04-06-1976 Regular MeetingPLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE MINUTES
A meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was held in the Council
Chambers on Tuesday, April 6, 1976. The meeting was called to order by
Chairwoman Ray at 7:30 P. M. with the following members present; Mrs.
Cook, and Messrs. Sargent, Cunningham,Czech, Norquist and Jones. City
officials present were Acting City Manager Smythe, City Attorney Baird
and Councilman Blackburn. Others present were the Misses Blackburn and
Blanchard.
The Invocation was given by Chairman Ray.
A correction was made to the Minutes of March 2, 1976 meeting as follows:
Under appointments to the Sign Sub-Committee, John Sargent should have
been listed as an appointee instead of Jane Wilkins. The minutes were then
approved as corrected.
Chairwoman Ray announced the first order of business to be consideration of
a request from Joseph H. Knowles for approval of a Pest Control business
in a C1 zone pursuant to Section 26-24 (H)(1) Clermont Code. Mr. Knowles
appeared before the commission in behalf of his request, advising that
the zoning regulations for prest control businessess are nebulous; and he,
therefore asked that consideration be given to permitting a pest control
business in a C1 Zone. Acting City Manager Smythe advised that a decision
had been rendered to the property owner that a pest control business is
a C2 use because it is a service need provided for the total community,
whereas the C1 use is to provide light retail services for the normal
convenience of nearby residences. He also pointed out to the commission
that in making a decision on this request, permitting a pest control business
in this zone would set a precedent to allow pest control business possibly
of a larger magnitude than the one being requested. City Attorney Baird
advised that since pest control businesses are not psecifically listed,
a determination would have to be made as to whether a pest control business
is more obnoxious or detrimental than the specified permitted use.
It was the consensus of the commission members that permitting of a Pest
Control business in a C1 zone would not be more obnoxious or detrimental
than the specified permitted use. Motion was made by Mr. Norquist,
seconded by Mr. Czech and unanimously carried that recommendation be made
to City Council that the pest control business as requested be permitted
in a C1 zone.
With regards the Central Business district perimeter area, Mr. Czech
reported that the Zoning Sub Committee had met and it was their conclusion
that there was not much they could do with the basic core of the CBD except
to bring the perimeter lots into the C2 zone to coincide with the remainder
of the distrct and that the committee felt it was extremely difficult
to do because of the zigzagging condition of the properties and that only
a 15 foot seback and a 5 foot buffer strip be maintained to the rear.
Mr/ Sargent reported that the Planning and Zoning Sub Committee had met
and the expanded boundaries of the Central Business District were discussed
and the following recommendations were decided upon:
The Central Business District as herein defined is exempt from yard
requirements, the maximum lot coverage shall be 100 per cent, except those
perimeter lots fronting on Lake Avenue, West Avenue, Desoto Street and
Minneola Avenue. These perimeter lots must provide a 15 foot rear yard
setback and when a commercial use abuts a residential use the commercial
use shall provide a landscape buffer strip at least five feet wide planting
along the rear property line. Following discussion, motion was made by Mr.
Sargent, and seconded by Mr. Cunningham that the recommendations of the Planning
Sub Committee for the perimeter area of the Central Business District be
presented to the City Council as the commission's recommendations.
Mrs. Cook moved that the above motion be amended to include that the outside
perimeter lots have a 15' setback from the perimeter boundary line with
the necessary buffer area as previously stated, allow single family, two
family, and three family residences in the CBD district. The motion was
seconded by Mr. Cunningham.
Following discussion on the amendment, motion was made by Mrs. Cook,
seconded by Mr. Cunningham and unanimously carried that further discussion
of the expanded boundaries of the Central Business District be tabled
and referred to Acting City Manager Smythe to prepare a new proposal and
call a meeting of the Planning Sub Committee and Zoning Sub Committee
for review of the discussion of his proposal.
With regards Tennis Courts in zoning, Mr. Sargent reported that it was
the general consensus of the Planning Sub Committee that this should
porably be listed as a Conditional Use in R1AA as private recreational
facilities and that each individual use would then be restricted as
necessary. Motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mrs. Cook and carried
that recommendation be made to Council that the ordinance be amended to
include private recreational facilities as a permitted use under a
Conditional Use Permit in the R1AA Zone.
Acting City Manager Smythe called to the commission's attention what
appeared to be a direct conflict in the Sign Ordinance as follows:
In 26-24 (D(c) Offi-Site signs are permitted; but in 26-24 (3)(b) Off-
Site signs are prohibited. In 26-24 (2) under Shopping Centers and Multi-
use buildings he did not see where off-site signs are addressed, so
presumed the prohibition was for Section (2) only but as written covers
both Section (1) and (2). If the commission was in agreement, he requested
the following change:
26-24 (2) (i) Off-Site signs are prohibited in Shopping Centers and
Multi-use buildings.
26-24 (3) (b) Omit.
Motion was made by Mr. Jones, and seconded by Mr. Czech that recommendation
be made to the City Council that the recommnedations of the Acting City
Manager concerning a correction in the Sign Ordinance (141-C) be adopted
and the necessary amendment to the ordinance be prepared. The motion
carried with Mr. Sargent abstaining. He explained his reason for abstaining
from voting was because he did not fully understand the ordinance.
A sketch of a proposed City Hall sign prepared by Mr. Jones was presented
to the commission for their opinion and recommendation. Acting City Manager
Smythe advised that the proposed location for the sign is at the Northwest
corner of the building and would require the removal of the Large Palm bush.
He further advised that the large roof sign has the approval of City Council
for removal. In discussion of the proposed location of the sign, the questior
of required setback and other sign requirements as pertains to city
buildings was discussed, and Acting City Manager Smythe advised the Commissior
that Section 26-79.19(e) exempts governmental bodies from permit requirements.
City Attorney Baird concurred with this.
At the suggestion of Chairwoman Ray, further discussion of the proposed
sign was tabled with a request that the proposal be reviewed by the Sign
Sub Committee and their recommendations presented at the next meeting.
Chairwoman Ray recognized the young people attending the meeting and stated
she was delighted to see them.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P. M. by Chairwoman Ray.
Ruth Alice Ray, Chairwoman
M. Dollar, Secretary