02-04-2014 Regular P & Z Meeting City of Clermont
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 4, 2014
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The meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order Tuesday February 4,
2014 at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Nick Jones. Other members present were Carlos Solis, Herb
Smith, Harry Mason, Bernadette Dubuss, and Thomas Spencer. Also in attendance were Barbara
Hollerand, Planning and Zoning Director, Curt Henschel, Senior Planner, John Kruse, Senior
Planner, Dan Mantzans, City Attorney, and Rae Chidlow, Administrative Assistant.
MINUTES of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held January 7, 2014 were
approved as written.
REPORTS
City Attorney Dan Mantzans discussed the procedures and expectations of the Commissioners of
the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Chairman Nick Jones stated that Items 2 through 4 will be tabled to the March 4, 2014 Planning
and Zoning meeting.
Bernadette Dubuss made a motion to postpone Items Nos. 2, 3, and 4 to the March 4, 2014
Planning and Zoning meeting; seconded by Thomas Spencer. The vote was unanimous to
postpone the items.
1. REQUEST FOR REZONING
DEVELOPMENT NAME: Walgreens
OWNERIAPPLICANT: The Ferber Company
REQUESTED ACTION: Request for a rezoning to change the zoning from R-2 Medium
Density Residential and C-1 Light Commercial to C-2 General
Commercial Zoning District
Planner John Kruse presented the following staff report:
The applicant is requesting to rezone these parcels from R-2 residential (Bumgarner Parcel) and
C-1 commercial (Boudreau Parcel) to C-2 General Commercial in order to permit the
construction of a new Walgreens stand alone store at the southwest corner of SR 50 and Bloxam
Ave. These parcels (Exhibit 2), in conjunction with the parcels on the corner(north of these
sites)that consist of Papa John's Pizza, the abandoned Citgo service station, the Music Station,
and the existing home behind the Music Station,will be redeveloped into the new Walgreens
store and site. This store will replace the existing Walgreens in the shopping plaza to the east.
The proposed new store will be approximately 15,000 square feet and will be developed to City's
Land Development Code.
The parcels are located in the Commercial Future Land Use Category(Exhibit 3), as depicted on
City of Clermont
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 4, 2014
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the City's Future Land Use Map 1.1. Surrounding the parcels to the north, east, and south is the
Commercial Land Use Category. To the west, the Land Use Category is Medium Density
Residential. The Commercial Future Land Use Category, as stated in Policy 1.9.1 of the City's
Comprehensive Plan, allows general retail sales and services. The proposed Walgreens Store
would be consistent with this policy and permissible in this Future Land Use Category.
The current zoning to the north and east of these parcels is C-2, General Commercial, as shown
in Exhibit 3, from the City's Zoning Map. The rezoning of these parcels would be a logical
extension, especially from the north, to allow full use of the property. The rezoning to the C-2
zoning district would allow redevelopment of the parcels in the area to the fullest extent
permitted under the existing Commercial Future Land Use Category. The rezoning would
continue to complete the infill of parcels designated in this area under the Commercial Future
Land Use. Under Section 122-223 of the Land Development Code, the C-2 zoning district
permits retail businesses. The proposed Walgreens Store would be consistent with this section of
the code.
The proposed rezoning of the parcels to C-2 would be consistent with this request and the area as
a whole. The rezoning would provide for an opportunity to redevelop this area into a more
appropriate use, as permitted under the Commercial Future Land Use Category. Therefore, staff
recommends approval of this request based upon the information presented.
John Lapointe, 5910 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, stated that the rezoning of the two parcels south
of Magnolia Street is consistent with the comprehensive plan and the future land use map.
Jason Crews, 151 Sawgrass Corners Dr., Ponte Vedra Beach, stated that he was present to
answer any questions.
Commissioner Harry Mason asked what the plan is for ingress and egress. He asked if the
closing of Magnolia Street is part of the development.
Mr. Kruse stated that it is his understanding that the right-of-way will be vacated as a portion of
the redevelopment of the corner of SR 50 and Bloxam Ave.
Commissioner Harry Mason asked if there is a plan to widen Bloxam Ave. to include a turning
lane for the development.
Mr. Kruse stated that is premature at this moment and the widening will be looked at as the
development goes through site review.
Commissioner Harry Mason stated that it is not premature when you are asking to rezone and
you don't know if the road is wide enough to access the development.
City of Clermont
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 4, 2014
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Chairman Nick Jones stated that staff has stringent regulations regarding improvements to
property being developed. He stated that the issue before them is the rezoning and they are not
commissioned to address site review issues.
City Attorney Dan Mantzaris stated that the rezoning determines whether the proposed zoning is
consistent with the city's comprehensive plan, the neighbors, and the surrounding zoning. He
stated that the access issue is premature because that is a development issue that will come
before the site review committee. He stated that just because Council approves a rezoning, that
doesn't mean that something gets built on that property. He stated it's the appropriate use for it
and the property still has to meet all the requirements to be able to development which is where
the ingress and egress will be discussed.
Commissioner Harry Mason asked if there will be landscaping buffers around the property.
Mr. Mantzans stated that the city code requires a buffer between commercial and residential
properties.
Mr. Kruse stated that there will be a ten foot buffer.
Commissioner Carlos Solis asked who owns Magnolia Street.
Mr. Kruse stated that the city owns it and they will be reimbursed for the recent improvements
that were made to Magnolia Street.
Commissioner Carlos Solis asked that if Magnolia Street is abandoned then will it revert to the
property owner.
Mr. Mantzaris stated that Magnolia Street will belong to the property owner.
Chairman Nick Jones stated that when the Florida Department of Transportation did the
improvements to SR 50, they eliminated the curb cuts within 25 feet of the corner. He stated that
they have the potential to make a considerable improvement to this parcel of property. He stated
that the comprehensive plan is consistent with the request and no one is present to object to this
request.
Commissioner Harry Mason asked if Magnolia Street has adequate drainage.
City Planner Curt Henschel stated that the utility department recently did the drainage
improvement and resurfaced the road. He stated that is why the city is looking for reimbursement
of the improvements because it was done so recently.
City of Clermont
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 4, 2014
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Commissioner Carlos Solis moved to recommend approval of the rezoning; seconded by
Commissioner Bernadette Dubuss. The vote was 5-1 to recommend approval for the rezoning to
City Council, with Commissioner Harry Mason opposing.
2. REQUEST FOR SMALL-SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT
DEVELOPMENT NAME: Citrus Tower Apartments and Office
3. REQUEST FOR REZONING
DEVELOPMENT NAME: Citrus Tower Apartments and Office
4. REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
DEVELOPMENT NAME: Citrus Tower Apartments and Office
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 pm.
i
Ni' ' ones, Chairm.,
ATTEST:
Rae Chidlow—Administrative Assistant