HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 10 04 Letter dated 2000 06 06V. PATRICK HIGGINS
PMB 1119, 3385 S Hwy 17-92 • Casselberry, FL 32707 • (407) 695-4799 • vpbiggins@aol.com
June 6, 2000
Mr. William Fernandez
250 E. Panama Road
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Mr. Fernandez:
We had a conversation after yesterday's P & Z meeting and I wanted to put my thoughts in writing.
On the subject of annexation I believe your question is: Is P & Z a rubber stamp for the City Commission or is
it an advisory board? If the former, the P & Z's function is unnecessary and staff should perform it instead. If
the latter, then the P & Z should be involved BEFORE the decision.
Now I can see that if the P & Z was involved in every annexation before the decision, it could become a
complicated, bureaucratic and counterproductive process. I believe the role suggested by the City Manager is
part of the solution. The P & Z should develop an annexation plan as part of the Comp Plan. In that plan
would be guidelines for land use that would be indications of the ranges of zoning allowed. An integral part of
this process would be for the administration to keep the P & Z fully informed of any potential annexations and
the progress of each.
With this method the P & Z would have input BEFORE a decision because of the guidelines put into the Comp
plan. And if informed as suggested, the P & Z could then monitor each annexation for variances from the
original plan. In this way the P & Z would only be heard from when there is a serious variance. This
information process would also help members of the P & Z answer questions they get from citizens about
various projects.
The City Manager mentioned that annexation has to be decided on a cost/benefit basis. Will the city take on
more costs and burdens than benefits from the annexed property? Zoning and other factors the P & Z deals
with is an important part of that analysis. I don't see how a creditable decision can be made if the P & Z
function is not part of the process in some way before the decision.
I believe that's the points I wanted to make yesterday. Thanks for taking time to listen to my opinion.
Sincerely,
~-
Pat Higgins