HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Regular_03/09/2017 MINUTES
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
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REGULAR MEETING March 9, 2017
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Abby Brennan at 6:25 p.m. A roll call was
taken by Clerk Lori McWilliams. Present were: Mayor Abby Brennan, Vice Mayor
D'Ambra, Council Member Steve Okun, Council Member Tom Paterno, Council Member
Arena.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Council Member Okun moved approval of the agenda; seconded by Council
Member Arena; motion carried unanimously 5-0.
PRESENTATION
Public Safety Pension Board Presentation - John Terzakis, Pension Trustee
Mr. Terzakis advised that at the last public safety pension meeting on February 9, 2017,
they were notified that The Bogdahn Group (advisors) changed its name to AndCo
Consulting. Unfortunately, quarterly return was less than desirable but the quarter closed
on December 31, 2016 so the numbers did not reflect a rebound that occurred after the
inauguration. The return was -.104 percent for the quarter versus the benchmark of 1.30
percent. After some consideration, The Bogdahn Group/AndCo was instructed to change
to a satellite and core index strategy. This utilized some index funds and reduced overall
portfolio costs, with the benefit of active management. The biggest performer was
Templeton Global Fixed Income Fund. The Board discussed asset allocations, decided
to move 50% equity into that fund and asked the new managers for suggestions of new
growth investments.
Two new state laws that affected Village contributions to the pension plan were outlined
in distributed materials. The Board recommended a lower assumed rate of return of
7.25%, which was still higher than what was advised by actuaries, but they felt it was a
step in the right direction. In the actuaries' opinion, our fund was in excellent condition
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 2
as costs and contribution rate volatility were both low.
Vice Mayor D'Ambra asked whether Bogdahn/AndCo's effectiveness warranted their
fees. Given the pension's below-market performance, he also questioned the support
they provided. Mr. Terzakis responded that the board made suggestions and
recommendations and although Bogdahn did their job, they were not proactive. A
suggestion from Vice Mayor D'Ambra was to set expectations for Bogdahn to meet or
face replacement. He had concerns before but felt that he had not observed long enough
for a fair assessment however; he felt that now there had been enough time.
According to Mr. Terzakis, the numbers since inception reflected that the Board was
where they wished to be but the pension was not capitalizing on market upcycles. Fee
reduction was always a possibility but if The Bogdahn Group/AndCo was not more
proactive, it may be time to look for a replacement. Council Member Paterno asked if,
with name change, Joe Bogdahn left the company and what effect that had. Mr. Terzakis
confirmed that he sold the company but was uncertain of the effect on the Pension as he
did not know the extent of Mr. Bogdahn's involvement.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION: Council Member Okun moved approval of the Consent Agenda; seconded by
Council Member Arena; motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Council Member Patemo requested more details about item 13 however did not want it
pulled from the Consent Agenda. Mayor Brennan determined that the Village Manager
would summarize the item in his report later in the meeting.
2. MINUTES: January 9, 2017 Regular Council Meeting and January 30, 2017
Workshop
3. Approval of Contracts Signed by Manager Under $25,000 (Per Village Ordinance
we are presenting the following agreements, proposals, commitments and
memorandum of understanding to Council.): a) Only Trees Estimate-Tree
Removal — Public Works $ 2,950.00; b) Southeastern Printing Quote 81957-
2/Smoke Signals - Administration $2,403.00; c) Southeastern Printing Quote
81958-1/Smoke Signals - Administration $546.00; and d) Mock Roos Professional
Engineering Agreement/Flushing Unit Rolling Hills - Utilities $16,650.00
4. RESOLUTION NO. 13-17, A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE
COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA,
INCREASING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES IN THE
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Page 3
GENERAL FUND #001 2016/2017 BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF
$60,000.00 TO REFLECT RECEIPT AND SUBSEQUENT USE OF
GRANT FUNDS FROM THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION
DISTRICT; MEMORIALIZING THE ACTION TAKEN AT THE
FEBRUARY 9, 2017 VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 14-17, A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE
COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA,
INCREASING THE SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST
FUND #605 2016/2017 BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING FUND BALANCE
IN THE AMOUNT OF $171,400.00
6. RESOLUTION NO. 15-17, A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE
COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, DETAILING
AND RESTATING COUNCIL ACTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE
OF A NEW POLICE/FIRE RESCUE BOAT AND TRAILER AND AWARD
A CONTRACT WITH BRUNSWICK COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT
PRODUCTS, INC. FOR SAME IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED FIFTY
ONE DOLLARS $180 651.00 � AND TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE
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OF A NEW TOW VEHICLE AND AWARD A CONTRACT WITH
ALAN JAY FLEET SALES FOR SAME IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED FIFTY THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT
DOLLARS ($50,748.00)
7. Update on the Planning and Zoning Board Serving as the Infrastructure Surtax
Citizen Oversight Committee
8. Machinery and Equipment Advisory
9. Fiscal Year 2016/2017 Budget Amendments
13. Approval of Interim Finance Director Agreement
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 4
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS
All but one of several residents wished to speak regarding Item 11 therefore Mayor
Brennan announced that they would have a chance to speak when item 11 was
discussed.
Susan Feldman of 515 Cypress Circle in the Cypress Ridge subdivision stated that when
she moved to Tequesta finro and one half years ago, she understood that the roads in her
neighborhood were to be paved. There were rugged roads all the way down the
community. It was a lovely neighborhood except for the roads. Mr. Couzzo agreed to
look at the schedule and update her on the issue.
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COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCIL
Council Member Arena mentioned a friend of his commented that the Village had had no
elections for quite some time. He stated that it was a privilege to have served for the past
nine years. While there were many fine people eligible to serve, they must be content
with present leadership or they would run for election. He then announced that this was
� the last year he would serve on the Village Council. He offered insight into the time
obligation of a council member and expressed again his thanks for being allowed to serve.
Vice Mayor D'Ambra stated that Council Member Arena would be sorely missed. Mayor
Brennan would certainly miss his astonishingly accurate memory.
STANDING REPORTS
Villaqe Attornev
Village Attorney Keith Davis advised that the legislature was back in session then
summarized several bills of significance. House Bill 843 was an amendment, which
allowed discussion between finro members of boards of five or more without violating
sunshine laws. House Bill 7021 required that candidates for the governing body of a
municipality file a full and public financial disclosure form upon qualifying. This was a
much more invasive form than what was presently required. Senate Bill 596 involved
telecommunication facilities and nghts of way. It inserted significant state preemption into
local governments' ability to regulate its own rights of way and additionally, how certain
small cell facilities were placed. Aside from Building Codes, this took away regulation
authori of the Villa .
ty ge House Bill 163 concerned public records regulation and gave the
courts discretion in the award of attorney fees in public records lawsuits. That the court
had this ability was good if it was determined that a record request was harassment.
House Bill 17 preempted business and occupation regulation activities, including zoning,
to the state. This bill had extreme consequences for local governments. The Florida
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 5
League of Cities was lobbying against this bill. Mayor Brennan expressed the importance
of being part of a coalition like the League of Cities.
Villaqe Manaqer
Village Manager Couzzo explained that since Finance Director JoAnn Forsythe would
retire, Consent Agenda item 13 requested authorization to contract with a personnel
agency for an interim finance director. Until a permanent director was found, he felt it
prudent for the Finance Department to have guidance and assistance through finalization
of the audit and CAFR compilation process. Of four interim candidates interviewed, one
was agreed upon as the best fit. Mr. Couzzo thanked Human Resources Director,
Merlene Reid for her assistance.
Acting Building Director Jose Rodriguez and Mr. Couzzo determined that a weekend code
inspection program was in the Village's best interest, therefore beginning in April, a
Saturday inspection program would be implemented.
The negotiation between the Lighthouse Cove community and Waste Management was
completed and an agreement signed, which indemnified The Village against a lawsuit
regarding the billing issue in the future.
Mr. Couzzo received a phone message from the Deputy Inspector General regarding the
fleet maintenance audit. It was a very clean audit with only the recommendation that
existing verbal policies be put into writing. This would be done.
REGULAR AGENDA
OLD BUSINESS
There was none.
NEW BUSINESS
10. SE 02-17: Dinner Under Tent Fundraiser. Special Event Application from
Hannah's Home of South Florida. The event will be April 8, 2017 from 5:30
PM to 8 PM. Alcohol will not be served, and the projected number of
attendees is 250 people. The event will take place at 4390 S. County Line Road.
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Page 6
This was a special exception permit application due to the number of people expected in
attendance.
MOT/ON: Council Member Okun moved approval of SE 02-17; seconded by Council
MemberArena; motion carried unanimously 5-0.
11. VAR 02-17: Application of Bartl Real Estate Inc. for five (5) Variances
from the requirement of C-2 Community Commercial District Sec.
78-143 (side and rear setbacks); Section 78-691(width of seven (7)
parking spaces); Section 78-696 (location of loading zone) and Section 78-
409 (width of landscaping strip) to build a four (4) level building. The address
of the property is US Hwy One befinreen Palm Court and Harbor Road,
Tequesta, Florida 33469. PCN 60-43-40-30-0200-50010.
Attorney Davis announced the quasi judicial nature of the proceeding, placed seven
people under oath and inquired of council about any ex-parte communications. Mayor
Brennan disclosed that she spoke with Mr. Sanchez after his last presentation for
clarification of some details.
A review of Council's role in the quasi-judicial variance hearing was provided by Attorney
Davis. The applicant bore the burden of providing competent and substantial fact-based
evidence that supported each of six criteria in the Village Code. Public comments would
be taken but may or may not rise to the level of competent and substantial evidence. If a
motion was made to approve, that meant that the motion maker believed all the criteria
had been substantiated. If a motion was made to deny, the motion maker needed to
specify which criteria were not met, as the record required that information.
Furthermore, Mayor Brennan added that the discussion was not about design but strictly
the variances requested.
Community Development Director Nilsa Zacarias briefly described the project and
restated that this review was for the purpose of variances only and that even if approved,
the project faced many more reviews before final approval was sought from Council.
Michael Sanchez (agent for the Austrade office building application) represented the
owners who provided a letter since they were unable to attend the hearing (entered as
Exhibit 1). He stated that the variances requested were primarily due to the small size of
the site and then made a visual presentation (Exhibit 3). Mr. Sanchez pointed out that
the grade differential from the west to the east side of the property was just over 8 feet.
The proposed site plan was a professional office building of approximately 15,000 gross
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Page 7
square feet and 9400 leasable square feet in three office floors as seen from US Highway
1. One floor underneath the level of the highway was planned for parking and storage.
� An alley on the east side of the property would be improved and developed as others in
the area had been. There would also be a parking lot on the same grade as, and facing
US 1 with a turnaround spot and a retaining wall on the east and south sides of the parking
lot. Standard business office hours were expected therefore low noise and odor as
opposed to a restaurant type business. Mr. Sanchez stated that the 4000 square foot
footprint was in keeping with the size of nearby homes and the contemporary designed
building was within the code requirement for height.
The first requested variance removed an additional five-foot requirement from a side
setback. The Village of Tequesta's code required a 20-foot setback but for a building
greater than three stories, five additional feet of setback were added per floor. Due to the
, subterranean parking and storage design an additional 5 feet of setback was required.
The owner's justification for this request was that from US 1, the building appeared to be
only three stories and the site was only one half acre.
A required setback to the rear of the building was 10 feet but again, due to the appearance
from the rear of an additional story, the required setback was increased to 15 feet.
i However, these calculations did not consider an adjacent 20-foot wide alley. With the
alley included, there was 30 feet of setback. The owner requested a 5-foot variance with
the justification that this was an end user, not a developer, the desi n ro osal included
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a landscape buffer on the east side of the alley and more of the pavement was closer to
the building instead of the neighboring properties.
The third variance was regarding the width of some parking spaces. Although the
standard width for Palm Beach County and Palm Beach Gardens parking spaces was
nine to nine and one half feet respectively, the current Village of Tequesta code required
10-foot wide parking spaces. Spaces along the front and side of the building were ten
feet wide with some compact parking spaces in the underground parking level. Relief
was requested for six inches off the width of seven parking spaces with the justification
that The Village required a sufficient turnaround space and this necessitated that the extra
inches come from narrowed parking spaces.
The owners did not need it or want it and would never use it but because the building plan
was over 10,000 square feet, Village code required a loading space. Their only deliveries
were made by FedEx or UPS, which came to the front door. Since code says the loading
space cannot be in a drive aisle, this variance requested waiver of that stipulation and
allowed a loading space in the front drive aisle. That any deliveries were made to the
front anyway and a loading space in front would be of least impact to nearby residents
was the justification given for this item.
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Page 8
The fifth variance concerned the requirement of four feet of landscape befinreen the
parking spaces and the building. Plans called for landscaping eight feet out from the front
of the building while the area of landscaping on the smaller side areas would be reduced
to one to finro feet from the building. Mr. Sanchez felt this variance was justified due to
the small size of the site.
After Mayor Brennan opened the discussion to Council for comments, Council Member
Okun expressed serious concern that this was over development. He was troubled about
deliveries made to the front and the back of the building and the impact on neighbors to
the east. Any time Council accommodated development on the US Highway 1 corridor,
issues arose. Although he felt Mr. Sanchez did a laudable job trying to make it fit,
relocation of some landscaping was not the same as adherence to regulations. He
remained critical of the project on that piece of property, especially with residents just to
the east.
Council Member Paterno pointed out that several times, Mr. Sanchez mentioned the small
size of the site. He compared the square footage of his own house and lot to the proposal
and felt this was overbuilt. The view from neighboring properties was that of a four-story
building. He would be appalled if this was approved as Council always said they tried to
keep Tequesta relatively as it was and the Village Code was what the Village wanted. A
prior plan was for finro stories with one underground level. Only a setback variance was
required for that and he recommended approval of exactly what was previously approved.
In his opinion, the owner created his own hardship. A packet that contained photographs
and sketches was distributed by Council Member Paterno and made part of the record as
Exhibit 2. It documented the close proximity of the alley with neighbors to the east and
the alley to the north behind the car rental business, which was problematic. He stressed
that twenty feet was not much space.
Mr. Sanchez acknowledged the 20-foot alley and explained that his client's need for the
square footage and the underground parking necessitated the variance. He gave an
example of the medical office building on Harbor Road that was level with US Highway 1
at the front but in back, there was a retaining wall at the alley. If not for the underground
parking, a retaining wall could be built and a variance to the rear and side would not be
required at all, as the proposed building was still within the height requirement. Council
Member Paterno noted that the doctor's office was only one story high (not four stories
from the rear view) and in keeping with the neighborhood. Council Member Okun spoke
of potential future problems and was not in support of the project.
Vice Mayor D'Ambra stated that this was commercial zoned property on US Highway 1.
He recalled that Attorney Davis instructed Council to determine whether the variances
requested were reasonable and justified. Vice Mayor D'Ambra felt that the reduction of
seven parking spaces by six inches each was not unreasonable. In addition, storage did
not mean warehouse storage and delivery but more office-type storage. He felt that the
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 9
applicant made a good case regarding the variances. As a three story building, they
needed only ten feet of setback. The building appeared as three stories from all but the
back; with the alley, 30 feet of setback existed, three times the distance required. He did
not consider this request unreasonable. An office building at that location was much
better than a retail business as business hours had less impact on neighbors. He was in
favor of the project with the proper buffers. If things were not done properly, the project
would not move forward through other inspections but as far as the requested variances,
he thought they were reasonable. Another project that passed code requirements may
not be as good a fit for the area.
Council Member Arena found the sidewalk on US Highway 1 level with the first floor of
the home behind it. Conditions in the alley behind nearby businesses were disgraceful.
He expected large trees and landscaping so that people living behind the building would
not see the second floor. Council Member Arena had no problem granting a five-foot
variance to the rear of the property as the alley would be made presentable. The
allowance of 42 inches from seven parking spaces did not bother him either. The
proposed retaining wall was good as was the location of landscaping. UPS, FedEx, etc.
made deliveries to the front of the building, which buffered those deliveries from the
neighbors to the east. Council Member Arena inquired about addition of a clause that
specified requirements for a retail loading zone. Attorney Davis explained that a variance
applied to how a building was built not how it was used. Zoning codes contained the
requirements for use of a property.
Council Member Okun left the room at 7:43 p.m. and returned at 7:45 p.m.
Regarding a plant buffer, Council Member Arena drove around and looked at many in the
area. Jupiter Point's buffer was awful. Where a normal buffer is four feet, the first foot is
mulch, then plants. He saw no problem with taking two feet off if the first foot was mulch
anyway. He reiterated Vice Mayor D'Ambra's sentiment that this was a commercial zoned
property and people who purchased neighboring properties knew that. In re-addressing
the alley behind the US 1 businesses, what those neighboring homeowners must look at
he described as disgusting. Council Member Arena cautioned that he would expect to
stand in a yard behind this project and only be able to see the top of the building because
the landscape so covered the rest of it. Otherwise, he saw no problem with the variances.
Mayor Brennan stated that this was always a commercial zone because that is what The
Village of Tequesta wanted there. She would rather not see a retail business there but
although she was sensitive to folks that lived east of the site, what Mr. Sanchez proposed
made sense. She wanted the county to memorialize that maintenance of the alley
landscape was the property owner's responsibility. The lot presently looked terrible and
she was in favor of the improvement.
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 10
Council Member Okun acquiesced the commercial zoning of the lot but spoke about the
large size of the project and that it should be reduced. Council Member Arena welcomed
the residents to attend and participate in future steps of the approval process. Vice Mayor
D'Ambra reminded that this was but one vote of a series of votes on this or any project
that occupied that space. The goal was the satisfaction of the property owner and nearby
residents. In Council Member Paterno's opinion, The Village created the problem behind
Baldino's when it granted a variance. He did not want to deviate from the plan that took
a long time to put in place. Since the owner purchased the property in 2016, he would
have known about all this at that time. Vice Mayor D'Ambra felt that the variances were
not significant or unreasonable and in many ways exceeded our zoning codes. Council
Member Paterno asked where in the five-foot area these big trees would be planted.
There was no room or they would overhang neighbors' properties. He felt additional
setbacks were warranted when commercial land abutted residential. Council Member
Arena asked Community Development Director Nilsa Zacarias to ensure the landscape
architect was made aware of all the concerns.
Mayor Brennan opened discussion to residents. First to speak was Josh McManus of
3417 Harbor Road South. He was a business owner and more important he felt, a parent.
Something that was not considered was that he was an avid botanist and his afternoon
light would be lost; in addition, no hedge hid a four-story building. Also of concern was
extra traffic on the street and water runoff from the pavement onto his yard and into the
canal. There was no other four-story building for a mile to the north or south. This was
a disproportionate sacrifice and compromised the things that people liked about Tequesta
in general. He felt it was a shame that these variances were even discussed and agreed
with Council Member Paterno's opinion that code requirements be more strictly adhered
to where commercial meets residential areas.
According to Phillip Babbitt of 3447 Palm Court, the "buffer" was a utility easement; any
trees taller than finrelve feet were not an option there due to utility lines. Runoff was an
issue for nearby residents as their water sources were wells. Runoff from nearby
businesses already occurred and this would increase it. He wanted the safety of and
traffic on Palm Court addressed by The Village as there were ongoing traffic problems
with Budget Rent-A-Car. Mr. Babbitt suggested the relocation of Austrade's entrance
from Palm Court to US Highway 1, which eliminated extra traffic on their road. Cars
already used their driveways and lawns to turn around.
Those who had spoken already voiced her concerns, however, Audrey Helm of 3430
Harbor Road South wished to reply to the comment of knowing where one bought
property. They knew they purchased property next to a commercially zoned area and
were fine with previously approved plans for three stories in the back and two in the front.
Asking for bigger, taller and wider was not fair to those around it.
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 11
Frank Sardinha, 3433 Harbor Road South, stated that no variances were requested for
the previous plan. He implored of Council that if there was any time to be sensitive, it
was when commercial property backed up to a single-family residential zone. He realized
that this was a small piece of property but the owner expected to use variances to fit too
much into the space furthermore, there was no way anything planted within five feet of
space would be tall enough to make a difference. Since the houses to the east are on a
hill, people in the o�ce building would look right down on his property and others.
Hereafter, if this was voted in, everything including drainage would be squeezed for space
and was a problem that would remain. The setbacks in the code were the minimum
required. Mr. Sardinha understood flexibility where industrial zoning met multi-family but
not single family.
Mike Hass of 3409 Harbor Road South agreed with past comments. He spoke about
traffic on the dead-end neighborhood streets with no cul-de-sacs for turning around hence
the residential driveways and lawns were used. The landowners all knew of the
commercial zoning and that was not so much at issue as ever-larger buildings. He hoped
Council stopped that trend.
Council Member Okun brought up the upcoming US Highway 1 lane reduction from three
lanes to two and realized that this design did not consider entrance to and exit from a two-
lane highway.
Mayor Brennan appreciated that the information brought forth was factual not just
emotional and she felt that the main issue was the extra story. Frank Sardinha spoke
again and said that he had no problem with the rest while Council Member Paterno felt it
was wrong to create ambiance for residents by re-working the road, then approve this
type of thing, which went against the residents. Vice Mayor D'Ambra reiterated that this
property owner went to great lengths with their design while another business, without
requesting variances, could be a worse scenario for neighboring residents in the future.
There was more to think about in this situation like what could come up in future if this did
not go through.
In Council Member Arena's view, since other buildings on US Highway 1 started at the
level of the highway, and the fourth level of this project was underground, it was in
essence a three-sto buildin . He admitted that he was one that turned around in a
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driveway and agreed with the idea of the entrance moved off the side street and onto US
Highway 1. He was sympathetic to the residents' traffic and run off concerns but as far
as the building height, it was what the code allowed.
Erin Babbitt, 3447 Palm Court, spoke about the project's Palm Court entrance and the
resulting traffic in the alley. Residents already had traffic problems from Budget Rent-A-
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Page 12
Car and it would only get worse. Out of safety concerns for area children, The Village of
Tequesta put barriers in the alley to prevent traffic befinreen Inlet and Palm Courts.
� More discussion ensued about the underground parking. Council Member Arena stated
that there would be the same problems regardless of what building went there. Vice
Mayor D'Ambra again reviewed the variances and stated that if the lot was level, a three-
story building would not be an issue with no variances needed.
Several times during the public discussion, Mayor Brennan implored attendees to
approach the podium microphone for recognition before they spoke. Once public
discussion was closed, she asked Attorne Davis for a review of the decision-makin
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criteria. He responded that the criteria were in the application but the applicant must
establish that:
1(a). Special conditions existed, peculiar to the land, structure or building that were not
applicable to other land, structures or buildings in the same zoning district.
2(b). Those special conditions did not result from actions of the applicant.
3(c). The variance conferred no special privilege on the applicant that was denied to
other land, buildin s or structures in the same zonin district.
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4(d). The literal interpretation of the zoning code deprived the applicant of rights
commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same zoning district and resulted in
unnecessary hardship on the applicant.
5(e). The variance was the minimum needed for reasonable use of the land, building or
structure.
6(fl. The variance was in harmony with the general intent of the zoning chapter and not
injurious to the area or public welfare.
Mr. Davis Explained the evidence to be used was testimony, the application, staff report,
documents introduced, and the presentation. He noted the Variance code allowed the
attachment of conditions and safeguards related and proportionate to the impact of the
development; however, they must be related to the variance requested. A condition on
the use of the property at this point was not appropriate as tonighYs discussion was about
physical site layout. The site planning stage was a more appropriate platform for
discussion of use conditions.
More discussion ensued between several Council Members regarding the same points of
view previously presented.
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 13
Council Member Okun left the room at 8:40 p.m. and returned at 8:43 p.m. after which
, Mayor Brennan called for a recess at 8:47 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9 p.m.
Mayor Brennan announced that a four-story building was actually allowed in that zoning
district.
MOT/ON: Council Member Patemo moved denial of VAR 02-17 based on failure of the
proposal to meet the criteria of 2(b) and 6(�; seconded by Council Member Okun; motion
denied 3-2 with Vice Mayor D'Ambra, Council Member Arena and Mayor Brennan
opposed.
During discussion on how to properly word the conditions, resident Erin Babbit asked
about enforcement of open garage doors on the underground parking and Phillip Babbit
opined that the spaces were solely for certain employees of the company.
MOT/ON: Vice Mayor D'Ambra moved approval of VAR 02-17 with the conditions that
the garage area be maintained as parking at all times and that the project comply with all
off street parking requirements and access; seconded by Council MemberArena; motion
passed 3-2 with conditions with Council Members Okun and Patemo in dissent.
Mayor Brennan implored Manager Couzzo to work diligently with Community
Development Director Zacarias to address the project with a focus on mitigation of
residents' concerns. This was not a perfect plan but she was confident that it could be
made better. Manager Couzzo agreed that there were options to explore that could make
this a more desirable project.
12. ORDINANCE NO. 3-17, FIRST READING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE
COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER
70.TAXATION. OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF
TEQUESTA BY AMENDING ARTICLE IV. PUBLIC SERVICE TAX, DIVISION 2.
ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER., SECTION 70-121, BY ELIMINATING THE
PUBLIC SERVICE TAX ON THE PURCHASE OF WATER; LEAVING THE
PUBLIC SERVICE TAX ON THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY, NATURAL
GAS, LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS, MANUFACTURED GAS AT THE
CURRENT 9%; PROVIDING THAT EACH AND EVERY OTHER SECTION AND
SUBSECTION OF CHAPTER 70 SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND
EFFECT AS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED; PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE, A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND AUTHORITY TO CODIFY; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Minutes — Regular 03/09/17
Page 14
Attorney Davis read Ordinance 3-17 into the record.
Mayor Brennan opened the public hearing to Council for comment. There was none.
The hearing was then opened to the public for comment. There was none.
MOTION: Vice MayorD'Ambra moved approval of Ordinance 3-17; seconded by Council
Member Arena; motion carried unanimously 5-0.
ANY OTHER MATTERS
Mayor Brennan mentioned a letter referencing county owned land adjacent to a park in
Palm Beach Gardens. The city of Palm Beach Gardens wants to lease 20% of it and
make $4 million in renovations. Since they were unable to meet with the pertinent
councilmember to discuss, they requested support from neighboring communities who
also use the park. Consensus of Council agreed to a letter from the Village of Tequesta
to Palm Beach Gardens in support of this idea.
Council Member Okun left the room at 9:16pm and returned at 9:20pm.
ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Okun moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by
Council Member Arena. The motion to adjourn carried unanimously 5-0; therefore, the
meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Lori McWilliams, MMC
Village Clerk
Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are
not verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the
office of the Village Clerk. All referenced attachments are on file in the Village Clerk's
office.