency management,
affordable housing and the zoning review. The zoning review
includes PUD findings and rezone findings, and staff's conclusion is
that this is consistent with those findings, they are all affirmative. As
already mentioned by the petitioner, he is requesting six deviations
from Land Development Code requirements. Staff has reviewed those
and analyzed those and is recommending approval of all of those.
And staff is recommending approval of the overall rezoning.
And if you have any other questions or you want me to go into more
detail, I'd be happy to do so.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, let's start with what you provided
so far. Are there any questions of staff?
Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, I'd like to ask Corby
Schmidt a question about his comment that we had discussed on the
waym.
MR. SCHMIDT: Good morning, Commissioners.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: It's on Page 11 of your
comments. And Section A, Exhibit F, it's item three, it says the draft
conceptual 2025 roadway network for Eastern Collier County for the
RLSA committee does indicate two large tracts of land in the vicinity
of the 1 03-acre addition designated as runway extension. And then
you say, please update to indicate any status proposals of update to the
Immokalee urban boundary.
Why did you reference those two large tracts of land? What
were you getting at?
MR. SCHMIDT: Those two tracts of land are the very same
pieces you've been discussing in the last few moments. They're the
Page 48
December 17, 2009
runway protection zone on one map that's been referenced. And it's
adjacent to the runway extension property that is the 103 acres.
That's what we were referring to with those adjacent tracts or
those other large tracts.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: The two adjacent tracts, are they
both to the east of the runway extension or are they north or south?
MR. SCHMIDT: To the east.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: So you're just talking about
continuing to go on in a straight line?
MR. SCHMIDT: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Thank you.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Does anybody else have any
further questions of Corby?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER CARON: Of staff?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Transportation.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And yes, we'll bring transportation
up next.
Nobody has any further questions of Kay, though?
(No response.)
COMMISSIONER CARON: All right, then it's John's turn.
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: Good morning, Commissioners. For
the record, John Podczerwinsky, Transportation Planning.
And could you restate the question for me?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Well, my question basically was
that it says that parts of this are subject to concurrency and parts are
not. Could you explain which are and which are not and why?
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: Yes. The portions of this PUD that
are going to be subject to concurrency are those that are not related to
any form of public transit uses or in direct support of the airport, the
airport functions.
And that meaning basically anything that would take trips off the
Page 49
'"...."..__.-__.~...".-
December 17, 2009
road. Alternative modes of transportation such as, I'm trying to think,
buses, anything that's a transit related use when buses are dropping
people off to the airport.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: So basically everything is
concurrency.
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: It's going to be primarily the
industrial uses, any commercial uses that they have. You know, some
of those things that are not related to specifically the airport uses.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: And do you imagine that there
will be any problem in the future with the roadway if this goes
forward, this expansion goes forward as planned?
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: I can't speculate on than at the
moment. I can give you the levels of service that we have on those
roadways and how much remaining capacity that we have on those
roadways.
There is something I want to point out before I go into that, and
this might answer your question ahead of time. The zoning action
that's in front of us today actually the way that we're reviewing this,
this actually puts a cap on the total allowable commercial or industrial
square footage that could occur on this site. The current zoning,
there's no limitation on that. What they're doing with this zoning
action is putting basically a maximum limit on it. So that's why --
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Five million square feet.
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: Yeah, well, in today's condition
there's no limit on the square footage. So from the transportation
standpoint, this is -- it's somewhat of a good idea to all right, let's
establish a maximum cap on what could be produced here --
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: But that could be--
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: -- and work backwards from there.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: -- always be raised later on too by
another action.
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: I can only discuss the action that's in
Page 50
December 17, 2009
front of us today, so if you'd like, I can go through the numbers from
the AUIR and discuss some of the retaining capacity that's available
on the adjacent network, if you want me to.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: But basically what you're saying
is that any time these actual industrial expansions come on line to go
in they would have to be reevaluated in terms of the traffic grade
capacity .
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: That is correct, yes.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any other questions of
anybody in staff?
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, just to follow up. Today
you've stated that there are no limits on how much industrial and that
this is putting a cap on it. But aren't there some built-in limits? I
mean, what is the actual difference? What would the maximum
build-out be if they could build to the maximum under today's
standards?
MR. PODCZERWINSKY: I would actually have to refer you
probably to a land planner who would be better able to answer the
question how many square feet they could put on the property, but--
COMMISSIONER CARON: I'll ask Wayne, that's all right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, then before we bring Wayne back
up, is there any other questions of staff?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Wayne, would you mind
responding to that question.
MR. ARNOLD: Wayne Arnold, for the record.
Could you repeat the question, just so I understand exactly what
your --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, we keep referring to this five
million square feet of industrial as a cap on what could be there today.
Page 51
December 17, 2009
What could be there today? What is the difference?
MR. ARNOLD: I don't think that's an easy calculation.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I mean, are we going from 100
million square feet to five million or from --
MR. ARNOLD: I think when you look at what's over 700 acres
of industrial supportive development on here, if you take out just the
airport operations, and even if you started applying a number of
10,000 square feet per acre, which is really low for industrial, you're
going to find that five million square feet disappears quickly when you
start really looking at a yield of industrial square footage to acreage.
And the number, that five million, was settled on by URS
Corporation that was working on the master plan. I don't know all the
history of that, Ms. Caron, but it came about by looking at how much
true developable industrial land there could be and how much physical
land there would be to put buildings on. They applied a floor area
ratio to that number and then converted it to a number of square feet,
and that's where the five million came from. But I do think it's -- that
five million number is lower than the potential you could have under
conventional industrial zoning.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I'm sure that's right, I was just
trying to get some range.
MR. ARNOLD: Maybe by consent I could come back and do
some calculations for you, if it helps you, but I think you'll find that
the number I think could easily be twice as much.
COMMISSIONER CARON: That's good. That would be great.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Klatzkow, and then Mr. Midney.
MR. KLATZKOW: The marvels of Google.
Okay, Ed Scott was a clerk of this county from 1932 to 1959. At
one point in time this was known as the Ed Scott Airfield. So I'm sure
when the owner was listed, it was the Ed Scott Airfield, and the
property assessor just never updated it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So how much will he sell us the airport
Page 52
December 17,2009
for? It's a good move, former employee. We could make a story
about that, Jeff. But thank you for researching on who he was.
So you think that needs to be corrected with the tax assessor's
office?
MR. KLATZKOW: Sure, we'll let him know.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I mean, if we're going to have
records, they ought to be accurate.
MR. KLATZKOW: Yeah, yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Midney?
Thank you, sir.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, going to the table four of
exhibit, I think it's F, the preserve tract development standards. You
talk about setbacks, height of buildings and even though the preserve
-- the conservation easement says no buildings, no roads, you still
have here principal structures and accessory structures. I think if -- if
we're going to approve this, we should just take structures out of it.
Because we should be guided by the conservation easement which
says no structures. So would you be willing to take those out?
MR. ARNOLD: I don't know that that's a practical problem at all
for -- because all of the preserve is encumbered in the conservation
easement. I don't think that's a problem.
I can certainly consult with Debbie Brueggerman to see if she has
a different perspective. But from mine, I don't think that's an issue.
Because as you notice too, that one of the revisions we made was to
take out the standard types of uses and just says (sic) native vegetation
preserve in accordance with that approved deed.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Right. And I don't see why you
need to have development standards that says maximum zoned height
of structures in there. Structures, you've already said that you're not
going to have structures. So if that could be removed.
MR. ARNOLD: Maybe if we're going to do that, we might want
to so note directly under that preserve tract designation to indicate that
Page 53
December 17,2009
there would be no structures permitted. And that way somebody
wouldn't be looking for a development standard, if that makes sense to
you.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, because that's in the
conservation easement which we have to be guided by.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any other questions of staff or
the applicant before we go to any public speakers?
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Just one question on that. But are
there -- then would you have to add setbacks from preserves in your
other tables? I think you would. So I think you just need to look at all
of that.
MR. ARNOLD: Okay, I will. I think they are in there, Ms.
Caron.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Because that's where it should be.
lt should be in the other tables, not in a --
MR. BELLOWS: Yeah, for the record, Ray Bellows.
I believe that is a course that we'd want to do as staff for the
protection of the preserve.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, if I've been following this
correctly and can hear correctly, the issue we're talking about is the
expansion tract as well?
MR. ARNOLD: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay. Because I really -- I think
we need to remove certainly at the minimum the issue of single- family
homes. But structures in general, that's the question you're going to
ask?
MR. ARNOLD: Well, the reference to Ms. Caron was in the
preserve tract, not the expansion tract.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay. Well, I --
Page 54
_.~.._,--~'..<~,._-~.- -~...,-- ,-'- .>..._----
December 17, 2009
MR. ARNOLD: This is on the western preserve area.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, that's why I questioned--
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: -- what I was hearing correctly.
But I'm going to then address the expansion tract, because I --
you said that you have no expectation whatsoever that they're going to
build. And the benign uses of agricultural, grazing cattle, et cetera, I
have no problem with. But I certainly do have an issue for structure.
MR. ARNOLD: Well, I may not be in a position to answer that
on behalf of the county, even though I'm their agent. I think that may
be something we want the County Attorney to weigh in on. Because
we are looking at going to a contract. And like I said, if we do
nothing with the property today and don't include it, they have every
right to have a single-family home there. And I would -- I'm just
hesitant to want to remove that use. Even though I think it's very
unlikely it occurs, the county does not own that property today.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Right. And because the county
doesn't own it today, I don't want to legitimize the building of any
structures, particularly single-family homes, knowing that ultimately
those parcels will be acquired one way or another.
MR. KLATZKOW: But they could do it now anyway.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. We can't diminish someone's
property rights without buying their property.
MR. KLATZKOW: They can do it now -- whether or not we do
this now or don't do this now, they could put up a house there right
now, if they wanted to.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That's fine, let them do that. I
guess what I'm saying to you, and I don't wish to be argumentative,
but --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Bob, you need to use your mic, please.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I'm sorry, excuse me.
I don't wish to be argumentative in any way, but yes, if they want
Page 55
December 17,2009
to do that, they can. But we're in a public hearing, and they're asking
that it be included, and I'm suggesting that it shouldn't be included.
MR. KLA TZKOW: But if we don't include it and we take away
their rights, you're subjecting the county now to a claim. You're
diminishing their property rights.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: It's being introduced, isn't it, as
something for a public hearing?
MR. KLA TZKOW: Right. But what I'm telling you is if you
start cutting back on what they presently have for developmental
rights, you're now opening us up to a claim.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: But I thought we typically
modified people's rights to go forward with things.
I'll concede, but I'm not happy with the notion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Well, the other landowner has
authorized you, Mr. Arnold, to represent them, so you can make a
representation right now.
MR. ARNOLD: They have concurred with the list of uses that is
before you. I've not conferred with them regarding elimination of any
of those uses. And I would be hesitant to represent that we should
take that use out. I know that it's a concern to two of you, but I just
don't feel that that's the right thing to do, given the county's attempt to
try to purchase the property right now.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It would be similar to what's happening
in the road corridors in Golden Gate Estates. We try to restrict
property rights before we acquire the property. And then by doing the
restriction of those property rights, we devalue the property so when
we go to buy it, it were more favorably priced. I don't think that's a
practice we ought to practice.
So with that in mind, let's go forward. Are there any other
questions of staff or the applicant before we go to public speakers?
(No response.)
Page 56
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ray, do we have any public speakers?
MR. BELLOWS: No one has registered.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody in the public wish to speak on
the Immokalee area airport PUD?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that, Wayne, do you want a
rebuttal to nothing that's been said?
MR. ARNOLD: I don't think that's necessary, no.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. With that, then we'll close the
public hearing and entertain a motion on PUDZ-2007-AR-12294.
Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yes, I would move for approval
of this motion with some added conditions. The first would be that the
Airport Authority resume the controlled burn and exotic maintenance
on the preserve acreage.
The second would be that they perform a new Florida scrub jay
study in coordination with Fish & Wildlife.
The third would be that there would be no industrial on the annex
area.
And the fourth, that they would explicitly state no structures
would be built, no expansion of the airport access road in the preserve
area.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Wayne, did you get all those?
And let me know -- first of all, we need a second. Is there a second to
the motion?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Schiffer seconded it.
Before we go into discussion, what's the position of the applicant
on those requests? One was to restore the control burn and exotic
maintenance procedures on the property; do a new scrub jay study;
and there will be no industrial on the annexed area.
What was the last one, Paul?
Page 57
----'_...
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: No structures in the preserve or
expansion of the airport access road in the preserve.
MR. ARNOLD: I don't believe any of those are going to be
problematic.
I think the only question I would have is that when we deal with
issues of resuming the burns and the scrub jay study, we are required
to look at the scrub jays when we come in for another SDP or
something, you have to provide an update. So I'm not sure exactly
how that relates. I think we're bound to do that anyway.
And with regard to the prescribed burns, I don't know how
regularly they're conducted anyway. Maybe the management plan
says it's done annually, but maybe it's biannually. I just don't know.
And I don't want it to be implied that we have to go out and start
burning airport property when it's not necessarily time to do it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But you'll resume those consistent with
whatever preserve management plan is in place.
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is that fair?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, it's my position that they
haven't been burning them consistent with the biological opinion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, let's just -- they'll be consistent
with whatever plan they're supposed to be consistent with.
Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: IfMr. Midney could repeat the third
condition. I just want to make sure staff has it right.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: No industrial development on the
annexed property.
MR. BELLOWS: On the annex property.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Right.
MR. ARNOLD: Could we -- is that in reference to the expansion
tract?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Expansion tract.
Page 58
December 17,2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Why don't we just say expansion tract,
because that's the terminology used in the PUD.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Okay.
MR. ARNOLD: Could I go back and clarify the scrub jay
condition number two?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Uh-huh.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes.
MR. ARNOLD: You indicated a new scrub jay study. Would
that be at the next development order or is it concurrent with their
management plan? I just want to make sure that when we get it that
we're not just out there going to do a study when we have no intent of
building anything.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But don't you have to do a study when
you come in with your development order for whatever parcel that
might be affected by the scrub jays?
MR. ARNOLD: That's correct. But my question is ifI'm not
coming in for any development order or any new review, I don't want
this to imply that I have to be doing -- conducting a scrub jay study
outside of that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And I don't know why we would need
that.
Paul, you were -- with the scrub jay study, you want it at the time
they come in and are looking to do something with the property the
scrub jays proposedly are on?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I'm concerned that the
management of the scrub jays preserve has sort of fallen by the way.
And at present time they need to evaluate if they're already concurring
with the biological opinion that they agreed to in '98. And if they're
not, they need to intensify their management of that tract.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So I think what he's saying is in regards
to the scrub jay study, they're just looking for you all to make sure
you're maintaining consistency with a study that's already been done;
Page 59
December 17,2009
is that a fair statement?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: (Nods head affirmatively.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, I think that -- Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Can we put a note or a clarification to that,
that that determination is made at the subsequent development orders
when they come in --
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Sure.
MR. BELLOWS: -- when an environmental statement is
reviewed?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN : Yes.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: May I please clarify
something? On Paul's number three, is oil and gas exploration
considered industrial?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I would exempt that, since it's
already something that they're allowed to do.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, Paul.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I'm just talking about additional
things, more than what's in the RLSA.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Gotcha. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we have a motion, we've had a
second, we've had discussion. The applicant has accepted the
stipulation -- Ms. Caron, you have a question?
COMMISSIONER CARON: I just want to make sure that also
included is that they change their standards table so that you have
setbacks from your preserves, which --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
MR. ARNOLD: And that will be there.
And I believe if you look at the revised table where we combine
the two that's on Page 7 of 14, you'll see that we have a preserve tract
setback now. And it's 25 for principal, 10 for accessory, which is
typical of your code.
Page 60
December 17,2009
And then I think the other comment was to delete the
development standards on Page 8 of 14 that relate to the preserve tract.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Right. I think I was just looking at
the old one and not the --
MR. ARNOLD: All right.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- underlined.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are we -- does staff understand
the stipulations? A nod of the head okay.
Are we all set here? Any further -- Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: One tiny thing.
Ray, you are going to put down that -- a minimum separation,
correct?
MR. ARNOLD: I've got that noted on mine, too. I didn't know
if you wanted me to run down my list, Mr. Strain. I don't know, you
may have a separate list you're proposed to read too.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, I don't have a separate list.
MR. ARNOLD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we seem to be there. Everybody
content?
All those in favor of the motion as stipulated, signify by saying
aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
Page 61
December 17,2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries 9-0.
MR. ARNOLD: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We will take a break to 10:15 and come
back and then we'll go on the Vineyards variance request.
(Recess.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Everybody please take your seats, we're
going to try to announce something about our schedule that may help
some of you here. Because we have two groups of people that I know
of here today, one of course is Naples Bath and Tennis and the other is
Clubs ide, in Vineyards, and I know you both are probably as
impatient to hear this as we're trying to get to hear it, so I want to ask,
first of all, the applicant I guess for the Vineyards, Mr. Saadeh, is
there any -- are you going to go forward with your project today, or
are you so --
MR. SAADEH: I have every intention of doing so.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Because someone had mentioned
earlier that you might continue. I didn't know if that was the case or
not.
MR. SAADEH: No, sir, that's not accurate.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. With that in mind, everybody
that is here for Naples Bath and Tennis, I can guarantee you right now,
we will not hear your project before 12:00. Now, because ofthe
Vineyards request, we will be hearing -- I know that they'll take at
least a half an hour, but with Tony Pires, it could take three hours.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Forever.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Whenever they end, we will take an
hour break for lunch. If they end at 11 :30, we'll come back here at
12:30. If they end at 11 :00, we'll come back at 12:00.
So what I'm trying to tell you is to be safe I can guarantee you we
won't hear the Naples Bath and Tennis Club until noon. Now, it may
be later than that, but it won't be before that.
So those of you that are here for that case, and if you want,
Page 62
December 17, 2009
there's a nice cafeteria downstairs if you want to go to lunch or
breakfast, a late breakfast, feel free. If we do get some time, we're just
going to ourselves go to lunch and we'll back here then early. But
noon will be the earliest, just so all of you who are interested.
Item # lOB
PETITION: V A-PL2009-1460, VINEYARDS DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: With that in mind, all those wishing to
discuss the -- yeah, testify on behalf of the next item, which is -- let
me get back to my normal routine here. This is Petition
V A-PL-2009-1460, Michael Saadeh of the Vineyards Development
Corporation, and it's for a variance at 400 Vineyards Boulevard.
And before I ask everybody to stand, because everybody is, we'll
just wait for a minute.
All those folks with the Naples Bath and Tennis that are leaving,
please try to do so quietly and expeditiously.
Okay, all those wishing to testify on behalf of the Vineyards
variance petition, please rise to be sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, disclosures on the part of
Planning Commission.
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes, I had a meeting with Mr.
Pires and some residents.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else? Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I had a meeting with Mr. Pires
and some residents.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley, then Mr. Vigliotti.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I spoke with Mr. Saadeh.
Page 63
December 17, 2009
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I had conversations with Mr.
Saadeh, and I received a packet from the -- Tony Pires.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And I had meetings with Mr. Pires and
some residents.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I didn't speak to him, but I had
numerous e-mails.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, we've got a lot ofe-mails. But I
believe they've all been sent to staff and they're all part of the record.
And my guess was right, there's about as many people for this
one as there was for the other one. So I'm -- because there was some
discussion about moving one forward, and I thought we should leave it
like it is, so I'm glad we did.
With that in mind, Mr. Saadeh, it's all yours.
MR. SAADEH: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is
Michael Saadeh, I'm the president and CEO of Vineyards
Development Corporation. It's also the same entity that owns
Vineyards Country Club. I've been with the Vineyards since its
inception in 1986, so I have a little bit more history than I'm confident
anybody in this room on the other side.
Back in '87 we started construction at the Vineyards and we
started construction of the club, and with that we started building the
support facilities, which is the existing maintenance facility that you
see on the wall right here with the white roof.
At the same time we built a berm around this, the berm comes
and wraps around from Vineyards Boulevard all the way around the
site, all the way through the club parking lot. And the reason it wraps
on kind of like a U-shape, backward U-shape, because the other side
of the berm -- I point out this area. This area was at the time the same
parcel wide open throughout, and this site was being used at the time
for a water and sewer treatment plant, because the county did not have
Page 64
-,.",,,..,,....---......- ....~.,,~...~_._._-
December 17,2009
any sewer facilities or water facilities to this location, to the
Vineyards.
So the berm was built from day one right here and continued all
the way to here and here. But then it kept open here, not knowing at
the time what was going to be about with this parcel.
Moving forward a few years later, the county brought in their
facilities, their sewer facilities and water facilities to this site. So we
went in and we dismantled the water and sewer plant from the
Clubside Reserve site and connected to the county water system and
sewer system.
A few years after that, which sometime in the mid Nineties, we
started contemplating what to do with that parcel, and we decided at
the time to turn it to residential parcel. We met with a few people at
the county to create a proper buffer. And although there was no
requirement for a wall, we built an extensive eight-foot concrete wall
with a huge buffer. At the time, again, it was one parcel so we had the
option of drawing the line for the property boundary anywhere we
needed to.
So we drew the line and we put the buffer on the side of Clubside
Reserve, and we landscaped that buffer way before we offered a single
unit for sale in that neighborhood, or before we even started
construction in that neighborhood.
And the wall was additional protective, if you would, from the
future of that neighborhood. And later on as these folks came in and
bought in that area, nobody more or less knew what the history of it
was or, you know, what was done.
We drew the lines, we put the landscaping in. And I'm going to
share with you later on in the discussion the landscaping.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Could you slow down just a little bit?
I've been watching her try to type, and she has to get every word you
say. And you do what I do a lot, which is we talk fast, so --
MR. SAADEH: You see I'm emotional about this project
Page 65
December 17,2009
because I spent 23 years on it. And I don't present (sic) anybody else,
nor do I get hired to present anybody else, so I can't help but be
emotional about something we do. Especially in this economy that we
have a very exceptional report, considering what's happening all
around us. And then you get disappointed seeing what's happening
today.
Anyhow, we've operated this maintenance facility since '87, '88.
It was C.O.'d with the club, and it's been in operation ever since.
To my knowledge, and I've been there since, I've never heard a
complaint from either Clubside Reserve or anybody else surrounding
the maintenance facility that's existing today.
Now, due to the recent economic collapse, we are starting to
reevaluate our business model. A few year back we've taken
ownership of the Country Club, and we've paid the members very
handsomely for taking over the club. And at that time we were
leasing equipment on regular basis. And the leases expire every few
years and then we turn the equipment in and we lease other
equipment.
And because of the economic downturn, we feel that that plan is
not the most economical plan for us, so we decided we're going to
start purchasing the equipment and kind of hang on to it a lot more
than the three years we've been doing in the past.
To do so we do not have ample facilities to store whether existing
equipment that we have or future equipment that we need to have.
And to avoid, you know, beating it up in the weather and all that, so
we decided to come up and build a maintenance facility that will store
the rest of the equipment and be -- you know, supplement what we
have in place right now.
When we started to plan the site and started the planning process,
we discovered that the PUD setbacks are extremely stringent. They
were requesting -- the PUD called for 50-foot setback for that parcel.
And then we started evaluating that and done more research with
Page 66
December 17,2009
in-house and with county staff, and we realized -- and this is the most
critical point of anything you'll hear today -- we realized that the
reason for the 50-foot setback is that parcel and the club parcel allows
for a three-story over parking maintenance facility.
So anywhere on that site, if you meet that 50-foot setback, you
can physically build a three-story over parking. That's anywhere from
35 to 40 foot in height.
And, you know, it doesn't make sense to build a 35 or 40-foot
high building to store maintenance equipment. Under the current
LDC today, the current LDC that you have in front of you today, if
you were to build this building at the proposed height of 15 feet at the
peak of the roof, the maximum required setback would be seven and a
half feet. That's it, seven and a half feet. So we're proposing a 15 and
a half foot separation, and hence that's why, you know, the variance is
here today.
The reason for the variance is, you know, multiple. First and
foremost is, I just told you, that the PUD is stringent because it allows
much higher height. And so we doing a much smaller size building,
much smaller height building. And for that reason we're providing
still 15 and a half feet versus the required seven and a half the current
LDC but not under the PUD.
The other reason is this berm -- and I'm going to show you
pictures in a few minutes. This berm has been in place for 22, 23
years. It's very heavily landscaped. It's a gorgeous berm. And it
doesn't make any sense at all to any of the members or to us, nor to
county staff or anybody who's seen it, I've had multiple people go see
it, it didn't make any sense to tear it down just to abide by a 50-foot
requirement when we're not building the size building that requires the
50-foot setback.
The existing wall and landscape buffer, as I will show you -- I
sent you packages bye-mail, but I also gave you colored copies today,
and I'm going to put this on the wall for everybody to see. Again, as
Page 67
December 17,2009
you will see, that the berm and the -- the buffer and the wall that we
built is more than adequate to buffer the neighboring project. As well
as I will demonstrate in a second the orientation of the buildings of
Clubside Reserve do not face into this site or the berm.
As you can clearly see from this picture, all these units are
oriented this way. This unit, I'll show it up with a blown-up picture,
this one window, another window, this is four-unit building. For each
unit building you have just two windows on the back side, one on each
unit that will face into the site. And that's a secondary window for a
back bedroom. There isn't a single balcony, there isn't a single view or
any orientation whatsoever this way.
So everybody loads in in the garage, they come in, the balconies,
lanais, everything else orients this way. And I'll demonstrate some
pictures here of -- on the most -- from all this site here there is one,
two, three buildings, maybe even one unit here that has potential of
seeing this.
This unit, there is no way this back window can see the building,
no matter what. There's one, two, three, four, five, six windows have
potential seeing the building, if they can actually cross the existing
buffer right now. If they can find a little loop in that existing buffer,
they might even see that building. Otherwise, there's no way they can
see any of that.
And I'm going to show you those pictures in here. As well, I've
invited the staff early on and senior staff to visit the site, and they did.
Mr. Joe Schmitt visited the site, Susan Istenes visited the site, Mr.
Bellows visited the site, Mr. J.D. Moss visited the site. And we visited
both sides of the site; one from the proposed area where we plan on
putting the building and the other visit was on the Clubside Reserve
property, to just show them that it's impossible, more or less, to see
that building from with the existing vegetation and the existing wall
that we provided and built over the years.
On October 29 we met with Mr. Webster, who is the president of
Page 68
December 17,2009
the homeowners association of Clubs ide Reserve, and a lady called
Ms. Ellen Watts. She's also director on the Clubside Reserve
Homeowners Association. We shared with them the drawing that you
see on the board. We discussed with them what the project is to be,
and the extent of what the variance request would be.
And their simple reservations at that time was that they had
lighting reservations like how would you light the building, you know,
what will change on the site as far as use. We were extremely clear to
say that the use on -- this is not a zoning change, so the use and
existing equipment, the existing operation, the normal way of conduct
on a day-to-day basis is not changing. And that we committed that if
the lighting was an issue that we will definitely work with staff to do
the minimum lighting required to have the least light anywhere, as
well I remind you that the only units that might have potential impact
are six back windows on the whole site. And again, they have to
really look through the hedge, as I'll demonstrate in a second.
Past that, they've asked us to send them a copy in writing -- a
letter in writing to show their constituents on what the project was
going to be about.
So we prepared a letter, we sent it to them, it was very small and
simple. And the very next time we heard from them was from Mr.
Tony Pires that he's being their legal representative and now they've
hired counsel and they're going to fight this and defeat it, et cetera, et
cetera. There was not one single request of legitimate reason why this
thing shouldn't go up.
I would like now to go through these slides and show you the few
things and the buffer and the building orientation.
This first slide shows the back of a typical building in Clubside
Reserve facing the site in question.
The second slide would be when you stand on the garage front of
that building and you look out the site, that's what you would see.
This is another picture of again when you stand on the garage --
Page 69
December 17,2009
or the driveway of any of those buildings that I labeled here. Any of
those buildings, if you stand on the garage, by the garage door and
looked towards the site, that's what you would see.
This is an overall view of the berm as we built it back in the mid
Nineties and the extensive landscaping on that berm.
This is another view looking east.
This is another view looking straight at it.
This picture gives you a perspective of the height of the berm.
The person in the picture is me. The guy that took the picture, just I
asked him to take the picture from the garage looking out what my
height is. I'm six-foot, three inches. And this is me standing and this is
the backdrop of the landscaping behind me, again showing that it's
almost impossible to -- it's definitely impossible to see anything from
the first floor, but it's almost impossible to see anything from the
second floor window of the six windows in question that we're talking
about.
This is the picture of exactly where the building is proposed to
go, where that dumpster is. And right now we store some landscape
trimmings in that location. And in the future that won't be an option,
so we'll be hauling this out regularly weekly instead of whenever we
have enough.
This is another picture of the site showing the berm, existing
berm behind it on the site of the maintenance facility and the size of
the trees on top of that berm. Those are anywhere from 20 to 30 foot
tall, upwards of 22 years old that we have planted.
This is a picture of the berm coming into the club from the club
drive. This is how extensive and how heavily landscaped and how
pretty the berm looks.
This is another picture of the berm from the actual parking lot of
the Vineyards Country Club.
This is another picture of the berm from the parking lot of the
Vineyards Country Club as well.
Page 70
December 17, 2009
Again, showing the extent of the landscaping and the maturity of
the landscaping that have to be destroyed completely if we were to
move the building to the proper setback.
This is a picture of the berm as well with the entrance of the
maintenance facility.
This is the wall on our side of the property. This is the wall that
separates Clubside Reserve from the maintenance complex on our side
of the property. Again, the wall was not requirement back in the
Nineties when we built it. We built it to give them additional sound
buffer, additional protection way before we ever built a unit there or
ever sold a unit there.
So we planned it properly . We've been neighborly for years. We
thought that this is a no-brainer. I mean, we're just adding a building
on an existing use for the existing everything and trying to house
additional equipment as times changed. And so this wall is all the
way around. Again, it's not part of whatever requirement. We never
operate on what's just a requirement, we go further with what's
practical and what makes sense.
So pretty much this is the existing conditions as you see it. This
is the existing berm, that if we couldn't get the variance we have to
destroy.
But the issue today is not whether we will build the building or
not. I think anybody in this room, especially the Commissioners,
would understand that the zoning is there for the building. The issue
is whether it be put where we're proposing to place it or whether we
have to destroy the building to place it. And if that was to be the case,
we have to revisit the site, we have to revisit the size of the building,
we have to revisit the height of the building, among other things.
In an effort to keep the meeting orderly and respect your time and
everybody else's time, we chose not to bring supporters in here and
just come in here and jam the microphone. So what I've done is I have
a list here of 52 club members that I will pass on for your record that
Page 71
December 17,2009
totally approve and support this position. And what I've been here
today, had I not asked them to be here in respect of your time (sic).
They're members, they're club members. I'll provide one for the
record. Matter of fact, a couple of signatures on that list are people
who live in Clubside Reserve and don't see it the way the other folks
in this room are seeing it.
With that, I'll thank you for your time. I'll be happy to answer
any questions. And I would appreciate it if you would give me some
time after Mr. Pires and company have their short rebuttal. Thank
you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We typically do have a rebuttal time, so
you certainly will be afforded that.
Okay, Mr. Murray, then Mr. Wolfley.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Mr. Saadeh, for one, could we
get a picture up there from the unit that would be, let's say, centered
on the existing maintenance building? Can you find -- I don't know
which one of these that would be. In other words, it could be one
where you're standing --
MR. SAADEH: Okay.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Because I have a point to make
here.
MR. SAADEH: This would be typical picture from an existing
building across from the existing Clubside Reserve site. That's a
typical site.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: So in other words that is
looking right at the existing maintenance building.
MR. SAADEH: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Have these people ever
complained about noise because you're working on the equipment and
so on?
MR. SAADEH: To my knowledge they have not. I mean, that's
Page 72
December 17, 2009
the best of my knowledge. I've been there for 23 years.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Mr. Saadeh, the manila folder
that you had and you said you had signatures from members of the
club.
MR. SAADEH: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Are every signature from every
member of the club also residents in Vineyards?
MR. SAADEH: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So everyone that signed that is a
resident, regardless of where they live.
MR. SAADEH: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Thank you, that was my
question.
MR. SAADEH: They're club members and residents. The ones
who signed the petitions are residents and members.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes, first question, is the
property line that's running -- you're very close to one that's -- I guess
you're a foot and a half or 1.4 feet off of that.
Would you have a problem unifying those two sites and
removing that property line? Because otherwise you should have
another setback issue and you're really going to get beat up when you
go for a building permit from the fire separation distance.
MR. SAADEH: I'm not sure I understand the question, honestly.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Do you see where you're one
foot -- 1.4 feet from a -- the eastern property line? I assume that is a
platted site and that is a property line.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: It's a curbed property line.
MR. MOSS: Commissioner Schiffer, ifI may, for the record,
John-David Moss, Department of Zoning and Land Development
Page 73
December 17,2009
Review.
There are no side yard setbacks in the Vineyards PUD. So if this
were not -- if this came in as its own SDP, that would not be an issue.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So he could have a zero setback
there.
MR. MOSS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Although when he does go to
the building department, the fire separation's going to be 1.4 feet and
he's going to have a --
MR. MOSS: That's a whole nother issue entirely. I don't know
about what the fire setback standards are, but I'm just saying from a
zoning perspective it's not an issue, so --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay.
MR. SAADEH: We've met with the fire department and they've
requested another additional hydrant in a specific location. They've
requested a second back flow preventer, which we have one on-site.
They've requested a second one so if they put a truck on one end or
the other -- because there's an existing driveway there, and that was
kind of their barometer.
We could physically deed any portion of that property to the
other entity, because we own both entities.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right.
MR. SAADEH: So if I have to deed 10 feet this way or 10 feet
that way, it doesn't really make any difference.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And it would be the building
department. Because the type of construction -- you'd have to build
that out of probably a three-hour rated wall that close to the property
line. And if it's a --
MR. SAADEH: So far we we've met with the building
department and the fire department, and that issue was not an issue.
Again as well, we can address it by moving the property lines, because
we own both sides of the property.
Page 74
December 17, 2009
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. All right.
The other question is, have you ever tried to design a building
that didn't require this variance? For example, you know, the back side
of this berm is not that good looking. You could have pushed the
building into it. 1 mean, in Florida we're used to everything being flat.
But people do design buildings, you know, with --
MR. SAADEH: Well, actually, the building is pushed as back
against the berm as possible. And there's the proposed retaining wall
that would be built behind the building to protect it from any sliding
that might ever occur in the berm if we have a hurricane or a big
storm.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. But the question is, did
you ever try to design a building that would fit within the setback?
MR. SAADEH: Ifwe scaled it smaller, it won't serve the
purpose intended with the expenses of sprinkling the building and
doing all the other things and the site work with it. It would not really
make, you know, financial sense at all. We would end up with a four
or 4,500 square foot building.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. And the type of
building, are you just trying to get a metal building to fit in here, is
that what this is?
MR. SAADEH: It's a prefab metal building, very, very similar to
the existing one, newer model, obviously.
The height of the roof at the peak is 15 feet. The average height
of the ceiling is 14 feet. And again, you know, with every expert
we've spoken to in our engineering staff, the closer you put it to the
wall, the less likely they can see it. The further away you put it from
the wall, the more they're going to see it.
Plus on a second-story unit, if you look out, you will see the
berm that I showed you with the mature trees. If I took those trees out
that would be your backdrop, that will be gone.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I mean, isn't the berm between
Page 75
December 17, 2009
you and the residences?
MR. SAADEH: No, sir, it's not.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: It's not?
MR. SAADEH: No, the berm is actually--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, I know what you mean.
That berm, okay.
All right, my question was, so essentially have you really tried to
design something around it? I mean, obviously it's a uniquely shaped
site. But you're actually the one that shaped the site.
MR. SAADEH: Again, at the time, I mean, I'm talking 22 years
ago in 1987 is when we built the site. At that time we didn't have a
need for another maintenance facility. And again, I mean, if this was
a current project outside of a PUD with someone coming in under the
current LDC, the maximum setback requirement for this building
would be seven and a half feet. We're providing 15 and a half.
The fact that the PUD asked for 50 is because we're allowed to
go up 35 or 40 feet. I mean, basically that's the main reason the
50-foot is there.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I think John's going to --
MR. MOSS: Yeah, if I just may clarify something for the record.
John-David Moss, Department of Zoning.
Mr. Saadeh has twice said that the setback of the most
conventional district for a golf course maintenance facility would be
seven and a half feet. That's not exactly correct. There actually is no
minimum setback, so it's just --
THE COURT REPORTER: Excuse me, you're going fast.
MR. MOSS: I'm sorry, it's contagious.
But anyway, there is no minimum setback requirement for golf
course maintenance facilities in the most similar conventional zoning
district, which would be the golf course zoning district. So he's
providing one that's 15 feet.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, so say that again? In
Page 76
December 17, 2009
other words, we -- in a conventionally zoned golf course you can build
maintenance buildings on the property line?
MR. MOSS: Yes, there is no minimum setback requirement in
the LDC.
MR. SAADEH: In your current document.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: All right. Well, just one more
question.
When you built the building next door, there's a big issue about
between the building and the residential property, that area's supposed
to be landscaped. Did that ever come up when you were building the
maintenance building to the east?
MR. SAADEH: Sir, we built the maintenance building to the
east prior to ever putting the wall up or prior to ever putting the
landscaping there. At the time we were to develop what was to be
known as Clubside Reserve, we met with county staff and we said
how about we put the buffer all in one location and landscape it
heavily and, you know, we can -- we have the option of drawing that
line anywhere.
The staff and us at that time reached an agreement that we would
put this buffer -- I don't remember if it was 20 or 25 feet -- and
properly landscape it. At the time that was as good as anybody was
looking for on the county side and our side. And then to make it even
better, we built the wall to prevent any noise, additional noise or
something.
There was no line at the time. We created that line. So it was
totally consistent with whatever the county was requiring in those
days 13, 14 years ago.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: All right, thank you. It is a
beautiful buffer. I mean, you couldn't have done it any better.
MR. SAADEH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat, then Ms. Caron.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Those lists of owners that you
Page 77
December 17,2009
submitted or referenced, were they submitted to the staff?
MR. SAADEH: The ones that support our position?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Yes.
MR. SAADEH: No, I'll submit them today, if you'd like. For the
record. I said that I'll give them a copy for the record.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So we have not seen those.
They're not in our packet.
MR. SAADEH: No, they're not. I mean, I could have asked
them to come today and I can still do that and ask a lot of people to
come in today and sit here. I just chose not to do that in respect of
your time and our time.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So you're only representing that
they take that position; we haven't heard from them or seen anything
in writing.
MR. SAADEH: The piece of paper they sign, they can read it for
you, which I'm going to give you a copy of.
It states: We the undersigned residents of the Vineyards and
members of Vineyards Country Club are aware that the Vineyards
Development Corp. and Vineyards Country Club have requested a
variance from the setback requirement --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Please slow down. This poor girl's
going to have fits over here in a minute. We need to slow down a
little bit, everybody, so thank you.
MR. SAADEH: Okay. We the undersigned residents of the
Vineyards --
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: You don't have to read it for me.
My question really is I guess more to John-David. Why didn't we
have a copy of this in our packet so we could be familiar with it?
MR. MOSS: Yes, Commissioner Kolflat, I didn't receive a copy
of the petition. Obviously he still hasn't submitted it to me yet. But
it's my understanding that it was collected after the staff reports were
sent to you.
Page 78
December 17,2009
I also understand that Mr. Pires has a petition signed by residents
that are opposed to it that hasn't been submitted either. But I will get
copies of both of those for the record.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So we have two wrongs then.
MR. MOSS: Yeah. All I've collected so far are eight letters of
objection that were actually e-mailed me. I think most of them you
were copied on. And then one letter of support.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Another question, if I might.
How many golf courses are there out there at the Vineyards total?
MR. SAADEH: Two golf courses. Thirty-six holes.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Two I8-hole courses?
MR. SAADEH: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Now, how many square feet
maintenance area do you generally need for one round of golf?
MR. SAADEH: I'm not totally sure. Obviously the one we have
is not enough.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: What do you mean not enough?
MR. SAADEH: I mean we have currently equipment that is not
being housed in the building, it's housed outside the building on the
same side.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: You undertook then no study to
ascertain what the amount of coverage you might need?
MR. SAADEH: We figured out how much equipment we have
and we realized we need a building in the size of 8,000 to 10,000
square feet to house the existing equipment that we need to house.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: And as I understand in your
answer to Mr. Schiffer, that you made no investigation as to where
that building might be located without having violated the setbacks?
MR. SAADEH: No, sir, that's not accurate. We said we looked
at all avenues. And if we were to place this size building anywhere
else but where we're proposing it, we'll have to destroy the berm, thus
the reason for the variance. That's why we're requesting a variance,
Page 79
December 17, 2009
because we've looked at it any which way and we found out the only
way we can do it without destroying the berm is in that proposed
location. If we shrunk the building, it won't serve the purpose that we
needed to serve. It won't be enough to house the equipment we need
to house.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Now, the total you want now --
you have 12,000 square feet now, is that right, coverage for
maintenance? You're asking for 9,000?
MR. SAADEH: More or less, yes.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So it's about 20,000 you're
talking about, 21,000.
MR. SAADEH: More or less, yes. Whatever it adds up to be.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: All right. And you feel that's
kind of common an area of what two golf courses would need?
MR. SAADEH: Again, I can't speak for other golf courses. I can
give you a general statement. You can physically build a golf course
on 85 acres or you can build a golf course on 160 acres. To my
knowledge, we have -- the two courses are built on the Vineyards on
roughly about 350 acres. So we have one of the largest areas of golf
course open space than anybody else has.
If you have 90-acre golf course, I'm sure you would need less
equipment to maintain it than if you had 150-acre or 165-acre golf
course. Ours are very wide, very user friendly. They're designed for
the more senior gentleman and lady than the young athlete
professional golfer.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, the flora that's shown in
your pictures are very attractive. I compliment you on these. It has
grown up there over the years to look very attractive. However, we're
faced with having to be sure that we're granting a variance that meets
certain guidelines included in our LDC.
And I think that's the thing that worries me more than anything,
whether we're meeting the LDC requirements.
Page 80
December 17,2009
MR. SAADEH: Well, sir, on the hope of not being redundant, if
I was today -- if! didn't have a PUD document today and just came in
under the current LDC today, the same document that you're referring
to, I would not even have to provide a one foot setback. 1 could put
the building right against the wall. Yet I'm offering 15 and a half foot
setback, and your current LDC does not require that at all.
And again, the 50-foot was placed back in 1986. This PUD dates
back to 1986 because it allows for three story over building -- over
parking maintenance facility.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I have no more questions at the
moment.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron, then Mr. Schiffer.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Just to get back a little bit to what
Mr. Schiffer was talking about and that is the design of the building.
You gave us a picture here, and it says equipment to be stored in
the proposed building.
MR. SAADEH: That's equipment that's currently stored outside.
That's where we propose to put it in the new building.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Inside the building.
MR. SAADEH: Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER CARON: But in this picture they are under
cover, all right. Most of it is --
MR. SAADEH: Some are and some are not.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- under cover.
MR. SAADEH: Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Is it possible for you to enclose
these buildings and put most of that equipment in here and then build
a smaller building on the tract that would meet your setbacks? Why is
that not possible?
MR. SAADEH: To the best of my knowledge it's not because it
would have to go through current regulations, which is certain
sprinkler facilities, certain separation. Everything have to be
Page 81
December 17,2009
sprinkled. The new building is proposed to be sprinkled. The existing
building is not sprinkled. So they require different -- you know,
different design altogether. I'm not sure we'll even have the ample
space to place them there.
These are just mainly just a roof overhang to protect some of the
equipment from the elements. Those cannot be permitted today that
way. If I was to ask the county to give me permits similar to that, they
won't issue them today.
COMMISSIONER CARON: All right, let me ask you another
question then about this.
This entire area, I mean, approximately how many square feet are
in there, though?
MR. SAADEH: I'm not really sure --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Where I'm going, Mr. Saadeh, is
could these buildings be taken down and you put the new building
there or something --
MR. SAADEH: Well, if you look at the picture closely --
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- close to it?
MR. SAADEH: -- that's actually driveway, and it goes around
the entire building. And the fire department requires this type of
access to go all the way around. So I think by the time we ask for
something that's -- if you look at the scale of this versus this, by the
time we ask for something that's of any magnitude, we will not be able
to use the road and the fire department would not approve it.
COMMISSIONER CARON: But based on the equipment that's
out here, you don't need 9,000 square feet in order to accommodate
that equipment. You could put a smaller building on that footprint
that exists and still be able to use your driveway and meet your fire
codes and put in sprinklers and do all the things that you have to do to
bring it up to --
MR. SAADEH: Ma'am, this is not --
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- code.
Page 82
December 17, 2009
MR. SAADEH: -- the picture of all the equipment that we have
on the site. This was taken at a moment in time during the day. There
could have been 20 or 30 pieces of equipment on the golf course at the
time this was taken. This was not scientifically taken to specifically
account for every piece of equipment. This was just a sample of this is
what we have, this is one of the challenges we have. So this was not
taken like at 6:00 in the morning when every piece of equipment was
parked in the barn and outside the barn. This was taken at some
moment in time during the day. I've taken this a few weeks ago.
COMMISSIONER CARON: So you were bringing equipment
from other places on your property?
MR. SAADEH: No, ma'am. This -- during the day we have
equipment on the golf course on regular basis. So at that time this
equipment would have been on the golf course that wouldn't be shown
in this picture.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Brad?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And Donna, that was kind of
exactly my question is that it looks like you could exactly build what
you want in the backyard of this and cover that. You don't have to
have 100 percent access around the building.
I mean, you and I shouldn't be providing expert testimony on fire
codes, but it just seems why couldn't -- did you ever look at building
to building just covering exactly that yard? It almost appears to be
exactly that size.
MR. SAADEH: Well, actually, it wouldn't fit.
The other thing I'll tell you, this is a matter of fact, when we
proposed this building with the fire department, there's a fire sprinkler
right in this location right here. The fire marshal came in and said we
want a different one in here. We said, how come? Ifthere's a fire --
and luckily, knock on wood, we haven't had one in 23 years. He said
no, ifthere's a fire, we're parking a truck in here, we don't want to go
Page 83
December 17, 2009
on the other side of the truck to reach a hydrant, we want one on this
side of the truck.
So I mean, their regulations, they want a fire hydrant here, which
is existing. They want another one here, which is not existing, to be
added. So I can't really speak as to what the fire codes are but I can
tell you, it's the most stringent regulation that you would go to when
you're getting a fire permit.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. But that's not really the
point. What the fire marshal is saying is if we're going to build a
building on the other side of the road, give me a hydrant also on the
other side of the road.
My question really is, is that area behind your existing building
looks like an area -- I mean, the existing building is bigger than the
new building you want. Why couldn't you put this new maintenance
building back there?
MR. SAADEH: Again, simply it wouldn't fit. I mean, it
physically wouldn't fit. If you take the shell in here and superimpose
these lines in here, those will be touching. And then this will be
blocked and there will be no more road.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Of course you could touch
them.
You know, here's the problem, is you're asking for a variance.
And there has to be good reasons for the variance. And you can't
cause the reasons. You know, you subdivided the lot. The big
argument here is that you want to put this size building as opposed to
another size building that some architect could take your berm, design
the building into the berm and probably get you a lot of square
footage. It would certainly not be as easy to build as a rectangular
metal building.
And then you even mentioned that you would have to sprinkler
it. Well, you know, we can't give variances for land use based on
avoiding sprinkling. So I mean, we really have to have good hardship
Page 84
December 17, 2009
reasons that aren't caused by yourself or not to be convenient for
construction.
MR. SAADEH: Mr. Schiffer, I would say that again under the
current LDC, if I wasn't allowed to go three stories high, I would not
need the type of setback that we're requesting a variance for. So
basically, I mean, you -- this is a technicality. I'm here stuck on a
technicality because my PUD was written in '86 and it called for
three-story maintenance facilities. Then I would have to have 50-foot
setback. Now I'm proposing a IS-foot building -- IS-foot high
building and I'm asked to provide still the 50 feet, which doesn't make
any sense at all. I mean, I'm easier off going amending the PUD and
removing the 50-foot requirement.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm a little confused. You're
giving the impression that there is conventional zoning all over the
county for something that's zoned golf course. You are a PUD. You
determined your own zoning, your own setbacks. So, I mean,
referencing the conventional when you essentially created your own,
I'm not sure, why is that supposed to make, you know, the --
MR. SAADEH: Because 23 years later things are not the same.
I'm sure you agree with that. Things change and evolve. And at that
time we didn't -- I mean, at that time I didn't craft every letter of the
document. We had experts do that. Hindsight looking at it, you know,
we probably should have done it as the other table in the PUD calls
for, the residential table calls for.
If you had one story, this is your setback; second story, this is
your setback; three stories are more, this is your setback.
Unfortunately the PUD only -- the golf course site didn't address that.
I have the copy of the PUD, if you'd like to see it. It addressed it
perfectly for residential, but it didn't for this site.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And we have portions of it.
And that would -- maybe I would be happier if you were actually in
here revising your PUD so that you could make a building that would
Page 85
December 17, 2009
fit here. Some of this -- the problem is you're asking for a variance
and a variance has to carry a lot of weight as to that you really have a
need for it that's certainly not caused by yourself or again to avoid
types of construction.
But anyway, I'm done, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Mr. Saadeh, I realize you have
a need for the building. If you build it in the position you want and
push it back towards the berm, how many feet can you go before you
start tearing that berm down?
MR. SAADEH: Matter of fact, this corner right here is at the toe
of the berm. And there is going to be a retaining wall built along this
side of it, almost all the way across. So pretty much this is as far as it
can go back without starting to tear into the berm.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Okay. Because the reason I'm
bringing it up is I live in that development, I go up and down that
road. If that berm had to come down or any trees in that berm had to
come down, it would definitely destroy the view all the way down to
the clubhouse.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And I agree with you, but the
toe of the berm is the bottom of the berm, correct?
MR. SAADEH: Well, actually, this is the toe of the berm. The
toe of the berm is right down here.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But--
MR. SAADEH: This is the height of the berm with the pictures I
just showed you. And I'd be happy to take you out there and drive
you over.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think he's referring to the toe of the
slope of the berm as it moves east and west.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. And my point is that you
could push that in, Bob. I mean, just based on the pictures you've
given me. I think probably the top of the berm is certainly not in the
Page 86
December 17,2009
middle. It looks further towards where you want to build. But you
could get a building, especially a building of this height, back into that
berm.
And again, in Florida we're so used to flat sites we can't imagine,
you know, building something into a hill. But the rest of the world
does build a lot of nice structures into the hills. And it would
obviously have a retaining wall.
Anyway, just, you know, that study I don't think was ever done.
And that would have been fair to the neighbors to try to make it work
out without this problem. But anyway, I was done before.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions of the applicant?
Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Yes, some of the requirements
that the LDC cause upon us includes whether it's an unnecessary
hardship. In other words, you're maintaining or you believe that you
have an unnecessary hardship if you don't follow the setbacks; is that
correct?
MR. SAADEH: Yes, sir. I don't want to tear down a berm and
landscaping that's been there for 23 years. I mean, that's the number
one reason. And plus there is -- in our view there is definitely no
impact on anybody next door, because they've been there for all these
years and nothing changed. I'm not adding zoning, I'm not changing
zoning or use, I'm just expanding an existing facility that was there
before the project was ever built.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: But what I visualize and what I
see is that there is no legal unnecessary hardship in this case.
Now, the question of course comes to mind is what constitutes a
legal unnecessary hardship. In trying to find the standard and the
definition of that, I did some research, and I found that our County
Attorney has defined this for us, as well as the BCC. For purpose --
and I quote now from our County Attorney: For purposes of
supporting a zoning variance, a legal hardship will be found to exist
Page 87
December 17,2009
only in those cases where the property is virtually unusable or
incapable of yielding a reasonable return when used pursuant to the
applicable zoning regulations.
And you maintain now that you have an unreasonable hardship;
is that correct?
MR. SAADEH: I'm maintaining right now that it's the least
offensive option to put it where we're requesting to put it versus to tear
down a berm, with the understanding that under current rules that the
county has today I would not need to have near the setback that I'm
providing right now.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: But you don't meet this
requirement in the LDC. Because I don't believe it's a legal hardship
that you have.
MR. SAADEH: The requirement of the LDC, unfortunately my
PUD supersedes the LDC. If that wasn't the case, we wouldn't be here
today.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Now, of course you're the
original developer for 20 years in this case, and any asserted hardship
that is self created by the applicant, this includes the unusually shaped
parcel, location of the Curbside community development, PUD
setback requirements, et cetera. You've had an opportunity to dictate
that all along, since you've been the original owner.
MR. SAADEH: Correct. But again, as things evolve with time
-- I don't have a crystal ball to foresee what happened. I'm sure
nobody here knew what was going to happen last year in the economy
or the year before.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: But in light of this definition of
un -- legal unnecessary hardship, if you cannot tell me what your
hardship is and that it is unnecessary, I find it hard to violate the LDC.
MR. SAADEH: Well, my hardship is twofold: One is removing
a berm and existing facility that's been there for 23 years just to
account for a setback that your own LDC does not require today just
Page 88
December 17, 2009
doesn't make sense, with all due respect.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: That doesn't make it incapable
of yielding a reasonable profit or return.
MR. SAADEH: I would venture to say that a lot more people
and members of the club will be impacted by removing the berm than
the few people you have in this room today facing this petition and
going against it.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Well, don't bring up the people
in the room or what you've sent us, because we haven't gotten any
letters from anybody yet, apparently.
MR. SAADEH: No, but I mean, you have registered speakers
against this, and they have an attorney, so --
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: That's all I had, Mark.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray, then Mr. Wolfley.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Mr. Saadeh, would you show us,
please, at that map, show us where in the morning and in the evening
where the vehicles that are currently used for maintenance travel, their
travel line to go out and do their thing.
MR. SAADEH: Well, some vehicles come up and down this
path and go to the north golf course, because we have two courses.
And the ones that service the south golf course come out this way.
And there's a concrete path in here. They hug this path and they go
out to the southern golf course.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Thank you. Just remain there if
you would, please.
The distance from the current building to any residence is
approximately what, sir?
MR. SAADEH: I'm not 100 percent sure. Way over 100 feet.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And on your proposed new
building, what would the distance from any -- the closest point of a
building to any residence would be?
MR. SAADEH: This dimension would be -- the closest corner of
Page 89
December 17,2009
the building to the closest corner of the other building would be 80
feet.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay. The vehicles use what
type of fuel, sir?
MR. SAADEH: I think most mowers are either gas or diesel.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Diesel or gas.
And is diesel or gas stored on your property in the other current
facility?
MR. SAADEH: This is the fuel facility that we have on the
property, and it's not proposed to be changed. It will remain right
here.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And so now that new building,
the proposed building, would be for the storage and maintenance of
these buildings -- of these vehicles?
MR. SAADEH: Storage and maintenance of mowers, but no
storage of chemical facilities or the fuel. The fuel is supposed to be
here, it stays here. And the chemical component is a portion of this
building that's designed properly for that, that will stay there.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Thank you.
Would the -- at the end of the day when the vehicles are being
housed in the proposed new building, would they be driving into the
building?
MR. SAADEH: Yes, I'm sure --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So there's no door on either side,
it's just one entry and exit on one side; am I correct?
MR. SAADEH: The proposed doors are on this side. We could
have easily -- we could easily add a door on this side, if that makes a
difference.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I'm not one -- that's fine,
but I want to find out. The vehicles are going to drive into the vehicle
-- I'm sorry, into the building?
MR. SAADEH: That's correct.
Page 90
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And when they leave in the
morning, are they going to back out?
MR. SAADEH: I'm not sure what the--
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, they're not going to go in
an arc, are they?
MR. SAADEH: I'm really not there on a daily basis to see the
modem, how they operate. I'm sure they either back out or turn
around or something. I don't know the -- I mean, I don't know where
you're leading with this.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I'm going to tell you
where I'm leading. My concerns are for glare, noise, odor. Those are
one ofthe other -- those are some of the other characteristics that
relate to human beings and their dwellings.
And I recognize your perspective about seeing the entirety and
benefiting the whole, but just like in democracy, one of tenets is the
majority has the obligation to protect the minority. And so those four
residents have essentially the same rights as the rest of the folks.
My concern is, and I hope that I've led you there for you to
understand, is the smell, the noise and during the course of a day if
they're performing maintenance, there's other noises associated with it.
So I think that's part of this.
Would you like to comment on anything I've just related?
MR. SAADEH: As it's been for the last 22 years, again, the
maintenance for -- the maintenance equipment that services the south
golf course drive right by this line, by this wall, all the way out this
way. So the traffic you're talking about or the number of equipment
you're talking about or the noise you're suggesting or the smell of fuel
or whatever, it's already there now and it's been there for 22 years, and
not once did we hear one complaint about it. I mean, it's typical in
this type of operation.
We do not have the type of heavy equipment that -- we use
regular mowers and we use, you know, regular trim equipment that if
Page 91
December 17, 2009
they hand operate it, they load them on one of these utility service
vehicles and they take them out on the course and use them where
they need to use them.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I appreciate that, and I'm not
going to get into a state of argument with you, but I would just offer
that a vehicle passing by allows its penetration of annoyance for a
brief period, as opposed to something that is in a cubicle or in a space
has to back out, makes noise that way and is stored there and there's
inevitably the smell of fuel.
That's just my view. And I'm just asking that question, because
that's a concern I'm sure you have with respect to your neighbors.
You want the people who live there to be comfortable.
MR. SAADEH: Sure. And we've done that for all these years.
However, I'll say this: I'm kind of catching a little bit of where
we're going with this. The mowers that we have, not one of them that
I know would have a beeping sound on a reverse cycle. Those sounds
are more associated with heavier type equipment, like big back hoe or
a big loader or anything that when you put it in reverse it gives you
that beeping sound.
The mower is just a mower. You put it in reverse, you put it
forward, it's the same sound, the motor's the same. It doesn't have that
extra sound that we might be suggesting here.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I think that's an excellent point
for you to have made.
But my last question then has me provoked, which is a good
question, I think. Looking at that picture, are those all mowers that
we're looking at?
MR. SAADEH: Mowers and tractors. Tractors are used for
mowing, that's what we use them for.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: All right. I'm looking at what I
thought I saw here where there's tractors here, and looks like other
type of maintenance vehicles.
Page 92
December 17,2009
MR. SAADEH: We have one back hoe and that doesn't get used
on a regular basis, it's if we have a leak or if we have to dig a hole
when a water line bursts. But that doesn't get used daily or even
sometimes weekly.
And I can see that this vehicle, if it bothers you, we'll put in the
other building.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay. I will stop now with
regard to that. But I thought it was important for you to appreciate
that. That is something that has to be a concern.
MR. SAADEH: No problem.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Something came up when Mr.
Kolflat was questioning the hardship issue. And what came to me is I
had a job for 10 years where I contracted with developers, and I've had
an opportunity to visit many, many golf course communities and their
of course maintenance facilities. Some lease, some own their
equipment.
And what I look at is if I lease a car, I'm probably not going to
take as good of care of the car as I am something that I own. In other
words, the equipment, they're probably keeping the leased equipment
outside and they want to keep the equipment that we own inside so
that it will last longer. I don't know if that's a hardship.
But when I was reading through this, that's what I took away
from it. And I just -- I looked at that as a hardship, a financial
hardship. So I just wanted to comment on that.
And I'm going to have to disagree with you, Mr. Murray, that a
portion of the people have to support the other. I don't think that's
democracy, that's communism.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: It's actually our constitution.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yeah, I don't want to get
caught in between the both, but I do agree with you as far as the
Page 93
December 17,2009
maintenance sheds. There's going to be a building put up here, it's just
a matter of where it's going to go. And the further out it goes, the
closer it is towards the berm. And I do feel there is a hardship with
that, because of the economy. And leasing versus ownership, I
thought the exact same thing as you, if you lease a vehicle you just
park it outside in these temporary sheds. But if you want to own them
and maintain them -- and as far as the vehicles going by, they have the
mowers going by right now all day every day anyway, so that's not
going to change.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there any -- Ms. Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Could you put the picture up that
has the proposed building site and existing berm buffer?
MR. SAADEH: Sure.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: The little storage building on the
top that has the dumpster in it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You know, Cherie', after today my fast
talking to you is going to be slow.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Is that lower green portion there,
that's where the building is going to go? So it is going to be right up
to the berm?
MR. SAADEH: Yes, ma'am, the -- actually, the building will go
back to the berm as possible. And that's also triggering the building of
a small retaining wall to the back of the building to protect it from the
toe of the berm. So as far back as we can push it. I mean, it can't push
anymore than that.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: And you're trying to keep the
asphalt area --
MR. SAADEH: The some of the asphalt is going to--
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: -- seep through into that a little
bit.
MR. SAADEH: Yes, some of the asphalt's going to be part of
the actual foundation.
Page 94
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: So you're right in that kind of
dug out area.
MR. SAADEH: Right.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Looks like.
MR. SAADEH: I mean, if you notice on this picture, this is
some of the asphalt that will be the footer of the building itself. And
some of the grass on that back. And so we're eating some of the
asphalt as well.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, does anybody else have any--
Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Yes, for my colleagues, I want
to assure you that what I was reciting as far as the legal necessary
hardship was not my definition whatsoever, it's the definition of our
County Attorney, and I think he has some credibility in that area
making a definition.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: A bit.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is there any other questions of the
applicant from anybody on this panel?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that we'll have staff report.
Thank you, Mr. Saadeh.
MR. SAADEH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And you'll have an opportunity to come
back and rebut at the end of the public discussion.
MR. SAADEH: Thank you very much.
MR. MOSS: Thank you, Commissioner. For the record,
John-David Moss, Department of Zoning and Land Development
Review.
Staff is recommending approval of both of these variances.
There is the 15.4- foot setback variance for the building, and also a
landscape variance. Normally a lO-foot wide landscape buffer would
Page 95
December 17,2009
be required adjacent to the existing buffer. And staff is allowing -- or
recommending that the applicant be allowed to provide this buffer in
two separate areas, as he's able. And then also the 14 canopy trees
that would normally be required to be planted in these two buffer
yards.
With regard to the petition, staff took a holistic approach to the
request when we were evaluating it against the criteria of the LDC.
And I just wanted to point out that the proposed building is stipulated
to be only 15 feet in height. The PUD allows heights in this golf
course district to be three stories over parking, so it's approximately 40
to 45 feet. And staff thought that -- and the reason that the PUD
anticipated a 50-foot setback was because these heights were so great.
And staff felt that with the applicant willing to limit the height to only
15 feet, that a 15- foot setback would be adequate, since the most
conventional comparable zoning district, the golf course zoning
district, doesn't have any setback requirements for golf course
maintenance facilities.
I'd also like to point out that there is an existing vegetative buffer
on the adjacent property, and there are pictures of it included in your
staff report. And I think Mr. Saadeh has presented some to you today.
This canopy is 16 feet in height. And so obviously the proposed
building is not going to protrude above the canopy like a 40 to 48- foot
building would. So it seemed to staff that this would be something
that would be amenable to everyone involved.
Staff also didn't want the applicant to remove the berm because
of the public benefit it provides, not only to the members of the
Vineyards Country Club who pass by it, but also to the adjacent
neighbors who are opposing the project, because it presents really an
attractive view from their units. And so if it were removed and a
48-story (sic) building put up, it seems like no one would win in that
situation. But it is something that Mr. Saadeh is certainly entitled to
do according to the PUD document.
Page 96
December 17,2009
I'd also like to add that I hadn't heard until today that lighting
might be an issue, but we can certainly include a stipulation in the
resolution, if this petition gets approved, limiting the lighting that's
allowed on the site or the hours of operation of the lighting, that sort
of thing. So that is definitely an impact that can be mitigated.
And that's all I have. I'll be happy to answer any questions you
might have.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: J.D., you're recommending
approval. I presume then you agree this is a hardship.
MR. MOSS: Yes. And I would like to point out that the criteria
that are outlined in your staff report, those are just general guidelines
that you are supposed to follow when you make recommendation.
They're not hard and fast rules, you don't have to agree with everyone,
but generally those are the guidelines you're supposed to be following.
And so staff considered the berm to be a hardship.
The berm was actually built 20 years ago when there was a water
plant on the site. And obviously when the site was -- excuse me,
when the whole Vineyards PUD was able to connect to the county
water and sewer system, that plant was no longer needed and it was
removed.
But I just didn't see any point in having the applicant destroy this
beautiful berm when he's not even proposing a building that's going to
be 40 to 48 feet.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I agree with you totally, to
move that berm just wouldn't make any sense. And I live there and I
go up and down that all the time. And to move that berm I do
consider a hardship.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
Ms. Caron, then Mr. Schiffer, then Mr. Kolflat.
COMMISSIONER CARON: In your global look at this
variance, did you ask yourself why anybody would build a 48-foot
Page 97
December 17, 2009
building for -- to house a tractor or a lawnmower?
MR. MOSS: No, I -- of course I didn't look at that. I looked at
the application that was presented. All I'm saying is he was entitled to
build a story with a maximum height of up to 48 feet. He could
provide parking underneath the building, he could do something above
it, I don't know. But I looked at the application as it was proposed and
it seemed to me that this was an outcome that would benefit
everybody.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Schiffer, then Mr. Kolflat.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: John, in the original PUD, what
was this land area culled out to be?
MR. MOSS: It was culled out as a utility tract. It was supposed
to be for the -- and it did serve as a water treatment plant.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Did that have requirements,
developments standards in it?
MR. MOSS: It did, but the PUD was amended and those were
all removed.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And at that time this was
transferred into a golf course use.
MR. MOSS: Yes, the PUD document was amended. This
portion was converted to golf course use and the portion below it was
converted to residential use, which is the Clubside Reserve which
that's adjacent to it now.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So this is the appropriate
category .
MR. MOSS: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: You know, you're testifying that
we have to tear down the berm. I mean, that's an absolute? Has
anybody ever realized that you could go into the back of the berm?
Right now he's at the toe of it. He could go in a little bit, a little bit.
The pictures show it's pretty ragged on the back side. So why aren't
we building a wall -- looks like the berm's pretty tall. Looks like you
Page 98
December 17,2009
would get essentially the wall of a one-story building into the back of
this berm without affecting the aesthetics from the other side at all.
MR. MOSS: Yeah, I don't know how the root systems of the
trees would be impacted if too much of the berm were removed. But
certainly some of the berm could be removed. And some of it is
proposed to be removed and a retaining wall constructed so it doesn't
slide down.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: A tiny bit.
MR. MOSS: A tiny bit.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: We have the drawings that
show.
I mean, so, you know, we can't go around saying it's the berm or
this building, because it really isn't. In other words, there really is the
ability to do a building on this site and not destroy the berm.
MR. MOSS: I don't know that, no.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, I mean, but you're asking
us to do a variance. And you're saying that there is no hardship that
this berm, a 20-year old berm -- first of all, if we made a mistake
today it would be cured in 20 years by the proof that you could -- it
takes 20 years to make something that valuable.
But, I mean, don't you think it's important to have those studies
before we -- a variance is a precious thing. That's my problem. I
mean, honestly, if he was in here to amend the PUD to allow utility
buildings on a golf course and had all these little setback issues, I
would probably be much more --
MR. MOSS: No, you're absolutely right, it would be nice to have
that information. But we don't have it and so I can't say how much of
the berm can be removed before you're actually destroying the
vegetation that's planted on it. I don't know.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And remember the precedent
we do here. I mean, this is a site that they determined the shape, they
put a berm on it themselves and now the berm is a hardship, a
Page 99
""~.'<-"""'."".""~''^-~'-~-''-'
December 17,2009
hardship that's normally used for, you know, some rock outcropping
up north or something, you know.
Anyway, when you go through the analysis, I actually don't agree
with some of these. First of all, I don't think there's special conditions
because he essentially created those special conditions.
But you did say -- I mean, he can use the property, it's just solely
based on the design of this inexpensive metal --
MR. MOSS: Right, he's not going to lose --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- building is his hardship. He
wants -- in other words, he can't get a cheap inexpensive metal
building in there without a variance.
MR. MOSS: Well, what he told me was that he was unable to
accommodate the equipment that he has in a smaller building.
Because that was my first recommendation is that a smaller building
be constructed that wouldn't require any sort of encroachment into the
setback yard. But he said he needed a building of that size in order to
fit all the equipment that he has. And he was renting the equipment,
or he has been renting the equipment, and as soon as he has a place to
store it, he's actually going to be buying it and wanting to take better
care of it, like Commissioner Wolfley had mentioned, since he's
actually going to be owning it rather than renting it.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And a land use variance is
based on the ownership or rental of equipment?
MR. MOSS: No, no, no, I didn't --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: That's what you're saying.
MR. MOSS: No, I'm not.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: You just said that, you know--
MR. MOSS: I'm just saying that's why he says he needs a
building that large. Because I asked him why he couldn't build a
smaller building, and that was the reason he gave me.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, there's no proof here that
he can't build a building with the exact same square footage if he goes
Page 100
A'~,",__,_""",_______""",,_,_
December 17, 2009
into the berm and makes the shape not a square shape.
MR. MOSS: That's true, we don't have that --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I mean, he could still use metal
construction.
MR. MOSS: -- information.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So, I mean, you know, there has
to be a burden on a variance for us, because we can't set a precedence
where somebody, just because they don't want to do something, that
becomes a reasonable variance.
MR. MOSS: No, I accepted his testimony that he needed a
building of that size.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And that exact shape.
MR. MOSS: No, not of that exact shape, but of that size.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Because there is no testimony
that you can't build a building of that size on the site.
MR. MOSS: No, there's not, there's not.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And I'm not so sure you can't.
I guess I'm done -- well, let me just go to the issue. The issue of
the site, the setback. You're comfortable that he does not need any
setback? Because now that he's golf course, the only reference to any
kind of setback in the golf course zoning is the distance from a
residential area.
MR. MOSS: Let me be clear. I'm not sure I understand your
question. The--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, I'm concerned about that
property line that's alongside the building. You know, property line
means something in land use. It also means something in building
code. So you're comfortable that that's not something that requires
any kind of setback issue in land use? Ray's nodding --
MR. MOSS: Ray says it's correct.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: In the --
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, Ray Bellows.
Page 10 1
December 17,2009
You're talking about this tract line?
MR. MOSS: Oh, the side yard setback.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: It's not a tract line, it's noted as
a property line.
MR. BELLOWS: Or property --
MR. MOSS: Yes, yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And that means something. It's
a simple word, simple meaning.
MR. MOSS: Uh-huh.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: The other question is, in the
PUD it states that the area between the residential and the building has
to be landscaped.
MR. MOSS: It doesn't say that it has to be land -- oh, it does say
it has to be landscaped, but not that entire 50 feet.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: How do you know?
MR. MOSS: Because then it wouldn't say that no parking would
not be permitted in there. Because it goes on to say that. And if it
were implied that the whole thing was going to be landscaped, then
why would they say that parking couldn't be permitted there?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Let me grab it real quick.
It says no parking will be allowed in the buffer. It says -- let me
read the thing. Building shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from
an abutting residential district, and the setback area shall be
appropriate (sic) landscaped and maintained to act as a buffer zone.
No parking will be allowed in the buffer zone.
MR. MOSS: Right. And the appropriate buffer zone in this case
would be a 10- foot wide buffer with 14 canopy trees.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: No, it's defining that area as a
buffer zone. It's not saying, you know, in the future there's going to be
a land use element called a buffer and that's what --
MR. MOSS: I disagree.
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, Ray Bellows.
Page 102
December 17,2009
Staff has taken the position that the LDC required buffer is the
appropriate buffer, as referenced by that language that you just cited.
MR. MOSS: Yeah, I think it would have been more appropriate
in the PUD document to call it a setback yard. And I think whoever
used the choice of calling it a buffer yard has caused confusion by it.
But I don't think that was the intent that that whole 50 feet needed to
be buffered. Because it just doesn't make sense that they would then
say that no parking would be allowed in that 50-foot buffer yard if it
were supposed to be vegetative.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I think they didn't envision
utility buildings when they wrote this, I agree with that. They
certainly don't envision, you know, up above parking 45 feet.
But read what it says. It says, and shall be appropriate (sic)
landscaped and maintained to act as a buffer zone. That's pretty
precise to me that that's the buffer.
MR. MOSS: A buffer zone, though, doesn't mean that there's
vegetative screening. A wall is a buffer too.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But they're saying that area,
you've got to push the building back 50 feet and, by the way, that area
in between there is going to help buffer--
MR. MOSS: Is going to act as a buffer.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- whatever you want, you
know, whether you put materials, it doesn't have any landscape
requirement, it doesn't have wall requirement --
MR. MOSS: Right, that's why it seems like it --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- it says to have one
requirement, no parking.
MR. MOSS: Right. And that's why it should be called a setback
yard in that document, not a buffer yard.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But you're using contemporary
-- you know, we've since evolved our code to have a buffer and you've
actually taken the contemporary buffer and trying to make it work in
Page 103
December 17,2009
that.
But enough said. I mean, I don't see how you could come to that
conclusion, but you're there. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: J.D., since I like you so well, I
want to share with you a memorandum that I hope you'll read --
MR. MOSS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: This memorandum went to the
Board of County Commissioners from Jeffrey A. Klatzkow through
David C. Weigel, January 23rd, 2006 entitled variance law, general
principles.
And you mentioned something about a necessary hardship.
That's covered in that particular memorandum.
MR. MOSS: I mentioned that?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: No, you mentioned a necessary
hardship, that you felt there was a necessary hardship.
MR. MOSS: I felt that there was a hardship.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Well, this contains a definition
of what constitutes a hardship.
MR. MOSS: Okay.
And all I want to point out is that these criteria that are in the
LDC are general guidelines for you to follow. To approve a variance
you don't have to agree with every single one of them, they're just
general evaluative criteria for you to follow.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: And this memorandum is
guidelines for what we should do at these hearings.
MR. MOSS: Okay.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: From our attorney.
MR. MOSS: Okay.
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, Ray Bellows.
Staff has reached its position and opinion and rendered it in the
staff report. The Planning Commission can come to a completely
Page 104
December 17,2009
different finding and we'll note so, and it will be taken to the Board of
Zoning Appeals for a final hearing. There's no reason that Planning
Commission --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, we know the meeting's justified
and we'll continue with the process. Everybody will have their say
when we vote.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: We have heard Mr. Klatzkow's
name used several times.
Could you please, Jeff, in your opinion, describe this issue, this
memorandum that you wrote, and does it pertain to this and --
MR. KLA TZKOW: Well, it pertains to all the variances. I'll be
happy to send you a copy of the opinion.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Well, would you articulate it
now so everybody can hear? I mean, was that -- how do you feel
about that?
MR. KLA TZKOW: If we're talking about the issue of hardship,
all right, the -- a legal hardship typically requires a much higher
standard than typically we give in this county, okay? We tend to give
variances in this county when there's no opposition, would it make
sense to us. We really don't focus on the hardship and we tend to deny
variances when there is a community revolt against them. Again, we
don't really look at the hardships.
So customarily this county's approach to variances is a bit
different than what the legal standard is. Legal standard is going to
come into play should there be a challenge, you know, on a denial. At
which case it will be the petitioner's legal need to show to the court
that he had a legal hardship here.
Now, I don't think he's going to be able to show that, all right,
under the legal standard. But the way we've customarily done with
variances here and what the legal standard is on granting variances are
really two different things. The legal variance is much, much more
Page 105
December 17, 2009
conservative than what the county's been doing. Which is fine. But,
you know, we've got the right to do this.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Wolfley, anything else?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yeah, sort of.
So do you agree with Mr. Kolflat's position in this case, this
particular case?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat simply read the memo.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I know.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you disagree with your memo or do
you agree with your memo?
MR. KLATZKOW: No, I agree with my memo.
But what I'm telling you is that, you know, you need to hear
these things and hear all the evidence, you know, weigh everything
and then make a recommendation to the Board of County
Commissioners. That's all.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Staff approved this and County
Attorney must have approved this so it got to here. So evidently
everybody is in agreement.
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, let's understand that, you know, staff
has the application by the petitioner in front of it, okay. Staff does not
have the testimony that we haven't heard yet from the community, you
know, at this point in time. So, you know, staffs opinion -- staffs
opinion's at a moment in time, all right.
Now, they don't have the benefit of hearing what the testimony is
going to be here, and Lord knows, looks like we're going to get some
testimony here against this thing.
And then we'll have to see. I mean, staff may rethink its opinion
after it hears everything, I don't know.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Mark, can I --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sure, go ahead -- well, Mr. Wolfley, are
you finished?
Page 106
December 1 7, 2009
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I am done, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, one thing Bob just said is
when you -- the County Attorney never approves these applications,
you accept it for --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Form.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- substance and form, right?
So when you say that the staff approved it and the County Attorney
approved it, two different weights, two different things. So--
MR. KLATZKOW: We're not a decision maker. We don't
render opinions on that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any other questions of staff at
this time?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you, J.D.
Ray, before we call public speakers, how many public speakers
do we have?
MR. BELLOWS: We have nine registered speakers.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And there may be more on the register
-- unregistered. And one of those is Tony Pires.
MR. BELLOWS: He's the first one.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, shortest one is first, huh?
It's the decision for the Planning Commission we will -- by that
many public speakers, we'll certainly be going past noontime. We
have people who are going to be showing up here at noon thinking
we're done. We won't be. We can take our hour now, be back here at
12:30, then continue with this. Because we probably got another hour
at least before this is wrapped up. And then we can go on to the next
one if that -- and that kind of will let the people know when they come
back we're still in session.
Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Could we ascertain the estimate
Page 107
December 17,2009
that Mr. Pires might want to take? That might theoretically take us
right up to the 12:00 point.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, he's not going to be taking a half
an hour, I can assure you of that.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I don't know.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, I can assure you that.
You know, Tony can be allocated some time because he's a
member of the public and he's representing a constituency, but a half
an hour's out of the question, especially when there's a series of other
people who want to speak as well.
Regardless, we're going to continue this one till after lunch. And
if we come back at I :00 versus 12:30, I'm just thinking of the people
that are going to start showing up here at noon. So does anybody have
any objection to breaking now?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: No, I'd say we break now.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we're going to break for a
one-hour lunch. We'll be back here at 12:30 to resume on this
particular variance issue. Thank you.
(Luncheon recess.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ray, thank you. And welcome
back from our lunchtime. Now, let me explain to you all what
happened for the people from Naples Bath and Tennis. We told you
we wouldn't start your issue before noon. Well, we can guarantee you
that. The one preceding you which has about the same amount of
public interest as yours, we are now approaching the time we are
going to hear from the public in that regard. After that then we will
have further discussion, a rebuttal by the applicant, and then finally a
decision from this board.
So we still have a little time to finish up on the first one. Right
after that we'll go straight into Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
Item#10D
Page 108
December 17, 2009
PETITION: PUDZ-A-2006-AR-I0318, MAGNOLIA POND MPUD
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And I have one housekeeping matter.
Mr. Hancock?
MR. HANCOCK: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Tim
Hancock. I'm representing Teryl and Pawel Brzeski with the
Magnolia Pond PUD amendment.
Based on the track of your schedule today, it looks as if there's a
minimal chance we might even get heard during the regular hearing
today, so I would like to offer, I think it's in everyone's interest to
continue our petition to the January 7th meeting. If it's your desire,
we'd be --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So moved.
MR. HANCOCK: -- happy to do that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think that's -- and we certainly thank
you for that offer. Because I don't think we're going to get through
with the third one today . Well, we'll get through it but we're not --
certainly I doubt we get to yours, so --
MR. HANCOCK: If I get credit for being gracious when it
doesn't matter, I'll accept that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And we'll continue to the first up on the
next agenda in January; is that in agreement with the --
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- Planning Commission?
Made by Commissioner Murray, seconded by Commissioner
Ko lfl at.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
Page 109
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Tim, thank you very much.
MR. HANCOCK: I thank you.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And thanks for wearing the green
jacket.
Item #10B (Continued from before lunch recess)
PETITION: V A-PL2009-1460, VINEYARDS DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And with that, we left off at the
beginning of the public participation in the variance for Vineyards.
And I think Tony wanted to be the first person to speak. Is that what
you have on your sheet?
MR. BELLOWS: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Don't be shy, Tony.
MR. BELLOWS: The first speaker, Tony Pires, to be followed
by David Pink.
MR. PIRES: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the
Planning Commission. Tony Pires with the law firm of Woodward,
Pires and Lombardo, representing the Clubside Reserve Condominium
Association, a residential community established -- well established
community immediately adjacent to and south of the subject property.
Mr. Chairman, if! could with your indulgence and that of the
board take about two minutes to set up a model that was created by
Page 110
December 17,2009
one of the residents that will be speaking today.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go right ahead, sir.
MR. PIRES: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We'll watch you to make sure you put it
together right.
MR. BELLOWS: It wouldn't be Christmas if you didn't
assemble something.
MR. PIRES: I could possibly handle the card table.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: This reminds me of show and
tell.
MR. KLA TZKOW: He's trying to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Everybody that is coming up to speak,
we were all sworn in earlier, so everybody is still under oath. I just
wanted to make a reminder as a request from the court reporter.
Thank you.
Boy, it's a good thing attorneys aren't engineers.
MR. PIRES: I don't have my Handy Mandy or my Bob the
Builder to put it together.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You're not going to get one.
MR. PIRES: I don't blame you.
Again, I represent the Clubside Reserve Condominium
Association. And again, thank you all for taking the time to consider
this application and also take the time to consider the position of my
clients on this particular -- because they are immediately adjacent to
and adversely affected by this particular project.
We have a number of residents who have arrived here today,
taking the time out of their day as you take the time out of your day.
If you all could stand from Clubside Reserve who are here and in
opposition to and to show their support for the opposition to this
project. Thank you.
Some of them are registered to speak. And I believe you have a
number of e-mails hopefully that were sent to you by some of the
Page III
December 17,2009
residents, again, expressing their opposition to this project.
And some of the people may be passionate about their opposition
to this project, and so we wish that you bear with them if they do
become passionate. Because after all, it is their community, their
quality of life that would be impacted by this needless variance
request.
There might be others also that were not available to be present
today and may, with the Chairman's indulgence, a particular speaker
may request that a letter be read into the record and made part of the
record. And we defer to the Chairman as to that particular protocol.
The model is not one that I created, obviously, you can tell by the
way I maneuvered it, but by Ellen Watt. And it's a one-eighth inch
scaled model of this area. And during the course of the presentation,
some of the speakers may be referencing the model in referencing
various aspects of this particular project.
For the record, I've previously provided to the Planning
Commissioners and to staff a copy of my letter indicating various
aspects of opposition, and I have extra copies to provide to the court
reporter to be made part of this record.
And what I would request at the end of this conclusion of to day's
hearing, prior to the hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals, is
that the custody of that exhibit that we prepared, that I be authorized
to maintain it in my office. As a chain of custody and as an officer of
the court I will maintain its integrity and make it available for viewing
during normal business hours for anybody that wants to come visit and
view it, take photographs, measurements, et cetera.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Klatzkow, do you have any
objection to that?
MR. KLATZKOW: Do you want it in your house?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No -- well, it would look good under my
Christmas tree as something for my kids to play with. Anyway, no, I
think we're okay.
Page 112
December 17, 2009
MR. KLATZKOW: Okay then.
MR. PIRES: Thank you for that particular consideration.
Once again, I think what's important in here, we have a number
of issues in the presentation from a couple different aspects. One,
some background. The PUD language itself, the application and the
staff report.
And we believe that the pointed issues involved in this particular
matter are number one, we believe no variances from the PUD
required setbacks should be granted. No variance from the PUD
required buffering requirements should be granted without full
compliance with the buffering requirements. The Clubside owners
and residents will be adversely affected by the activities in and around
the proposed maintenance building that is not pursuant to the
application, solely limited to golf course maintenance.
The staff report talks about this building being a golf course
maintenance building. The application talks about a golf course and
landscape maintenance building. And this site is zoned golf course
and it is to be accessory to the golf course operation.
We also assert in part of the discussion that you all have had,
there is no legally recognizable hardship. One area of agreement we
do have for the staff report, and the staff has a statement in the staff
report that if the setback variances were not approved, the petitioner
would still have reasonable use of the land. That's at Page 6 of9 of
the staff report.
And I think that's critical. Even the staff acknowledges they can
still use it.
You don't have to tear down the berm. Hyperbole, exaggeration,
and embellishment. According to the staff report itself, the current
berm's about 60 to 70 feet in width, based on some of the documents
we previously provided to you. And we'll show them on the ELMO.
And based upon the staff report, I believe Mr. Moss referenced that if
it wasn't able to be developed, we'd talk about 1,500 square feet at
Page 113
December 17,2009
page -- in the staff report it states if the variances were granted,
approximately 1,500 square feet of the building will encroach into the
southern, i.e. adjacent, residential project setback area.
Therefore, the most the applicant is impacted by building
pursuant to the setbacks, he can build a 7,500 square foot building
without encroaching further into the berm versus a 9,000 square foot
building, a reduction in square footage of 17 percent.
And what you end up then is a total of about 19,500 square feet
of buildings for maintenance activities, counting the existing golf
course maintenance building that's currently there.
Also we believe, and part of the discussion I think is borne out,
and we have additional documentation to support that any hardship
asserted, and we dispute that there is any, that exists from a variance
perspective is solely self-created by the applicant/developer. This
developer has been the sole developer of the Vineyards and a prime
developer since its inception, has controlled the zoning of this
property and zoning of the community.
I think if you recall, based upon prior discussions involving
variances, the asserted special conditions peculiar to a parcel cannot
result from the actions of the applicant. That's exactly what we have
here. It's not a situation of there being erosion resulting from a river
bed or spring or creek eroding or from washouts from storms or from
some other natural non self-created situation or some governmental
action. This is -- the asserted special conditions results solely from the
actions of the applicant. Self-created hardship cannot constitute a
basis for any variance for multiple variances. That's the law in the
State of Florida, I would submit.
Granting the requested variances for the maintenance facility and
its attendant obnoxious activities will be at the expense of the adjacent
residential community.
Some background. As I mentioned before and you heard some of
the discussion by Mr. Saadeh in his presentation, the owner and
Page 114
December 17, 2009
applicant is the original developer of the Vineyards. Any asserted
hardship results solely from its development activities over the last 20
years. The applicant/developer created the berm.
The purpose of the berm, and Mr. Saadeh indicated that, was to
buffer the surrounding properties from the view of the utilities' site.
The applicant, in this case the developer, in 1995 with an
insubstantial change to the master plan for the Vineyards PDI-95-1,
changed the master plan and created this parcel. This parcel used to
be a golf course parcel. He changed it to a residential parcel.
Therefore, you now have residential abutting golf course. At the time
the change occurred in 1995, the maintenance building that's there
today existed. And it sits about 80 feet back from the property line
beyond the buffer.
That building then is consistent with the buffering requirements
outlined in the PUD.
So the developer changed the designation to residential, resulting
in the application of the setbacks contained in the PUD. We don't
look to the LDC. I think we've heard that discussion. It doesn't matter
what some other golf course might have. We're talking about this golf
course. We're talking about this PUD document. And we're talking
about a very specific setback and buffering requirements.
With full knowledge of the setback and buffering requirements of
Section 6.03.01 of the PUD, because the developer's intimately
knowledgeable of the contents of the PUD, he created the parcel, he
created the adjacent residential district resulting in the need on this
parcel to have a building setback 50 feet.
The applicant, in this case the developer, approved the Clubside
Community development with full knowledge of the PUD setback
requirements on the parcels to the north.
It is our position that clear and unambiguous language of Section
6.03.01 of the ordinance -- of the PUD ordinance requires this
particular setback. And I know Mr. Schiffer read some of the
Page 115
December 17,2009
language. I think it's important -- and again, we disagree with staff on
this. I've taken the liberty of -- excuse me, of highlighting a portion of
the language within the PUD.
I think what's important is that it says in 6.03.01.B., buildings
shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from abutting residential
districts, period. I mean, it says and, but -- that's one concept.
Buildings shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from abutting
residential districts. And we're here today on the building. And the
setback area shall be appropriately landscaped and maintained to act
as a buffer zone.
There's a -- the variance application in this case is a request for
two variances: One from the building being set back a minimum of 50
feet and another one from the 10- foot landscaping requirement of the
LDC.
I would submit to you there's a third variance that's being
requested but not being requested that's at issue here, is that the
setback areas shall be appropriately landscaped and maintained to act
as a buffer zone. They don't want to put a -- between the building and
the wall that currently exists on my client's property, they don't want
to put a bush, they don't want to put a tree. If you look at the site plan,
it's all paving between the building and the wall.
Bear with me, if} get that site plan. Well, I'll go to the -- this is
the site plan. This is asphalt paving. This is the wall. This is the
Clubside property. In your packet you have a proposed buffering.
The buffering is on this side of the golf cart path. And I'm not quite
sure where that landscaping -- how that achieves any protection for the
adjacent properties.
And then there's additional landscaping proposed here, but none
in this area. We have this zone of nothingness, as far as barrenness,
that is not obviously a buffer and therefore not appropriate landscape
to maintain to act as a buffer zone.
And so this application is deficient from the perspective that that
Page 116
December 17, 2009
particular variance is not being requested.
Additionally, 6.03.0 I.A of the PUD, which is on the visualizer,
requires that overall site design shall be harmonious in terms of
landscaping, enclosure of structures, location of access streets and
parking areas in location and treatment of buffer areas. Again, we
submit that is not and does not comply with that particular
requirement.
The petition itself. We have a concern that the -- without
providing any detail or support, the applicant/developer has asserted a
need for a 9,000 square foot golf course maintenance building in
addition to the existing 12,000 square foot golf course maintenance
building on the adjacent parcel to house an undefined amount of
maintenance equipment, including landscape maintenance equipment
not accessory to the golf course.
The photograph that you saw and was submitted in the packet
that we provided to you was a photograph submitted to your staff in
response to a question about what equipment will you store. I count
12 to 14 pieces of equipment, and that's on the north side of the
existing maintenance building.
And part of the discussion that ensued this morning was why not
build part of the maintenance facility, if you really need to store it,
along that northern edge and/or combine the buildings. Again, you
know, no need has been shown for a 9,000 square foot building. And
no hardship has been shown.
A hardship based upon a desire not to remove an unstated amount
__ because the application doesn't even say how much of the berm has
to be removed other than the hyperbole, embellishment, exaggeration
of destroying the entire berm, a 60-foot wide berm.
A hardship based upon a desire to not remove an unstated amount
of a developer installed berm that only buffers the site from a
driveway to the north, golfers to the north and pushing a builder closer
to an established residential community is not in our position and our
Page 117
December 17, 2009
way of thinking an appropriate hardship.
Contrary to the statements in the petition, there is no golf course
maintenance facility on this parcel. That's in the petition, it's stated
there as not true. The subject property is not surrounded by a large
berm of three sides. There's a berm on the north.
The berm remnant will not shield this proposed building from
views in all directions. The berm remnant on the north and northwest
portion does not hide the proposed maintenance building from all
angles and views.
Again, the berm remnant is located to the north and just will
protect drivers going up to the golf club. And again, we're not talking
about destroying the berm, we're talking 1,500 square feet, if he really
needs a 9,000 square foot building.
What is not stated or provided in the petition: Again, the berm
located on the property is a remnant of a much larger berm
constructed by the applicant/developer for the purposes of buffering
adjacent properties from an initial developer owned/operated utility
operation.
That's an aerial photograph from the Property Appraiser's Office
from 1995 where you see the existing maintenance building to the
north. It looks like some retention ponds as the utility site was closing
down.
If you could zoom in a little more, Ray. Thank you.
And you can see the berm all the way around. And that's why it
was built. And the developer, though, as I said in 1995 submitted
through -- we have the plans that were submitted by Coastal
Engineering consultant, I think on behalf of Vineyards Development
Corporation.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Let Ray do it.
MR. PIRES: Thank you, Ray.
You can see on there, the crosshatching depicts the berm that was
removed to accommodate this development and leaving the remnant
Page 118
December 17,2009
berm. Again, that parcel line was created by the developer, by this
SDP and by PDI-95-1.
And again, the dimensions, might be difficult to read there, but
it's approximately 60 to 70 feet in width.
So then in developing the Clubside community, the
applicant/developer here approved removal and removed most of the
berm. Therefore, there's no support for the applicant/developer's bare
assertion that the building site is needed.
So once again we don't believe there's any hardship.
The burden's on the applicant to show that the requested
variances conform strictly to the county's Growth Management Plan,
its elements and objectives, as well as the conditions for the granting
of a variance outlined in the Land Development Code.
In listening to -- and we don't believe any of those have been
achieved. In listening to the conversation and the presentation by the
developer and the discussions back and forth with the Planning
Commission, I think what's helpful is and supports our position, the
developer said he had the option for drawing the property line
anywhere they wanted to. They drew a property line which had a
relatively small area between the property line and that berm. They
created the condition. We agree.
One other interesting aspect is this discussion about they can go
there three stories over parking and that's why the 50-foot setback was
required. There is no language in the PUD that states that. And there
is no differentiation in height between the setback between a 10-foot
building, a 20-foot high building, a 30-foot high building. It's a
50-foot setback as to this golf course parcel for any buildings adjacent
to a residential district.
And again, the existing building is 80 feet away. People get
smarter as time goes by. We didn't realize, and my clients didn't
realize that the PUD did not allow any parking in the buffer. You see
some of the aerial photographs, parking has been in that buffer for a
Page 119
December 1 7, 2009
long time. And to the credit of Mr. Saadeh, when it was brought to his
attention recently, that parking has now been removed.
You can see the parking was along here. Again, it functioned as
a buffer. It's such a stringent -- you know, it's a strict requirement,
because you don't want to have an impact on the adjacent residential
properties, again, a fact well known to the developer since he
developed this property and he created the situation.
I just probably have a few more comments, Mr. Strain, if I may.
An important consideration is it has to be a land-created hardship
or land-resulting hardship, and we do not believe there is one in this
particular case.
What's also interesting is the fact that the staff doesn't -- cannot
say how much of the berm would be destroyed to accommodate a
9,000 square foot building. That's missing from the application. But it
appears 1,500 square feet is the smallest -- is the reduction in the size
of the building in order to achieve the required setback. Again, a 17
percent diminution in building size for an unstated need.
This particular model is -- again, this model depicts a one-eighth
inch scale. This is the 50-foot setback for a 9,000 square foot
building. And this was prepared by Ellen Watts. This is the existing
12,000 square foot maintenance building. So you can see it's about 80
feet from the wall. This represents the closest unit in Clubside. This
would be the required setback. This is what they're asking for, leaving
a very narrow corridor.
And this, no buffering in here. The buffering would be here and
the buffering would be in here. Waste land in there. Thank you, Ellen.
So in conclusion we assert that the project as proposed with the
requested variance is incompatible with the existing adjacent
residential Clubside community. It is not complementary to the
existing adjacent residential Clubside community as required by
Policy 5.4 of the Future Land Use Element.
There is no hardship. And any asserted hardship is solely self
Page 120
December 17, 2009
created by the applicant. The applicant has not shown that it could not
build a golf course maintenance building on this property if made to
comply with the setback requirements. As the staff report states, if the
variances were granted, approximately 1,500 square feet of the
building will encroach into the southern, i.e. adjacent, residential
project setback area.
The most that the applicant will be impacted is a 17 percent
reduction in the building size.
I'm just making sure I covered all the particular aspects.
I think it's also important, going to the questions that you have to
ask when determining whether or not a variance would be granted.
Question: Are there special conditions and circumstances which
do not result from the action of the applicant such as preexisting
conditions?
Now, what's interesting, the staff report doesn't say yes or no. I
would assert that's a resounding no.
Are there special conditions and circumstances which do not
result from the action of the applicant?
Everything here results solely from the actions of the applicant.
Other question: Will literal interpretation of the provision of the
zoning code work unnecessary and undue hardship on the applicant?
Staff answered yes. I would submit to you the answer is no. A
possible 17 percent reduction in building size and possible additional
cost to take part of the berm, recognizing that the building could also
be built on the existing golf course parcel to accommodate the storage
of the equipment that he indicates is requested.
And again, we do agree with the staff that if the setback variance
were not approved for the building, the petitioner would still have
reasonable use of the land.
We request therefore that the Planning Commission forward this
application to the Board of County Commissioners with a
recommendation of denial.
Page 121
December 17,2009
Available to answer any questions that you all may have.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Does anybody have any questions of
Tony at this time?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I have one.
MR. PIRES: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Your -- I understand everything you've
said. Are you under the belief that you think it's necessary to
landscape the maintenance building side of the wall? And what does
that have to do with your clients' concern? Because they're buffered
by the side that faces them. Let's forget about the setback, that's a
whole nother mess we're going to be getting into.
But I'mjust -- this landscaping one, why would you want to, in a
maintenance area where practically everything gets destroyed anyway,
put wasted landscaping on that side of the wall for only the
maintenance people to see?
MR. PIRES: No, I believe it provides additional buffering.
Because again the PUD states -- I'm just going by the language in the
PUD, building shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from abutting
residential districts, and the setback area shall be appropriately
landscaped and maintained to act as a buffer zone.
So not having any landscaping is completely contrary to
appropriately landscaped and maintained.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: In the existing maintenance facility,
what landscaping do they have up against that wall?
MR. PIRES: I don't believe there's any. But that was developed
prior to the adjustment in the lot line. In other words, that was built in
1987 --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Understand that, Tony.
MR. PIRES: -- when there was no adjacent residential district.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, I understand that. I'm just trying
to look at the practicality of that issue. I don't -- myself, I didn't see
Page 122
December 17,2009
that part of this being a problem. Whether you landscape the side
facing the maintenance area or not, as long as the people in Golfside
(sic) have a good hedge and it's well buffered for their side, that
should be the issue there.
But I'll wait to hear more from the public as to what their
concerns are, why they would be on the inside of that the parking lot.
But thank you.
MR. PIRES: Again, from the activities that would be generated
within that particular area. You know, you'll hear about the vehicular
activity and other activity that goes on that would be of concern.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Anybody else have any questions of Tony?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I don't know whether--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: -- it's for Tony or the petitioner.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, we're into public hearings, so you
have to wait if it's the petitioner.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: All right, that's fine.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, next public speaker. And
whoever comes up, just use one of the podiums. And for the sake of
time, if you could minimize the redundancy, we would appreciate it.
MR. BELLOWS: David Pink, to be followed by Robert James
Kelly.
MR. PINK: If} hand you these, you can do these? Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Just remind everybody, everybody
should have been sworn in earlier. If you did not -- if you came in
after the swearing in, please let us know so we can get that
accomplished. Thank you.
MR. PINK: Okay, my name is David Pink, and I'm the
spokesman I think for most of the community here. I think most of the
community will agree with most of the items I'm going to talk about
today.
Page 123
December 17,2009
I live in that unit right over there. And my unit is 60 feet away
from this unit. That unit you're talking about is 150 yards -- first of
all, I'd like to say thank you for having me here.
Okay, that unit is 150 feet, which is 50 yards long. This is half of
a football field. That unit's going to be filled with vehicles that -- let
me --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Could you move that mic a little closer
to where you're talking, sir.
MR. PINK: I'm sorry.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It moves, so --
MR. PINK: Okay. Let me start at the beginning.
As I just said, I live in the closest building to the proposed new
maintenance building. When I first arrived here in mid November I
learned about a maintenance building that was proposed behind the
seven- foot wall. Then I found out about the variance that was to bring
it to 15.4 feet of the wall, 60 feet from my drive.
At first I was shocked and angry, but then I wondered why?
Why do they need another maintenance building? Why does it have
to be so big? Why do they need it now when the existing building has
worked perfectly for the last 20 years? Why does it have to be so
close to the wall and my condo?
Before I continue, I want to give you some of my background.
I'm retired and spend six months of the year at Clubside and the
Vineyards. I think I'm representing both, Vineyards and Clubside; to
me it's all one in the same. When I go outside I don't say I'm from
Clubside, I say I'm from the Vineyards.
I have a Master's Degree in urban planning and worked in
Michigan as an urban planner for 20 years. I also acted as staff to
some of the top Michigan business leaders in Michigan. I owned a
successful kitchen remodeling company in Michigan. Last 20 years
we did 8,000 kitchens. I am experienced with economic development
analysis and business decision-making.
Page 124
December 17,2009
I would have not have purchased my unit if I had known a
maintenance building was being proposed for this site.
I do not want to -- I want to especially thank Ellen Watts for
making this scaled model. I worked with her in constructing this, but
she did all the actual physical work. I just talked.
I'd also like to thank a lot of people back here who helped me in
doing this. I don't want to mention their names right now, it's not
important. But I just want to thank everybody here that helped me do
this.
There are many issues which will impact us all in our
community. A great increase in noise, and I mean a great increase in
noise. An increase in total activity. The whole scope and character of
this golf management site will be completely changed. There will be
an increase in personnel work in there. They're going to be bringing
additional personnel into this community to operate these machines.
A substantial increase in pollution. There will be bright lights at night
coming through the -- the section I'm in now is pretty dark. The site
where the 80-foot setback building is is very bright. There will be an
increase in fumes and smells.
But before I go into all of these, and I will, and I also describe the
exact sound effects in this model. Before I go into that, I think we
have to step back and look at the petition itself. When I first read the
petition from the Vineyards Development Corporation for the
variance, I really didn't get it. I -- it didn't make any sense to me.
Building a big building for what? Then I saw Exhibit D. Can we
show a -- let's see, I've got all the exhibits here. Okay, Exhibit D.
Okay, as you can see, this 14 or 15 vehicles, mostly small, that
easily could have been put in those sheds and covered. So there's
really -- I don't see why you need a building at all, actually. But -- so
take a look at that.
And then I think the next item -- I'd like everybody to see this.
This is what the petitioner has said, okay. We can put this in here.
Page 125
December 17,2009
And as we read this, even with the requested setback reduction, there
is no negative --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You need to talk into the mic., sir.
MR. PINK: Oh, I'm sorry.
Even with the requested setback reduction, okay, even with the
requested setback reduction there is no negative impact whatsoever to
the neighboring property.
I submit the following: Would I be here today if} thought there
would be no negative impact? Would they be here today? I say no.
There's going to be major impacts here, and I'm going to go through
all of them.
Okay, yes, I like this. All right, let's see, where were we?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, if you like that mic, you need to
turn it on.
MR. PINK: Oh, okay. Okay. Would it conflict if} had both
mics going on at the same time?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: When Ray gave it to you, he should
have showed you that little button, it wasn't on.
MR. PINK: Okay, this is good.
Can I walk around with this?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah.
MR. PINK: Okay. Well, you know, I'm going to take seven
steps here. Okay, that's how far this could be from the wall. That's
what 15 feet is. That's how far it is. That's 15 feet, you know. I
mean, you know, it's a very short distance.
Okay, I'm not going to get into the -- I have a tendency to jump
ahead, because I've got a lot to say. Let's see where I am. Okay--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sir, there are two court reporters here
today, and the only time that they can effectively hear you is when
that mic is close enough to your mouth, either one of them. So even if
you carry that one around, just kind of keep it --
Page 126
December 17,2009
MR. PINK: All right, I will, I will.
Okay. Then I saw Exhibit D, the picture of the equipment to be
stored. At this point I was confused even more. No additional
equipment was said to be needed in the petition. In other words,
they're going to have the same amount of equipment now as they did
then.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Slow down.
MR. PINK: Slow down, okay, I'm sorry, I get excited.
So what I'm saying is let's say they have 100 pieces of
equipment. A 100 pieces of equipment, all right? And after they get
this building they haven't said that we're going to get anymore
equipment. So there really isn't more need for building, only that --
those 14 pieces that they show.
Okay. So after looking at that, I thought I had to kind of analyze
this again. And if you look at the second sentence in -- I think it's
number one, let's see right here. If you could put this up. Put that up.
Okay. Oh, that first one is kind of messy. Could somebody read that
sentence right up there?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, you got the mic., you have to read
it.
MR. PINK: Oh, I've got to read it.
Okay, this has to do with what they're going to have. They're
going to have maintenance equipment, storage and mowers, tractors,
golf course landscape maintenance equipment.
Now, landscape maintenance equipment really wasn't supposed
to be in this area. So I kind of thought about that for a minute. What
do they mean by landscape equipment? Okay, so we go on.
I was told that landscaping equipment was kept at other sites both
in the Vineyards and outside the Vineyards.
Now let's take a look at item four in the petition. Okay. And
what do they say? They say the proposed building needs to house
most of the equipment currently stored in the open. Economic
Page 127
December 17, 2009
going to be brought in there, which is going to change that site. It's
going to change it both in scope and it's going to change it in
character.
The next statement I find equally puzzling: Therefore, must be
owned and kept to maintain. So basically they're saying that if they
buy this thing, they're going to take a lot better care of it than if they
lease it. Again, you know, I think I already addressed that.
But I can actually suggest a way that they can buy new
equipment, keep the same building and keep all the new equipment in
the building. It's very easy. You go out, you buy new equipment, you
bring it back, you put it in the building, you take five pieces of the
leased equipment that you don't like and you put that outside. Now
you have all your owned equipment in the building and you have the
leased equipment, which apparently they don't care about, outside.
That's the crux of this problem. There's no need for -- you know, the
reason really that they don't need a variance is because they don't need
a building. I mean, to do what the objectives that they are talking
about.
Now, if their objective is to bring a lot of new equipment in here
and a whole different type of equipment, then I think we have a
different situation.
Okay, because, you know, you're looking at a 75 percent increase
in covered capacity and no increase in the amount of equipment
they're requesting. All right, let's get right to the -- let's get to the
basics here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, sir, we need to kind of get you to
wrap up a little bit, because we do have nine or 10 speakers from your
area that need to talk. And we generally ask that you be --
MR. PINK: I think I had 10 minutes. And I don't think I've
come close to my 10 minutes.
MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: You have.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You've used over your--
Page 129
December 17, 2009
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: You went over.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Everybody, please. We don't try to hold
to that strictly. We ask that you stop -- not to be redundant and be
respectful of time.
MR. PINK: All right, I will, I will.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All I'm asking is that you wrap up.
You've been over 10 minutes already. You have other people that
want to speak. And I certainly want to be able to hear everybody to be
fair today.
MR. PINK: Can I just request five minutes?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes, sir, fine.
MR. PINK: Okay, thank you.
All right, let's put these on. Let's put this. Okay, you see a lot of
storage here. This is really what this is all about. This is at Hammock
Isle. This is outdoor storage of a lot of equipment that they have that's
used for landscaping. They're going to be using this land shortly to
build some luxury homes. They need another site for it. They
basically decided to use the golf maintenance building to consolidate
all of their landscape -- or a lot of their landscaping facility at the golf
place. So this is what -- here's some more. I'll show you other
pictures.
So if you see these, basically you see what's coming to your
neighborhood. This is what's coming to your neighborhood. It's not
going to be the same golf equipment, it's going to be this. And I've got
-- let's see, what do we have here? This is another real nice picture. I
think this is some tanks. But they'll all be coming your way.
And okay, now, I would -- you know, I'd like to explain this. I've
got -- okay. So basically what I'm saying is that this is not what they
said it was. This is not -- has anything to do with that. I'm not going
to repeat that. But let's go over and take a look at that just for a
minute, okay.
All right, what we have here are structures -- this is the new
Page 130
December 17, 2009
structure. This new structure will create more noise to this community
than this structure right here. There's four doors only, large doors
facing the community. This structure has eight doors, the existing
structure, five doors on the back--
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: The mic.
MR. PINK: Five doors on the back and three in the front.
Almost all the activity is in this area. In other words, when they come
in they use this area here. This area is mostly for parking. So this is
shielded from us.
This right here is a speaker box. And this speaker box will
project that sound all over here and all over here, not just the six units
they're talking about. There's going to be a lot of people affected by
this thing. And there's going to be a lot of people that want to sell
their homes. To tell you the truth, I'm considering selling our unit,
because I know what's going to happen here. I guess you can prove
me right by passing this variance I guess. Because you come back in
six months and this is not going to be a nice place to live.
Okay, now let me talk about economic effects for one minute.
Just take me one minute.
Okay, economic effects. Many residents in the homes nearby the
new building are already talking about selling, so the effect has
already begun. I am one of them. Values throughout our community
will drop even more and continue to drop. That's number one.
Our community will definitely lose its status as being one of the
best places to live in the Vineyards to one of the least desirable. I
consider it now to be a five-star community dropped to a three-star.
Residents in nearby communities will also be affected in their home
values as our community declines. There will be a drop in people
continuing to be members of the club. People are already dropping
out. Currently 43 of our 84 units are club members. I would expect a
large drop in this number.
From what I have heard, the club is already having difficulties.
Page 13 1
December 17,2009
Many clubs throughout Naples are lowering both golf and tennis
membership dues, and people from the Vineyards are going there.
Okay, let's go.
There's going to be increased activity. That activity in there is
going to be about 65 percent greater than the activity that's now there.
Because that's -- all the machines there are going to be operated by
people. Those people are going to come in and use that activity. So
you're going to have probably a 60 to 75 percent increase in the sound
levels, maybe more if they get the variance. Back farther it might not
be quite as bad, maybe 50 percent increase in sound. That's a big
increase in sound.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sir, we're at that point where you said
you'd be finished.
MR. PINK: Okay, okay, all right. Thank you very much. I
appreciate your listening to me. I'm sorry if} kind of talked too fast
and whatever and didn't have the mic. near me, but I think I still have
a lot to say. Maybe I can have somebody else finish this off. Thank
you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, there's some questions.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: When did you move in, sir?
What year?
MR. PINK: I moved in in 2005.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: 2005?
MR. PINK: Yeah, you know, right before the prices plummeted.
So, I mean, we've been hurt already in our community.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: But you moved in and that
maintenance facility was there.
MR. PINK: The existing maintenance facility. The large facility
was there. But, I mean, this is going to make it twice as bad, the small
one.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, thank you.
Page 132
December 17,2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, next speaker. And I'd like to ask
the remaining speakers, since this gentleman did represent a large
group, he was afforded extra time. I'd like to ask you to be concise
with your time and, you know, more to the point as possible to help us
get through the rest of the afternoon.
Mr. Bellows?
MR. BELLOWS: Robert James Kelly, to be followed by Ellen
Watts.
MR. KELLER: Commissioners, my name is Jim Kelly. I'm on
the board of directors of Clubside Reserve. And I'll speak for the
board today.
I have been an owner in Clubside Reserve since it spilled out in
1996, '97. We're a community of people who are now over 50 percent
year-round residents.
Since the board of directors first learned of the variance request
from the Vineyards Development, we have been peppered with one
key question. That question is, why does Vineyards want to build a
9,000 square foot building that will encroach on Clubside's 50-foot
setback and its buffer zone? It's been more than a month now and I
still cannot give them a satisfactory answer because of the lack of
explanation in the application that Vineyards Development needs
9,000 square feet for storage/maintenance for the 14 or 15 feet pieces
of equipment shown in the picture accompanying their application.
I can't honestly tell my residents that they need it for storage.
The applicant states that he will be buying more equipment and wants
to protect it from the elements. He has had the equipment pictured
taking care of the golf courses for 20 years. How much more
equipment does he need to buy?
For me as a lay person, the crux of the situation is the applicant
wants the variance granted because of hardship. As hardship has been
explained to me by your staff and lawyers, hardship cannot, cannot be
granted if it was self-imposed hardship.
Page 133
December 17,2009
Vineyards Development was in control of all aspects of the
creation of Clubside. They went to the Planning Commission,
received the change in land use from the utility to residential. I would
think that the commission that granted that change would have insisted
on protection for Clubside Reserve from the two adjacent golf course
lots. That's whys we have the 50-foot setback in the buffer zone.
Vineyards Development surely has sufficient room to build their
proposed building on the lot without obtaining a variance to the
setback. For economic reasons their positioning of the building in the
setback is the cheap way to go. The berm they do not want to cut into
insulates the driveway to the applicant owned country club. Nothing
residential on that side except a road.
Applicant states that the present golf operation facility has
operated since 1987 without any registered complaints. Well, for the
first nine years I wouldn't expect his water utility plant which
occupied the site pre Clubside to register any complaints. Once
Clubside was built, there were various complaints registered with
Vineyards developer. Regarding odor and noise in relation to noise
from the present building, the majority of the doors are on the north
side of the facility, away from Clubside. The drawing of the new
building is showing all means of egress to be on the south side of the
building, facing Clubside.
I cannot see the granting of this variance not to be harmful and
injurious to the neighborhood and not in harmony with the general
intent and purpose of the Land Development Code.
Another question the residents have asked me, and I would ask
you: Would you purchase a condominium ifthere was a 9,000 square
foot storage/maintenance facility within 16 feet of your property line?
I'd like to end my remarks with a statement from the Vineyards
Development website. The statement from the website: Vineyards
Development broke ground in Vineyards in 1986 with a mission to
create a kinder, gentler living environment that is sensitive to human
Page 134
December 17, 2009
needs and expectations, and known for its outstanding architecture,
service, value and attention to detail, thereby creating a community of
unsurpassed quality of life, enhanced by extravagant amenities and
sheer beauty.
I think by requesting this variance Vineyards Development has
lost sight of their mission. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: What was your name again?
Excuse me, I'm trying to speak here.
MR. KELLER: Legally Robert James Kelly, known as Jim
Kelly.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Jim Kelly, okay. And you
moved in, in 1996?
MR. KELLER: I think I bought in '96, moved in '97.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. Now, as in many
associations, master associations, there's a time occurs at some point
where the residents take over common facilities, if I'm saying that
properly. Was that supposed to happen in the Vineyards? I mean,
you're on the board and --
MR. KELLER: I'm on the board of Clubside Reserve.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, not the master.
MR. KELLER: Not the master association. Oh, no, I don't want
to go into that story.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yeah, okay.
MR. KELLER: I was never on the Vineyards board and I wasn't
down for that, let me just say, debacle.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Well, we will-- I'll hold off my
question then.
MR. KELLER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Next speaker, Ray?
Thank you, sir.
Page 135
December 17, 2009
MR. KELLER: May I indulge you with -- I think Tony had
referred to one gentleman, his wife has Parkinson's disease. He wrote
a statement, he cannot be here to make it. I would just -- or --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Can you submit that? Do you have it
for the record, or is that the only copy?
MR. KELLER: No, I can give it to you for the record.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That would be better. You've already
allocated -- your time has been utilized. I'd just as soon we heard
some -- we're going to have to get through this afternoon, I need to get
to everybody that wants to --
MR. KELLER: No problem.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So, if you don't mind.
MR. KELLER: Who gets it?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Give it to the young lady right there in
the red.
MR. KELLER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Next speaker, please.
MR. BELLOWS: Ellen Watts, to be followed by Jack Cane.
MS. WATTS: I'm Ellen Watts and I'm vice president of
Clubside Reserve. And Jim really has taken a lot of my comments.
I do live in the building, not that particular building, but the one
next to it. My bedroom happens to be the one that is over the garages.
I do like fresh air and I have my windows open. And the activity,
depending on the time of the year, can start at 4:00 in the morning in
the present maintenance area.
With the new maintenance building going in there, especially if
they do -- if they are granted the variance, there will be like a tunnel
effect between the new building and the wall with equipment going
out to the golf course. And that is the egress to the south course.
And if you've ever been in a tunnel you know that cars in a
tunnel, even though it's open on the top, you're going to get more
Page 136
December 17,2009
noise, and it is going to be louder. And I just wanted to point that out.
The other thing is during the hurricane, the last hurricane, the
area where this new building was -- or is proposed to go, they brought
in a lot of the debris off the golf course and they were chipping it.
And chips were coming over the wall onto our roadways, hitting the
tiles of our buildings. The board had to deal with that. We did discuss
this with Vineyards, and they even came over and closed off our road
while they were doing that so no one would get hurt. So they have
been notified on different occasions.
And they also have used this present area that has no building on
it whatsoever now, they've used for storage, and there have been some
very bad smells. This has happened many years. They have been
spoken to about it. So they have been notified on some things. But
we've always tried to deal with the people there.
Thank you very much for your time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, ma'am.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Jack Cane.
MR. CANE: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners.
My name is Jack Cane. My unit, number 2104, lies to the north of
Clubside Reserve, as shown on this first slide. Right here. So it's just
a little bit around the bend. But it is one of the four units most
affected by the proposed building.
And I request that the Commission deny this petition. The
petition refers to an existing berm, which I show on the second slide,
which was actually created by the petitioner himself. You've seen --
you've heard about this at length. The berm is primarily intended to
shield traffic entering and leaving the Vineyards Country Club from
sites and sounds of the maintenance activities taking place on the site.
People in cars have only a transitory exposure to the facility,
while the residents of my community are exposed to these sounds
without any berm or vegetation buffering every hour of every day,
Page 137
December 17,2009
every work day.
Petitioner has stated that he wants to preserve the berm rather
than dig into a portion of it to comply with setback requirements.
However, my third slide shows that in another portion of the berm he's
done exactly that. He built a retaining wall to allow the construction
of open storage bins. It seems to me that the encroachment onto the
setback zone is being requested in order to save money and avoid
having to construct a retaining wall. The result is that he's creating a
nuisance and a hardship for our community in order not to
inconvenience himself with regard to construction of the proposed
maintenance shed.
He's requesting a second variance to waive the requirement of a
10- foot vegetation buffer. We note the absence of any type of existing
vegetation buffer on his side of the wall. If that is a requirement, then
we request in addition to denying the variance that any existing zoning
regulations be enforced with respect to structures and activities now
located in the area.
Finally, Vineyards Development Corporation has not been a
good neighbor, as you've heard already. We've lived here for nearly
12 years, have been subjected to loud noises, starting almost daily at
6:00 in the morning. Sometimes there have been noxious odors from
decaying vegetation piled up on the site. And on one occasion as you
just heard, there was projectile impact of materials thrown over the
wall on to our driveways and our roadway.
When we complained the response was to post a guard on our
property, denying our access to our own grounds.
So I hope you agree that these behaviors do not deserve to be
rewarded with any special consideration and that the petitioner be
required to meet all planning and zoning requirements without any
vanance.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this matter. I'm
happy to take your questions.
Page 138
December 17,2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you, sir. I don't think
there's any questions.
MR. CANE: One last slide, if it's of interest, showing the
maintenance area's side of the wall and the parking area which has
been discussed. There's about three feet of turf there, which could be
available for buffering, vegetative buffering. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Next --
MR. BELLOWS: Kenneth Bloom.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Kenneth Bloom.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ladies and gentlemen, I've got to ask
that you refrain from clapping. It just kind of does mess things up a
little bit. So let's not continue with that.
MR. BLOOM: Okay, I have a present for the board.
Commissioners, I waive my time because everything that's been
said has been said as far as I'm concerned. And I thank you very much
for your time and I enjoyed sitting here watching you listen very
intently. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir, we appreciate--
MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Tell him who you are.
MR. BLOOM: Oh, I am Kenneth Bloom. I'm a retired judge of
the Superior Court in New Jersey. I have been on the regional
planning association for 10 years and I have represented
municipalities and boards of adjustment and planning boards for the
25 years before I was ajudge. And I would like you to know that I am
very proud to live in Naples with this group representing us. Thank
you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir, we appreciate it.
Ray, the next speaker?
MR. BELLOWS: Richard Casey.
MR. CASEY: My name is Richard Casey. I live in Clubside
Page 139
December 17,2009
Reserve. My address is -- unit number is 1104. Everything I would
like to say today has been covered already, and I know you're looking
for time, so I'll just tell you that I am vehemently opposed to this
variance, and thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir, we appreciate it.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Last speaker is Dale Shaughnessy.
MS. SHAUGHNESSY: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My
name is Dale Shaughnessy and I live at 6115 Reserve Circle. I am in
building 20, which I think is the model you've been seeing today. And
I too would like to thank you all for your very thoughtful questioning,
because I think most of my concerns and questions have been covered
by you all.
I would just like to add my personal experience, that I moved to
the Vineyards in 1998 with a 12-year-old son and I purchased a
townhouse at the other end of the Vineyards. And after six years of
really -- oh, and also was a full equity member of Vineyards Country
Club, as I am today.
After six years and really investigating all of Vineyards, I chose
where supposedly my dream condo would be, and that was Clubs ide
Reserve. And I was certainly aware of the existing maintenance shed
and the activity. I was there at all times of day to make sure it was
still where I wanted to be. And that particular street, which is right
across from the privacy wall, was my choice. Rather than going to a
new community, I wanted to go and stay in one that was tried and
true.
My real estate agent at the time -- I sold a condo through
Vineyards Realty, purchased a condo through Vineyards Realty, was
assured that Vineyards Country Club was built out, when I asked if
there was going to be anything further in the maintenance area and
was told no, they were done.
When I went to Vineyards Development last week, I spoke with
Page 140
December 17, 2009
Attorney Rogers and told him that very thing, within that very
building was told no more building. He said well, that was probably
true at that time.
Well, now I have a condo from my own misfortune that is
reduced in price 40 percent, because I also purchased in 2005, but
that's my sad story. But I don't need further devaluing because the
Vineyards is requesting this variance without what I would consider
consideration and cooperation for their members and their neighbors.
Because I believe there is plenty of room to put an adequate
maintenance building. I feel there just hasn't been anyone drawing up
the plans that would better suit the land.
So I am hopeful that you will deny their request, deny approval,
and I would really be joyous if they would go back to the drawing
board and come up with another plan that not only wouldn't hurt the
residents of Clubside Reserve but as a member as well. I don't see any
need to have a maintenance building 14 and a half feet not from my
back door, from my front door, because that is on -- Mr. Saadeh said
that was our back. That is our front.
And also, I don't think the berm has to be dealt with the way
they're suggesting. I don't think it's an either/or. So I hope from the
questioning that you gave and the comments you've heard you will
decline and maybe we can come up with some more suitable
cooperative ending to this dilemma. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Mr. Kolflat, you had a question --
MR. BELLOWS: Mr. Chairman?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, 1--
MR. BELLOWS: I made a mistake, there is one extra speaker.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I figured. I'm going to ask anyway.
Thank you, Ray.
Go ahead, Mr. Kolflat.
Page 141
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Well, I've listened to seven
speakers now who are affected property owners in this issue. And I
have a question for John-David. Was there a neighborhood
informational meeting on this project? And ifso (sic), why not?
MR. MOSS: Thank you. For the record, John-David Moss,
Department of Zoning and Land Development Review.
There was not a neighborhood information meeting on this,
because the LDC doesn't require them for variance requests.
Oh, Ray reminded me there is a letter that's sent out. And Mr.
Saadeh did comply with that requirement. He sent out a letter advising
people of his intentions. And --
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: There was no meeting
scheduled, though?
MR. MOSS: No, it's not an LDC requirement.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ray, you want to call that next
speaker?
MR. BELLOWS: Yes, Russell Broad.
MR. BROAD: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I just wanted to tell you where I live.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You better grab that walk-around
speaker.
MR. BROAD: Yes, sir.
I am in 6115 and unit 2003, right here. I am the closest to the
corner of this building. Reside above two previous speakers. First of
all, thank you for the time and good afternoon to all of you.
I'm a resident, as I said, at 6115 Reserve Circle, unit 2003, and I
live on the second floor.
I understand that you did not receive a copy of my letter that I
sent to Mr. Moss. I'm sorry you didn't get that. But I did send you all
a little brief e-mail in the last couple of days in my opposition to this
request.
As a new resident of Club Reserve as of September, '08, I am the
Page 142
December 17, 2009
closest resident to this proposed new building, thus I'll be adversely
impacted by the added noise, lights from the trucks exiting the new
building and the site of the new building from my second floor
location.
My condo contains three bedrooms. My two guest bedrooms
both face the work site. My guests who stay in these two bedrooms
have all complained about the lights from the cars entering the yard to
go to work at 6:00 a.m., and especially the noise from the tractors
moving along the cement road leading to the south golf course. This
new building with doors facing the wall will only create more noise
and irritation for my guests.
I have visited the site on three occasions last week and took
measurements on my last visit.
The VDC has put two sticks with blue ribbons on the edge of the
berm. The one that's closest to the entryway I measured with a
15-foot tape measure, 135 feet from the edge of the berm to the wall.
It seems to me, and as other speakers have had said, there's plenty of
room to move that building northward and get it away from the wall.
In 2008 I made a substantial personal investment in my second
floor coach home in the Club Reserve condominium after losing my
wife of 49 years. An additional storage building located a short
distance from my second floor windows would have a serious
negative impact on the value of my unit.
For all these reasons noted above, I respectfully request that you
deny this petition by the Vineyards Development Corporation for a
zoning variance to construct this large storage building only 15 feet
from the wall that separates our high quality residential property from
this active work site. Thank you for your time and listening to my
argument to deny this zoning code petition. Thanks again.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Ray, do we have any other speakers registered?
MR. BELLOWS: None with me.
Page 143
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Does any member of the public wish to
speak on this issue who has not already spoke?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Will the gentleman -- I think your first
name was Jim, I don't remember your last name. You had a letter you
wanted to read? We have -- because of the savings in some time, I'd
sure appreciate it if you'd read it for us now.
MR. KELLER: I appreciate the opportunity.
Thank you. This letter is from Don Sartore. It's a statement,
actually, not a letter.
I want to thank the Planning Commission for allowing me to
bring my comments and concerns to you regarding variance
V A-PL-2009-1460. I am a registered structural engineer and a
registered professional engineer. I was chief engineer design for
Burlington Northern Railroad. At the time it was the largest railroad
in the United States.
I was responsible for design in the areas of structural,
architectural, and most importantly for this matter environmental
engineering. I presently own and reside full-time in a condo in
Clubside Reserve.
I would like to point out that the proposed variance is not for a
garage type facility to keep equipment out of the weather, the proposal
is for a maintenance building, as requested by Mr. Saadeh's petition.
If the variance is granted, the facility would be used to maintain
equipment, which could conceivably include construction type
equipment, in addition to mowers, leaf blowers and shrub trimmers. If
approved, the facility would negatively affect our quality of life and
consequently the value of Clubside Reserve condos.
Noise pollution. The operation of a maintenance facility would
include noisy maintenance jobs such as sharpening mower blades,
testing, repairing noisy leaf blowers and shrub trimmers. In addition it
could include repairing damaged equipment.
Page 144
December 17, 2009
I would also point out that since all the equipment is used during
daytime hours, it is possible the facility would be used for noisy
operations during evening or even nighttime hours. The noise level
from a fixed source decreases as the distance from the source
increases. The noise level at the Clubside Reserve property line will
increase dramatically if located 15.4 feet from our property line, as
opposed to the presently allowed 50 feet.
I should also point out that while there's an existing wall at the
property line, it would not be very effective since sound travels in
waves and would go over the wall.
Also, the sound generated at 15.4 feet from the approximately
seven foot high wall would go directly over the wall to our second
floor condos, thus having no effect in reducing noise to these units.
Air pollution: The maintenance and testing of internal
combustion engines used in the equipment proposed for maintenance
at the facility would create a great deal of objectionable exhaust
fumes. A facility of the size proposed would have a large number of
such exhaust producing engines. Locating the facility 34.6 feet nearer
our homes will certainly produce an order of magnitude increase of
objectionable fumes which we'll be subject to.
Water pollution: A facility of the type proposed will
undoubtedly use oil, grease, aromatic cleaning materials such as
mineral spirits and most likely gasoline and even diesel fuel, all of
which will pollute water. There are at least three existing surface
drain openings in the vicinity of the proposed facility . We know the
drains run to the lake that 36 of our condo units are built around,
although Vineyard's plans do not show these drains to do so.
Also, there are at least two existing additional drains we know of,
and a search of Vineyards plans do not show where these drains go.
In addition, the proposed plan showed two additional proposed
drains and a junction box within 20 feet of our property line wall, but
do not show where they drain to.
Page 145
December 17,2009
We suspect these two present and two proposed drains would
also end up in one of our lakes. Any contaminated surface drainage or
spill that enters those drains will pollute our lake.
Conclusion: There is no doubt in my mind based on the above
analysis that approval of the 15.4 setback requested in the variance
would increase the objectionable noise and air pollution in our
Clubside Reserve community and would certainly increase the
probability of polluting our lake. Such approval would of course
negatively affect our ability to enjoy our homes and our quality of life
and in turn would certainly reduce our property values.
I believe that while granting the variance may have some cost
advantages to the Vineyards, the environmental damage to Clubside
Reserve and the comparatively large reduced property value of our
condos far outweighs this advantage. I therefore respectfully urge the
Commission to turn down the request for the variance at issue.
Thank you for your careful consideration of my comments and
concerns. Donald V. Sartore.
THE COURT REPORTER: May I have the spelling ofSartore,
please?
MR. KELLER: Tony had asked me to read this. It's from
John-David --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, before you read anything, let's
answer her question first.
THE COURT REPORTER: Could you spell the last name?
MR. KELLER: S-A-R-T-O-R-E. Donald.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, and as far as any more evidence
that Mr. Pires would like introduced, this was only to read that letter.
So let's just end it there. I think we get the drift of where you people
are coming from. So we're good.
MR. KELLER: Are you trying to say overkill?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, there's an old saying, you can
snatch success from the jaws of -- something like that. But we're
Page 146
December 17,2009
getting close to that right now. So let's go on.
Ray, we're done with public speakers.
Mr. Saadeh, if you want 10 minutes to rebut, then we're going to
close the public hearing.
MR. SAADEH: Thank you very much. Just a few quick points
that are very, very relevant.
A few residents had mentioned that the building would be so
many feet from their actual driveways. Some said 15 feet, 20 feet.
Actually, if it's built the way it's proposed, the closest corner of the
building to the closest corner of any Clubside building would be 80
feet.
Second point Mr. Pires made, that there was a rezone back in
1995 and that's where a big portion of the southern portion of the berm
that was located somewhere in here was removed. And that's when
the time came in for the 50-foot buffer. Actually, that's totally
inaccurate. The 50-foot buffer was in the PUD since 1985. If you
look at any original PUD ordinance, the 50-foot buffer requirement
was there. When we did the PUD, when we did the SOP adjustment
for that site itself, PDI-95-1 is when we met with staff on all levels
and actually hashed the language in the PUD.
And I remember clearly, because I was there. And that's when
we proposed this -- I can't recall exactly if this is 20 or 25 feet. But
that's when we said, you know, there was no specific size for the
buffer to be 10 feet or 20 feet, whatever. We agreed with staff that
this would be, you know, the right size buffer on our part.
And to further -- you know, to further assist in getting the PDI
not just approved but also looking at it from a marketing standpoint
what could we sell, we felt we wanted to go as we do in the whole
Vineyards; we don't have a minimum landscape standard in the whole
Vineyards. Every road we have is double and triple landscaped than
what the codes call for.
So as you can see from the pictures I showed you earlier, that this
Page 147
December 17, 2009
was heavily, heavily landscaped, and the wall was added at the time to
enhance, you know, sound barriers and the like.
And the wall wasn't any taller, because at the time the ordinance
didn't allow any wall to be over this size. I think it's between seven
and eight feet, depending on how we worked the finished grade
elevation when we built the wall.
Another point that's extremely relevant, and it was brought up a
million times, that they have 13, 14 pieces of equipment. Some said
10 pieces of equipment. This picture is very deceiving. This was
taken, again, during the day at a time where most of the equipment
would have been on the golf course. So to say that we have 14 pieces
of equipment, I wasn't going to go through this venture and this size
building to accommodate 14 pieces of equipment. It was taken at that
time when the building was open and the equipment was actually
physically on-site.
And so I don't have an exact count in my head, but definitely way
before we started sizing the building, we went in and looked at the
needs of what we have, what we need to have and what the like.
Just a clear comment that's not as relevant on some of the people
questioning the leasing versus buying and all that. When we leasing
equipment, we turn it in in three years. Yeah, we still have to do
maintenance, only we still have to maintain it. But it's not the same as
when you keep it for five years or 10 years. So anybody who leases a
car would know that. If you lease a car for three years, at the end of
three years you chunk it, you turn it in, you get something back or you
lease something new.
In our case we're going to be buying the stuff as we turn it over.
As leases become terminated, we would turn into buying mode. And
so that was the explanation. And whether it makes sense to some
folks, it makes sense to us.
Somebody mentioned that the existing building facility have
doors just mostly facing this way. Matter of fact, at submittal image,
Page 148
December 17, 2009
the doors on this building are actually mirrored on both sides. So if
there's four doors here, there's actually four doors on this side. If
there's six doors here, there's six doors on this side that are equally
used.
As a point of clarification, some gentleman put in some pumps
and fuel pumps and fuel tanks. The only fuel tank on the site today,
and will continue on that site, and we'll go on record saying that,
would be the one existing in here. There's no proposed storage of
chemicals on this new building, there's no proposed storage of fuel on
this new building or anywhere near the site. There's no proposed
storage of anything other than mowers and standard equipment that's
being used on the golf course, whether it's for cutting grass or
maintaining landscaping on the course. Because on 350-acre golf
course you definitely have landscaping. Mark, you know that, you live
in a community like that.
And the last point that I would like to make is the interpretation
that Mr. Pires has on the existing buffer is in my view is totally wrong.
The existing buffer is -- the reason there's language that you can't have
parking and whatever and the staff agreed to this back in 1995 is this
is the ample buffer. We built the wall and not a single car can be seen
from anyone of these buildings being parked on this side of the wall.
If somebody can tell me that and can show me that, then I'll withdraw
the petition.
The point of it is that that came about now that they hired Tony
and he started looking into the site and this and that. The '95 buffer
that we created was acceptable by the county, was overkill by any
standard of the county and also was helpful for us as a marketing tool.
We didn't want these people to look at a maintenance facility, we
wanted them to look at a nice landscape buffer. And that was the
purpose of it. It wasn't just, you know, to pass some kind of zoning or
to pass some kind of permit. It was additionally to have the proper
view -- to have the proper visual effects so someone can purchase the
Page 149
December 17, 2009
property .
Under the maximum interpretation of the code -- of the current
required landscaping, as we calculated it, our landscape architect
calculated as well, Mr. John-David, we concur that there's 14 trees to
be required for the new building. And we suggested to him through
Mr. John-David Moss, to Tony and his company that ifhe would like
the 14 trees to have the best impact, we will add them on your side of
the berm if we can find the space for them. And I'm willing to tell you
today, I'll do that. I'll even go from 14 to 20, if that makes any
difference to some of the folks that are, you know, opposed to this
here.
So basically these are the points that I just wanted to clarify.
Obviously there's a lot of, you know, emotions involved on both sides
of the issue. I do understand, sympathize with the homeowners who
feel this can be impacting their units. I haven't really given some
thought to -- I don't know if the code allows raising the wall. But if
that can satisfy some of the opposition to raising, you know, few
blocks on the wall couple three feet of the wall, especially on that side
of the site, you know, from somewhere in here, then we would
probably be willing to do so to be good neighbors and neighborly.
Other than that, I would reiterate that one more time, we had
Coastal Engineering working on the property, their planners and
several engineers worked on the property, and we've tried multiple,
multiple scenarios of how to avoid having a variance. Otherwise I
don't like to be here and spending the money just to be here. And
there wasn't any that wouldn't intrude on the berm.
The fact is nobody knows, not me or anybody else, as what's
inside that berm when you start digging into it. You might have some
big boulders, you might have some small boulders, you might have
some root system. I don't know till I dig into it. And that's why we
chose to come for the variance.
Thank you for your time, and any questions, I'll be happy to
Page 150
December 17, 2009
answer them.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
And Mr. Wolfley, you had a question?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yes. Is Vineyards built out,
Mr. Saadeh? I mean, are there anymore units to go in somewhere?
MR. SAADEH: Technically, yes. There is a neighborhood of
Hammock Isles that have some single-family lots that are not built.
There's a neighborhood in Venezia Grande that have some
single-family lots that are not built. And the only other neighborhood
is the site of Vista Pointe, there is a site for two new mid-rise buildings
and two kind of low-rise buildings on that site.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. So I guess my point -- I
mean, what percent do you think you're built out?
MR. SAADEH: Probably I would say between 90, 95 percent.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. So okay, I just wanted --
that's it. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: It's time for a motion?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, sir.
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: What are the hours of operation
of the maintenance staff?
MR. SAADEH: I believe it's 6:00 in the morning till 3:30 or
4:00 in the afternoon.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, so at 6:00 in the morning
these guys will be flinging open overhead doors close to that property
line?
MR. SAADEH: As a matter of fact, in this particular building, if
it pleases the Commission and it makes a difference, we're willing to
change that to 7:00 in the morning.
(Laughter from the audience.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Please, ladies and gentlemen.
Page 151
December 17, 2009
Go ahead.
MR. SAADEH: I mean, I thought you asked me of the existing
building. The existing building is 6:00 to 3:00, 3:30. We -- just for
the record, some people mentioned some nighttime operations. I don't
believe we've ever opened past 5:00 for any reason whatsoever, you
know so--
,
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But my concern, we've focused
on the visual aspect, but for example, overhead doors are loud, I know
that well. So, I mean, I don't think anybody would want an overhead
door cranking open at 6:00, 7:00 in the morning near them. But--
MR. SAADEH: Well, unfortunately when you live on a golf
course, even the --let's forget this facility completely. If you live in a
house on the golf course and a mower passes by, they have to prepare
the grounds for the golfers to come in and play. It's not just unique to
my development, it's every single development in Collier County and
anywhere else in the area for that matter.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, all right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Mr. Saadeh, we saw a picture
that showed that the embankment of the slope, that it was cut in and it
was concrete there and looked as though it were sectioned. How long
is that? How big is that?
MR. SAADEH: How long is the structure itself?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, yeah, give me an idea.
MR. SAADEH: Probably depth-wise, maybe -- I'm just
guessing, I don't know for sure, I'm guessing eight to 10 feet, maybe.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: When did that occur then? When
was that constructed?
MR. SAADEH: That was done in the late Eighties. I don't recall
the year, actually.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay, but you were aware of its
construction?
Page 152
December 17, 2009
MR. SAADEH: Yes, I was. I'm not sure again if it was done
when the berm was built or after the fact. I'm not really sure.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So you think the berm might
have been late in around it, that's possible?
MR. SAADEH: That's very possible. I mean, again, I don't
know the exact timing. You're taking me back 20 some years.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, wouldn't that be nice if we
could do that.
MR. SAADEH: That would be beautiful. If you take me back
three years I'm happy.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: You've answered my question,
thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else have any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ray, would you mind putting that -- I
have one question, it comes off the center part of that sheet I gave you
during break.
Mr. Saadeh, that orange dotted line is the rough outline of your
berm. The -- you can see the original building you were proposing
underneath it. The yellow building is the same scale as the one I
believe you were proposing. If you take the yellow building and place
that, a portion of it, in the berm with a retaining wall you then have
access to a portion of that building from both sides, which I think
would be an advantage to operating a golf course or any kind of
maintenance facility, rather than having to back in or out from just one
side. This meets your 50-foot setback and you wouldn't have a
problem in which you'd need to be here today. Lacking any topo of
the berm or soil test showing that something like this is prohibitive.
And also, the time you started the Vineyards I was -- I owned a
metal building company, and I can tell you, we built metal buildings
with retaining walls routinely. So this isn't something that couldn't be
done.
Page 153
December 17,2009
Did you explore this with Coastal Engineering?
MR. SAADEH: Actually, we have.
Again, the comment I made earlier was unless we actually get
some equipment and start digging into the berm, we wouldn't know
how much of it will have to be taken out or -- I would say, Mark, you
being in the business, you got this -- you understand the scope of it a
little bit different. We dug a lot of lakes in the early, early days. We
have upwards of roughly 300 acres of lakes on the property.
When that berm was constructed, I don't know specifically by
section, that would be totally crazy to guess what kind of boulders we
put somewhere. But most of the time with big structures like this and
the berm we have along 1-75 in its entirety, we put a lot of boulders in
that and we tried to fill the voids and go through the process. I'm not
sure, you know, a typical cross-section of that berm, what it would
look like.
We could -- that's the reason we shied away from it. Because if it
was just pure dirt, it would have been no-brainer, I wouldn't be here
today. If we have to move boulders -- in those days the spacing on
blasting for lakes was a little bit different, so we had boulders yea size.
If we have to do that, I don't know how much of the berm we can
retain and how much we want. And that's an accurate statement.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: If you were to leave the building in the
current position but have to cut back enough to meet the setback
requirement, that orange triangle on the south side is approximately
what you would lose. And I don't know if you had explored the
remaining structure as to your ability to see if that meets your needs or
not.
MR. SAADEH: It will be short. And then the size is irregular
enough to where I'm not sure we can go with a structure with a prefab
metal building. We might end up having to go with a specialty
designed concrete building that again will impact the cost on it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you very much.
Page 154
December 17, 2009
MR. SAADEH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else have any other questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that we will close the public
hearing and either discussion or a motion, whatever happens to come
out.
Mr. Kolflat, I think you wanted to -- did you want to make a
motion, did you say, earlier?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I'd like to make a motion that
we recommend Board of County Commissioners to deny Petition
V A-PL-2009-1460, Vineyards maintenance.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, a motion made by Commissioner
Kolflat, seconded by Commissioner Murray.
Is there discussion from the Planning Commission?
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: The -- my opinion on this is that
the applicant never showed any technical support that the site was
unusable as it is right now. And secondly, if it was, that he's benefiting
from self-created hardships.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else? Mr. Murray, then Mr.
Wolfley, then Ms. Caron.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Mr. Saadeh stressed so many
years of operation and leasing of equipment and now he wants to
change his business plan and that is the suggestion for his hardship.
Whether the economy picks up again and savings are realized, he
might very well return to a lease process that might very well benefit
him. And then the folks will have had that building there in its shape.
I can't justify a variance on the basis of a change in business plan.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I've been thinking while I was
especially listening to the residents that, you know, the Vineyards is
Page 155
December 17, 2009
not built out, that there's a certain amount of equipment. I failed to
ask the petitioner if there was any equipment elsewhere that when he
completed the development that equipment would need to be relocated
to the maintenance facility.
But it just seems to me that as a developer grows a community,
more equipment is required.
And, you know, you have to plan -- as you put in more roads, the
boulevards, there's more trees, more grass to maintain and certainly
more equipment. And I think Mr. Pink was very generous in saying
100 pieces of equipment rather than 10 or 20. I really don't know
what it is. But let's assume it ends up -- maintaining all of Vineyards
is going to require more equipment and thus more space.
And it just -- I remember reading the newspapers, I don't know
when it was, that the developer was going to keep -- agreed to the
association, the association could not afford to take over the common
facilities. And the developer agreed to continue to take the hidden
losses on it.
I am not in favor of the motion. I'll be voting against it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes, I think Mr. Saadeh is trying to
build a building that is too large for the site. There are no special
conditions which do not result from -- other than from his actions.
There's no hardship, and he still has reasonable use of that land. We
have no testimony that says that this is the minimum variance, and that
to me is very important.
I think it would be granting a special privilege to him and I don't
believe it's in harmony with the intent or the purpose of the code.
I think further I believe that the 50-foot separation that is in the
PUD to begin with was probably in recognition of the intensity of use
on the site as well as height -- potential height issues.
There was a picture that the gentleman in the yellow shirt back
there, and I don't remember his name, showed of the road that goes in
Page 156
December 17, 2009
front so that you can head to the south golf course. Along that area is
a three-foot area that is obviously curbed, which looks to me like it
should be landscaped. It looks like that's the reason -- otherwise, why
would you bother to even have that curb there, I'm not sure what the
point would be. But at any rate, for all those reasons I will be voting
with Mr. Kolflat on this denial.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I will not be voting with the
motion. We've heard a lot of details and legalities. From a common
sense point of view, if this building gets pushed back towards the
north, there will be more of a chance for the people to see it. The
noise is still going to be the same, everything's going to be the same.
It could have went up three stories, it's only one story. I really can't
see where there's a tradeoff here and I will not be voting with the
motion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, I -- this board has consistently
tried to find compromise between problem areas between neighbors
and developers or whoever. Usually the neighborhood informational
meeting is a big source for that compromise. That didn't happen here
because of the nature of this request, variances don't require those. I
wish it had.
And I also believe that if we had more information a solution
could be found that would be workable. We don't have some of the
information that I would like to have seen. I didn't realize that the
information would be needed until I heard the testimony today. But
it's unfortunate that -- I'm left in no position at this point than I'm
going to have to support the motion as well, so -- anybody else?
With that in mind, we'll call for the vote, and we'll have -- let's do
this by acknowledgment and hand -- raise your hand. All those in
favor of the motion to deny the variance request, signify by raising
your hand and saying aye.
Page 157
December 17, 2009
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: One, two, three, four, five, six in favor.
All those against?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Three against. Motion carries.
Recommendation of denial, 6-3.
Okay, thank you. We will take a break until 2:15. When we
come back we'll start Naples Bath and Tennis.
(Recess.)
Item # IOC
PETITION: PUDA-PL2009-781, NAPLES BATH AND TENNIS
CLUB PUD
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, everyone, welcome back from
the break. And I bet the remaining people are all here for the Naples
Bath and Tennis.
We certainly appreciate your patience today. It's been a long
meeting, and we will make sure everything -- mine's off. I always
turn my cell phone off.
Anyway, would those people wishing to testify on behalf of this
item please rise to be sworn in by the court reporter. You're better off
just rising just in case you want to speak and just get sworn in. It
doesn't hurt.
Page 158
December 17, 2009
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, you've got to quiet down now.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Disclosures on the part of the Planning
Commission? Anybody? Let's start with Ms. Homiak on the end.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I spoke to Burt Saunders, Craig
Bouchard and Joel Singer.
MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: We can't hear.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Oh, I'm sorry. You want me to
say it again?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You want to repeat that for the record?
Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I spoke to Burt Saunders, Craig
Bouchard and Joel Singer.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I spoke with the two also, and
Mr. Busch, Bill Busch from the -- a resident.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And I spoke with Mr. Bouchard
and Senator and as well the other gentleman, Mr. Busch.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: I spoke to Mr. Bouchard and
the Senator also.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I spoke with the applicant, the architect
and two attorneys, Burt Saunders being one and Bruce Anderson the
other. And I think I got an e-mail from Mr. Singer.
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes, I spoke with Mr. Saunders, I
spoke very briefly to Mr. Bouchard, and I spoke to Mr. Busch.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Midney, none?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: (Shakes head negatively.)
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I talked to Linda Clyde from the
U.S.T.A., and Joel Singer, and I had two phone conversations.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Tor?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: No ex parte.
Page 159
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that, I also notice we had a
package sent to us. So before we start, can someone explain what that
is so we know what we're dealing with?
MS. SAUNDERS: Yes, Mr. Chairman, just real quickly on this
package. It's a list of compilation of letters in support of the project
that's before you today.
At the front of it is a kind of compilation of the survey. And Mr.
Bouchard will spend a few moments talking a little bit about how this
survey was conducted and the results it of it. But there are 420 -- I'm
sorry, 418 affirmative support letters in this package.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And the court reporter has a copy for
her record?
MS. SAUNDERS: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you, sir. If you want to
proceed.
MS. SAUNDERS: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members
of the Planning Commission.
Before I start, I spent many years listening to a lot of these
petitions when I was on the county commission, and I thought I had a
fair amount of patience, but nothing compared to all of you, so I want
to thank you for service to the citizens of Collier County and
congratulate you on your willingness to provide that service and to
listen to all of these petitions.
For the record, my name is Burt Saunders. I'm with the
Gray-Robinson Law Firm with offices located at 5551 Ridgewood.
With me today serving as co-counsel is Mr. R. Bruce Anderson
with the Roetzel and Andress Law Firm with offices at 850 Park Shore
Drive.
Also here this afternoon is the applicant, Tennis Realty LLC,
represented by Mr. Craig Bouchard. And the applicant's agent, Mr.
Michael Fernandez, with Planning Development, Inc. with offices at
5113 Castello Drive, here in Naples.
Page 160
December 17,2009
Mr. Chairman and members, on the visualizer is a map of Tract B
which will be explained to you a little bit more fully as we go through
the process. Tract B is approximately 20 acres in size and is the area
where the club facility is located, the tennis courts and swimming
pool, and is the area where the proposed 48 transient lodging units will
be housed.
Mr. Michael Fernandez in a few moments will tell you a little bit
about where those will go and how much distance there is between
that project and adjoining or neighboring properties.
Mr. Bouchard will address the Planning Commission in just a
few minutes also to discuss why this project is so important, not only
to the facilities in Tract B, the clubhouse facilities, but also very
important to the entire residential community that surrounds that.
He will also give you a little history of his involvement in the
Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
I think all of that's important because the merits of a project are
very important to your consideration. We believe that in terms of the
legal aspects, there's no question that I think we are moving in the
right path in terms of the legal issues. But I think you also need to
hear the merits of the project, and you'll hear plenty of that from Mr.
Bouchard.
Also, before we start, just so everybody understands, the folks
here wearing their white T shirts are in support of this project. It
doesn't say that they support Naples tennis club project, they say they
love Naples Tennis Club and the Sanchez Academy, but they are here
in support of this project. And you'll hear from many of them in a few
moments.
Craig and his investors have spent a great deal of money and a
great deal of time renovating and reinvigorating the clubhouse and
Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
As an example of the recognition of creation efforts, we received
-- and this is a very typical letter -- a letter from Mary Goldschmidt,
Page 161
December 17,2009
who is a 17-year resident of a condo in Naples Bath and Tennis Club
in which she simply states, and I just want to quote one sentence from
her letter. Mr. Bouchard has been a model manager of the tennis club
in recent years and hence deserves this vote of confident in his vision
for a revitalized club.
And quite frankly, that's what we're here about. We're here today
to talk about how to revitalize this club for the club itself but also for
the community.
As Mr. Bouchard will point out, there have been literally
hundreds of letters and expressions of support for this petition, and the
exhibit we've handed out contains those.
We have a large number of Naples Bath and Tennis Club
members and residents here to show support for this project, but also
to show their support for Mr. Craig Bouchard who is simply seeking
to ensure the financial viability of the Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
Before we hear from Craig, let me give you just a very brief
explanation of how we arrived at the current application and what this
application does.
In 1996, Circuit Judge Ted Brousseau entered an order in Case
No. 962513-CA, declaring invalid an approval by the Collier County
Planning Commission a petition 96CU-5, which would have
authorized the construction of 48 transient lodging units at Naples
Bath and Tennis Club.
And just so you understand, back in those days when that lawsuit
was filed, Ann Dilbone was the principal plaintiff suing Naples Bath
and Tennis Club to stop the project. She is one of the supporters here
today. So she understands the importance of this project.
Judge Brousseau recognized that the original PUD document
permitted the construction of those units but found that approval of
those units by the Planning Commission after 10 years was in effect a
change of the original PUD ordinance by the Planning Commission.
The judge opined that the Planning Commission does not have the
Page 162
December 17, 2009
authority to override county ordinances.
When the new owners, represented by Mr. Craig Bouchard, again
applied for the approval of these 48 transient lodging units, the County
Attorney issued a letter indicating that the petition should not be heard
by the Planning Commission because of the existing order by Judge
Brousseau.
The County Attorney at that time was simply protecting his
client, the County Commission, from any allegations that the County
Commission was ignoring an existing court order.
In that same letter, the County Attorney suggested to the
applicant that the applicant may want to consider seeking a
declaratory judgment to clarify what limitations were imposed by
Judge Brousseau's order.
Mr. Bouchard and the owners of the Naples Bath and Tennis
Club were left with no alternative but to seek a declaratory judgment.
This past summer Judge Pivacek granted Mr. Bouchard's motion
for summary judgment and issued an order stating that -- I think it's
important to just give you a short quote from that order -- the Collier
County Commission may amend the planned unit development
document for the Naples Bath and Tennis Club if it chooses to do so.
And the County Commission may allow development of transient
lodging units in the Naples Bath and Tennis Club PUD.
This eliminated all legal impediment to this Commission and
ultimately the Collier County Commission from considering this
application before you today.
That order is attached to the staff report that you've reviewed.
That very thorough staff report also recommends that the
Planning Commission forward Petition PUDA-PL-2009-781 on to the
Collier County Commission with a recommendation of approval.
This is really a very simple application that's in front you today.
Let me tell you just two quick things that this does, the two major
things: First, the proposed 48 transient lodging units are an approved
Page 163
December 17, 2009
accessory use of the Naples Bath and Tennis Club PUD Tract B.
Paragraph 4.3.B.3 of the original PUD document is amended to reflect
that. And again, this is quoting from the ordinance that's in front you
today for consideration: The transient lodging units shall be subject to
and review and approval through the county's adopted site
development plan procedures as provided in the LDC, Section
10.02.03, or as may be amended.
Members, this is the same procedure that is used for approval of
accessory uses for most if not all of Collier County's existing PUDs.
And remember, this is a PUD that went back to 1981 amendments. So
it was one of the first PUDs in the county, and certainly didn't meet
the standards of the PUDs that you're looking at today.
Second, the proposed amendment provides the criteria to be
evaluated by staff as part of the site development review process.
Now, these types of criteria are routinely contained in PUDs that are
approved today. But again, this was a very old PUD document and
was contained in there.
The purpose of having those criteria in there is simply to ensure
that if the County Commission approves this in its discretion, this
PUD amendment and the 48 transient lodging units, if they're applied
for and are to be constructed, that there are appropriate standards for
your professional staff to review the site development plan that would
be present with that.
Mr. Chairman and members, I'd like to ask Mr. Fernandez ifhe'd
come to the podium to discuss briefly where these units will be in
reference to the existing clubhouse and where they'll be located on
Tract B.
Mr. Fernandez?
MR. FERNANDEZ: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Michael
Fernandez, for the record, with the firm of Planning Development.
Just maybe to give you an overall of the area, this is the zoning
map, which is part of the staff report. As you can see here, Tract B is
Page 164
December 17, 2009
actually totally interior to the Naples Bath and Tennis Club PUD,
which is located near the intersection, just south of the intersection of
Pine Ridge and Airport Road.
As being into the center of the project, it does have access to the
perimeter at Airport Road through a common roadway easement that
serves the rest of the property. People entering into this Tract B do
not have to go by any additional units, pass by any additional units to
get into the Tract B development.
I put the aerial back on because I think it's worthwhile looking at
in terms of what we are proposing. The development standards have
-- are enumerated in the proposed ordinance. And in that proposed
ordinance, one of the things that is somewhat missed is the isolation of
where these potential units can go.
In the PUD master plan, or what the equivalent of the PUD
master plan is, this is the existing master plan, you'll notice I've
highlighted two areas. And those two areas say that this is where the
transient lodging units may be located. They're very specific,
graphically specific, relative to the club facility and the tennis courts.
And if you look at that diagram and then let's look back now at the
aerial, you'll see that they're pretty right on. I mean, it's a true
representation of what actually got built there.
So the two areas then that are available for creating these
transient lodging units is here, south of the existing clubhouse around
the pool area, and then north of the existing building. And those are
the only two areas. So there's -- we're not going to place them over
here by the tennis courts, we're not going to place them over here at
the northwest quadrant. They'll be in one of those two locations or
both.
Additionally, those development standards that we have now
introduced into the PUD give additional criteria for staff to review.
And as you look at that, you'll notice that probably the most
significant one will be that the area that is going to be -- that's
Page 165
December 17,2009
allocated for development of these transient lodging units is limited to
five percent. That's a very small percentage of the overall tract. It's a
20 -- just over a 20-acre tract. So that's the equivalent of one acre.
So the development of those units and its associated parking will
be located within one acre of development, no more than that. And
per the master plan will be located either to the south or to the north of
the existing clubhouse.
We've created a graphic to further depict a potential location or
potential layout of these. And as you can see, again, this graphic
representation is identical to the aerial. We've located the two
structures to the south, and those two structures would be large enough
to accommodate the 48 units which are proposed, and the associated
parking would be placed there along an existing driveway.
That area that those improvements occupy are less than one acre,
which is the maximum that would be allowed per the development
standards that have been proposed.
The additional development standards that we're talking about are
the setbacks, 20 feet from the tract boundaries, 50 feet from residential
tract boundaries, a maximum height of two stories or 30 feet. The
existing building is two stories and 30 feet. So there's not going to be
anything larger than the existing building there.
The maximum number of units. We're establishing a maximum
number. Within that acre we've done a study that shows that we could
accommodate over 100 units within that one acre of area. So this
number that we have is a number that's significantly less than what we
could have put in that one acre.
The parking requirement, which currently the LDC places at 11
parking spaces per 10 rooms. And then landscaping will be met per
the LDC requirements. And the architectural design standards would
be applicable, the LDC's architectural design standards would be
applicable to these improvements that will be placed on the site.
If you have any questions about the specifics of these proposed
Page 166
December 17, 2009
development standards, I'd be happy to answer them now or at the end
of our presentation, after Craig Bouchard has spoken about the
process.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody have any questions about --
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I do.
Could you put that diagram where you're showing you're going to
put the units?
MR. FERNANDEZ: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: I just wonder if you could leave
that up for a minute.
MR. FERNANDEZ: Sure.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Thanks.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you have a question?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: No, I'm sorry, I'm done. I just
wanted to see it again. He took it too quickly.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Turn it to the north so that it faces
north.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Does anybody have any questions of
Mr. Fernandez while he's up there?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I do.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: You know, I'm not sure, Mr.
Chairman, how detailed should we get at this.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, down to the minutia, if we can
find it.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, here's one of the concerns
then. Obviously when the original PUD was written, they wanted to
bring this back to the Planning Commission to review the design once
it was done. And is that what we're doing now, or is this just you
telling us about -- because I know you want to get rid of that, and we'll
probably have further discussion with that. But this can no way be
Page 167
December 17,2009
interpreted as reviewing that design; is that right?
MS. SAUNDERS: Originally back in 1996 that was the plan. A
petition was brought to the Planning Commission, it was approved by
the Planning Commission pursuant to the original 1981 PUD
document, which called for that rather unusual procedure. Judge
Brousseau's entered an order saying that for a variety of reasons we
could not use that procedure any longer.
We met with the County Attorney's Office and determined -- and
with staff and determined that these types of applications today are
reviewed to the site development plan process by your professional
staff.
So we are simply amending the existing PUD document to bring
it in line with the existing procedures for these types of accessory use.
So we're not in front of you today with specific detail in terms of
exactly where the units are going to be in terms of those sorts of
things. Those types of details will be reviewed by your professional
staff.
This will be consistent with the way these types of projects are
reviewed going forward. But with the judge's order out there, we were
left with really no other alternative but to come back and amend the
PUD document.
And I'll tell you, and I think the County Attorney will agree, that
the County Commission, in the exercise of its police powers, has the
ability to amend existing PUD documents. You do it all the time.
And so that's what we're doing. We have a simple amendment to the
existing PUD document to bring it to the standards that you use today.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But I think one of the concerns,
that you want to eliminate the ability to have that public hearing. And
I think based on what the neighbors -- the existing neighbors are
concerned about, I think rather than a staff procedure, which is
administrative, they might want still a public hearing where they can
see things while they're in flux and while they can make adjustments
Page 168
December 17,2009
to things.
And my question is, is that what we're doing today, are we
having that hearing where we're going to --
MS. SAUNDERS: Well, that's a very good point. This
petitioner, Mr. Bouchard, at no point has tried to avoid any kind of a
public hearing process or avoid a hearing process in front of this
Planning Commission. As a matter of fact, he was poised about a year
or so ago to have that hearing in front of this Planning Commission
when the letter from the County Attorney's Office was issued saying
that the Planning Commission could not hear this because of that
existing order.
So we're building into the amendment, the proposed amendment
before you today the standards that would guide your professional
staff in evaluating a site development plan for this project.
We are having a public hearing today, and we will have a second
public hearing in front of the Collier County Commission when this
goes forward. But it will not be a public hearing on the minutia of a
site development plan.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. Hence my original
question.
So if we're not going to go into that kind of minutia, let's not go
into it.
But Michael, one question that I will ask that we can -- the
building, the existing building is built up high, kind of like a tall berm
on a mound?
MR. FERNANDEZ: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So when you're designing these
things, what do you envision these to be? For example, you could put
the parking underneath them, couldn't you, and then match the heights
of the existing building?
MR. FERNANDEZ: We're probably going to be matching the
height of the existing building. And they'll be at two stories. They'll
Page 169
December 17,2009
be units on two stories and overlooking the existing or redeveloped
pool on the south side.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. Because right now the
pool would be in the -- where those two join together, just so you're
kind of burying it in the building right now.
MR. FERNANDEZ: Well, this is just a quick graphical
representation. We've done other -- other schemes have been done by
other firms that have shown maintaining or redeveloping that existing
pool. Because of the age of this facility, it was actually built in the
Seventies, there's all kinds of fire code issues that are going to have to
be dealt with. And that's one of the reasons -- one of the other
development standards, the one development standard I didn't
mention, is that we have a proximity development standard that says
these buildings that get developed that house the transient lodging
units have to be within 30 feet of the existing building. That gives us
enough time -- or enough space so that we can address some of the fire
code issues and a comfort level that it can work well with the existing
building, acting, if you will, as the lobby of the hotel in part.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, let me -- there's no detail
to go further, so thank you.
MR. FERNANDEZ: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But see, where you were heading was
where I thought you were going to go and that is detail. And I
explained to the applicant that we used to see -- we're used to seeing
site plans in regards -- like a master plan so we know where things are.
In fact, the Olde Florida Golf Club was an example. They had to
come back with something to give us more of their parameters.
You guys have been working on this trying to get it through the
system since 1996, and it would be very difficult for me to believe you
don't know where you're going to put these units by now. It's only
been what, 14 years? So I'd like to know what your site plan is. That's
kind of where I'm going. I mentioned that to you as well. So it would
Page 170
December 17, 2009
be helpful today to know this is the site plan or this isn't the site plan
or where your site plan's going.
MS. SAUNDERS: Well, the diagram that you're looking at now
does show where these units are going to go.
The other possible location would be on the other side of the
clubhouse. But other than those two locations, there's no place else
that these units would be considered to be placed. And I think the
petitioner is certainly willing to make that stipulation, that that's the
location, either side of the clubhouse.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. That would be helpful, thank
you.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Mark, between just you and I
talking, the -- which is the only place we can -- the concern I have is
that it's referencing the coming before the Planning Commission. One
of things that they're asking is to opt out of that, change it to where it
just goes to staff, which takes it away from a public hearing process.
Do you think the intent is that as this thing does get further
detailed that the public does have input in the Planning Commission
process to actually discuss the design? Because if it just goes in the
staff -- so one thing I don't want to have happen today is them be able
to say well, we had that meeting in front of the Planning Commission,
they agreed where everything wanted to go. Because this isn't the
kind of detail we would want at that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I suggested to the applicant that they
need to produce as much today as we would normally expect to have
to approve a PUD in which we have concerns. And you know some
PUDs have come through with complete renderings of buildings, exact
locations, very detailed plans. I really -- it's a judgment call on behalf
of the applicant whether they want to submit something to that
intensity or not and whether or not they get approved as a result of that
action.
And so I'm expecting today to see as much as they want to reveal
Page 171
December 17,2009
to us. And if it's enough to be convincing that that's a site plan that's
acceptable, I didn't see them coming back to review an SDP in front of
the Planning Commission. That was -- and by the way, in 1972, and I
have the code from '72, it's this book right here, that was the standard
of the day. SDP's for the most part, especially commercial projects,
did come back to the Planning Commission. So that wasn't unusual
back then to say that this should come to the Planning Commission.
So I can understand why this PUD might have said that. But not
everything did, but there were quite a few items that did.
I don't have a problem with the SDP part of it if the presentation
today is comprehensive enough. And that's what I had told you when
I met with you, so --
MS. SAUNDERS: We will put back on the visualizer the
standards that are contained in the ordinance and then perhaps that
will give the Planning Commission the comfort that you need. And
we'll discuss those as we go through the hearing process. We'll give
you an opportunity to take a look at those standards that are contained
in the draft ordinance that's before you today.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Anybody else have any question
ofMr. Fernandez while he's up there before we go on to the rest of the
presentation?
(No response.)
MR. FERNANDEZ: Let me just follow that up.
One of the reasons I think back in the '68, '72 ordinance that they
had petitioners bring back site plans is because they had an inadequate
amount of development standards for staff to make a good thorough
review with measurable standards. And what we have done with this
submittal is we have brought back, consistent with staffs direction
was, if you'll recall, even in our last submittal to where we didn't get to
be heard before the Commissioners, the staff proposal at that time was
not for us to come back before you with a site plan but for it to be
reviewed administratively as an SDP.
Page 172
December 17, 2009
What we've done now, we believe, is created those development
standards, a proximity to the existing building, of building height,
building size that gives you a level of comfort and gives staff the tools
to review this with measurable standards.
I can't overemphasize the fact that what we're looking at here is
improvements, accessory improvements to an existing development
which has nominal impact on the community relative to visual aspects.
If you were to go to the club facility now and you were to look to
the south, you would not see any structures. And there's actually 50
feet of vegetated area that is in conservation that is managed by the
master association that lies between this tract, Tract B, and the nearest
residential tract south of the existing clubhouse facility.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But aren't you now showing us
that you want to pull the road down to the southern part of that tract
and build this hotel in that preserve area?
MR. FERNANDEZ: No, sir. The 50 feet that I'm speaking
about is totally outside of the boundaries. In other words, the tract --
and maybe you can see it a little bit more clearly --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, let me ask you this, Mike:
How much detail do you guys have for what you want to do with these
buildings, those two little X that are blocking in the pool --
MR. FERNANDEZ: There was actually a substantial amount of
work that was done without understanding the issues relative to having
existing assembly of building and adding these units to it. There
probably are some challenges that we have to deal with between the
two structures. They may not be able to fuse.
Craig was going to show you -- there's a rendering, in fact, that
shows one layout that has those units at the south end of the
clubhouse. And it's on that site rendering with a redefined pool area.
And it fully integrates into the existing building, which is something I
don't think we're going to be able to accomplish now that there's a
better understanding of the codes and the fire codes between the new
Page 173
December 17, 2009
structures and the old structures. So it will -- physically we're looking
at the same proximity of location, but not to that design. But we feel
that what we're talking about here is really a small amendment to a
site plan.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So the answer is no, the
detail you just showed us is the most.
Do you have a layout of the other location, what that would look
like?
MR. FERNANDEZ: No, we don't as far as it -- again, there's a
proximity. So what we're looking at is that distance, the distance
between the -- any new structure would have to be within 30 feet of
the existing buildings.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But you're making that up.
MR. FERNANDEZ: That's a development standard that we have
agreed to. We know functionally that that's something that we want to
happen, because the lobby is the existing clubhouse facility. These
are just accessory units, bed and breakfast units, if you will, to the
main facility.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So that location wouldn't work
over there. Which to me would pull it away from the neighbors to the
south and put it --
MR. FERNANDEZ: It doesn't work as good and doesn't have
the amenity of the pool area. And it wouldn't be as seamless as this is.
And there's also some, you know, tennis facilities over there that we
don't want to impact.
This is actually the preferred area. I think somebody mentioned
it's kind of like on a hill -- was it you -- that it's somewhat on a hill.
These units would kind of cut into the hill on one side, which we think
will be a successful marriage between the building and the structure,
the new structure.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: All right, that's all the detail as
far as I can question.
Page 174
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Could you put up the two plans
side by side. What's there today was one of the first things you put up,
and the new one with the "x"'s.
MR. FERNANDEZ: Does that help?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, thank you.
So you're saying -- you just said to Mr. Schiffer that you would
not be going into that preserve area? This totally does not show that.
MR. FERNANDEZ: No, the --
COMMISSIONER CARON: On the left.
MR. FERNANDEZ: The area within that yellow line is not
preserve. The additional distance is outside -- is beyond that preserve
boundary, or the yellow line. There is some vegetated area on our site
COMMISSIONER CARON: What is the vegetated area within
the yellow line to the south of the pool?
MR. FERNANDEZ: This area right here?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes.
MR. FERNANDEZ: That's part of the Tract B. It's not in
preserve.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Is it part ofa buffering
requirement? What--
MR. FERNANDEZ: No, it's not. There's actually -- there's 50
feet beyond -- between -- you can almost see like a tract layout here.
There's a tract line for these single-family homes. And there's 50 feet.
So there's a setback from the tract line to the actual homes. But there's
approximately 50 feet between there and the yellow line in addition to
that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And how much from the yellow
line to the road?
MR. FERNANDEZ: I'm just going to guess right now, you're
probably looking at an additional 100 feet or so.
Page 175
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is that it?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So what this is telling us is that you're
going to put a new road in and it's going to be closer to the residential
units to the south than the current road. Is that a true statement or not?
MR. FERNANDEZ: At this time we don't know if we're going
to have to move that road or not. What we've shown with those two
"X" boxes is the accommodation of 48 units at a specific size,
extending all the way out there instead of putting it and breaking it
down into two different locations.
So I really can't speak to whether or not it will be necessary. We
haven't gone that far into the project to know what the separation
requirements are going to be between new structure and old structure.
But you do have a 50-foot setback between tracts and an additional 20
feet inside of the yellow line.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Question here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Go ahead, Mr. Schiffer.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Mike, look what you've done to
the pool with this layout. You've essentially put it in that courtyard.
So you're killing the pool here, so you have to rebuild the pool. So
was that the reason why you didn't put it in the other place? That
doesn't make --
MR. FERNANDEZ: We don't know. Again, these were just a
graphic measure of saying that's how big if we were putting all 48
units in that particular area it would take. There have been layouts
that have been done that fully incorporate the existing pool. There's
others that do not. So we haven't settled on a design yet. But what we
have settled on is a general location that will be within 30 feet,
consistent with the master plan. It will either be south of the existing
building, north, or a combination of the two.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: With the detail, this is like
playing Whac-A-Mole, you hit one, it pops up someplace else.
Page 176
December 17,2009
So let's move on from this level of design discussion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I'm still -- and I'm going to go
back to what I told you all when I met with you. You have had 14
years to work on a plan, and you can't tell us if you're going to move
the road or not and where you're going to put these buildings today, 14
years later after spending all the money that they would have spent
with your firm, with the attorneys, with the lawsuits, with the courts,
with the judges? I just find that hard to believe. And it would have
been helpful to know more definitively what you plan to do. You've
got to know that or you wouldn't have spent the kind of money that
got you here today.
MS. SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, we'll have a bit more
conversation with that when Mr. Bouchard gets up. He's not been
involved in this project for 14 years. He became involved with the
club just a few years ago. And so the problem is that when we came
before the Planning Commission the first time, that hearing was
stopped because of the letter from the County Attorney's Office.
That's why we're here with this type of conceptual plan, which is not
unusual in a PUD document, to have conceptual plans and not have all
the detail. And that's the reason why your staff today reviews site
development plans and you don't have those being reviewed by the
Planning Commission, because you start to get into a lot of the weeds
there, and it's not necessary.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And I don't disagree with your
statement, Burt. Just the problem I have is when you walk into a
contested issue, whether it's for or against, it helps to mollify concerns
just to see more. That's where I'm coming from.
MS. SAUNDERS: I will tell you, Mr. Chairman, one of the
things that this commission has been very good at, and you've said this
a couple times during your hearings today, that you like to try to find
solutions and resolve neighborhood issues. And you like to find
compromise.
Page 177
December 17,2009
And I will tell you that Mr. Bouchard has compromised greatly.
Even though he's not been able to meet with some of the opponents,
he has really compromised with himself in the sense that he's reduced
the number of units to 48, which is the bare minimum that will be
necessary to make this club viable. He has agreed to reduce the
coverage, the area coverage to one acre; that includes parking. So five
percent of the tract, to make it clear that this is really a small,
accessory use.
So there's been a lot of, if you will, compromise on his side of the
table. We do have the standards that will guide your professional
staff. And that really is the concept that I think the Planning
Commission needs to look at to make sure that there are going to be
sufficient standards to protect the community. And that's what we
have in here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Well, we'll continue on and see
how much we can learn.
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: I just want to make a comment on
this we've reduced the number of units. You've reduced the number of
units from some conceptual plan that you all had a number of years
ago. However, the density that you had left in this PUD is eaten up by
the 48. So you couldn't go beyond the 48 anyway.
MS. SAUNDERS: Well, that's not completely correct. The
density is determined based on the number of permanent dwelling
units in the Naples Bath and Tennis Club residential community.
These accessory transient lodging units are temporary lodging
facilities and they're not counted as part of that overall density for the
permanent dwelling units. And so there really isn't a number
anywhere in the PUD document in terms of the number of units. It
really becomes a matter of -- quite frankly, it becomes a matter of how
many units can be accommodated. And as Michael Fernandez had
indicated, that number would be significantly drastically higher than
Page 178
December 17,2009
48.
Weare committing to no more than 48 units for a couple of
reasons. Number one, that is the minimal number of units that's
necessary to make this club viable. And Mr. Bouchard will elaborate
on that.
And then number two, with 48 units contained within one acre,
it's clear that this is an accessory use and will not be impactful on the
neighborhood.
And I think you're going to hear from literally dozens of residents
in the Naples Bath and Tennis Club that are going to say to you we
know where this project's going to go, we've lived with this for many,
many years, and we want this Planning Commission and the County
Commission to approve this because we understand two things: One,
that it will not negatively impact our neighborhood; and number two,
this is what is necessary to keep this Naples Bath and Tennis Club, the
recreational facilities viable and thriving in the community. That's
very important for this community.
The book that we handed out, the 420 letters from members and
owners in Naples Bath and Tennis Club, are a testament to how
important this is to the community.
And so the developer, Mr. Bouchard, is building in standards to
make sure the neighborhood is protected. You have that in this
conceptual plan. And your staff will make sure that all of the
technical codes are complied with, if this is approved by the County
Commission and they're able to issue a -- or apply for a site
development plan.
Mr. Chairman, I think with that, I'd like to introduce Mr.
Bouchard. He'll tell you a little bit about how important this is in the
community and how we arrived at 48 units and what his plans are.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you.
MR. BOUCHARD: Hi. I'm Craig Bouchard. I very much
appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.
Page 179
December 17,2009
I'll start off telling you who I am and a little bit about the club,
and then I'll come to address from my perspective all of those
questions that I heard which I didn't quite get quite all the answers, but
I'm going to tell you what I think, as I always do.
And to start, I just heard the word developer. I'm not a real estate
developer. I don't know much about real estate. I'm basically a
businessman, and my roots are in the steel industry.
I purchased the club on -- I'll come to that in a moment -- not to
do something from a profit perspective. I purchased the club basically
to in essence save an institution to the City of Naples and to Collier
County .
You know, this club was born roughly around 1975 and
developed through 1980. At that time there was a two-lane road
through the Everglades going towards its current location.
My father-in-law bought one of the first condominiums in the
community. He brought his 11 kids down to that three-bedroom
condo every year and spent the winters there. So imagine that, if you
want to get into zoning issues. He later on bought a house where he
lives today.
So please don't look at me like a real estate developer. I'm a
small businessman, basically. And as crazy as it sounds, my goal
forever for this facility is simply to break even from a financial
perspective.
When this facility was built, it was recognized nationally as the
best tennis club in the United States.
MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Could you speak a little
louder.
MR. BOUCHARD: I'm sorry, I'll try to do that.
When the facility was built, it was recognized nationally. I think
in Tennis Magazine even, which is the spokes-piece of our industry, as
the best tennis club in the United States.
There was nothing there but the tennis club. And then the
Page 180
December 17,2009
condominiums and the houses were built around it. As you know,
there's roughly 400 condos and 100 homes in there. But the
community itself -- and this is important; sometimes the simplest
things are the most important things. The community itselfs name is
the Naples Bath and Tennis Club. You know, everybody that saw this
thing in 1975 through '80 said, my God, it's the jewel of the southeast,
and they all moved in there. And many of those people are still there,
every morning walking over to the tennis club.
I got involved because one day my wife came to me and said,
Craig, the club I grew up at is in trouble. And I said, okay, honey.
This was back when I could never say no to my wife. It's changed a
little bit in recent years, not that much.
But I said okay, honey, what do you have in mind? She said, I
want you to call the owner and buy it from him, because I think the
place is going to go dark.
I said, you're kidding, it's the fifth largest club in the United
States, even then and now. I think it's the largest clay court tennis
club in the United States. With 38 courts, by the way, no one
mentioned that. Clay is an important word here, because it makes it
the most expensive to maintain of the surfaces, probably even more so
than grass, and certainly hard courts.
And so I did what a good husband did at the time, I picked up the
phone and called J.M. Shapiro and asked in could come and visit
with him. He was the prior -- the owner prior to me. J .M. himself
explained to me that after the first generation of owners, many had
come and gone and all of them had lost a lot of money. In his
company in their years of ownership had lost roughly a million dollars
a year at the facility. And they were through.
And so I said, okay, well, we have to keep the club going. I'm
going to put my family, my brother and myself, we basically are a
small steel company that we are the principals of, but we have other
investors who are family members and friends, and I went out and
Page 181
December 17,2009
asked all of them to contribute cash, and we bought the club from J.M.
We raised $9 million of cash to buy the facility.
And we bought it, and six months later Hurricane Wilma wiped it
out. And Hurricane -- in the case of Hurricane Wilma, the actual
place in all of the Naples area that had the most damage was our club.
All 37 of the 38 tennis courts were destroyed; 75 trees flew through
the air to new locations, two 500-pound water and ice machines flew
through the air more than 20 feet each, and the rain went sideways
through the whole building. Our insurance claim was roughly $3
million. And Zurich, the very large insurance company which
provided our insurance, sent their first person to look at the damage
two years after Hurricane Wilma occurred.
Most of our employees had to quit because we were out of
business and they couldn't do anything for many months. And we just
literally almost cried. And some did.
So we spent the money and we rebuilt the club. And again, you
have to picture, our club is in the middle of this community. It's 20
acres, which is the heart of the Naples Bath and Tennis community.
Our community and our club are not two institutions, they're one
institution. I don't care what anybody says. The community cannot
survive without the club. The real estate values would plummet further
than the 40 percent they've plummeted in the last year.
Our club cannot succeed without the community. More than half
of our members are residents. More than half the residents are up at
the club. It's sort of right in that area somewhere.
Literally the community exists because of the tennis club and
survives and I believe will prosper as we go forward, as long as the
tennis club is an excellent facility.
In those years when it wasn't an excellent facility the
condominium prices fell very dramatically, and the residents there,
many of them who are not members, moved in in those years, because
it was the cheapest place to move in Naples.
Page 182
December 17,2009
We came in and developed and have, today if you went in and
looked at it, one of the most beautiful private clubs in the United
States. It's about commitment. And we were willing to spend that
money.
So now here's some brief history. I want to get to some of these
questions but explain it in the context of the history.
When I talked to J.M. Shapiro, I read about the old lawsuit. By
the way, we've owned less than five years, so I think there were plans,
Mark, to -- that were very distinct and very developed to build a lot of
condominiums, wiping out rows of tennis courts there. And that's what
created the lawsuit 10 years ago, or whatever was that.
There's been tons of plans done. But in any event, before I
bought, you know, we're not dummies, I said gee, I don't want
anything to do with any of that. I've never sued anybody, I haven't
been sued, I don't want anything to do with this. And so I went to the
club before we bought, I called large groups of members and residents
together, and I said look, I'm considering this. I'm happy to bring in
my family and friends as investors and do this. My wife's family will
be very happy and I'll be very happy. My -- you know, my children
play tennis. But I don't want to be involved with this.
And here's the problem. Every owner of this facility has lost a
million dollars a year for nearly two decades. If you go back and talk
to them, they all have the same problem. For a club of this size to
have roughly 400 members, which is what we've had then, now, et
cetera, there isn't enough money in tennis membership to support that
level of a facility . We're not a golf club. There's no 50 or $100,000
initiation fees here. You know, you pluck down 500 bucks or 1,000
bucks, and you come in, you pay a couple hundred bucks, that's it.
And most people say that we're charging too much. You know, we
charge about what it cost to be at The Y at this point.
Okay, so I said guys, here's the plan. And I said this to people
who were on the party that sued the prior owners. I said, I'll do this,
Page 183
December 17, 2009
but this is what it takes. You have to take the membership, which
basically is, you know, 400 mostly senior people who have just been
playing tennis forever and are beautiful people. You've got to make
the club younger by building an academy and stick it right next to the
members. The members play at 8:00, the academy kids go out there at
11 :00, and you keep these courts going.
And because the club has always conducted tennis tournaments
throughout the year -- and the U.S.T.A. is here today I think to talk
about it, we get 3,000 visitors to this facility a year from all over the
United States to this beautiful facility. Their kids come and play
tennis in these tournaments.
And I said, we have to have a place to house guestrooms; think of
it as a bed and breakfast right next to our building that can house
people to come for these tournaments and into the academy.
And I said, look, it's pretty simple. If you can add an academy
with a world class party, you can wipe out half a loss, about a half a
million dollars. If you can build 30 to 50 guest units -- and the
numbers are all, you know, kind of depends, you can't be very specific
on this, but something in that general area -- you can wipe out the
other half of the loss. And if you allow me to do this, I can get the
club to break even and it will survive.
I went around, I had the meetings, we all shook hands and
everybody said Craig, forget that old stuff, we support you. This is
exactly what we need in our community. And so I raised the $9
million and I bought the club.
Okay, now, we've lost $5 million, all right? Because we haven't
had the academy until recently, and we haven't had guestrooms, and
we had Hurricane Wilma, of course, and all kinds of difficult things.
But the plan is still the same plan. And what I did was I flew to
Barcelona, now almost three years ago, a little bit before this was
deferred in the last meeting. And I flew over to Barcelona, Spain, and
I saw the individual named Emilio Sanchez who runs the finest tennis
Page 184
December 17,2009
academy in the world; biggest and best and most successful academy
in Europe.
And I said Emilio -- we had never met, I just called him on his
cell phone, I got it from a friend. I said, Emilio, I want to come and
see you. He said, okay, come on over. I flew over to Barcelona. I
said, we have the finest tennis club in North America. We have a
beautiful membership. These people are so spirited, so supportive.
They're -- you know, it's spectacular. I said, you on the other hand are
full here in Barcelona. He had a club about our size. Why don't you
put your academy in North America, we could become your exclusive
academy in North America. Now you're on two continents. And he's
saying, what's your name again?
But I kept after him. And six months later Emilio Sanchez and I
struck a deal, and he came over and began his academy at the club. It
is one of the finest, finest academies of tennis in North America at this
point. We're off to a great start after two years. We had what I would
define as 200 plus kid weeks this past summer. That's one kid for one
week, come in, train in tennis, eat their meals there, you know, stay
anywhere in Naples that you want to stay. Some stay in the condos.
And then we teach them English or Spanish at the end of the day after
their fitness. The parents love it. The parents come, they stay in
hotels, they bring all that into Naples. And those kids have come from
five continents. And what a fantastic demonstration of Naples,
Florida, for the world.
So this summer we almost broke even. And next summer I think
we will. We have a full-time program where kids also come from
around the world and they stay for nine months to learn tennis. And
Emilio's reputation is fantastic. He's had roughly in the last two years
between a couple -- our first ones in Naples who reached college age
and 14 in Barcelona, 16 consecutive kids get full scholarships to
college because they studied their tennis at Sanchez-Casell. Sixteen
outofl6.
Page 185
December 17, 2009
So now to the survey process. The first time around I said okay,
now we're going to get started with this. This is going to cost a lot of
money to do this. You don't build these rooms -- I don't see, is that
other one here, that other one we were going to bring, or not? I'm
going to show it.
I'm going to show you what my vision of the rooms was when we
got started with this. I did -- I went out into the community and I said,
look, everybody, before I get started and spend all this money to do
this, I have to know the community's behind me. We're now talking
more than three years ago. And what I said and what I meant was I'm
going to let everybody in the community, members, residents, people
that never even walked onto the tennis club, anybody that's here, vote.
You know, vote in the sense of we're going to give you a well,
professional designed question. Here's what I've got in mind. Are you
in favor or would you rather me not do it? And I said I must have 80
percent or I will not go forward. Okay. And I spent a lot of money
just to do that survey. Just doing that's not that easy. And I got
roughly 410 yeses and 13 nos. So holy cow. 80? I should have said
90. Because I got more than 90 percent.
Then the opponents group popped up and started sending around
postcards. There were a number that they got back of the same people
who had said I support this. So that was a little bit odd to me. They
claimed -- I don't remember the number, let's say 100 supporters.
Remember, there's 400 units, maybe two in a place, and there's 100
homes. So possible. And then 30 of the people that he claimed had
supported him wrote letters to the County Commissioners saying no
way are we on your list, take our name out of that. So there's a history
of this process of community support. We have had massive
community support for this project from the start.
Okay, then two years ago we got delayed here. Said hey, we can't
go forward unless there's a declaratory judgment. That old lawsuit
doesn't apply to you. I said, all right, we're going to go for that. We
Page 186
December 17,2009
went through that process. And of course we obtained the declaratory
judgment.
So I started again and I designed a brand new survey, and I went
out to the entire community and allowed everybody to say what they
thought. And I got 418 signatures that said yes. Okay. It's a massive
show of support. People understand that if this tennis club goes away,
this neighborhood will implode in value. It's so important what we're
talking about here. Weare not Grey Oaks, a community I know well,
because I've lived there. We are the Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
When I bought the club, I moved in there for three years, so I know
everybody. I know everybody we're talking about here. I moved in
there with my wife and kids so that I would know exactly what this
community was like. And we're not living in -- this is not a
community like Grey Oaks. The value of the condos and the homes in
this community are extremely important. This community is older,
they're on fixed incomes or pensions or 401 K's. Generally not
working people, the older crowd. They've retired. They're there to
play tennis, that's why they're there.
I can guarantee you this: If our club closes, it will never ever be
a tennis club again. If with all the investment and effort we've put in
this fails, I don't know what it could be in the future, but it won't be a
tennis club. Absolutely guaranteed.
Now, by the way, I forgot one thing. Now I'm going to go to the
present. I am the CEO of the club. I have great respect for what all of
you do, at least from one perspective. One, I've seen your patience
today, which is incredible. But I am an unpaid CEO. You know, I
have a full-time job, that's my steel company. I put in a tremendous
amount of time and effort. I've never taken a penny of compensation
for that. I do it because it's what we need. Carl Sheffield, who is my
partner, and you may hear from him today, is the president of the club.
He's also a Naples resident and a senior and a tennis player. And Carl
has never taken a penny of compensation.
Page 187
December 17, 2009
This is not about profit for us, this is about doing the right thing.
It's also about my family in my case. But at this point I've grown into
this role of my God, in go away, this community's going down. It
just is. And I cannot let that happen.
Now, to the current situation. We started again, we did this
survey. And then there was one question which I could not answer.
The members and residents, in spite of that 400 votes twice, gave me a
question three years ago. Craig, we trust you, we know that this will
work, we like everything we've heard. But look, we've been through
owners before. We've got lots of owners here. We've had a number
of owners over the years. Some of them have been there from the first
day. How can you assure us that this won't turn into some Holiday
Inn with our tennis courts ripped out of here when you're gone? Hey,
you're kind of young but, you know, your plane could go down, or
what if you sell. And that was the only question I could never answer
for these people.
When we got the declaratory judgment, I reached out, said hey,
let's have a meeting, sent e-mails. I was rebuffed in that effort. That's
okay. No problem. It's not personal. I had no one to compromise
with, so I compromised myself. I said look, I'm going to answer that
question. And, you know, lawyers and real estate people are saying,
uh, don't commit more than you can commit.
I go, I know what we want to do here. You know, write this
down. We're going to cap the number of units. They've got to be
within 30 feet of the building where that starts. And, I said, we're not
going to take out any tennis courts. That's what these people are here
for, okay. And tell them let's commit today for us and any future
owner that it's not going to be more than five percent of our property.
Now everybody knows that this is no longer going to be a Holiday Inn
sitting in the middle of38 tennis courts some day.
And I committed that to my members and the residents, and I'm
committing it on paper and I'm willing to do any -- of course all these
Page 188
December 17, 2009
things are before you, so you know I'm committed to it.
But with that, with those compromises, all I can do is build on
one side or the other of the building.
Now, I'd like you to look over here. And this is an artist's
rendering. It cost a lot of money to do this stuff back when they were
done. But, you know, they're telling me you can't do this with fire
zone. You know, I'm not a zoning guy, I don't know anything about
code, I don't anything about any of that stuff. I just want to build
something beautiful. And I will build something beautiful if I'm
allowed to.
And this was the image that I had at the beginning. And so that's
why I want to show it to you. That is our pool. There is nothing being
built -- I'm not moving that road. It's not going to be built on the other
side of the road. I never talked anything about moving the road. Are
you kidding me? Move a road? I'm not moving any roads. We're
going to build these units around our pool.
And what I'd like to do and would only have the money to do if
now I go out and beg my family and friends to put more money in, is
to build about 32 units right here at the pool. That's what I told my
members I was going to do.
Now, down the road, if we're successful I don't think that will get
us all the way to break even, but I think it will get us close. Because
48 units were approved the first time around by the Planning
Commission. Ifwe are successful down the road, and now I'm
guessing we're -- because this is a few years ago, as we sit here today,
even if everything goes well today, down the road if} can add a few
more units at the other end of the building, we've got the ability to
ensure the financial viability of this property.
Okay, remember, there's a restaurant and bar inside. That's what
it is, it's a club. We've got a beautiful swimming pool. This of course
is a redone pool. I don't think it's going to look like that, to be honest,
and I'll tell you why: We've got about 50 people in our club who
Page 189
December 17,2009
swim every day. Our pool is ajunior olympic size swimming pool,
one of the few in Naples. It's very expensive to maintain. And we've
got an older audience, and I keep it at 85 degrees throughout the year.
January, February, March it stays at 85 degrees. And there's 50
people there whose life and their fitness depend upon the swimming
pool. Those people don't play tennis. You know, they don't do any --
they swim. And that's what they do. And they've been doing it for
decades.
And those people came to me and said, Craig, you're taking away
three lanes in our pool. You can't do that. I said, hey, we've got to
make this work. And they said, yeah, but we've been swimming for
decades.
So I went back to the architects, they were working at the time,
and I said guys, we're going to leave the pool the way it is. Now
figure out how to do it. And that's when we got stopped in this
process. And by the way, had already spent well over a half million
dollars to get to this point at that time. Forget all this stuff that's
happened since.
So as close as we can get to that is where I'd like to get. But I
can't get there unless you tell me I can go forward. This club cannot
afford a nickel more of expense unless I know I can get there, right?
But that's a pretty darn good design right there. You know,
something close to that. It's two floors, it's not very high, you know,
two -- it's this and one more on top of it. It's right at the pool. And by
the way, our pool is -- that's a great place to socialize. So this kind of
environment is what I'm after. I'm not after moving roads around.
And if this works, in can put another 10 or 20 units or something on
the other side of the building overlooking tennis courts, that's another
beautiful thing. But man, I hope I'm alive by then.
But I don't want to give it up, because that's what it takes to
ensure this facility will survive. Okay, so I can't talk zoning and I can't
talk all this other stuff, I can just tell you what I'd like to do. My three
Page 190
December 17, 2009
daughters, ages eight, six and four, they play in that tennis academy
up there, you know, and I want them to grow up there like my wife
did, running around on a hill in front of the place and eating their
dinner there and with kids and not getting this trouble. That's what I'm
looking for for my family. I'd like to be the owner of that place
certainly as long as I'm around.
But I can tell you this: We can't write checks for a million
dollars a year like we've been doing. It just -- you know, this is a
different era. Even if I could do that, other people that are investors
and family, they're just like everybody, their 401 K's and their income
all went down the last couple of years. They don't have as much
money as they used to have. I can't say hey, send me another check
this year, we're keeping the club going another year. I can't do it. I
need help. And if you give me help, I will make this again the finest
tennis club in the United States, and this community will prosper.
And if! go away, you know, I'll go away. I'll go back up to
Chicago and I'll live there. My life will be okay. This community's
going to stink. And I truly mean this. This is a really serious thing
we're debating here.
So with that, I'm going to just say one more thing. Just by luck,
because he comes over frequently, later you're going to hear from the
fellow from Barcelona I convinced to come and help me build this.
Emilio Sanchez is here. He's like people that come from five
continents to us, distinguished, talented. He comes here and what does
he see? The finest tennis club in the United States. And I think he
might tell you that when he comes up.
Thank you for your time. I'll answer -- I don't know what the
format is, but I will answer questions.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Does anybody on the Planning
Commission have any questions of Mr. Bouchard?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you.
Page 191
December 17, 2009
MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Give Emilio's
background.
MR. BOUCHARD: In two sentences, Emilio Sanchez was a
professional tennis player on the men's tour. Ranked sixth in the world
in men's tennis, and number one in the world in men's doubles after
McEnroe and Fleming. He built the finest tennis facility. As I said,
he capped on the Spanish Davis Cup team in recent years, they won
the nationals. His sister was Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, number one in
women's tennis after Steffi Graf, and the only individual I've met at
that level in tennis who's also a great business woman as well as a nice
person. So that is my introduction.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: David, did you have something that--
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yes, sir. In speaking to, what
do you call them, some of the dissenters, the people who are against
this, that the academy or the community has a rental placement
service. I mean, in other words, when these kids come they try to find
them -- and a lot of those are condos on the property?
MR. BOUCHARD: Well, it's a simple history. The club has
always had -- the club has always been the administrator of a rental
pool for the community. When I bought the club, we had 40 units in
that rental pool. These are people that live in the community, have a
condo, they go up north, they want to rent it out for a month or two or
whatever. And there's 10 condo associations and they all have
different rules. Some are one-week stay, some are two-week stay,
some are overnight stay. And so the club has run that pool.
When I took it over I found the quality of the units in the pool to
be poor in many cases, not in all cases. And therefore, people would
come down, have a bad experience in Naples and at our club because
they didn't like their condo.
So I weaned that down. We have less than 15 in the pool now.
We do own roughly eight units which we bought at various times,
some we inherited from the owner that we bought from. So we
Page 192
December 17,2009
administrate the pool now of those units, and we put visitors to the
tournaments in a couple -- sometimes a couple of employees we lease
out those units to and they stay there for a year when they first come
to Naples.
Or we put some academy kids in with adults supervising them.
So there might be four kids in a coach or something in a condo. I
don't want to sound like a customer of the county, but we pay 10
percent taxes on that rental revenue, four percent tourist tax and six
percent state tax. And we have remitted $150,000 to the county and to
the state as part of that taxing in recent years. So actually a very good
customer of the county, I believe.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, it was my understanding
there was more than that. And that some of those unit owners can't
even -- with not being rented out now can't even afford their unit. And
it just -- I heard that and I wanted to -- it sounds now like it's not --
MR. BOUCHARD: You have many condominium owners and
people that participate in the pool in the room tonight. I think the
most important thing, when you take people that are not from here,
you want a quality person and you want them to have a good
experience in the condo. And you've got to match that up. And our
job as the administrator of the pool is to then make sure that happens.
If nobody comes to the community, nobody rents the condos, and the
owners don't get any rental revenue.
So the only way they can be happy is to have lots of people
come, play in the tournaments, go to the academy, rent a condo for a
week while their kids are out on the court and things like that.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: So in other words, if you want
your unit rented, rebuild it, clean it up.
MR. BOUCHARD: You would be surprised at how sometimes
the condos go into a state of disrepair over time.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, thank you.
MR. BOUCHARD: Thank you very much.
Page 193
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Burt, just so you know, we will stop at a certain time this
afternoon. Ifwe don't get done because your presentation takes longer
than normal, you will be postponed until sometime in January. So I
don't know what your schedule is needed, but you need to be aware of
that.
MS. SAUNDERS: We will make sure that the public comment
is as brief as possible. I just wanted to make one comment about --
these are illustrative. Ifwe need to put them in the record, I'll get
copies for the Planning Commission. But these are not the site plans. I
just --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's not necessary.
MS. SAUNDERS: All right. Then Mr. Chairman, I have a letter
from one of the residents, Mr. Thad Kirkpatrick. I'm not going to read
it. But he is a supporter, long-time resident in Naples Bath and Tennis
Club and a supporter of that. I'll just give this to the reporter. That
concludes our comments.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh, are there any questions of the
applicant before we go to staff presentation?
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Burt, is Naples Tennis LLC the
same as Tennis Realty, Inc.?
MS. SAUNDERS: No. But let me --
MR. BOUCHARD: I'm sorry, Tennis Realty --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sir, you'll have to come up and use the
microphone. We're on recording, so --
MR. BOUCHARD: This is an easy one, so I'll answer.
Tennis Realty, LLC is a 100 percent subsidiary of Naples Tennis,
LLC. So all it does is it houses the real estate of the company.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there any other questions of
the applicant at this time?
Page 194
December 17, 2009
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you. We'll have staff
presentation.
MS. DESELEM: Good afternoon. For the record, Kay Deselem,
Principal Planner with Zoning staff.
You have in your packet of information a staff report prepared by
staff dated last revised, 11/24/09. It's a 17 -page staff report, beginning
with the property information and request information and geographic
location and project description on Pages 1 and 2. Goes into detail
about the surrounding land use and zoning.
At the bottom of Page 2 shows an aerial photograph. On Page 3,
to reiterate that information. There's a discussion beginning on Page 3,
going on to Page 4 regarding the Growth Management Plan
consistency.
We are recommending that the project be found consistent with
the Growth Management Plan, all aspects of that or all elements.
There is a condition that's proposed by the transportation
planning staff to make this project consistent with the transportation
element of the Growth Management Plan. That is reflected in the
draft ordinance and is acceptable to the petitioner.
Also, on Page 4, the analysis of the project begins. And it
includes environmental review, transportation review, affordable
housing review. And then a more extensive zoning analysis as well.
We also have provided to you the findings of fact in support of
the recommendation. We have PUD findings and rezone findings.
Staff is recommending that this project be determined to be consistent
with the Growth Management Plan, and we are recommending that
you recommend approval of the petition as it's proposed in the draft
ordinance.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, are there questions of staff at this
time?
(No response.)
Page 195
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Kay, I have one.
Does staff concur with I guess the process today, that the
transient lodging uses are an acceptable accessory use on this project?
MS. DESELEM: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Anybody else have any
questions of staff?
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yeah, Ijust wanted to say--
well, don't say it like that, you scare me.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: What am I supposed to call you, long
hair?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Yeah. Okay, I'm catching up to
you.
In the PUD document, and again, this process I've gone over
listening to both sides trying to figure out what happened here. But in
a PUD document dated '73, it says on Section 4, Tract B, recreational
club development. And it's under 4.3.8.3, transient lodging units are
hereby found to be appropriate and compatible accessory of this
private club development.
I'm not going to read anymore, but I'm trying to figure out what
all these darn lawsuits were about. But I'm not the sharpest pencil in
the thing, but it just seems like, you know, it's just not -- I didn't see an
issue. I just don't see an issue.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think you're making a statement,
though. You're not asking her to opine on the legal aspects of this, are
you?
MS. DESELEM: I'm waiting for a question. I haven't heard it
yet.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: No, I was just -- you asked a
question, and I just wanted to say, I read the -- highlighted it and I
didn't find -- actually, I didn't want to get into all the legalities,
because I probably wouldn't understand it anyway. But I just noticed
Page 196
December 17, 2009
it interesting that in '73 and 4 and 5 and '81 that transient lodging units
were acceptable. Then we have all this problem. Okay, thank you.
MS. DESELEM: If I may add one thing: The list that the
petitioner provided on the ELMO, as they call it, showing the
separation distance -- or setback distances, I'm sorry -- that was not
reflected in the ordinance because we did not have that information. If
you look at the existing PUD document, it has setback requirements,
but it only speaks to principal uses. Since this is an accessory use, we
need for -- if you approve that and accept those we need to add those
into the draft ordinance.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
MS. DESELEM: The other items are covered in what we have
now.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You're talking about the ones on the
screen right now, though, right?
MS. DESELEM: Yes. It's 4-A and B.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Anybody else have any
questions of staff?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, Kay.
And Ray, we'll go into public speakers.
MR. BELLOWS: First--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: How many do we have registered?
MR. BELLOWS: About 21.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we've got a couple of ways to
approach this. We ask that you limit your discussion not to be too
redundant. We try to keep it to five minutes. If you're representing a
group and other people in that group are not going to speak, then
obviously -- and you need a little more time, that works.
As you've seen earlier today, we don't cut people off
unnecessarily, but we ask that you kind of move it along. If you do
agree with something that's been said, sometimes the most impactful
Page 197
December 17,2009
statement is the one made with least words.
So with that in mind, move forward.
Ray, if you -- Kay, you have something else?
MS.DESELEM: If I may, please. Michael Fernandez pointed
out something that I missed, and I apologize. That on Page 4 of 5 of
the draft ordinance those setbacks are noted in a different format, but
it does say that they will be the same as principal setbacks. So that's
just a different format that we have. So 4-A and B are included in the
draft ordinance. I was in error.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, so you don't need a -- if this were
to survive, you don't need a stipulation addressing what's in front of us
on the screen?
MS.DESELEM: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you very much.
Okay, Ray, call the speakers.
MR. BELLOWS: First speaker, Doug Booth.
MR. BOOTH: Hello. Thank you. I just want to say first, I've sat
in a lot of county commission meetings, planning meetings around the
state for different things, even in V olusia County where I live. You
guys are the most patient human beings I've ever seen in my life. And
I don't know how you do it.
I want to thank you for having me here. Yeah, I know, I saw a
couple of heads nodding every once in a while, including some of the
people in the room.
I'm Doug Booth. I'm the executive director of the United States
Tennis Association in Florida. And I'm here representing -- I guess
you wanted us to say who we represent. I feel like I represent 800,000
U.S.T.A. members around the United States, and 50,000 of which are
in Florida. And the 30 million people that play tennis as of this year
in the State of Florida.
I t was interesting -- and I'm going to get off of my notes here just
quickly -- listening to Craig. This tennis center, for those who don't
Page 198
December 17,2009
know, was built during the first tennis boom in the United States in the
Seventies and late Eighties. And all of us that are my age remember
that boom, the Chris Evert era, a lot of people like to call it, and one of
our former great champions here in Florida.
And a lot of these tennis clubs were built during this boom. And
then 10 years later they struggled because they were built and people
-- you know, we didn't handle the boom well. I was a young tennis
pro. I didn't handle it well. We didn't teach the next generation of
children appropriately in this industry. We didn't modify the
equipment like baseball did, like basketball did, like soccer. We kept
kids playing with too long a racket on a full 78-foot court.
We've changed all that in the last three years. And because of
that, I have two pieces of literature I brought today.
With that, I'm not sure how this works. This thing is cool, I want
one of these.
You look at the latest number. This is not the U.S.T.A.
participation report. And I've got one of these for each one of you.
This is the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association. Tennis in the
last eight years has grown 43 percent. In the State of Florida, it's
grown more than that. In two of the toughest economic years we all
know about; I'm hearing 40 percent property losses. We have grown
this sport 43 percent. Look at the other sports on there and what they
have done. I mean, I hear you talking about golf sheds? There's a
reason golf sheds and golf courses are having problems. Look at their
growth number. And the only reason they're at 4.3 percent negative is
because they added nine holes played instead of 18.
The next generation doesn't have five hours to play golf. They
have an hour to go out and play tennis and stay healthy, like these
people you see in this room. This is the best lifetime activity you can
play. And you have ajewel, probably the best jewel to do this in the
country. I know in the State of Florida. I've been here in this position
21 years. I have been to Naples Tennis Club many times. You just
Page 1 99
December 17,2009
had 375 of the best women tennis players in this community in
November. Probably you didn't know that because they don't come in
this community and have any impact on your driving and your streets
like Bike Week and the Nascar races in Daytona when you know your
community's inundated. Tennis players come in and what do they do?
They go to your restaurants, they go and eat. They spend money, like
at our Stein-Mart in Daytona went in there.
The other document I have that I can put up there. And all -- the
most important thing in this document is an economic study we did for
Daytona Beach. We built our headquarters in Daytona Beach. We
only have 24 clay courts. Craig, you have 38, right?
MR. BOUCHARD: Thirty seven.
MR. BOOTH: Thirty-seven. We have 24 that we built. Daytona
was smart enough to say we want the economic impact of tennis in our
community. We have the LPGA headquarters, Ladies Professional
Golf Association, and they moved them there when golf was still
doing great. And they wanted us there across the street.
The last page on this is the one you need to look at. One of our
tennis events in this city -- and this is a documented study by the
CVB, Convention Visitors Bureau, and a private company, they came
in and interviewed our tennis players while they were at the event.
And it's $1.1 million. That's not the 12 events we ran last year, that's
one event.
Now, that's 24 courts. Now, I will tell you the honest truth, our
events are so big now we can't run them on 24 courts. That's the
reason we can't afford to lose a 38 -- 37 clay court tennis facility.
Now, Craig kind of mentioned clay is important. Well, it's
important for one reason he mentioned. It's a lot more expensive to
keep up. But I don't know if any of you play tennis, most of you
might, because you look pretty athletic and healthy. But can most of
you still play tennis on hard courts? Will you play on hard courts?
I'm 55 years of age. I know I look a lot younger, but I'm 55, and I
Page 200
December 17,2009
can't play. I have a bad knee now from playing tennis for years as a
college tennis player, as a tennis pro teaching on hard courts. I can't
play on hard anymore. I have to be on clay.
It's crucial for the State of Florida to make sure we have an
inventory of clay tennis courts for the next generation and for our
generation to play on until we just can't hobble out there one time
more. Okay, it's very important.
I had five bullet points in listening to people and going through
some thoughts while I was sitting here today.
This is one of the largest clay tennis facilities in the United
States. I think it's probably the largest, but as soon as I say that,
somebody will say there's one with 39 courts. But I think it's the
largest with 38 courts -- 37.
Our organization had 1,100 applications this year for sanctioned
tournaments. We run 850 right now all over the State of Florida,
sanctioned tennis tournaments for adult seniors. We call it cradle to
grave, okay. We have a sanctioned event for 85-year-olds, we have
had them for 90. We gave two awards this year at our annual meeting
two weeks ago to two 100-year-old individuals that hopped up on the
stage and accepted the awards.
Had 1,100 applications. We had to turn down 300. Why do you
think we did that? Not enough facilities that we felt we could put the
V.S.T.A. brand on, okay.
It's crucial that we keep the 38 courts in our inventory, especially
clay. We don't even have 38 hard. I mean, the largest hard court
facility that I know of that we host events on is near our office now,
Sanlando Park, Seminole County, 24 courts. We're so big on our
events we use all their public courts. There are three separate public
facilities in Seminole. They love us there. We just gave them an
award and they gave us an award because of the impact we have on
their county with our tennis events.
And this is in addition to the 12 we run in Daytona.
Page 201
December 17, 2009
There's not another facility in Collier or Naples that we as the
governing body of tennis will come here and run large tennis events
on. Not one. So if this facility goes away, you're not going to have
375 women from all over the United States in two years -- because
Craig, I think they want to come back. I had more letters after that
event, e-mails from the ladies from Florida that played there and said
you've got to keep this jewel, we love staying in Florida, not going to
Texas and playing on hard courts where they'll go next year. It's gone
on two years. I have a feeling those women spent some money here.
We have to ensure that we have courts in Florida for the next
generation. Public funding of recreational facilities is the first thing
that gets axed when people start cutting funding. I'm living that every
day. I've been talking all over the state for the last two years, you
don't cut the fire, you don't cut police, libraries, roads, you cut
recreation. Why did we retire to Florida? I want to boat ramp my
community. I want golf courses; I play golf. I want tennis courts, I
want soccer fields. And if it gets destroyed and torn out, you're not
going to get another facility like this.
Craig, you know, is absolutely correct, there are no large
facilities. We had to fight and beg to get 24 built in Daytona. I mean,
ifit goes away, it's gone away.
I guess I'll leave you with a comment. As I travel around Florida
and I talk about public funding, even in my hometown of Pensacola,
we're in a -- just a revival of the second boom of tennis, which in my
lifetime I never thought we would have another boom like the
Seventies. I never thought I'd see it again.
That number of 43 percent is going to be blown away in the next
five years, because two years of that have been economically tough
times, and we did not have the equipment we're now introducing to
bring the next generation into the sport. We have short rackets, foam
balls. We have a program called Quick Start where children play on
36-foot courts instead of putting them on the full court.
Page 202
December 17,2009
We put 10,000 rackets just last year in the Dade County schools.
What do you think those kids are going to end up playing? This next
generation of children, guys, are not going to play golf. It's boring.
This next generation of children need constant activity. They won't
play golf. They're going to play tennis, soccer, the other sports. And
you've got ajewel here. Don't let it go away. And I'm here telling
you, the U.S.T.A. needs this facility. We need it in the future. Thank
you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
(Applause.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You were very thorough. Thank you.
MR. BOOTH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ray, next public speaker, please.
MR. BELLOWS: Emilio Sanchez.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: After this speaker, we're going to have
to take a break. Our court reporter's fingers are wearing out, so --
MR. SANCHEZ: Hello. Good afternoon. Thank you for taking
the time to listen to me.
Well, I was supposed to introduce my background, but I think
Craig did better than me.
I come from a tennis family. I am a tennis player, I'm a tennis
fan and I am a tennis lover.
And when I see these facility the first time, I just said to myself,
how here in America the people can do things so well. Because we
build a new facility in Barcelona before that, and we didn't do like this
one is done many years ago.
So this is a dream place to put our academy ahead. And I think
Naples is incredible place, because has all these golf courses, all these
great place, all these great tennis clubs. But it's not -- people maybe in
the States they know. But we -- when Craig told me we are in Naples,
Page 203
December 17, 2009
I thought, oh, you are in Italy. Where is that? No, I didn't have it on
the map. Same as you, many of the people in America, they don't
know where Spain is, so -- but -- so we -- yes, we don't go -- you
know, sports people, we don't study so much. So sometimes we just
put ourselves in difficult situations.
But I come here to Naples and I am amazed how is this city --
how great it is.
And going to what we do, we are an academy that we -- tennis
academy. But our focus is in give education to people. And tennis, I
can speak because I have the experience, I think it's a sport that shows
you or teach you so much values that not many professionals do. And
I think that makes a big difference. And I think that is why all these
people who play tennis for 40 years, they keep playing tennis and they
keep loving the tennis. Because tennis is physical, tennis is mental,
tennis is -- it's spiritual. And it goes into you.
And we sharing this time with all these kids and teaching them
this incredible profession, we know that very few of them they're
going to make it to the top. But we sure that what they learn with the
tennis, they're going to be successful all their lives. Because the values
they get from tennis they are not getting from many sports.
So we are very proud, very proud to be in tennis. And I think
we've done pretty well with what we call the competition and the
success.
We had, as Craig said, every year 100 percent of our students
continue with the tennis under the college system. We had a lot of big
names training with us. And like Murray from England; like
Kuznetsova, past champion; lvanovic, ex number one as well;
Monaco; Muller, and many, many, many big names that they came
through our academy.
And we started this great project here in Naples. And I think we
bring new air, new fresh air to this facility. And we start to do some
work with young people from here, from this place. And we hope that
Page 204
December 17, 2009
we can help all our partners, like the U.S.T.A. or the U.S.P.T.A. I
recently last week did a second course for the U.S.P.T.A., which is the
biggest organization in the states for coaches apart from the U.S.T.A.
And we already gave knowledge from our system to more than 400
coaches here in the U.S. And we hope that between them and their
clubs and what we do in the Naples facility, we can make the next
American champion and we can help American tennis with our
innovative teaching.
And we're going to put our hat -- we have our big commitment,
thanks to the persistence and the work that Craig has done. But also,
we are very glad to be here with all this tennis community, because we
learn every day. And what we going to bring back is that Naples is
going to be on the tennis circuit, but not on the local, in the Florida,
it's going to be in the world tennis circuit.
We bring people from many countries to Barcelona at the
moment. We have more than 3,000 people from all around the world,
and we want to bring them here. And this is going to bring a lot of
revenue, because normally they come for more than a week, the ones
that they come for months or the ones that come for years. So that's a
lot of revenue that is going to come to this Naples city, and we really
think that we can make a difference and put it on the tennis map. And
this is our small contribution.
And we hope that some of these people, because we will need
many more places, but lots of other people on-site on the facility that
gives the best tennis instruction in America has to have a place where
they can stay. And that's why we here for.
I have nothing else to say, just that we're going to put our heart to
put this through and to help this place to grow and to go to the level
that the members and Craig want. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Okay, Cherie', I bet you're --
MR. SANCHEZ: Thank you.
Page 205
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We're fine, thank you.
I bet your hands are real tired. And I would love to see how you
spell some of those names he mentioned that have gone through.
So with that, let's take a break, we'll come back at 4:00 and move
through the public comment.
(Recess.)
(Commissioner Midney is not present.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, everyone, if we could resume our
seats, we will continue on. And I think Burt, did you have something
that you wanted to --
MS. SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I made an announcement for
the people that are here in support of Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
Other than about five or six that are going to spend maybe two
minutes, the rest of them are going to stand up and just say they
support the petition. So--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You want to do that now?
MS. SAUNDERS: Sure.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
Okay, well, who is supporting the petition?
MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: We are.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Who is not?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, that's not -- that's the supporters.
Okay.
Now, will the rest of -- if you're on the list of speakers, and
because you've now been acknowledged in support of that to all of us,
if you don't need to speak, just say you decline and we'll continue on
until we find someone who still wants to speak.
Go ahead, Ray.
MR. BELLOWS: Lee Horn.
MR. HORN: Commissioners, good afternoon. My name's Lee
Horn.
Page 206
December 17,2009
Just by quick introduction, I was on the EAC for three years.
Currently I'm on the Contractor Licensing Board for five plus years.
We had our meeting yesterday. I'm sure you got the same holiday
bonus we did.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah.
MR. HORN: Anyways, really quickly, I've known Craig and
been an employee of his at the club for the past four and a half years, a
little after he bought the club.
And just really briefly, I'd just like to say for from my
interactions personally and as an employee, I've seen that he does care
about his community. He will listen to everyone in the community,
including the dissenters, if they're willing to come speak with him.
And I can say that from personal knowledge and experience.
And one other thing I would just like to quickly mention that
hasn't been brought up because it's not pertinent to this PUD, is Craig's
-- one of his other companies is called Esmark, one of the large steel
companies in the U.S. And they are the sole force that is behind the
Cubs coming to Naples, we hope.
Now, Craig's been working really hard. Gary Price, our city
commissioners, I apologize if I got that wrong, is working with him.
But this is a project you'll hopefully hear in the next year that will
bring 1,000 jobs and $52 million per year in revenue to the county,
proven from the State of Arizona. So this is a man who cares about
the county. He hasn't mentioned it, I just wanted to mention that. If
you guys want to ask him, please do. But--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, you know what, sometimes when
you have a politician and you want his support -- and you're a
politician yourself.
MR. HORN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: One thing you should know is if your
constituents like that other politician. Because by hanging your hat
with him, you could be doing yourself damage. So I would caution
Page 207
December 17, 2009
you on -- how long have you been in Naples?
MR. HORN: I'm a resident of five years of Naples, sir.
Originally from Miami, Florida.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I've been here 32, and I'm not from a big
city like Miami, and I came here because I like the small town
atmosphere.
MR. HORN: So do I, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I'm not sure the Cubs are going to
prevail in that regard. But let's not get --
MR. HORN: That's not either here or there --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- into that issue on--
MR. HORN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- because I can debate with you for an
hour on that.
MR. HORN: No, no, no. My only point, sir, of that was that this
is someone who's trying to bring jobs and revenue to this county.
That's all I was saying, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
MR. HORN: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Next speaker, Ray.
MR. BELLOWS: Bill Busch.
MR. BUSCH: My name is Bill Busch, and I live at 610 Jacana
Circle, at Naples Bath and Tennis. And by now you're probably
thinking that there's nobody that isn't in support of this particular thing
that's come before you today. So I'm here to let you know that there
are those of us who don't think it's a good idea.
The original PUD in 1976, as you all know, did in fact include
the authority to build hotel rooms or transient housing facilities, as it
was called at that time. However, there was a very specific timeline
involved, namely that they had to be done at the time that everything
else in parcel B was being developed.
The developer, for reasons that we don't know, because he never
Page 208
December 17, 2009
left a record, chose not to do that. And he ignored the hotel room issue
and completed everything in parcel B by 1985. So in the court
decision that you've got copies of now, Judge Brousseau's decision in
January of 1997 specifically used the timeline as his reason for
overturning the decision by the Collier County Planning Commission
and said the way the PUD reads today, hotel rooms are not legal.
Now, the more recent court decision of July, 2009 simply said
that the Collier County Commissioners have the authority to rewrite
the PUD and make an illegal activity legal. And so that's all you're
being asked today is to make a recommendation to the County
Commissioners, do you think that they should change the wording of
the PUD to make an illegal activity legal. That's all you're being asked
to do.
Now, in deciding whether to vote for or against that, I would like
to let you know that since January of 1997 when Judge Brousseau's
decision was rendered, at least 48 residential properties at Bath and
Tennis have been purchased, I'm one of those people, for a total of
over $9.9 million. And all of us who did purchase those properties did
so with the guarantee that the court had stated we would never be
faced with this issue of hotel rooms again. And as you also know, that
court decision was validated by going to the appellate court, which
makes it case law.
So from a moral standpoint, if nothing else, you should vote for
denial simply on the grounds that it's not fair to those of you who
bought property after January of'97 and changing the ground rules in
the ninth inning of the ballgame. It just isn't morally right.
Additionally, there's a density intensity issue. Now, our esteemed
lawyer here earlier said that hotel rooms don't have to abide by the
density issue. But we all know that if you have hotel rooms, people
come and spend time in them. And invariably these people are all
going to have automobiles. So since we are already built out at Bath
and Tennis to 3.36 units per acre, and since we are only authorized
Page 209
December 17, 2009
three units per acre, we're already in excess. And furthermore, we are
not eligible for a density bonus. Those are decisions made by the
Collier County Commission.
So that's another thought, that maybe it's not technically part of
the Collier County regulations but it certainly is something that you
need to consider in whether or not you recommend approval or
disapproval.
And in the package that we mailed you, which has photocopies of
postcards, these are the postcards that we photocopied and put in the
package we mailed to you. In addition to that, in my other pocket I
have another stack of post cards that I did not photocopy because
these are the people that did not want their names to be made public
because Craig Bouchard threatens to throw them out of the club ifhe
finds that there's anybody that opposes hotel rooms.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ladies and gentlemen, please, he has a
right to speak, and let him finish.
Sir, you need to address --
MR. BUSCH: As a matter of fact, if you think I'm making that
up, when Joel Singer--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- you need to address yourself to us,
please.
MR. BUSCH: All right.
So all of those postcards add up to 130 people who own 89
properties at Bath and Tennis. So when Craig Bouchard says to you
that everybody is for hotel rooms, he's using a lot of people that don't
own property at Bath and Tennis. As a matter of fact, earlier you
heard the number 418. Well, that's the package you've just been given
earlier in the meeting. I've gone through that package, and the truth of
the matter is, there's only 174 properties at Bath and Tennis that are in
that package, not 418. And so therefore the 80 percent figure that he
used is definitely wrong. Because of the property owners at Bath and
Tennis, only 39 percent of them are club members. So that's all I
Page 210
December 17,2009
have. Thank you for your attention.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Anybody have any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, next public speaker, Ray.
MR. BELLOWS: Yeah, Hank Buchanan.
MR. BUCHANAN: Here's a copy ofa letter that I submitted a
couple of years ago to the County Commissioners, which
unfortunately I didn't get to you beforehand. It's photographs.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Cherie', I'll keep a set for you.
MR. BUCHANAN: Hank Buchanan, 900 Bald Eagle Drive,
Naples Bath and Tennis Club.
In front of you is a letter that I had mailed to the board previous
hearing. It's self-explanatory as to my views and my wife's view of
her support for Mr. Bouchard's petition.
In the photograph that I gave you, presented to you, is our 24,
365-day view of the clubhouse. And as you can see from that
photograph that we are directly impacted by any activities at the
clubhouse. And it's our concern that if this approval does not go
through, that the facilities will disappear and therefore we're not going
to have a view that we are able to enjoy which we have over the last
many years at our home.
If there's any questions, I'd be glad to answer them. And I
appreciate time and effort, because I was on the original EAC
committee and you have a lot more staying power than what I used to
have. So thank you very much for your time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Chester Kauffman.
MR. KAUFFMAN: I'm Chester Kauffman. I live at 1566-C
Oyster Catcher. My wife and I have owned property in Naples Bath
and Tennis for over 20 years, and we were guests there two years
Page 211
December 17,2009
before that.
I stand here to ask your approval of this petition. And my reason
for wanting approval of this petition is if you compare the successful
tennis resorts in the State of Florida, The Colony, Saddlebrook,
Amelia Island and Chris Evert's Academy, they all have one thing that
we don't have. We have better weather, we have more clay courts, but
we do not have on-site lodging. And that is essential for a tennis
resort to be successful. Thank you for your time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Ted Keller.
MR. KELLER: I'm loud, I'm fast, fewer than two minutes.
I am Ted, T-E-D, Keller, K-E-L-L-E-R. My wife and I have
origins that go back almost to the beginnings of the Naples Tennis
Club early days, condo rentals. That yielded into condo ownership,
Oyster Catcher Point. That yielded into home ownership, Oriole
Circle.
We are year rounders here now, and I am a former two-term
president of the board of governors, a volunteer members advisory
group. Two owners. I have worked with very closely all of the
owners for the last 20 years. I'm currently vice president of our
homeowners association. In a previous life I was an executive vice
president corporate officer, fortune 200 New York Stock Exchange
publicly traded company. Today I continue to work by choice. And
this is perhaps the relevant part. I am an owner/manager/investment
property commercial and residential, including construction, and have
some considerable knowledge and insight to the economics, very poor,
the business metrics, very poor, of this tennis club building.
You know the reality. And Craig stated it very well. Craig
Bouchard, Carl Sheffield, their ownership group by far vastly better
owners than we have ever, ever, ever had before. I've worked with
them all. My wife and I, and I speak for many, many residents of the
Page 212
December 17,2009
community and members of the club, support fully. You've been told
and we agree, jewels of Collier County. Thirty-eight courts. These
jewels are at risk. And these jewels could go away. I thank you for
listening.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you. Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Bill Beverly.
MR. BEVERLY: Mr. and Mrs. Commissioners, my name is Bill
Beverly. And all the people in this room and many thousands more
grew up with me at the Naples Bath and Tennis. I've been in Naples,
Florida 30 years. I am still currently the director of member operation
at the Naples Tennis Club, which used to be called Naples Bath and
Tennis. Kim Roswall, Rod Laver, Fred Stolle, you name it, they've all
played with me at the Naples Tennis Club and Resort.
We, the original owners that I was with, sold it in 1990. From
that time I feel personally that the club has kind of faltered and
faltered and faltered.
It is my honor to know Mr. Craig Bouchard. His family, Mr.
Sheffield, his family, all the kids that I used to work with all these
years, and now I'm doing the third generations with some of them.
We need a transient lodging because tennis is the largest selling game
in the United States. Doug Booth, as I travel the country to talk to
people, he is correct, it is no lie, they still play tennis and can play
well. It just so happens that this gentleman said Bill, maybe I will
come back now and see if we can't do something.
In turn, he met one of the greatest academy guys in Emilio
Sanchez. I'm honored with be with him. This is my second
generation. Please, help Mr. Bouchard and the Naples Tennis Club.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Joe Sorrels.
MR. SORRELS: Commissioners, I reside at 108-A Bob-O-Link
Way, and have for in excess of 20 years. And I live 78 yards from the
Page 213
December 17,2009
entrance of the club. And one of the primary arguments of the
opposing group has been that it's going to increase our traffic flow. I
challenge that. Because no one in this room lives closer than I do.
And I have to stand at my back door and look over the privacy hedge
to even see who comes and goes. So that's totally bogus. Those
people can't see the front gate.
And it doesn't impact me in any way. And to their point that it's
going to create more traffic, when we have 300 people at a tournament
-- and we do this often because we are a good facility, we are
international. Craig was very modest. I spent a lot of time a broad,
and it is indeed recognized internationally.
When people play tennis, they come in, they play in the morning,
they go to their room and shower and change and rest and eat, come
back, perhaps somewhere between two and four times every day. If
indeed during a tournament the 350 people that are playing come in,
park their car and stay there all day, it will indeed impact the ingress
and egress on a daily basis profoundly. They just will come and stay,
they won't come and go.
Additionally, if indeed we could get a few more people in our
country with the attitude of Craig Bouchard and his people to step
forward in today's economy, as challenging as it is and be willing to
invest their hard earned money in something as simple as our club, we
all would be better off as American citizens, and we all know it would
definitely have a positive impact on our economy. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Sally Kuralt.
MS. KURAL T: I stood and said that wouldn't respond, but since
hearing --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh, ma'am, you have to use the speaker,
because this has all got to get recorded.
MS. KURAL T: I'm sorry, I hadn't planned to speak because I
Page 214
December 17, 2009
thought I had stood with the group and that would be sufficient. But
hearing Mr. Busch, I decided that if I had an opportunity, I would like
to speak to you.
I have been a member of the tennis club since before it was built.
I am a taxpayer, I'm a homeowner, I volunteer for clubs, tournaments,
and I also try my best to give my time to the Naples and Collier
County communities as a volunteer.
I think that it might be disappointing is the word that I would
choose to those for whom not having guestrooms was an important
factor in the choice of their homes. But it pales in comparison to those
of you who are in that community and can imagine what would be
taken away if the club were to fail.
I have not always supported the building proposals. I do support
this one. I support it 100 percent. And I think that we're doing our
best to be ambassadors for Naples when people come. We have
hospitality information, we send them to restaurants, we do our very
best to be good citizens. And I'm asking you to help us keep our head
above the water. Thanks.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Next speaker, Ray.
MR. BELLOWS: Karl Sheffield.
MR. SHEFFIELD: I respectfully defer to Craig and to Emilio
and other all the others who spoke. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Next one, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Robin Frederick.
MR. FREDERICK: I already -- I defer.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, next one?
MR. BELLOWS: Ken Lance?
MR. LANCE: Thank you, Commissioners. My name is Ken
Lance. My wife and I live at 1673-A Spoonbill Lane. I played tennis
here intermittently since 1978. We've been full-time for three or four
Page 215
December 17, 2009
years. I'm a retired physician and know little about zoning and
construction.
However, couple of points. Craig -- if Craig is a Pied Piper, I'm a
rat. He said things very well, in great detail, which many of us,
including myself, truly believe. We support the petitioner, we hope
that the commissioners will also.
A couple other further comments. One of the arguments against
building the rooms, the transient lodgings, is that it will change the
community. Lord knows it, we need change. The club is too big for
the membership to support. We need more people, we need more
tennis players. I'm 81, I'm here in person with most of the people
here. I'm not going to be playing tennis very much longer. Our group
is fading away. And the future for this club and this community are
strong young tennis players who enjoy the marvelous facilities here.
We truly admire the people in the academy. The students, the
professional staff are really marvelous. Walk around in the afternoon,
and these kids are just knocking the cover off the ball. And the
tournaments and the academy are the future strength and support for
this club that I truly believe.
Finally, I've seen the e-mail reproduction of -- and the actual list
of objectors. The community has supporters and objectors. It's not
quite the Civil War, but there is passion. I'm from New Jersey. We
came to Florida to get away from Hudson County where people are
listed two or three times in the voting list. There are a number of
people who died, there are others who after four years have changed
their mind. I'm confused by the list of the objectors. Thank you for
your time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Omar Bishr.
MR. BISHR: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is
Omar Bishr. I'm a resident of Naples Bath and Tennis. I live at 1001
Page 216
December 17, 2009
Oriole Circle. My wife and I bought in Naples Bath and Tennis in
June of2003. We didn't buy for a tennis center, we bought for three
words, location, location, location. I'm close to schools, I'm close to
the City of Naples, I'm close to all kinds of activities of my children.
I have three young children, age eight through 13. I am worried
about the increased traffic into Naples Bath and Tennis. And I will
cite an example about increased traffic, was when they hosted the
Naples -- the tea party there. You couldn't get in and out of that place.
The buses, the school buses couldn't come in and out. You know, we
don't need that increased traffic. There's one lane in and two lanes out
coming in. I've been -- myself have been the recipient of a head-on
collision while waiting at that light there by a person that's come into
the entrance there.
I've been a business owner in Collier County for 14 years. I'm a
fortune minus 500 company owner, so I'm the opposite of what's
going on here.
I work in Pelican Bay, I work in Windemere, I work in Grey
Oaks, I work in Imperial, all kinds of neighborhoods. And I ask my
clients, and nobody wants a hotel -- nobody would accept a hotel in
their neighborhood.
I think what the club needs, and they've needed it since I've been
in this neighborhood for over six and a half years now, is advertising.
They don't advertise. There's not enough members in the club. I don't
think they're doing enough in advertising. I don't think we need a
hotel in this community. That's all I have to say. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Jill Hill.
MS. HILL: I totally 100 percent agree and hope that you will
allow this to evolve.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
From now on, if you do decline to speak, just say you decline to
Page 217
December 17, 2009
speak. Otherwise you really need to come up to the microphone. This
is a quasi judicial hearing, and the court reporter has to put everything
down in transcript, and it's really important that we get your words if
you say more than I decline.
So go ahead, Ray.
MR. BELLOWS: Norman Anderson.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Anderson, are you here?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No.
MR. BELLOWS: Jim Davis?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It wasn't Bruce Anderson you called
out, was it?
MR. BELLOWS: No, Norman.
MR. DAVIS: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Merry
Christmas. Thanks for your patience today.
My name is Jim Davis. I live at 219-A Bob-O-Link Way at the
Naples Bath and Tennis Club. My wife and I bought our condo in
March of 1977. My membership at the Naples Bath and Tennis Club
number was three. I'm no longer a member. At the time I bought,
Will McFarland and Eric Kohl were the developers of the Bath and
Tennis Club. At that time they had permission to expand and build a
hotel. Will McFarland told me they had built the club out and that
they didn't want to build a club -- I mean a hotel. All they wanted
were condos and homes. Consecutive developers since then and
owners have wanted to build hotels.
Naples Bath and Tennis Club is a 30-year-old community with
noncommercial by 87 percent. It's a residential community with a
privately owned tennis club. Owners at the Naples Bath and Tennis
Club property are not required to be members of the club.
Burt Saunders is a well respected -- he's a very good politician
and he's a good lawyer. I like his figure of over 400 what he threw out
at you, but he failed to tell you whether they were owners or members
Page 218
December 17,2009
or both.
I happen to be part of a group of over 100 that are opposed to
this. You have the list in front of you I'm sure by this time, plus 33
others who are opposed because they don't want to get involved with
problems with friends and with the club.
Tennis Realty is asking for a PUD change, and by doing so
circumventing Judge Brousseau's decision in 1996. And again Mr.
Saunders failed to tell you enforced by the Second Court of Appeals.
I don't know how you overturn an appeals court decision -- I'm not a
lawyer, I was a football coach, so I don't know about that -- except by
something a court higher than the appeals court. And to this very
second, that decision stands.
The county says that the application meets all of the
requirements. I don't believe that the county took into effect or looked
very carefully at safety and security concerns associated with a
48-room hotel in a residential community. I don't think those were
addressed at all.
Mr. Bouchard sent out a memo May 7th, '07 to members of the
club and community residents in which he says he wants 25 to 32
hotel rooms. In his memo to members and supporters of January 10th,
'08, he says only 32 rooms. Yet he's asking for 48. And I think Mr.
Fernandez inferred that they have -- might do 50 or more when they
want to do the other side of the club. I would be really highly
offended.
Mr. Bouchard in the past has threatened to close the club ifhe
fails. Well, today it was a little bit different. He said it might not
survive. Who knows? He has used figures of his own, why real estate
values will tumble ifthere's no hotel.
Who are the people giving him this information? I certainly don't
know. In my opinion, better than 50 percent of our current owners did
not buy at the Naples Bath and Tennis Club because of Craig's tennis
club. Please don't vote to overturn or to push forward to the County
Page 219
December 17,2009
Commission your permission or your approval of this PUD change.
The long-standing decisions of the circuit court and the appeals court
certainly have some bearing.
And I don't know how this will all come out, even after the
County Commission reacts, ifthey decide not to change the PUD.
The old ruling was to deny a hotel, and I hope you'll stick by it.
My final thought is how would you like to have a hotel in your
backyard? Which it will be in mine. Thank you for your attention.
Appreciate it, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Jay Wolff.
MR. WOLFF: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Thank you for
the opportunity to speak to you.
I have been at the Naples Bath and Tennis Club since 1987. I
bought my home there in 1993. I love the Bath and Tennis Club, and I
want it to survive. But I think its survival has to be based on a legal
point. I was president of one of the homeowner association for seven
years a decade ago, and I was president of the commons association
when Judge Brousseau's decision was passed down. Judge Brousseau
made his decision because our original PUD states that transient
housing could only be constructed prior to the completion and sale of
the last could not minute yes, ma'am. units by the developer. That was
in 1986. He decided that the appeal that was made in 1997 was 11
years late.
That PUD defines our community. But it does more than define
our community, it protects the community as well. It protects the
tennis club more than any person's intention, because that PUD states
that the property on which those 38 tennis courts stand must remain a
recreational tennis facility with no other possible use.
I strongly fear that if you willingly amend the PUD, you will
have created a precedent that weakens it.
Page 220
December 17, 2009
Judge Brousseau's decision made it clear that the PUD did not
allow transient housing, which is why the current ownership is not
applying for transient housing, they're applying for a change in the
PUD. That PUD would be changed by their appeal and that would rip
a hole in the umbrella of protection that that PUD has placed over the
more than 500 resident owners in our community. That hole will
never go away, it will just get larger.
Mr. Brousseau is not immortal. This commission is not
immortal, regardless of how well his intentions might be, or for that
matter what the intentions might be today of this Commission.
Another owner -- and I've been through a number of owners
down through the years. Another owner tomorrow or next year or five
years from now might very well ask for another amendment, not for a
hotel, not for a few transient units, but for something much less
amenable. And with precedent behind him, he might just get it.
The club can be preserved by the PUD as it stands now because
the PUD specifies it must be a tennis club. That PUD is powerful, that
PUD is the umbrella under which every homeowner in that association
or in that community bought their property.
I urge you to allow that PUD to stand. If Mr. Bouchard is honest
in his desire to save the club, I appeal to him that his steps must be
within the provisions of that PUD. Weakening the PUD leaves the
community open to moves by future owners or for that matter by
individuals today who may change their mind or find their life
situation changed in the future which will severely undercut or destroy
that club. The public PUD is our protection, and I urge you to let it
stand. This appeal should not be approved. Thank you all very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Sir? Sir, I've got a question for
you. You said that transient lodge units could not be constructed prior
to?
Page 221
December 17, 2009
MR. WOLFF: No, what I said was in the PUD it specifies that
transient housing units are approved as long as their construction is
completed. Before the sale of the last condominium units.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, I have scanned this thing
three or four times. I cannot find that --
MR. WOLFF: It also states that the completion of those units
must be completed at the same time that the completion of the club
facilities is done, and that was completed by 1986. That is why Judge
Brousseau made his ruling.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay, well, he's a lot brighter
than I am. I can't --
MR. WOLFF: Well, I have a copy of the PUD at home and I've
gone over it. I went over it in 1986 because I was very much involved
in that negotiation, and that's the basis for Judge Brousseau's decision.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Okay. Again, I couldn't find it
there. And I don't --
MR. WOLFF: Thank you all.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Ray, next speaker?
MR. BELLOWS: Richard McGill.
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, next speaker?
MR. BELLOWS: John Murphy.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murphy?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No.
Next one?
MR. BELLOWS: Joel Singer.
MR. SINGER: To address the last statement--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You need to identify yourself for the
record.
MR. SINGER: I'm sorry, Joel Singer. I live at 620 Jacana Circle
Page 222
December 17,2009
in Naples Bath and Tennis. And I'm a member of the N.B.T.C.
Concerned Property Owners, a group in solid opposition to the
petition.
You raised a good question, because the PUD reads that the club
needs to be substantially completed before the beginning of any
residential units. And his statement was actually saying isn't it absurd
that the club hasn't been finished in the last 30 years. That's what it's
all about. The PUD reads a -- I'll get to that in a minute.
I had five minutes and forty seconds of material, so I better get
gomg.
Both the tennis club and the residential areas are accessed
through a common entrance, and roads lead freely from one to the
other with no physical barriers. Ours is a small development with a
residential portion immediately adjacent to the club on all sides. I
hope everybody's visited the community.
The big issue is whether it's okay to force a busy resort hotel
lifestyle on to a small quiet residential community that's been that way
for more than 30 years. This attempt to build a short-stay transient
hotel is the latest in a series of efforts by the independently run tennis
facility to add commercial elements on the grounds. These include an
attempt to open a rooming house in a residential portion of the
community, which is strictly against our condominium bylaws.
When they changed the name of a previously private club,
previously private club, to Naples Tennis Club and Resort, we could
see what was coming.
With the addition of a hotel, there would be justification to
support the resort lifestyle, including the increased running of special
events like parties and competitions of various kinds. Those events
would likely require somebody to be on a P A system or playing
amplified music to pump up the participants. When these kinds of
amplified events have been conducted in the past, the entirety of our
very small development has had to tolerate the unwanted sound.
Page 223
December 17, 2009
Now, I ask you, how would you like this to happen where you
live? Before Naples Bath and Tennis was constructed, our PUD
specified phased sequential construction, with the tennis club to be
completed before the start of the residential areas. That's why the
petitioner now wants this PUD modification to read notwithstanding
any other timing or completion provision for phased development
plans set forth elsewhere in this PUD ordinance. He's referring
specifically to that wording.
Three decades ago when our development was built without a
transient lodging facility, the character, style and quality of life of our
community was defined and finalized. Then following the circuit
court decision to ban transient housing only 12 years ago, millions of
dollars of residential real estate transactions have been conducted at
N.B.T.C., secure in the knowledge that this issue had been put to rest.
Now we're told by the sheriffs department that the residential
communities which allow the most short-stay rentals are the ones with
the highest incidents of crime. Now, does the petitioner need up to 48
more rental rooms? Condo owners in the two of our 10 associations
which do allow short-stay rental stays make their apartments available
in a shared revenue pool managed by the club.
According to the latest issue of the Naples Chamber of
Commerce Magazine information supplied by Naples Tennis Club and
Resort, the club already has 47 rooms to use for guests. So where is
the justification for an additional 48 rooms built expressly for transient
use?
Mr. Bouchard claims the club is use losing money every year,
and to make it financially viable he must have these hotel rooms for
added revenue. Otherwise he threatens to close the club in the very
future. Well, you know, this club's been open for 30 years, for God's
sakes. Ifhe can't make a go of it, he better do something else.
The numbers don't work. In the January 10th, 2008 letter to our
community, Mr. Bouchard stated he expects to spend $5 million to
Page 224
December 17, 2009
build the facility and hopes to take in $500,000 a year for rentals. So
not counting the cost of maintenance, insurance, utilities, taxes and
housekeeping, it would be a minimum of 10 years after completion of
the new building before he breaks even. Five million dollars divided
by 500,000 is 10 years. How can this plan be viewed as the near-term
solution to the club's current financial difficulties?
About density and intensity. Our community's original allowable
density was four units per acre. As Airport Road became busier, we
were deemed to be in a traffic congestion area, reducing eligible
density to three. We are already built out at 3.36 units per acre.
Adding housing of any kind on the grounds at this time would put it
further -- in further violation of the Future Land Use Element. The
idea that a transient housing facility is considered to be an accessory
use in our situation doesn't change the fact that more people will be
staying on the grounds than before.
Now, we know that Commissioner Strain equates hotel rooms
with increased density. On March 15th, 2007, during the Naples
Grande hearing, Commissioner Strain said, I'm concerned because the
whole premise here is you're taking out the hotels which is reducing
density and saving traffic, and now it looks like you're putting it all
back in.
I got that on tape.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Good.
MR. SINGER: Added density and intensity by people who do
not have an equity stake in our community invites crime, traffic
accidents, trash and excessive noise and would decrease the quality of
life we now enjoy.
Further, it would make our development less attractive to home
buyers and have a negative impact on our property values.
Lastly, there is a 26-point document development entitled criteria
for PUD rezones. There are several points governing whether this
petition would survive the test of meeting public purposes. If no other
Page 225
December 17,2009
consideration is made, the specific point that asks whether the
proposed change will constitute a grant of special privilege to an
individual owner as contrasted with the public welfare, in this case our
residential property owners, should lead you to reject the petition.
I strongly urge you to recommend against it to the county.
Now, there were people booing -- one little nugget. People
booing when Mr. Busch said that Mr. Bouchard threatened to throw
people out of the club if they made their name publicly known that
they oppose hotel rooms.
My wife was a member of the club. She was thrown out simply
because her last name was the same as mine. And then we tried to get
our membership fee back, and they resisted, and I had to threaten them
to go to the police because we had prepaid for services and they were
now denying us services. So he's not the great neighbor that
everybody thinks he is. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Next speaker, Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: No other speakers.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Does anybody else in the audience wish
to speak on this matter?
MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: I do.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ma'am, come on up and use the
microphone and identify yourself, please.
MS. BRODELL: Yes, I will, thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Rae Brodell. I live at 1380
Bald Eagle Drive, which is a home. Bald Eagle Drive is the main
thoroughfare around Naples Tennis Club. This point is important,
although some people may chuckle, I walk a dog around this circle
four times a day, once early in the morning and once very late at night.
I have never encountered any difficult traffic, even when we had 335
women here for the tournament, when we had 80 some coaches here
for the tennis bit. I have never had a problem. None.
Page 226
December 17, 2009
As far as these people being thrown out of the club, I've been a
member of this club -- they're talking three decades. Three decades
ago I had black hair and was a young chick. I'm not anymore, but I
have been a member of this club for a very, very, very long time. We
first lived on Spoonbill Lane, then we bought a home on Bald Eagle
Drive.
To tell you that we are not thrilled to death would be an untruth.
We love everything about Naples Tennis Club, Naples Bath and
Tennis Club. We feel safe there, even though we're living on Bald
Eagle Drive. We have wonderful neighbors, wonderful
neighborhoods. Wonderful -- well, I can't do the tennis facilities
anymore, but they are wonderful. The kids who come to this camp are
sweet and lovely and wave and are effervescent. What can I tell you?
Anyone who is against this recommendation to have hotel rooms or
motel rooms or whatever you'd like to call them, living facilities, is
wrong. Thirty years ago, maybe not. Now, yes. It is the thing to do.
Progress is what we're all about. Thank you so very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, ma'am.
Okay, is there anybody else in the audience that wishes to speak
to us?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, please keep it down.
Someone from the applicant's side has a 10-minute rebuttal, if
they would so choose.
MS. SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I'm certainly not going to take
10 minutes. I will tell you that in the handout that we gave you for the
survey, it's got a breakdown of the members that are residents, 245
members are residents, members that are not residents, 60. Residents
that are not members but residents, 102. So you have that breakdown
in here in terms of the number of property owners that are in this
survey. And it's a huge number.
The other issue in terms of your legal authority to do this, I think
Page 227
December 17,2009
the County Attorney will agree that there is no legal impediment to
you proceeding with this petition. I think you've heard from the
community, there is overwhelming support for this, it's important for
the community, and I would ask for your positive vote. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Okay, with that we will close the public hearing and have a
discussion or a motion or both. Does anybody have any comments?
Mr. Schiffer, then Mr. Wolfley.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah, and my comments are
really, you know, just a discussion. I don't want to make a motion just
yet. But other than the transportation issue, if I understand this, we
have two things to do: One is do we want to remove the fact that the
design for this facility would come back to the Planning Commission
in a public hearing, and then the other issue is establishing parameters
for which they can build that; is that correct?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think it's actually one in the same. We
do one, we do the other. But I don't think we're going to vote on them
separately. The only way one is accomplished is by enacting the
other, I would think.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. I mean, I am totally in
favor of the transient housing and the establishment of some of the
rules. Ifwe're going to do it, let's go through and see why some of
them are there.
What I kind of still favor, though, is bringing back the design
before the Planning Commission. At least that would give the
neighbors a chance to have any comments or concerns they have on
the placement of it.
You know, I come from District 2 where we've had some, you
know, touchy projects, and they've gone into staff and staff has
reviewed it. And all due respect, Ray, you know the projects and you
know that they get tangled up in controversy where people have
missed some of the intent, some of the things the neighbors thought
Page 228
December 17,2009
they were going to get didn't happen, things came out of nowhere that
weren't predictable at the time of the hearing at this level, and, you
know, there's been controversy in the neighborhood.
So, I mean, I would be in favor of keeping the fact that it comes
back to a public hearing, to review the design, and then -- and if we
want to we can establish some parameters and go through why they're
there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, before we -- I don't --let's see
where that goes first.
Anybody else have any comment?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Other than me?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, Brad just put out a statement. I
just thought if you were -- does anybody -- are we thinking in his
manner? Because what he's suggesting is that we accept the standards
that have been offered but establish more standards for review to have
them come back for an SDP review at this commission. Is that a fair
statement?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah, but you don't have to call
it the SOP review. But, you know, just exactly what the PUD states is
that it -- the design of the transient. Obviously back then they were
sensitive solely about the transient housing. I think that sensitivity
still exists. Ifthey could come back through a public hearing, then the
neighbors could see.
We've had -- you know, for example, Mr. Bouchard states we're
not moving roads, we're not doing that. Yet the architect or -- Mike's
the engineer, I guess, he's not the architect -- is showing us a drawing
where they move the roads. So, you know, even amongst themselves
today they're not sure as to what they're doing.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I guess I'll express myself then.
First of all, I think that the wrong forum for any SDP review is
this Planning Commission. Period. Weare not trained in the details
of engineering and architecture and design that the county staff is.
Page 229
December 17,2009
And it takes half a dozen departments in the county to review an SOP.
Ifwe open that up to a public process, we're going to get a lot of
information that is going to take a lot of time to review and get us
nowhere. The standards that are being presented today seek to limit
the design to two stories to within a certain distance from a building to
within certain locations. The discrepancy between the plan we saw
and what you just mentioned and the location of the road, the
applicant has volunteered to say that he will not relocate the road to fit
any transitional units. That can be taken care of an additional standard
(sic).
Now, barring that, I still-- anywhere we go with an SDP review,
I'm not in favor of that. That gets too much -- look how much we
spent today just trying to get some next changes to a PUD.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Let me clarify myself. I don't
want to do an SOP review. I never said that. What I'm stating in there
to discusses what it is they want to bring before the Planning
Commission to do, which is the number of units, the square footage,
the building design, landscaping and parking. Just in the design phase.
Obviously that's not a complete SOP review and I don't think I've ever
mentioned that we want to do an SDP review.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, we were assigned a
responsibility to do something like an SOP review by the commission
with regard to rather tall buildings, and we spent a lot of time
preparing for that. I can't remember the name --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It was a Burt Harris claim on the
Cocohatchee, and that was an attempt to settle it out of court and that's
what we were --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And I don't know, I spent a lot
of time reading and learning and performing and I don't think we
actually ever really got to deal with the SDP issues, and I don't think
that I would have been effective in it. All I'm saying is for -- and I
Page 230
December 17, 2009
haven't heard a thing in contrast to -- I haven't heard a thing about gee,
we're not crazy about the structure or we really want to know what the
structure is. I would not -- without taking issue, I would not want to
go venture into that area.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think for the matter -- Brad did clarify
after I made my comments that he didn't mean SOP review. I'm not
sure what -- what he's saying is we'd have to define another type of
review, I guess, and establish --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: All's I'm saying is it would just
come through here for a public hearing. We have looked at designs of
things and had public hearings without the level of detail of an SOP.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Burt, did you want to contribute
something?
MS. SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, if I could just simply add, you
know, we're putting development standards criteria into this
ordinance.
Now, in addition to that, you have setbacks, you have parking
requirements, you have certain code requirements. We're going to
comply with all that. That's part of the SDP process. To bring that
back to you is just simply looking at the codes and seeing if we're
complying with the codes. That's what your staffs going to do. That's
why you don't do SDP reviews anymore.
So I would reject to the thought of having a public hearing on
some type of SOP review, even though it's not quite an SOP review.
Because that's going to take place. You've got codes in place to
ensure that those standards are built in. So I don't think it's necessary.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But here's the reason why, is
that the staff review is not a public review. The neighborhood that is
concerned about how this is designed does not have any options on
that. In a public hearing, which a Planning Commission can review,
that's the only reason, just to bring it into the public light prior to
going into the SOP process.
Page 231
December 17, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Well, I think maybe to get to the
-- get to a point where we can move forward, Mr. Schiffer is
suggesting that we do some kind of further review of this besides what
we've done today, after we vote today. Is that going to carry the
majority of this board? I for one don't see it. Mr. Murray is shaking
his head, Mr. Wolfley, Ms. Homiak. Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: I don't think it's going to carry the
board, so --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Let's go on and have another discussion
about any other issue then.
Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I'm prepared to make a motion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, let's make sure we're done with
discussion.
Mr. Wolfley?
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: There were some statements
made about traffic. I feel that the --
THE COURT REPORTER: Mr. Wolfley, could you get on the
microphone.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Oh, Geez, and I'm the one
always complaining.
I feel that if the transient units are built, there will be less traffic,
not more, because they'll be staying on the property. So I never did
get that part of it, or understand it.
And I think it's also unfortunate that the -- some of the dissenters
that I spoke to have not taken the time to meet with Mr. Bouchard.
And, boy, that's critical. You know, if you've got an issue with
somebody, get up and see them. Talk to them. Find out, maybe it will
change your mind, maybe it will change his mind. You know, that's
unfortunate that didn't happen.
I did, by the way, for one of you, sir, I did find the section about
the time line of the construction, and that's why we're here.
Page 232
December 17, 2009
But due to -- I didn't finish my thought, so that's all. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Vigliotti, then Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yeah, I just want to add one
thing. In my disclosures, in addition to Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Saunders, I
did speak to Mr. Davis by phone. I didn't want to let that detail slip
by.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray, did you have any
discussion?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I'm prepared to make a motion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else have any discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I would -- in consideration of all
the facts and factors, I am recommending we forward to the Collier
County Board of Commissioners PUDA-PL-2009-781, the Naples
Bath and Tennis Club planned unit development. I recommend
approval.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, will the -- is that recommending
approval subject to the -- not only the standards that were in the
ordinance that we've got in front of us but also to the fact that the
applicant volunteered not to relocate the road to fit transitional units?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yes. He volunteered it. I
assume that's a good faith offering and we'll go with that.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: The second agrees.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Second agrees.
Any discussion on the motion?
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yes, I will not be voting for the
motion. I think that Judge Brousseau's order was perfectly clear. I
think the PUD is perfectly clear. And I would cite not only 2.6 and 4.6
in that regard, but also the statement of intent, and that's the net result
Page 233
December 17, 2009
of the entire venture will be an exclusive residential community of
high quality. I think that what has morphed over the years has become
a highly commercial operation as opposed to a private tennis club.
When Mr. Bouchard bought into this club, it was the understand
-- with the understanding of the Judge's order, because that happened
prior to his purchase of it. And so I will not support the motion. He
knew what he was getting into.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: I endorse Donna Caron's
comments and also add to it that I don't think it's right or in the public
welfare to enable someone to buy some property when they're
dependent on such a thing as will there be hotel rooms or not and then
change it after the judge has decided it's illegal.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I have a question with regard to
that, because that keeps on surfacing. I am under the distinct
impression, otherwise I should never have made a motion for
approval, that the encumbrances that was once in place under Judge
Brousseau has been removed. That being the case, I made a motion in
positive. So if that's the case, I would like it reaffirmed, if you would,
SIr.
MR. KLATZKOW: That is the case. As you remember, when
this came here the first time I said you can't vote on it. And now you
can.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That's what I thought.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. And I will be supporting the
motion in spite of some of the disagreement I have with the comments
made by the applicant. So I'm not buying into everything that we
were told today, but I think that the text of this change protects the
community in the style in which this is to be done. Yes, it is density,
but I think the traffic considerations that are being added take care of
that. So therefore, I'll support it.
Page 234
December 17, 2009
And with the trouble that clubs are getting into across this county
right now and the homeowners are going to have to foot the bills if
they're not there, I think this is a minor element to add to make it come
out right.
So with that, all those in favor -- I think we'll do the hand thing
again -- signify by saying aye and raising your hand.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
All those opposed?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So the motion carries 6-2.
MS. SAUNDERS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ray, I think that takes us to--
there's no old business.
I think public comment's been had.
And we have one other announcement to make. Everybody,
please, have a very Merry Christmas. Thank you.
Is there a motion to adjourn?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Seconded by Mr. Wolfley. All in
favor?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER WOLFLEY: Aye.
Page 235
December 17,2009
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 5 :08 p.m.
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.
Page 236