02-02-2016 P&Z Minutes City of Clermont
MINUTES
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 2, 2016
Page 1
The meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order Tuesday February 2,
2016 at 6 30 p m by Chairman Nick Jones Other members present were Carlos Solis, Herb
Smith, Tony Hubbard, Cuqui Whitehead and Jack Martin Also in attendance were Barbara
Hollerand, Development Services Director, Curt Henschel, Planning Manager, John Kruse,
Senior Planner, Dan Mantzans, City Attorney, and Rae Chidlow, Planning Specialist
MINUTES of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held January 5, 2015 were
approved as wntten
REPORTS
Chairman Jones stated that Flonda Lake Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the Family
Christian Center on February 19, 2016
Commission Solis stated that in December his band won the Akademia Music Awards Best Jazz
Album and they will be performing at the Wayne Densch Performing Art Center in Sanford on
Apnl 9, 2016
1. REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
REQUEST: To allow a church facility in the UE Urban Estate zoning distnct, located at 2715
Old Highway 50
APPLICANT: Michael Latham
Senior Planner Kruse presented the staff report as follows
The owner, The Crossing Church, is requesting a conditional use permit for a church and
associated ministry uses in the UE Urban Estate zoning distnct The church acquired the
property in 2010 with the expectations to one day build a multi-purpose facility to serve the
congregation and community The site is over 18 acres in size, with about one-third consisting
of,floodplain, wetlands, and open water body (Blacks Lake) The property was annexed into,the
city in 2013 along with'a large scale comprehensive plan amendment and nght-of-way vacation
request The property's future land use is Public Facilities/Institutional These actions laid the
ground work for the church to move forward in the future with a conditional use permit and site
plan approval for the ministry when the time was nght
The church proposes to develop the facility in multiple phases A master plan program identified
the needs and desire of the church The six phases outlined on the master plan consists of an
initial assembly building (5,000 SF), multi-purpose building/recreational (12,000 SF), wedding
pavilion (2,000 SF), administration office building (5,000 SF), sanctuary assembly (20,000 SF)
and a cottage retreat (2,000 SF) The total square footage of all buildings on the site will not
exceed 50,000 square feet The buildings will be compliant with the City of Clenmont's
architectural guidelines The facility will be served by city water and sewer, along with other
city services The project will go through the site plan review process
City of Clermont
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 2, 2016
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The overall facility will be used for the ministry purposes surrounding the church These uses
include, but are not limited to, worship, recreation, daycare, administrative office, and special
retreats/programs The church desires to create a campus that serves as a faith-based center of
hope, life and joy for the community
The church is consistent with the area as a whole and has previously received initial support
through the future land use change to Public Facility/Institutional from the City The church and
it uses are allowable through a conditional use permit under the Urban Estate zoning and Public
Facility/Institutional land use category Therefore, staff recommends approval of this request
pp q
based upon the information presented
Chairman Jones stated that he was approached by the applicant to show him what they were
planning He stated that nothing was discussed that was outside of what was presented here
Commissioner Solis stated that he visited with the applicant as well
Commissioner Whitehead stated that she received a phone call but she declined to meet the
applicant
Michael Latham, 605 W Montrose St , stated that he is here to represent the applicant
Pastor Kendal Anderson, 12248 Lake Valley Dr, stated that they purchased this property about
six years ago He stated that they want to build a facility, along with a get-away cottage He
stated that they would like to see the facility used more than just on Sundays and Wednesdays
Bob Peraza, 2322 Fenton Ave, asked if the church is tied to a specific domination
City Attorney Mantzans stated that the applicant can answer that question if he likes but it is
irrelevant for the Commission
Mr Anderson stated that it's non-denominational and they have a partnership with several
churches across the country
Commissioner Whitehead stated that she likes that they are keeping the trees and the idea of the
cottages
Commissioner Whitehead moved to recommend approval of the conditional use permit,
seconded by Commissioner Sohs The vote was unanimous to recommend approval
2. REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
REQUEST: To allow a school facility expansion in the R-3 Residential/Professional zoning
district,located at 983 W Desoto Street
APPLICANT: Denise Pike
City of Clermont
MINUTES
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 2, 2016
Page 3
Planning Manager Henschel presented the staff report as follows
The applicant is requesting to amend a conditional use permit (Resolution No 2010-17) to allow
for the expansion of a school facility within the R-3 Residential/Professional Zoning District
School facilities are designated as requiring a conditional use permit within the R-3
Residential/Professional zoning district
This expansion is for the Montesson school located at 983 W Desoto Street
In 2010 the applicant was approved for a 1,200 square foot addition, and a total of 50 students,
but never constructed the addition within the two-year time limit
The applicant is now requesting the same 1,200 square foot addition as previously approved and
requesting an increase in the number of students from 50 to 65 This increase is intended to
allow additional siblings to attend the school, not necessarily to add new families
The expansion will also allow for much needed office space, storage space, and to allow for
added classroom space The applicant's staffing will remain the same at four, and the hours of
operation will also remain the same, from 8 15 a m to 2 45 p m , Monday through Friday
Jan Sheldon, 17521 SR 19, Groveland, stated that they moved to this location in 2001 She stated
that she loves being downtown because they can walk to several locations downtown She stated
that there will not be any additional traffic added initially because there are siblings waiting to
attend the school
Franklin Forth, 955 W Desoto St , stated that his house is next door to the school He stated that
the City Council told the South Lake Montesson in 2010 they were allowed to be there He
stated that there are five schools and daycares so the amount of traffic is intensive He stated that
he can't get out of his driveway when he's leaving for work He stated that the City Council said
that the maximum students allowed was 50, yet they are now asking for 65 students He stated
that if this goes before the City Council and is approved,he will file a lawsuit
Charlene Forth, 939 W Desoto St , stated that five daycares and over 200 children are too
intensive She read from the 2010 conditional use permit application minutes that stated that the
maximum number of students allowed is 50 students She stated that traffic is bad throughout the
day She showed letters from neighbors submitted in 2010 She stated that there was to be no
playground, but they do play outdoors She stated that all she hears is screaming children She
showed other documents from 2001 She stated that no one is policing the facility She showed
documents from the Florida Department of Education showing the number of students enrolled
She stated that this is approved for a Montesson school, however it looks like a daycare She
showed where the conditional use permit from 2001 states a five-foot landscape buffer shall be
provided She has requested the variance that allows this She stated that the addition is as big as
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February 2, 2016
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her house She showed a photo of a car that blocked her driveway during a yard sale She
presented a child care facility inspection checklist from 2006 She stated that this needs to stop
Ms Sheldon stated that when she first started, she did originally ask for 35 children because she
only had the primary She stated that she added the elementary in 2003 when she remodeled She
stated that when she came before the City Council in 2010, she was approved for 50 children
She stated that she doesn't know what the private school review is and is not sure where they are
getting their numbers She stated that there have been 14 no parking signs placed on Desoto
Street so they can no longer have garage sales She stated that the Montessori school and Magic
Moments share their parking areas when there are school functions She stated that most of their
traffic is between 8 00 and 9 00 a m , then a couple of cars at 11 30 a m , and between 2 15 and
3 00 p m the majority of the children are picked up
Chairman Jones asked what the history of complaints is from that community
Mr Henschel stated that other than what they heard tonight, staff has not heard of any other
complaints He stated that they did check into a formal approval from the Department of Health
that states there are 25 female and 25 male students for a total of 50 He stated that he was not
sure where the documents Ms Forth presented come from, and staff has not seen them before
Commissioner Solis asked if the Department of Health goes to the facility or is the report issued
from the school
Mr Henschel stated that it is an inspection report that the Department of Health provides
Commissioner Solis stated that he would not want to live next door, however he does not like to
be talked at, he wants to be talked to He stated that although Ms Forth's information was useful,
the way it was delivered, was horrendous He stated that the neighbors have rights and he has to
look at the whole picture
Commissioner Smith stated that there are a lot of concerns about all the paperwork that was
shown by Ms Forth He stated that he wishes they had all this information prior to the meeting
Chairman Jones stated that this is R-3 Residential/Professional so the use is allowed with a
conditional use permit
Mr Mantzaris stated that from staff's perspective they are required to treat this application as a
new application He stated that the information provided, although of interest, that shows history
of the property pertains to a prior application He stated that staff is obligated to present the new
information He stated that the Commission can consider all the information that is provided
Commissioner Whitehead stated that the problem is there isn't dust this one school in that
location, there are four others She stated that this is not their concern because they are only
looking at the Montessori school application She stated that all they can do is make a
City of Clermont
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 2, 2016
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recommendation to the City Council She stated that you can't blame the kids because they make
noise She stated that they need to look at this application, not all 200 kids
Commissioner Hubbard stated that he is concerned that the previous amendment said they would
not add any more students,but they are asking to add more students
Mr Mantzans stated that he is not saying they shouldn't consider old information but this is a
different application
Commissioner Hubbard stated that it needs to stop somewhere, and they need to move if the site
is too small
Commissioner Martin asked if the City has venfied if there are 200 children within a quarter of a
block
Mr Henschel stated that he does not have the numbers for the other facilities
Commissioner Martin asked why the recommendation for approval wasn't wntten in the staff
report
Chairman Jones stated that it is at the top of the staff report
Commissioner Martin stated that although staff has to treat this as a new application, the
neighbors have to live with the history
Chairman Jones stated that as a Commission they need to make their decision based on what is
best for the community as a whole and if they meet the requirements, not whether they will be
sued He asked how long the school has been at this location
Mr Henschel stated that the school has been there since 2001
Commissioner Whitehead moved to recommend approval of the conditional use permit,
•Chairman Jones passed the gavel to Commissioner Martin and seconded the motion
Commissioner Solis stated if he was a neighbor of the school he would probably have a problem
He stated that the Forths have been fighting for this property to not change He stated that he
needs to do what is best He stated that he doesn't take kindly to threats and how he is talked to
and that could have changed way he voted, but he needs to do what is best for the neighborhood
Commissioner Whitehead asked if the school would stay as it is if this is not approved
Mr Mantzans stated that this is a new application so if it is not approved, the school would be
required to stay the same as it is
City of Clermont
MINUTES
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
February 2, 2016
Page 6
The motion fails with a vote of 2-4 to recommend approval, with Commissioners Solis, Smith,
Hubbard, and Martin opposing
Commissioner Martin moved to recommend denial of the conditional use permit, seconded by
Commissioner Smith The vote was 4-2 to recommend denial, with Chairman Jones and
Commissioner Whitehead opposing
Commissioner Whitehead stated that she was approached about an item on the agenda and
although it is legal, she doesn't feel it's nght She has concerns that they may be persuaded to
vote for an application, and she doesn't want to be approached
Mr Mantzans stated that applicants are allowed to approach Commissioners provided that
whoever is approached, states that at the meeting He stated that you can refuse to speak to them
if that is your choice
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7 37 pm
Nic /o es, ai an'
ATTEST
Rae Chidlow—Planning Specialist