4-15-24 CDB Adopted MinutesMINUTES
Community Development Board (CDB) Meeting
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 - 6:00 PM
e Commission Chamber
Present: Kirk Hansen, Chair
Harold Gear, Member
Sylvia Simmons, Member
Ellen Golombek, Member
Jeff Haynie, Member
Richard Arthur, Alternate Member
Absent: Jennifer Lagner, Member
Angela Farford, Member
Also Present: Amanda Askew, Planning & Community Development Director (PCDD)
Valerie Jones, Recording Clerk
Jason Gabriel, City Attorney (CA)
Brian Broedell, Principal Planner
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Hansen.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve minutes of the July 18, 2023 regular meeting of the Community
Development Board.
The minutes were approved.
3. OLD BUSINESS
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. 0 West 2nd Street REZN23-0002 (Ordinance No. 90-23-251) and COMP23-0002
(Ordinance No. 31-23-16)
Request is for a Future Land Use Map (FLUM) amendment to change the future land
use map designation of 0 West 2nd Street (RE# 170834-0000) FROM Residential
Medium Density (RM) TO Commercial (CM). Also, a request for a rezoning of 0 West
2nd Street (RE# 170834-0000) FROM Residential, General, Two -Family (RG) TO
Commercial, General (CG).
STAFF REPORT: Director Askew presented the information as explained in the staff
report. She also provided a PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Haynie asked if the Board
decision about 0 West 2nd Street would affect 41 and 61 West 2nd Street. Director
Askew said that it shouldn't. She explained that this case started from a complaint about
a fence and paving of the right-of-way. Director Askew said they then realized that the
applicant was in violation of the use -by -exception but Staff isn't pursuing that at this
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time. Ms. Golombek asked if the change was made to Commercial then would it fit
under General Commercial including the exceptions. Director Askew said that those
types of uses wouldn't match the FLUM and it would have to be changed to Industrial
Zoning to allow major automotive.
APPLICANT REPORT: The applicant wasn't present to speak. Chair Hansen asked
if there was anyone present to represent or speak on behalf of the applicant but there
wasn't anyone present. Director Askew recommended deferring.
MOTION. To DEFER REZN23-0002 and COMP23-0002 until September 19, 2023.
Motion: Jeff Haynie
Second: Ellen Golombek
The Board then went on to vote on Agenda item 4D since it was for the same address and
applicant.
Kirk Hansen
For
Harold Gear
Against
Sylvia Simmons
For
Ellen Golombek (Seconded By)
For
Jeff Haynie (Moved By)
For
Richard Arthur
For
Motion passed 5 to 1.
B. 378 4th Street ZVAR23-0020 (Robert Blackman)
Request for a variance to reduce the minimum side yard setback on the east side of the
property to construct an addition at 378 4th Street.
STAFF REPORT: Planner Broedell presented the information as explained in the staff
report. He also provided a PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Haynie asked to clarify that
when the townhome was built the current requirements were not in place. Planner
Broedell said that it was probably zoned for 2 -family when it was built in 1989 but now
that it was rezoned single family in the early 2000's there isn't anything in the code
addressing this situation. Ms. Golombek asked about the set -back from the back fence.
Planner Broedell said the required and proposed rear yard setback is 20 feet. Ms.
Golombek asked what the impervious pervious would be. Planner Broedell said they are
above the 45% and are grandfathered in but can't increase it. He said they would have
to remove some concrete and possibly use grass pavers. Mr. Arthur asked whether the
eaves were considered in measuring for setbacks. Planner Broedell said the
measurement is taken to the wall and overhangs can be 2 feet into the setback. Ms.
Simmons asked if the Board approved then would they need a variance for both side
yards. Planner Broedell said it would be 1 variance for a combined 15 foot side yard
setbacks. There was further discussion about what the applicant was proposing to build
and possible variations that might work. Ms. Golombek said she came before this board
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several years ago but she incorporated the storage unit into the addition and got a
variance for the center wall.
APPLICANT REPORT: Robert Blackman introduced himself. He explained the
narrow lot with the current setback leaves him with 10 feet to build on. Mr. Blackman
went into detail about what he plans to do. He spoke about the permeable surface and
said he couldn't find out if the pavers were permitted or not. Ms. Golombek asked if he
had thought about moving the addition to the wall and keeping the 5 foot setback so it
doesn't go right against the wall. Director Askew added that she wasn't able to find a
permit for the pavers which would mean that Mr. Blackman wouldn't be able to receive
credit for the area that the pavers cover. Mr. Blackman talked about adding a request for
the permeability to the variance but Director Askew said that couldn't be legally done
because the City didn't advertise for that. Mr. Arthur asked if it was a townhouse or
duplex. Mr. Blackman considered it a duplex and said there are 2 different owners.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Chair Hansen opened the floor to public comment. There were
no public comments.
BOARD DISCUSSION: Ms. Simmons said that since the impervious is at 63% and it
isn't a part of this request, should the Board put a condition if approved that the applicant
would have to replace the driveway with pervious material. Chair Hansen said he
thought the Board could make sure that the applicant maintains the existing ratio. Mr.
Arthur was hesitant to do so until the applicant meets with Staff. Chair Hansen asked
the applicant if he wanted to defer. Mr. Blackman said he made a request to change the
variance request and said he had emailed some drawings. The Board didn't have these
drawings. Ms. Simmons said that because the pavers for the patio don't have a permit
that area cannot count and Mr. Blackman would need to remove some impervious area.
The Board had a lengthy discussion among themselves and the applicant on whether to
defer due to the impervious issue. The applicant wanted to move ahead with the existing
request. The Board discussed the permeable surface further and asked Staff a few more
questions.
Celeste Blackman introduced herself as the applicant as well and wanted it on the record
that due to Ms. Golombek having a concern, as a neighbor regarding flooding, that they
would do whatever it took to mitigate the potential for flooding.
Mr. Haynie said he was on the fence. Mr. Gear said the reality is that it made no sense
to have a setback on the shared wall. The Board discussed which conditions for approval
would apply.
MOTION: To APPROVE ZVAR23-0020 based on the Onerous effect of regulations enacted
after platting or after development of the property or after construction of improvement upon
the property.
Motion: Harold Gear
Second. Richard Arthur
Community Development Board (CDB)
August 15, 2023
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Kirk Hansen Against
Harold Gear (Moved By) For
Sylvia Simmons For
Ellen Golombek Against
Jeff Haynie For
Richard Arthur (Seconded By) For
Motion passed 4 to Z
C. 1980 Mipaula Court ZVAR23-0022 (Patrick Johnson)
Request for a variance from Section 24-68(b)(1) at 1980 Mipaula Court.
STAFF REPORT: Planner Broedell presented the information as explained in the staff
report. He also provided a PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Arthur asked what the
impervious lot coverage would be. Planner Broedell said it was approved at 48.2%
which is less than the existing coverage. Mr. Arthur asked if the previous retention plan
was going to require the removal of a tree. Planner Broedell said that one tree was
removed that fell into the dangerous species category. Ms. Simmons asked about an oak
tree that she thought was going to have to be removed. Planner Broedell said the
applicant would have to answer that. There was further discussion on how an increase
in property value triggers water retention.
APPLICANT REPORT: Patrick Johnson introduced himself as the homeowner. He
said he would answer a few questions and then he would have his general contractor
speak. Mr. Johnson said the oak tree was approximately 36" in diameter and he bought
the house in 2016. Ms. Simmons asked the applicant if he was aware of the storm water
retention plan requiring the removal of a tree. Mr. Johnson said he was. He said that he
wanted to remodel his home but didn't want to have to remove the tree. Ms. Golombek
asked if the retention could go somewhere else. Mr. Johnson said his general contractor
would have to answer that. Mr. Haynie asked if the removal of the tree triggered him to
change his mind about doing the retention. Mr. Johnson said that it did.
Ted Alesch introduced himself as the contractor. He explained that after reviewing the
retention plans they realized how dramatic of a change it would make to the site,
affecting the neighbors, the tree and the neighbor's palm tree. Mr. Alesch showed a
picture explaining that the lot currently drains from the front of the street to the back and
the retention plan would reverse that. He said a soil test showed no water at 5 feet below.
Mr. Alesch said a large berm in the front yard would have to be taken down below street
level, remove the oak tree and a palm tree in the neighbor's yard which would then need
a retaining wall to go down the side of their yard. He said that since they are reducing
the lot coverage and the footprint of the house is remaining the same they decided to ask
for a variance. Ms. Simmons said an 8" diameter oak absorbs 1,491 gallons of water a
year. She said she was still concerned about the neighbors behind this property. Mr.
Alesch said there is a natural swale going down the north side of the lot. Mr. Johnson
said none of the neighbors have ever had any flooding. Mr. Alesch said they tried to
come up with other options for retention but due to the fact that you can't be too close to
the house, within 15 feet of the lot line, etc. He said the limited what they could do. Ms.
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August 15, 2023
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Golombek asked why these concerns didn't come up when they presented their original
permit. Mr. Alesch said it didn't until they got with an engineer and started staking out
the lot. Then they realized how dramatic it was going to be. Ms. Golombek asked that
since the house was almost finished why did it take this long to go for a variance. Mr.
Alesch said that they were about half way through the project when back and forth with
the engineer trying to come up with a solution. He talked with public works and they
suggested he pursue a variance. Mr. Arthur asked him what the impervious surface was
going to be. Mr. Alesch said it was around 42%.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Chair Hansen opened the floor to public comment. Glen Fisher
of 2001 Mipaula Court introduced himself. He spoke in favor of approving this request
and keeping the tree and the berm. There were no more public comments.
BOARD DISCUSSION: Chair Hansen said it would be reasonable to approve this due
to exceptional topographic conditions. Mr. Haynie agreed and added that condition 4
could be added. Mr. Gear said the fact that the applicant knew this at the time of
permitting and at this late time is asking for a variance was moderately duplicitous. Mr.
Arthur thought that reversing the direction of the drainage to the street would be a
hardship.
MOTION: To APPROVE ZVAR23-0022 based on exceptional topographic conditions of
or near the property and onerous effect of regulations enacted after platting or after development
of the property or after construction of improvement upon the property.
Motion: Jeff Haynie
Second. Sylvia Simmons
Kirk Hansen
For
Harold Gear
For
Sylvia Simmons (Seconded By)
For
Ellen Golombek
For
Jeff Haynie (Moved By)
For
Richard Arthur
For
Motion passed 6 to 0.
D. 0 West 2nd Street ZVAR23-0023 (Harold J. Rooks)
Request for a variance to exceed the maximum fence height at 0 West 2nd Street.
MOTION: To DEFER ZVAR23-0023 until September 19, 2023.
Motion: Jeff Haynie
Second. Sylvia Simmons
Kirk Hansen
Harold Gear
For
Against
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August 15, 2023
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5.
Sylvia Simmons (Seconded By) For
Ellen Golombek For
Jeff Haynie (Moved By) For
Richard Arthur For
Motion passed 5 to 1.
E. 981 Sailfish Drive ZVAR23-0024 (Springfield Builders)
Request for a variance to the platted Building Restriction Line (BRL) at 981 Sailfish
Drive.
STAFF REPORT: Director Askew presented the information as explained in the staff
report. She also provided a PowerPoint presentation. The Board revisited the fact that
every homeowner and lender would have to agree and sign -off to redo the subdivision
plat.
APPLICANT REPORT: Bucky Davis of Springfield Builders introduced himself and
said that Director Askew explained everything well.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Chair Hansen opened the floor to public comment. A
representative for 984 Sailfish Drive introduced herself. She spoke in favor of approval
of this request. Chair Hansen closed the floor to public comment.
BOARD DISCUSSION: The Board spoke in favor of approving this request.
MOTION: To APPROVE ZVAR23-0024 due to exceptional circumstances preventing the
reasonable use of the property as compared to other properties in the area.
Motion: Jeff Haynie
Second. Ellen Golombek
Kirk Hansen
For
Harold Gear
For
Sylvia Simmons
For
Ellen Golombek (Seconded By)
For
Jeff Haynie (Moved By)
For
Richard Arthur
For
Motion passed 6 to 0.
REPORTS
Director Askew encouraged the Board to watch the video from last night's City Commission
meeting where they discussed the impervious/pervious lot coverage topic. Chair Hansen added
that he had spoken to the City Engineer about not applying the same guidelines to every lot in
Atlantic Beach. Ms. Golombek also recommended watching that part of the meeting.
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August 15, 2023
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6. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
7. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Chair Hansen declared the meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Attest:
0�na�'d' g,
Amanda Askew
Kirk Hansen, Chair
Communit} Development Board (CDB)
August 15, 2023
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