HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 120500CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
December 5, 2000
The December 5, 2000, Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida, was called to order at 12 noon 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 to the Flag.
ROLL CALL: The Recording Secretary called the roll and the following elected officials were
found to be in attendance: Mayor Joseph R. Russo, Councilmember David Clark, and
Councilmember Carl Sabatello. Vice Mayor Eric Jablin arrived at 12:20 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Ordinance 31, 2000 - Finance Director Kent Olson presented Ordinance 31, 2000 - An Ordinance
of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, providing for Amendment of Division IV, "Citywide
Impact Fees ", of Article III, "Development Review Process ", of the City's Land Development
Regulations, to Provide for Collector Road Impact Fees by Amending Sections 49, 50, 51, 54, 55,
and 57; Providing for Codification; Providing for Severability; Providing for Conflicts; and
Providing for an Effective Date. Mayor Russo declared the public hearing open, held on the intent
of Ordinance 31, 2000. Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Russo declared the public
hearing closed. Councilman Clark made a motion to place Ordinance 31, 2000 on Second Reading
by title only and to approve Ordinance 31, 2000. Councilman Sabatello seconded the motion, which
carried by unanimous 3 -0 vote. The Recording Secretary read Ordinance 31, 2000 on Second
Reading by title only.
Ordinance 33, 2000 - An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,
providing for Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Palm Beach Gardens based on
the Recommendations of the Local Planning Agency and Staff; Providing for Transmittal; Providing
for Codification in the Comprehensive Plan; Providing for Severability; Providing for Conflicts; and
Providing for an Effective Date. Senior Planner Talal Benothman announced that a letter had been
received from the County stating the proposed amendments would have no negative impact on the
proposed CRALLS designation, and reviewed the proposed amendments to the future land use
element, transportation element, capital improvements element, and intergovernmental coordination
element. Councilman Clark requested staff delete the reference in the table relating to the CRALLS
designation that the Military Trail CRALLS designation expired in 1999, since it was no longer
applicable; and fix the exhibit on the southern alignment of Hood Road as had been pointed out by
Councilman Sabatello. Councilman Sabatello verified with Mr. Benothman the correctness of
roadways depicted on Exhibit A. Mr. Benothman verified that the County was in agreement with
the proposed language and that Mr. Frank Duke, Palm Beach County Planning Director, was present
at this meeting. Mayor Russo declared the Public Hearing open, held on the intent of Ordinance 33,
2000. Roger Blangy, 11658 Hemlock, questioned how the change in the railroad crossing proposed
at the last meeting would be incorporated, to which Mayor Russo responded the County had been
contacted and knew the City would be working on that issue, which would be another amendment
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING, 12/5/2000 2
to the City Linkage Plan and to the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Blangy proposed that if RCA were
a 4 -lane road, no railroad crossing would be necessary, to which the Mayor responded that nothing
could be changed at this point but that the City had committed to work on that item.
Pat Hughey, 9120 Reed Drive, expressed appreciation for the grand opening and requested that
future events on Saturdays and Sundays be scheduled later in the day and expressed concern that
alcohol was served at City functions. Mayor Russo advised these items could be addressed at the
next meeting attended by Ms. Hughey since this was a public hearing for amendments to the
Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Russo commented that a significant majority of the neighborhood
associations favored keeping PGA Boulevard at 6 lanes and the residents knew this was a beginning
process and that there would be a transportation forum.
John Gary, Attorney for Coulter Corporation, expressed concern that the Linkage Plan approved at
the previous Thursday night meeting and the Linkage Plan shown at today's meeting were not the
same, and that the plan approved on Thursday night had been the one requested by Coulter
Corporation. Discussion ensued, during which staff clarified that the correct map had been adopted.
Frank Duke, Palm Beach County Planning Director, verified that the 4 -way intersections on the map
were permanent but that the alignments shown were conceptual, and as site plans were presented for
approval roadways could be realigned within reason. Attorney Gary indicated he was satisfied based
on Mr. Duke's explanation.
Mr. Benothman noted Objective 2.1.6 as proposed did not accurately reflect the exact boundaries
of the City Center Linkages Plan, in that where it stated bounded to the south by PGA Boulevard
should be RCA Boulevard and instead of Alternate A I A to the west it should state Military Trail,
and that staff would make the appropriate changes.
Larry Smith, requested consideration for addition of proposed language he had drafted to assure the
future flexibility of alignments on the City Center Linkages Plan as Mr. Duke had indicated, and
language to assure that road right -of -ways could not be expanded at a later date. Mr. Smith read the
proposed suggested language. Discussion ensued. Staff advised Mr. Smith's comments could be
adopted in the interim period after transmittal and before adoption of the amendments if both the
City and County staffs agreed. Mr. Duke expressed initial concern with the right -of -way suggestion.
Mayor Russo noted that Mr. Smith's proposed changes could be studied after transmittal.
Ken Blair, 4300 Catalfumo Way, stated his comments had already been addressed, and
complimented staff on their efforts in addressing concerns of the developers.
Heiki Parts, 13251 Crisa Drive, expressed his opinion that the CRALLS designation for PGA
Boulevard was not appropriate and was a new level of service, and predicted heavy stop and go
traffic. Mr. Parts commented the solution was to eliminate the major traffic generators in the PGA
Corridor by reducing density. Mayor Russo responded that landowners had the right to develop their
properties and to expand the roads to meet traffic performance standards. Mayor Russo advised that
a CRALLS designation was going to be requested soon for Prosperity Farms Road, and invited Mr.
Parts to attend the traffic forum on all North County traffic to be held in January or February. Mr.
Parts expressed concern regarding the left -hand turn into Lohemann's Plaza where many accidents
had occurred, to which Mayor Russo responded that would be corrected.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING, 12/5/2000 3
Hank Skokowski reported he had met with John Glidden, Chair Elect of the Planning and Zoning
Commission, regarding the issue of multiple floors in mixed -use developments, and that Mr. Glidden
had indicated the Commission wished to continue discussion of the language for that issue and to
have input prior to final adoption. Mr. Skokowski indicated this was very important, and that the
amendment had included a sentence referencing 51 %, which could easily be misinterpreted, and that
the primary intent was to have a certain scale and relationship of upper floors to ground floors, which
was not exactly what the sentence said. Mr. Skokowski requested and received clarification that he,
the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Mr. Cramer could work on that language before final
adoption to make it as clear as possible. Mr. Skokowski noted that a December 12 joint meeting
between Planning and Zoning and the City Council had been scheduled to discuss Legacy Place,
which would be the first project which would have to meet the standards of that language.
Nancy Graham, WCI, thanked the City for their work on the CRALLS but stated an objection for
the record to the numbers for the CRALLS submitted under page 2.4 Exhibit A, and requested that
the combined traffic study numbers would be the numbers submitted. Ms. Graham clarified that she
knew the City Council was not inclined to make any changes at this point, but wished her objection
to be in the record. Also for the record, Ms. Graham explained that she had submitted proposed
language to the City Council, the essence of which was to ask the County to add that the number of
trips requested in the current CRALLS was sufficient to service the forbearance properties, and if
they were proved to be insufficient that the Comprehensive Plan would be amended, and that the
County was not willing to add the language. Ms. Graham expressed her opinion that the City
Council would need to formally request the County next year to re -look at the CRALLS and that the
developers and their lenders would be more comfortable if the City would commit to make that
request next December. Ms. Graham stated for the record that the developers had voluntarily
reduced their densities and intensities by deed restrictions to almost 70% less than the
Comprehensive Plan allowed, and if increased CRALLS numbers could not be obtained if needed
in the future to complete the developments as proposed without further reductions to densities then
the developers were placed in a catch 22 situation because only very expensive communities could
be created where people working in the City could not afford to live and they would create more
traffic because they would have to travel to and from their jobs. Public transportation alternatives
would not be viable since people living in homes that cost half a million dollars would never use it.
Mayor Russo responded that Ms. Graham's issues needed to be addressed on a north county basis
at the traffic forum; that he could not accept the language she proposed knowing that what was
planned was higher than the present numbers, and that Commissioner Marcus had also indicated she
could not support it, but that the City Council would commit to revisit this issue. Councilman
Sabatello noted that the City Council was not making a commitment to change the CRALLS but only
to revisit it if there was good reason and to speak to the County Commissioner. Hearing no further
comments from the public, Mayor Russo declared the Public Hearing closed. Councilman Clark
made a motion to place Ordinance 33, 2000 on First Reading by Title only with the amendments that
had been read into the record regarding the southern alignment of Hood Road; in Objective 2.1.6 to
correct the boundaries of the City Center Linkages Plan; and in the conceptual thoroughfare plan
roads list to correct the deletion of the southern alignment of Hood Road. Vice Chair Jablin
seconded the motion, which carried by 4 -0 vote.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING, 12/5/2000 4
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by Councilman Clark,
seconded by Vice Mayor Jablin, carried 4 -0, the meeting was adjourned at 1:05 p.m.
APPROVAL: 11116_'�
RUSSO
YOR
CHAIRMAMPRO TEM CARL SABATELLO
55�1' 1z_'Q
COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK
COUNCILWOMAN LAUREN FURTADO
ATTEST:-
CAROL GOL
CITY CLERK