HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes P&Z 030993NOTE: Due to an error in the operation of the new recording equipment, the March
i9, 1993 Planning and Zoning Commissin meeting tapes did not record. These
minutes are the sole record of that meeting.
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MARCH -9,1993
MINUTES
The Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida, was called to order by Chairman Jeffrey Ornstein at 7:40 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.
The roll was called by the secretary and present were: Chairman Jeffrey Ornstein, Vice
Chairman Joseph Hamzy, Alan Strassler, Carl Sabatello, Members; and, Diane Carlino and
Dan Shalloway, Alternate Members. Domenick Lioce and James Leatherman, Members,
• were not in attendance.
0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 1993
Mr. Joseph Hamzy made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 23, 1993
Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
Mr. Carl Sabatello seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved by a 6 -0 vote.
WORKSHOP: PUD -93 -02 - Recommendation to City Council re: (Gardens East
Apartments) Amending the Planned Unit Development, created by Resolution 109, 1989, to
provide for additional recreation facilities in Phase II of the PUD and for minor revisions
to the elevations of the apartment buildings to accommodate a change to the unit plans. (7-
42S-43E)
Mr. Bristol S. Ellington, City Planner, thanked the members of the audience for helping set
up the meeting room after the municipal elections.
1
Mr. Ellington reviewed the March 4, 1993 staff report for the above - referenced petition.
Mr. Rich Walton, Planning and Zoning Director, and Mr. Ellington told the Commission
of staff and the City Engineer's concern with the parking on the west side of
Rio Vista Boulevard adjacent to the proposed administrative building.
Mr. Steve Mathison, agent for the petitioner, said the plan has been revised to incorporate
the changes suggested by the Commission at its February 23, 1993 meeting.
Mr. Ted Davis, architect for the project, reviewed the revision to the site plan. He said the
speed limit on Rio Vista Boulevard by the administrative building /recreational facility will
be 15 miles per hour.
Chairman Jeffrey Ornstein asked how that speed limit will be enforced.
Mr. Davis said the speed limit will be enforced through signage. Chairman Ornstein asked
• if that will be effective. Mr. Davis said it would.
Chairman Ornstein suggested adding more parking spaces north and south of the proposed
administrative building and eliminating the parking spaces on the west side of Rio Vista
Boulevard.
Mr. Mathison said that because this project is a Planned Unit Development that the number
of parking spaces can fluctuate. He said that the petitioner agrees to City Engineer David
Getz's recommendation of a three -way stop at the intersection of Rio Vista Boulevard and
N. Entrada Way instead of the removal of the seven parking spaces along Rio Vista
Boulevard.
Mr. Walton said that was not Mr. Getz's latest recommendation for this project. His last
memorandum, dated March 4, 1993, recommended that the three -way stop be installed in
2
addition to the removal of the seven parking spaces.
• Mr. Mathison said he did not have a copy of the memorandum. Chairman Ornstein
provided Mr. Mathison with a copy of Mr. Getz's March 4, 1993 memorandum.
Mr. Hamzy suggested that the petitioner make the parking spaces to the north and south
of the administrative building nine (9) feet wide in order for an additional parking space to
be added to each side of the building. Mr. Hamzy added that he would not object if the
remaining five parking spaces were eliminated from the plan. The petitioner agreed to
remove the parking spaces on the west side of Rio Vista Boulevard.
Mr. Hamzy suggested aligning the sidewalks west of Rio Vista Boulevard with the crosswalks
across the boulevard. Mr. Davis said he would be happy to do that.
Mr. Hamzy asked how the racquetball courts will be accessed.
is Mr. Fred Rath of the Paragon Company, the petitioner, said the courts will have a
combination lock, in which the residents will have the number.
0
Motion
Mr. Dan Shalloway made a motion for recommendation of approval to City Council for the
above - referenced petition with the following conditions:
1. The seven parking spaces along the west of Rio Vista Boulevard across from the
proposed administrative building shall be eliminated.
2. The parking spaces north and south of the proposed administration building and
recreation facility shall be revised to nine (9) feet in width and one additional
parking space on each side of the building.
3. The sidewalks along Buildings #26 and #29 shall be aligned with the crosswalks.
3
4. A three -way stop, with signage, shall be installed at the intersection of Rio Vista
49 Boulevard and N. Entrada Way.
Mr. Alan Strassler seconded the motion.
Mr. Walton said the Commission should pay particular attention to the elevation of the
administrative building because, with the revised plan, the building will be even more of a
focal point.
Mr. Hamzy and Mr. Alan Strassler said they were satisfied with the building's elevation.
Chairman Ornstein asked why staff had not provided the Commission with recommended
conditions of approval.
Mr. Walton said conditions were not prepared as this petition was only scheduled for a
workshop meeting. In addition, he said that the petitioner had not provided the revised
• plans and the requested information in a timely manner, as defined by the City's policy.
Mr. Mathison said he believes the information was provided in a timely manner. He added
•
that he was never provided with Mr. Getz's March 4, 1993 memorandum.
Mr. Hamzy said he supports the concept of the plan, but he will vote against the petition
because he believes that the Commission should send a completed plan to the City Council.
Chairman Ornstein said he agreed with Mr. Hamzy 100 percent.
The motion was approved by a 4 -2 vote, with Mr. Joseph Hamzy and Chairman Jeffrey
Ornstein opposing.
WORKSHOP: Z -92 -04 - Recommendation to City Council re: (M /I Homes) Rezoning a 56-
acre site from the Palm Beach County zoning designation of AR, Agricultural Residential
to the City's designation of PUD, Planned Unit Development and site plan approval for the
construction of 200 single - family detached and zero lot -line residential homes. This site is
located a quarter of a mile north of PGA Boulevard on the east side of Central Boulevard.
(2- 42S -42E)
4
Mr. Bristol S. Ellington, City Planner, reviewed the March 4, 1993 staff report for the above-
referenced petition. Mr. Ellington said the petitioner is proposing to develop the project
in two phases. The first phase will consist of 61 zero -lot line homes and 33 single - family
homes while the second phase will have 29 zero -lot line homes and 71 single - family units,
he said. Mr. Ellington said the petitioner is proposing card gate entrances at both of the
proposed entrances.
Chairman Ornstein asked if City Engineer David Getz has reviewed the stacking room for
cars at the north entrance to the project from the school access road.
Mr. Ellington said that Mr. Getz and City Traffic Engineer Yvonne Ziel have recommended
that the north entrance be closed because of the possible conflict with buses, cars and
children entering the school access drive.
Mr. Walton said that if the north curbcut is closed, staff would recommend that a sidewalk
• would be installed connecting to the school access road in order for children from within
•
the project to walk to school.
Mr. Ellington reviewed the memorandums distributed to the Commission about the City's
Conceptual Linkage Plan and Parkway System. He said there are some internal staff
conflicts on the requirements needed for the linkage plan and parkway system. He said
these plans are called for by the City's Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Walton said the City has yet to set policy on some of the detailed issues discussed
within the linkage plan and parkway system.
Mr. Shalloway questioned the viability of the gopher tortoise community identified on site.
He said the five gopher tortoises on site may not be there within five years. He said the
5
whole site has been planned around the gopher tortoise community, which may not be
• viable. Mr. Shalloway said that the preserve areas needed to be combined in order for
actual wildlife preservation to occur. He also stated that the proposed parkway trail which
cuts through the site's western preserve area will destroy the preserve. Mr. Shalloway said
that wildlife will not exist in the small strips of land created by the trail in the preserve.
Chairman Ornstein said he agrees with Mr. Shalloway that there should be one combined
preserve area on the site. He added that he has a problem with the density on the site.
Mr. Hamzy said he would like staff to provide the density, the amount of open space,
pavement coverage, the size of the water amenity of the adjacent Shady Lakes development.
He said he would like to know if the Shady Lakes' water amenity is being affected by the
wells to the north. He said he would like to see the graphic of the site's environmental
• areas which was presented to City Council, when the Council determined the preserve areas
for the site. Mr. Hamzy also requested to see a copy of the environmental study of the site.
He said he believes that the site plan came first and the preserve area came after the site
plan was designed. Mr. Walton provided the Commission with a copy of the Environmental
Report for its review.
Mr. Scott Bennewitz, agent for the petitioner, reviewed the tree survey of the subject site.
He said there will be approximately 1,700 trees removed, about 900 trees saved and
approximately 1,200 trees replaced. He said some trees will be relocated to the western side
of the western portion of the site within the 15 -foot landscape easement.
Mr. Shalloway said he doubted whether the best areas of the site are actually being
preserved. He said the gopher tortoise areas are being preserved and those are not
• 6
necessarily the best environmental areas on the site. Mr. Shalloway said the would like the
petitioner's consultant, CZR, to stake its reputation in writing by stating that the preserve
areas shown on the master plan are the best environmental areas on the site.
Mr. Bennewitz said the preserve management study is in its draft form and will soon be
finalized. He said Mr. Shalloway will receive the consultant's statement.
Chairman Ornstein said the tree survey indicates that there are a lot of trees being removed
from the site.
Mr. Chuck Sharman of M/I Homes said he is in a "box" because of the requirements
imposed by the City concerning the parkway system and 25 percent preservation area.
Mr. Sabatello said the site plan is too dense and the preservation areas should be combined.
Chairman Ornstein said the density does not bother him but its configuration does. He
• added that the landscape buffer adjacent to the Shady Lakes development is not adequate.
He reiterated that there are too many trees being removed from the site. Chairman
Ornstein suggested that the petitioner may not be able to provide the product he wishes on
this site.
Ms. Diane Carlino said there must be a way to extend the preservation areas on the site.
She added that the site plan looks "too tight."
Mr. Hamzy stated that there is a conflict between the Comprehensive Plan and this odd-
shaped lot. As the plan is now presented, the plan will not result in a rewarding nature site,
he said. He said the parkway preservation area will become a "staging area for road kill"
because of its proximity to Central Boulevard.
Mr. Strassler suggested that the petitioner could remove about 25 lots and end up with a
is
more comprehensive preserve area. He asked if there was a minimum number of lots
• re q uired for this project to work.
Mr. Sharman said there is a minimum number of units that are required in order to make
the project work. He said he will take the Commission's comments in consideration for the
revision of the site plan. He said he has been trying to reach Mr. Sabatello for two weeks
P
to discuss this project's effect on the Shady Lakes development. Mr. Sabatello indicated that
he is only of resident of Shady Lakes and not a member of the Property Owners Association
board.
Chairman Ornstein said a representative from the Shady Lakes subdivision is at the meeting
to speak for the homeowners there.
Ms. Sherry Zurek of 1023 Shady Lake Circle said the proposed development is too dense
and will add to the traffic congestion on PGA Boulevard. She asked the Commission how
they can allow the bulldozing of one of the last pristine areas in the City. Ms. Zurek said
the Shady Lakes homeowners are considering hiring consultants to represents their interests.
She questioned the need for additional housing in the City at this time.
Chairman Ornstein said this project needs a lot of work.
Mr. Shalloway said he does surveying work for the MacArthur Foundation, the owner of the
property, and he would like a legal opinion on whether discussing this petition creates a
conflict of interest. Chairman Ornstein said he did not think it did.
Mr. Sharman said he would like some additional direction for the revising of the project's
plan. Chairman Ornstein said he was not going to redesign the project for him.
Mr. Strassler suggested that Mr. Sharman mass the preserve areas.
• e
ADJOURNMENT
There being nothing further to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned
at 9:40 P.M. The next meeting will be held on March 23, 1993.
effrey
SDiane Carlino
Marty R.A. Minor, Secretary
9