HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-14-2005PLANNING & ZONING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 14, 2005
A Regular Meeting of the Planning & Zoning Board was held on September 14, 2005, at
the City Hall Annex, 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Board Chairperson
Bea McNeely called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The Secretary called the roll.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Bea McNeely
Leo Nicholas
Lamar Russell
John Fredrickson
Donald Dunn
Shawn Schaffner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Alice Filteau
OTHERS PRESENT
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
1st Alternate
2nd Alternate
Susan Chapman Board Secretary
Todd Peetz City Planner
Anthony Garganese City Attorney
Rocky Randels Mayor
Robert Hoog Mayor Pro Tem
Todd Morley Building Official
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Approval of Meeting Minutes: August 10, 2005.
A motion by Donald Dunn, seconded by John Fredrickson to approve the meeting
minutes of August 10, 2005, as presented. Vote on the motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Recommendation to City Council Re: Establishing Time Limit(s) for Length of
Stay - Amending Ordinance No. 06 -2005, Amending Chapter 110, Zoning,
Clarifying the Intent of the R -1, R -2, and R -3 Residential Zoning Districts,
Prohibiting Transient Commercial Uses Such as Bed and Breakfasts, Hostels,
Hotels, Inns, Lodgings, Motels, or Resorts in Residential Dwelling Units for
Periods of Less Than Seven (7) Consecutive Calendar Days - Anthony
Garganese, City Attorney.
Todd Peetz, City Planner, advised that staff was still working on establishing
performance standards and restrictions. He noted that the City was waiting to see what
the County adopts. The Board members reviewed the City's draft ordinance. The Board
asked the Secretary to look back in previous meeting minutes to determine if the Board
already made its recommendation for length of stays. John Fredrickson inquired why
the City Manager did not forward any information to the Board regarding number of
complaints received and the number of rentals throughout the City. Leo Nicholas
commented that the City is being influenced by what others are doing. The City needs
to evaluate and decide how they want to restrict rentals. He noted that the Board should
look at the severity of complaints and not be influenced by the number.
Planning & Zoning Boa
Meeting Minutes
September 14, 2005
Page 2
Chairperson McNeely advised that the City has a very strong and enforceable hotel
ordinance. She voiced her opinion that the City does not want "mom and pop" type
rentals. Donald Dunn commented that the City should stay a residential community. He
believed that existing rental establishments should be grandfathered and new rentals
should be more than thirty days. Lamar Russell advised that the City needs to enforce
its enforcement standards. He commented that he would rather see people not rent in
residential neighborhoods. He questioned how the City can enforce length of stay. He
advised that if the City changes the length of stay, then an amortization schedule would
need to be established but, he prefers grandfathering existing rentals. Shawn Schaffner
agreed with grandfathering existing rentals. He voiced his opinion that he does not want
the City to turn into a transient community. He commented that rental stays should be
30 days minimum. Tom Williamson, A1A Requisition Group, spoke on behalf of the
Residence Inn and stated that he was asked to speak on behalf of the Radisson Resort,
advised that it was disconcerting that the Board is considering changing the 60 day
minimum. He further advised that when he checked with the City regarding building a
hotel, he was told that he could only build a hotel in the C -1 zoning district on a minimum
of five acres, and the City did not mention that you could have the same type of rentals
in the R -3 zoning district. He noted that King Rentals, Royal Mansions, and Cape Winds
are all advertising three day rentals. Todd Morley, Building Official, responded that
Cape Winds, and Royal Mansions were sent Notices of Violation and came into
compliance. He noted that the City now has weekend code enforcement twice a month.
Bea McNeely commented that it seemed that code enforcement is not proactive, but
rather reactive because it only responds when a complaint is received. Leo Nicholas
suggested a rental tax be imposed to pay for an additional code enforcement officer.
John Fredrickson advised that he wanted a report of all rentals in the City. Pat Rooney,
General Manager of Residence Inn, advised that he had a feasibility study performed
about two years ago, which revealed that there are approximately 6,000 condominiums,
and over 3,000 of them are rented on a transient basis. John Trudeau, owner of three
rentals in the City, outlined types of rentals vacationers are looking for. He commented
that the City has a bigger problem with Tong -term rentals than short-term; grandfathering
would save the City from any monitoring problems; and rentals are a decreasing trend
because of increasing property values. Bob Hoog, Councilman, asked the Board to
consider that when a property is sold, the grandfathering ceases for that property. He
advised that all rentals should have a license. He commented that allowing single family
to rent on the beach is allowing commercial on the beach which changes the use by
commercialization on the ocean. Lamar Russell pointed -out that the City has always
protected its waterways with solely residential. Leo Nicholas commented that allowing
mixed -use in the City invites tourism. Lamar Russell commented that mixed -use would
erode the residential use that the City has always protected along the waterways. John
Anderson, resident, advised that his property is surrounded by rentals. Some have
continuous problems, some do not. He advised that the City needs clear, enforceable
standards with sizable penalties. He voiced his opinion that renting is a business and it
should be registered, licensed, and taxed accordingly.
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Planning & Zoning Board
Meeting Minutes
September 14, 2005
Page 3
Following discussion, the Board agreed that there was a lot more work to do before
making any decisions or recommendations. They made a list of concerns, as follows:
Length of stay per residential category (research to see if a definite number of days were
previously approved); enforcement & performance standards, number of staff to enforce;
licensing (all owners of rentals need to be found and notified); penalty provisions; cost of
enforcement (salary to provide staff); daily tax and collection; tracking property sales
with sundown provision(s) or grandfathering; grandfather existing rental arrangements;
define number of occupants allowed; parking, littering, and noise provisions; placard
inside the unit outlining standards of acceptable behavior, and a placard posted outside
the unit stating the name of manager, emergency phone number(s), and 24 hour
contact(s); register with the City; and owner's responsibility to maintain harmony in the
neighborhood. The Board asked Todd Peetz to work with the list of concerns and
recommendations. He advised that he would be attending the next City Council meeting
and would update them regarding the status of this issue.
Motion by Bea McNeely, seconded by Leo Nicholas, to instruct Todd Peetz, City
Planner, to convey the Board's concerns to City Council at their next meeting and for the
Board to continue this discussion at the next meeting. Vote on the motion carried
unanimously.
2. Recommendation to City Council Re: Special Exception Criteria for Conveyor
Systems and Encroachments for Conveyor Systems - Todd Peetz, City Planner.
Todd Peetz, City Planner, gave an overview of the draft ordinance. Brief discussion
followed.
Motion by Lamar Russell, seconded by Donald Dunn to recommend approval of the
ordinance to City Council. Vote on the motion carried unanimously.
3. Recommendation to the Board of Adjustment Re: Variance Request No. 05 -06
to Allow a Conveyor Belt to be Located Within the Required Setbacks - 245
Challenger Road) - Randy May, Designated Agent for Ambassador Services,
Inc., Petitioner.
Todd Peetz, City Planner advised that the Board could deny the Variance request
contingent upon the ordinance being adopted by the City or the applicant could withdraw
the request. Discussion followed regarding when the draft ordinance would be
presented to City Council and the earliest the Petitioner could request a Special
Exception.
Motion by Leo Nicholas, seconded by Donald Dunn to postpone this agenda item until
October 26, 2005. Vote on the motion carried unanimously.
Planning & Zoning Board
Meeting Minutes
September 14, 2005
Page 4
There being no further business for the Board to consider the meeting was adjoumed at
9:42 p.m.
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Bea McNeely, ChairpersonLJ
D ree Alexander, Re
rding Secretary