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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 10 02 Neighborhood Meeting Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING OCTOBER 2, 2006 CALL TO ORDER The Neighborhood Meeting of Monday, October 2, 2006 of the City Commission was called to Order by Mayor John F. Bush at 6:31 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708). Roll Call: Mayor John F. Bush, present Deputy Mayor Michael S. Blake, arrived at 6:37 p.m. Commissioner Robert S. Miller, present Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore, present Commissioner Sally McGinnis, present Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs, present City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, absent City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, arrived at 6:41 p.m. A moment of silence was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. INFORMATIONAL AGENDA INFORMATIONAL 500. Office Of The City Manager Discussion Of Seminole County's Jetta Point Park Proposal. Ms. Abra Horne, Alep, Senior Planner 3, PBS&J, 482 South Keller Road, Orlando, Florida: introduced those attending from Seminole County and PBS&J and spoke on the Jetta Park Proposal. Deputy Mayor Michael S. Blake arrived at 6:37 p.m. Mr. Dave Larsen, Planner Manager, PBS&J, 482 South Keller Road, Orlando, Florida: said, "The site has tremendous existing wetlands and tree canopy. Our goal is to try and preserve all of that, if we can. We also wanted to minimize vehicular adjacency to some of the residential areas. We felt like we could reorganize that Plan and move those areas away from residential areas. We also wanted to establish natural buffers; really creating a buffer between the park and adjacent residential." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 2 OF 11 City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese arrived at 6: 41 p. m. Mr. Larsen said, "Some of the setbacks that are proposed: certainly ten foot (10') along the fence line here on the [State Road] 417; ten foot (10') along the Cross Seminole Trail. A question came up about the operating hours for the park. It's 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., seven (7) days a week. And the site will be secured appropriately here at the main entrance. Parking that's proposed is 500 spaces located along [State Road] 417. And we anticipate that Saturday will be the peak usage time for those spaces. The ball field lighting - all fields are proposed to be lighted." Mr. Larsen added, "Both fields will be metered separately and lighted independently meaning if one field is not being used, those lights will be turned off. Certainly the most important factor is here, is that all the lighting proposed is cut-off lighting. Meaning that none of the light will over spill from the edge of the fields. And we have an expert here that can go through some of those details with you a little bit later. But the lighting proposed on the fields is between thirty (30) and - fifty foot (50') candles. Some of the setbacks from the closest parking area to residential is approximately 440 feet from the nearest resident, and the ball fields are about 160 feet from the nearest residence; and again a landscape buffer is proposed to shield residents from views and noise." Ms. Marilyn D. (Kastory) Dickenson, 140 Peregrine Court, Winter Springs, Florida: spoke of a ditch that backs up to the Trail, that most of the time has water in it, and believes it is a safety concern. Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs asked, "Regarding the children's playground, will it include features to accommodate handicapped or physically challenged children?" Mr. Larsen stated, "Yes." Commissioner Krebs then inquired, "What would that be?" Replying, Mr. Larsen explained, "We're going to follow all of the National and State guidelines for ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) facilities." Continuing, Mr. Larsen pointed out, "All of our facilities are designed for ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliance which means that you integrate challenged children and give them the ability to integrate with other individuals." Mr. Bill Christie, 3520 Wild Eagle Run, Oviedo, Florida: spoke of park not being built and asked if the lighting would be the same and if the lights would go off at 10:00 p.m. Mr. Jon Bean, 142 Peregrine Court, Winter Springs, Florida: asked where the boundaries of the park will be and asked for details on the berm. Discussion. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 3 OF 11 Mr. Brian Lewis, 673 Saranac Drive, Winter Springs, Florida: asked if there were plans for a public address system for the ball parks. Mr. Joe Gasparini, Parks and Recreation Manager, Seminole County, 1101 East First Street, Sanford, Florida: addressed public address systems and confirmed that there would be some in the proposed park. Mr. Douglas Hamilton, 126 Peregrine Court, Winter Springs, Florida: asked whether Seminole County or City of Winter Springs would be building the park. Commissioner Randy Morris, Seminole County, 1101 East First Street, Sanford, Florida: addressed those in attendance and noted, "Soldier's Creek Park is going to get a major rebuild too. And Soldier's Creek, if you all don't know, is just outside of Winter Springs' border. We offered to have it annexed into the City of Winter Springs, if they'd like it from an annexation basis even though we'd still maintain it." County Commissioner Morris continued, "So this is Phase 1 of a major park project. So, the original 4.3 million dollar ($4,300,000.00) investment, this park here is a ten million dollar ($10,000,000.00) minimum investment, if we build this park. It'll cost ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00). The County is paying for it. The County is maintaining it. The City has not chosen to participate with us on the maintenance." Discussion. Continuing, County Commissioner Morris remarked, "So the decision for the City of Winter Springs, of which, and understand, under no circumstances is the County wanting to try to force this through. It has to be approved by the City and the Use has to be approved by the City; the plan has to be approved by the City. But there's a couple of things: The County wants these elements in the park. It has no reason to build if it doesn't put the elements in the park. The County, the Commission would be willing to sell the land if that were the case." Furthermore, County Commissioner Morris noted, "A park would add to your quality of life. We'll do everything with the lighting that we can do." County Commissioner Morris then stated, "The City is to determine whether in their long-range planning, do they want to use this as more tax base or do they want to use it as an amenity? Does the City have an ability to acquire some project like this? Does it want to have the financial capability to acquire additional parks particularly on the eastern end of the City, where you expanded to; of which you're going to have substantial population across the street on the north side of [State Road] 434 and indeed a little bit to the east of - [State Road] 417. And then too, at that time, would you also have the where-with-all to build a park? CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE4 0F 11 Second thing is, but the decision you have to make is, is this something that you really want for tax base, for commercial tax base? It is a - very nice comer, near a ramp. It has got some real access problems, as you all know, because of DOT (Department of Transportation) on the access to the out-parcels and the 'Commercial'; which may cause an evaluation problem and certainly a developmental problem on traffic movement. All that traffic movement of course, would have to move across, over by the Hess Station. So think through of what would happen the way the traffic would operate as a commercial outlet." Discussion. Ms. Maureen Smith, 130 Peregrine Court, Winter Springs, Florida: asked whether there a stadium for spectators was planned. County Commissioner Morris replied, "No. The most that would be here would be a, some bleachers for parents and siblings and so on, to sit on." Ms. Smith asked, "Where would that be located?" County Commissioner Morris said, "The softball area right here." Discussion continued on the berm and fences planned for the area. Commissioner Bob Dallari, 1101 East First Street, Sanford, Florida: addressed those in attendance on the berm and ditch. Further discussion. Mr. Charles Dolce, 110 Goshawk Terrace, Winter Springs, Florida: asked if the northern part of the site is going to be developed. Mr. Edward Popoli, 107 Goshawk Terrace, Winter Springs, Florida: asked where the dog area is going to be. Brief discussion. Mr. Bill Christie, 3520 Wild Eagle Run, Oviedo, Florida: spoke about lighting and noise. Further discussion. Tape I/Side B CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 5 OF 11 Mr. Edward Martinez, 205 Little Creek Lane, Winter Springs, Florida: noted that he didn't know any reason why the City of Winter Springs wouldn't want this Park. Discussion. Mr. Jay Clay, 144 Peregrine Court, Winter Springs, Florida: asked where the lights were going to be put. County Commissioner Morris explained, "Your going to light all the ball fields - and you're going to light the recreational open fields which will be soccer or lacrosse." Mr. Clay then asked if parking at the Trail Head was going to be closed off? With further discussion, short-cuts people might take was covered next. Mr. Greg Smith, 669 Saranac Drive, Winter Springs, Florida: asked about the parcel on the southwest comer of the tract and inquired whether it would be left undeveloped. County Commissioner Morris explained, "Yes, in fact it needs to be declared that." Mr. Jon Bean, 142 Peregrine Court, Winter Springs, Florida: asked if there is a way to get to the park without going all the way around?" Mr. Larsen said, "We'd like to have as much access to the park in certain locations. Here is one access point that you can transverse through. There's a small land bridge here, over the retention pond. The retention ponds are actually staged; there's a drop in elevation so we could actually create a stream-like feature with the retention ponds and really create a dramatic amenity here. Mr. Bean further inquired, "Is there a vehicle by which the people that are here and people who are not here, can voice either their support or decent to the programs so that the council has some knowledge - some guidance?" County Commissioner Morris said, "Well, it's a City process, and however the City - I wouldn't deem to presume how the City would do that. You do though go through a Public Hearing process on this. We would like to have a sense the neighborhood feels comfortable with it prior to going forward throughout the process and then having to withdraw. We'd also like to make sure that the Commission feels comfortable, to the extent that they can, and they understand fully what - we're trying to and when we're trying to get a start date and everything else. So, it would be through their public process; or any direct communications you want to have with the County Commission, you're more than welcome to have too." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 6 0F 11 Mayor Bush asked, "Mr. John Baker (AICP, Senior Planner, Community Development Department) and Eloise (Sahlstrom, (AICP, ASLA, Senior Planner, Community Development Department), this would be a Land Use change, so this would be one of those big signs notifying about the Public Hearing and do we also mail to the resident who are contiguous?" Ms. Sahlstrom replied, "The answer is ' Yes'. It currently has a sign up now and there has been mailings; mailings for this Meeting tonight, mailings for Wednesday nights Meeting, mailings for Thursday nights Meeting; all of the above." Discussion. Commissioner Sally McGinnis asked, "So, if some of the soccer fields - are not being utilized, will they be dark?" County Commissioner Morris said, "Yes, the only fields that are lit are when they're under use." Commissioner McGinnis said, "Well, I think, people always - my experience is people always get a little nervous when we keep telling them, 'Now, you know, this is just the preliminary - there's some tweaking to do'. Sometimes that creates some uncertainty, but as this moves along and when there's a final I'm sure there will be an opportunity for everybody to see." Further brief discussion. County Commissioner Morris then remarked that, "The request that we would have the City to consider - by any whatever public process we would need to do, I've already told you that this site plan ultimately is approved by the Commission. And the site plan will look very similar to what you're seeing in design concept. We can't guarantee - to the foot where things are going to be, but our parameters are what we - said. A 160 foot set- back, parking where it is, bases, all that sort of thing, the general elements would stay. However, there is some tweaking, as we have said." Ms. Home then noted, "On Wednesday evening (October 4, 2006), there is an administrative Land Use change to the Future Land Use Map to change the designation of the property, the entire property, from its current two (2) designations to 'Recreation and Open Space Use'. And then, Thursday evening (October 5, 2006), we would go before the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a request to consider the 'Conditional Use' Application that we have submitted for the portion of the property that is currently zoned 'C-1' - and then we will come back before the City Commission - for you to consider both of the recommendations of the Local Planning Agency and the Board of Adjustment; and that is on the 23rd [October 2006]." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 7 OF 11 With further comments, County Commissioner Morris said, "SO the idea of a simpler solution is - to allow in your descriptive definition, of what's permitted in 'C-l' as government park usage - be happy to present this formally to you all in any fashion. We're going to go ahead and have - the meeting, at least one (1) or two (2) of these meetings, as we go through the process." Continuing, County Commissioner Morris noted, "We also heard that, 'Well, let's go ahead and go through this whole Land Use process that we're going through' - the City has some representatives of the City have told us, and then we'll also do some kind of Joint Planning Agreement on the park, or some kind of Interlocal Agreement." Those in attendance were asked whether they were in favor of this proposed plan or not, and by a show of hands, most in attendance showed they were in favor of the proposed Park. Discussion. County Commissioner Morris said, "We can also stipulate that there will be four (4) fields, four (4) active fields. There will be these elements and that's what will be there. We cannot stipulate - that's exactly the location they are going to be, but we can stipulate that they'll be a 160 feet away, the nearest field." Next, County Commissioner Dallari added, "At certain milestones, we can actually send out to the community what our status is and what the plan actually looks like to show the community we're actually doing what we say, what we will do." Commissioner McGinnis noted, "Excellent." County Commissioner Dallari then said, "At least twice during design, I would think that we would actually show it to the community." County Commissioner Morris noted, "This particular one is on the Website - you could either hear the full presentation before the - Commission and you can see all that we had to say there - we will send you the Web site" information. County Commissioner Morris added, "We'll contact you and we'll tell you how to do it." Commissioner Krebs said, "We could probably put something on our Web site telling people where to go on the County Website." Mayor Bush said, "Yes, and we could put- this presentation tonight on the Website." Mr. Don Ryter, 673 Cayuga Street, Winter Springs, Florida: commented that he preferred that there not be direct access to the Park from his subdivision. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 8 0F 11 Furthermore, County Commissioner Morris said, "We would ask for serious consideration of our request for you all to do a Text Amendment - an allowance of your commercial interpretations by definitions to permit in this 'Use'; and it would solve a lot of problems. You still would have full approval of the ultimate Site Plan. Any public process or public meeting, if you would ask us to do it, we would do any of that, through any process you want to do. But it would certainly make this an easier process for us. And we don't want to get into, if we can avoid it in anyway, getting into Interlocal Agreements. We've got, or at least the next Commission's got a lot of work to do with your Commission on Interlocal Agreement regarding other matters than to start getting caught up in an Interlocal Agreement over a park." Attorney Garganese said, "If the Commission wanted to change the Zoning Code to put it as a 'Permitted Use' and PUD (Planned Unit Development) and in 'C-l Commercial', the Commission could direct that. If you did direct that, my advice is still going to be that you change the Future Land Use designation to 'Open Space Recreation' because that's what you have in your Comprehensive Plan. And - I believe it should be 'Open Space Recreation' if this beautiful park gets built in any event. But, if they want - to move forward with that, changing the Permitted Uses, in the mean time, that's fine. But I still think you need to go through the Comp (Comprehensive) Plan process." County Commissioner Morris commented, "I think you could go through the Comp (Comprehensive) Plan process later, go ahead and build it, but you would have that Element in for - you would have additional green space and park - for the City, and that would be fine." Mayor Bush said, "Well, I sense no objection at all from our Commissioners on this and so, I would like to see it expedited." Discussion. Attorney Garganese said, "Before this Commission's time, and I think the County is aware of it, I think that there's an old Settlement Agreement, I think it impacts this part of the property. And what it says is that this property has to be Commercial' and in the Settlement Agreement, it lists all the specific 'Commercial' Uses that are allowed for this property. The County could agree to release that restriction. Every chance we get, we try to get this restriction released because some of the 'Commercial' Uses that are permitted by Settlement Agreement are frankly, pretty noxious and obnoxious to the area. So, we would ask the County to release that 'Commercial' restriction and that, again, that would bring the control over the Land Use back to the Commission rather than have that Settlement Agreement in place." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 9 0F 11 County Commissioner Morris said, "The County could, would release that and release - some kind of contractual agreement with you all after Final Site Plan approval and then be reverted - if that is not done. County Commissioner Morris added, "The concept here is that the issue of perpetual use - for the purpose of the park is what we're after; that's what we're really after." Ms. Sahlstrom said, "We currently have started the process of an administrative Land Use change on the property. Do you see any reason why we cannot go ahead and proceed with that given that the final approval would not be any sooner than the end of January, beginning of February anyway?" County Commissioner Morris pointed out, "Should be at the earliest January or February - our people would still be instructed to go to your two (2) Meetings. What we're asking for is relief on this issue at the next City Commission Meeting that you can act - we would go through the process as though we were still doing it. And then we'd ask the City to go ahead and relieve us of that process by doing what we've proposed here. And then we wouldn't go through that process anymore, it would become a ministerial process by you all, with proper due notice. And I think in your case, it maybe two (2) Meetings, some it's just one (1)." Attorney Garganese said, "If we move forward with changing the text in the Zoning District, it would likely go to the Land Planning/Planning and Zoning Board, November, I believe. And they would make a recommendation to the City Commission and the City Commission has to have - actually two (2) Public Hearings because it changes the list of Permitted Uses. So, we're looking at December and if you cut the meeting schedule in December, probably January before the final adoption of that particular Ordinance. And we'll work around the Commission's schedule. The Comp (Comprehensive) Plan change - I would recommend continue going forward and at least transmitting it to the Department of Community Affairs because that Public Hearing is going to be your second (2nd) Meeting in October. And then, that would be floating up in Tallahassee with DCA (Department of Community Affairs) while we're working on the Text Change to the Zoning District." County Commissioner Morris said, "We're happy to go through the process to the extent - that it takes to clear it the other way. And the speed with which the City can get it through, why your process is a lot longer than ours." Attorney Garganese noted, "Which process?" County Commissioner Morris said, "To get it - passed. The way it would go to the P&Z (Planning and Zoning Board) because we would - well, ours would just be a lot faster." Attorney Garganese said, "I think you just have one (1) hearing, right?" County Commissioner Morris said, "Yes, but we would also fast track it to P&Z (Planning and Zoning Board) and then we'd fast track it to the Commission and have it to the Commission within three (3) days, prior to the P&Z (Planning and Zoning Board) Meeting. " CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2006 PAGE 10 0F 11 Commissioner Robert S. Miller asked, "Can't we fast track it through the P&Z (Planning and Zoning Board)?" Attorney Garganese replied, "Well, I think, there's a Meeting scheduled this week for the Planning and Zoning Board and Eloise (Sahlstrom) could probably check the calendars and see if you can get a quorum before the next regularly scheduled Meeting and then we'd just have to advertise the Ordinance change." Continued brief discussion. Mayor Bush asked, "So Commissioners, are you, do we have a Consensus that we should fast track at all, at every possible way as long as it's staying within the law?" Commissioner McGinnis said, "Yes." Commissioner Miller noted, "Yes." Commissioner Krebs remarked, "Yes." No objections were noted. County Commissioner Morris then said, "We can send over any draft language, if you'd like - if it's a help." Mr. Baker asked, "Will we still be going through a 'Conditional Use'? Right now we're just going through the 'Conditional Use' just for the part that's in 'C-I'. Will we then be going to the 'Conditional Use' for the whole thing?" Attorney Garganese commented, "We can talk to the County about that, it's their Application. But I think they may want to just postpone that given the City Commission's direction." Then, County Commissioner Morris said, "We would hope - that we would not have to go through a 'Conditional Use'. This is the whole purpose of what we're trying to do. But - it would based you're your forbearance of understanding exactly what we're saying we're doing. But - the idea is to elevate this process to a degree it can, because we are two (2) public bodies trying to do - public benefit. And the process that would allow for that, it allows for citizen objection, if someone did object - we would certainly want to get rid of the 'Conditional Use' too. So, if you're dealing within the - line with the PUD (Planned Unit Development) issue, and then, if we had a sense from you." Mayor Bush said, "Well, I think the Commission has agreed in principle, this should be fast tracked as long as we're staying within the laws that we're required to stay within. So, I think it will become something that our Attorney and the Land Planning people work out to get this moving. We don't want to make you do anything that you don't need to do either. I think that's a waste of your time and your staff s time as well. So, if that can be avoided, let's avoid it." County Commissioner Morris said, "That would be great because - that just - adds expense and adds time." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING - OCTOBER 2,2006 PAGE 11 OF 11 With further discussion, Mayor Bush remarked, "Well, I think your promise to keep the citizens informed - and the Winter Springs Commissioners informed is an excellent idea and we will put it on our Website as well and make sure that our citizens are aware of anything that you have written down and if it has changed." County Commissioner Morris said, "Great." Discussion. Mr. Chuck Scales, 900 Crooked Oak Court, Longwood, Florida: asked if Mr. Gasparini could discuss a few things with him. Mr. John Drehoff, 105 Atrium Court, Winter Springs, Florida: suggested the four (4) fields be used as multi-purpose fields and mentioned the sport of Lacrosse is growing and also needs field space. This was confirmed. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Bush adjourned the Neighborhood Meeting at approximately 7:59 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: DANIELLE HARKER, ASSIST ANT TO THE CITY CLERK AND J AN A LORENZO-LUACES, CMC C!t'{;CLERK ,. / -.-, ..../_....... J ~~-"...-'