2008-07-15 (meeting minutes) vMinutes of the July I5, 2008 regular meeting of the Community Development Board
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
A regular meeting of the Community Development Board was convened at 6:00 pm on Tuesday,
July 15, 2008 in the City Hall Commission Chambers, located at 800 Seminole Road in Atlantic
Beach. In attendance were Community Development Director Sonya Doerr, and Community
Development Board members Blaine Adams, Joshua Putterman, Lynn Drysdale, Ellen Glasser,
Kirk Hansen and Chairman Chris Lambertson. Board member David Boyer was absent.
1. CALL TO ORDER. Chairman Chris Lambertson called the meeting to order at 6:08 pm.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Minutes from the May 20th EAR workshop and the following
regular meeting were approved by unanimous vote.
3. OLD BUSINESS. None.
4. NEW BUSINESS.
a. REZ-2008-01. Administrative rezoning from RG-2 (multi-family) to CM
(Commercial) to make the Zoning Map consistent with the established use and the
Comprehensive Plan designation for parcels totaling .68 acres on the south side
Sturdivant Avenue between Seminole Road and Pine Street.
Ms. Doerr introduced the item, and explained that this change in zoning was initiated by the
City to make the zoning designation consistent with the longstanding uses in this area and the
Comprehensive Plan which has designated this area as Commercial since 1990. Ms. Doerr
continued to explain that these scattered few parcels have been zoned multi-family for as long
as zoning has existed in Atlantic Beach, and that she is aware of no good explanation as to
why these few lots on this side of the street are zoned multi-family where everything else
between Sturdivant and Atlantic Boulevard is zoned Commercial. She noted that other than
two older duplexes, there are only commercial uses and a few vacant lots along the south side
of Sturdivant for its entire length.
Mr. Lambertson addressed the status of the two duplexes asking Ms. Doerr to confirm that
those could be replaced if the owners wished to do so. Ms. Doerr confirmed that, yes; the
Code provides that duplexes that were legally existing prior to 2002 could be replaced if the
owners wished to do so.
Mr. Hansen asked about the need to do this, noting that the Comprehensive Plan designation
was commercial. Ms. Doerr concurred that the zoning needed to be made consistent with the
land use map designation, and that it was also an effort to be proactive and "remove obstacles
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Minutes of the July I5, 2008 regular meeting of the Community Development Board
that might prevent appropriate redevelopment" as we discussed during the EAR process. She
explained that the existing businesses that front on Atlantic Boulevard might be prevented
from expanding their businesses since the rear half of their properties are zoned multi-family
residential. They would be entitled to the change in zoning in any case because of the Comp
Plan designation, but the rezoning process could result in a significant delay in time. Mr.
Adams commented that this seemed to be a housekeeping item that we should take care of
before it causes a problem. Ms. Doerr agreed. Mr. Lambertson opened the floor to public
comment.
Bruce McKenzie, 148 Magnolia Street, addressed the Board stating his distrust for the City
and wanted to know "what the City was doing to them" with this change. Mr. McKenzie
continued to express his dissatisfaction with the City regarding this and unrelated matters.
Chris Farrin identified herself as an owner of one of the duplexes and questioned the ability to
rebuild and continue to rent these. Mr. Lambertson reiterated that by City Code, she was
entitled to maintain or rebuild her duplex as long as she wished to. She stated that she felt the
lots should be left as they are because people use them for parking now, and that she was
offended at the comment that these were not nice places to live. Mr. Lambertson commented
that this was not the intent, but that this comment only addressed that there were businesses
and a lot of traffic surrounding these two duplexes. She stated that she had spent a lot of
money to fix-up her property and planned to live there someday.
With no other comment from the public, Mr. Lambertson asked for further comment from the
Board. Ms. Glasser commented that this seemed wholly consistent with what we discussed
during the EAR workshop, and that the zoning needs to match the Comprehensive Plan. Ms.
Glasser made a motion to recommend approval to the City Commission of the change in
zoning from RG-2 to CG; Mr. Putterman seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
b. ZVAR-2008-06, Paphides. Request for a Variance to permit a swimming pool to be
located closer to a front property line than the Principal Building (but not within the
required 20-foot front yard setback) on a lot within the RS-2 Zoning District at 334
Ninth Street.
Ms. Doerr explained that the Applicant would like to construct a small pool on her property,
but that this house is located at the every rear of the lot and the only possible location for a
pool would be in front of the house. She explained that this is one of the oldest houses built
on Ninth Street, and it sets back much farther from the street than other houses. The original
house was built prior to any zoning regulations and most of the lots surrounding this one were
vacant at the time. The proposed pool location would far more than meet the required
setbacks for pools, and would still be located a good distance behind the front building line of
other houses on the street.
Ms. Doerr recommended approval of the request stating that it seemed to be completely
consistent with the approval condition related to the effects of zoning regulations enacted after
platting or development of a property. She also suggested two conditions, which Mrs.
Paphides fully agreed to. Mrs. Paphides addressed the Board briefly noting that she would
landscape the pool similar to what is now in front of her house and that she hopes her
landscaping will completely conceal her pool.
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Minutes of the July I5, 2008 regular meeting of the Community Development Board
Mr. Adams made a motion to approve the Variance from Section 24-164 to permit a
swimming pool to be located closer to the front property line than the Principal Building
(but not within the required 20-foot front yard setback) on a lot within the RS-2 Zoning
District at 334 9th Street subject to the following conditions:
• The pool will in the approximate size and location directly in front of the existing
deck as depicted in the application.
• The required fence enclosure shall be constructed in a style and design that is
substantially similar to the deck fence and railing or the exterior facade materials on
the front of the house.
Motion seconded by Ms. Drysdale and carried unanimously.
5. ADJOURNMENT. Chairman Lambertson adjourned the meeting at 7:35 pm.
Signed: Chris Lambertson, Chairman
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Attest
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