Commission Meeting Agenda Item

On Thursday, May 6, 2021, applicant Chitraika Narine filed a Minor Site Plan application for property located at 320 Highway 466, within the town limits of the Town of Lady Lake, Florida. This has been used as a residential property since 1974; however, it has been vacant for the past five years. At the present time, there is an existing 560 square foot detached garage building, a 1,056 square-foot manufactured home, and a 216 square foot utility building on the property which will be removed pending approval of the site plan application.

In review of the Land Development Regulations, the proposal is to tear-down the existing structures and build a new 2,115 square foot commercial building on the property. The site consists of only 12,825 square feet. It is zoned Light Commercial; therefore, the proposed improvements are allowable as per the Town’s Land Development Regulations.

The site will have a total of 12 parking spaces upon completion and will provide right-in, right-out driveway access for the patrons of the new development. Again, given that the site is limited in size, the applicant has requested two landscaping waivers in an effort to provide adequate parking, traffic circulation, and stormwater management on the site.

COMMERCIAL DESIGN STANDARDS WAIVERS

In accordance with the Land Development Regulations, Chapter 20, Section 20-3C).3).A)., new buildings should adopt and must closely follow one of the four recommended architectural styles: Frame Vernacular, Craftsman/Bungalow, Mediterranean, or Mission.

The applicant has made some additional updates to the architectural exterior elevations featuring primarily the Craftsman/Bungalow Architectural Design. The applicant proposes to stucco the exterior walls of a metal building and apply a Design Decorative Band along the top of the façade to accent and modernize the proposed two-tenant building. The elevation features wooden awnings over each glass doors and windows.  Additionally, the building will exhibit four light sconces in between doors and windows both for safety and aesthetics purposes. Lastly, the applicant will be applying stone along the front façade which will greatly enhance the aesthetics of the building.

The applicant has opted for a mixture of terracotta colors; therefore, the building exterior walls will be Sherwin Williams Himalayan Salt, the Trim will be Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki and the awning will be Sherwin Williams Fireweed.

TREE REQUIREMENTS

In accordance with Chapter 10-Landscape and Tree Protection, the site is required to provide approximately 48 tree caliper inches based on the 0.30-acre site development area (160” multiplied by 0.30).

With the proposal of 15 canopy trees of 4” diameter at breast height (60 inches of plant material) and 19 understory trees of 2.5” diameter at breast height (47 inches of plant material), the plan will exceed the required amount of caliper inches required by the Land Development Regulations.

LANDSCAPING WAIVERS PROPOSED:

Chapter 10, Section 10-3).g). — Landscape area in the width of four feet shall be provided around the base of all buildings.

In order to provide the correct amount of parking spaces according to the width requirements, adhere to the side building setbacks, and provide a sidewalk adjacent to the building for ADA accessibility, the four feet of landscape material around the building needed to be eliminated.

Chapter 10, Section 10-3).b). B). 2)- Landscaping Buffer Class “B,” the buffer is required to have 20 feet in width with five canopy trees, four understory trees, and a continuous hedge.

A 20-foot Class “B” landscaping buffer is required along Highway 466 according to the Land Development Regulations. Lake County has requested that no canopy trees be planted along Highway 466, and in order to provide proper parking and traffic circulation through the site, the buffer width will also be reduced to a width of five feet.

It was found that the applicant has designed the location and planting of landscaping in accordance with the Town’s landscaping code as it refers to spacing, native vegetation, water use requirements, while taking into consideration site visibility and overcrowding of plant material as best possible. Again, the required amount of plant material will far exceed what is required by the Town’s Land Development Regulations.

Town staff is in favor of approval because the request is compatible with approved land uses along the Highway 466 corridor. The site has been designed to comply with the impervious surface ratio requirements, as well as on-site storm water retention for storm runoff needs. The proposal is consistent with how the Town would like to see infill development take place to promote economic development of properties along this commercial corridor.

UTILITIES CONNECTION

The project is expected to demand two water and two sewer ERUs; however, this is an existing site with water connection. The project will be connecting to the Town’s Potable Water System via an existing ¾ inch water meter and back flow preventer proposing a one-inch PVC waterline with valve. The applicant also proposes ¾ inch reuse water meter for irrigation connection.

There is no sewer system in the area; therefore, the applicant is proposing a 1,050-gallon septic tank and septic system to be placed in front of the building facing the CR 466 right of way. The applicant has stated that extending the sewer lines to the property for the proposed demand is not financially feasible. For two bathrooms, approximately 400 GPD is required, and the 1,050-gallon septic tank can easily accommodate the demand. Bigger developments in the vicinity have been approved utilizing a septic system because there are no sewer lines nearby. The development can obtain approval from the Town of Lady Lake to operate on a private system with an agreement to connect to the municipal system when available. System availability occurs when a line and/or lift station exist in a public easement or right-of-way and plant has sufficient capacity.

TRAFFIC

Utilizing the 814 Specialty Retail Store ITE Land Use Code, the applicant established that the 2,115-square-foot building is estimated to generate two net new PM peak hour trips. The site itself requires 11 parking spaces , included one Florida ADA Accessible Parking Space.

REVIEWS CONDUCTED

The site plan was reviewed to determine if it is in compliance with the Land Development Regulations (LDRs) including drainage, grading and erosion control. The application was determined to be in compliance with the Land Development Regulations (LDRs) and the Comprehensive Plan; with the exception of the requested waivers and granted variance.

The civil engineering plans, consisting of 11 sheets, have been submitted on 24" x 36"sheets and certified by David W. Springstead Professional Engineer with Springstead Engineering, Inc., drawn on February 21, 2021, with final revisions drawn on November 5, 2021. Landscaping, Irrigation, and Site Lighting plans are contained within the Civil Plans by Springstead Engineering. Architectural Elevation Plans consisting of one sheet are drawn by LP Structural Design, LLC and dated December 23, 2021.

Town staff, Neel-Schaffer Engineering, and the Fire Inspector completed reviews. The following items are included in the packet:

Review No. 3 for the general site development completed by Neel-Schaffer Engineering, dated November 8, 2021 (Satisfied).

Review by Fire Inspector Kerry Barnett dated October 19, 2021 (Satisfied).

Review by Lady Lake Building Official dated October 20, 2021 (Satisfied).

Review by Lady Lake Public Works Utility Supervisor Butch Goodman dated August 14, 2021 (Satisfied).

Lake County Public Works Comments dated May 18, 2021 (Satisfied) and Driveway Connection Permit Application dated August 2, 2021.

St. John’s River Water Management District Storm Water Permit Project No. 173415-1 (under review by the State).

PAST ACTIONS

At the August 11, 2021, meeting, the Parks Recreation and Tree Advisory Committee voted 4-0 recommending approval for the proposed landscaping waivers for the Narine Commercial Retail Office New Major Site Plan 05/21-001.

At the November 15, 2021, Special Conceptual Town Commission Meeting, the site plan received consensus to move forward with the waivers as presented with a 5-0 vote.