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HomeMy WebLinkAbout_2006 03 20 City Commission Special Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 20, 2006 CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting of Monday, March 20, 2006 of the City Commission was called to order by Mayor John F. Bush at 6:30 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 6:42 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, present City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, arrived at 6:32 p.m. REGULAR AGENDA REGULAR 300. Office Of The Mayor To Discuss The Development Philosophy Of Existing And Future Residential Density Throughout Our City. Mayor Bush began the discussion on concerns with densities in the City. City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese arrived at 6:32 p.m. City Manager Ronald W. McLemore presented some opening remarks. Commissioner Sally McGinnis asked, "Is the projected build-out still at 40,000, or has that changed?" Manager McLemore stated, "Around 45,000. We think it is going to be slightly below that; somewhere in between 40(,000) and 45,000." Commissioner McGinnis added, "We are about 33(,000) now?" Manager McLemore said, "Closing in on 35(,000), probably the last population census data or actually the research data was probably 33-something (33,000) - so, we are closing in on 35,000." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 20, 2006 PAGE20F7 Mr. Randy Stevenson, ASLA, Director, Community Development Department addressed different kinds of Zoning. Discussion. Deputy Mayor Michael S. Blake arrived at 6:42 p.m. Discussion. Ms. Eloise Sahlstrom, ASLA, A1CP, Senior Planner, Community Development Department gave a presentation to those in attendance. Much discussion followed on housing and demands; quality versus quantity; vision for a community; density; lifestyle centers; the environment and green space. Tape I1Side 8 With discussion on infill projects, Manager McLemore said, "Office professionals are really good infills type of use; and again, the high-end condo and townhomes have traditionally been that. I think we need to make sure we get really good quality design - and I think, you are probably right, we need to have more green space requirements so that we get a better design. And, the larger the tract the - more flexibility you are going to have in making that happen. We can have some of that happen. For example, on the Dittmer tract. Discussion. Commissioner McGinnis stated, "The issue is then how do you get the Developers to buy into that?" Manager McLemore said, "I think you can go further in your Code with design standards." Manager McLemore said, "I think the key, not on perception, but on what you really wind up with is making sure that you get Quality. Quality, that is the key, Quality." Discussion ensued on housing types and options. Commissioner McGinnis said, "Workforce Housing - is very important to me and - I have brought it up many times." Commissioner McGinnis added, "I asked if the Commission would support an initiative, we would have someone from Tallahassee, who heads the Office of Affordable Housing, come to our City and do a Workshop for the Commission on what that is." With discussion, Commissioner McGinnis added, "It wouldn't cost us anything. So, keep that in mind and maybe we can explore having that." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 20, 2006 PAGE 3 OF 7 Further discussion. Discussion followed on the Winter Springs Golf Course to which Commissioner Robert S. Miller said, "I would advocate that the City issue a one million dollar ($1,000,000.00) Bond and we buy the Golf Course; and we just turn it into a permanent park, like Central Park, where you can do whatever you want in there." Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore added, "People are very uncomfortable with the high density that they are seeing." Discussion. Mayor Bush suggested, "I think what the Commission can do is nothing - leave things just the way they are, if everybody is happy with the way things are going. Or, give direction to Staff - if you think things should be looked at differently. I think there is a- Consensus that High Density around the Town Center is acceptable. It is part of the plan that was approved by the community, as Commission Miller pointed out, several years ago. It has been executed and it's working. But, other areas, the infill situation, which the Manager brought up, is one issue and of course, the other issues that we have on the table coming before us; of course Shepard Road, and the Oviedo Marketplace properties, which are - two (2) ofthe most recent ones. I don't think the Commission is suggesting in anyway that we change our Comp (Comprehensive) Plan or anything like that, but there is something that Staff could do and that is to let Developers know, 'Yes, our Medium Density is 3.6 to 9, however, don't ask for 9, it isn't going to fly' - just tell them up front. Now, if they want to bring 9 up before the Commission, they've got the right to do it - if it is within the law, but my guess is the Commission is going to say 'No way'." Mayor Bush added, "All I'm saying, if the Commission feels that - we need to be looking at lower densities, then I think the Staff has the duty and the responsibility to pass this onto Developers when they come in." Mr. Stevenson said, "It has been alluded to a little bit - relative to open space, I think that's something that has been discussed tonight. We have discussed this earlier today and we think that we can probably - and Anthony [Garganese] may want to address this a little bit, but increase some of language in our Traditional Use. Actually - I believe its Section 20-33. of the Code which talks about what - are the considerations when you look at a Conditional Use. It talks about compatibility and so forth. We can strengthen that language to give you a little bit more explicit increase in the powers you already have to review Conditional Uses and to therefore, use these determinants to limit - the densities within the ranges that we've discussed there." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 20, 2006 PAGE40F7 With further discussion on the concept of open space, Mr. Stevenson added, "Currently, we allow open space to include open-water bodies; otherwise known as retention pond in most cases. We may want to look at tightening up that language in terms of what we consider open space." Commissioner McGinnis said, "Good." Mr. Stevenson then commented that, "That is something that we can also look at that would effectively require higher performance to get your consideration for some of the densities at the higher range of the spectrum that we're talking about here. It will also limit the area in which they can put some of those densities." Manager McLemore said, "The thing we don't have an answer to yet - we need to work on is 'How do you deal with that on that one (1) or two (2) acre plot where you - don't really - have room to do anything meaningfully, but open space." Discussion. Mayor Bush stated, "But, you know that doesn't mean that the Commission has to give in to one (1) property owner just because the rest of them won't talk to them. If the Commission says 'This area is going to be developed at a certain way, certain density, whatever it happens to turn out to be', and just say 'This is the way it's going to be'." Mayor Bush added, "Either develop it the way that the Commission wants it to be or it is going to stay like it is today. And, if they have to get together to talk to each other so somebody else buys all this land and then comes back with a development that's more in line with what I think they're talking about, so be it. If they don't want to, leave it like it is." Tape 2/Side A Discussion. Commissioner Miller said, "My only suggestion would be to have - a page put into the next Newsletter." Mayor Bush said, "Commissioners, 1 was going to recommend that what we do on this is, 1 think there's a lot of good information that's come up tonight - and that is, that we need to share this with the people in the City. 1 would like to ask the Commission if - we'd send out something that - Ron [McLemore] would prepare it; we would all take a look at it just to address this one (1) issue; not part of the Newsletter because it will get lost. Because this is a timely topic - 1 think our citizens would appreciate hearing it. So, 1 would like to recommend that we do that, not put it as part of the Newsletter, but make it a separate mailing." Commissioner McGinnis stated, "1 agree. " CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 20, 2006 PAGE 5 OF 7 Manager McLemore said, "A separate mailing or an insert?" Commissioner McGinnis added, "And 1 like these statistics." Mayor Bush said, "An insert. Somehow, so it is seen." Commissioner McGinnis added, "These percentages. " Next, Deputy Mayor Blake spoke of some letters he had received and said, "If we are going to do a Newsletter that's 'Special' or if we are going to put a 'Special' thing in the Newsletter, 1 think we need to get the facts out there about what the current status of this Commission's position is with the Golf Course." Commissioner McGinnis said, "Good. " Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs stated, "1 definitely agree with that and the other - 1 don't know how the Commission feels about it, but 1 really do feel strongly, and Ron [McLemore]; 1 did say this to you earlier today, earlier on this Commission Meeting, about developing harmoniously with the environment. " Furthermore, Commissioner Krebs spoke of green space in the Baldwin Park development and added "In this area - you could really take a stroll and it's a nice way to develop if you're going to develop denser; and I just would love to - see us almost encourage that." Manager McLemore said, "I think we can do something like that, similar to that like on the Dittmer tract, because it's large enough to do that - I think there are some opportunities out there that we'll try to take advantage of." Furthermore, Manager McLemore said, "What I consider to be a Covenant, and we stated it this way, before that property can ever be developed, we'd do a full planning Charette with the community on that property." Additionally, Manager McLemore stated, "Our thinking is it could change to a Charette process where it would be more single family, patio homes like Avery Park." Commissioner Krebs said, "You still could develop it in a way that there is a lot of green type areas." Manager McLemore stated, "Yes." Discussion ensued next on Homeowner's Associations. Mayor Bush said, "1 think that what Commissioner Blake recommended would cover that and 1 think, of course, you would all be able to see it, before it is sent out." Mayor Bush said, "Ron [McLemore] will get back with something for us to look at before it goes out." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 20, 2006 PAGE60F7 Commissioner Gilmore suggested, "What I would like to see the Staff do, when they put on a 'Powerpoint' presentation, give us a full copy of the 'Powerpoint' presentation that we can follow." Deputy Mayor Blake said, "Black and White is fine." REGULAR 301. Office Of The Mayor To Discuss What Will Be Discussed With The Seminole County Board Of Commissioners At The March 22, 2006 Joint Worksesssion. Discussion ensued on the Seminole County and Winter Springs Joint Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 22,2006. Mayor Bush mentioned that one of the items listed on Seminole County's Agenda - "The 'Orange County['s] Innovation Way Initiative' - Mayor Crotty, the Mayor of the Orange County Commission has proposed that a - Research Park that runs up the Greene W ay that stops at the County line and what I would like to do here is ask that the Seminole County Commission to work with the Orange County Commission to extend that into Seminole County because that would obviously benefit us, Oviedo, all the way to the Sanford- Orlando Airport." Regarding the '(Dog Park)', Mayor Bush stated, "The fact that it disappeared from both Jetta Point and Soldier's Creek - I think we need to ask them to take a look at this again." Discussion. Manager McLemore remarked, "I am going to do - a one (1) page summary sheet on each item." Mayor Bush said, "When the Meeting starts, I am going to give - an update on the City, which will actually be a condensed version of the State of the City Address which will be coming out soon." Mayor Bush added, "I should be able to give you copies of it - by Wednesday - maybe even by tomorrow." Lastly, Mayor Bush noted, "Let's move the '(Dog Park)' up above 'Innovation Way' and ask them to move it down." Mayor Bush added, "So, 'Dog Park' goes up to number VI. We will ask them that when we start the Meeting." ADJOURNMENT Mayor Bush adjourned the Special Meeting at 8:25 p.m. RESPECTFULLYSUBAfITTED: DEBBIE FRANKLIN, DEPUTY CITY CLERK AND ./ A LORENZO-LUACES, CMC LERK APPROVED: ~/~ CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 20, 2006 PAGE70F7 NOTE: These Minutes were approved at the March 27, 2006 Regular City Commission Meeting.