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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Special Meeting_04/02/1992 VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 (407) 575-6200 FAX: (407) 575-6203 V I L L A G E O F T E Q U E S T A S P E C I A L V I L LAG E C O U N C I L M E E T I N G M I N U T E S A P R I L 2, 1 9 9 2 I. The Tequesta Village Council held a scheduled meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Thursday, April 2, 1992. The meeting was called to order at 9:30 A.M. by Mayor Earl L. Collings. A roll call was taken by the Recording Secretary, Fran Bitters. Councilmembers present were: Mayor Earl L. Collings, Vice-Mayor Edward C. Howell, William E. Burckart, Ron T. Mackail and Joseph N. Capretta. Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford was also in attendance. Staff members present were Scott D. Ladd and Lt. Steve Allison of the Tequesta Police Department. Village Attorney John C. Randolph was also in attendance. • II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice Mayor Edward C. Howell gave the Invocation and led those in attendance to the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. III. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS Mayor Collings introduced special guests: o Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus; o Jupiter Mayor Karen Golonka; o Martin County Commissioner Walt Thom; and o Planner, Michael Busha, Treasure Cost Regional Planning Council. • Recycled Paper special Village Council • Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 2 IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Since the purpose of the meeting was a communications meeting, Mayor Collings asked that the Communications From Citizens, Item VII, be addressed before anything else, in order that the special guests might understand the feelings of the citizens regarding the encroachment of Martin County on the Village of Tequesta. Vice Mayor Howell moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Councilmember Capretta seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Earl L. Collings - for Edward C. Howell - for Joseph N. Capretta - for Ron T. Mackail - for William E. Burckart - for the motion was passed and adopted and the Agenda was approved as amended. VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Verline Smith, Jupiter, asked the Council and County Commissioners to consider what politicians refer to as "little people" when bringing traffic through local neighborhoods, and suggested that any decision made regarding traffic routing be one that will work for the good of all the people. Louise E. Buie, Riviera Beach, and a property owner in Jupiter, stated that the property she owns in Jupiter is intended for her grandchildren, who are yet small. She asked that when decisions are made concerning development and additional traffic, that consideration be given to upcoming generations who will have to live with the decisions of today. Mary Grace Rlimas, Tequesta, stated that Tequesta Drive is already hazardous with driveways emptying onto Tequesta Drive. Additional traffic on Tequesta Drive would be adversely impacting, as well as having an adverse environmental impact. She felt Martin County Commissioners ought not to be in a position to dump traffic onto Palm Beach County without making any allowance for solutions. SpeClal Village COLiACll • Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 3 ------------------------------- • William Treacy, Tequesta, stated that traffic on Country Club Drive is already heavy. He was very concerned about the impact additional traffic would have. He felt the Connector Road would be one solution. William Sharpless, Tequesta, was against increased traffic on Country Club Drive or Tequesta Drive. He felt the opening of the Connector would be a solution. Al DeMott, Tequesta, stated that the traffic through Tequesta is already heavy and that no increased traffic flow should be considered. Susan Brennan, Tequesta, stated that the 'big picture' should be looked at - not just Northfork. Martin County has given the stamp of approval to many projects, many of which are still in the development stages and not occupied to capacity: i.e., Cypress Cove, The Preserve, Islands of Jupiter, Parkside at Little Club, Riverbend, North Passage, and Island Country Estates. All will further impact the Village of Tequesta in the form of excess traffic and congestion, causing real estate values to be reduced, and causing a safety hazard to the citizens of Tequesta. She suggested further steps be taken by Martin County to reduce the impact of all of these developments on Palm Beach County and the Village of Tequesta. A firm commitment from Martin County is needed as to what date the Connector Road will be started and where it will be built before asking surrounding communities to support their further development. Lionel Frank, Tequesta, objected to increased traffic in Tequesta and asked that Tequesta Drive not be made into a thoroughfare. Paul Hickey, Tequesta, asked how the Developer arrived at such a plan? Mayor Collings answered that through the course of the meeting, that would be discovered. Walter Dubrowsky, Tequesta, stated that he picks up much debris around his neighborhood which has been tossed out of cars, and felt that would increase if an increased traffic flow were allowed. He stated he would not want to see Tequesta Drive changed to a four-lane street. • Special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 4 ------------------------------- Dorothy Campbell, stated that it is time to finish the Connector Road, and that Section 28 controversies should be solved as a community. She felt that Martin County ought not to be allowed to change the density in Section 28; 5.1 units per acre is too much; allow less than 200 units should be allowed; and disallow a zoning change. Doris Wereszak, Little Club, asked that the Boy Scout Camp and Girl Scout Camp be considered when talking about a Connector Road. She stated that Little Club residents were opposed to the Connector Road. Alfred Levy, southern Martin County, stated that Section 28 is not about development, but over-development - about a major zoning change to greatly increase the land use. He felt the only entrance to Section 28 should be to the south. The north • end should have a gated entrance only. He also felt that future meetings, on a regular basis, were necessary for this controversial subject. V. REVIEW OF THE ANTICIPATED REGIONAL IMPACTS ANTICIPATED FROM THE PROPOSED NORTHFORR DEVELOPMENT, SECTION 28, SOUTH MARTIN COUNTY. Village Manager Bradford guided everyone through the details of what is being proposed, defining the map displayed, and explaining that the Northfork Development is the entirety of Section 28 in Martin County, abutting Palm Beach County. He stated that the proposed Northfork Development concerns more than just that specific area: it touches on the quality of life and financial equity for surrounding areas. It is necessary for Tequesta to address past inequities the Village has had to carry in response to surrounding development it has no control over. The proposed Northfork Development plan consists of 450 single family dwelling units and 400 multi-family units (850 units), 50,000 square feet of retail and office space, additionally with space dedicated to tennis courts, golf course and a • 60,000 square foot club house. The application is seeking four separate actions from the Board of County Commissioners of Martin County: • special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 5 ------------------------------- 1) a text amendment to the Martin County Growth Management Plan to create an adjacent county urban services area; 2) amendment to Martin County's Future Land Use map to designate Section 28 as an adjacent county urban services area; 3) amendment to Martin County's Future Land Use map to change the land use designation to residential estate density .05a and to commercial office residential; 4) re-zone 40 acres within Section 28 as commercial office residential; In a separate application filed concurrently with the four above items, the Developer is requesting Martin County • Commissioners to approve a residential planned unit development for that portion of Section 28 which is not re- zoned to commercial office residential. Mr. Bradford read from his memorandum to Village Council dated March 27 the staff recommendations. VI. COMMENTS/CONCERNS OF EFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 1) Village of Tequesta: Vice Mayor Howell stated that since everyone will not get what they want, compromise is in order. He agreed that traffic, over time, has increased in Tequesta. He felt the solution probably lies between the Connector Road, Longshore Drive and Central Boulevard. A unified effort will be needed to resolve the issues. • Special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 6 ------------------------------- Councilmember Capretta felt there was clearly two problems: 1) density - Martin County has continued to build along Tequesta's only north/south road, collecting impact fees and sending them to Stuart without any concern of the impact the developments have had on Tequesta. Mr. Capretta stated that must stop. 2) Palm Beach County needs to work with Martin County to ensure that density is kept at a reasonable level (200 units instead of 800 units), and that Tequesta gets money for their road maintenance and improvement because of the increased traffic. Every new development west of Island Way Bridge will want to use Country Club Drive and Tequesta Drive. Therefore, maintenance will also need to be provided for the bridges on Island Way and Tequesta Drive. Mr. Capretta also felt the suggestion of directing traffic over Loxahatchee River Road and • Longshore Drive would keep traffic from over-using the two bridges. Councilmember Mackail stated he has read every document since 1985 concerning the Connector Road and felt that Martin County needed to stop 'dragging their feet' regarding its construction. He stated that the Village Council will not allow Country Club Drive to be widened, and suggested that Longshore Drive was an alternate possibility for routing traffic. He felt density was a key issue which not only effects Tequesta but the surrounding communities as well. He urged Commissioner Walt Thom to take ownership of these problems and deal with them. • special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 7 ------------------------------- Councilmember Burckart stated he had read the traffic reports several times, talked with citizens regarding the Village concerns and that the general consensus is that four-laning Country Club Drive and/or Tequesta Drive is out of the question. He felt Martin County had not yet stated their position regarding density, so public input is important. It is evident the Connector Road is needed, and any approval should be conditioned upon that. The Palm Beach County Land Use amendment may need some revision to provide for some credits toward how traffic is applied in the Village since the Village has not received any impact fees for Martin County's surrounding developments in past years. Mr. Burckart suggested that any impact fees charged for the Northfork development be charged on Palm Beach County rates. He also suggested that the services which are provided by Palm Beach County • to the proposed development area be distributed on an appropriate percentage. Councilmember Howell left the meeting at 10:20 a.m. Councilmember Burckart left the meeting at 10:25 a.m. 2) Palm Beach County Commissioner Raren Marcus stated this is a problem the County has been facing as it relates to what is happening to North County communities. She stated it is important to ensure that North County sticks with two-lane highways and that it be shown that the level of service that Martin County has adopted is a fairly high level of service and that northern Palm Beach County prefers to stay with two-lane roads. Commissioner Marcus stated she was glad to hear that the Village of Tequesta did want the County to stand up, be heard, and speak on Tequesta' s behalf on this issue. The County has been trying to do that through the Council of Governments. Commissioner Marcus suggested the Village would offer in writing to Palm Beach County their request that Martin County not approve the Land Use change, (i.e. the density, because of the adverse impacts), that she would take that to the County Commission and request that it be communicated to Martin County. • special village council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 8 ------------------------------- Regarding the four-laning of Tequesta Drive, Commissioner Marcus stated the following: Tequesta Drive is Tequesta's road - the County is not involved. If an applicant submits a land use change which would cause municipalities to change a two-lane street to a four- lane, the County's stance is this: "That is a two-lane section and that's it. If you (the applicant) exceed our level of service (for that two-lane), we will not approve your project." The densities and the level of service have to meet what is already being provided. 3) Town of Jupiter Mayor Raren Golonka stated that though she had no prepared comments, but made a some observations. She was • glad to hear that the Village of Tequesta was not interested in widening Tequesta Drive. Jupiter being a community much larger than Tequesta, and having their infrastructure in place (in terms of roads and utilities), they are better able to serve a development whatever the magnitude may be. However, Jupiter is concerned about a number of issues regarding Northfork: 1) additional traffic and its accommodation; 2) that unincorporated area of Palm Beach County will some day be part of Jupiter, thereby causing concern; 3) no excessive amount of traffic to be allowed through the Limestone Creek area - density is a concern. Mayor Golonka stated she would be taking today's comments back to Jupiter Council to determine whether they would want to proceed with any formal action. 4) Martin County Commissioner Walt Thom pointed out that the Developer of Northfork, Mr. John Palace, was in attendance. Commissioner Thom stated that there were recently two court decisions ruling whereby anything that has to do with re-zoning, if heard without the presence of both and all parties, would be considered prejudicial to whichever party decided it was prejudicial. • • special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 9 ------------------------------- Commissioner Thom asked to set the record straight on the Connector Road: The Connector Road issue has been in existence since 1972. Martin County Commission has met with Little Club residents, the Girl Scouts, Martin County Engineer, etc. to whom was presented a conceptual outline of the Connector Road. The Girl Scouts want money for that land, but the land does not belong to them. It belongs to the State of Florida. The conceptual plans have been presented to everyone in Tallahassee, including the Director of Parks at DNR. No one has disagreed with those plans. However, there is one catch. If approval was received from the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, DNR, and DER, it would still have to be presented before the Florida Inland Trust. Florida Inland Trust has, in the past, maintained the position that they will not grant any of their land, for any purpose whatsoever, particularly through a park for a road unless they are given lands in exchange. Martin County does not have any land to exchange. Commissioner Thom invited comparison, regarding traffic, between the development of Palm Beach County and Martin County. In order for Martin County to continue its good nature as far as controlled development is concerned, it must enforce its Comprehensive Plan. He added that all comments which have been heard at this meeting today will be relayed and filed in the public records of the Martin County Planning and Development. The Northfork Development will come before the Martin County Development Review Committee on April 16, 1992 at approximately 10:00 a.m. at the Administration Building. In response to Village Staff's recommendation that Martin County concur with Tequesta before amending the Martin County Comprehensive Plan which would have an effect on Tequesta, Commissioner Thom stated that though he is for Interlocal Agreements, Martin County will not be dictated to regarding the contents of their Comprehensive Plan. • Regarding impact fees, Commissioner Thom felt that was an issue to be settled possibly through a mediation process with the TCRPC. special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 10 ------------------------------- Commissioner Thom stated, regarding Tequesta Park, that Martin County had attempted to negotiate with Tequesta for two years, asking Tequesta to furnish Martin County with current revenue figures, in what way Martin County would be paying towards the park, etc . , but those answers were never supplied. He further stated Martin County has recently obtained three parcels of park land; therefore, Tequesta Park is not as strong a need in Martin County as it was in the past. 5) Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (T.C.R.P.C.) Michael Busha stated that the TCRPC does not have the history available to them which the Commissioners, Mayors and local citizens have regarding the ongoing problems in the subject area. The TCRPC prides itself in trying • to resolve multi-county and jurisdictional problems. Mr. Busha suggested one solution might be a Conflict Resolution process provided by the Statute, especially when there is a willingness amongst the parties to work together. Another suggested process might be DRI (Development of Regional Impact). Charlie siemen, Esq., representative of the Developer of Northfork stated that some of the facts discussed were not correct: 1) the density of the Northfork project is the lowest density of any section land south of Jonathan Dickinson Park and north of Indiantown Road; and 2) the additional traffic generated for Tequesta roads equates to less than 1% of those roads capacity and is not generated by the Northfork project but by local residents who use the facilities of Tequesta. VIII. AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSMIT STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS RELATIVE TO PROPOSED MARTIN COUNTY SECTION 28 DEVELOPMENT, FORMALLY KNOWN AS ~~NORTHFORR~~ . Mayor Collings suggested that since the meeting in Martin County has been delayed until the 16th and because of several • comments at this meeting, it would perhaps be worthwhile doing some review before transmitting staff recommendations to Martin County. Therefore, he recommended removing this item from the Agenda. Council concurred. C~ special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 11 ------------------------------- Councilmember Mackail requested that any reference or recommendation by staff to allow for funds for four-laning Tequesta Drive be totally deleted from the above-referenced staff recommendations. Councilmember Mackail moved to delete Item VIII from the Agenda. Councilmember Capretta seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Earl L. Collings - for Joseph N. Capretta - for Ron T. Mackail - for the motion was passed and adopted C~ IX. ANY OTHER MATTERS There were no other matters before the Council. • C~ Special Village Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 1992 Page 12 ------------------------------- XIV. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Mackail moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Capretta seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Earl L. Collings - for Joseph N. Capretta - for Ron T. Mackail - for the motion was passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 A.M. • Respectfully submitted, Fran Bitters Recording Secretary ATTEST: J nn Manganie Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: i~ . ~99~-