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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes EDAB 101206Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes October 12, 2006 The Economic Development Advisory Board met on October 12, 2006. The meeting was called to order by the Chairperson, Kenneth Kahn, at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. I. Roll Call Members Present Kenneth Kahn Lou Gaeta Elaine Beers Casey Steinbacher James Kissel Steve Cohen Members Absent Mark Murnan Sandra Foland Also Present: Chair Vice Chair 1 st Alternate (arrived 8:36 a.m 2nd Alternate Joseph Russo, Mayor and Council Liaison (arrived 8:39 a.m.) Dolores Key, Economic Development Director and Staff Liaison Talal Benothman, Planning Manager and Alternate Staff Liaison Kara Irwin, Growth Management Administrator II. Approval of Minutes The Board approved the minutes from the September 14, 2006 meeting. Ill. Staff Report Dolores Key, Staff Liaison, presented a report containing the names of members to serve on the Economic Development Advisory Board during fiscal year 2006 -2007, and the meeting dates proposed for the upcoming year. Ms. Key noted that a formal voting record for petitions will be maintained and she included a copy of the format for board members. Ms. Key distributed a biography of Dr. Claes Wahlestedt of Scripps Florida, the keynote speaker she has engaged for the meeting to be held on November 9, 2006. IV. Land Development Petitions Jim Griffin presented a petition regarding The Gardens West, Parcel 18 Future Lane -Use Map Amendment, Petition CMPA- 06 -08- 000005 and discussed it at the request of Donaldson Hearing of Cotleur & Hearing, on behalf of Palm Beach Acquisition, LLC. The petition asked for a large scale land -use map amendment to change the current land -use designations of approximately 495.977 acres of land generally located at the southeast and northeast corners of the intersection of PGA Boulevard and Beeline Highway (SR710) from Rural Residential -10, Commercial -C and Industrial -I land -use designations to Industrial -I, Commercial -C and Conservation -CONS land -use designations. Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes 101206 Page 1 Clerkshare Boards & (onunittees .11ii7u /c:.c . l iraillrt . I ppo ral I cc ill to /hku es Ji�r Rerieu � Mr. Todd Mowrey gave a presentation about the properties currently referred to as Parcel 18 and Gentle Ben. These two properties when combined are called The Gardens West and the intention is to change this bio- science cluster by separating the industrial into one area and the commercial into a separate area within this project. They have eliminated the residential use and added a conservation area in its place with very limited residential use. Lou Gaeta asked if the easement was developable and Mr. Hank Gonzalez replied that there was a conservation flow easement in favor of the South Florida Water Management District who was interested in the area due to its attachment to the Loxahatchee Florida Land Use Element (FLUE), and that it eventually would switch over to Parcel 18. Mr. Gaeta asked if it the research designation was a requirement of the City and staff or if it was something the developer wanted. Mr. Gonzalez stated that it was a commitment of both the City and the developer to make a commitment to the bio- science process, that he felt it was appropriate in their eyes and that they were working with the City to try to come up with an overall incentive package to set up property and hold it for bio -tech, to bring new business to the area, and to grow existing businesses. Casey Steinbacher asked if the developer felt that the overlay zone gave them the non- restrictive ability they needed for a research area. Mr. Mowrey replied that they were not currently included in the overlay zone and that it was part of their proposal to be included in the overlay since they did not feel it would be restrictive to them. Ms. Steinbacher felt it was good feedback for the board and staff to know that the developer felt that way since the staff and board had worked together to develop the overlay and supporting language. Mr. Gonzalez stated that the language used regarding The Gardens West property would allow the developer to enhance the property and to use the existing zoning for whatever would be in place and then putting the overlay on restricts or minimizes the conversion of land to residential land use. Ms. Steinbacher stated that the board felt it was a good thing. Steve Cohen asked if the developer was looking for incentives from the City. Mr. Gonzalez replied that incentives were welcome because the private community and the public community need to come together to make a strong public/private partnership. He stated that if the board members were to look at some of the successful parks across the United States, the members would see that many of them had been created because of their partnerships, which do mean incentives, such as fast tracking, that should be a given. If someone is bringing a bio- science project to a community it should be a given that it needs to be fast tracked to make it successful or the City will lose out on opportunities. Other things the developer would like to cooperatively work on would be what new incentives would work successfully to draw new bio- science projects to the area. Many times these incentives would not necessary cost money but could be processes. Casey Steinbacher asked Kara Irwin to give her thoughts on the project. Ms. Irwin stated that this was an in -house petition and has not yet been presented to the local planning agency, and a recommendation has not yet been made to the City Council but the staff had been working on a developer's agreement as an incentive, which is what their letter to the Governor was based upon. Certain areas were to be set aside as bio- science uses and they have been amenable to doing that which staff feels is a positive. Ms. Irwin said it supports Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes 101206 Page 2 (7erkshare Boardv & Committees Alinrtte.c. IIraitirrg. IpproI e I I ; Sert to Uoiore.s jor Ileric)0 what we are doing in the overlay and takes an initiative to create industrial opportunities within our City. Kenneth Kahn said it was directly across from an airport and he asked if a runway expansion plan would affect this project. Joe Russo stated that the City had an Interlocal Agreement with the County that prevents any residential areas to be added to the airport area other than what is presently there. He stated they should look into whether we would need an agreement between the City and the County to be able to put residential on this site. Mr. Kahn stated that the airport would significantly restrict any bio -tech business growth as well. Hank Gonzalez agreed that there was an Interlocal agreement between the City and the County, but one of the things that encouraged the developer to move industrial onto Parcel 18 was that there was a residential designation there that would have run afoul of the interlocal agreement, but it does not run afoul with the industrial. The one complex that John Bills wants to put on the Gentle Ben site would be far enough away to be outside of the decibel levels that would disallow residential. Mr. Gonzalez stated the Mayor was correct and that was one of the things that pointed them to what they were currently proposing. Mr. Kahn asked which of the airport runways was being expanded. Dan Clark, City Engineer, stated that it was not the East -West runway, but it was a secondary runway that runs parallel to the Beeline and would go north in its expansion. Elaine Beers requested further information on the complex proposed by John Bills. Mr. Griffin replied that as part of the flowage easement, John Bills had reserved the right to build a family compound which would be a family gathering place not as a primary residence, but it is proposed to have a main house, guest cottages, barns and docks out into the lake. Lou Gaeta said he feels disappointed that we would be giving up 120 acres of industrial land that the City sorely needs, but he doesn't feel there is any way around it since the deal with South Florida Management precludes anything industrial being done on the property, so the switch to industrial is a plus along the Beeline and the City needs it. Mr. Gaeta stated he was certainly for a research designation; however, we need industrial space desperately not just for bio -tech but for average businesses, therefore, he supports the petition. Casey Steinbacher echoed Lou Gaeta's comments and that she felt this project looked to be a good solution and would greatly enhance the area, and that this would be a great connector from the Gardens to the research area. Kenneth Kahn asked for a motion to support this initiative for a land use amendment. Elaine Beers made the motion, it was seconded by Lou Gaeta, and was passed unanimously. V. New Business a. Planning Workshop — Joe Russo presented information to the members about the upcoming charrette which has to do with the height restrictions within the City. It is a public meeting, it is open to anyone, and it will be held in the Council Chambers on two evenings, October 25th and November 1St. Kara Irwin related that it will be facilitated by David Barth from Glatting Jackson who also conducted the charrette for the Briger site a year ago. Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes 101206 Page 3 Clerk-share Board& & C m mittecs ;llintl(e. , I waitir7tr. 1ppnwal (mvi! lo Oolorc s /Or Review) b. Meeting between City Council, Economic Development & Advisory Board and Business Development Board— Joe Russo stated that the City Council would like to schedule a joint meeting between these three organizations to further the economic development within the City and to explore opportunities. VI. Next Meeting Topic Next meeting date will be Thursday, November 9, 2006. The guest speaker will be Dr. Claes Wahlestedt of Scripps Florida. There were no comments from the public. Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes 101206 Page 4 (7erkshare Boards & C'ommittees.11inutes. hraitilig.Ipprorai l.,witt to Dolores forRerietir) VII. Adjournment With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 9:46 a.m. Approval: Kenneth Kahn, Chairperson Lou Gaetk Vice Chairperson J Elaine Beers, Board Member Kissel, Board Member n, Board Member Casey Steinbacher, Board Member Sandra Foland, Board Member Steve Cohen, Alternate Board Member Attest: Municipal Services Coordinator Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk. Economic Development Advisory Board Minutes 101206 Page 5 Clerkshar°e Board c- C ommillees Afinuics .brai1mg.Ipproral (.celtl to Oolores fi)rRelvew)