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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 03 20 Planning and Zoning Board Regular Minutes /" ..-... ... PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MINUTES March 20, 1991 BOARD MEMBERS: David Hopkins, Chairman, Present David McLeod, Vice-Chairman, Present John Horan, Present Martin Trencher, Present John Ferring, Present CITY OFFICIAL: J. Koch, Dir. Adm. / Compo Planning The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. Hopkins reviewed the overall process and progress in the composition of the Comprehensive Plan. Consultants, experts and the general public were all called in to provide input and concerns. As a resul t, generally speaking, conclusions for problems were arrived at. It was noted that winter springs has no core, no center. The Plan attempts to create a downtown to unite the City. Also there are traffic problems. There is only one north-south route and only one east-west route. The Plan address this concern. All of the problems encountered by the Board have attempted to be input into the Plan. Concerns for parks in individual neighborhoods have been addressed by recommending the acquisition of land for such purposes. Hopkins stated he is proud to present this Plan to the City commission. By no means, however, is this Plan complete at this point - review by the state and the Board will continue. Hopkins opened the floor to the Board in regards to substantive concerns about the Plan. Ferring noted the tremendous amount of work entered into this Plan, along with some frustrations. Upon review of the elements again, Ferring believes the Plan meets the needs and sensitivities of all the public meetings held, it has a perception into the future needs of the City in traffic planning, land use, conservation, and recreation. Ferring has no problem recommending the Plan to the Commission unless there is something totally illegal within the document. Horan asked Lee Worsham how we stand in putting the whole thing together and putting in front of the City commission. Frank Kruppenbacher , City Attorney, responded that he saw no legal problems with the Plan as it stood today and it will comply with the legal requirements for filing. Horan noted that he viewed the Board's position as a lay advisory board giving direction to the City staff on the City'S future directions. In terms of legal requirements, it is up to the city Planner and City Attorney to ensure it meets these requirements. He stated he did not want to interfere with the staff's work at this time. Upon return of the Plan from the state, the Board will work on it in terms of r, " -.. Planning and Zoning Board Minutes March 20, 1991 Page 2 regulations and amendments to the City Code. Trencher has mixed emotions about the Plan. On one hand, the City Planner has done an exceptional job to complete the task she has been assigned. However, the Plan is still not a complete document and all portions have not been reviewed by the Board. Further, some portions require clarification, as there are several areas of conflict of interest in terms of verbiage. Trencher would have preferred to have the Plan edited to cross-check all of the language and the tone of the document to ensure clarity. Trencher stated that Worsham noted in Tuesday night's meeting that the Plan lacked sufficient specificity and detail to conform to 9J-5. Trencher believes portions of the Plan require sound legal review prior to transmission to the state. Time should be given for this review to occur. Trencher also noted the Plan lacks strength in addressing coordination with the School Board in terms of planning for growth. Some areas have been done with sufficient specificity - refunding of bonds to finance effluent issues, as well as conservation. He has difficulty in approving a plan which is not completely in front of him. Trencher separated the fact that the work has been done well wi th the recogni tion that there are shortcomings. He hoped to present the best possible Plan to the State, one which draws the least number of comments. However, the Board has put itself in the position of presenting a plan which may prompt the most number of comments. McLeod agreed with Trencher's comments regarding the Plan may not represent everything the Board intended. The review process has not been allowed sufficient time. Hopkins noted that representatives from the School Board have been involved from the start in providing input. Further, the role of the Board has been to provide substantive input and not to provide administrative or procedural aspects. Horan asked Trencher specifically what needs to be clarified. Trencher noted that in Tuesday's meeting, Worsham brought forward several ambiguities in defined terms within the Land Use Element. Trencher stated that the process of legal review of the elements should be extended to other elements. He believed there would be sufficient time to perform this review prior to Plan submission. Kruppenbacher stated he would not allow the city counsel to be used as a vehicle for the Board's current concerns. Counsel's role is to raise issues and forward them to city staff - the staff then - .1 ,,-.... -' ~ .... Planning and Zoning Board Minutes March 20, 1991 Page 3 elects whether to incorporate the recommendations. The Plan should not be written as comments are received (from counsel). Horan noted that the Board could recommend to City staff that prior to submission, legal staff review and wordsmith the document to ensure clarity. The Board, as an advisory commission, should not get in the way of the staff doing their jobs. The Board has done their job, staff must put it into the proper form and its not up to the Board to review staff's work. Kruppenbacher noted that it is not within the province of the Board to direct City Counselor City staff, the Board can make recommendations only. Action to Recommend to City commission Approval/Disapproval of Substantive Content of praft Plan: Ferring moved to recommend the Plan to the Commission. Second by Horan. Vote: Trencher: No; Ferring: Aye; McLeod: No; Horan: Aye; Hopkins: Aye. Motion passed. Plan will be recommended to City Commission for submission to the State. Meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Gregory Kern, Recording Secretary Planning and Zoning Board