Commission Meeting Draft Minutes

Draft Minutes of the August 17, 2020 5:30 pm Commission Meeting

The special meeting of the Lady Lake Town Commission was held in the Commission Chambers at Lady Lake Town Hall, 409 Fennell Blvd., Lady Lake, Florida with Mayor Jim Richards presiding. The meeting convened at 5:30 p.m.

A. Call to Order

Mayor Jim Richards

B. Roll Call

Commissioner (Ward) Present
Hannan (Four) YES
Kussard (One) YES
Holden (Two) YES
Vincent (Three) YES
Richards (Five) YES

STAFF PRESENT

Kris Kollgaard, Town Manager; Derek Schroth, Town Attorney; Thad Carroll, Growth Management Director; C.T. Eagle, Public Works Director; Wendy Then, Senior Planner; Pam Winegardner, Finance Director; and Nancy Slaton, Deputy Town Clerk

C. Public Comment

Mayor Richards asked if anyone had any comments. There were no comments.

D. New Business

1. Conceptual Presentation of Lady Lake Square Apartments — Proposing a 288-Unit Apartment Complex Consisting of Nine Buildings and Associated Parking Areas; Featuring Amenities to Include a Clubhouse and Pool, Dog Park Area, and Children’s Playground; to be Located at the Southwest Corner of County Road 25 and Griffin Avenue, Identified by Alternate Key Numbers 3302494 and 3306376 (Thad Carroll)

Growth Management Director Thad Carroll presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). He noted that one of the buildings is designed as a four-story building and may need a variance to conform with the change in limiting building heights if that ordinance is passed prior to this site plan coming before the Commission. He stated the proposed four-story building (Building F) is on the south end of the property and will not be adjacent to any residential zoning; it backs up to the Post Office and to the Sam’s Club retention pond.

Commissioner Kussard asked if adjacent parcels A, B, C, D & E are also owned by Benchmark Group.

Mr. Carroll replied affirmatively. He stated those parcels are currently zoned Light or Heavy Commercial and will be commercial uses in the future.

Martin Dellebovi, Vice President of Benchmark Group, presented the conceptual plan for the Lady Lake Square Apartment project.

Mayor Richards asked the Commissioners if they had any questions.

Commissioner Hannan remarked that Mr. Dellebovi and Benchmark Group have put Lady Lake on the map in the 15 years he has resided here and has worked well with Town staff. He asked if another entrance into the complex could be considered onto Griffin Road.

Mr. Dellebovi stated they worked with Kimley-Horn Engineering regarding the traffic study and there are no traffic issues with or without a second entrance onto Griffin Road; he stated they would be willing to add another entrance if the Commissioners requested it.

Commissioner Hannan stated he is in favor of a second entrance.

Commissioner Kussard clarified that there are already three entrances with traffic signals proposed for the complex; from Fennell to Veteran’s Drive, from Old Vineyard/Second Avenue, and one from Teague Trail/CR 25.

Commissioner Holden asked Mr. Dellebovi how many children he thought the complex may have, as he wondered if there will be enough green space/play area for children.

Mr. Dellebovi replied that he does not have information or a break-out of how many children may reside in these apartments. He stated there is a lot of acreage available  in these parcels.

Commissioner Vincent stated that a development of 350 homes is already committed and will be coming out onto Griffin Road. He stated Griffin Road may become another failed Rolling Acres Road.

Commissioner Holden asked if there are any plans to four-lane CR 25.

Mr. Dellebovi stated that FDOT has committed to four-laning approximately 600 to 1,000 yards along CR 25, coming off the intersection of Hwy 27/441.

Commissioner Hannan asked if there is an estimated start date for the project.

Mr. Dellebovi replied the sewer project needs to be completed first. He estimated that the development project could be started in approximately seven to eight months.

It was the consensus of the Commissioners that the project should be advanced as presented.

Mr. Dellebovi stated he has made some notes of tonight’s comments and may make a few changes as a result.

Town Manager Kris Kollgaard introduced Attorney Joshua Bills of the Hunt Law Firm who will be taking over as Special Magistrate after this month. She noted that the contract terms will be the same as they were with the previous Special Magistrate, Val Fuchs.

The Commissioners welcomed Attorney Bills and thanked him for taking on this role for the Town.

E. Adjourn

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:59 p.m.

___________________________
Kristen Kollgaard, Town Clerk

___________________________
Ruth Kussard, Mayor Pro Tem

Minutes transcribed by Nancy Slaton, Deputy Town Clerk