03-14-2002 Workshop Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
MARCH 14, 2002
Page 1
A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Thursday, March 14, 2002, at
the Police Department. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Turville. Council Members
Caputo, Dupee, Mullins, and Renick were present. Also present were City Manager Saunders, Finance
Director Van Zile and Planning Director Brown. Mayor Turville welcomed those present.
Finance Director Van Zile discussed with the City Council the Fire Department pay plan. A handout was
provided to the City Council that outlined the proposed mid-year changes for all firefighters.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council that this be placed on a future regular Council
agenda for consideration.
City Manager Saunders then introduced Harry Sleek of Levitt Homes, who was present to discuss with the
City Council the request for private streets for their Regency Hills development planned south of Hartwood
Marsh Road. Mr. Sleek provided an overview of the plan and their request for a private gated community.
Mayor Turville stated that in recent years private gated communities have taken over the traditional grid
system that provided better access between developments.
Council Member Mullins stated that many families feel safer when they are living within a gated
community and that the size of the gated community should possibly be a consideration.
Additional discussion was held regarding limiting distances between public streets.
Planning Director Brown then provided a handout to the City Council that outlined architectural design
standards that are being considered. He reviewed the handout with the City Council and discussed the need .
for these types of standards. He went on to say that currently some architectural guidelines are being
provided in Conditional Use Permits but these standards would apply to all commercial development.
Mr. Dan Hessburg was present and stated his concerns regarding being too specific with standards such as
3' offsets, which would create constructability problems. He pointed to examples of buildings at the Winter
Park Mall and displayed pictures of the relief in offsets that are provided.
The City Council and those present continued to discuss specific language in the proposed guidelines
regarding needs for variances and other definition that may be needed within the ordinance.
Rick Webber was present and stated that the City Council could move slowly and attempt to look at
potential conflicts such as we now have between signs and trees. Mr. Webber also discussed the problem
with the tree standards the City now has that requires too much water to establish the tree.
Cecilia Bonifay was present and discussed problems that surfaced in Orange City with similar type
ordinances and stated that the City Council should possible look at how that City addressed those issues.
Mayor Turville adjourned the meeting for a short break at 8:25 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:40 p.m2
Council Member Renick stated that on March 19, 2002 a land use change request would be presented to
Lake County for two parcels located on Hartwood Marsh Road and asked if the City Council should
comment on these requests.
Mayor Turville stated that there could be a possible legal problem with the City making decisions or
comments prior to going through the development process.
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
MARCH 14, 2002
Page 2
Council Member Renick stated that development should not take place in this area until the Joint Planning
Areas have been defined.
Mayor Turville stated that there was a potential for private utilities to move into certain areas if the City
states it will not serve those areas.
Additional discussion was held regarding the process through Lake County and the possible future process
of the development approaching the City.
Council Member Dupee stated she felt it was important to get all landowners in the Hartwood Marsh area
together with the City to plan the entire area.
Discussion was held regarding holding workshops with developers prior to the quasi-judicial process.
City Manager Saunders then discussed with the City Council the potential use of the old Depot. He
explained that both Clermont Main Street and the South Lake Historical Society had expressed interest ia
utilizing the facility in the future.
City Manager Saunders also stated that the Downtown Clermont Partnership would be approaching the
City Council in the near future with a request for contributions toward the First Friday events.
City Manager Saunders then informed the City Council that his current contract with the City would expire
in May of this year and that he would like to renew the contract under the same terms and conditions as the
current one. A copy of that contract was provided to each Council Member. City Manager Saunders stated
that the only change would be to the effective date and to the retirement contribution to reflect the
percentage previously approved by the Council.
After discussion, Mayor Turville stated this item should be placed on a regular Council agenda.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Attest:
~d S. Turville, Jr., Mayor