HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes P&Z 101398CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
October 13, 1998
MINUTES
The Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City
of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was called to order by Chair Diane
Carlino at 6:30 P.M. in the Assembly Room at the Municipal Complex,
10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and opened
with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Growth Management Director Roxanne Manning explained that staff was
working on a Glitch List which was a list of zoning code items which
staff believed needed to be amended or improved, for which input was
needed from City Council, the City Attorney and Engineer, and Planning
and Zoning. Proposed amendments would be included in future packets
and Planning and Zoning Commission members were asked to contact staff
by writing or calling.
• APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of September 22, 1998 - City Attorney Post requested that on
page 13 in the second paragraph that was not in bold, the language be
changed to reflect that public comments for all six petitions, i.e.,
LU- 98 -03, 04 and 05 and PUD- 98 -03, 04 and 05, were heard. Mr. Masters
made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 22, 1998 meeting
as amended. Mr. Solomon seconded the motion. Motion carried by 5 -0
vote.
SITE PLAN AND APPEARANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE
The roll was called by Jackie Holloman, Secretary for the meeting.
Present bA sent
Chair Diane Carlino
Joel Channing, Vice Chair
John Glidden, Chair Pro Tem (arrived at 6:35 p.m.)
John Nedvins (arrived at 6:40 p.m.)
Ralph Pisani
Dennis Solomon
Alternate Richard Masters
Also present at the meeting were Growth Management Director Roxanne
• Manning, City Attorney Carole Wallace Post, and City Council Liaison
Carl Sabatello.
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October 13, 1998
170: RAW 1 10
A request by Seacoast Utility Authority, owner and applicant, for Site
Plan approval for a building for a master lift station totaling 1,387
square feet. The 0.3 -acre site is located approximately 0.1 miles
from the intersection of PGA Boulevard and Alternate A1A, on the west
side of the FEC Railroad line. (1- 42S -42E)
Growth Management Director Roxanne Manning reviewed the staff report
dated October 13, 1998, and advised staff recommended approval with
no conditions.
There were no comments from the Site Plan and Appearance Review
Committee.
Mr. Glidden arrived at this point in the meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Mr. Masters made a motion to recommend approval of Petition SP -98 -19
to the City Council. Mr. Pisani seconded the motion, which carried
by unanimous 6 -0 vote.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
The roll was called by Jackie Holloman, Secretary for the meeting.
Chair Diane Carlino
Joel Channing, Vice Chair
John Glidden, Chair Pro Tem
John Nedvins
Ralph Pisani
Dennis Solomon
Alternate Richard Masters
A request by Seacoast Utility Authority, owner and applicant, for
Conditional Use approval for a building for a master lift station
totaling 1,387 square feet. The 0.3 -acre site is located
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October 13, 1998
approximately 0.1 miles from the intersection of PGA Boulevard and
Alternate AlA, on the west side of the FEC Railroad line. (1- 42S -42E)
Growth Management Director Roxanne Manning advised staff recommended
approval with no conditions.
There were no comments from the Site Plan and Appearance Review
Committee.
Chair Carlino declared the Public Hearing open. Hearing no comments
from the public, Chair Carlino declared the Public Hearing closed.
Mr. Pisani made a motion to approve Petition CU- 98 -04. Mr. Masters
seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 6 -0 vote.
SITE PLAN AND APPEARANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE
Workshop - Petition SP -98 -17 - Gertz Professional Office Center
A request by Urban Design Studio, agent, for approval of four two -
story office buildings, totaling 86,923 square feet. The subject
• site is located at the intersection of Gardens Boulevard and Kew
Gardens Drive on a 5.966 -acre parcel within the Regional Center PCD.
(06- 42S -43E)
Growth Management Director Roxanne Manning reviewed the staff report
dated October 13, 1998.
Mr. Nedvins arrived at this point in the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Growth Management Director Manning responded to questions from the
Board that a letter of approval was needed from Meadowbrook Mobile
Home Park, that the buffer requirement around the rest of the shopping
mall varied from 25' to 35' and was much greater along PGA Boulevard
and adjacent to a residential area, that the setback applicable to the
mobile home park had been 25' originally which would now probably be
35' for new construction, that 100' stacking would be achieved, and
that staff and the petitioner were working on ingress and egress
lanes, which was a new issue.
Henry Skokowski, agent for the petitioner, introduced the principals
present at the meeting, and displayed a site plan along with
elevations. Mr. Skokowski described the proposed buffer, stated that
no problems receiving approval from the mobile home park was
anticipated, and described signage. George King, Landscape Architect,
described the proposed landscaping. Mr. Skokowski explained that this
project could not be seen from the mobile home park.
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October 13, 1998
Mr. Masters commented that the reflective glass used on the east might
be offensive to adjacent residents and requested it be changed. Mr.
Solomon questioned the proposed parking spaces, to which Ms. Manning
responded a satisfactory solution would be sought; however, if there
was a direct conflict that code requirements would prevail over crime
prevention considerations. Mr. Nedvins questioned the air -
conditioning screening, fascia signage, and uses. Mr. Skokowski
described the screening and Ms. Manning explained these were being
considered as two buildings, and the project was zoned professional
office. Rick Gertz indicated 1,000 s.f. or larger spaces might be
used for attorneys, realtors, etc., and that their market research
indicated non - medical uses. Mr. Glidden discussed parking and felt
only one ingress /egress was an issue because a bottleneck would be
created when people got off work. Mr. Glidden recommended one
crossover instead of two for better flow and to create space for extra
parking spaces. Mr. Glidden suggested extending the sidewalk system
to run contiguous to the employee parking spaces. Mr. Glidden
commented screening of the air conditioning must be on all sides,
which could be accomplished by extending the parapet wall or using a
secondary screen. Mr. Glidden questioned whether there would be a
problem on the north side of the building where cars in parking spaces
would overhang landscaping 311, to which the petitioner responded the
Washingtonian palms would be exchanged for Alexander palms which would
fix the problem. Mr. Glidden commented one transformer was landscaped
and one was not. Mr. Glidden pointed out that the scale of the
drawing was off 10% and should be plotted to scale. Mr. Channing
commented a second egress was needed and stated he did not like the
reflective glass. Mr. Channing stated he liked the coloring of the
building but personally preferred bronze window frames. Mr. Channing
was not in favor of parking lots not sufficiently shielded from public
view by walls or berms rather than landscaping. Mr. Channing
suggested the corner column should be stronger visually, to which the
architect commented that had been done. Mr. Channing commented that
the sign height in the pedestrian plaza did not bother him, and that
the project was very attractive. Chair Carlino requested comments
regarding the sign height waiver and the reflective glass. Mr.
Glidden and Mr. Masters stated they did not like the reflective glass.
Mr. Channing expressed concern that the afternoon sun would reflect
into the eyes of drivers. Mr. Skokowski explained the glass would be
changed to non - reflective but that the applicant would like to use a
greenish tone. Chair Carlino stated she agreed with a second
ingress /egress. No objections were made to the six parking spaces if
a second ingress /egress and only one crossover were used. A poll of
the Board revealed the majority would require a second access,
provided there was no regulatory reason not to have a second access.
Mr. Skokowski suggested a condition requiring a second access be added
if it was needed.
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October 13, 1998
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
The roll was called by Jackie Holloman, Secretary for the meeting.
Present Absent
Chair Diane Carlino
Joel Channing, Vice Chair
John Glidden, Chair Pro Tem
John Nedvins
Ralph Pisani
Dennis Solomon
Alternate Richard Masters
ch Revision Ordinance
Growth Management Director Manning explained that the Church Revision
Ordinance defined two types of churches, large and small, with the
• number of seats determining the size. Over 1,000 seats would be
defined as a mega church or a large church, which would be considered
as a separate zoning category. Ms. Manning described accessory uses
and requested feedback on the proposed ordinance. Chair Carlino
favored 850 seats to determine large churches. Ms. Manning explained
that Trinity Church had 1,200 seats and Christ Fellowship had 2,400
seats. Chair Carlino expressed her opinion that the locations should
be considered. The Growth Management Director explained that
intensity, noise, lighting, parking lots, and traffic were factors
which had determined development of this ordinance. Mr. Pisani
expressed his opinion that a better criteria would be the number of
members and the number of services rather than the number of seats.
Ms. Manning reported these had been considered. Mr. Pisani expressed
concern if all existing churches did not meet the standards. Mr.
Masters commented membership could increase and then the standards
would not apply. Mr. Pisani stated it was preposterous for the City
to address this subject at all, and that the City must tread carefully
as to what to allow in regard to religious beliefs and religious
organizations. Ms. Manning stated the ordinance would be sent to the
existing churches for their comments. Mr. Channing agreed that past
a certain point that traffic generated could be intrusive in a
residential neighborhood, but requested information on various
churches and their number of seats. Ms. Manning reported Christ
Fellowship Church had 20 acres within Palm Beach County, bordered on
three sides by the City, and were proposing a children's home for 127
residents, to which the City had sent an objection to the county. Mr.
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• Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
October 13, 1998
Glidden requested more information concerning existing churches
including the acreage, number of seats, grandfathered status, and
ramifications. Ms. Manning explained non - conforming use would not
allow expansion of number of seats, and non - conforming uses within the
code would be a topic of discussion beginning in 1999. Other items
such as a day care could still be allowed. The Growth Management
Director explained that one more workshop would be held on this issue
and the information requested on existing churches would be included
in the packet for that meeting. Mr. Solomon questioned the types of
seating, to which Ms. Manning responded there were fixed and pew
seats. Mr. Solomon questioned moveable seating and whether a maximum
seating capacity should be used based on square footage, parking
spaces, or some other criteria. Mr. Solomon objected to the word
permanent used in the ordinance. Mr. Solomon commented this ordinance
dealt with religious charitable and non - profit organizations
registered with the IRS as 501(C) but other types of organizations
were also 501(C) and if these types of buildings were permitted for
religious use only there could be a discrimination issue. Attorney
Post responded this was a sensitive issue and that research had been
done on case law and municipalities nationwide in regard to
discrimination issues. Ms. Manning explained that this ordinance
distinguished between small traditional churches and large churches
• and did not limit size, but designated locations within the City where
large churches could be located. Mr. Masters described a scenario
where a larger building was used but with a small number of seats, and
recommended correlation between the number of seats and building size.
Enforcement procedures were discussed. Mr. Pisani reported a prior
experience and warned that people could object to this ordinance on
the basis of separation of church and state. Chair Carlino recalled
a former situation where a church application had been denied because
of incompatibility with the surrounding community. Ms. Manning
explained the code already referred to churches and this ordinance was
clarifying that use.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business to come before the Commission.
Mr. Glidden questioned the lack of landscaping at the new ACLF at PGA,
which he found very offensive. Growth Management Director Manning
indicated that a mitigation plan would be required. Mr. Glidden
reported trees had also been removed on Northlake Boulevard and felt
that the remedy should be that the developer should have to pay for
the largest trees they could find to replace what was lost. Ms.
Manning reported the zoning code required replacement with a larger
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Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
October 13, 1998
tree than one removed, and stated this developer was also subject to
code enforcement.
Mr. Channing stated he was glad to have Growth Management Director
Manning in this City.
ITEMS BY CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
City Council Liaison Carl Sabatello commented that in the past the
City Council had not been in favor of reflective glass, and requested
that when there was consensus regarding such items as glass and
window frame material it would help to pass that along to City
Council, to save them time. Councilman Sabatello complimented the
Commission on their good questions which had been asked regarding
issues presented at tonight's meeting.
Mr. Pisani questioned whether there was difficulty finding people to
serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission, to which Councilman
Sabatello replied a large response had been received from a notice
placed in the newspaper, and those applications were being reviewed
by Chair Carlino, after which interviews would be conducted.
is
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October 13, 1998
There being no further business, upon motion by Mr. Pisani, seconded
by Mr. Glidden, and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at
8:10 p.m. The next mee 'ng will1Abeheld October 27, 1998.
APPROVED:
Richard Masters, Alternate
C�"
7 olloman, Secretary