Minutes_Local Planning Agency_04/08/2010 MINUTES
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY
APRIL 8, 2010
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pat Watkins at 5:30 p.m. A roll call was taken by Village
Clerk Lori McWilliams. Present were: Mayor Pat Watkins, Vice Mayor Tom Paterno, Council Member
Vince Arena, Council Member Jim Humpage and Council Member Calvin Turnquest. Also in
attendance were: Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., Village Attorney Keith Davis, Village Clerk
Lori McWilliams, Police Chief McCollom and Fire Chief Weinand.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Council Member Tumquest moved approval of the agenda; seconded by Council
Member Humpage; motion carried unanimously 5 -0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Ordinance 1 -10, First Reading, Amending the Village Code of Ordinances at Chapter 78,
Zoning. Article IX. Supplemental Regulations. Division 2. Site Plan Review. And Division 3.
Special Exception Uses. By Amending These Divisions To Relocate Certain Approval Criteria
From The Special Exception Approval Process To The Site Plan Review Process.
Mayor Watkins opened the meeting for Council and Public comments.
Council Member Humpage noted the item had been discussed multiple times and explained the two
phases associated with the Ordinance. He stated the Ordinance associated with special exceptions
was attached to the land not an owner. Vice Mayor Paterno voiced his concerns with the Ordinance
changes and his support for making special exceptions difficult to obtain. He felt Tequesta was an
exceptional Village because of their strict codes.
Council Member Turnquest inquired if the Village had an application for a special exception submitted
at present and if so, felt it would be poor judgment to discuss changes. Attorney White explained the
Ordinance was being discussed because of past applicant's struggles. She stated the Village
questioned their own process and felt it was time for Council to review. Council Member Turnquest
believed the process was not followed properly in the past and expressed he was against making
changes of a policy because of employee error.
Council Member Arena felt periodic examination of all rules was necessary and believed it was
important to understand that a "special exception" was a 12 month process not a single action. He
stated it made no sense to make a developer go through unnecessary steps and expenditures and
noted specifics which he believed the new proposed steps essentially made the special exception
more difficult. Council Member Turnquest responded that the Ordinance should not be changed and
believed the problem had been addressed.
Council Member Arena felt that a business should not have to go to extremes only to present an idea
and ask if it would be acceptable in the Village. He felt having them perform different studies and /or
spending large sums of money on a project that Council could initially deny was unfair. Council
Member Turnquest noted that different size businesses applied for permits with a variety of
requirements, some needing studies and some not.
Local Planning Agency
April 8, 2010
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Mayor Watkins expressed her concerns with the procedure being performed wrong in the past and
should not be assumed that the examination of the Ordinance was because of previous applicants
project setbacks. She commended Council Member Humpage, Council and the Attorney on all they
had put into researching this Ordinance and referred to the Villages Comprehensive Plan. She felt
changes were good but believed this was bad timing.
Catherine Harding, 1 Bunker Place pointed out that Ordinances were created in the best interest of
the tax payers and she believed this Ordinance was not in the best interest of the community and
expressed that the public should be given information before any changes took place.
Geraldine Genco Dube, 7 Country Club Circle, referred to Village processes and third party
approvals. She suggested splitting up the process and offering applicants alternatives.
Mayor Watkins asked for any additional comments; there being none she closed the public hearing.
MOTION Council Member Turnquest motioned denial of Ordinance 1 -10; seconded by Vice Mayor
Paterno, motion carried a 3 -2 vote with Council Member Humpage and Council Member Arena
dissenting.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Council Member Turnquest moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Vice Mayor
Paterno. The motion to adjourn carried unanimously 5 -0; therefore the meeting was adjourned at 6:21
P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
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Lori McWilliams CMC
Village Clerk