Planning and Zoning Meeting Draft Minutes

Draft Minutes of the December 14, 2020 5:30 p.m.
Planning and Zoning Meeting

The Planning and Zoning Board meeting was held in the Town Hall Commission Chambers at 409 Fennell Blvd., Lady Lake, Florida. The meeting convened at 5:30 p.m.

A. Call to Order

Chairperson Sigurdson

B. Pledge of Allegiance

C. Roll Call

Vice Chairperson/Member Regis LeClerc; Chairperson and Member William Sigurdson; and Member Nora Choquette

STAFF PRESENT:

Thad Carroll, Growth Management Director; Wendy Then, Senior Planner; and Carol Osborne, Staff Assistant to the Town Clerk

OTHERS PRESENT:

Sasha Garcia, Attorney, BRS Legal; Commissioner Paul Hannan; and Mayor Ruth Kussard

D. Public Comment

Chairperson Sigurdson stated there is no one from the public present. There were no comments.

E. New Business

1. Approval of Minutes

Member Choquette made a motion to approve the September 14, 2020 Planning and Zoning Board meeting minutes as presented. Member LeClerc seconded the motion, and the motion passed by an all-in-favor vote of 3 to 0.

2. Ordinance 2020-11 — Annexing Approximately 1.26 acres Located within Unincorporated Lake County; owned by M & L Lady Lake LLC (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). Ms. Then stated that the applicant is present.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any questions or comments.

Member LeClerc asked if the exit on Griffin Avenue will be in the same location.

Ms. Then explained where the ingress/egress will be for this property.

Chairperson Sigurdson commented that he was pleased to see that the exit on Griffin Avenue was relocated farther from Hwy 27/441. He stated this will aid in alleviating traffic congestion at the entrance/exit at La Plaza Grande.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any further questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member LeClerc made a motion to forward Ordinance 2020-11 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member Choquette seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

3. Ordinance 2020-12 — Amending the Lady Lake Future Land Use Comprehensive Plan of Property Being Approximately 1.26 Acres from Lake County Urban Medium to Lady Lake Commercial General (Retail Sales and Services); Owned by M & L Lady Lake, LLC (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member Choquette made a motion to forward Ordinance 2020-12 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member LeClerc seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

4. Ordinance 2020-13 — Rezoning Property Being Approximately 1.26 Acres from Lake County Planned Commercial to Lady Lake Planned Commercial; Owned by M & L Lady Lake, LLC (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if the gas pumps will be moved.

Jessica Heiny of Florida Engineering and Surveying, LLC, advised that the gas pumps have been removed and the property is now vacant.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any further questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member LeClerc made a motion to forward Ordinance 2020-13 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member Choquette seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

5. Ordinance 2020-15 — Voluntarily Annexing Property being Approximately 0.25 Acres owned by Richard R. and Edith C. Rollins; Lots 34 and 42 of Orange Blossom Gardens Unit 3, within Lake County, Florida (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). Ms. Then stated that the applicant is present.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member Choquette made a motion to forward Ordinance 2020-15 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member LeClerc seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

6. Ordinance 2020-16 — Amending the Lady Lake Future Land Use Comprehensive Plan from Lake County Medium Urban Density to Town of Lady Lake Manufactured Home High Density (MH – HD) for Property being Approximately 0.25 Acres owned by Richard R. and Edith C. Rollins; Lots 34 and 42 of Orange Blossom Gardens Unit 3, within Lake County, Florida (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member Choquette made a motion to forward Ordinance 2020-16 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member LeClerc seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

7. Ordinance 2020-17 — Rezoning Property Being Approximately 0.25 Acres owned by Richard R. and Edith C. Rollins; Lots 34 and 42 of Orange Blossom Gardens Unity 3, from Lake County Residential Medium to Lady Lake Mixed Residential Medium Density (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member LeClerc made a motion to forward Ordinance 2020 -17 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member Choquette seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

8. Resolution 2020 - 112 — A Variance to Reduce the Front Yard setback from 25 Feet to 20 Feet for Residential Structures within the Water Oak Hilltop Expansion Phases 1 through 5 Development Proposed South of Griffin Avenue and East of the Water Oak County Club Estates (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).

She stated that staff has received telephone and email communications from Jim Bellizzi and Darrell Johnson, potential purchaser and seller of property respectively, that abuts the proposed Water Oak property. Referring to the email from Mr. Bellizzi that was presented to the board this evening, Ms. Then stated that Mr. Bellizzi requests the Planning and Zoning Board and the Town Commission consider asking the applicant to eliminate the development of lots of 139, 140, 141 and 155 from their site plan and construct, at a minimum, an eight-foot engineered concrete wall along the southern boundary. Ms. Then advised this is not a rezoning application and that the applicant has current zoning entitlements to construct what is permissible. Also, the property to the south is fully wooded and screened along the abutting lots. The subject house is located nearly in the middle of the property, which is approximately 230 linear feet from the property line. In addition, the applicant is required to provide a ten-foot landscaping buffer along the southern boundary per Town code, along with a ten-foot rear yard setback, resulting in an additional 20 linear feet to the closest structure on the rear.

Ms. Then stated that during the telephone conversation, Mr. Bellizzi stated that he does not oppose the variance; he wants those items to be considered.

Ms. Then stated that Mr. Johnson spoke to Growth Management Director Thad Carroll and indicated that he is not concerned with building a wall; he wants lot 141 to be removed from the proposal.

Ms. Then stated that the applicant, Dan Gibbs, is on the telephone and will address any questions from the Board, and Lara Parker, General Manager of Water Oak, is present as well to answer any questions.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any questions or comments.

Ms. Choquette stated that she understands the issues Mr. Bellizzi addresses in his email. She stated she feels that is a separate issue from what is being presented to the Board this evening.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked for clarification on what the term “structures” includes.

Ms. Then clarified that a structure is the actual house, or any portion of construction attached to the house, such as a garage, porch or lanai, that extends out from the front of the house into the front yard. Any structure would require a minimum 20-foot front yard setback.

Mr. Carroll stated that this also includes sheds.

Mr. Carroll stated when the Water Oak community was developed in the 1980’s, the front yard setback requirement was 20 feet. That has since been amended to a 25-foot front yard setback. The applicant is requesting to continue utilizing the 20-foot front yard setback in the new phase to keep consistency throughout the development. He advised that the applicant is not requesting more than what was granted in Phase 1.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked what the setback on the houses on the west side of the pond is.

Lara Parker replied that that those houses have a 20-foot setback.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any further questions or comments.

Ms. Choquette stated that this will maintain uniformity throughout the park.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked for clarification of the lots noted in the eastern section of the phase.

Ms. Then stated for the record that all lots are required to meet the minimum size of 5,000 square feet.

Ms. Parker clarified that the park offers lots of various sizes and are referenced on the site map in different colors.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any further questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member LeClerc made a motion to forward Resolution 2020-112 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member Choquette seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

9. Resolution 2020-113 — A Variance Request to Allow the Construction of Internal Private Roads within the Water Oak Hilltop Expansion Phases 2 through 5 to be 20-Foot Paved Roads to Keep Consistency with the Construction and Layout of the Existing Water Oak Country Club Estates (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). She stated that the applicant is on the telephone and the park manager is present if there are any questions.

Chairperson Sigurdson stated that a town official from the Tampa area informed him that the 20-foot road width is the minimum distance permitted to allow vehicles to park on the side of the road and still have adequate distance to allow traffic flow.

Ms. Then confirmed this and added that the fire inspector reviews all site plans to ensure there is adequate distance for all sizes of emergency vehicles.

Member LeClerc noted that while driving in the park, there was a wide landscaping trailer parked on the side of the road that did not allow him a lot of room to pass. He stated because there are no sidewalks in Water Oak, he is concerned with residents walking on the road.

Ms. Parker stated from the audience that she will address this with the contractors.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any further questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member Choquette made a motion to forward Resolution 2020-113 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member LeClerc seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

10. Resolution 2020-114 — A Variance Request to Request a Minimum Driveway Setback of 67 Feet from the Intersection of North US Highway 27/441 and West Guava Street, Located at 135 North Highway 27/441 (Wendy Then)

Senior Planner Wendy Then presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). She stated that the applicant, Knight’s Real Estate, representing Big Dan’s Carwash site, is present.

Chairperson Sigurdson verified that there is just one entrance on Guava Street.

Chairperson Sigurdson asked if there were any further questions or comments. Hearing none, he asked for a motion.

Member LeClerc made a motion to forward Resolution 2020-114 to the Town Commission with the recommendation of approval. Member Choquette seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:

Member Vote
LeClerc YES
Choquette YES
Sigurdson YES

F. Chairperson and Members' Report

No report.

G. Adjourn

With nothing further to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:29 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________
Carol Osborne, Staff Assistant to the Town Clerk

_____________________________
William Sigurdson, Chairperson