[Call to Order by Chair]
[00:00:17]
WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING. YOU CAN FIND THE MEETING AGENDA AND YOU CAN CLICK ON THE AGENDA ITEM TO ACCESS THE SUPPORTING MATERIALS. THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEM DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES AND IF THE PRESENTER HAS PHOTOGRAPHS WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT FOR INCLUSION INTO THE RECORD.
AT THIS TIME I WILL ASK THE CLERK OF THE COURT TO CALL THE
ROLE. >> SPEAKER: CHAIR COMMISSIONER CHRISTIAN WHITEHURST, VICE CHAIR SARAH ARNOLD, COMMISSIONER HENRY DEAN, COMMISSIONER KRISTA JOSEPH.
>> CHAIR: ALL RIGHT EVERYONE IS PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
I ASKED THAT CHAPLAIN KELLY KEMP FROM THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION.
>> SPEAKER: BEFORE WE PRAY, TOMORROW IS DECEMBER 7 WHICH IS PEARL HARBOR DAY. CAN WE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE? THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AMEN. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR WE ALWAYS LIKE TO HEAR VERSUS OUT OF LUKE CHAPTER 2 AND IT SAYS THIS, PANOTHER ANGEL LORD, CAME UPON THEM.
AND SHOWN WRITE ABOUT THEM. THEY WERE SO AFRAID.
THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, FEAR NOT BECAUSE BEHOLD I BRING YOU GREAT TIDINGS AND GOOD JOY TO ALL PEOPLE.
FROM YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD. AS I STATED THIS MORNING I GOT ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM THE LORD AS I WAS PRAYING ABOUT THIS PASSAGE AND FROM THE BOOK OF LUKE AS WELL.
AND IT SAID THEY CAME TO PASS THEY ENTERED A CERTAIN VILLAGE AND A CERTAIN WOMAN NAMED MARTHA WENT INTO THE HOUSE.
SHE HAD A SISTER SHE CALLED MARY AND SHE ALSO SAT AT JESUS'S FEET. MARTHA WAS CUMBERED AND SHE SAID LORD, DOES NOT CARE THAT MY SISTER HAS LEFT ME TO CARE ALONE? BID HER THAT SHE HELP ME AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO HER MARTHA, MARTHA, THOU ARE CAREFUL TO AND TROUBLED ABOUT MANY THINGS BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL AND MARY HAD CHOSEN THAT GOOD PART WHICH SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER. AS WE ARE IN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON SOMETIMES WE ARE BUSY BAKING COOKIES, GOING TO PARTIES AND HAVING A GOOD TIME BUT FORGETTING WHY WE HAD THIS SEASON. LET US PRAY.
OUR MOST GRACIOUS HEAVENLY GOD, WE PRAY BEFORE YOU LORD.
THANK YOU FOR THE FUN WE ARE HAVING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON OH LORD. WE PRAY TO GOD AND WE DON'T FORGET THE REAL MESSAGE BECAUSE BORN TODAY FROM THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD.
WE PRAY GOD TODAY LORD WE OFFER YOU LORD WHO GAVE SO MUCH TO YOU OH LORD ON TOMORROW'S DATE. ON PEARL HARBOR DAY, LORD.
WE THANK YOU DEAR GOD FOR THOSE WHO DIED OH LORD AND THANK YOU DEAR LORD FOR THOSE WHO WORK DILIGENTLY TO SAVE LIVES.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH GOD WE WILL NEVER FORGET, HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWN GREATER LOVE THAN THIS THEN A MAN WOULD LAY DOWN HIS LIFE TODAY GOD WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY, POLICE AND FIRE RESCUE. WE PRAY GOD, KEEP US SAFE LORD AND KEEP OTHERS SAFE WE THANK YOU LORD AND PRAY GOD THAT YOUR WORD SAYS IF YOU ASK FOR WISDOM YOU WILL GIVE IT TO US AND I PRAY TODAY LORD YOU HOLD US BACK NOT AND GIVE EACH OF THESE COMMISSIONERS YOUR WISDOM HEAVENLY GOD WE PRAY LORD YOU BLESS THEM LORD TO UNDERSTAND YOUR WILL OF GOD IN YOUR WAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY PERSON WHO IS HERE TODAY LORD BLESS THEM HEAVENLY FATHER AND WE ALL TAKE THE SAME POSITION UPON OUR KNEES BEFORE YOU. WE LOVE YOU AND PRAISE YOU IN TODAY HEAVENLY GOD WE PRAY FOR YOU LORD FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT WITH US TODAY LORD. THEY WILL NOT GATHER AT OUR TABLE ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY ARE GATHERED AT AND RUN YOUR THRONE. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS.
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU CHAPLAIN AT THIS TIME WE ASK JOSEPH MCDERMITT TO COME UP AND LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> SPEAKER: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU.
[Public Safety Update]
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU SIR. EVERYONE CAN BE SEATED.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT.
WE ARE OFF TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE.
CHIEF, GOOD TO SEE YOU, WELCOME.
[00:05:04]
>> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
BACK IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AT THE BOARD'S APPROVAL THE FIRE RESCUE APPLIED FOR STAFF EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANT THROUGH FEMA. FOR A TOTAL OF 24 NEW FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS. THAT GRANT IS 100 PERCENT COVERS THE FIREFIGHTER SALARY FOR THREE YEARS.
WE USUALLY ANTICIPATE AWARDS IN AUGUST AND WE WANT TO BRING THIS TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF THAT GRANT AS OF THIS TIME.
THEY STARTED SOME AWARDS IN AUGUST IT A FEW MORE SEPTEMBER AND THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED ANY AWARD SINCE SEPTEMBER.
WE KEEP WORKING ON IT BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION THAT WE ARE STILL A BRAND IN PROGRESS.
IT HAS NOT BEEN DENIED BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN FUNDED.
THERE'S 24 POSITIONS ON HOLD UNTIL WE FIND OUT ABOUT THE GRANTS. AND THEN IT IS CHRISTMAS TIME.
IT IS FIREFIGHTERS FOR FAMILIES TIME THOSE WHO VISITED OUR BUILDING DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR THE LITTLE HECK SICK.
AND, TO DATE WE HAVE ADOPTED 299 FAMILIES.
WE HAVE PROVIDED CHRISTMAS FOR THEM THIS YEAR.
IT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH A BUNCH OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS IT IS A 501(C)(3) . WE GET A TERMINUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEY WILL SEND HIS HELPERS WILL BE WORKING HARD IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THEY WILL HAVE A PICKUP DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS BUT I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP.
IT IS PHENOMENAL IT'S ALMOST 300 FAMILIES AND IT'S MORE CHILDREN THEN WE DONE LAST YEAR.
WITH THAT I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> CHAIR: DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? THANK YOU CHIEF. DIRECTOR COLE, WELCOME UP.
>> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING. >> SPEAKER: SKIP COLE.
INVESTIGATOR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A INITIATIVE WE STARTED IN MAY.
BACK IN MAY OF THIS YEAR THE STATE ATTORNEY HEADED THIS UP.
NOTICED AN UPTICK IN VIOLENCE REGARDING JUVENILES AND HANDGUNS. WITH THAT SAID HE BROUGHT TOGETHER ALL FOUR SHARES OF PUTNAM, FLAGLER, ST. JOHN'S AND POLICE CHIEFS AS WELL AS ATF SO WE COULD COLLABORATE TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL HAVE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES CRIMINALS DO NOT.
WE FELT THAT THROUGH THIS COLLABORATION, THROUGH A VERY INTENTIONAL ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, TO OUR CRIMINAL ANALYSIS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY THAT WE COULD TAKE A STAB AT THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THAT TIME I DON'T WANT TO SAY THIS WAS A SUCCESS BUT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED 190 JUVENILES AND YOUNG ADULTS CHARGED WITH NEARLY 600 CRIMES INVOLVING GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN CRIMES. YESTERDAY THEY HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT.
FORTUNATELY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WE DON'T HAVE THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES DO AND THE GANG VIOLENCE BUT WE DO HAVE ISSUES. 34 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAME FROM ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND THEY WERE CHARGED WITH ALMOST 200 CRIMES. MOST OF THAT I SAY IS AVOIDABLE BECAUSE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 80 HANDGUNS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM UNLOCKED VEHICLES IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.
80. WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT ONE HANDGUN IN THE HANDS OF THE WRONG PERSON CAN CREATE A TRAGEDY. WE HAD 80 GUNS ON THE STREET SHOULDN'T BE. THEY WERE PLACED IN THERE VEHICLES BY RESPONSIBLE ADULTS AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE AND WENT TO SLEEP FOR THE NIGHT. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE SHOULD DO BETTER. THAT WOULD BE MY MESSAGE AS FAR AS THAT GOES. UNFORTUNATELY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY WE HAVE A VERY STRONG COMMUNITY AND BILLY IN TERMS OF A FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES BUT WE CAN STILL DO BETTER. ON A LIGHTER NOTE, 'TIS THE SEASON. WITH ALL OF OUR COMMERCIAL GROWTH WE ARE A PRIME TARGET FOR RETAIL THEFT AND SHOPLIFTING. OUR NUMBERS HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE LAST YEAR. BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS WE WILL BE VERY PROACTIVE, VERY VISIBLE AT OUR BIG BOX STORES PAND ARE OUTLET MALLS AND THING OF THAT NATURE AND WE WILL ALSO BE DOING A LOT OF UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS.
CRIMINALS BEWARE. IF YOU COME AND STEAL FROM ST.
JOHN'S COUNTY IT COULD BE YOUR LAST.
THE LAST THING I WOULD MENTION IS AROUND THE HOLIDAYS IS ALWAYS BIG ONLINE WITH TELEPHONE SCAMS . THERE'S A LOT TO SAY ABOUT IT BUT I CAN TELL YOU IF SOMEONE CALLS YOUR HOUSE AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO GET YOUR MONEY DON'T GIVE IT TO
[00:10:04]
THEM. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NOT GOING TO CALL YOU AND ASKED TO GET A GIFT CARD TO AVOID YOU GETTING A WARRANT ISSUED FOR YOUR ARREST.IT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. AND, NO LEGITIMATE BUSINESS FOR THAT MATTER WOULD SEND YOU TO BUY GIFT CARDS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS FOR WHATEVER REASON. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE DO NOT SEND THEM THAT MONEY IT IS THAT SIMPLE IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION CALL US AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH IT. AS FAR AS ONLINE PURCHASES BE CAREFUL WITH THAT. THESE SCAMMERS HAVE BECOME VERY SOPHISTICATED. THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ALL OVER THE WORLD AND CREATE WEBSITES THAT LOOK LIKE THE JUDGMENT BUSINESSES. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
IF A DEAL SEEMS LIKE IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS.
DON'T SEND MONEY TO STRANGERS AND TO DO YOUR RESEARCH.
WITH THAT SAID, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> CHAIR: QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR COLE?
>> CHAIR: I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS COMMENT ALWAYS A TESTAMENT TO HOW SAFE WE FEEL THE BIGGEST INITIATIVE I HAVE HEARD FROM THE CHELSEA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ASKING US TO LOCK OUR
CARS. >> SPEAKER: IS A BLESSING.
WE ALL LIVE IN AN AMAZING COMMUNITY AND IT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT. WE ALL NEED TO DO OUR PART IS VERY SIMPLE. THANK YOU MR. DEAN FOR YOUR SERVICES, CHAIRMAN, GOOD LUCK AND WE WISH YOU WISDOM TO THE CHAIRMAN WHITEHURST AND COCHAIR MISS ARNOLD AND WELCOME TO
[Clerk of Court's Report]
MISSION HER JOSEPH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THANK YOU.>> CHAIR: THANK YOU DIRECTOR. E ARE ONTO THE COURT OF COURT
REPORT. MR. PATTY?>> SPEAKER: CHAIRMAN WHITEHURST, GOOD MORNING VICE CHAIR ARNOLD, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, CONGRATULATIONS YOU ALL WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. COMMISSIONER DEAN IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE, SIR. FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT BUT PARTICULARLY TALKING ABOUT SCAMS AS WELL AS THEY RELATE TO OUR OFFICE AS THIS IS THE MOST JOYOUS SEASON AND I AM TROUBLED TO REPORT THAT SCAMMERS CONTINUE TO TARGET OUR RESIDENTS.
I HAVE RECEIVED CALLS RECENTLY ASKING ABOUT THE MYSTERY SCAM WHERE AN OFFICIAL SOUNDING COLLAR CALLS AND CLAIMS THAT THE RESIDENT MISSED JURY DUTY AND DEMANDS PAYMENT TO THINGS OUR OFFICE WOULD NEVER DO. AND A RECENT MAILING TO RESIDENTS CLAIMING THAT PROPERTY DEED TRANSFER HAS OCCURRED AND OFFERING TO PROVIDE AN OFFICIAL COPY FOR $89. THIS LATTER SCHEME IS FROM A COMPANY CALLED COUNTY RECORDS OFFICE LLC A TAMPA BASED COMPANY UNAFFILIATED WITH GOVERNMENT THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE GROWING CONCERN IN PUBLIC ABOUT PROPERTY FRAUD.
THEIR MARKETING IS DECEPTIVE AND SADLY RESIDENTS BELIEVE IT'S OFFICIAL AND ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE VICTIMS OF PROPERTY FRAUD. I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THESE EFFORTS AND ARE LEANING FORWARD IN PROVIDING PUBLIC INFORMATION AND CLEARING THE AIR WITH TARGETED RESIDENTS.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE VIGILANCE AGAINST PROPERTY FRAUD IN GENERAL WITH OUR PROPERTY FRAUD ALERT SERVICE WHICH NOTIFIES RESIDENTS ABOUT ANY RECORDINGS ON THEIR NAME OR BUSINESS FOR FREE. I RECENTLY JOINED A STATEWIDE TASK FORCE FOCUSED ON CHANGES TO MAKE PROPERTY FRAUD THAT MUCH HARDER FOR CRIMINALS TO ACCOMPLISH.
ALTOGETHER WE ARE FIGHTING BACK FERVENTLY.
THE PUBLIC INFORMATION IN SEEKING INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND APPROACHES TO STOP THE SCAMS IN THERE TRACKS AS ONE OF OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IS ONE TOO MANY.
MISTRESS, THAT IS MY REPORT PENDING ANY QUESTIONS.
>> CHAIR: DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR CORK PATTY? OH, THERE YOU ARE. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH YOU HAVE
THE FLOOR. >> COMMISSIONER: I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT FOR THE PUBLIC WHERE THEY CAN GO TO THE PAGE THAT SAYS THE CURRENT SCAMS GOING ON AND HOW TO FIND IT.
>> SPEAKER: OUR WEBSITE SAINT JOSEPH CLARK.COM STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH VARIOUS SCAMS AS THEY ARE RELEASED.
IT'S A GREAT IDEA OF PUTTING A ONE-STOP TO WHERE THE RESIDENTS CAN SEE ALL THE SCAMS THAT ARE BEING REPORTED BUT THEY DO CHANGE FAIRLY OFTEN AND AS SOON AS WE BECOME AWARE OF IT WE GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE AND WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP STOP
THEM. >> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR: ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU MR. PATTY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.
WE WILL MOVE INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY DELETIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?
>> COMMISSIONER: THE REQUEST TO SPEAK IS STILL ON.
[Approval of Consent Agenda]
>> CHAIR: WOULD YOU MIND HITTING THE BUTTON?
>> COMMISSIONER: NO SIR. >> CHAIR: COMMISSIONER ARNOLD?
>> COMMISSIONER: NONE. >> CHAIR: COMMISSIONER DEAN?
>> COMMISSIONER: NONE. >> CHAIR: I HAVE NONE SO WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.F YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, LEASE COME FORWARD.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: JOE MCINERNEY, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT FOR ONE ITEM AND A QUESTION FROM ANOTHER ITEM. I SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER NINE WHICH IS THE AWARD TO PQ H FOR A FACILITY MEANS ASSESSMENT
[00:15:04]
PLAN HERE THE COUNTY IS GROWING AND THESE FACILITIES ARE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT. AND IT IS SO SMART THAT THE COUNTY DID PUT THIS RFP OUT ON THE STREET FOR A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GROW AND WHERE AND WHAT IS NEEDED. I'M GLAD THE RFP WAS ISSUED.I'M GLAD THE RESPONSE WAS THERE.
I DO SUPPORT THIS. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR NUMBER 22 AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T LOOK AT THIS EARLIER AND ASKED QUESTIONS EARLIER BUT I AM A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ABOUT ISSUING EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES REVENUE BONDS ON BEHALF OF FLAGLER COLLEGE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY SO SOME CLARIFICATION THERE.
I'M SURE EVERYTHING IS FINE. LOVE FLAGLER COLLEGE I LOVE EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND SAINT AUGUSTINE. JUST MORE CLARIFICATION THAN ANYTHING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: I AGREE. ON ITEM 22 THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S A BUSINESS OF PEOPLE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO BE GUARANTEEING FOR $2 MILLION OF BONDS FOR FLAGLER COLLEGE AND IF IT IS, WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE ON THE REGULAR AGENDA? WHY ARE WE BEING SO SNEAKY AS TO PUT $22 MILLION BOND ISSUES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THE CONSENT AGENDA IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR UNCONTROVERSIAL ITEMS AND ONCE AGAIN IT'S BEING ABUSED BY THE STAFF, AND F. ALSO, I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO ITEM NUMBER 15 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA WE DEALT WITH THIS BEFORE AND THE COMMISSION HAD CONCERNS.
THE COMMISSION HAD IT DELETED FROM A PRIOR CONSENT AGENDA AND HERE IT IS, BACK. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACKUP MATERIAL THE STAFF HAS NOT CHANGED A THING.
THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS, THEY DID NOT ANSWER ANY OF THE CONCERNS AND THEY ARE BASICALLY TALKING TO US ABOUT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN BABY TALK AND I OBJECT.
ROBERT KENNEDY SAID IT'S NOT ALLOW SILLY ENOUGH TO ALLOW CONSENT WE MUST DEMAND THAT THERE'S ENOUGH TO CONSENT FROM.
SECTION 8, PARAGRAPH EIGHT OF THE PROPOSED LIBRARY MEETING ROOM POLICY SAYS THAT YOU CANNOT GET PETITIONS SIGNED FOR POLITICAL CANDIDATES IN THE LIBRARIES.
THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
HARKENING BACK TO 2008 WHEN BEN RITZ SENIOR WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BCC. THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT YOU COULDN'T GET A PETITION SIGNED ANYWHERE ON COUNTY PROPERTY TO INCLUDE THE FARMERS MARKET AT THE AMPHITHEATER. CHAIRMAN RICH CONSULTED WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME AND THE RULING WAS MADE THAT YOU COULD CIRCULATE PETITIONS. NEVERTHELESS SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WANT US TO HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TRIED TO ARREST MY LATE FRIEND ROBIN ADELE AT THE FOREIGN SERVICES OFFICE AND ME FOR CIRCULATING PETITIONS AT THE FARMERS MARKET. THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS MARRIED TO THE LADY AT THE TIME WHO HAD THE CONTRACT ACTUALLY CAME UP TO US AND SAID I KNOW THE LAW. IT DIDN'T MEAN HE HAD READ A LAW BOOK IT MEANT HE KNEW A DEPUTY AND HE WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ARREST. OUR LIBRARIES NEED TO BE FIRST AMENDMENT ZONES AND I CALLED MISS GIBSON WHEN THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS ON THE FLOOR AND I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE FROM MISS GIBSON NOBODY CALLED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WE NEED TO TREAT THE PEOPLE OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY LIKE GROWN-UPS WITH FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THE LEGISLATIVE FINDING AND FACTOR IS INSUFFICIENT. THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE AT ALL FROM THE PRIOR VERSION AND I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ONCE AGAIN PLEASE PULL THIS FROM THE AGENDA.
PLEASE RESPECT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND REQUIRE THE STAFF TO DO BETTER WORK. I MEAN, THAT MEMO, THAT BACKUP IS SHRIEKING THE SHALLOW IT'S AN INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE AND MINE. THANK YOU.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: GOOD MORNING.
LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU STRIKE ITEM 22 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA JUST ON THE SURFACE, $32 MILLION WORTH OF ANYTHING I DON'T THINK SHOULD BE ON A CONSENT AGENDA.
I URGE THIS BOARD TO PLEASE, PUT A CAP 81 DOLLAR CAP ON ANYTHING THAT WOULD EVER BE LISTED ON A CONSENT AGENDA OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE CITIZENS, TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS OF ST.
[00:20:01]
JOHNS COUNTY. WE ARE WATCHING.WE ARE REALLY WATCHING AND WE ARE KEEPING TRACK HOW EACH OF YOU VOTE. WE NEED TO BE CONSULTED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS ON TV.
THIS MATTERS A LOT. SO, PLEASE, OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, PUT A CAP ON ANYTHING YOU WOULD CONSIDER AS A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM. FOR THAT REASON ALONE THEY PSHOULD BE STRUCK. A
THANK YOU. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: SHERRY FLAGLER. ITEM NUMBER 22.
THIS IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF THE COUNTY IN ANY WAY.
THE LANGUAGE IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT STATES THAT THIS IS NOT AN OBLIGATION OF THE COUNTY.
FLAGLER COLLEGE BEING A NONPROFIT COLLEGE HAS TO HAVE A CONDUIT ENTITY TO GO OUT AND GET DEBT.
THEY ARE ISSUING A BOND, A BANK LOAN TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL HOUSING FOR THE COLLEGE. AND, RENOVATIONS TO THE PONCE HALL THAT IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF RENOVATIONS.
THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY USED TO HAVE A HIGHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITY AUTHORITY THAT WOULD BE A CONDUIT.
THAT WAS REMOVED BY THE BOARD IN 2019.
FLAGLER COLLEGE FOUND ANOTHER ENTITY THAT WOULD DO THE BOND BUT THEY NEED THE COUNTY JUST TO AGREE WITH THE INTERLOCAL'S SO THAT THE OTHER ENTITY CAPITAL PROJECTS AUTHORITY FACILITIES AUTHORITY CAN ISSUE THE BANK LOAN ON BEHALF OF FLAGLER COLLEGE. IT IS NOT AN OBLIGATION OF THAT ENTITY EITHER. IT WILL BE PURELY A BANK LOAN OBLIGATED IN TOTAL BY FLAGLER COLLEGE.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: BJ CALAIS HE, EVERYONE IS PAYING ATTENTION. CONSENT NUMBER 22 FLAGLER COLLEGE HAS 100 MILLION TAX EXEMPT ENDOWMENT FUNDS.
ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES ARE EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
THIS BUSINESS DOES NOT PAY SALES TAX.
ACCORDING TO A NEWS ARTICLE, THIS INSTITUTION RECENTLY PAID $1 MILLION FOR 333 SOUTH PONCE DE LEON PROPERTIES.
BOTH PROPERTIES ARE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
IT IS INTERESTING. THIS BUSINESS WANTS THE COUNTY TO PASS A RESOLUTION SO THAT THE BUSINESS CAN SATISFY SOMETHING CONNECTED WITH THE IRS REQUIREMENTS.
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT PAGE 2 ITEM H IF YOU CAN LOOK IT UP WHILE WE ARE TALKING STATES THAT THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF CAPITAL FOR INVESTMENT. 100 MILLION, NOT A SHORTAGE.
THIS BUSINESS SHOULD USE THEIR 100 MILLION TAX EXEMPT FUNDS.
THIS RESOLUTION SHOULD NOT BE ADOPTED TODAY.
I NOTICED I BELIEVE THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON FROM THE COLLEGE, I THINK MISS SWEENEY. DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S GOING TO GET UP AND SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE FOR THEM TO CHANGE THAT ZONING FOR THAT HOTEL TO ALLOW THIS COLLEGE TO COME IN AND BUY THAT UP. I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE PASSED BY THIS BOARD AND THEY CAN GO TO A BANK, THEY HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THEY WORK WITH OVER THE YEARS AND JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE A NONPROFIT. IT'S INTERESTING.
NO ONE HAS MENTIONED TO THEIR GOING TO WORK WITH BECAUSE THERE SOMETHING IN THE BACKUP FROM SOME MOUNT BORN OR WHATEVER RESOLUTION THAT HAS ALLOWED THEM TO DO THIS.
I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE PASSED TODAY.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MISMISS KOLADAY.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: GOOD MORNING SHERRY BADGER, ADDRESS]. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH FLAGLER COLLEGE. THEY ARE TAKING PROPERTIES OFF OF THE TAX BASE AND THEN THEY WANT PEOPLE TO HELP THEM.
Y'ALL NEED TO REALLY BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WHERE IS TRACY? WHERE IS THE REST OF THEM? DON'T ALLOW THEM TO TAKE ANYMORE PROPERTY OFF THE TAX BASE.
THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MISS BADGER. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> CHAIR: IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT
[00:25:01]
AGENDA FROM THIS BOARD? I SEE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH AND THEN IT WILL BE COMMISSIONER DEAN.YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU I AM CONCERNED ABOUT NUMBER 22. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE COMPLICATED WITH THE DIFFERENT SORT OF TAX BASE VERSUS STUDENT LIVING. THAT MEANS MORE HOMES, MORE IMPACT AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SHOULD BE AND I'M WONDERING IF THAT COULD BE AN AGENDA ITEM AT SOME POINT.UST FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, COMMISSIONER DEAN?
>> COMMISSIONER: I HOPE MY COMMENT GIVES YOU THE ASSURANCE THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THE BENEFITS THAT FLAGLER COUNTY BRINGS TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
LET ME FIRST OF ALL RESPOND TO THE QUESTION ABOUT LIABILITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT ITEM NUMBER 22 ALMOST NEAR THE END", THE COUNTY SHALL HAVE NO OBLIGATION FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS OF THE PROJECT AND THE APPROVAL GIVEN HEREIN BY THE BOARD SHALL NOT BE DEEMED OR CONSTRUED TO CREATE ANY OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY TO THE AREA OR OTHERWISE TO THE COUNTY. IT SPELLS IT OUT IN THE AGENDA IS SELF IN THE COMMENT THAT OUR APPROVAL IS NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR TAX EXEMPT STATUS WITH THE IRS.
FLAGLER COLLEGE WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1968 HAS PROVIDED MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY. WHEN YOU APPLY THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT IT IS ONE OF OUR BETTER ECONOMIC DRIVERS IF YOU WILL AND SO, I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT WE EITHER DON'T TAKE THIS OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA OR IF WE WISH TO VOTE ON IT SEPARATELY I WOULD STRONGLY URGE A YES VOTE.
THAT'S WHERE I COME DOWN ON THIS ITEM.
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DEAN.
MR. CONRAD, CAN STAFF ADD COLOR OR DETAIL THAT MAYBE WE ARE MISSING? I HEARD SOMEONE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING IT'S NOT AN OBLIGATION OF THE COUNTY.
>> SPEAKER: THERE IS NO OBLIGATION COMMISSIONER DEAN AND BOARD MEMBERS. COMMISSIONER DEAN JUST LAID OUT THE LANGUAGE THAT IS PERTINENT TO THIS MORNING.
IT'S A PASS-THROUGH ENTITY FOR TO ALLOW THEM TO APPLY TO THE IRS. IF THERE'S ANY OTHER INFORMATION, MS. SHUMAN HAS WORKED WITH THE COUNTY NOT ON THIS ISSUE BUT OTHER ISSUES AND THE INFORMATION SHE PROVIDED IS ACCURATE AS WELL. COMMISSIONER DEAN DID ALLUDE TO THE LANGUAGE IN THERE'S NO LIABILITY WE JUST SERVE THE PASTOR FOR FLAGLER TO BE ABLE TO APPLY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU MR. CONRAD THIS HELPS ME UNDERSTAND.
MR. JOSEPH IS IT YOUR DESIRE TO PULL NUMBER 22 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA?OU HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
>> COMMISSIONER: NO THANK YOU. >> CHAIR: WE WILL TAKE A VOTE
ON THE CONSENT AGENDA HERE AT. >> COMMISSIONER: I MOVE THE
CONSENT AGENDA. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR THE
MOTION IS THERE A SECOND? >> COMMISSIONER: SECOND.
>> CHAIR: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND EVERYONE PLEASE VOTE.
COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? THERE WE ARE.
[Additions/Deletions to Regular Agenda]
THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ALL OF US AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE.THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR COMMENT THANK YOU STAFF FOR THE EXPLANATION.
I'M STILL GETTING MY BEARINGS HERE COMMISSIONER DEAN.
WE ARE ONTO THE APPROVAL OF ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE REGULAR AGENDA GRADE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?
>> COMMISSIONER: YES, THERE IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM.
AS MAY BE 1A TO THE AGENDA. OR 13 A OR 13.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE MOTION AND HAVE A DISCUSSION IF THERE IS CONSENSUS FOR THAT.
>> CHAIR: CONCERNING WHICH ITEM?
>> COMMISSIONER: MY OWN ITEM FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> CHAIR: YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM RELATED TO
PUBLIC COMMENT? >> COMMISSIONER: YES SIR MR.
CHAIRMAN. >> CHAIR: WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM. DO WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A VOTE TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM?
>> SPEAKER: YES, IT IS AT THE CHAIRS DISCRETION AS TO WHERE TO PLACE THAT ON THE AGENDA IF IT IS APPROVED AS AN ADDITION.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONS IN THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA WITH THE ADDITIONS FOR ECONOMY SAKE WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY EITHER WAY IS FINE.
[00:30:02]
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU, I UNDERSTAND.
LET'S HEAR IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO WANT TO ADD ANY OTHER ITEMS AND THEN WE WILL TAKE A VOTE.
COMMISSIONER ARNOLD? COMMISSIONER DEAN? I HAVE NONE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADD AN ITEM IS THERE A SECOND? DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> COMMISSIONER: I WILL SECOND .
>> CHAIR: I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO VOTE ON THIS MOTION. OKAY IT PASSES 3-1 SO WE WILL ADD THAT. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH I'M GOING TO ADD THIS TO THE END OF THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE BASED ON THE AGENDA THAT WAS
[Approval of Regular Agenda]
PUBLISHED IN ADVANCED SO WE WILL HEAR THIS ITEM AS ITEMNUMBER 13. >> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU MR.
CHAIRMAN. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
DO WE NEED TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE REGULAR AGENDA?
>> SPEAKER: AS THE ITEMS COME UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON EACH ITEM BUT NOT A BLANKET PUBLIC COMMENT I NOW JUST AS THE ITEMS COME ALONG FOR CONSIDERATION A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT POINT.
>> CHAIR: I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[1 . Public Hearing * REZ 2022-22 Home Again St Johns. ]
>> COMMISSIONER: SO MOVED. >> COMMISSIONER: SECOND.
EVERYBODY PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE ARE ON THEN TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE WHICH IS HOME AGAIN
ST. JOHNS. >> SPEAKER: MR. CHAIR THIS ITEM IS QUAD BECAUSE I JUDICIAL.E NEED AN EXPORT
TAPE. >> CHAIR: OKAY, EXPORT HEY
COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> COMMISSIONER: IT'S BEEN A WHILE I HAD A PHONE CALL MEETING ON MARCH 14 LAST SPRING WITH TROY BLEVINS AND MIKE DAVIS WHO IS ABOUT TO MAKE A PRESENTATION. THAT IS THE ONLY COMMENT OR
CONTACT. >> CHAIR: COMMISSIONER ARNOLD?
>> COMMISSIONER: I'M SEEING NONE OF MY PAPER BUT I KNOW I SPOKE TO BOTH MIKE AND ELLEN ON THIS PROPOSAL.
>> CHAIR: COMMISSIONER JOSEPH? >> COMMISSIONER: I MET WITH ELLEN AND MIKE AND OUR TEAM AND I DROVE BY THE PARCEL ALSO.
>> CHAIR: I HAD A CONFERENCE CALL ON MARCH 14 WITH TORI BEVINS AND MIKE DAVIS AND I HAD A CALL YESTERDAY ABOUT 5:30 P.M. TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM AND THE LOCATION.
THAT SHOULD SATISFY OUR EXPORT TAPE.
MS. TAYLOR, WELCOME. >> SPEAKER: I AM THE INITIAL PRESENTER BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
KAREN TAYLOR, ST. JOHNS AND THIS IS A REZONING FROM GENERAL TO PUBLIC SERVICE TO ALLOW FOR THEIR FACILITIES AND AS YOU CAN SEE MIKE DAVIS IS HERE WITH ME AS IS ALAN WALTON, TORI BLEVINS IS HERE AND MIKE IS ALSO HERE WITH HOME AGAIN.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY I WILL SAY I ACTUALLY WORKED ON THE ONE FOR THEM THAT WAS DONE ON 207 BUT I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE FOR THIS. THE REQUEST IS TO REZONE 1.8 ACRES OF PROPERTY ON STATE ROAD 116 197 AND THAT IS TO RELOCATE THAT AND HOME AGAIN IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND DEDICATED TO ALLEVIATING HOMELESSNESS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A LONG-TERM HOME. THEY HAVE BEEN MOVED AROUND AND THIS SITE BECAME AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THE CLASSIFICATION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE YOU DON'T SEE THAT VERY OFTEN ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD SEE THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO REZONE PROPERTY TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR SOCIAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS AND THIS IS IN IDEAL LOCATION.
IT HAS DIRECT ACCESS ON A MAJOR ARTERIAL, IT HAS BUS SERVICE, IT'S A VERY CENTRAL LOCATION WITHIN THE COUNTY AND IS VERY CLOSE TO OTHER PUBLIC RESOURCES AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESS TO JOBS. THIS LOCATION WILL POSITIVELY SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TACKLE SOME OF THE SOCIAL NEED.
IN ADDITION, THIS, TO THE SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER, THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO PROVIDE SOME TRANSITION AREA HOUSING TO HELP BREAK THAT. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE TO SHOW YOU HOW CENTRALLY THIS SITE IS LOCATED IN RELATION TO THE CITY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
AND THEN A LITTLE CLOSER IN TO GIVE YOU A BETTER LOCATION ON
[00:35:05]
THE SOUTH SIDE OF STATE ROAD 16, WEST OF LEWIS SPEEDWAY AND EAST OF US1. THIS IS THE SITE ITSELF AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE CONFIGURATION OF THAT ALONG STATE ROAD 16. IT IS A SERIES OF LOTS.IT WAS FOR THE INITIAL ZONING THE RG ZONING WAS ACTUALLY FOR HOUSING. THE SURROUNDING ZONING ON THIS IS A COMBINATION OF RG TO WHICH IS WHAT IT IS OWNED NOW IT'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL DROWNING AND EVEN THE PUD 'S COMMERCIAL ZONING AS WELL AND IT GOES INTO THE RS THREE SURROUNDING IT WHICH IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD AREA. LAND USE IS RESIDENTIAL AS WELL. AGAIN, TO SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THAT EXACT BLOCK, THEY DO, IT DOES HAVE SOME WETLANDS TOWARDS THE SOUTH END OF THE PROPERTY ALONG THE TRIBUTARY OF SAN SEBASTIAN. THIS DEVELOPMENT CONSISTS OF THE PLANNED COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER AND A RESOURCE FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS OF HOME AGAIN.
I DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS BUT I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ELLEN THE TRACTOR TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SERVICES AND WHAT THEY DO.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU KAREN. ALAN WALTON DIRECTOR OF SAINT JOHN'S. AT THE CENTER THERE IS A CONVERSATION WHICH PROVIDES LAUNDRY, SHOWERS, WEEP PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, WE HAVE A MENTOR AND PROGRAM WHERE OUR WARD MEMBERS MENTOR SOME HOMELESS FOLKS. WE HAVE ALCOHOL AND DRUG SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND HELP PEOPLE APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE FOR THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH IT'S NOT JUST PHOMELESS PEOPLE WE SERVE WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IN THE PAST WE HAVE HAD PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO MENTAL HEALTH EMPLOYMENTS, WE HAVE CONNECTED THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED AS WELL AS ADDICTION PROGRAMS. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT.
>> SPEAKER: ALSO, THE EIGHT RESIDENTIAL UNITS, THERE IS A, 25 PERCENT OF THOSE ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS AS WELL. WE WILL GO THROUGH AND THAT IS THE SITE LAYOUT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR PACKET GRADE IT SHOWS THE SERVICE CENTER, IT SHOWS A PARKING AREA, THE BUFFERS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL THAT IS TO THE WEST.
THE STORM WATER RETENTION AND THERE IS PRESERVATION OF SIGNIFICANT WETLANDS. AND AN UPLAND BUFFER ALONG THAT. THIS IS A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT THEY ARE ON S. HOLMES BLVD. THAT LOCATION IS REALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY IT IS AN INDUSTRIAL AREA NO BIKE LANES, NO SIDEWALKS. THERE IS NO FORM OF SAFE PASSAGE IF YOU ARE USING THOSE KINDS OF FACILITIES AND MOST OF THESE FOLKS DON'T HAVE CARS, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO FIND A GOOD LOCATION AND IN CONTRAST THIS SITE IS AS I MENTIONED BEFORE DIRECT THE ON 16 IT'S GOT SIDEWALKS, MATERIALS, BIKE LANES AND IT IS ON THE SUNSHINE BUS ROUTE.T'S ONLY 2 MILES FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WHICH IS RIGHT HERE NEXT TO US. EVEN THINGS LIKE THE CIRCLE K IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. IT REALLY WON'T CREATE A PUBLIC NUISANCE IT'S REALLY A PUBLIC AND IF IT TO THIS.
AND AGAIN THERE IS THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SO IT IS NOT A HOMELESS SHELTER SO TO SPEAK.
AND AGAIN THEY DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS AS HE MENTIONED IT IS REALLY IN A SPARSELY DEVELOPED AREA FOR RESIDENTIAL THOSE HOUSES ACROSS THE STREET HAVE BEEN BOARDED UP AND LISTED FOR COMMERCIAL SO THERE WON'T BE ANY UNREASONABLE TRAFFIC IMPACTS.
AGAIN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING, SOME PEOPLE COMING IN CARS BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND WALKING, OR BY BUS.
TO CLARIFY THEY WORK DURING TYPICAL HOURS ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 9:00 TO 5:00 TUESDAY 9:00 1:00 AND THAT'S WHEN THE ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE ON THAT PARTICULAR
[00:40:01]
SITE GRADE IT CORRESPONDS WITH THE NORMAL ACTIVITY.JUST TO GIVE YOU PICTURES THAT'S THE SITE LOOKING EAST.
THAT'S THE ENTRANCE FROM STATE ROAD 16.
THAT'S THE ENTRANCE INTO THE SITE THE DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SITE THAT IS THE CIRCLE K IN THE MASTERS DRIVE INTERSECTION. THAT IS LOOKING WEST TO MASTERS DRIVE INTERSECTION. THAT WAS FROM ACROSS THE STREET AND THAT IS FROM THE BOARDED-UP HOUSES THAT ARE FROM AND LISTED FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, THAT IS AN INTERSECTION THAT YOU ALL KNOW. AGAIN IT IS COMPATIBLE, IT'S ON A BUSY ARTERIAL IT'S IN A GREAT LOCATION TO SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL POF THIS TYPE THING. BUT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE PS ZONING PROVIDES FOR THE SOCIAL'S SERVICE CENTER AND IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE PLAN THAT IT WON'T HAVE UNREASONABLE IMPACT OR TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE PERMITTED USES WILL NOT CAUSE A NUISANCE IN THE ACTIVITIES ARE ALLOWABLE. ANYTHING THAT THEY DO ON THIS SITE HAS TO BE IN CONFORMANCE TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THE PCA DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND WE ARE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. >> CHAIR: ANY QUESTIONS TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME FOR THE APPLICANT? SEEING NONE WERE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD WILL COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE THEIR ADDRESS.
EACH PERSON WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK AND WILL COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF DECORUM. THE COMMENT IS TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND NOT ONE COMMISSIONER AND MAY NOT INCLUDE A DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE ON THE BOARD.
A PERSON WILL ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR OYSTER'S BEHAVIOR. MEMBERS FROM THE AUDIENCE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ANY DISAPPROVAL OR APPROVAL FOR COMMENTS FINALLY I WOULD ASK ANY SPEAKER WHO PRESENTS OVERHEAD MATERIAL PLEASE PRESENT THAT MATERIAL TO THE STAFF OR CLERK OF COURT TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: MY NAME IS FATHER JOHN GILLESPIE PASTOR.
HAPPY TO BE SERVING ON THE BOARD OF HOME AGAIN ST. JOHN'S.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO RECOGNIZE OUR COOPERATION WITH COUNTY INTEREST.
A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE APPROACHED ABOUT THE COUNTY TAKING OVER OUR PROPERTY, OUR LEASE AND OUR FACILITIES.
IT WAS BENEFICIAL FOR THE COUNTY FOR A LARGE GRANT THAT WOULD BE USED FOR GOOD IN OUR COUNTY.
IT INCONVENIENCED US QUITE A BIT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS SHOULD BRING US BACK CLOSER TO WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE SEATED TO THE COUNTY OUR SPACE. THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HOPE TO SEE DONE THERE ARE THE RESPONSE TO A NEED THAT EXISTS NOT CREATING A NEED BUT RESPONDING TO A NEED.
IF WE DON'T RESPOND AND ARE UNABLE TO BE THERE DOING THE WORK WE HOPE TO DO IT WILL EITHER GO UNDONE BUT THE PEOPLE ARE STILL IN OUR MIDST AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ATTEMPT TO SERVE THOSE WHO ARE CITIZENS AND ALL TOO OFTEN PEOPLE IMAGINE THAT THESE ARE NON-ENTITIES THAT DON'T HAVE NAMES, FACES, WE JUST WISH THEY WOULD DISAPPEAR BUT IN FACT THEY ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR CITIZENS AND HAVE THEIR NEEDS. I THINK WE CAN WORK WELL WITH THIS AND AMONG THINGS THAT WE WOULD HOPE TO DO AS WE INTENDED ON THE PROPERTY AT 207 TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE IN THE SITUATION OF HURRICANES AND OTHER WEATHER EVENTS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND RAPIDLY TO RESPOND IN THOSE KINDS OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS BUT PRIMARILY WE ARE LOOKING TO REESTABLISH WHAT WE HAD BEEN DOING PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THE COUNTY HAD OTHER PLANS AND TOOK OVER OUR PROPERTY.
THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU FATHER
[00:45:06]
GILLESPIE. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: I AM TROY BLEVINS, PRESIDENT OF HOME AGAIN AND I'M HERE TO SAY, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AND BILL LAZAR FOR CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE BOARD FOR CREATING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
ESPECIALLY JOY ANDREWS. HER CREW HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US FOR MANY YEARS TRYING TO GET US IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
I FEEL THIS IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
I HAVE BEEN IN THIS HOMELESS WORLD FOR 19 YEARS NOW AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ALL OVER. I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER LOCATION. I THINK IT IS MY NINTH LOCATION I HAVE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THREE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER LOCATION FOR THIS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE
WHAT YOU ARE DOING. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: THANK YOU
ESTHER BLEVINS. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: CHUCK LEVIN ASCII, THE ONLY THING WE SHOULD LOOK AT IS THE LOCATION AND HOW THEY PLAN ON RAISING THE AREA THAT IS THERE.
IT IS A HIGH FLOOD ZONE. IT'S A GREAT LOCATION CLOSE TO ROUTE 1, CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN SAINT AUGUSTINE WHERE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ARE OUT THERE AND IN NEED OF HELP BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF THE LOCATION AND WHO'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF THE FACILITY ONCE IT GETS DAMAGED BY FLOODING. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MR. LEVIN.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: LORI LONG, I THINK WE ARE WAITING ON A VIDEO.
LET A LAW FIRM GET FREE AIR? [LAUGHTER]
[00:50:04]
QUICK DESPITE THE OBSTACLES YOU HAVE SEEN AND THERE ARE MANY, ELLEN AND HER DEDICATED STAFF OFFER THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS BY PROVIDING COMPASSION, SAFETY AND SUPPORT TO ALL THAT ARE IN NEED AND FOR THAT I ASK YOU TO VOTE YES FOR THE REZONING. THANK YOU.>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: SHERRY BADGER.
PICTURE OF WHAT MR. LEWANDOWSKI WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS THE INTERSECTION OF HOLMES LEWIS SPEEDWAY AND THE 16. THE PICTURES WHERE THE HOUSE IS, THIS IS RIGHT HERE. YOU CAN SEE WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOVE SEA LEVEL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT TAKE, THIS WAS A TROPICAL STORM, THE LAST ONE THAT CAME THROUGH AND THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES.
I LIVE ON THE 16 AND I HAVE SEEN MASTERS DRIVE AND LEWIS SPEEDWAY BOTH UNDERWATER MANY TIMES.
THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MISS BACHER. ANYONE ELSE PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: SUSAN JANICE, HERE IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF THIS AND WHATEVER DRAINAGE ISSUES THERE ARE, I'M SURE THEY CAN BE DEALT WITH.
THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AND IT'S VERY EXCITING DISHES GOING THROUGH. I THINK YOU MUST FEEL THE SAME WAY. IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO STAND UP IN SUPPORT WE HOPE THIS GETS VOTED THROUGH TODAY.
THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: D.MISS KOLADAY, INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE SAND THAT KEEPS GOING IN THE AREA, LET'S LOOK AT WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD WORK WITH HOME AGAIN AND AS A REMINDER, I THINK IT IS ITEM NUMBER NINE TODAY TALKING ABOUT THE PROPERTY OVER ON 207 WHERE VICTORIA IS COMING UP AND THEY TOOK THAT PROPERTY FROM HOME AGAIN. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HOW THIS ALL FLOWED THROUGH. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP AND LIKE THE OTHER LITTLE LADY SAID, FLOODING IS A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE CITY AND ALL OVER THE COUNTY . LET'S DEAL WITH IT WHERE SOME OF THE NOT SO RICH THAT LIVE IN THE CITY WILL BE AND HAVE BEEN LIVING LIKE MISS SHERRY, COMING UP IF SHE COULD BUT JUST DOING YOUR COMMISSION MEETINGS ABOUT THE FLOODING THAT SHE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH IN THE SITUATION AT HER HOME.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE SITES PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE BEACHES. I AM GLAD THAT THEY REALLY ENJOY DOING THAT. I'M GLAD THEY ENJOY GOING THROUGH EVERY ONE OF OUR STORMS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY. I DON'T CARE IF I HAD $1 BILLION. NOT $1 BILLION WHAT I LIVE WHERE THE WATER KEEPS COMING IN AND GOING TO KEEP PUTTING OUT THE SAND. IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT.
I KNOW YOU ARE TRYING YOUR BEST BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
THIS NEEDS TO GO FORWARD TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MISS KOLADAY ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE?
>> CHAIR: WE ARE BACK TO THE APPLICANT, MISS TAYLOR.
>> SPEAKER: JUST A QUICK THING ON THE FLOODING.
ONE THING I DID SAY IS THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO DO HAS TO MEET ALL THE COUNTY STANDARD. THEY HAVE MADE SOME POINTS WITH THAT. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ROADS THAT FLOOD EVEN MY OFFICE ROAD FLOODED.
I AM ON SARAGOSSA STREET ON US1 DID THAT LAST STORM I COULD NOT GET TO MY OFFICE OR WHATEVER. THAT IS A UNIQUE SITUATION THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE THE STORM EVENTS.
THE FLOODING, THE PORTION OF THIS IS ON THE HIGHER SIDE AND IT WILL ALSO HAVE TO MEET ALL THOSE FLOOD ELEVATIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER, FOR PARKING AS WELL AS THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
[00:55:07]
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU MISS TAYLOR WE GO BACK TO THE BOARD
ANY DISCUSSION OR MOTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER: YES, THIS IS IN DISTRICT 5 BUT IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY COMMENTS BEFORE I
MAKE A MOTION? >> CHAIR: COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?
>> COMMISSIONER: WHEN IT DOES FLOOD YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE SWIMMING TO THE LOCATION BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS WATER GOING TO THAT LOCATION DID THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT THAT WE HAVE HAD COME TO ME AS THE BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STREET WHERE THEY HAVE HAD VANDALISM AND PEOPLE SLEEPING AND CAUSING ISSUES THERE. SOMEHOW, MAYBE MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME FORM OF KEEPING THEM IN THAT AREA, TOO.
>> SPEAKER: OBVIOUSLY WHEN THOSE STORM EVENTS HAPPEN THOSE SERVICES ARE NOT GOING ON. THE PEOPLE AREN'T FAIR EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD EVACUATE IF YOU HAD TO LIKE I HAVE TO EVACUATE. I LIVE ON DAVIS SHORES.
THAT IS KIND OF, THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION.
PART OF THAT, AGAIN, ACROSS THE STREET AND THIS STREET, THERE IS NO PRESENCE THERE. THERE'S A HOUSE, THERE'S BOARDED-UP TYPE THINGS, THIS IS NOT A SHELTER TYPE THING AND AS THEY COME AND GET THEIR FACILITIES THEY THEN HEAD OUT.
>> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU. >> CHAIR: I THINK WE ARE READY
FOR A MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER: I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT FIRST. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I AM GOING TO FORGO REVIEWING THE HISTORY THAT GOT US HERE TODAY.
BECAUSE I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. I'VE WORKED WITH MIKE DAVIS AND ELLEN AND MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HOME AGAIN ST. JOHN'S THAT STARTED OUT AS A BAD STORY. HEY WERE ACTUALLY PUSHED OUT FROM THE THEN CURRENT SITE AND THEY HAD TO BE - KIND - WENT TO A RUN DOWN EXCUSE. THAT IS KIND FOR WHAT THEY ARE STUCK WITH. I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO MIKE AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AS KAREN TAYLOR SAID, BUT WE HAVE TODAY IS A REZONING.
IF THIS IS APPROVED THEY WILL GO FORWARD IF THEY MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS FROM THE CURRENT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE INCLUDING FLOOD ZONE REGULATIONS. IT WON'T BE LIKE THOSE HOMES BUILT IN THE 1950S IN DAVIE SHORES THAT FLOOD EVERY TIME WE HAVE A HARD SUMMER RAIN. THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT THAT IS NEEDED AND WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH IT SO IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER COMMENTS I WILL MAKE A MOTION.
>> CHAIR: YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER: I WILL MOVE TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2022 84 APPROVING REZONING 22-22 HOME AGAIN ST. JOHN'S BASED UPON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACTS PROVIDED
IN THE STAFF REPORT. >> COMMISSIONER: SECOND.
>> CHAIR: ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[2 . Public Hearing * PUD 2021-19 Bella Terra PUD.]
PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, CONGRATULATIONS HOME AGAIN GREAT JOB.[APPLAUSE] >> CHAIR: ALL RIGHT WE ARE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO WHICH IS THE BELLA TERRA PUD.
BEFORE WE LET THE APPLICANT SPEAK THIS IS QUASIJUDICIAL AND WERE GOING TO DO THE EX PARTE EXPOSURES.
STARTING TO MY RIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER: ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 AT NOON I MET WITH DOUG BURNETT AND THE TEAM AND I
ALSO DROVE BY THE LOCATION. >> CHAIR: COMMISSIONER ARNOLD?
>> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN I HAD A MEETING WITH DOUG BURNETT AND STAFF AND WE DISCUSSED THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, DRAINAGE ISSUES, ELEVATIONS, TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND I HAD A MEETING WITH THE OPPOSITION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 AT APPROXIMATELY NOON WITH JODY SPIEGEL AND A GROUP AND WE SPOKE TO THEIR ISSUES REGARDING THE PROJECT.
I MET WITH DOUG BURNETT SHORTLY AFTER, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022 AT 12:30 P.M. AND WE DISCUSSED MUCH OF THE SAME THING AND I HAVE QUITE A FEW EMAILS ON THIS PROJECT.
>> CHAIR: COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> COMMISSIONER: IDA MEETING JULY 21, 2022 AT RPM WITH MR. BURNETT AND SOME OF OUR STAFF.
WE DISCUSSED PRIMARILY TRAFFIC ISSUES, COMPATIBILITY ISSUES AND DRAINAGE ISSUES INVOLVING THIS 30 ACRE SITE.
THEN I HAD A MEETING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 AT 1:30 JUDY SPIEGEL AND ABOUT OR OTHER HOMEOWNERS FROM THE OSPREY COVE PROJECT OR SUBDIVISION. AND DISCUSSED REALLY THE SAME
[01:00:02]
ISSUES THAT I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER.THANK YOU. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DEAN ON THURSDAY, JULY 21 AT 1:30 P.M..
I MET WITH DOUG BURNETT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT CHALLENGE WITH THE DRAINAGE AND THE TRAFFIC.
I ALSO RECEIVED A NUMBER OF EMAILS AGAIN THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO, WE ARE NOW READY TO HEAR FROM MR. BURNETT AND THE
APPLICANT. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING FOR THE RECORD DOUG BURNETT SAINT JOHNS LAW GROUP HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. WITH ME TODAY IS HARRY NEWKIRK OUR PROJECT ENGINEER WHO YOU WILL HEAR FROM IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. ALSO PART OF OUR TEAM IS NELSON CAPRA HE COULD NOT BE HERE HE IS OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER WHO SPOKE AT THE PZA AND I WILL SPEAK TO WHAT HE PRESENTED IN THE PZA HE COULD NOT BE HERE BECAUSE OF COVID HE TESTED POSITIVE, UNFORTUNATELY, YESTERDAY.
IF WE NEED TO ZOOM HIM IN OR GET HIM ON SPEAKERPHONE HE IS AVAILABLE IF IT WERE TO COME TO THAT.
AGAIN AT THE PROJECT AREA THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT US1 SOUTH, SOUTH OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE.
ON US1 YOU CAN SEE ON THIS LOCATION MAP SOUTH OF WILDWOOD DRIVE, NORTH OF WATSON ROAD. A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AS TO THE LOCATION, US1 HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW YOU CAN SEE WE ARE LOOPING AROUND WILDWOOD DRIVE TO THE NORTH AND WATSON ROAD TO THE SOUTH. ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IT IS WITHIN A PRETTY BROAD SWATH OF MIXED-USE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT HERE IN THE DRAWING.
THIS IS THE COUNTY'S FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT MIXED-USE AS YOU ALL KNOW SO WELL, THERE IS A HUGE BROAD WIDE VARIETY OF USES THAT WILL BE ALLOWED IN THIS PURPLE AREA. EVERYTHING FROM INDUSTRIAL TO COMMERCIAL TO ALL THAI FAMILY, 13 UNITS PER AREA.
ZONING WISE THE PROPERTY HAS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ZONINGS AND CATEGORIES THAT IT CURRENTLY HAS DESIGNATED FOR USE.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ZONING CATEGORIES THAT ARE IN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA. YOU CAN SEE ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF US1 IS COMMERCIAL GENERAL. THIS PROPERTY IS OPEN ROLE.
ON THIS PARCEL YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF HOMESITES AND YOU HAVE A PRETTY LARGE COMMERCIAL IN MY VIEW A HORSE BARN OPERATION BEING CONDUCTED AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CIA USE ON THE AUTOBODY REPAIR SHOP. LOOKING AT AN AERIAL YOU CAN SEE IN THAT SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY WHERE THE HORSE BARN IS YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF HOUSES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PROPERTY AND YOU CAN SEE A RETENTION POND.
THAT RETENTION POND IS PART OF A COUNTY EASEMENT IN THE COUNTY PUT THAT POND IN TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE FLOODING AND TRAINING PROBLEM THAT WE HAD TRADITIONALLY HAD.
IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THAT WAS A CONSTANT PUSH IT SEEMED LIKE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE AND IN THE COUNTY AUDITORIUM RELATED TO FLOODING THE COUNTY TOOK SOME STEPS TO TRY TO HELP THAT. TO ORIENT YOU AS TO WHAT IS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA YOU CAN SEE MAYO CLINIC ALL COME BACK TO REFERENCE THE MAYO CLINIC BOX 70 IN A MINUTE.
WE HAD THE BIG LOCATION, CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM LOCATED CLOSE TO BEING NORTH OR ACROSS THE STREET, SORRY.
A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK TO THE SITE THE PROJECT, THIS IS OUR MAP HERE THAT NEW CLERK CREATED FOR THE SITE YOU CAN SEE THE SITE THERE IS A RETENTION POND AND THAT RETENTION POND THAT IS EXISTING THAT WOULD REMAIN UNTOUCHED.
A 10 FOOT PERIMETER BUFFER 20 FOOT COMPATIBILITY BUFFER THAT RUNS IN A GOOD PORTION OF THE SITE.
IT RUNS NORTHEAST THAT IS A PRESERVATION AREA.
CLOSE TO THE US1 FRONTAGE IS WHERE THE RECREATIONAL MITIGATION WILL BE WITH A CLUBHOUSE AND A POOL.
ADDITIONALLY ADJACENT TO THAT WE HAVE A DOG PARK AREA.
IT IS GATED.IT WOULD BE CONTEMPLATED THAT THIS WOULD BE SECURITY GATED LOCATION. ONE THING THAT IS OF NOTE THAT
[01:05:07]
YOU DON'T SEE THE TYPICAL APARTMENT COMPLEX LAYOUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SITE PLAN. IT ESSENTIALLY LOOKS LIKE A NUMBER OF SMALLER STRUCTURES MORE AKIN TO A SINGLE-FAMILY STRUCTURE, SINGLE-FAMILY HOME STRUCTURE.IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL MULTI FAMILY 6 TO 8 BUILDINGS THAT HAVE A LARGE MASS AND SCALE. SO OFTEN WE SEE THAT AROUND THE COUNTY WHETHER IT'S ON 207, THE PRODUCT ON US1 SOUTH OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY. YOU CAN SEE THE THREE-STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT HAS A MASS AND SCALE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE AS YOU GO BY ON-SITE WHEREAS THIS PRODUCT IS CONTEMPLATED TO BE ONE-STORY ONLY AND SUBSEQUENT TO PZA IS LIMITED TO 25 IN HEIGHT FOR THE MULTIFAMILY PRODUCT THAT IS GOING IN THIS LOCATION. IT REALLY LOWERS THAT MASS AND SCALE, THE IMPACT THAT YOU WOULD EVER HAVE OFF-SITE AT THE PROJECT. IT KEEPS IT VERY LOW ALTHOUGH IT IS EIGHT UNITS AND ACRE IT DOES KEEP IT TO WHERE IT APPEARS MUCH LESS DENSE THAN THE TYPICAL APARTMENT COMPLEX WOULD BE. THE ADDED DATING IS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM MY CLIENT IS THAT PROJECTS LIKE THIS BEING ONE-STORY THE CHALLENGE YOU HAVE WITH TWO-STORY, THREE-STORY WILL THAI FAMILY PROJECTS IS MANY OF THOSE DON'T HAVE ELEVATORS. IF YOU ARE LIVING ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR WITHOUT AN ELEVATOR THAT IS NOT CONVENIENT. THIS CATERS TO TYPICALLY BEING A HIGHER PRINT PRODUCT AND CATERS TO 55 AND UP.
IT'S NOT RESTRICTED TO AGE 55 AND UP, JUST FOR A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT OF THE USERS THAT GO THERE IS A BROADER VIEW THIS PROJECT THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN ELEVATOR YOUR THING IT TO YOUNG FAMILIES AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR THEY WANT TO BE ON THE FIRST FLOOR UNIT.
BY HAVING A PRODUCT LIKE THIS IT CATERS TO THAT AND IN ADDITION THEY HAVE A PROXIMITY TO MAYO CLINIC.
IT'S IN AN IDEAL LOCATION. PUTTING THAT FOOTPRINT TO AN AERIAL AND ADDING IN SOME POLLARD YOU GET A FEEL FOR THE SITE AND AGAIN THOSE ONE-STORY UNITS.
SOME AERIALS THE ACTUAL ELEVATIONS ARE NICER THAN THESE TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT FROM WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS, YOU CAN SEE THEY LOOK LIKE AND APPEAR TO BE A DUPLEX, QUAD FLEX TYPE UNIT LOW TO THE GROUND NOT MULTI STORY HIGH BUILDINGS. LOOKING FROM GREEN WILLOW LANE WHICH THIS IS OSPREY LANDING LOOKING TOWARDS THE SITE OR LOOKING AT THE CIRCLE YOU SEE MORE OF A ONE-STORY AND OF COURSE THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT YOU HAVE A FENCE AND OFFERING IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO VIEWPOINTS THAT YOU ARE SEEING ON THE AERIAL TO THAT STRUCTURE.
LOOKING AT GREEN WILLOW LANE THIS IS WHAT IS AT THE END OF GREEN WILLOW LANE CURRENTLY HERE THAT'S A TREE STAND THAT IS IN THE BUFFER ON GREEN WILLOW LANE.
THAT IS A PUD OSPREY LANDING NEXT DOOR AND THAT WOULD REMAIN. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TOUCH THAT AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT THE OTHER ANGLE ACROSS THE POND YOU CAN SEE THEIR 10 FOOT PERMIT OR BUFFER GOES THERE, LOOSELY AND WE HAVE LAYERED ON TOP OF THAT A 20 FOOT BUFFER WITH A 6 FOOT PRIVACY FENCE. YOU HAVE 10 FEET, 6 FOOT PRIVACY FENCE AND THEN 20 FEET OF OFFER BEFORE YOU GET TO OUR PRODUCT. LOOKING TO THE NORTH FROM WHITTEN CIRCLE, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS LIST OF BENEFIT THAT THIS PRODUCT OFFERS AND THIS PROJECT OFFERS WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT TO WATSON ROAD A DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT WE WILL GET TO THOSE BUT YET THIRD BENEFIT WHICH IS YOU WILL REMOVE TRAFFIC FROM WHITTEN CIRCLE. YOU WILL REMOVE TRAFFIC FROM WATSON ROAD. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIEW NOW PTHIS YELLOWTHIS IS HOW YOU GET TO THE HORSE BARN AND LOOKING GROUND LEVEL TO THE NORTH YOU CAN SEE LIME ROCK ROAD A CLOSER ZOOM IN VIEW YOU CAN SEE THE HORSE FARM IN THE BACKGROUND LOOKING AT THE AERIAL YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AN EXISTING BUFFER AGAIN AND THAT WOULD REMAIN.
THIS IS THE HORSE BARN AND TYPICALLY YOU THINK OF THE HORSE BARN AS A ONE-STORY STRUCTURE OR HIGH ROOF.
[01:10:01]
THIS ACTUALLY HAS A SECOND FLOOR LIVING AREA AND IT LOOKING DOWN AT THE NEIGHBORS. A COUPLE OF DETAILED THINGS TO GET THROUGH HERE WE DO HAVE WATER SEWER AVAILABILITY OFF OF US1. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS EXISTING TO THE SEWER SITE AND THERE IS NO EAGLES NEST I KNOW THAT'S COME UP IN PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.NO EAGLES NEST AND NO INDICATION OF SPECIES OR HABITAT AND THEN WE DO HAVE BECAUSE WE KNOW OF WINTON CIRCLE WE KNOW OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE HISTORY OF THE DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA. WAY BACK IN APRIL THIS BEGAN BUT IN SEPTEMBER IT CONCLUDED WE HAD A STORMWATER REPORT A 56 PAGE LONG REPORT HERE IN NEW CLERK.
I ASKED TERRY TO COME UP HERE AND JOIN ME.
HARRY, IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELF, GIVE YOUR ADDRESS REALLY QUICK AND YOUR CREDENTIALS.
>> SPEAKER: HARRY WHEN KIRK I AM A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH
24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. >> SPEAKER: HARRY PROVIDED THIS REPORT IT IS IN YOUR PACKAGE AND PZA HAD THIS AS WELL TO HIT A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS, IF YOU WOULD, HARRY, WE KNOW THERE IS OUTFALL AT THE SITE BUT THE BOTTOM LINE OF HIS SUMMARY AND ALL HAVE HARRY GO THROUGH THAT WITH MORE DETAIL BUT BOTTOM LINE OF THE SUMMARY REPORT IS THAT THERE IS NET DECREASES AND VOLUME RATE AND IT'S ALL IN THE ELIMINATION OF WINTON CIRCLE BUT ALSO OSPREY LANDING.
THERE IS THE PUNCHLINE FOR YOU WERE GOING TO ELIMINATE STORMWATER GOING TO THE SOUTH AND ELIMINATE STORMWATER GOING TO THE WEST. SO, IF YOU WOULD?
>> SPEAKER: SO, WE ANALYZED THE SITE FOR STORMWATER.
WE ANALYZED IT PREDEVELOPMENT AND THAT'S BEFORE WE DO A PROJECT AND THEN POST DEVELOPMENT THAT'S THE PROJECT.
SO, YOU LOOK AT A SITE THAT IS FULLY TAUPE BOWED AND CONTOURED SO YOU SEE WHERE IT THE RAIN DISCHARGES BEFORE THE PROJECT START. PREDEVELOPMENT 16.23 1 ACRE OF THE SITE GOES TO US1 AND 13 ACRES OF THE SITE DISCHARGES INTO WINTON CIRCLE WHERE IT THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS STORMWATER ISSUES. THE COUNTY BUILT A STORMWATER TO ALLEVIATE THOSE ISSUES. WHEN YOU HAVE 13 EIGHT EUROS FLOWING INTO THAT AREA IT'S BASICALLY COMING INTO THE SITE, WINTON CIRCLE, BACK TO STORMWATER POND TO US1.
WITH THE DEVELOPMENT WERE GOING TO ELIMINATE THE 13 ACRES AND PUT THAT IN OUR STORMWATER POND ON SITE THAT IS 4.1 ACRE STORMWATER PONDS. THE WINTON CIRCLE STORMWATER POND .99 ACRES, THAT IS FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY STORMWATER POND ON SITE. WHAT THIS DOES WHEN WE ELIMINATE THE STORMWATER TO THE BACK YARD OF WINTON CIRCLE GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE PREDEVELOPMENT WE ARE DISCHARGING 151,000 CUBIC FEET OF WATER INTO THAT SUBDIVISION AND THAT IS WHERE AILEEN ANNUAL STORM AS MUCH AS 5 INCHES OF RAIN, IT'S LIKE A TROPICAL STORM, THAT MUCH WATER COMING INTO THE SUBDIVISION IS MORE WATER THAN STORMWATER PONDS.
THE STORMWATER POND IS 143,000 FT.?.
SO, THAT IS A BIG STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT.
WE ARE REMOVING AN AMOUNT OF WATER COMING INTO THE SITE THAT ACTUALLY FILLS UP THE STORMWATER POND THAT IS ON-SITE FOR THEIR SUBDIVISION. ANOTHER EXAMPLE A 25 YEAR STORM WHICH IS 9 AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN IN 24 HOURS THAT IS A BIG HURRICANE. IT IS 352,000 FT.? GOING INTO WINTON CIRCLE. 100 YEAR EVENT 12.7 INCHES IN 24 HOURS 500,000 ROUGHLY 500,000 FT.? GOING INTO WINTON CIRCLE. ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO ZERO WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IN THE WAY WE DO THAT IS WE PIPE THE ROADS COME THE BUILDINGS ARE PIPED DIRECTLY INTO THE STORMWATER POND, ROOF DRAINS, YOU NAME IT, TO PROTECT THE OFF-SITE BOUNDARIES. WINTON CIRCLE NO DISCHARGE OSPREY LANDING NO DISCHARGE. SO WE ARE KEEPING THE STORMWATER ON-SITE. THE INTERESTING THING IS, THE WAY THE POND GETS TO BE 4.1 ACRES IS YOU ARE NOW DEALING WITH DOT. YOU HAVE TO GET A PERMIT FROM
[01:15:13]
DOT FOR THE STORMWATER SYSTEM. 13 ACRES ARE GOING TO WINTON CIRCLE. YOU CAN'T PUSH THAT OVER TO DOT YOU HAVE TO BUILD A BIGGER POND.WE ARE ANALYZING 16 ACRES OF THE SITE GOING INTO DOT VERSUS THE 30. THAT GETS YOU A BIGGER STORM PWATER SYSTEM. SO, LONG STORY ON THE STORMWATER SYSTEM IS, THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS BY FIXING, DECREASING RATE AND VOLUME INTO THEIR SUBDIVISION AND ALSO PROVIDE LESS WATER INTO THE DOT SYSTEM WHICH THE SITE HAS POSITIVE OUTFALL TO MATANZAS RIVER.
THERE'S A BOX CULVERT UNDER US1 THAT GOES TO MONTEREY CREEK AND EVENTUALLY OUT TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
WHEN YOU PROVIDE LESS WATER VOLUME AND RATE INTO THE DOT THAT HELPS OUT DOWNSTREAM PROPERTIES.
IT PROVIDES MORE WATER IN THE DITCH SYSTEM, THE OVERALL NETWORK HAS LESS WATER COMING FROM THE SITE SO WE ARE NOT ONLY HELPING SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS WERE HELPING DOWNSTREAM OF THE SITE. THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT TO THE DOT SYSTEM FOR THE SITE IS A FACTOR OF TWO FOR THE ANNUAL STORM EVENT AND ONE AND HALF TIMES FOR THE 25 TO 100.
WE ARE ADDING MORE VOLUME AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PROPERTIES OFF THE SITE DURING THESE LARGER STORM EVENTS.
I FEEL HIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT'S WHY THE SITES DESIGNED FOR A LARGE STORMWATER SYSTEM TO BE A NET IMPROVEMENT TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUBLIC SYSTEM.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. TO CONTINUE ON WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DETAILS OF THE PROJECT STAFF REPORT CONFIRMS AND WE WILL STEP THROUGH THAT IT CONFIRMS WHAT I WENT THROUGH EARLIER AS FAR AS ZONING. THERE IS A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS HIGH INTENSITY COMMERCIAL OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A COMMERCIAL HORSE FARM ON THEIR AND IN THE SELF-REPORTED TALKS ABOUT THE DIRECT ACCESS LINK AND THERE'S NO ADVERSE IMPACT, WE BELIEVE WITHIN A 4 MILE RADIUS LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AGAIN NELSON COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY BUT WE DO HAVE A LAND DEVELOPMENT TRAFFIC ANALYSIS OR L DTA THAT'S BEEN DONE. WE HAD OUR PRE-MEETING WITH DOT
AND I'LL COME BACK AND. >> COMMISSIONER: THAT IN A MINUTE BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTY SPREADSHEET ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC VOLUMES ARE DIRECT ACCESS LINK PNOT JUST OUR DIRECT ACCESS LIN OF US1 BUT NORTH OF US1 SOUTH OF US1 THOSE TWO LINKS AS WELL HAVE CAPACITY.
IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE SECTIONS WHERE DEALING WITH YOUR PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY THAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
THAT DOES NOT HAVE CAPACITY OR THE NEXT PORTION OVER YOU MAY HAVE CAPACITY RIGHT HERE BUT THERE'S NO CAPACITY RIGHT NEXT DOOR OR THE NEXT LENGTH OVER. IT IS NOT THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC VOLUME. WE HAVE NONETHELESS COMMITTED TO FUNDING AND IMPROVEMENT OR TALKING ABOUT WIDENING WATSON ROAD. WERE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN AN ADDED LANE. I WILL COME BACK TO THIS TO SHOW YOU AN EXHIBIT AS TO WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT.
LIMITING THE LEFT TURN LANE IF DOT WILL ALLOW IT AND THEN ALSO SIGNAL TIMING. ALL OF THIS WAS PRESENTED AT PZA SO THEY GOT TO SEE THIS AS WELL.
YOU CAN SEE ON WATSON ROAD IF YOU ARE APPROACHING US1 WE ARE LOOKING AT AN AERIAL HERE, THERE IS ONE LANE SO IF YOU'RE TURNING RIGHT THERE IN THE SAME LANE AS IF YOU WOULD GO STRAIGHT LATER IN THE SAME LANE AS IF YOU WOULD TURN LEFT.
THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENS ON WATSON ROAD EITHER WAY NONE OF OUR TRAFFIC USES WATSON ROAD. THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE PROJECT THAT WAS IN FRONT OF YOU IN OCTOBER WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE THE MULTIFAMILY PROJECT AND DIRECT ACCESS AT THIS LOCATION. WERE TALKING ABOUT MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO WATSON ROAD BECAUSE FOR ONE, THE PROJECT CAN AFFORD IT BUT THEN ADDED ADDITIONALLY THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LINGERED FOREVER. WE HEARD THE FOLKS ON WATSON ROAD THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE COUNTY WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS TO WATSON ROAD JUST LIKE WHAT WE ADDRESSED THE STORMWATER WITH HARRY'S REPORT IN DOING THE ANALYSIS AND BEING ABLE TO SIZE THE SYSTEM WE ALSO LOOKED AT WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE AREA AND WHAT'S THE NEXT THING WE CAN DO WHICH IS ADDRESSED TRAFFIC ON WATSON ROAD. WE DID HAVE NELSON LOOK AT WHAT COULD BE DONE HERE AND WITHIN THE EXISTING I GUESS ELECTRICAL POLES AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLES, WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE CAN DO IT LEFT OUT AND DEDICATED STRAIGHT AND RIGHT.
[01:20:04]
SO YOU DO FLOW MORE TRAFFIC HERE THE FRUSTRATING THING IS SO OFTEN WHEN YOU ARE THERE AT THAT INTERSECTION YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, IF YOU TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AFTER WAIT FOR EVERYONE MAKING A LEFT. THE PREDOMINANT MOVEMENT IS TO TURN LEFT AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH IS ALSO TURN RIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE PEDRO MENENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL IS, TO THE SOUTH OF US ON 206 SO THERE'S MOVEMENT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.YOU CAN GO LEFT OR NORTH OR SOUTH.
THE OTHER THING WE LOOKED AT WAS A LEFT, THERE IS AN EXISTING LEFT TURN LANE BUT LENGTHENING LEFT TURN LANE AND ADDING THE LOAN THAT IS THE ADDED OUT DAILY ASPHALT IT IS MUCH LIKE JUST ACROSS FROM THE COURTHOUSE ON US1 WHERE IT IS A RACE TRACK GAS STATION WHERE IF YOU'RE MAKING THE TURN TO COME BACK TO THE DIRECTION THERE'S THAT ADDED THE PAYMENT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING A U-TURN AND HITTING A CURB. IT ALLOWS THE MOVEMENT MORE FREELY AND IT ACTUALLY DOES AS A PRACTICAL MATTER ALLOWS A U-TURN TO GO A LITTLE BIT FASTER.
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO TURN YOU DON'T HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS HARD. LASTLY THERE'S A FOOTNOTE IF DOT WOULD ALLOW OBVIOUSLY WE WILL HAVE EXISTING MOVEMENT NORTH TO THE SITE WHERE THEY ARE HAULING TRAILERS AND IT FUNCTIONS TO HELP ANYTHING RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE 4 IMPROVEMENTS OBVIOUSLY WATSON RD.
THE LEFT TURN LANE AND SIGNAL TIMING.
IF NELSON WAS HERE AND WHAT NELSON TOLD PZA IS THAT THE SIGNAL TIMING CAN HELP THE SITUATION QUITE A BIT BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE IS SOME ROOM TO RE-SIGNAL TIME AT THIS INTERSECTION. TO STILL MEET DOT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NORTH-SOUTH MOVEMENT ON US1 IT WOULD HELP WATSON ROAD.
YOU WOULD STILL MEET THE DOT REQUIREMENTS TO THE SIGNAL TIME THAT THE LIGHT WOULD BE GREEN FROM NORTH-SOUTH MOVEMENT AND YOU COULD GET A LITTLE MORE TIME FOR THE WATSON ROAD FOLKS.
THAT COUPLED WITH WATSON ROAD IMPROVEMENT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE FOR THE AREA.
THAT IMPROVEMENT THE WATSON ROAD IMPROVEMENT IS ONE THAT HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATED FOR MANY YEARS.
MAYBE 15 YEARS OR MORE THAT I KNOW OF.
AND ALTHOUGH EVEN THE LEFT CENTER TURN LANE IS NOT ONE THAT ISN'T DRIVEN BY TRAFFIC IT'S ONE THAT MY CLIENT IS WILLING TO OFFER BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE AREA.
IF YOU NEED TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT OR WILLING TO FIND THAT AS WELL. WE DO HAVE AN INITIAL ESTIMATE NELSON DID THIS BASED ON F DOT NUMBERS TO ESTIMATE WHAT THOSE FOUR IMPROVEMENTS WOULD COST. HE HAS PUT SOME DETAIL TO IT AS WELL AS A TURNING MOVEMENT. FROM OUR STANDPOINT EVEN IF WE DON'T ACCESS WATSON ROAD IF WE DON'T PUT TRAFFIC ON WATSON ROAD WERE WILLING TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENT.
I THINK THEY ARE IMPORTANT. WE THINK THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
WE THINK THEY ARE OVERDUE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL AND FIND A RECORD ALL THE WAY BACK THIS IS A PUD FROM 2008 WHERE THEY WERE CONTEMPLATING THIS IS NOW A DEFUNCT PUD AT THE END OF WATSON ROAD BUT THEY WERE CONTEMPLATING IN 2008 THAT THEY WOULD BE DOING THE IMPROVEMENT ON WATSON ROAD.
IF YOU FAST-FORWARD THERE'S 14 YEARS THERE'S NO CIP RIGHT NOW THIS ISN'T A PRIORITY PROJECT FOR THE COUNTY THIS IS ONE THAT WOULD REALLY HELP FOLKS. I THINK IF YOU ARE FOR CARS BACK, FIVE CARS BACK TRYING TO LEAVE WATSON ROAD YOU ARE MISSING A LIGHTS. THIS IS ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IN LARGE PART ON WATSON ROAD. I WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE A SITE RELATED IMPROVEMENT AND THAT IS A RIGHT D CELL LANES SUCCUMBING DOWN US1 FOLKS TURNING INTO THE PROJECT AREN'T HOLDING UP TRAFFIC ON US1 AND THERE'S NOT REAR END TYPE SITUATIONS.
IT DOES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RIGHT D CELL LANE TURNING INTO THE PROJECT. PZA RECOMMENDATION APPROVAL CONDITION WAS TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY STAFF TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE DID TO. PNOVEMBER 16 WE HAD THE TEAMS MEETING WITH COUNTY STAFF TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES LEADING UP TO THAT IT DID SHARE WITH HER THE REVISED TEXT WITH THE COUNTY TEAM SO YOU COULD SEE THE PUD TEXT THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FOLLOWED UP WITH REVISED TEXT AND I THINK IT'S
[01:25:02]
IMPORTANT FOR THE RESIDENTS TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE PZA WHICH WAS TO DOCUMENT THE COMMITMENTS WE MADE AT PZA WHICH IS THE PROJECT AND COMMITMENT TO DO ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND THE COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS STORMWATER CONDITIONS. THE ADDED THING WE DID IS WE REDUCED THE BUILDING HEIGHT. IN THIS PROJECT SINCE PZA WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING HEIGHT TO 35 FEET WE ARE LIMITING THE MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS 25 FEET AND ONE STORY.THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD BE 35 FEET IS THE CLUBHOUSE AT US1.
AND THE MAP WE FOLLOWED THAT WITH THE SAME NUMBERS AND IN THE PUD TEXT WE ADDED THIS WAS NOT A CONDITION THIS WAS EVEN SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT AT PZA BUT WE SAW THIS AS A CONCERN AFTER OUR PZA MEETING. IF ANYONE WANTS TO MEET WITH ME AFTERWARDS I BE HAPPY TO WE DID PTHAT OUTIN THE HALLWAY IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS EXPRESSED WAS A FENCE SO WE AGREED TO PUT A FENCE ALONG THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OSPREY LANDING IT WENT IN A CIRCLE AND THEY WOULD BOTH HAVE A 6 FOOT HIGH FENCE. WE WILL ALSO DETAIL THAT WITH THE DRAWING ON THE NDP MAP SO IT IS IN RECORD THEIR HERE ALSO SINCE WE TALKED ABOUT THE STORMWATER REPORT THAT WERE GOING TO ABIDE BY WE WON'T HAVE ANY DISCHARGE ON WINTON CIRCLE OR OSPREY LANDING ADDED TEXT SPECIFICALLY IN THE PUD TEXT SO EVERYONE WOULD KNOW THE STANDARD WE WOULD MEET AND WERE MAKING THAT A BINDING COMMITMENT RATHER THAN JUST SAYING WERE DOING THE PZA IS IN THE TEXT.E ARE COMMITTED TO IT. AND ALSO RELATED TO THE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT DETAILING THAT WERE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT D CELL LANE AND THEN ALSO DETAILING THAT WE WILL FUND THE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE WATSON ROAD INTERSECTION WHICH WAS OUTLINED EARLIER. YOUR STAFF CAME UP WITH SOME LANGUAGE THAT THEY WANTED IN HERE RELATED TO THE USE REQUIREMENT TO USE THE FUNDS AND ALSO THE ISSUE OF THE IMPACT CREDIT BEING OUTLINED HERE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY COME BACK TO YOU FOR YOU TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE IMPACT CREDIT. I THINK WE HAVE GONE OVER AND ABOVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PZA.
WE MADE THOSE COMMITMENTS PUT IN WRITING ALL THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT PZA AND HAD A MEETING WITH THE STAFF TO TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC AND REALLY TIGHTENED UP EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE TEXT ON THE MAP TO COVER THOSE ISSUES.
WITH THAT I THINK I WILL STOP TALKING OTHER THAN TO SAY HERE'S A FINAL LOOK AT THE SITE LINE AND STORMWATER ACCESS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL IN THIS AREA AND THAT'S THE STRONG POINTS TO THIS PROJECT THAT I THINK ARE UNIQUE. SO WITH THAT, I WILL STOP TALKING. OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE STILL UP HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAD SOMEONE ON THE ENGINEERING
SIDE. >> CHAIR: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE APPLICANT AND THE BOARD?
COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> COMMISSIONER: MR. BURNETT WE GO BACK THE LAST SLIDE WHERE YOU SUMMARIZE THE PZA DISCUSSION?UMBER ONE, CLARIFYING THE DENSITY PAIRED
WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? >> SPEAKER: SPECIFICALLY THE DOCTOR HAD BROUGHT UP IF WE WERE SPECIFICALLY AN ACRE OR 18 7 ACRE? MIXED-USE WOULD ALLOW YOU UP TO 13 UNITS PER ACRE. IN OUR DOCUMENTS IN OUR NDP MAP AND TEXT WE HAD 13 UNITS PER ACRE BUT THEN WE HAD THE ACTUAL PROJECTS. I GUESS IT COULD BE SOME CONFUSION AS TO IS IT AN EITHER OR OR ARE YOU COMMITTING TO EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE? WE CLARIFIED THAT THE EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE IS THE CORRECT NUMBER FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT'S NOT LEAVING THE WINDOW OPEN THAT WE COULD COME BACK
AND TRY TO PUT 13 UNITS IN. >> COMMISSIONER: THE MAXIMUM WOULD BE NO MORE THAN EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE?
>> SPEAKER: CORRECT. >> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU I
NEEDED THAT CLARIFICATION. >> CHAIR: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD IF NO OTHER QUESTIONS WE WILL GO INTO
PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> SPEAKER: AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL TAKE COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: ED SLAVEN, CAN WE PLEASE SWEAR IN THE WITNESSES ON THIS AND ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION? CAN WE PLEASE REQUIRE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFY EVERY INVESTOR IN THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS AND CAN WE PLEASE ABOLISH AND FOR ALL TIME THE ASSUMPTION THAT Y'ALL GET TO MEET X PARTAKE WITH DEVELOPERS? UNLESS YOU ARE VIDEOTAPING IT, PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY IS LOST FROM PUBLIC RECORD AND
[01:30:03]
UNDER ARTICLE 1 SECTION 21 UNDER FLORIDA CONSTITUTION AND UNDER STATUTE 119 AND 386 WHY CAN'T WE KNOW WHAT THEY SAY IN X BAR TEAM MEETINGS? AND WHY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY ISN'T THERE A TRANSCRIPT OF EVERY MEETING BELOW THE PZA OR COMMUNITY MEETINGS? WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAND USE PROCESS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AS WE KNOW IT. THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE FUNCTION.YOU ARE HEARING FROM LOBBYISTS, SALESMAN.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS AT EVERY ONE OF THESE MEETINGS.
SOMEONE GOES TO THE PODIUM THEY AREN'T SWORN IN THE WITNESSES AREN'T SWORN IN AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WERE BEING SOLD.
ALSO, WHY ISN'T THERE A TIME LIMIT ON DEVELOPERS? I HAVE A TIME LIMIT, EVERYONE ELSE HAS A TIME LIMIT BUT DEVELOPERS GET TO TALK AND TALK AND TALK AND THEY TALK A STARVING DOG OFF OF THE WAGON AND FRANKLY WE NEED TO HEAR FROM COUNTY STAFF, FROM GROWTH MANAGEMENT IS THAT OF HAVING HEARSAY FROM DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS AS TO WHAT THE COUNTY STAFF SAYS, THINKS OR DOES. THIS IS LIKE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME. REGULATORY CAPTURE IS THE TECHNICAL TERM FOR WHEN A GOVERNMENT IS OWNED AND PURCHASED AND TOSSED AROUND BY DEVELOPERS OR PEOPLE IN POWER.
S THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? BY THE WAY, IT KIND OF REMINDS ME WE HAD A COUPLE OF MAYERS AT ONE TIME, SAINT AUGUSTINE BEACH, ANDREA SAMUELS, SAINT AUGUSTINE'S CITY, JOE BOLTZ, EACH OF THEM SEPARATELY BUT EQUALLY ACTUALLY SAID TO CITIZENS AND IS A STUNNING ADMISSION, MR. ANDRE SAMUEL SAID THERE'S NO DIALOGUE HERE, THIS IS BASICALLY MY POLISH GRANDMOTHER SAID, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A HUCKSTER? HORSE-DRAWN HUCKSTERS SELLING IN VEGETABLES AND MEAT AND STUFF IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY GRANDMA SAID HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A HUCKSTER HOLLER ROTTEN FISH? WE NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS AND WERE NOT GETTING IT. WHEN YOU LET SOMEBODY, THE TECHNICAL TERM IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE MY FIRST EMPLOYERS THE TECHNICAL TERM FOR WHAT HE JUST DID WAS A FILIBUSTER THAT HE WENT ON AND ON.
LET'S CHANGE THE RULES AND LET'S MAKE THIS GOVERNMENT WORK FOR A CHANGE. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MR. SLAVEN.
>> CHAIR: MADAME VICE CHAIR, THIS IS MISS SPIEGEL WHO I
BELIEVE, CAN YOU HELP ME? >> SPEAKER: MISS SPIEGEL FILED A REQUEST FOR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE.
SHE IS AFFILIATED WITH THE OSPREY LANDING HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND THEY SUBMITTED A LIST OF 42 RESIDENTS THAT SHE IS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF. THAT ALLOWS A TIME OF 10 MINUTES. IF.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JUDY SPIEGEL, FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR 10 MINUTES.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS A SMALL HOA CALLED OSPREY LANDING. OUR LOCATION IS JUST TO THE WEST OF THIS NEW PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I DO REPRESENT 44 THE AMENDED LIST READY FOR HOMEOWNERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAVE 140 ADULT RESIDENTS AND THAT'S A GOOD PERCENTAGE. OUR ARGUMENTS ARE NOT ABOUT GETTING OUR WAY. PWE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT PROJECT FOR THE SPACE. OUR ARGUMENTS ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS WORKING WITH THE PDEVELOPER, WITH THE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING RESIDENTS TO COME UP WITH A PRODUCT THAT HAS ATTRIBUTES THAT BOTH MEET THE NEED FOR RENTAL HOUSING IN THE AREA AND ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING ADJACENT COMMUNITIES. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WE ARE OPPOSED TO THIS BELLA TERRA PROJECT. WE FEEL THIS IS THE WRONG PROJECT FOR THE SITE DID THIS INCOMPATIBLE PROJECT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND DISTRICT 3 IS OUR CONTENTION. THE BELLA TERRA PUD IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE GOAL A1 OF THE ST. JOHN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE NEXT FEW SLIDES DISCUSSION POINT WILL BE UP FROM THAT PLAN SO I WON'T CONTINUE TO REFER TO IT AIRED ACCORDING TO THE DIALOGUE IN THE PLANET IS ENCOURAGE AND ACCOMMODATE LAND-USE WHICH MAKES ST. JOHN'S COUNTY A VIABLE COMMUNITY TO MAKE A SOUND BASE AND OFFER DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF LIVING, WORKING, SHOPPING AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES WHILE MINIMIZING ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS PUD IS ALSO NOT CONSISTENT
[01:35:02]
WITH OBJECT OF A 111. THE LAND-USE LANGUAGE RELATED TO LAND DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATE TO THE SIZE AND SCALE COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREA.OBJECTIVE A1 11 STATES THAT THE COUNTY SHALL INCUR EFFICIENT AND COMPACT LAND USE PATTERN PROVIDING FOR MODERATE OVERALL DENSITIES AND ADEQUATE LAND USES TO SUPPORT BALANCED GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE CONTEND THAT THIS IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE SCALE IS MASSIVE WHERE THE DENSITY IS ALMOST 3 TIMES AS MUCH AS THE RESIDENCE IN THE AREA.
THE SURROUNDING LAND AT THIS TIME IS RURAL.
QUIET, OPEN, BUCOLIC. THIS IS NOT IN KEEPING.
THERE'S NO COMPATIBILITY. WE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING COMPLEMENTARY AT THIS SITE THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
SORRY IF I AM TALKING TOO FAST. THIS BELLA TERRA PUD IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE DIRECTIVE A1 THREE REGARDING LAND-USE.
THIS OBJECTIVE STATES THE COUNTY SHALL LOCATE LAND-USE SO THAT THEY ARE COMPATIBLE AND COMPLEMENTARY.
COMPATIBILITY REFERS TO THE SENSITIVITY OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS IN MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTS. WE BELIEVE THIS PLAN DEVIATES FROM THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA IS MORE LIKE CITY DWELLING THAT HAS AN URBAN FEEL THERE ARE NO LAWNS IN THOSE CUTE PICTURES THAT MR. BURNETT SHOWED US, THERE'S NOTHING BACK THERE AT ALL. THE THESE WILL BE WEIRD, NO YARDS OF TREES. THE BELLA TERRA PUD IS NOT CONSISTENT THE COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
PART 536F IS COMPATIBILITY. THE PUD DISTRICT WILL BE LOCATED IN DESIGN AS TO DEMISE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL IMPACTS REGARDING TRAFFIC, NOISE OR LIGHTS.
WE CONTENDS THAT ALTHOUGH THE DEVELOPERS HAVE AN ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE TRAFFIC, YOU TURN IN AND YOU TURN OUT IS NOT MENTIONED THERE'S NO DIRECT ACCESS TO THIS FROM THE SOUTH.
THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED NOISE AND LIGHT AND WE BELIEVE THEY WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL AFTER CLEARING THE TREES AND LOCAL VEGETATION THAT ACT AS A NATURAL BUFFER.
THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE REDUCED IN SCALE.
THIS WOULD DECREASE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF TRAFFIC, NOISE, TREES AND THE WETLAND PROBLEMS AND WOULD ALSO IMPROVE DRAINAGE ISSUES. PUD DISTRICT SHALL BE DESIGNED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO PROVIDE FOR GRADUAL CHANGES IN INTENSITY AND OR DENSITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BELLA TERRA PUD IS NOT DESIGNED IN A MANNER TO PROVIDE GRADUAL CHANGES IN INTENSITY OR DENSITY. THE CHANGE IN DENSITY FROM 2 TO 3 HOMES PER ACRE TO 8.6 IS NOT A GRADUAL CHANGE IN INTENSITY OR DENSITY. JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT 13 UNITS PER ACRE DOES NOT MEAN 8.6 IS GOOD.
THESE ARE COMMENTS FROM MR. BURNETT.
HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO ALLOW A COMMUNITY MEETING.
THE OPENING STATEMENT THAT MR. BURNETT MADE IS THAT I AM HERE TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE AUDIENCE BY SHOW OF HANDS IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT? COULD YOU READ RAISE YOUR HAND? MAY I ASK A SHOW OF HANDS WHO IS HERE THAT POSES THE PROJECT? THANK YOU.
THE OTHER COMMENT THAT STIR BURNETT MADE IN HIS PRESENTATION AT THAT MEETING IS THAT WE ARE NOT ME BOTH SO IT COULD BE APPROVED BUT I'M GLAD THAT HE DIDN'T MENTION THAT.
THIS PROJECT SHOULD FALL ON ITS OWN MERITS.
THE U-TURNS ARE A CONCERN. INCREASE IN TRAFFIC, I DO REALIZE THAT THE TRAFFIC REPORT WHICH I HAVE READ AND DON'T UNDERSTAND BUT I READ IT ANYWAY, IS AS WE HAVE A 70 PERCENT CAPACITY RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA NEW RESTAURANTS, NEW STORES IN A NEW CARWASH AND WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT ALSO I BELIEVE IT WILL BE OBSOLETE BY THE TIME THIS PLACE IS BUILT AND PEOPLE ARE LIVING THERE.
ALL YOU TURN IN AND ALL YOU TURN OUT IS GOING TO ADD DANGER. THE WATSON ROAD WHILE IT IS A GENEROUS THING TO OFFER IN EXCHANGE FOR IMPACT CREDIT WILL PNOT MITIGATE THIS. WE DO APPRECIATE THE GESTURE BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH INCENTIVE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
THIS FIX DOES NOT MITIGATE THE INTENSE IMPACT AND CHANGES THAT
[01:40:05]
THIS DEVELOPMENT BRINGS TO THE AREA.IN CONCLUSION, OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO ALLOW THE OWNERS TO SELL THE LAND FOR A GOOD PROFIT. TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPER TO PROFIT TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO FLOURISH, TO PROVIDE RENT PROPERTIES AND TO ALSO MAINTAIN A QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY VALUE OF THE CURRENT RESIDENCE.
FULLY RESPECT THE LANDOWNERS RIGHT TO SELL HIS LAND AT A GOOD PRICE AND THE DEVELOPER TO PROFIT.
WE REALIZE THERE IS A NEED FOR RENTAL PROPERTY IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND WE ARE FULLY WILLING TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE RESIDENT AND OTHER IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS, WINTON CIRCLE TO COME UP WITH A REASONABLE, COHESIVE PLAN THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH OUR EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS.
THIS WILL ENCOURAGE COMPATIBLE, COHESIVE DEVELOPMENT IN AN ENHANCED ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. IN CONCLUSION, WE CONTEND THIS IS THE WRONG PROJECT FOR THIS AREA . WE RECOMMEND THE DENSITY TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. THAT MORE WETLANDS WILL BE PRESERVED SCALE OF THE OBJECT WILL BE REDUCED.
THAT THE TREE STANDS SHOULD BE PRESERVED BETWEEN OSPREY LANDING IN THE CIRCLE. THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CAN BE RECONFIGURED AND WOULD NOT REQUIRE SO MUCH INTERVENTION AND SCALING BACK WILL ALSO HELP US.
THE DEVELOPER AND IMPACTED COMMUNITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MEET THIS OBJECTIVE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU COMMISSIONERS TODAY TO REMAND THIS BACK TO THE PZA IF THE DEVELOPER IS WILLING TO WORK PLAN OR DENY THE PROJECT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME SINCE I STILL HAVE A MINUTE LEFT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. WELCOME.
>> CHAIR: ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BRING UP DISH AND 44 PEOPLE.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: I AM DOCTOR GEORGE SPIEGEL I LIVE AT 101 GREEN WILLOW LANE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE.T IS OUR CONTENTION THAT THIS PUD IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH PARTS OF THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THE PARK THAT DESCRIBES THE LOCATION READS AS FOLLOWS.
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT SHALL BE LOCATED WHERE THERE IS IN EASE AND CONVENIENCE OF USE WHERE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, PUBLIC SERVICES AND LAND USES WILL BE MINIMIZED. IT IS OUR CONTENTION THAT IF THIS IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING LAND USES.
FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE AT OUR UNIT AT OSPREY LANDING WE HAVE 2.25 HOMES PER ACRE AROUND THIS AT THE ARBORS THERE IS A 3.2 HOMES BREAKER THE VILLAGES AT THE LANCIA HAS ABOUT 2.7 HOME SOUTHWOOD HAS ABOUT 3.67 HOMES. THIS IS WHAT WE WILL SEE, 8.6 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE. IT IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS. THESE BUILDINGS ARE ACTUALLY CLOSER TO THE HOME DEVELOPMENTS THAN IT SHOWS.
FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE CIRCLE IT HAS TWO HOMES PER ACRE AND YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE. DEERFIELD MEADOWS HAS 1.7 HOMES PER ACRE. GRAND RAVINE HAS 2.3 HOMES PER ACRE, SUMMER HOMES HAS THREE HOMES PER ACRE CRESCENT KEY HAS TWO HOMES PER ACRE AND AS WE MOVE SOUTH, MOSES CREEK HAS 1.6 HOMES PER ACRE AND HERE AT DUPONT CIRCLE WE CAN SEE WOODLAKE HAS 1.6 HOMES PER ACRE.
I JUST CAME FROM MY COUNTY IN MARYLAND WHICH IS ALSO ONE OF THE RICHEST COUNTIES IN MARYLAND.
THE COMMISSIONERS THERE WORK TO LIMIT DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS TO KEEP IT A BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT COMMUNITY WHICH IS ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTH OF. WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THE COUNTY UP TO DC. IT IS OUR CONTENTION THAT THIS
[01:45:01]
IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING LAND USES.THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MR.
SPIEGEL WELCOME. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: MY NAME IS MARY MURPHY, ADJACENT TO THE BELLA TERRA PROPERTY.
MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT OUR HOME IN OSPREY LANDING IN 2011.
WE SELECTED THIS TRANQUIL SPOT OVERLOOKING BELLA TERRA PROP TO THE EAST FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS WE HAVE ENJOYED THE PARK LIKE LANDSCAPE OF BELLA TERRA WITH ITS ANCIENT LIFE OAK AND TALL PINE TREES ALL OF WHICH ARE PHOME TO MANY SPECIES OF WILDLIFE. SQUIRRELS CAN LIVE IN THE OAK TREES BIRDS NATIVE AND MIGRATING BIRDS FIND REFUGE IN THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES, ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRINGTIME WHERE THEY NEST AND RAISE THEIR YOUNG.
WE ESPECIALLY SEE THE OSPREY QUITE OFTEN.
THE PLAN, THIS PLAN IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
HAVE YOU WONDERED WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THEIR NOISY POLLUTED CONCRETE JUNGLES TO THE NORTH OF OUR COUNTRY IN FAVOR OF FLORIDA NAMED FOR ITS FLORAL TREES AND SHRUBS? THE CURRENT PLAN LOOKS LIKE A MILITARY BARRACKS.
ANOTHER CONCRETE JUNGLE AND BLIGHT ON THE LANDSCAPE.
WE KNOW THAT SOMETHING WILL BE BUILT ON BELLA TERRA PROPERTY WHEN SOLD.T MAY BE IN THE DEVELOPER'S BEST FINANCIAL INTEREST TO REVIEW THE PLAN, HAVE A SMALLER IMPACT, GET CREATIVE WITH GREEN AREAS FOR FAMILIES TO ENJOY.
IT WILL BE MUCH MORE APPEALING TO THE BUYER AND THE RENTER.
THE BARRACK LIKE HOMES WILL BE AT LEAST LESS THAN 30 FEET FROM THE SITE OF OUR HOME. YOUR PLAN, AS IT STANDS WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR PROPERTY VALUE OF 121 GREEN WILLOW LANE. COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE BECOMING VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GREEN SPACES AND THE BENEFIT OF TREES THAT ABSORB CO2 EMISSIONS FOR THE BENEFIT TO PEOPLE IS BETTER HEALTH ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH. ENGLAND HAS STARTED BEFORE STAYING AROUND URBAN AREAS SO PEOPLE WILL HAVE GREEN SPACES TO ENJOY. URBAN PLANNERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE DESIGNING ECO-FRIENDLY AND IMAGINATIVE TERMS WITH GREEN SPACES THAT ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL ZONING. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, MY HUSBAND HAS DEMENTIA AND I FEAR THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT, THE NOISE AND CONSTRUCTION WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. I'M SORRY WE CAN ONLY GIVE
EVERYONE THREE-MINUTE. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: THANK YOU.
WELCOME. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: MY NAME IS ANNA.
WHICH IS PART OF OSPREY LANDING.
THE BELLA TERRA BEAUTY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH PART 530 PLAN.
THE PUD DISTRICT FACING JONES COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
IN PART 536 THE CRITERIA OF THIS JONES COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 53682 PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS MAY BE ESTABLISHED IN AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION WITH RESPECT TO INTENDED FUNCTION. IN CAN WARM US WITH THE GOALS POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN.
WHERE COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING LAND USES AND ZONING DISTRICTS. SECTION 536C ADDRESSES DENSITY AND INTENSITY. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SHALL HAVE DENSITY IN CHARACTER WITH THE SURROUNDING LAND USES.
[01:50:03]
AND ZONING BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENSITY ESTABLISHED IN THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN. WE BELIEVE AND WE DO BELIEVE THIS DISCUSSION OF THE DENSITY OF SURROUNDING LAND USES SHOWS THAT BELLA TERRA BEAUTY IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING LAND USES. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THE NUMBERS THAT WERE ALREADY PRESENTED FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.BUT HOW COME WE GO FROM 2-3 UNITS PER ACRE TO 8.6 UNITS PER ACRE? THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY COMPATIBILITY. EVERYONE SURROUNDING THIS WOULD BE A MAXIMUM OF FOUR OR NEAR FOR.
AND THEN BESIDES ALL THE INCREASE IN NOISE, LIGHT, MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED, IT CREATES A PRECEDENT THAT IT IS OKAY TO HAVE 8.6 UNITS PER ACRE WHICH MEANS THE NEXT DEVELOPMENT CAN SAY WELL, YOU CAN HAVE 13 OR MORE. SO, THAT IS MOSTLY THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MA'AM. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS FAITH CHROME, AS YOU CAN SEE I AM RIGHT THERE AT AND WHERE THIS WILL TAKE PLACE. I WANT TO TALK TODAY ABOUT THE LAND DEVELOPMENT ON THE SIZE COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE MODERATE DENSITY OF LAND-USE SUPPORTING THE BALANCED GROWTH. I AM AN EDUCATOR A RETIRED EDUCATOR AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND WHAT WE SEE GOING ON. WERE NOT SURE HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE COMING FROM THIS AREA BASED ON THE CURRENT DATA AND ANALYSIS ADOPTION TABLE 2.19 WE ARE LOOKING AROUND 41 STUDENTS THAT WILL BE COMING IN TO THIS AREA BECAUSE IT WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE A 55 AND OVER DEVELOPMENT.
LOOKING AT 18 MILITARY STUDENTS AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WE HAVE HERE THEY PROVIDE SUCH WONDERFUL SERVICE AND HAVE WORKED SO HARD BUT THEY ARE STRETCHED AND WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE STRETCHED.
ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAS A CHALLENGE IN THE KINDERGARTEN.
SHE'S BEEN ASSIGNED TO OTIS MASON WHICH IS 7 MILES AWAY EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITHIN 2 MILES. THE SCHOOL HAD TO ADD AN EXTRA KINDERGARTEN CLASS OF 15 CHILDREN AND HAD A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER UNTIL A WEEK INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR LACK OF STAFF AND THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL TO ANYONE EXCEPT FOR A SPECIAL EDUCATOR OR ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR BUT WE KNOW A WEEK WITHOUT A TRAINED TEACHER OR A VERY YOUNG CHILD IS DETRIMENTAL. IT WILL HURT THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR AND COULD HURT THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL CAREER BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A BOND AND THEY DID NOT HAVE THE STRUCTURE THAT THEY NEEDED DURING THAT TIME.
WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR PRESCHOOLS, WE HAVE TWO PRESCHOOLS THAT SERVE THE AREA AND RIGHT NOW THEY BOTH HAVE WAITING LIST. ALSO, WE ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUSES WHERE THIS WILL BE A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GATED WILL THE BUSES BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE AREA? WHERE THEY'LL BE A LIABILITY IF THE BUSES GO INTO THE AREA OR PARENTS WAITING IN CARS OR BESIDES US1 WHICH IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ROAD. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR A PUBLIC RECORD REQUEST. WE DID THAT BEFORE THANKSGIVING TO LOOK AT THE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IN DISTRICT THREE FOR 2020 TO 2022 BUT WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE INFORMATION ON THAT. WERE NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANY LIABILITY IF THE BUSES WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE'S NO POLICY OR STATUTE THAT WE COULD FIND ON THAT. AT THIS POINT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CHILDREN ARE SAFE. WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A FOUR PERCENT INCREASE IN SCHOOL SINCE 2022 JUST NOT SURE FOR THAT. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO US TODAY AND I DO APPRECIATE IT.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: ANDREW STUFFY,
[01:55:04]
LIVE ON GREEN WILLOW LANE AS YOU JUST HEARD AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A MEETING TO LOOK AT WHERE THE SITE WOULD COME SOME DAY.THE HOMES ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE BLOCK.
WHILE I LIKE THE RENDERING WITH ALL THE TREES IN BETWEEN IT IS A FALSE NARRATIVE. YOU WOULD SEE SO MUCH OF THAT DEVELOPMENT FROM OUR CURRENT SITE.
I ALSO ASKED THAT YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
JUST BY THE SHEER NUMBERS ADDING 240 UNITS EACH UNIT HAS ONE CAR, THAT IS ADDING 240 VEHICLES MAY BE MORNING AND AFTERNOON WILL ALL HAVE TO MAKE U-TURNS EITHER AT WATSON ROAD OR AT WILDWOOD CIRCLE. THAT IS JUST SHEER NUMBERS.
WHEN YOU HAVE TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNIT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE MAJORITY OF THE 55 AND OLDER POPULATION.
THEY ARE GOING TO INVOLVE CHILDREN WHICH INVOLVES THE SCHOOLS AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE WE HAVE TWO DAY CARES IN OUR AREA THAT ARE RIGHT NOW HAVE WAITING LISTS.
NO DAYCARE WOULD BE AVAILABLE. GIVE AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ALL AREAS OF OUR COUNTY.
AND LOOK AT THE FUTURE. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.
RIGHT NOW, TO ADD 240 UNITS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A BIG THING, HOWEVER, THE BIG PICTURE DOWN THE LINE IT IS NOT JUST THIS DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS NOT THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS AREA AS STATED BY SO MANY WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME.
SO, HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW OTHER AREAS TO GROW AND IMPACT OUR FUTURE CHILDREN, THE SAFETY, TRY TO GET EMERGENCY VEHICLES THROUGH DURING PEAK TIMES ON US1 NOW IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. WE CAN'T PUT OUR PUBLIC SERVICE AT RISK, TRYING TO HELP US WHEN THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE NEED AND SO, BASED ON JUST THE SHEER NUMBERS OF THE DENSITY OF THIS UNIT, THESE UNITS ARE JUST NOT THE RIGHT PROJECT FOR THIS AREA. EVEN AT ONE HALF WHICH WOULD BE 120 UNITS FOR THE AREA, IT IS STILL ADDING A LOT OF TRAFFIC, A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES, NOISE ISSUES, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, IT JUST SO MANY ISSUES DUE TO THE DENSITY AND THE IMPACT OF THE INCOMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HI THERE. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN EVERYBODY HERE OKAY? WELL, I HAVE LISTENED TO A LOT OF THINGS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND WHAT IS STICKING IN MY MIND OF COURSE
IS COMPATIBILITY ISSUE. >> SPEAKER: NAME AND ADDRESS?
ADDRESS]. AS FAR AS COMPATIBILITY THE LAST SPEAKER NAILED IT. YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AND WE ALL GET IT IT DOESN'T FIT. THIS IS TRYING TO PUT A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE AND IRONICALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP IT IS SQUARE. THE ISSUE OF TRAFFIC COMES TO MY MIND, FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE THERE IS A FORCED LEFT TURN YOU TURN OUT OF THAT. EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY IN THIS STATE OR COUNTY LEVEL OR DOT IS DESIGNING INTERSECTIONS OR OTHERWISE TO CREATE U-TURNS.
I THINK THESE ARE RELICS OF THE PAST THE DEVELOPER, I FEEL FOR THEM. THEY ARE FORCED INTO IT IN THE SITUATION, THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THE DOT WILL NOT PUT A LIGHT THERE.
OKAY, YOU HAVE TO TURN RIGHT AND TAKE A U-TURN.
WELL, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THAT U-TURN AT DIFFERENT TRAFFIC PATTERNS DURING THE DAY, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE TRIES U-TURNS IN FLORIDA AND I ACTUALLY TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES TO AVOID THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS.
SO, I DON'T THANK YOU UNDERSCORE THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THAT ENOUGH. IT'S THERE AND IT'S QUITE REAL.
AS FAR AS THE DRAINAGE GOES I THINK THE COUNTY DID A WONDERFUL JOB INITS RECENT ADDRESSING OF THE WINTON CIRCLE AND IT PROBABLY AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST WINTON CIRCLE WHEN
[02:00:02]
IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE BUT WE DON'T NEED THIS PROJECT TO FIX A TRAINING ISSUE. IT IS ANCILLARY.WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE COMPATIBILITY OF TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES AND I LIVE ON WINSTON SOME A LITTLE SELFISH WHEN IT COMES TO WATSON SAYING I LOVE THE IDEA BUT WHETHER THEY DO IT OR SOMEBODY ELSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET DONE ANYWAY.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP ME BUT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THIS ROUTE USING IT TO GO NORTH AND SOUTH . WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THIS TRAFFIC ISSUE AND IT IS A DEATH TRAP.
YOU START PUTTING HIGH DENSITY DIVISIONS LIKE THIS AND FORCING THEM ALL INTO LEFT HAND ON COMING, THIS IS A 55 MPH ROAD AND PEOPLE DRIVE IT AT 70. THE T-BONES THERE IS DEATH.
WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN ALREADY MY FEAR IS THAT WE WILL SEE A LOT MORE. MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WON'T
APPROVE THIS AS REQUESTED. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR. I HAVE A POWERPOINT HERE.
JOE MCINERNEY, WRAP UP WHAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE SAID.
A GREAT PRESENTATION BY THE RESIDENT.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT THE COUNTRY ESTATE RIDING ACADEMY WHAT NEIGHBORS . WHAT A SITE. WETLANDS OPEN FIELDS WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO THAT BUT THE NEIGHBORS SAY THEY ARE RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE THE UNDERSTAND CHANGE THEY ARE LOOKING TO THE COUNTY FOR GUIDANCE AND THEY SEE THAT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND THEY LOOK AT SECTIONS THAT PROTECT TREES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN QUALITY OF LIFE IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY. THEY LOOK AT THE PUD STANDARDS WHICH TALK ABOUT SURROUNDING LAND USES THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IMPORTANTLY THEY LOOK AT A1 311 WHICH TALKS ABOUT COMPATIBILITY TYPE OF USE DENSITY, TRAFFIC, HEIGHT, VEGETATION, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD AND YOU HAVE HEARD THE RESIDENTS TALK ABOUT WHAT IS SURROUNDING. I PUT A RED CIRCLE AROUND OSPREY LANDING. TO THE LEFT THERE 2.5 UNITS PER ACRE WINTON CIRCLE, TWO UNITS PER ACRE AND EVEN THE ARBOR AT LANCIA ACROSS THE STREET IS 3.23.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT EIGHT .6 IT IS LIKE, WOW, THAT IS INCOMPATIBLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU HAVE TO HEAR TO SEE THAT IN THERE WE ARE.
THAT BEAUTIFUL SITE WITH TREES AND WETLANDS NOT THERE.
RESOLVING INCOMPATIBILITY YOU HAVE HEARD THE NEIGHBORS SAY THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THIS DEVELOPER, THEY ARE FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS, THEY ARE FOR EVERYTHING THEY ARE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT SO WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES? ONE EXAMPLE MIGHT BE FOUR UNITS PER ACRE AND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? YOU KNOW, USING THE APPLICANT'S OWN UNIT HERE THE FOUR BED UNIT, THOSE CAN BE CITED AS SUCH THAT MUCH OF THE WETLANDS, TREES AND SO FORTH ARE RESERVED. I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THEY HAVE DONE THESE GRADING PLANS THAT WILL SAVE WINTON CIRCLE THEY CAN BE DONE HERE AT HALF OF THE COST.
THERE ARE MANY COST REDUCTIONS PRESENT.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE, I AM SAYING, COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE NEIGHBORS TO WORK GATHER TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE. THERE WAS A COMMUNITY MEETING AS THE RESIDENT SAID MR. BARNETT WANTED TO GET SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. LESS THAN 240.
IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THAT WAS GOING TO BE RECEPTIVE ABOVE MARKET RIGHT. OKAY.
LET'S GIVE THESE NEIGHBORS A CHANCE TO WORK THE DEVELOPER.
IF THIS APPLICANT IS RESISTANT AGAINST REDUCING 240 IT SHOULD BE DENIED. I WOULD RECOMMEND A REMATCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SPEAKER: WELCOME.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: SUZANNE CLUE LOW, HAVE SENT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND ELONGATED EMAIL BECAUSE I'M GETTING THIS DOWN TO 3 MINUTES AND THAT WAS ROUGH.
I LIVE IN A CONDO THAT IS ABOUT 1100 FEET AWAY FROM THE DRIVEWAY OF THIS COMMUNITY. OUR SOUTH WOULD LIKE DRIVE IS
[02:05:08]
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS U-TURN THAT NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT TODAY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MR. BURNETT.I HAVE SPOKEN TO MR. DESOUSA. I HAVE SPOKEN TO DOT.
THIS INTERSECTION IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR ALL OF THESE U-TURNS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS ON 207 WHERE THE VA CLINIC IS. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE MEDIAN LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS WHAT OUR MEDIAN LOOKS LIKE. IT IS A HAIRPIN.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE U-TURNS YOU NEED, YOU'VE GOT 55 MPH PEOPLE COMING, YOU NEED TO CLEAR LANES AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT SWING. NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT ADDING ANY PAVEMENT THERE, DOING ANYTHING AND IT IS SIGNALED.
WE DON'T EVEN GET A CHANCE FOR THE TRAFFIC TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES. NOBODY IS OFFERING MANY SOLUTIONS. DOT SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO. OUR WARRANT STUDIES DON'T WARRANT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THEY DON'T WARRANT REDUCING THE SPEED, THEY DON'T WARRANT PUTTING A MEDIAN IN SO THESE U-TURNS AREN'T NECESSARY. I REALLY FEEL THAT IT IS DANGEROUS. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH THERE IN THE U-TURN TO ME IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
YOU'VE GOT ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE SOUTH . WHEN PARENTS DROP THE KIDS OFF THEY ALL HAVE TO COME BACK AND MAKE THAT U-TURN.
SAME THING IN THE AFTERNOON. MAKE THAT U-TURN.
THE BOTTOM PICTURE IS WHAT OUR INTERSECTION LOOKS LIKE IT'S VERY WIDE. WE CAN HAVE UP TO SIX OR SEVEN CARS STACKED IN THE MIDDLE TRYING TO MAKE TURNS THERE.
WE DON'T NEED U-TURNS. PLEASE, IF THIS CAN'T BE FIXED, PLEASE DON'T APPROVE THIS. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: DO YOU MIND HANDING THOSE TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? THANK YOU, SO MUCH.
WELCOME. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: DID I GET IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE? MY NAME IS ANDY TANNER.
>> SPEAKER: YOU NEED TO FLIP IT OVER.
PERFECT. ISN'T THAT AMAZING? MY NAME IS ANDY TANNER AND I HAVEN'T HEARD HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME UP HERE. IF I HAD IT MY WAY I WOULD COME IN ON MY HORSE AND SING DON'T FENCE ME IN! WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE CONFUSING INFORMATION THAT MR. BURNETT HAS PRESENTED TO US AND MY SYMPATHY IS WITH MARY WHO SPOKE EARLIER. SHE IS GOING TO BE 20 FEET AWAY FROM A FENCE. IT MIGHT BE 6 FEET, IT MIGHT BE 8 FEET, IT MIGHT BE 100 FEET. IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET.
THE BEAUTIFUL AREA THAT WE ALL ENJOY WITH THE TREES AND THE HORSES AND ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT. SO, I, TOO, AM TOTALLY AGAINST IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I AM SORRY
IF I GOOFED THINGS UP. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU SO MUCH
SIR, IT WAS GOOD. >> CHAIR: SOMEONE GET THIS MAN AND ANSWER! [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU MR.
TANNER. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: GOOD AFTERNOON. I GUESS COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA SIMMONS, MY CONCERN IS WE WENT TO A COMMUNITY MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT WITH MR. BURNETT TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
THE PROBLEM IS, I DON'T FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE CONCERNS WE HAD WERE ADDRESSED BECAUSE WE KEPT ASKING HIM, WE DIDN'T GET ANY ANSWERS. HE DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS FOR US BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IS THIS
[02:10:03]
U-TURN. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY 1000 TO 1600 PEOPLE PER DAY COMING OUT OF THIS BELLA TERRA UNIT MAKING A U-TURN AT THAT INTERSECTION AND WHAT NO ONE ELSE HAS MENTIONED IS THESE PEOPLE MAKING THE U-TURN ARE GOING TO BE COMPETING WITH THE TRAFFIC THAT IS GOING TO BE COMING ONTO US1 FROM THE RESTAURANT ON THE OTHER CORNER.NOT TO MENTION SHOPPING CENTER THAT IS BEING PUT UP ON THE CORNER OF US1 NOW THAT HAS ACCESS ONTO US1 AND MAY BE ON WATSON ROAD, I DON'T KNOW. I FORESEE A COMPLETE TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE AND ALSO THE CHILDREN ARE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, SCHOOLS ARE OVERCROWDED, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT BUS DRIVERS ARE SCARCE. THIS IS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON PEOPLE . PEOPLE WILL BE IN A HURRY. SEE CHILDREN STANDING OUT THERE ON US1, I CAN SEE CARS LINED UP MAYBE TWO OR 3 MILES I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR BACK TRYING TO PICK THESE CHILDREN UP AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A REVOLVING DANCE FROM THE U-TURN BACK AROUND TRYING TO GET INTO THE BELLA TERRA UNIT ALSO, WHAT HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED ARE THESE BELLA TERRA APARTMENTS THE ENTRANCE COMING INTO THEM OFF OF US1 IS GOING TO BE A GATED COMMUNITY. WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE CAR AT A TIME TRYING TO GET IN THROUGH A GATE OFF OF SMALL US1 WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS A RACE TRACK WITH THAT AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AND WE KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO SLOW DOWN.
DOT HAS ALREADY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A DANGER FOR CHILDREN, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DANGER OF THE INTERSECTION AND I'M TALKING ABOUT 1600 POSSIBLY MORE U-TURNS. 500 POSSIBLE CARS WITH EACH PERSON IN EACH OF THESE UNITS IF THEY HAVE TWO CARS, NOT ONLY THAT, THE TRAFFIC, THE SAFETY FOR THE CHILDREN, WERE GOING TO BE CLEAR CUTTING A HUGE AREA OF LAND WHICH WILL LEAVE US VULNERABLE FOR WIND OR A HURRICANE IF IT COMES THROUGH SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, IF YOU CAN PASS THOSE OVER TO THE OFFICE ATTORNEY. GOOD MORNING.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: CHUCK LEVIN ASCII, DON'T KNOW WHAT IS SO MAGICAL ABOUT THE WATSON INTERSECTION BUT I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] LET'S PUT THAT IN THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE INTERSECTION.
TO HEAR MR. BURNETT SAY HE'S NOT AFFECTING WATSON ROAD HE HEARD IT ALREADY, THE U-TURNS THAT WILL BE COMING OUT OF THAT PROJECT, THE MAJORITY OF THE VEHICLES ARE GOING NORTH, NOT SOUTH. THE WORK AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE NORTH. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF U-TURNS HAPPENING IN THAT SECTION WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSED, NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSED TO DO OKAY? THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. AGAIN, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS BUT WHAT'S CONCERNING IS THE APPLICANT HAS NOT CONSULTED WITH DOT YET. WHY IS THIS PROJECT COMING HERE NOW IF THEY HAVE NOT CONSULTED WITH DOT.
THIS IS RIGHT OUT OF THE PACKAGE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO AFFECT PUTTING THIS PROJECT IN? HOW ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE WETLANDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECT DID IN THAT PROJECT? THAT IS A LOT. WE CAN'T KEEP EFFECTING AND DESTROYING WETLANDS LIKE WERE DESTROYING THEM RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY WITH THE ROADWAYS, HOW ABOUT ANOTHER SAFE? IT WAS NEVER MENTIONED THERE IS A WAIVER IN THAT PACKAGE. THEY WANT THE HOMES CLOSER TOGETHER PIT THEY WANT A WAIVER FROM REGULATIONS WITH FIRE.
THEY WANT THE HOMES CLOSER. THEY WANT THE WAIVER SO THEY CAN JAM THEM TOGETHER. THEY WANT A PROPOSED OR PAID EITHER SPRINKLER SYSTEM OR HYDRANTS THAT HANDLE LARGER CAPACITY. IF YOU HAVE A FIRE THAT CLOSE TOGETHER BY THE TIME RESCUE GETS THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN ONE UNIT DESTROYED. THEY'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS
[02:15:02]
AT LEAST REQUIRE THAT THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM BE PUT IN THESE FACILITIES. MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT WOULD BE TO DENY. THANK YOU.>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: DWIGHT MILLER, CAN'T SIT STILL THIS LONG WITHOUT HAVING TO GET UP AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE SOONER THAN I WANTED TO TO TALK ABOUT A LATER ITEM SO, I HEAR U-TURN AND IT REMINDED ME OF JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO WHERE WE WERE DRIVING A FRIEND OF OURS FROM CHICAGO TO THE AIRPORT WAS A LITTLE AFTER 7:00 IT WAS DARK. THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING ALONG WE WERE MOVING ALONG WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT AND IN THE LEFT LANE THERE WAS A CAR COMING ACROSS TRYING TO MAKE A U-TURN AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER CAR PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHO IS PAYING ATTENTION BUT DIDN'T SEE ME AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY OLD BONES ACTING QUICKLY WOULD NOT HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SEEING ME EVER AGAIN.
I THINK THEY GOT A REAL THING HERE.
THE OTHER THING IS I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME MY WIFE AND I WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF PROPOSALS AND HEARD A LOT OF THE ACTIONS AND MOST OF THE APPROVALS ON THE DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN APPROVED IT'S NO SHOCK TO ANYONE HERE . MUCH HAS CHANGED IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY SINCE MY WIFE AND I CAME HERE 32 YEARS AGO. WE HAVE SEEN THE JACKSONVILLE AREA MORPH INTO NORTHERN ST. JOHN'S.
I LIVED UP NORTH IN THE COMMUNITY WHO LOST THEIR IDENTITY MANY YEARS AGO DUE TO URBAN SPRAWL.
WHAT HAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME, SOMEHOW MANY DECADES AGO THE COUNTY OR SOMEONE PUT A LIMIT ON HOW TALL BUILDINGS COULD BE ALONG THE OCEAN IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY.
OTHERWISE IN THIS IS NO DISCOURAGING TO DAYTONA BEACH OR ANYTHING ELSE BUT WE WOULD LOOK LIKE DAYTONA BEACH AND ALL THOSE OTHER PLACES. THE CITY OF CHICAGO IMPOSED A LIMIT OVER 100 YEARS AGO TO NOT BUILD TALL BUILDINGS OVER EIGHT STORIES ON MICHIGAN AVENUE FACING THE LAKE AND FACING WHAT IS NOW THE BEAUTIFUL GRANT PARK THAT WE HAVE WITH ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. I WISH THAT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE WE START THINKING ABOUT AND YOU START THINKING ABOUT PLACES LIKE IN CHICAGO WHICH IS A HUGE METROPOLIS.
START INKING ABOUT CAN'T WE DO SOMETHING TO MINIMIZE AND SLOW DOWN THIS GROWTH AND SAVE WHAT WE HAVE? ONCE IT'S GONE IT AIN'T COMING BACK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
HI THERE. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: CONGRATULATIONS. MY NAME IS JOS? ORTIZ, ADDRESS]. LET ME CORRECT THAT.
LAUGHING BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHY. OKAY? YOU GET THE GIST OF EVERYONE. I TRIED TO LIVE THERE BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY TRAVELING IN MY PROFESSION.
I WORK ON CORPORATE JETS. WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THE UNITED STATES OR OUTSIDE I GO IN, I FIX IT, I PUT A FUSE AND THEN I BLAME THE PILOT. THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
ONE THING, I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, INTERNATIONALLY. YOU KNOW WHAT I NOTICED? CITIES ARE LIKE INDIVIDUALS. THEY HAVE CHARACTER ARE.
AND AN INDIVIDUAL'S CHARACTER ARE IS THE SUM OF ITS HABIT.
HIS OR HER HABIT. THAT DEFINES THE CHARACTER THERE. IN CITIES, I NOTICED THAT THE CHARACTER OTHERS ARE DEFINED BY THE STRUCTURES THAT YOU FIND IN THEM AND THAT IS ALL OVER THE WORLD IT IS LIKE THAT.
YOU NAME A CONTINENT, I HAVE BEEN THERE.
YOU NAME A STATE, I HAVE BEEN THERE.
THEY ARE DEFINED BY THE STRUCTURES THE CHARACTER OF THE CITIES. SOME OF THEM HISTORICAL LIKE HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE. WE HAVE A FORT, WE HAVE HOUSES
[02:20:04]
AND STREETS THAT ARE DATING BACK TO HER 300 YEARS.OKAY? I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THEY ARE LIKE CONSISTENT IN THERE DEVELOPMENT.
AND IN THERE STRUCTURES. IF WE TAKE THIS PROJECT THAT WE ARE PRESENTING AND TRYING TO GET TO AN ACCORD WITH REFERENCE TO THE DENSITY THE WAY I FEEL LIKE IS IF I WAS IN MY BATHTUB AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THREE OR MORE PEOPLE JUMP IN.
[LAUGHTER] IT IS ALMOST A 400 PERCENT INCREASE IN DENSITY.
OKAY? WITH THE REFERENCE TO THE CHARACTER SIR OF THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED ALREADY IN THE REFERENCE TO THE DENSITY, THIS PROJECT IS OUT OF CHARACTER WITH THE CITY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK WHITEHURST!
[LAUGHTER] WELCOME. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: HI AGAIN, I AM DORIS TAYLOR SAINT AUGUSTINE.
I DEAL WITH THE TRAFFIC ON US ONE BETWEEN 312 AND 207 ALL THE TIME. EVERY TIME I WANT TO GO SOUTH OF MY HOUSE I SIT IN TRAFFIC HERE THIS WILL IMPACT ME AND EVERYBODY IN THOSE 2200 HOUSES IN SAINT AUGUSTINE SOUTH AND EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN THE SHORES.
THIS IS HUGE. NOW, I WASN'T PLANNING ON TALKING ABOUT THIS BUT I READ IT AND TWO THINGS STOOD OUT.
240 DWELLING UNITS. WHEN I READ THAT I SEE APPROXIMATELY 500 MORE CARS. AND THEN, I READ THAT IT SAYS YOU ARE ASKED TO VOTE FOR THIS FROM THE P&Z.
THEY PASSED IT OUT WITH A 5-TO VOTE WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE APPLICANT DISCUSS THE PROPOSED ROAD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT FEES. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WE ARE LIVING WITH IT. I URGE YOU TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST TALK ABOUT THINGS BEFORE YOU JUST PASS THIS. THAT ROAD NEEDS TO BE WIDENED, NOW. EVERY SINGLE DAY PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, BUMPER-TO-BUMPER FOR 2 MILES HEADING SOUTH ON THAT ROAD WHICH APPARENTLY WILL BE THE EASY WAY. EVERY DAY, EVERY AFTERNOON YOU GO TO A LIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT THROUGH THREE LIGHTS.
YOU SIT AND WAIT AND THAT IS NOW.
I DID LOOK UP, I'M NOT GOOD WITH NUMBERS FROM MEMORY, I SCREWED UP TRAFFIC REPORT, I APOLOGIZE, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT ROAD WAS SLATED TO BE WIDENED BEFORE 2025.
IN SOME REPORT I SAW SOMEWHERE. WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE DONE? WE NEED IT NOW, WAY BEFORE YOU APPROVE ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO LEAD TO ANY DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S TONS OF BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON DOWN THERE HERE THIS IS A DISASTER IN THE MAKING AND WERE ALREADY LIVING AT THE BEGINNING OF IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MS.
TAYLOR. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS GLORIA WHITE , SOUTHWOOD DIVISION WHICH IS CATTY CORNER ACROSS THE PROPOSED BELLA TERRA DEVELOPMENT.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.
I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE AT FDO T THE WHOLE SECTION WILL BE REPAVED WITH THIS BUDGET AND IT WOULD START APRIL 2023 AND WILL GO FROM LEWIS! AND GO ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO 206 FOR REPAVING. MY PROBLEM IS I WAS SPEAKING
[02:25:02]
BACK IN MAY REGARDING THE HUNDRED ONE HOMES PROPOSED BY KB TO GO IN THE BACK PART OF OUR SUBDIVISION AND AGAIN I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT I WAS JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE ROAD. WE HAVE IN FRONT OF OUR SUBDIVISION AND THIS PROPOSED NEW BELLA TERRA HOUR SPEED LIMIT IS 55 MPH. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE TRAFFIC COMING FROM TOWN GOING SOUTH AND YOU HAVE BEEN 45, 45, 45 FOR MILES PAGE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CARS HIT THE 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT? IT IS PEDAL TO THE METAL.WE SUFFER WITH THAT ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE A U-TURN, WE HAVE A MEDIAN WITH U-TURNS GOING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. IT HAS BEEN HAZARDOUS AS IT IS, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS NEW BELLA TERRA IS IT'S ALL GOING SOUTH TO COME NORTH WHICH IS GOING TO AFFECT US IN THAT MANNER AND ALSO, ALL THE PEOPLE COMING SOUTH THAT NEED TO GET IN THAT NEW SUBDIVISION WILL ALSO HAVE TO MAKE U-TURNS AT OUR SMALL MEDIAN. SO WHAT YOU HAVE IS A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO HAVE IT ALL REPAVED AND THEN THERE GOING TO TEAR IT UP.
THERE HAVE BEEN SPEED STUDIES DONE HERE.
THERE WAS ONE DONE IN BETWEEN I BELIEVE IT WAS JULY.
THE 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT, THE AVERAGE SPEED GOING PAST THIS NEW PROPOSED SUBDIVISION IN MY SUBDIVISION 62 MPH.
NOW YOU HAVE THESE U-TURNS EMBODIED IN THE 62 MPH SPEED LIMIT. WE ARE ON THE EDGE OF AN URBAN AND RURAL AREA AND THIS IS WHAT OUR MAIN PROBLEM IS.
IT IS THE SPEED AND AT THIS POINT WITH ALL THE STUDIES THAT FDO T HAS DONE AND GIVEN US REPORTS THERE'S NO WAY ANYTHING WILL CHANGE ANYTIME SOON BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC DOESN'T WARRANT IT. IT WARRANTS IT FOR THE SHORE SUBDIVISION BECAUSE THERE IS A NURSING HOME THAT HAS CONSTANT TRAFFIC AND YOU HAVE FOUR ENTRIES INTO THE SHORES.
SO, THEY HAVE JUSTIFIED THAT. BECAUSE WE FALL IN THE RURAL, WE ARE ENTITLED TO NOTHING. THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY UNSAFE AND MAKE IT EVEN WORSE. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD MORNING.
JOHN RICH SHERRY, STATE ROAD 206 E. I'M ONE OF THE LAND OWNERS OF THE BELLA TERRA PROJECT.
I OWN THE PROPERTY ON US ONE THAT HAS THE BELLA TERRA EASEMENT. I WANT TO BRING UP THE COMMENTS BROUGHT UP BEFORE YOU. ONE IS THE DRAINAGE ISSUE ON WINTON CIRCLE ABOUT THREE AND HALF YEARS AGO LORI FORD IN THE ST. JOHN'S COUNTY STAFF CALLED ME AND SAID TO ME THAT THEY NEEDED SOME HELP WITH THE DRAINAGE ISSUE ON WINTON CIRCLE AND I SAID WELL, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME AND THEY SAID WE NEED YOUR HELP TO ALLEVIATE THE DRAINAGE.
I MET WITH THEM AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT THEY HAD TO RUN PIPING FROM THE RETENTION AREA TO THE NEW RETENTION AREA THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD IF THEY GOT THE EASEMENT AND THEN RUN THEM DOWN BELLA TERRA AND I GRANTED THEM THAT.
I ALLOWED HIM THE EASEMENT TO ALLOW FOR THE DRAINAGE ISSUE THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
WE DID THAT APPROXIMATELY THEY FINISHED THE PROJECT APPROXIMATELY 6 TO 8 MONTHS AGO AND WE SIGNED OVER THE EASEMENT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. WE TRIED TO HELP AT THAT POINT TO ALLEVIATE WHAT'S GOING ON ON WATSON ROAD EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PROPERTY OR THIS AREA.
THE OTHER POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS U-TURN. THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE GOING IN AND OUT OF BELLA TERRA WOULD BE GOING TO A LIGHT.
THE LIGHT TURNS RED AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN.
WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN FOR THE TURNING SIGNAL TO EITHER GO EAST ON WATSON OR YOU MAKE A U-TURN.
IT IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT RUNNING 55 MPH CARS INTO GOING NORTH INTO ANOTHER CAR. YOU ARE AT A STOPLIGHT.
JUST LIKE THE 540 HOMES BUILT ON THE EAST SIDE OF WATSON ROAD, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC THERE. THERE IS A LIGHT, PEOPLE TURN
[02:30:02]
RIGHT AND GO NORTH AND PEOPLE TURN LEFT AND GO SOUTH.YOU'RE MAKING IN ESSENCE A U-TURN THAT WAY AS WELL.
I'M NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS CONCERN IS WHEN THERE IS A STOPLIGHT THERE AND MY LAST POINT IS THAT THERE ARE 38 AVAILABLE RENTALS IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY DISTRICT THREE RIGHT NOW, 38. WHEN YOU RENT, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT RENTS ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN ST. JOHN'S COUNTY AND BY PROVIDING THIS YOU ALLOW FOR MORE SURPLUS THAT ALLOWS PRICES AND RENTALS TO COME DOWN AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SPEAKER: ANYONE ELSE FOR COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO? EITHER.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: WAYNE PRAY LOOKS 150 BELLA TERRA DRIVE AM ALSO A PROPERTY OWNER. FIRST GET YOUR ATTENTION BY THE WAY I SHOULD GET 10 MINUTE. I OWN THE PROPERTY AND ALL BUT I HOPE I DON'T TAKE THAT LONG. I HOPE I DON'T EVEN TAKE 3 MINUTES BUT ONE TIME THERE WAS A TREE THAT DRIED RIGHT BY MY ROAD ON US ONE. ON THE COUNTY SIDE LIGHTNING STRUCK AND I CUT THE TREE DOWN AND IN THE COUNTY COMES BY AND SAYS YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT STUMP UP THAT IS DANGEROUS.
PEOPLE, KNOCK ON YOUR HEAD A LITTLE BIT HERE THERE WAS A TREE THERE BEFORE. WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER HIT, A TREE OR STUMP? THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT PEOPLE THINK. DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, THINK A LITTLE HARDER, HOW MANY OF YOU PEOPLE, HE ALWAYS SHOWING HANDS BEFORE, HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS FROM OSPREY CIRCLE LIVED THERE
15 YEARS AGO? >> SPEAKER: SIR, YOU HAVE TO
ADDRESS THE BOARD, SO SORRY. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: MY POINT IS THERE WERE MASSIVE OAKS, SOLID WALL-TO-WALL TREES.
Y'ALL KNOCK THOSE DOWN. >> SPEAKER: SIR, ADDRESS THE
BOARD LEASE. >> THEY KNOCKED THEM DOWN IN THREE DAYS AND THEY TALK ABOUT NOISE.
THERE IS A TRAIN RIGHT BEHIND THEM AND THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE FROM HOMES? THERE IS A TRAIN THAT MAKES 19 PASSES PER DAY RIGHT BEHIND THIS WHOLE SUBDIVISION AND THEY TALK ABOUT NOISE.
I USED TO HARDLY NOT HERE THAT TRAIN BEFORE THEY KNOCKED ON THE TREES AND BUILT THE SUBDIVISION BUT NOW WE HAVE WHAT WE STOP IT RIGHT THERE.
LET'S NOT LET ANYONE ELSE HAVE IT THEY WANT AND LIKE IT OR NOT WE HAVE SERVICE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SAME PEOPLE THAT FIX YOUR AIR CONDITIONERS, SCHOOLTEACHERS, THE FIREMEN, ALL OF THESE. THIS IS THE KIND OF HOUSING THAT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THESE PEOPLE CAN LIVE AND THIS IS NICER THAN MUCH SUBDIVISIONS.
THEY HAVE A CLUBHOUSE AND A SWIMMING POOL.
I THINK IT'S HYPOCRITICAL THAT PEOPLE WILL COME AND KNOCK DOWN THE WOODS BUT NO, YOU CAN'T COME AND BUILD ON YOURS BECAUSE WE HAVE WHAT WE WANT HERE. THEY DID IT TO ME.
THEY WILL THEIR HOUSE 10 FOOT FROM MY PROPERTY LINE.
THEY BUILT HOMES 10 FOOT FROM MY PROPERTY LINE.
THEY HAVE GIVEN THEM THEIR 10 FOOT +20 FOOT PLUS A FENCE WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE ME. SO, PEOPLE, I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK AROUND A LITTLE BIT. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING THAT MR. BURNETT WOULD ALLEVIATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY HAVE CREATED BY FAR. I'M NOT HERE TO CHASTISE THE COMMISSIONERS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE SEEMS TO COME OVER HERE AND JUMP ON SOME DEBT Y'ALL CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT, I'M NOT HERE FUSSING ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE OPEN-MINDED ABOUT IT AND THINK A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THE LONGLINE IS GOING TO BE POSITIVE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
NEGATIVE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, WE CAN ONLY GIVE THREE-MINUTE. HI THERE.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: 11:50 A.M. WE ARE ON NUMBER TO EVERYONE.
MISS KOLADAY, WE HAVE COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
COMPETET, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE BY PEOPLE THAT YOU HEADSET HERE SINCE 10:45 TO LISTEN TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT. MY COUPLE LITTLE QUESTIONS AND
[02:35:03]
I WILL GET ALONG BECAUSE LUNCH IS COMING.WHO DO THE HOMEOWNERS CONTACT WHEN THEIR HOMES FLOOD? THAT'S ONE. NUMBER TWO, MISSY'S SPIEGEL SPOKE ELOQUENTLY FOR 42 RESIDENTS AND UNFORTUNATELY THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE STREAMING THIS THING OR GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT IT, YOU DIDN'T SEE ALL THE ANDS POP UP, QUIETLY, NO CLAPPING, THEY RAISED THEIR HANDS QUIETLY AND I LOOKED AT THIS ROOM AND I AM GLAD THE COMMISSIONERS COULD SEE WHAT WAS OUT HERE BECAUSE SHE HAD MAYBE TWO THAT WERE FOR IT, MAYBE THREE, BUT THE REST WERE AGAINST IT HIT SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY LEFT. THEY HAVE OTHER PLACES TO BE, TO. BUT THEY SPEND THEIR TIME TO COME IN AND REINFORCE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE DONE AND SO, LET'S MOVE OVER TO THIS OTHER THING. IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO POLITY OF LIFE VERSUS OVERDEVELOPMENT. EVERY TIME THESE THINGS COME IN HERE THIS IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT BUT ATTORNEYS AND DEVELOPERS HAVE THEIR EVIDENCE AND WERE GOING TO HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE REBUTTAL AND THAT WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER HALF HOUR.
WE NEED TO REALLY START INKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE COME DOWN HERE, THEY PROBABLY NEVER STEP IN THIS BUILDING BEFORE AND TOTELLYOUTHETRUTH, DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO COME BACK. BUT WE ARE PARTICIPATING AS TAXPAYERS AND AS VOTERS AND THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY JUST LIKE YOU DO. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE DENIED, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THANK YOU.> SPEAKER: THANK
YOU MISS KOLADAY. >> PUBLIC COMMENT: MY NAME IS CARMEN FREILICH'S AND I AM A PROPERTY OWNER AT.
THINK YOU PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER THAT THIS PROPERTY WAS 13 HOMES PER ACRE AND IT WAS BEING REDUCED TO EIGHT.
WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY WE HAD THAT IN MIND.
WE MADE A DECISION TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY BASED ON THAT.
IT WAS AN INVESTMENT FOR US AND OUR FAMILY.
I DON'T SEE THIS AS BEING FAIR OR GOING LESS THAN WHAT WAS ALLOTTED, GOING DOWN TO EIGHT, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. WE HAVE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE I DON'T THINK THIS ONE WILL BE A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE TRAFFIC THERE.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 20 YEARS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH OF A TRAFFIC PROBLEM THERE. I TRAVEL THAT ROAD EVERY SINGLE DAY. AS MY HUSBAND MENTIONED THE NOISE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS A LEG TO STAND ON WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NOISE WHEN WERE TALKING ABOUT A FREIGHT TRAIN LEAVING BEHIND THESE PEOPLE BLOWING THE HORN AT 2:00, 3:00 IN THE MORNING, WE HEAR THAT EVERY DAY.
THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN SAY ABOUT NOISE THERE IT EXISTS AND IT WAS ESTIMATED WHEN OSPREY LANDING WAS BUILT.
AS INVESTORS, IT'S A VERY FAIR MOVEMENT. THINK THE FOLKS IN, OUR NEIGHBOR AND US HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.
HAVE ALLOWED THIS DRAINAGE TO GO DOWN THE ROAD AND WE HAVE HAD NO COMPENSATION FOR THIS. WE DID IT OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF OUR HEARTS OR NEIGHBORS COULD HAVE DRAINAGE AND DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR HOMES WE HAD A TROPICAL STORM AND THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT: GOOD AFTERNOON I AM JACKIE LEBLANC, TRAN.
I LIVE JUST NORTH EVERYONE WHO SAYS THERE IS NOT TRAFFIC ON US1 IS CRAZY. I ALSO AVE TO DO A U-TURN TO TURN SOUTH. WHEN I GO NORTH IT DOESN'T MATTER. EACH WAY IT IS PACKED, ABSOLUTELY PACKED. I WON'T GO OVER EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE I THINK IT HAS BEEN COVERED BUT THE DENSITY IS UNBELIEVABLE TO GO FROM THAT TO EIGHT. THAT IS ALL ALONG US1 I LIVE A LONG MOULTRIE CREEK AND I DOUBT EVEN THE DRAINAGE CLAIMS HERE.
[02:40:01]
STIR BURNETT TALKED ABOUT WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A 4 ACRE DRAINAGE POND AND YOU'RE GOING TO HALF TO, REST OF ITS GOING INTO MOULTRIE CREEK, I LIVE FOR HOUSES FROM MOULTRIE CREEK JUST FLOODED THE SIDEWALK WHEN WE HAD THE LAST TROPICAL STORM.IT FLOODED THE SIDEWALK HERE DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE REST OF THIS THING WILL GO TO MOULTRIE CREEK? IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS. I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THAT THE TRAFFIC IS UNBELIEVABLE THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
I WON'T GO OVER EVERYTHING EVER VIDEO STOOD BECAUSE IT'S BEEN COVERED AND I AGREE WITH ALL OF IT.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> CHAIR: WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME FROM THE BOARD? MR. BURNETT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE FOR REBUTTAL.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. IF I COULD GET MY POWERPOINT UP WOULD BE FANTASTIC. I WANT TO COMMENT WHILE THAT IS BEING BROUGHT UP SO EVERYONE IS AWARE, ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, MR. NIGERIA THERE FAMILY HAS OWNED THE PROPERTY SINCE THE 1980S. AM I CORRECT? THANK YOU. THE BIG THING ABOUT THIS PROJECT BENEFITS THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN AN INDIRECT COMPARISON TO A NEARBY PROJECT IS WORTH MAKING AND ALSO TO REITERATE, THE SITE CONDITIONS RELATED TO STORMWATER AS MR. NEWKIRK SAID, HE IS A LICENSED ENGINEER IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. HE HAS ANALYZED THIS AND IT ACTUALLY NOT ONLY HELPS THE WINTON CIRCLE NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST BUT HELPS NEIGHBORHOODS DOWNSTREAM BECAUSE THE STORM WATER THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL HOLDS.
WE REALLY RESOLVE A PROBLEM WITH STORMWATER WE JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE PACKAGE AND EVERYTHING WE SHOWED EARLIER REGARDS TO REDLINING THE IDEA OF A COMPLETE PACKAGE IS NOTHING I'M SHOWING YOU THAT IS ON A PUBLIC REPORT. IT IS WORTH TAKING A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND ME BOTH.
IT'S BACK IN OCTOBER. IT WAS DENIED BY TECHNICAL DENIAL. IT'S THE TRADITIONAL MULTI FAMILY PROJECT FOR THE BIG THING IS IT DIRECTLY ACCESSES WATSON ROAD. AND WE HAVE A TRADITIONAL WILL DIE FAMILY PROJECT DIRECT ACCESS AT WATSON ROAD OF COURSE THE TRADITIONAL PROJECT VERSUS LOW IMPACT MASS AND SCALE IS VERY LOW. AND IT'S INTERESTING TO HER HEIGHT WAS AT 45 FEET TALL A 20 FOOT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PRODUCTS. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS RELATED TO THE OTHER TWO TO WHY THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER.
BUT I GUESS, WHAT WE HEARD IS WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO RENT IN DISTRICT THREE AND WE KNOW WE NEED ANOTHER MULTI FAMILY HOUSING AND IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO WHERE DO YOU PUT IT.
HERE WE HAVE A LOCATION THAT ITS ACCESS POINT IS NOT GOING THROUGH ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD. ITS ACCESS POINT IS NOT CONNECTING TO A ROADWAY LIKE WATSON ROAD WHERE YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.
ITS ACCESS IS DIRECTLY ONTO US1 AT AN AREA THAT WE KNOW THAT NONE OF THE LINKS WILL FAIL ACCORDING TO OUR TRAFFIC.
THE REPORT, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS DURING PZA AND HE HAS ALSO COMMUNICATED TO THIS AND CONFIRMED FOR THE TEAM OUR TRAFFIC DOES NOT TRIGGER THE LENGTHENING OF THESE LEFT TURN LANES. WE ARE ACTUALLY OFFERING THAT OVER AND ABOVE BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE INTERSECTION WHERE WATSON ROAD AND US1 IS. THAT AND THE LOAN AND THE OTHER IMPROVEMENT TO FUND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS MAKES SENSE.
NOT ONLY DO WE FIX THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM AND HELP THE DRAINAGE AND IN THE OVERALL AREA NOT JUST FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH WE ALSO HELP WITH TRAFFIC ON WATSON ROAD.
ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS THAT GOT UP AND SPOKE THEY DON'T LIKE THE PROJECT BUT YOU'VE GOT TO CONCEDE THE IMPROVEMENTS AT WATSON ROAD OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE NICE.
INTERESTINGLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MIVO THE FOLKS DOWN WATSON ROAD WERE OPPOSING THE MIVO PROJECT. WE AREN'T PUTTING IMPACTS ON
[02:45:06]
THE AREA. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF STATEMENTS FROM THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS BUT LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE GOT FROM THE MULTI FAMILY PROJECTS.SOMETIMES IT'S CONFUSION THAT CAN GET IN THE WAY OF ANOTHER PROJECT. THE ONE MISS MURPHY WHO GOT UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT THAT LIVES ON MAIN WILLOW LANE AT THE END, SAID THERE IS GOING TO BE A FENCE 10 FEET FROM THE HOUSE BUT HER HOUSE HAS A 7 AND A HALF FOOT STEP BACK ON IT HER HOUSE IS 17 AND A HALF FEET. PLUS THEN A FENCE THEN 20 FEET OF BUFFER ON OUR SIDE. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BUFFER IN ITS FUNNY, WHY IS THIS AREA OPEN? BECAUSE THERE IS A SPECIMEN TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE POND THAT IS BEEN PROVIDED FOR AND ALSO ONE OF CLOSE TOWARDS US1 AT ONE AREA WHERE WE HAVE OPEN SPACE ALONG THE INTRA-DRIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF IT. THE SITE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT, IT FITS REALLY WELL IS LOW IMPACT AND INTENSITY FROM OFF-SITE DEALING BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A SINGLE-FAMILY PRODUCT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT.
IT IS A TWO PLEX OR A QUAD PLEX SINGLE-STORY AND 25 FEET.
HARRY, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME UP HERE IF YOU WOULD TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF U-TURNS. IT IS COUNTERINTUITIVE SOMETIMES WE KNOWS MUCH ABOUT A SUBJECT, I WOULD'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT U-TURNS AND CRITICIZING THEM BUT IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE DOT IS ON THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CAN YOU EXPLAIN?
>> SPEAKER: HARRY NEWKIRK, NEWKIRK ENGINEERING.
WITH THIS PROJECT IT WAS A COUNTY REQUIREMENT DURING THE PUD THAT WE MEET WITH DOT HAVE A PRE-APPLICATION MEETING AND PROVIDE THIS MEETING MINUTES TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SO, EVERY TIME WE DO A DEVELOPMENT THE OWNERS WANT TO HAVE BOLD DIRECTIONAL ACCESS TO THEIR DRIVEWAY.
EVERYBODY DOES. SO, WE PRESENTED IT TO DOT AND THEY BASICALLY SAID, NO. YOU ARE DOING A WRITE IN AND WRITE OUT TO THIS BUILDING. THE REASON BEING WHAT IS ON THE EAST SIDE A MULTITUDE OF RIGHT IN RIGHT OUT DRIVEWAYS AND THOSE MOVEMENTS ARE ALREADY ON THE ROADWAY SYSTEM SO THEY ANALYZED IT WITH THIS DIRECTION FULL DIRECTIONAL WILL CAUSE CONFLICTING MOVEMENTS. DOT HAS DONE A LOT OF STUDIES ON THEIR MEDIANS AND RIGHT OF WAYS AND WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO OUR ACCIDENTS. TO TRY TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS, AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY ARE TRYING TO REDUCE FATALITY ACCIDENT. ACCIDENTS WHERE YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS DON'T COME HOME. THESE STUDIES ARE ALL OVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY HAVE SAFETY GRADES ON EVERY ROAD THAT IS A DOT ROAD IN THE COUNTY AND WHEN DEVELOPMENTS COME ON BOARD THEY LOOK TO SEE IF THEY CAN SOLVE SOME OF THE SAFETY UPGRADES. THE STUDY SHOW WHEN YOU GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A U-TURN IT CAUSES LESS FATALITIES.
FULL DIRECTIONAL OPENING AT THE SITE YOU COME OUT LEFT AT 55 MPH. YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT QUICK KID THEN JUMP OUT TO THE OTHER LANE AND THEY DON'T STOP IN THE MEDIAN. YOU MISSED THE MOTORCYCLE DRIVER, THAT SORT OF STUFF AND THOSE ARE BAD ACCIDENTS.
SO, THIS SITE REQUIRES U-TURNS. NOBODY LIKES TO DO A U-TURN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DRIVE PAST MY DEVELOPMENT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME ANOTHER 5 MINUTES TO GET THERE THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO. BUT IT IS A SAFE ACCESS POINT IT'S WHAT DOT WANTS AND WERE NOT LOOKING AT WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS FOR CONVENIENCE IS WHAT WILL BE SAFE ON THE ROADWAY SYSTEM ON THE SITE AND EVERYONE DRIVING THE COUNTY THROUGH THIS
ROADWAY SYSTEM. >> SPEAKER: WE ARE EVEN SEEING IF I CAN JUST WEIGH IN ON THIS WE ARE SEEING THE LOCATION WHERE DOT IS DOING AWAY WITH FULLY SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS AND GOING TO A U-TURN MOVEMENT AS BEING SAFER.
THE U-TURN MOVEMENT FOR THE SOUTH IS SIGNALIZED TO THE NORTH AND IS NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE A PROBLEM AT ALL.
THERE IS CAPACITY IN THOSE TURN LANES TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAFFIC. ON A LARGER ASPECT I THANK YOU GET AS GOOD AS YOU POSSIBLY COULD IN A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT AT THIS LOCATION AGAIN IT IS BUFFERED AND SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER HOUSES. IT'S NOT GOING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC IT'S REMOVED THE HORSE FARM TRAFFIC OFF OF WINTON CIRCLE THAT CURRENTLY LEADS TO THE SOUTH.FEWER CARS ON
[02:50:04]
WATSON ROAD, YOU KNOW THE HORSE TRAILER IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE CIRCLE LIKE THEY DO CURRENTLY TO GET TO WATSON ROAD AND THE LIGHT BECAUSE IT'S THE SAFEST MOVEMENT FOR THE LIVESTOCK. TO PROTECT HIM TO GET TO THE LIGHT. THOSE MOVEMENTS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING AND DONE AWAY WITH AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.OVERALL IT'S THE BEST YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET TO SURVEY MULTI FAMILY PROJECT AND LOOK AT SITE AROUND.
ONE THING IT'S NOT PRACTICAL TO REDUCE DENSITY I KNOW THAT WAS RAISED. A PROFESSIONAL APARTMENT COMPLEX HAS TO HAVE A CERTAIN DENSITY OF A NUMBER OF UNITS IN ORDER TO HAVE AFFECTIONAL ON-SITE SALES IN ORDER TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS GET TAKEN CARE OF IF YOU REDUCE BACK THE DENSITY YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE OPERATING FACILITY THERE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE TO ACCOMMODATE A PROFESSIONALLY RUN APARTMENT COMPLEX WHICH IS WHAT THEY WANT. YOU WANT A PROFESSIONALLY RUN RENTAL PROPERTY IN REDUCING THE DENSITY WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.ITH THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU I DO HAVE A COMMISSIONER QUESTION BUT BEFORE I TAKE ESTHER JOSEPH'S QUESTION I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN I WENT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM I CAME BACK WITH A TEXT FROM MY MOTHER WHO IS A RESIDEN AND TAXPAYER AND SHE WAS UPSET THAT I DIDN'T SIT AND LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYBODY INCLUDING MY MOTHER WHO IS WATCHING, THANK YOU MOM, IF A COMMISSIONER HAS TO ANSWER TEACHERS CALL, THERE ARE SPEAKERS IN THE BATHROOM AND WE CAN HEAR EVERY WORD THAT IS SAID INTO THE MICROPHONE SO WE ARE LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT EVEN AS WE ANSWER NATURE'S CALL.
I WANTED TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS IN
THE FUTURE. >> COMMISSIONER: THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE INFORMATION THAN NEEDED.
>> CHAIR: MY MOM IS A VERY DEMANDING TAXPAYER AND SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE SHE'S GETTING HER MOTHERMONEYS WORTH FROM HER COMMISSIONER AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND EVEN WORKING WHEN I'M GOING TO THE BATHROOM.
>> COMMISSIONER: I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS QUICKLY.
SHOW ME WHERE THE OR IS ON THAT MAP CURRENTLY.
>> SPEAKER: CAN YOU JUMP TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE POWERPOINT, TO BE THE THIRD SLIDE IN?
>> COMMISSIONER: YOU CAN USE YOUR LITTLE WANT.
>> SPEAKER: JUST MOVE IT AFFORDS HER BACK.
AWESOME. FUTURE LAND USE HERE IS ZONING AND I WILL ZOOM IN. THERE IS OPEN RURAL CG CI FOR OUR USES. THIS PARCEL DOWN IN HERE IS I GUESS A PARCEL ZONED AND OWNED BY BELLA TERRA SELF STORAGE WHICH I THINK IS THE ENTITY WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THEIR INTENT IS TO DO STORAGE LONG-TERM.
>> COMMISSIONER: ALSO, WHEN YOU SAY MULTIFAMILY HOUSING ORIGINALLY SAID THAT THE FIVE AND OLDER WANTED TO LIVE THERE
WHICH IS IT? >> IT IS NOT AGE RESTRICTIVE IT IS BY FAMILY BUT THIS TYPE OF MULTIFAMILY LEADS ITSELF TO YOU SORT OF HAVE YOUR ABOVE 55 AND YOU HAVE THE YOUNG FAMILY AND NEITHER ONE OF THOSE GROUPS WANT TO BE ON A SECOND FLOOR OR THIRD FLOOR UNIT CARRYING GROCERIES TRYING TO NAVIGATE EITHER THEY ARE ELDERLY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO NAVIGATE STAIRS OR THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT TO NAVIGATE STAIRS OR THE CONVENIENCE IN GENERAL FOR GROCERIES OR THAT SORT OF THING YOU'RE THE ONE STORY UNIT HAS A BROADER APPEAL THAN THE MULTIFAMILY UNIT DOES FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR.
>> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU AND THE LAST QUESTION IS ON WATSON ROAD CAN THE DEVELOPER DO THE IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE WHEN YOU GIVE THE IMPACT FEE ALL THE SUDDEN THE MONEY IS GONE AND CAN THE DEVELOPER DO IT WHEN YOU HAVE THE MACHINERY OUT
THERE? >> INSTEAD OF FUNDING THE IMPROVEMENT CONSTRUCT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD BE THE TERMINOLOGY. I THINK IF THAT IS THE WILL OF THE BOARD I THINK I CAN AGREE TO THAT.
>> CHAIR: IS THAT IT? THANK YOU COMMISSIONER JOSEPH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR?
COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> COMMISSIONER: I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS BUT I DO HAVE COMMENTS WHEN IT IS
APPROPRIATE. >> CHAIR: I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN I'M GOING TO COMMISSIONER JOSEPH AND THEN COMMISSIONER DEAN. THE COMPATIBILITY ISSUE KEEPS COMING UP. I'M LOOKING AT THE FIGURE NUMBER TWO AND THE COMPATIBILITY ANALYSIS PAGE 14
[02:55:01]
STAFF REPORT. AND MAKE THE CASE FOR COMPATIBILITY THIS IS A SIX ACRE UNIT PER ACRE IN EUROPE AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED FOR THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. YOU GOT 30 ACRES BUT ONLY 69 UNITS APPROVED 16.2 UNITS PER ACRE.THERE'S SOMETHING TO THE EAST OF IT SO, PLEASE ADDRESS THE
COMPATIBILITY ISSUE. >> SPEAKER: FROM THE PLANNING YOU HAVE A STEP DOWN AND FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN GO INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, LESS INTENSE COMMERCIAL DOWN TO MULTIFAMILY AND FOR MULTIFAMILY TO SINGLE-FAMILY AND IN AND A TRADITIONAL PIER PLANNING PERSPECTIVE YOU STEP YOUR USE IS DOWN AND THAT IS ARGUABLY WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE GOING FROM THE US1 FRONTAGE DOWN BACK FROM THEIR IN THE MIXED-USE DISTRICT. COMPATIBILITY HE ALSO ADDRESS IT IN OTHER WAYS YOUR CODE SAYS IN INCOMPATIBILITY BUFFER OF 20 FEET ON THE PROJECT WHICH WE HAVE COMMITTED TO AND SO, OSPREY LANDING WENT AND CIRCLED BOTH HALVES THE 20 FIT DEPENDABILITY BUFFER NEXT TO THEM AND YOU ALSO CAN INDICATE INCOMPATIBILITY AND GO FURTHER FROM THAT WHICH WE HAVE DONE BY THE TOP OF MULTIFAMILY PROJECT THAT IS HERE, IT IS NOT THE 45 FOOT TALL TOWERING STRUCTURE WHERE PEOPLE ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR YOU COULD DRIVE SOUTH OF HERE ON US1 AND AS YOU DRIVE BY THOSE APARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT ON US1 HEADED SOUTH AND YOU LOOK AND SEE THAT WALL THAT THEY PUT ON THE ROAD FRONTAGE OF US1 BLOCKED OUT YOUR FIRST FLOOR IS YOUR DRIVING BY BUT YOU CAN SEE THE SECOND AND THE THIRD FLOOR.
BY NOT HAVING THAT KIND OF PRODUCT ON OUR SITE THAT YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO SET IT BACK SO FAR, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT IN ORDER TO REDUCE THAT VISUAL IMPACT.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT ON OUR SITE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A 45 TALL BUILDING WE KEPT IT AT 25 FEET. THING ABOUT THIS IF THIS WERE A SINGLE-FAMILY ATYPICAL SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE AND MOST EVERY PROJECT IS ALLOWED 35 FEET THAT'S THE NORM, THE STANDARD. THIS IS A SINGLE-FAMILY AT THE SAME DENSITY AS OUR NEIGHBORS WOULD HAVE A 35 FOOT TALL STRUCTURE EVENTUALLY A TWO-STORY POTENTIALLY A TWO-STORY WITH LESS SETBACK, LESS BUFFER BECAUSE IT'S NOT INCOMPATIBLE THERE'S NOT AN INCOMPAIBLE BUFFER.
YOU HAVE A 10 FOOT PERIMETER BUFFER AROUND THE PUD LOOKING DOWN ON THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE SURROUNDING OUR PROJECT.
IN FACT, THAT AREN'T STRUCTURE THAT IS THERE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS IT IS AWAY FROM WINTON CIRCLE IT IS LOOKING DOWN ON WINTON CIRCLE, YOU CAN SEE IT. IT IS A DIFFERENT PRODUCT AND THEREFORE WE HELP MITIGATE THE COMPATIBILITY FROM THAT STANDPOINT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WAYS IT'S MITIGATING THE COMPATIBILITY BECAUSE IT IS IN THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND THE BUFFER AND THAT'S ONE WAY YOU GET TO COMPATIBILITY AND THE HEIGHT AND STRUCTURE SCALE AND MASS.
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU SISTER BURNETT, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?
COMMISSIONER DEAN? >> COMMISSIONER: I AM DONE WITH QUESTIONS Y'ALL CAN STAND THERE AND SEE IT BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS I'M GOING TO BE STATING COMMENTS. WITH THAT SAID LET ME SAY FIRST OF ALL AND I'M SPEAKING TO THE AUDIENCE KNOW, IT HAS BEEN VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE DID LOSE THE WISDOM AND THE COMMON SENSE OF PAUL WALDRON WHO WAS YOUR COMMISSIONER AND WE KNEW VERY WELL THE SPECIFIC AREA AS WELL AS IN DISTRICT THREE, WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS AND THE PROJECT AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN FOR TWO MONTHS OPERATING WITH NO COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY CHRISTIE JOSEPH WAS NOT SWORN IN UNTIL NOVEMBER 22 AND THIS IS HER FIRST MEETING. WITH THAT SAID I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU MY VIEWS AND MY VIEWS ARE THIS.
I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY AS A COUNTY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS FOR YEARS.
PWE HAVE ENTRY-LEVEL PUBLIC WORKERS WE HAVE SERVICE WORKERS WE HAVE WORKERS WHO NEED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH DRAINAGE ISSUES, THEY HAVE ADDRESSED THE DRAINAG ISSUE FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT THERE WE HAVE BOUGHT FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS TO GET
[03:00:01]
THE WINTON CIRCLE PROJECT DONE THE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT.THEY HAVE IMPROVED ON THAT WITH THE DRAINING ISSUE.
WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST ISSUE HAS BEEN MENTIONED AND SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT IT.
FOR ME, COMPATIBILITY IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
THE SECOND BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON US1 AT WATSON. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE A YEAR AND AND A HALF AGO YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT I STRUGGLED WITH A PROJECT IN THE LLANO BEACH WHICH WAS THE 297 UNIT HOTEL ON THE OCEAN AT THE LLANO BEACH AND THE SECOND LARGEST HOTEL WAS 120 UNITS. THE OTHERS WERE LOW THAT.
THAT PARTICULAR HOTEL WAS TOO LARGE, TOO BIG, TOO INTRUSIVE AND NOT PATENTABLE. SO, RATHER THAN MOVE TO DENY THAT I SUGGESTED THAT THE APPLICANT WOULD CONSIDER REDUCING THE NUMBER OF UNIT DOWN TO THE SAME NUMBER OF THE HYATT HOTEL WHICH EXISTS IN WHICH WAS 120 UNITS BY THE WAY THAT I COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I ALSO HAD THE SAME DISCUSSION LAST SPRING ON THE PORTER PROPERTY OVER AT THE SPEEDWAY WHERE THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE. THE DENSITY WAS TOO HIGH RELATIVE TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO, HAD TO SAY, ON THE ONE HAND, THIS PROJECT HAS A LOT OF POWERFUL THINGS GOING FOR IT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROBABLY INVESTED MOST OF THEIR LIFE SAVINGS, MOST OF THEIR NET WORTH INTO INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL HOMES THAT RANGE FROM ROUGHLY 2 TO 3 UNITS PER ACRE, 2 AND A HALF TO 3 UNITS PER ACRE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THEIR HOMES.
AND, THE 240 UNIT NOT JUST NEAR THEM BUT WITH THE BUFFER BUT NEVERTHELESS ARE CONTIGUOUS TO THE PROPERTY IS AND MUCH HIGHER NUMBER THAN I CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE APPROVING.
BACK TO THE HOTEL ANALOGY AND THIS IS PROBABLY, I'M NOT GOING TO SUGGEST WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE BUT MY POSITION IS THIS NUMBER, 240 UNIT IS VERY MUCH HIGHER THAN I CAN GET COMFORTABLE WITH AND VOTE FOR. IF ONE WERE TO ASK ME, HENRY, IS THERE A NUMBER BECAUSE THERE IS A TRANSITION.
THIS IS KIND OF A TOUGH SITUATION FOR THIS PIECE OF LAND BECAUSE IT BORDERS ON US1 WHICH IS TOTALLY COMMERCIAL, TOTALLY UP AND DOWN YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S A RACE TRACK OR GAS STATION OR CULVER HAMBURGER OR S-1.
WITH THAT SAID, IT IS A TRANSITION BETWEEN US1 ON THE EAST AND THESE RESIDENTIAL HOMES THAT ARE REALLY SORT OF SURROUNDING THIS PROJECT THERE'S ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE IN PLAY. WITH THAT SAID, I COULD PROBABLY WITH THE RISK OF UPSETTING EVERYONE IN THE ROOM INCLUDING THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE APPLICANT, I WOULD SAY THAT I COULD PROBABLY SUPPORT 150 UNITS ON THIS SITE RATHER THAN 240. I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD AND TELL YOU WHAT MY POSITION IS.
BUT, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHERE I COME DOWN.
THAT IS MY COMMENT. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DEAN, MISSION OR JOSEPH?
>> COMMISSIONER: THIS IS SO LOGICAL.
I DROVE OUT THERE I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS DROVE OUT THERE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND WAY OUT FROM THE CITY YOU GO THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS THERE'S CHRISTMAS TREES AND THERE IS LIGHT UP AND IT IS VERY FAMILY AND VERY OLAR. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. IT WOULD JUST BE WAY INCOMPATIBLE AND TOO MANY UNITS AND THE CLEARCUTTING AND LOSING THE BEAUTY THAT MR. MCINERNEY SHOWED ON THOSE PICTURES, IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY WORK WITH THE LANDSCAPE, OF COURSE THE NEIGHBORS ALL WANT TO HELP YOU. SO, MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE WORKING WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT I AGREE, THERE ISN'T A NUMBER FOR ME IT'S FLORIDA. WE WANT TO GO TO FLORIDA IN AN YOU DID SEE THE CHICKENS ON THE BEAUTIFUL FARM PROPERTY AND
THAT'S WHERE I STAND. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU
[03:05:04]
COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD?>> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN I HAVE A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS ON THIS PROJECT I KNOW WE NEED THIS TYPE OF INVENTORY ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE EXACT RIGHT SITE AND I THINK 240 IS A BIT OF A HIGH NUMBER.
I ALSO DIDN'T SEE A PREFERENCE FOR THE POTENTIAL RENTERS IF THERE WERE ANY POTENTIAL TREATMENT TO THE WORKFORCE TO FIRST RESPONDERS OR THE SCHOOL BOARD I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN CHAT ABOUT AND ALMOST EVERY SINGLE EMAIL I GOT FROM THE RESIDENCE EACH ONE LAMENTED THE FACT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A D3 COMMISSIONER SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEVELOPER OR MR. BURNETT WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENCE OR CONTINUE UNTIL WE DID HAVE THE SEAT IN THE D3 COMMISSIONER.
IT'S JUST A SUGGESTION. >> CHAIR: MR. BURNETT WOULD YOU CARE TO RESPOND TO THE COMMENT?
>> SPEAKER: YES, I'VE BEEN TEXTING WITH THE CLIENT.
ON THE ISSUE OF CONSTRUCTION THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH RAISED EARLIER, I THINK YOU CAN MAKE THAT PART OF IT, WE CAN MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO CONSTRUCT THE OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS IF THAT WAS A CONDITION THAT THE BOARD WANTED.
ON THE ISSUE OF DENSITY I WAS ASKING PERRY WHO DREW THE SITE PLAN IS IN THE PACKET LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET THIS TO ADVANCE IF I GO TO THE SITE PLAN WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT IS THE WEST BOUNDARY AND THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY AND WHAT WE LAYERED IN WAS A 20 FOOT INCOMPATIBILITY BUFFER.
YOU LOSE 19 UNITS IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S 19 BUILDINGS.
IF YOU LOSE 19 UNITS IF YOU WENT TO THE 40 FOOT INCOMPATIBILITY BUFFER I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT FITS INTO YOUR EXPECTATION TO MITIGATING THE COMPATIBILITY GOOD I HEARD WHAT COMMISSIONER DEAN SAID IT RELATES TO 150 UNIT.
I'M THROWING IT OUT THERE WE GO DOWN TO 220 UNITS ROUGHLY AND GO DOWN TO 140 FEET. IN LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE ON WHAT NUMBER, HOW MUCH BUFFER WOULD YOU BE SATISFIED WITH?
>> COMMISSIONER: MAY I RESPOND? I'M NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING A FEW BUILDINGS ALONG THE BUFFER NEXT TO OSPREY COVE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT NOT ONLY THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF THE DENSITY OF THE PROJECT IS ELF AS IT FITS ON THE FOOTPRINT, I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT AMOUNT OF VEHICLES GOING ON TO US1 AND MAKING THE U-TURN. THERE'S A BIGGER ISSUE THAN JUST SORT OF THE LAYOUT OR FOOTPRINT.
IT'S JUST TOO MANY. AGAIN, IT'S A GOOD PROJECT AT THAT LOCATION AND AS ONE COMMISSIONER, IT'S TOO BIG.
IT'S THE INCOMPATIBILITY TO ME AND I CAN'T RING MYSELF TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT INSIDE I FEEL LIKE IS INCOMPATIBLE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT COMPLETELY SURROUNDS IT.
I'M TRYING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
FOR ME, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR ME IS A LOWERING OF THE DENSITY, THE NUMBERS FROM 240 DOWN TO 150.
THAT IS WHY I SAID AT THE OUTSET IN MY INTRODUCTION IN MY COMMENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE LANDOWNER AND TO THE DEVELOPER, I UNDERSTAND HOW THE NUMBERS WORK AND I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE AVERAGE COST PER DOOR, PER LAND OR DIRT NEVERTHELESS I ALSO WORRY ABOUT TRAFFIC THE IMPACT IN 240 NUMBER AND TRYING TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION. >> SPEAKER: GOING BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS POINT, WE DON'T REFER TO DISTRICTS AS NUMBERS.
TO COMMISSIONER WALDRON'S DISTRICT AND WE DON'T HAVE A MEMBER IN THAT SEAT RIGHT NOW DID WE KNOW WHAT HIS LEGACY IS AND HOW HE FELT STRONGLY ABOUT ISSUES BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF SOMEONE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR.
MAYBE WE NEED SOME TIME TO HAVE ANOTHER COMMISSIONER TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS TO HOW THAT IMPACTS THE PROJECT AND TALK IT OVER WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DEVELOPER AND SEE WHERE WE COME UP FROM THERE. AND BY THE WAY ON THE TRAFFIC ISSUE I DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF NELSON BEING HERE HE SAVED US FROM COVID AND NOT SHOWING UP TODAY AND I DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HIM TO WEIGH IN ON THE ISSUES I THINK A
[03:10:03]
CONTINUANCE SEEMS LIKE A LOGICAL THING SINCE WE BEEN HERE AND WERE AT THE POINT WE ARE AT.I WILL ASK FOR A CONTINUANCE AND WE CAN WAIT AND SEE AND HOPEFULLY THE APPOINTMENT COMES IN AND WE CAN MEET WITH THE NEW DISTRICT COMMISSIONER AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK AS WELL AS
FOLLOW-UP WITH THE COMMUNITY. >> CHAIR: I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME FINAL COMMENTS AND THEN I'LL BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION BY THE COMMISSIONERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT AND READ OUR COMP PLAN BACK TO US, THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IN MY OPINION IT WAS FILLED WITH FACTS BASED ON THE PLAN I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEMPERAMENT AND ALSO DOING YOUR HOMEWORK YOU DON'T DO THIS FOR A LIVING AND I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO MAKE A DECISION AND IT WAS VERY WELL DONE IN MY OPINION. I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE CONTINUANCE IF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO MAKE THAT MOTION BUT I WILL ADVISE YOU IF YOU BRING BACK SOMETHING I FIND IT IS INCOMPATIBLE. MUCH TO COMMISSIONER DEAN! SO I WOULD HOPE THAT IF WE SEE THIS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE THAT IT LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN IT IS TODAY.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> COMMISSIONER: I WILL MAKE A MOTION.
>> SPEAKER: SO, A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE BELLA TERRA PD TO
A DATE UNCERTAIN? >> SPEAKER: TO BE DETERMINED.
>> COMMISSIONER: IF I CAN ADD TO THAT AND THIS WILL BE READVERTISED AS THE HEARING WAS AND AS A FOOTNOTE WHEN THE DISTRICT 3 COMMISSIONER IS APPOINTED IF IT'S THE DAY BEFORE THE COMMISSION MEETING I WOULD WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT A NEW COMMISSIONER IN THE POSITION BEFORE THE DAY OF THE MEETING IN THE LAST 2 HOURS.
THAT IS THE FOOTNOTE. WE WILL WORK OUT THE LOGISTICS BUT WE ALL UNDERSTAND BUT IT CONTINUES TO A FUTURE DATE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE DISTRICT 3 COMMISSIONERS WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE A FAMILIARITY WITH THIS.
>> CHAIR: WOULD YOU CARE TO AMEND THE MOTION?
>> SPEAKER: YES, SO AMENDED. >> CHAIR: DO WE HAVE A SECOND? NO SIR, RIGHT NOW WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOTION AND THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I WOULD ASK EVERYONE PLEASE VOTE ITEM NUMBER 3, MR. WHITE
[Items 3 & 4]
HOUSE... WE HAVE EXPARTY. I HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY MEETINGOR PHONE CALLS. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON.
FOR THE RECORDED, JAMES WHITEHOUSE, ST. JOHN'S HERE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLORIDA.
I'M A BOARD CERTIFIED EXPERT SPECIALIST IN GOVERNMENT LAW. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MR. GEORGE MAPLES AND HIS FAMILY AND ASKING YOU FOR APPROVAL OF A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL LAND USE AND ZONING FOR A PROPERTY THAT CURRENTLY CONTAINS AN EXPIRED COMMERCIAL PLAN SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT. THE LOCATION OF THIS PROPERTY IS OUT AT THE INTERSECTION OF JOE ASHTON ROAD, COUNTY ROAD 13 NORTH, AND PALMA FISH CAMP ROAD. IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM BUDDY BOYS. AND THEN RIGHT TO THE NORTH OF BUDDY BOYS IS THE RECENTLY APPROVED SIX MILE CREEK OUTPOST. THE CURRENT LAND USE ACROSS THE STREET IS RURAL COMMERCIAL THAT WAS APPROVED BY YOU FOR THE SIX-MILE CREEK OUTPOST AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL SEES WHERE BUDDY BOYS IS. THIS IS THE PIECE ACROSS THE STREET THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ON. THIS IS AN AERIAL OF THE AREA. YOU CAN SEE WHERE SIX MILE CREEK IS HERE. THERE'S ALSO A LARGE PIECE OF RURAL COMMERCIAL JUST TO THE NORTH OF SIX MILE CREEK. THIS IS THE CURRENT ZONING OF THE AREA, AS I SAID, BUDDY BOYS
[03:15:08]
IN THIS COMMERCIAL GENERAL ZONING RIGHT HERE. THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD RECENTLY AND THAT'S FOR THE SIX MILE CREEK OUTPOST WHICH HAS A LOT OF THE SAME USES THAT WE'RE REQUESTING AND THIS IS CURRENTLY THE PARCEL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE STREET, THIS IS THE EXPIRED SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH ALLOWS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. AS YOU HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING. YOU SEE.I TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE PROPERTY IS, WHAT IT'S CURRENTLY ZONED, AS YOU SAW FROM YOUR STAFF REPORT, STAFF NOTES PROPERTY CONTAIN BUDDY BOYS, ALREADY ALLOWS A NUMBER OF THE SAME TYPE OF USES THAT YOU SEE IN THE PROPOSED PUD AND THE SIX MILE CREEK OUTPOST WHICH IS ALSO CREASE THE STREET, WAS RECENTLY APPROVED FOR RURAL, COMMERCIAL AND MANY OF THE SAME TYPES OF USES AS WE'RE ASKING FOR. THEY WILL HAVE 12,000 FEET OF RE RETAIL SPACE AND 3,000 SQUARE FEET OF GENERAL STORE AND THE RIGHT WITHIN THEIR P PUD OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL.
HERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE BUDDY BOYS IS AND ACROSS THE STREET WHERE OUR PROPERTY IS.
THIS IS A COPY OF THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT MAP THAT'S IN YOUR PACK AND PART OF THE PUD SHOWS HOW IT'S GOING TO LAY OUT AND WILL BE DEVELOPED ON THE SITE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PLAN, I BLEW IT UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT EDGE AND SCENIC EDGE FOR THE FISH CAMP ROAD AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. WE MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF NORTHWEST SECTOR PLAN. THIS WAS VIEWED BY STAFF. THERE'S NO OUTSTANDING COMMENTS.
THERE IS ONE WAIVER REQUESTED WHICH IS TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC ACCESS SECURITY INSTEAD OF STAFF SECURITY AT THE BOAT AND RV STORAGE AND WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE.
I HAD A FEW BOAT AND RV STORAGES THAT WAS THE NORTHWEST SECTOR A FEW MEETINGS AGO TO ASK FOR THAT. WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING. THERE WAS ONE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER THAT APPEARED. HE JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPERTY.
HAD NO OBJECTIONS TO IT. WE ALSO HAD A HEARING AT THE PLANNING ZONING AGENCY ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
SO IN CONCLUSION, WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL LAND USE CHANGE AND RE-ZONING TO THE PUD IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TO USE AS COMPATIBLE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND THE PLANNED AND PRESENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA, SIZE AND LOCATION OF THIS LOT SURROUNDING, THE REQUEST IS REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE AND THEREFORE WE ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHIME. >> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. WHITEHOUSE AT
THIS TIME? >> HI. OKAY, SO I WANT TO -- YEAH, I SEE A LOT OF THESE BOAT STORAGES GOING AROUND, AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW, DOES IT STAY THAT...
SO THE PLAN NEW DEVELOPMENT GUIDES, THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT MAP, WHICH I SHOWED YOU, THAT'S WHAT GUIDES IT FOR NOW. THEY OULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY TO ASK IF THEY WANTED TO MODIFY THAT. THE REASON WHY THEY PUT THE OTHER USES IN THE DEVELOPMENT AS YOU SAW, IS I TALKED TO THE SIX MILE CREEK OUTPOST ABOUT IT, IS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, THIS IS A COMMERCIAL INTERSECTION ON 13, BACK WHEN IT WAS APPROVED FOR THE PLAN'S SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT 1985, THIS WAS SORT OF OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AS WE ALL KNOW.
NOW IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT REMOVED FROM THE AUTHORITY DEVELOPMENT BUT IT IS CONSIDERED SORT OF A COMMERCIAL, RURAL COMMERCIAL NODE AND THAT'S HOW PLANNING TRIES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS. I'M GETTING TO WHAT YOU ASKED. SO THE POINT IS THAT THE REASON TO PUT THE OTHER USES IN WHEN WE'RE RE-ZONING A PROPERTY IS JUST LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER ZONING CATEGORIES, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE USES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN A STRAIGHT ZONING.
IT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO COME TO PROVIDE A SITE PLAN AND TELL THE COUNTY WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THEY TELL YOU WHETHER IT'S AVAILABLE. THAT WAS A LONG-WINDED ANSWER.
BUT IN CONCLUSION, THE REASON WHY THEY'RE PUTTING THE OTHER USES IN, WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT'S ACROSS THE STREET AND FORMERLY APPROVED FOR PART OF THIS PROPERTY IS SO THAT IF BOAT AND RV STORAGE COMES TO A POINT WHERE IT'S NOT NEEDED IN THIS AREA ANYMORE OR THIS COMMERCIAL
[03:20:03]
NODE INTERSECTION IS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME TYPE OF COMMERCIAL USE, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY, ASKED TO MODIFY THE MVP MAP AND AS LONG AS IT FIT UNDER SOME OF THOSE USES THAT ARE ALREADY WITHIN THE PUD THEY COULD DO THAT.>> CAN'T YOU DO THE SAME THINGS IN A COMMERCIAL ROLE? I MEAN, YOU CAN HAVE BUILDINGS,
RIGHT? >> LIKE, LET'S SAY IF YOU DIDN'T DO BOAT STORAGE.
>> SO COMMERCIAL RURAL AS FAR AS ZONING OR -- >> YES.
SO OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT RIGHT AND THEN WANT TO DO THE BOAT STORAGE AND INSTEAD
OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DO THE LESSER IMPACT ONE. >> YES, MA'AM.
SO WITHIN THE NORTHWEST SECTOR UNDER THE COUNTY CODE, IF YOU'RE CHANGING THE DENSITY OR INTENSITY OR PART OF THE PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO DO A PLANNED NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THAT WAS PART OF OUR SECTOR PLAN THAT WE PASSED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO ASK FOR A PLANNED NEW DEVELOPMENT. SO WE DEFINE USES AS WELL AS THE MAP THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT WILL BE ON THOSE. HOW IT WILL REDEVELOP ON THAT PROPERTY, AND THEN LIKE I SAY, WE HAVE TO COME BACK, IF WE WERE GONNA CHANGE THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE DEVELOPED ON THE PROPERTY. SO WE WOULDN'T COME AND ASK TO DO THE WAY IT'S GONNA DO IF IT WAS GOING TO BE A BAIT AND SWITCH NEXT WEEK TO DO SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO RE-DO
THE MAP AND WE'D HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK FOR THAT. >> SO I'M WORRIED THAT IT'S A NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE COMPLETELY SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN RESELL OR --
>> SO THE REASON -- >> DO YOU WANT TO TIE IT. >> MAYBE I DIDN'T EXPLAIN IT VERY WELL. THE REASON WHY WE COME HERE AND DO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, IT'S A DEFINED WAY OF ZONING. WHERE AS IF WE CAME AND SAID WE WANTED TO COMMERCIAL RURAL, YOU COULD GET ANYTHING WITHIN THAT COMMERCIAL RURAL. IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT USES BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE CODE IN FRONT OF ME BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES ALSO IN COMMERCIAL RURAL THAT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING YOU WANT ON THAT CORNER. AND SO THE WAY IT'S DEFINED CURRENTLY IT SHOWS YOU WHAT YOU'RE GETTING. YOU HAVE THE MAP, IT HAS THE BUFFERS, SCENIC EDGES, ET CETERA, AND IF I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION, MAYBE YOU CAN --
>> SO CAN YOU TIE WHATEVER YOU GET TODAY TO THE PLUMPS, SO LET'S SAY YOU DON'T DO THAT, LET'S SAY IT GOES BACK TO WHAT IT ORIGINALLY WAS. DO YOU EVER DO THINGS LIKE THAT?
I'M JUST A CREATIVE PERSON. SORRY. >> WE DON'T REALLY USE RETROACTIVE ZONING BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS. SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IT REVERDICT ITS BACK IF YOU CHANGE THE USE. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PAGE 23 OF THEIR YOU WOULD IT LIST OUT ALL OF THE USES THAT THEY'RE ALLOWING THERE
>> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT A BAIT AND SWITCH TYPE OF DEAL.
THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> ARE WE SURE THIS IS IN DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 2 BECAUSE OVER BY THE
RIVER. >> OKAY. JUST CHECKING.
>> ANY OTHER ECONOMIES, COMMENTS FROM SPHWHOORD MADAM VICE CHAIR GOING TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON 3 AND
4. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA
ITEM 3 AND 4. AGENDA ITEMS 3 AND 4. >> WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS ROBERT REID 8501 COUNTY ROAD 13 NORTH. MY HOME IS TWO DOORS DOWN FROM THIS, AND THIS IS A MILE DOWN FROM MY HOUSE AT THE SOUTH OF THE HOUSE. THAT'S ONE MILE SOUTH OF US AND THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THEY FINISH IT. EVERYONE I'VE SEEN IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THERE'S NO LANDSCAPING AT ALL. THEY JUST PUT UP THE SCREENING AND GOING DOWN PALMA ROAD TO THE FISH CAMP THAT'S A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THIS WILL BE ON THE CORNER GOING TO THAT RESIDENTIAL AREA. IT'S ACROSS FROM BUDDY BOYS WHICH IS ALSO VERY BUSY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA AND BUDDY BOYS
[03:25:08]
GOT PEOPLE -- QUITE A FEW BRICKS THEE WITH THE NO TURN LANES AND BOATS AND STUFF COMING IN THERE ANYWHERE FROM 40 TO 50 TO 60, 70 FEET LONG. SO THEY'LL BE STOPPING TRAFFIC ON THE 13. AND THERE'S NO LANDSCAPING, NO TURN ROADS, AND IT'S UGLY.I'VE BEEN LANDSCAPING FOR 45 YEARS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY, THE BIGGEST THING WE HAVE TO PASS MOST OF THE TIME IS LANDSCAPING AND ALL OF THESE FACILITIES HERE, THEY HAVE NO LANDSCAPING.
SO I'M IN PROTEST OF NOT APPROVING THIS BECAUSE IT'S DOWN CITY HIGHWAY.
IT'S GONNA BE BAD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS. TRAFFIC COMINGED NOW.
BUDDY BOYS WAS THERE, AND AS YOU HEARD, THEY'RE DOING ANOTHER STORAGE FACILITY RIGHT BEHIND BUDDY BOYS AND ANOTHER STORAGE FACILITY A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO ADD MORE SO I ASK YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THIS. GO BACK TO LANDSCAPING AND TURN LANES SO IT WORKS BETTER BUT THE WAY IT'S PRESENTED NOW, I'D ASK YOU TO VOTE NO.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. YOU CAN HAND IT BACK TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
>> I MIGHT ADD I WAS IN TOWN ON THE -- WASN'T IN TOWN ON THE 20TH OR I'D BE IN THAT MEETING
ALSO. >> ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM 3 AND 4.
OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK BACK TO MR.
WHITEHOUSE... >> I WANTED TO SWITCH BACK TO ME BIT OFF THE SCREENING, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A SCENIC HIGHWAY AND A DEVELOPMENT EDGE AND THE NORTHWEST SECTOR ADDRESSES A LOT OF THE ISSUES. THOSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORTHWEST SECTOR PLAN. WE HAVE A NUMBER TO KIND OF CONFIRM THIS BUT A NUMBER OF REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET ALONG AND THIS IS 40 FOOT BACK FROM THE SCENIC HIGHWAY HERE. IT'S AT LEAST 30 FOOT, AND THIS IS AVERAGE, SO IN SOME OF THESE AREAS IT'S EVEN MORE THAN 40 FEET. AND IT'S DENSELY VEGETATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THIS PROPERTY. AS FAR AS ACCESS THE STAFF REVIEWED THAT DURING THE COMMENTS AND WE'LL MAKE ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE THIS A SAFE PROPERTY AND WITHIN THE
COUNTY CODE. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> WE ARE BACK TO THE BOARD.
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE GENTLEMAN WHO MADE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. DID YOU UNDERSTAND THAT HE'LL PUT 40 FEET OF BUFFER AROUND THIS PROPERTY? PLEASE, YES, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR RESPONSE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE'RE HEARING THAT THERE'S 40
FEET OF DENSELY VEGETATION AROUND THIS PROPERTY. >> YES.
BUT WHEN THEY DID THE ELECTRICAL LINES AND POLES THEY CAME DOWN AND PUSHED OUT ALL OF THE TREES, CUT ALL THE TREES DOWN IN FRONT OF MY PLACE TOO, I'VE ALLOWED THEM TO GROW BACK UP BUT THE ONLY VEGETATION ME IN FRONT OF THAT PROPERTY IS WEEDS. THERE'S NO TREES AT ALL.
IT THERE'S NOTHING IN FRONT OF IT BUT A CHAIN LINKED FENCE. IT'S NOT -- I'M SURE IF IT WAS IN YOUR AREA OR NEIGHBORHOOD, NEXT DOOR IS A HOUSE NEXT TO THAT FACILITY, AND SO YOU'D BE LOOKING AT THAT AND TAKING AWAY ALL OF HIS VIEW. BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE BECAUSE FOR PEOPLE STOPPING AND GOING THEY NEED DO SOME LANDSCAPING AND SOMETHING WHERE IT'S NOT SUCH AN
EYESORE AND THEN WE KNOW A TURN LANE SO IT DOESN'T STOP DOWN 13. >> I UNDERSTAND.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. MR. MR. WHITEHOUSE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF VEGETATION THAT'S BEEN ON THE BUFFER?
>> YES, SIR, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. ONE OF THE MISNOMERS IS THE FACT
[03:30:04]
THAT IT'S 40 FOOT FROM WHERE THE RIGHT OF WAY IS, IT'S NOT. IT'S 40 FOOT FROM THE PROPERTY LINE. THAT'S A PRETTY BIG RIGHT AWAY. THAT'S STATE ROAD 13 GOING BETWEEN HERE, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE GENTLEMAN IS TALKING ABOUT.I'VE BEEN OUT HERE A NUMBER OF TIMES. WITH BUDDY BOYS OVER HERE ON THIS SIDE OF THE STREET AND THIS IS -- DOWN HERE IS JOE ASHTON ROAD AND UP HERE IS PALMA FISH CAMP. THAT'S WHYTH SORT OF A LIGHTNING BOLT INTERSECTION.
THIS HERE IS BETWEEN 40 AND 75 FEET FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY, NOT WHERE THE ROAD IS.
THERE'S A DITCH FOR DRAINAGE ALONG THE SIDE AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW.
THAT DOES HAVE WEEDS AND SAND AND STUFF IN THAT AREA. AND I TELL YOU, I PUT THE SIGN OUT THERE FOR THE THING AND I KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE, SO BEYOND THAT, THERE IS A TREE LINE ALONG HERE. I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT YOU THIS IS TREE FOR THAT 40 TO 75 FEET BUT THERE IS SOME AND THIS IS UNDISTURBED. THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THIS BUT THEY CAN ENHANCE IT WITH LANDSCAPING AND THAT'S THEIR INTENT AND THE INTENT OF OUR CODE. SO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE IN THAT SENSE, AND OBVIOUSLY THE MAPLES FAMILY WANTS TO MAKE THIS AN ATTRACTIVE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR PEOPLE TO COME NOT ONLY FOR THE STORAGE BUT AS I TALKED ABOUT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH IN THE FUTURE IT MAY BE SOMETHING ELSE AS WELL AND I THIS THIS IS THE DEVELOPING AREA RIGHT HERE BY SIX MILE CREEK AS YOU SAW, AND YOU KNOW THAT BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT ON THE OTHER SIDE HAS M SO ISSUES WITH IT RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S GONNA BE THERE AND DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION A LITTLE BIT. BUT THAT'S THEIR EXTENT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COMING FROM
THE BOARD? WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MOTION TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2022-85, SMAW SCALE 2021-13 MAPLES FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL BASED ON FOUR
FINDINGS OF FACT AS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT. >> SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE PASSES 3 TO 1.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEMS -- FORGIVE ME, THAT WAS -- WE KNOW
TO DO ITEM 4. >> NOTION ENACT ORDINANCE 2022-YICTS.
[Items 5 & 6]
PUD NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL BASED ON 9 FINDINGS OF FACTS AS PROVIDED IN STAFF REPORT.>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON ITEM 4. PLEASE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT, THAT PASSES AGAIN, 3-1. NOW WE ARE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5. AND THESE WILL BE HEARD TOGETHER, ITEMS 5 AND 6.
>> YES, 6 REQUIRES EX PARTE. >> SO WE'LL DO EX PARTE DISCLOSURES ITEM 26 STARTING
WITH MR. DEAN. >> I HAVE NONE. >> I HAVE NONE.
>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> I HAVE NONE. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH?
>> NONE. >> OKAY. YES, SIR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
MY NAME IS RED JONES. I'M HERE FOR CHRISTINA EVANS. I THINK WHAT WE GOT HERE IS PRETTY SIMPLE LAND USE AND RE-ZONING CHANGE. THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF 206 ON THE EAST SIDE ADJACENT IS THE HIGHLIGHTED PROPERTY THERE.
TO THE SOUTH IS A GAS STAKES AND RV STORE ACROSS THE STREET, OTHER COMMERCIAL USES IN THE AREA. THE ST. JOHNS COUNTY SOUTHEAST BRANCH OF THE LIBRARY IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH. SO CURRENTLY IT'S RES BLE LAND USE AND OPEN RURAL ZONING, MORE LOGICAL USE FOR A SMALL PARCEL LIKE THIS, WOULD BE COMMERCIAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING THE CHANGES TO. HERE ARE THE ZONING AND FUTURE LAND USE MAPS FOR THE SITE AS THEY STAND TODAY. AND THEN THE PROPOSED ZONING AND THE FUTURE LAND USE MAPS FOR PARCEL. IT'S A 2.26 ACRE PARCEL. THE PROPOSED USE WOULD BE SOME SORT OF COMMERCIAL CENTER. THERE'S A CONCEPT PLAN THAT WE'VE DONE THIS PLAN HAS BEEN
[03:35:01]
WERED BY THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, HAS ITS WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT PERMITS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT AS A D.O.T. DRAINAGE RESPECT. D.O.T. ACCESS PERMIT WOULD BE APPLIED FOR ONCE A FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS DEVELOPED FOR IT, THE PROPOSED ACCESS WOULD BE JOINT USE WITH THE EXISTING GAS STATION TO THE SOUTH THERE'S ALREADY AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE FOR THAT. THIS CONCEPTUAL PLAN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE BY THE FORMAL APPLICATION FOR THIS AND WOULD HAVE TO BE FILED ONCE THE USE FOR THE PROPERTY IS FIRMED UP AND THEY HAVE A FINAL PLAN TO BRING FORWARD FOR DEVELOPMENT.THERE'S AN EXISTING WETLAND ON THE SITE, A SMALL ISOLATED WETLAND THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PERMITTED FOR IMPACT ABOUT WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND HAS BEEN MITIGATED FOR.
IT IS SEPARATED FROM OTHER WETLANDS IN THE AREA BY EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT TO THE SOUTH, U.S. 1 TO THE EAST AND UPLAND AREAS, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS PORTION IS ON THE WESTERN SIDE, SO SEPARATED BY A GOOD PORTION OF PROPERTY THERE.
THERE ARE NO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES ON THE HIGHWAY. PLENTY OF ROADWAY CAPACITY IN THE LOCATION. THERE'S A VIEW FROM THE PROPERTY FROM THE NORTH, NORTHBOUND.
THERE'S A PROPERTY ON THE LEFT THERE. THERE'S A VIEW FROM THE SOUTH.
THAT'S WHERE THE REPRESENTLY'S SIGN -- THE RIPLEY'S SIGN THERE. AND THIS PROJECT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL IN BOTH APPLICATION 6.0 BY -- 6-0 BY THE PLANNING BOARD.
>> QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD? >> ALREADY, MOVING TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> AT THE TIME THE BOARD WILL HOLD PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS 5 AND 6.
WELL, OKAY BE AGAIN. IN GENERAL, YES, I AGREE WITH, CHUCK, THIS MAKES SENSE.
I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING BUT WHEN I SAW THE SITE PLAN A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS CAME UP.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN PUT THAT PREVIOUS POWER POINT UP THAT JUST SHOWED THE PROPOSED PLAN.
>> THE ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME WAS A PROPOSED RETAIL, AND I DON'T SEE ANY STORAGE LANES OR BACK SERVICE. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO SEE A SERVICE ROAD BEHIND THE BUILDING AND THEN DOWN AT THE LOWER END, THE SOUTH PROPERTY LINE, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A FUTURE ROAD, A STUB OUT ON WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED NOW AND THEN A FUTURE ROAD.
SO I WOULD HAVE AN OPEN QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THAT IS TODAY TO INTO FOR THE FUTURE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE APPROVAL FOR THIS WILL BE AN APPROVAL FOR THIS PLAN I THINK
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLAN. >> ANY FURTHER PUBLIC ACCIDENT AGENDA ITEM 5 AND 6? OKAY. .
>>> OKAY, SIR. BACK TO YOU. >> I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT.
THIS PLAN IS NOT BE UNDER CONSIDERATION HERE. THIS IS JUST A CONCEPT THAT WE USE TO DETERMINE THE -- BASICALLY WHAT AMOUNT WE CAN HAVE ON THE PROPERTY, GENERALLY WHAT SIZE BUILDING WE CAN HAVE AND HOW MUCH RETENTION WOULD BE REQUIRED.
IT SHOWS THE BUFFERS, ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WOULD HAVE TO COME FORWARD WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE SITE PLAN FOR THAT CONSIDERATION. THIS IS JUST A CONCEPT OF THE TYPE THING COULD GO THERE AND NOT A FULLY ENGINEERED OR CONCEIVED-OF PLAN FOR ANY SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS COULD BE A RETAIL OFFICE, ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED
[03:40:02]
IN THE COMMERCIAL GENERAL ZONE SOMETHING WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF, NOT ANY SPECIFICPLAN. >> ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I'LL MOVE TO ENACT ORDINANCE. >> 2022.87.
>> YES, 2022-11 SMITH U.S. 1 COMMERCIAL BASED UPON FOR FINDINGS OF FACT AS PROVIDED IN
THE STAFF REPORT. >> I'LL SECOND. >> THE MOTION TO SECOND, PLEASE
VOTE. >> IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, ITEM 6.
>> I MOVE TO ENACT ORDINANCE 2022... >> 88.
[7. Public Hearing * VACROA 2022-10 - Public Hearing t o vacate portions of Riverside Boulevard and First Street in Riverdale. ]
>> PROVEN RE-ZONING 2022-19 SMITH U.S. 1 COMMERCIAL BASED ON FOUR FINDINGS OF FACT AS
PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT. >> I'LL SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. PLEASE VOTE. >> THAT PASS ANONYMOUSLY CONGRATULATIONS. WE ARE ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 7. VICE CHAIR, COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. SO THIS IS AN APPLICATION OF TWO ROADS IN RIVERDALE IN THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE COUNTY. SO THE QUESTION IS TO VACATE A PORTION OF RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD SOUTH OF WOODWARD AVENUE AND NORTH OF FLAGLER AVENUE EAST AS WELL AS A PORTION OF FIRST STREETS SOUTH OF WOODWARD AVENUE AND NORTH OF PARK AVENUE EAST.
BOTH PARCELS BEING IN THE RIVERDALE SUBDIVISION. AND WE'RE RIGHT UP AGAINST THE RIVER HERE. AND THE LOCATION MAP, COUNTY ROAD 214 AND STATE ROAD 13 INTERSECT. AND THIS IS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE VACATION TWO SUBJECT ROADS IN RED, RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD AND FIRST AVENUE AND TAKE NOTE THAT WE ARE THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROADS. KEEPING IT SHORT AND SWEET, IN SUMMARY, WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH COUNTY GROWTH MANAGEMENT STAFF AND WE RECEIVE NO OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL OF THE REQUESTED VACATION. WE CONTACTED ALL OF THE LOCAL UTILITY AGENCIES AND RECEIVED NO OBJECTION TO THE VACATION AND THERE ARE NO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS INVOLVED IN THESE VACATIONS AND WE OWN ALL PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTIES ABOVE THE ROADS. SO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN TAKE ONE NOW.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> AGENDA ITEM 7...
SEEING NONE. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
[8. An informational update regarding completed and on-going improvements in the Hastings community as well as the possible formation of a Community Redevelopment Area. ]
>> MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2022-463 PROVING VACATION 2022-10, RIVERDALE HERITAGE LAND
INCORPORATED TO HAVE IT IN RIVERDALE. >> A MOTION AND SECOND, PLEASE
VOTE. >> THAT PASS UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> MR. CONE, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. JOSEPH CONE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HERE AT ST. JOHNS COUNTY.
WHAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU STAYED AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM GOES BACK TO A SEPTEMBER REQUEST FROM THE BOARD TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT POSSIBILITY OF FORMING A CRA IN THE HASTINGS COMMUNITY BUT AS WELL AS A REVIEW OF SOME OF THE ONGOING PROJECTS, INCOMPLEEPTED PROJECTS AND I THINK WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FUTURE PROJECTS IN THE HAITSINGS AREA. THIS DERIVED OR ORIGINATED FROM A COMMUNITY REQUEST FROM A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THAT AREA.
[03:45:15]
>>> THE COMMUNITIES YOU GROUP WAS INTERESTED IN THE DRAINAGE AND FLOODING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE SOUTH END OF THE COUNTY AND STREET LAMPS AND SIDEWALKS.
JUST TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
IT'S BASICALLY SOMETHING ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN 1969. IT'S BASICALLY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS AS WELL AS INITIATE REDEVELOPMENT. THERE ARE THREE MANY PROCESSES THAT GO INTO THE CRA. I'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN A MOMENT BUT AGAIN BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES IS ESTABLISHES A TIFF WHICH TAKES A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OUT OF THE GENERAL MILLAGE, DOES NOT RAISE TAX OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND THOSE FUNDS, AS I PUT IN THE POWER POINT, A UNIQUE TOOL AVAILABLE TO -- FOR COUNTIES TO REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
TYPICALLY THEY'RE USED TO LEVERAGE PUBLIC FUNDS AGAINST PRIVATE $100 AN EFFORT TO, AGAIN, INJECT REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES INTO A DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
IN ORDER FOR THE COUNTY TO INITIATE ACRA, THERE ARE THREE PROCESSES THAT HAVE TO BE DONE.
THE FIRST, THE FINDING OF NECESSITY, IT BASICALLY MEASURES THE BLIGHT IN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE IN THE AREA. AND THERE IS DATA AND ANALYSIS THAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS. THE PLANT TYPICALLY INVOLVE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEY INVOLVE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS OF AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF MAPS AND DIFFERENT FEEDBACK FROM DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND THERE ARE USES HERE SUCH AS TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC THUALS, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES THIS OF GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING, TALKS EXACTLY WHAT THE TIFP IS AND THE IDEAS FOR -- THE TIFF IS AND THE IDEAS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. THIS IS A DIFFERENT SLIDE.
IT BASICALLY -- IT'S VERY FLUID PROJECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD EXPECT IF A CRA WAS ESTABLISHED IN WHAT USED TO BE THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF HASTINGS, WHICH AS YOU ALL KNOW, I BELIEVE WAS DNX'D I GUESS IS THE RIGHT WORD IN 2017 AND THEY CAME UNDER THE COUNTY'S PURVIEW.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE VERY FLUID NUMBERS. WE WORK TO ESTABLISH THE CRA, AGAIN, THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE THE BOARD'S DECISION, WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, HOW LARGE, THA WOULD BE AND WHAT COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IT WOULD INCLUDE I'M NOT GOING TO DO A LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM OF IMPROVEMENTS HERE BUT WILL SHOW YOU A VARIETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED PRIMARILY SINCE 2017 AGAIN WHEN HASTINGS CAME INTO THE COUNTY.
WE USED A VARIETY SOURCES FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS. YOU CAN SEE IT'S A GREAT DEAL OF FUNDS. THEY COME FROM EVERYTHING FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL NUMBER SINCE 2017 FROM A VARIETY FUNDING SOURCES, NOT JUST A SUGGESTED GENERAL FUND. IT EQUALS ROUGHLY $21.5 MILLION. AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE OUR FUTURE PROJECTS THERE, WHICH IS CLOSE TO $40 MILLION. AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS THERE WITH THE 7 MILLION. YOU CAN ALSO SEE ON THE BOTTOM THESE ARE OTHER NUMBERS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED, TYPICALLY LIKE IN A CIP OR SOME OTHER BUDGETARY PROCESS, THE NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD BE UTILIZED GOING FORWARD IN THE HASTINGS AREA SHOULD THEY RECEIVE FUNDING. AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE DRAINAGE OF FLOODING. PROJECTS HAVE GONE ON THROUGH A VARIETY FUNDING SOURCES, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THE COURT HAS HEARD ABOUT QUITE A BIT IS WE'RE POURING ABOUT $5 MILLION INTO THE SUHEY PROJECT AND STILL ONGOING AS ARE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
[03:50:03]
LISTED. >> MORE LINE ITEM. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE THERE WITH OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES INCLUDING THE NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM, WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF PROJECTED IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE PLANNED ON DOING FOR 23 PLUS. WE EVEN DO A NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING EDITIONS THERE. PRIMARILY REHABS AND REBUILDS. YOU CAN SEE OUR DISASTERS RELIEF PROGRAM HAS REHABS AND REBUILDS IN THAT AREA. FOR CLOSE TO $1 MILLION, OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT RUNS THEIR GENERALSHIP REHAB PROGRAM AS WELL AS WE DO EMERGENCY REHABS.
ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE OFFER HERE IN THE COUNTY. WE'RE AT $76,000 LAST YEAR WITH THAT PROGRAM. AND THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER 12 ADDITIONAL REHABS AND REBUILDS THAT ARE FIVE AND WE'LL BE FUNDING CLOSE TO $3 MILLION. AGAIN, THOSE ARE PRIMARILY THROUGH THE FUNDS OTHER NEEDS, WE TALKED ABOUT BROADBAND. THE COUNTY HAS INITIATIVE CURRENTLY ONGOING WITH ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICES. WE ARE INVOLVING A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS BOTH IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO LOOK AT BROADBAND ISSUES, MOSTLY IN THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNT WHERE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE RURAL, AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT, EVERYTHING FROM AVAILABILITY TO UNDER-SERVED RESIDENTS, BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY BEGAN HOSTING WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND I THINK EVENTUALLY OUR GOAL IS TO APPLY FOR A GRANT OR WORK WITH ANOTHER EVEN TOILET APPLY FOR A GRANT IN ORDER INCREASE OUR -- IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A GRANT. BUT I THINK THEY WERE GENERALLY WANTED TO SEE THEM ADDRESSED WHERE OUR SIDEWALKS IN THE HASTINGS AREA AS WELL AS OUR STREET LIGHTING POLICIES.
>> I THINK THAT THE HASTINGS FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM APPLIED A LITTLE BIT MORE BROADLY BUT THIS DOES GO THROUGH HOW WE CURRENTLY MANAGE THOSE PROGRAMS AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR YOU. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DIRECTORS THAT ARE HERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTION BESIDE SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT. I SEE WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.
>> THANK YOU , JUDGE. THAT WAS COMPREHENSIVE AND EYE OPENING.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU MENTIONED THE STUDIES HAVE TO BE DONE PRIOR TO US LOOKING AT -- FORMING A CRA.
HOW MANY, WHAT KIND, AND HOW MUCH ARE WE LOOKING AT? BALLPARK, JUST TO GET STARTED?
>> YEAH, SURE. I HAVE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF THE PLANS THROUGH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. SOME OF THEM ARE VERY SMALL AND MAYBE ADDRESSES ONE OR TWO ITEMS, BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE SOME OF OUR CRA PLANS FOR WEST AUGUSTINE, I WOULD SAY THEY PROBABLY ARE 70 TO 80 PAGES AND DATE BACK TO 2002. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE DOING A CRA STUDY OR EVEN DOING THE ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRST PART OF IT WOULD COST US, BUT OVERALL, IN TALKING TO SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES, IT WOULD COST ABOUT 80 TO $300,000 TO IMPLEMENT A CRA. AS FAR AS GO THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS, THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, I'M SURE THAT THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT IS -- WANTED TO BECOME CRA, THE LARGER PROBABLY WOULD COST US MORE BECAUSE WE'D INVOLVE FOR
AND REQUIRE MORE ANALYSIS. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
OKAY. >> AT THE TIME -- AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC
COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 8. >> I AM DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE PRESERVED. THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSION OF DEMOLISHING IT.
AND THAT COULD BE WRONG. ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED STRUCTURES IN ALL OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. BUT WE KNOW MAKE SURE THAT THE CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW BOARD IS FULLY PART OF THIS PROCESS AND WE KNOW TO GET OUR CULTURAL RESOURCES COORDINATOR BACK.
AND HE WAS WRONGFULLY FIRED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. WOULDN'T EVEN MEET WITH HIM.
[03:55:05]
WOULDN'T EVEN MEET WITH HIM, WHICH IS A SIN, A CRIME AND A TORT.HE WON'T EVEN LOOK ME IN THE EYE BY ASSURE YOU THAT THE CULTURE RESOURCES IS FULLY EMPOWERED AND CAPABLE UNDER COUNTY ORDINANCES TO WORK WITH HASTINGS. YOU'RE SMIRKING.
>> I FORGOT TO START YOUR CLOCK. MY APOLOGIES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.
BUT AT ANY RATE, HASTINGS HAS BEEN LONG MISTREATED BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND HERE WE RIGHT A WRONG. THERE'S A MONUMENT IN D.C. HERE AT THE HYATT REGENCY FOR THE JAPANESE WHO WERE INTURNED IN THE U.S. DURING WORLD WAR II AND IT SAYS HERE WE RIGHT A WRONG.
HASTINGS WAS NEGLECTED AND DISRESPECTED BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND A CULTURE RACISM, ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE PAST THAT. BUT WE KNOW TO RE-ESTABLISH THE CULTURE RESOURCES COORDINATOR AND NEED TO HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT HUNTER SINCLAIR CONRAD DID AND WHY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S INVESTIGATION. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ST. JOHNS COUNTY TREATING ITS EMPLOYEES IN THE FUTURE WELL DIGNITY, RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION AND RESPECT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS OF EVERYONE.
BUT JUST THE DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO SURVIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE ON ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT WANTED TO DEMOLISH IT AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND WE'RE NOT INTO THAT.
THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MARCUS WILLIAMS, 200 PARK AVENUE IN HASTINGS, FLORIDA.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. CONE FOR THE STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED OR THE INFORMATION THAT WAS CONDUCTED. IT WAS VERY INSIGHTFUL TO ME. HASTINGS IS ACTUALLY A THUNE HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN. OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S JUST YUMABLE -- CRUMBLING AND EVEN THOUGH THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS COMING THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A TAX BASE ENOUGH TO ALLOW A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF REGROWTH AND REVITALIZATION LIKE RIGHT NOW AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I THINK THAT HAVING A CRA TO HELP THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY FOCUS TOGETHER ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO COME TO FRUITION WOULD BE A GREAT THING.
I WOULD APPRECIATE IF Y'ALL COULD BRING THAT TO A VOTE TODAY.
GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. PO BOX 912, HASTINGS FLORIDA.
CONGRATULATIONS COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND WELCOME, COMMISSIONER AND IT THANK YOU VERY MUCH COMMISSIONER DEAN FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WANT TO HAVE JUST A MINUTE ONLY 60 SECONDS IN. DIDN'T SEEK IT, DIDN'T CHOOSE IT.
BUT IT'S UP TO ME TO USE IT. I SUFFER IF I LOSE IT. GIVE ACCOUNT IF I ABUSE IT.
JUST A TINY LITTLE MINUTE BUI TERRIBLE IS IN IT. I -- BUI TENTER IS IN IT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING THIS UP, FOR DOING THE STUDY.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN HASTINGS AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS THE UNDERSERVED PART HASTINGS, IT'S NOT REALLY ADDRESSED.
BROADBAND, STREET LIGHTS, AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, AND ONCE YOU PASS MAIN STREET, ASHLAND AVENUE, THERE'S NO SUCH THING. THERE'S NO LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, HE DON'T KNOW WHICH SIDE YOU'RE ON. THERE'S NO STREET LIGHTS AND DITCHES ON BOTH SIDES. SO IT'S A SAFETY HAS ARRESTED -- HAZARD.
AND A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT'S GOING OUT THERE IS ACTUALLY GOING IN THE TOWN OF HASTINGS, THAT $4 -- THAT 425 AREA OF PEOPLE THAT IT WAS SURROUNDING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AROUND THE TOWN OF HASTINGSLE SW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF HASTINGS BUT THE COMMUNITY THAT GOES AROUND THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS HAS BEEN TOTALLY NEGLECTED.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS DOING THE WORK, DOING THE TIME, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS
[04:00:06]
BEFORE A VOTE SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONERS TO GET THE NEEDS ADDRESSED IN THE TOWN OF HASTINGS. I'VE BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING ON THIS FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW.AND I'M GLAD TO SEE SOMETHING COMING TO FRUITION AND GLAD TO SEE THINGS CHANGING AROUND HERE AND THE LEADERSHIP IS BEING DIRECTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. I LOVE Y'ALL AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY. >> THANK YOU, MR. MCCLAIN. MS. BULLOCK.
MY PLAY IS SIMPLE. MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PEACE CORPS AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE LEARNED IS IF YOU DO FOR PEOPLE WHAT YOU THINK THEY MOST NEED AND WANT, THAT'S OKAY.
BUT IF YOU WANT IT TO LAST AND YOU WANT SUSTAINABILITY, YOU NEED THEM INVESTED IN IT, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK A HASTINGS CRA IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, MA'AM.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING GREAT THINGS, BUT IT WILL REALLY GO A LOT FURTHER IF YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE OF HASTINGS SAYING HERE'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT AND NEED RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S -- MISSIONARIES LEARN THIS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS LEARN THIS, PEACE CORPS WORKERS LEARN THIS. START FROM WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE REALLY ASKING FOR, AND THEY WILL BE MUCH MORE INVESTED IN KEEPING IT UP AND MAKING WORK. IT IS, AS IS PROBABLY A STRETCH -- BUT IT IS BIT OF NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. AND THEY NEED SOME REPRESENTATION, I THINK, TO KEEP THIS GOING IN THE DIRECTION THAT ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN HASTINGS
WANT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. BULLOCK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> HI. >> SUSAN JANICE, 4280 COASTAL HIGHWAY, 322084. I'M JUST HERE TO BACK UP WHAT KEN AND IRVING JUST SAID.
I DON'T LIVE IN HASTINGS, I JUST HAVE FRIENDS WHO DO AND. I DO NOT A LOT IS BEING PUT IN THAT DIRECTION BUT I AGREE WITH THEM THAT HAVING A CRA WOULD REALLY HELP MOLD AND SCULPT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE IN THE COMING YEARS. SO I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL GIVE THEM THE VOICE THAT THEY NEED IN COMBINATION WITH YOU ALL TO GET THINGS DONE THAT
THEY WANT DONE. SO THAT'S MY INPUT, THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> MY NAME IS BERNARD JENSON. I'M RETIRED UNITED STATES ARMY, AVIATION INSTRUCTOR. I LIVE AT 305 EAST ASHLAND AVENUE, HASTINGS, FLORIDA.
COMMENTS THAT I GOT ARE WHAT I'VE SEEN. IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE '64.
SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES. A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND A LOT OF THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED.
SOME OF THE THINGS I NOTICED, DURING THE 60S ERA THERE WAS AN OPEN SEWAGE DITCH CALLED BIG SUHEY. THEY FUNNEL SEWAGE FROM THE RECOGNIZED PART OF THE TOWN OF HASTINGS, THE PART THAT WAS CONSIDERED THE GEOGRAPHICAL TOWN OF HASTINGS, WHICH EXCLUDED 75 TO 80% OF THE TOWN ITSELF. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. LATER THERE WAS A LANDFILL ON MAIN STREET THAT WAS CONVERTED TO A PROGRAM FOR OUR CHILDREN TO PLAY.
THE STATE SEWAGE DISH, AKA DITCH SUHEY, RUNS PARALLEL TO THIS PLAYGROUND, WHICH STILL EXIST TO
THIS DAY. >> 2016 WHEN THE TOWN OF HAINGS WAS DISSOLVED, ONLY THE RECOGNIZED GEOGRAPHICAL PORTION OF HASTINGS WAS ALLOWED TO VOTE ON WHETHER THIS WOULD BE DONE OR NOT, BUT THE EFFECTS WOULD BE INCLUSIVE TO THE WHOLE TOWN OF HASTINGS.
AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT. SO LET'S GET IT RIGHT. AND APPROVE THE CRA SO THAT THE
[04:05:02]
WHOLE TOWN OF HASTINGS CAN HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT CAN AND CANNOT AND WILL AND WILL NOT BE DONE.THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 8? >> SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS FROM BOARD? I KNOW STAFF IS LOOKING FOR
DIRECTION FROM US. >> I'LL SPEAK TO THIS. THIS IS MY DISTRICT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK AND COMMEND THE BOARD AND STAFF FOR THE TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE IN THIS COMMUNITY. IF I'M READING THIS, IT'S $20 MILLION WORTH OF COMPLETED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND MORE THAN $10 MILLION OF INVESTMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE SINCE WE TOOK OVER THE TOWN OF HASTINGS IN 2017.
AND IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS AGAIN, IT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS, IF I'M READING THE STATUS ANALYSIS CORRECTLY IT LOOKS LIKE THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO IS WE'RE ONLY GOING TO COLLECT A MILLION CASE IS $30,000.ARS AND WORST- IS THAT -- I JUST DON'T SEE THAT AS BEING ENOUGH TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS. OR EVEN TO PAY FOR THE STUDIES THAT WE KNOW.
ED. >> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING YOU SAID.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FLUIDITY IN THOSE NUMBERS.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE SPEAKING TODAY ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE TYPICALLY CALL THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF HASTINGS. SO, YOU KNOW, THE SIZE OF THE CRA CAN PLAY INTO THAT BUT DOES NOT SEEM AT PRESENT MOMENT THERE WOULD BE MUCH RETURN ON
INVESTMENT OR THE RETURN WE'RE LOOKING FOR. >> ABSOLUTELY.
I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO -- THE QUESTION I GUESS I'M TRYING TO ASK WITH MYSELF AND THE BOARD WE KNOW TO TALK ABOUT IS, IS THERE REALLY ANY BENEFIT TO THE HASTINGS COMMUNITY BY HAVING A CRA IF WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY INVESTING AND GOING TO INVEST BASED ON WHAT THE TIFF WOULD GENERATE. THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A CRA IS TO CAPTURE THE TAX DOLLARS TO
REINVEST BUT WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT ON A MUCH GREATER SCALE. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> OKAY. I GUESS BASED ON THAT, I'M NOT -- I'M NOT CURRENTLY READY TO SUPPORT ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN. I JUSTICE DON'T THINK THAT THE COST BENEFIT IS THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY. I THINK WE'RE ALREADY DOING -- WE'RE ALREADY INVESTING WAY MORE THAN WHAT WOULD BE BEING PUT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH A CRA. I'D LOVE TO OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION, THOUGH, I'D LOVE TO
HEAR EVERYONE ELSE'S THOUGHTS ON IT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER DEAN. >> WELL, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT COMMISSIONER ARNOLD'S VIEW AND ALSO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY, AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU, ALL OF YOU KNOW IT, BUT YOU KNOW FOR YEARS HASTINGS STRUGGLED AND THE RESIDENTS WERE SUBJECT TO NOT ONLY COUNTY TAXES BUT THE CITY OF HASTINGS AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT DROVE THE REFERENDUM TO DISSOLVE THE MUNICIPALITY SO THE RESIDENTS HAD A LESSER TAX BURDEN THAN WE AS A COUNTYWIDE GENERAL BE FUND COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND AT THE SAME TIME REDUCING THOSE TAXES ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE IN THE SIT IN FACT, IF I RECALL FROM PROPERTY APPRAISER, I THINK THAT COMBINING THE CITY AND COUNTY TAXES ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS HISTORICALLY HASTE HIENGS HAD THE HIGHEST TAX RATE IN THE COUNTY AND THAT'S CHANGED VIA THE ANNEXATION OR DISSOLVING THE CITY AND WE JUST HEARD HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE STEPPED UP AS A COUNTY AND PUT IN THE CITY. THE ONLY THING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT, JOE, JUST PERSONALLY, AND YOU MAY HAVE THE IN TODAY, BUT WE'VE HAD A PRETTY GOOD RIDE IN OUR ASSESSED VALUE THE LAST FOUR YEARS PROBABLY AVERAGED 9 OR 10% BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO CALCULATE THIS BUT FOR ME IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE ANNUAL TAX REVENUE OR FOOTPRINT IN THE CITY OF HASTINGS HAD HAS IT GONE UP OR REMAINED RELATIVELY LEVEL IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY FACING 10, 11, 12% EACH YEAR, EVEN IN COVID. BUT AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO CREATE ANY ADDITIONAL WORK FOR
[04:10:04]
THE STAFF. BUT IF YOU KNOW THAT IN GENERAL, JOE, DOES THAT MAKE -- YOUUNDERSTAND THE QUESTION? >> YEAH, I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER GENERALLY OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT FINANCIALS FOR A NUMBER OF THE CRAS RECENTLY.
TYPICALLY WHAT WE USE AS A GROWTH AVERAGE OR PERCENTAGE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 5%.
LIKE YOU JUST POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FLUX OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.
IN SOME CASES IT'S GONE DOWN. IN SOME CASES IT'S GONE UP SUBSTANTIALLY TO 12% LIKE YOU
JUST NOTICED. >> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, IF YOU JUST TAKE FOR PURPOSE OF DISCUSSION 5%, THAT SORT OF REINFORCES YOUR POINT, I THINK, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD.
THE TEST IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE FUNDING THE WAY THAT IT HAS -- WITH HOW IT'S INCREASED COUNTYWIDE AND SO I WOULD NOT, IF WE WERE TO VOTE TODAY, I COULD NOT IN GOOD CONSCIOUS VOTE TO CREATE A CRA BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE ALMOST SELF DETHE FEETING BASED ON THE NUMBERS I'M
HEARING. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH ANY THOUGHTS?
ANYTHING TO ?AD. >> I LOVE HASTINGS, BUT I'M JUST LEARNING SO I'M REALLY NOT SURE,
YOU KNOW -- I WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME THERE, HOW'S THAT? >> SOUNDS REASONABLE TO ME.
MY ONLY COMMENT FORCE THIS, I KNOW I WENT DOWN THERE WITH MR. CALDWELL AND MR. BRIGHT FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND WE WERE IN HOUSE AND LOOKED AT BIG SUHEY AND TOOK A DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE'S CERTAINLY WORK TO BE DONE. BIG SUHEY.
IT'S MY DESIRE AS ONE COMMISSIONER AND HEARD FROM OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT WORK, CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE $21 MILLION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN INVESTED.
>> I THINK THAT'S GOOD MONEY THAT COULD BE GOING TOWARDS FLOODGES ARE NEEDED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HATE TO SEE. THIS SHOULD NOT A DIRECTION TO
STOP THE WORK THAT'S BEEN GOING ON. >> OUR OFFICER WOULD NAVIGATE FOR THAT. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COUNTY'S COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND OUR CONCERN I GUESS IS A BARE WAY TO PUT IT BUT NO PLANS TO STOP ANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS. I'M SURE SOME OF THEM ARE SUBJECT TO FUNDING BUT WE HAVE NO PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD OR ANYWAY -- I WILL TELL YOU TOO, SIR, THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES BROUGHT UP IS THE ISSUE OF SUSTAINABILITY, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES SUFFER FROM INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AND I WOULD THINK MOVING FORWARD IN ANY TYPE OF COMMUNITY IN A POSITIVE WAY YOU HAVE TO ESTABLISH YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE STUFF THAT WE DON'T SEE BECAUSE IT'S UNDERGROUND OR, YOU KNOW, IT MAYBE IN SOME INDICATES A DITCH OR CULVERT BUT THESE THINGS ARE ULTIMATELY VERY IMPORTANT TO THE
HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. >> ARE WE PURSUING EVERY GRANT OPPORTUNITY, STATE FUNDING, FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ASSIST US WITH THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THESE BIG PROJECTS
THAT WE KNOW DOWN THERE? >> I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION BUT WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO TALKING WITH THE CITIZENS DOWN THERE AS WELL AS OPENING UP ANY OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GRANTS OR SOME OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE DOWN IN THAT AREA TO OTHER GRANT
OPPORTUNITIES. >> I THINK I'D LIKE TO LOOK FOR A CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD IF WE COULD, JUST TO GIVE THE STAFF DIRECTION. I'D LIKE TO GIVE DIRECTION IF WE CAN AGREE TO PURSUE EVERY GRANT, EVERY STATE MECHANISM, EVERY FUNDING MECHANISM THAT'S AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE TO HELP THE FOLKS DOWN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN HASTINGS.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON? >> SURE.
>> I'M SEEING COMMISSIONER ARNOLD -- >> ABSOLUTELY.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE IT. >> I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT, SIR. YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> SO I WAS JUST IN ST. PETERSBURG IN A COMMISSIONERS MEETING, AND THERE WAS A DAY ON GRANTS, AND ONE OF THE GRANTS WAS THE BROADBAND GRANT, THAT YOU HAVE TO BE IN THAT BY JANUARY.
AND WHAT THEY SAID IS TO TAKE THEIR APP IS GO INTO HASTINGS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE BEING SERVICED BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT YOU CAN APPLY FOR QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO DO THAT.
JUST AN IDEA. >> YES, MA'AM. CERTAINLY IN THE PLANS.
>> COMMISSIONER ARNOLD. >> TO KIND OF BUILD ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I LOVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE ABSOLUTELY CAN TO ENCOURAGE MORE DEVELOPMENT DOWN THERE, BUT I MORE AND -- MORE AID DOWN THERE, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT I DON'T THINK THE CRA IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CREATING AN UNNECESSARY GOVERNMENTAL EVEN THOUGHT COULD QUITE LIMIT US IN OUR ABILITY TO REINVEST, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. JUST TO REITERATE THAT.
[04:15:01]
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE AT THIS POINT TAKING THE ACTION. THIS IS A DISCUSSION, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION? OKAY.>> MS. ARNOLD, LIKE TO GIVE MR. -- THE FULL THREE MINUTES IF YOU'D LOOK PARTICULAR HAVE
IT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE. I AM SO, SO THANKFUL.
I WAS HERE SINCE BEFORE 9:00. I HAD A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT, SO I HAD TO LEAVE, AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD I MADE IT BACK WITHOUT A SPEEDING TICKET. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME
THIS TIME. >> GOOD. >> THEY HAVE SAID EVERYTHING THAT I WANTED TO SAY, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS. THERE'S STILL BEEN THIS MISINFORMATION ABOUT US BEING A PART OF THE TOWN OF HASTINGS.
WE WERE NEVER A PART -- THE MAJORITY OF US WHO LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH -- WERE NOT A PART OF THAT. SO THEN THE QUESTION IS WHY WERE WE THEN OVER THESE 50 YEARS NEGLECTED BY ST. JOHNS COUNTY? BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS A PART OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. THAT'S ONE POINT. I APPRECIATE MR. SLAVEN AND HIS PASSION FOR ALL OF HIS ITEMS, AND OF COURSE THAT HIGH SCHOOL PERHAPS HAD SOME CULTURAL AND HISTORIC VALUE. BUT WE WANT WATER AND SEWAGE. OKAY.
I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER ARNOLD AND THE REST OF YOU AND YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. BUT LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN SPENT IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER 40 YEARS, COMPARE THAT TO WHAT HAVE YOU SPENT FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT OVER 40 YEARS, COMPARE THAT TO WHAT YOU LOST FROM DEVELOPERS, THAT YOU WERE ATTEMPTING TO TRY TO RECOUP FROM A SALES TAX OVER 40 YEARS. GIVE US SOME CONSIDERATION PLEASE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WELL, I HOPE JUST TO REITERATE, YOU KNOW, OUR DIRECTION AS A BOARD, WE JUST MADE A CONSENSUS DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PURSUE FUNDING NOT JUST FOR THE CITY LIMITS OF HASTINGS, FLORIDA, BUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR THE AREAS BEYOND THE TRACKS AND PLACES THAT I VISITED, AND PLACES THAT COMMISSIONER DEAN AND ARNOLD VISITED, THE PLACES THAT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH I'M SURE WILL SOON VISIT. IT'S NOT JUST FOR CITY LIMITS. I UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL ISSUES THAT HAPPEN DOWN THERE AND WHY THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
SO I THINK OUR DIRECTION IS TO STAFF THE FUNDING NOT JUST FOR THE CITY OF HASTINGS WITHIN
[9. Public Hearing * Public Hearing to designate property located at 1850B S.R. 20 7 and 0 Wildwood Drive (Victoria Crossing) a Brownfield Area as authorized under the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Act, Sections 376.77 – 376.85, Florida Statutes. ]
THOSE CITY LIMITS BUT ALSO TO BENEFIT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AS IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE BOARD? STAFF, DO WE HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR PREPARING THAT ITEM FOR US. I APPRECIATE THAT. WE ARE GONNA MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NO. 9. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK VERY MUCH THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS BASICALLY THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE TO DESIGNATE THE PROPERTY LOCATED 1850B STATE ROAD 207 AND 0 WILDWOOD DRIVE IN THE BROWNFIELD AREA. IT IS CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT AS VICTORIA CROSSING WHICH IS ONE OF OUR LARGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAS ARRAYSEN FROM BOTH.THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THIS IS JUST AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM AND THERE IS NO BUDGETARY REQUIREMENT AND AGAIN THIS IS
THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS. AS MR. CONE CONVEYED THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS TO DESIGNATE THE VICTORIA CROSSING PROJECT AS A BROWNFIELD AREA. WE HAVE A SHORT POWER POINT, BASICALLY WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH STAFF AND LEGAL TO GO THROUGH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. BASICALLY THE STAFF PLAYS OUT SEVERAL REQUISITES TO MAKE THIS REQUEST OF THE BOARD. THE PARTY THAT CONTROLS THE PROPERTY, THAT THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE CREATION OF FIVE FULL-TIME JOBS AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WENT LOCAL PLANS AND PERMITTED USE OF THE PROPERTY, THAT NOTICE OF THE PROJECT IS GIVEN TO THE SURROUNDING AREA AND PUBLIC
[04:20:05]
COMMENT AT THE HEARINGS EXPRAIBL THAT THE OWNER HAS PROVIDED REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.LIKE I SAID, WE WORK WITH MR. CONE AND LEGAL STAFF AND I BELIEVE WE'RE MAINLY HERE, OBVIOUSLY, I'M SURE YOU'RE FEELING THE PROJECT AND THE ZOOMED-IN VIEW, KIND OF A GENERAL OUTLAY OF THE SITE AS IT RELATES TO THE COUNTY AND THEN OBVIOUSLY FURTHER OUTLAY.
BUT OUR MAIN PURPOSE IS TO BE HERE, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND GO FROM THERE.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> OKAY, PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> AT THE TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NO. 9.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 9. >> HI. IT'S BEEN SO LONG.
MY NAME IS DORIS TAYLOR. 208 ST. AUGUSTINE. SO I FIND IT FASCINATING THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS STATED AS REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPT A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING SUBJECT PROPERTY AS A BROWNFIELD AREA. BUT THERE IS NO INFORMATION AT ALL IN THE PRESENTATION WE JUST HEARD OR IN ANY OF THE PAPERWORK OUT IN THE INTERIM OR HERE EXPLAINING WHY THIS WOULD BE A BROWNFIELD AREA. NONE.
WHAT IS THE POLLUTION? WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE DESIGNATION? OTHER THAN THE ONE STATEMENT HERE THAT SAYS LP IS PURSUING THE BROWNFIELD DESIGNATION TO BENEFIT FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S TAX EXEMPTION BENEFITS.
SO IF I TAKE THIS. THE ONLY REASON FOR THE DESIGNATION IS FOR A TAX ADVANTAGE. THAT JUST SEEMS WRONG TO ME. FOR THAT REASON, I URGE YOU TO DECLINE THIS, IF THERE IS A GOOD REASON WE KNOW TO HEAR IT. WE DESERVE TO HEAR IT.
ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'RE PLANNING ON BUILDING APARTMENTS HERE FOR POOR PEOPLE, AND IF THIS IS A BROWN ZONE, WE KNOW TO KNOW WHAT IS THE POLLUTION, WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO CLEAN IT UP, HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COST, WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT, AND IS THIS GONNA BE THEN A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE? SO LET'S DO THE WHOLE JOB, LET'S DO IT RIGHT, LET'S DO IT HONESTLY, LET'S DO IT WITH TRANSPARENCY. YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANT TO -- THEY'RE SAYING, SOMEBODY'S SAYING THAT YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE THIS PROPERTY AS A BROWN ZONE SO THAT THEY CAN GET TAX BENEFITS. LET'S FIND OUT WHY, WHY DOES IT QUALIFY? I ONLY HAVE 35 SECONDS LEFT, I GOTTA USE IT THIS TIME.
ACCORDING TO THE MINUTES FOR MAUER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS STUDY FOR 20 YEARS, 20 YEARS. SO PEOPLE KEEP SAYING WE KNOW WE KNOW IT. WE KNOW WE KNOW IT. HOW DO WE KNOW IT? HOW DO WE KNOW? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT JUST KEEPS GETTING REPEATED AND REPEATED AND REPEATED, AND THEREFORE PEOPLE BELIEVE IT'S TRUE.
I SAY WE DO THE STUDY BEFORE WE DO THE HOUSING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> I AGREE... IF YOU LOOK AT EXPERIENCE OF OUR CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE WITH BROWNFIELD AND THE PONCE DELEON GOLF COURSE WHICH WAS CARVED UP INTO HOUSING IT'S AN ABORTION AND A TAX EXPENDITURE. AND PEOPLE IN THE STRAIGHT OF FLORIDA HAVE THE SUBSIDIZED JESTER STOKES, A DEVELOPER FROM JACKSONVILLE, WHO DECIDED TO TAKE A PERFECTLY GOOD HISTORIC GOLF COURSE, THE PONS DE LEON AND CARVE IT UP FOR HOUSING.
TURNED OUT THERES FIXED CONTAMINATION THERE BECAUSE IT WAS A GOLF COURSE AND BUILT IN THE 1920S, THERE WAS ARSENIC AND ALL SORTS OF CONTAMINANTS AND YOU DON'T WANT BABIES PLAYING ON TOP OF ARSENIC AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS SO WE TAXPAYERS IN THE STATE OF
[04:25:01]
FLORIDA PAID FOR CHESTER STOKES TO CARVE UP A PERFECTLY GOOD GOLF COURSE AND THERE WERE REPEATED VOTES, 3-2, 3-2, AND THEY CONSTANTLY VOTED TO LET THEM DO IT AND THEY DESTROYED THE GOLF COURSE, AND YOU SEE THE RESULT. IT'S HIDEOUS.NOW, WHAT ARE THE CONTAMINANTS ON THIS PROPERTY? WHO PUT THEM THERE? ARE THEY POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTIES IN A SUPER FUND ACTION? WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE ANSWERS. AND WHY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT'S HOLY IS EVEN ON YOUR AGENDA? THIS SHOULD NEVER -- COUNTY ATTORNEYS SHOULD NEVER HAVE ALLOWED THIS TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA WITHOUT ANSWERING THE LADIES' QUESTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERS TOO. IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK RATHER THAN HOLD ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WHICH WOULD BE MEANINGLESS WHEN YOU'VE GOT SUCH A BUSINESS MALLABLY BAD, IS THIS BASED ON NEED OR GREED? YOU TELL ME. THEY WANT A TAX ADVANTAGE FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. PHILLIP STERN WROTE A REALLY GOOD BACK IN THE 19 1960S AND TALKED ABOUT THE FEDERAL TAX CODES AND STATE TAX CODES USED TO SUBSIDIZE RICH PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T NEATH NEED THE SUBSIDIZED. I DON'T HEAR A SINGLE PRINCIPLE REASON WHY IT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY. IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE SOMEBODY COMES IN TO THE OFFICE AND SAYS HERE'S THIS PAPERWORK, I WANT TO YOU PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. WHERE IS THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION? THIS COUNTY COMMISSION IS BASICALLY THE SOUTHWEST BRANCH OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY. IT'S ALL EXECUTIVE BRANCH, 12 MUN EMPLOYEES, HUNTER, ST. CLAIR, CONRAD, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A STAFF.
YOU DON'T HAVE AMONG THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS, YOU DON'T HAVE A SINGLE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT THAT WORKS FOR YOU, WHO YOU CAN HIRE, WHO YOU CAN TRUST AND SAY VET THIS, DO THIS, LOOK INTO THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR, YOU DON'T HAVE A LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ASSISTANT. YOU'VE GOT A TOP-HEAVY ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN THEY CAN'T EVEN GIVE YOU ANSWERS. AND THEY PUT STUFF LIKE THIS ON YOUR AGENDA.
IT'S A DISGRACE. PLEASE VOTE NO, AND STUDY THE CASE OF CHESTER STOKES AND THE
POSSIBLY OWNED GOLF COURSE,. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. SLAVEN.
MS. GLEETY. >> I'M CONCERNED THIS TOO AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THIS IS THE SAME PROPERTY WHERE HOME AGAIN WAS. THEY TOOK IT OVER TO DO THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSE, QUOTE/UNQUOTE. I AGREE WITH WHAT DELANEY SAID. TO GIVE THEM A TAX BREAK.
AND I ALREADY THOUGHT THEY HAD A TAX BREAK. HERE'S MY BASIC QUESTION ON THIS TO FOLLOW UP. WHAT IS THE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO TAXPAYERS? NOW, YOU -- HE WANTS A 501 -- OR WHATEVER HE WANTS, THIS TAX EXEMPTION, DOES THAT GOT TO DO THE 501D3 DESIGNATION AND THE COMPANY -- BECAUSE I'VE GOT EVERYTHING THAT STARTED THIS BACK IN THE DAY. BUT THAT'S MY QUESTION. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO TAXPAYERS WITH THIS 501 D3 OR WHATEVER TAX BENEFIT HE'S GOING TO GET, AND I THINK THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE MORE INFORMATION GIVEN BY THIS DEVELOPER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TOO THAT MAY NOT BE HERE RIGHT
NOW. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. CALADY.
MY NAME IS JACKIE LA BELONG. LIVE AT 3930 VAIL POINT TERRACE, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.
CLASSIFICATION THIS PROPERTY, EVEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS THING ON THE AGENDA IS JUST WRONG ON SO MANY FRONTS. OBVIOUSLY THE CONTAMINATION HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AND WHY IT'S THERE AND WHY THEY WANT THE TAX BREAK. BUT THE SECOND THING AND THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I HEAR THAT HERE ALL THE TIME.
WE KNOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE KNOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE KNOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WHO SAYS? WHO SAYS WE KNOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SHOW US SOME PROOF THAT WE KNOW IT. THERE'S -- YOU TALK TO RESTAURANT OWNERS AND SERVICE OWNERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, STARBUCKS, EVERYWHERE, WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK. WHEN THEY COME TO WORK, THEY JUST LEAVE, THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO SERVE A FULL DAY. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING AT HOME BECAUSE OF COVID NOW. MAYBE THEY MOVED IN WITH THEIR PARENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT DOCUMENTED. I REALLY WOULD.
DO YOU KNOW IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY RIGHT NOW, I READ WE HAVE 4,251 HUD FORECLOSURES.
[04:30:07]
HUD FORECLOSURES. WHY CAN'T WE DO SOMETHING WITH THAT? WHY DO WE HAVE TO COME INTO DISTRICT 3 AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSE SOMETHING IN WHO SAYS WE KNOW IT? WE KNOW THE ITS STUDY THAT MS. TAYLOR TALKED ABOUT.WE REALLY DO NEED A NEEDS STUDY. I WOULD COMPLETELY THROW THIS ITEM 9, I'D TOSS IT THE OW THE WINDOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING THERE.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUR ECONOMY ESPECIALLY THE HOUSING MARKET, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE MSN, 7 MAJOR CITIES IN FLORIDA, THAT ARE DUE FOR MAJOR HOUSING PUBLIC CRASHES.
YOU GUYS REMEMBER WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE IN '08, AND WE'RE GOING TO BUILD ALL THIS JUNK JUST TO FACE ANOTHER HOUSING CRASH LIKE WE HAD BEFORE? THAT'S NOT GONNA BE GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY. LET'S QUIT LOOKING BACK AND A08, 08, WE GAVE ALL THESE BREAKS THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A DEFICIT IN THE COUNTY BUG. THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. LET'S BE READY FOR THIS TIME AND MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE FUTURE. THERE ARE A LOT OF -- WE JUST HAD A CENSUS, A 2020 CENSUS IN OUR COUNTIES AND STATE AND DOING THESE STUDIES BASED ON THE CENSUS.
AND IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE BECAUSE WE JUST GOT RECENT INFORMATION AND IT CAN BE DONE.
THAT'S THE WAY OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
IS ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC
COMMENT ON AGENDA 9. >> IF YOU CARE TO ADDRESS ANY COMMENTS OR ADD ANYTHING TO YOUR
PRESENTATION, BACK TO THE APPLICANT. >> I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF POINTS BROUGHT UP BY THE PUBLIC. I BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE FLORIDA BROWNFIELD'S PROGRAM. WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THEM LIKE I SAID WITH SOME OF YOUR LEGAL STAFF IN THAT, TO BE DESIGNATED A BROWNFIELD AREA, AN AREA DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE ACTUAL CONTAMINATION. IT CAN BE EITHER PERCEIVED CONTAMINATION, BLIGHT, UNDERUTILIZATION, THERE'S A LOT OF PURPOSE TO THE PROGRAM.
THERE IS KIND OF A SUBPROGRAM THAT DOES REQUIRE AN ACTUAL DOCUMENTED OF CONTAMINATION AND DP HAS TO GET INVOLVED AND BE REMEDIATED AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN AN AREA DESIGNATION. I BROUGHT SOME KIND OF EXHIBITS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
IT'S VERY COMMON FOR COUNTIES TO OVERLAY LARGE AREAS OF THEIR EXAMPLE CRAS AREAS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE AS A DEVELOPMENT AND USE THE AREAS TO ENCOURAGE IT. THIS THE SOUTH OF YOU THIS IS VOLUSIA COUNTY. AS YOU CAN SEE, A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE AREA OF THE ENTIRE DEVELOPED COUNTY IS DESIGNATED. MY APOLOGIES.
AND THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ENTIRE AREA IS CONTAMINATED.
THERE MAY BE SPARSE CONTAMINATED SITES IN THERE. TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THIS IS FLAGLER. THIS ONE I ACTUALLY DID A COLOR CODING OF THE DOLLARS HAVE NOT HAD EXAMINATION VERSUS AREAS IN RED THAT HAVE. AS ONE OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS MENTIONED, THEY DOCUMENTED THE GOLF COURSE AND FOUND GROUND PHIL CONTAMINATION.
ON THIS SITE THERE WAS SOME PERMANENT CONTAMINATION. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
NOW THERE'S A NEED OF 7 6,000 UNITS ACROSS THE STATE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
LOCALLY I CAN TELL YOU WHAT WE FOUND OUT. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS, WE DID A MARK STUDY. YOU'VE GOT 932 UNIT ITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ST. JOHNS
[04:35:03]
COUNTY. 8 OF THEM WERE VACANT. WE STARTED ADVERTISING TO GET A POTENTIAL BE RESIDENT LIST GOING IN APRIL, WE HAVE 96 UNITS, WE HAVE OVER 500 FAMILIES THAT ARE APPLYING. WE HAVE A VERY BIG NEED AND A BIG NEED THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?
>> YEAH, IF I MAY. >> I PROBABLY DIDN'T GIVE THIS ITEM THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES LEADING UP TO TODAY'S MEETING BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE DURING MY CAREER WELL BROWN FEEMED PROGRAM AND WATER MANAGEMENT. WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY AND THE LIMITED VIEW LEADING UP TO DAY, WE HAVE A BIT OF A CONUNDRUM, WE EITHER HAVE A BROWNFIELD OR WE DON'T. IF WE DON'T HAVE A BROWNFIELD, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROCEED.
IF WE DO HAVE A BROWNFIELD, THEN I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES THE ITEMS THAT BREAK A BROWNFIELD. IF THERE'S NO SOLUTION... SO TODAY I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE 90 TO THE NEXT MEETING AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH. I NEED TO DIG INTO THIS A LITTLE MORE THAN I HAVE SO FAR, BECAUSE -- AND I'M NOT DRAWING WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM OR A PROGRAM WE SHOULD DO OR NOT DO. I JUST NEED TO EDUCATE MYSELF A
LITTLE MORE. SO THAT'S WHERE I AM. >> I CAN SUPPORT THAT.
I CAN ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT GETTING MORE INFORMATION ON THIS. I THINK IT'S UNQUESTIONABLE THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THIS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS UNQUESTIONABLE .
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS, AS WELL, COMMISSIONER DEAN.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE WILL BE NO ACTION TAKEN.
TO CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE STATUTE, THIS IS A BROWNFIELD AREA DESIGNATION.
THE AREA DESIGNATION DEALS WITH ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED CONTAMINATION UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IF THERE IN FACT IS A BROWNFIELD SITE WITHIN THE AREA, IT WILL GO TO CAP CAP FDEP FOR A BROWNFIELD SITE REHABILITATION AGREEMENT.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH FDEP ABOUT THIS SITE IN THIS AREA, THERE WAS A PRELIMINARY STUDY RELATED TO WASTE. IN ORDER TO DO THE DESIGNATION, THERE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A DEFINITIVE FINDING OF CONTAMINATION AT THAT TIME. THAT IS A FURTHER INVESTIGATION THAT'S DONE WITH FDEP AND NORMALLY YOU CAN DO A BROWNFIELD AREA DESIGNATION FOR AN UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTY, ONE THAT HAS SOME KNOWN USES, THAT MIGHT BE A GAS STATION OR A DRY CLEANING FACILITY AND IT CAN BE A COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA AS A WHOLE.
THOSE AREAS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR REDEVELOPMENT. SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ACTUAL CONTAMINATION FOUND ON THE SITE FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO DO THE DESIGNATION UNDER THE STATUTE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CONTAMINATION BEFORE I VOTE TO GRANT A TAX BENEFIT TO SOMEONE.
I JUST WANTED TO -- THAT WOULD BE MY DISCUSSION, WE FIND OUT IF IN FACT THERE IS ANY CONTAMINATION UNDER THE BROWNFIELD STATUTE, AND IF THERE IS, AND IF THERE'S A PLAN TO REMEDIATE THAT CONTAMINATION, I WOULD FEEL 100% MORE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH A TAX EXEMPTION OF SOME KIND BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A TAX EXEMPTION IT'S A 0-SOMETHING GAIN WHEN YOU
EXEMPT THE TAX SOMEBODY ELSE IS PAYING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. >> SO IN THIS INSTANCE, THE TAX EXEMPTION WOULD BE FROM THE DEPARTMENT REVENUE AND HAS TO DO WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON A GROUNDFIELD AREA, THE EXEMPTION FOR THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
>> THAT'S INCOME THAT WE WOULD NOT RECEIVE, THE STATE AND US, UNDER OUR LOCAL OPTION WOULD NOT BE RECEIVING THAT REVENUE. AND THERE MAY NOT BE ANY CONTAMINATION, IF I'M MAKING
[04:40:02]
MYSELF CLEAR. SO I APPRECIATE THE WALKING US THROUGH THAT, KALEY, BUT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE VOTING TO GO FORWARD WITH A SECOND HEARING UNTIL I GET MORE INFORMATION.THAT'S JUST MY POSITION. >> OKAY. SO JUST PROCEDURALLY, DO WE KNOW
A VOTE TO MOVE TO THE SECOND HEARING? >> THE SECOND HEARING IS ALREADY NOTICED. WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU ON DECEMBER 20TH AND AT THAT TIME IF THERE'S FURTHER CONCERNS, YOU CAN EITHER DEFER, YOU CAN VOTE IT UP OR DOWN.
>> I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY. COMMISSIONER WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THIS ON THE 20TH BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN NOTICED. IT WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE 20TH, AND AT THAT TIME WE CAN VOTE UP OR DOWN. I GUESS THIS BOARD, WHAT YOU'RE YOU'RE TELLING US, WE HAVE TWO WEEKS TO DO ALL OF OUR FACT FINDING AND RESEARCH AND SEEK
ANY ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. >> CORRECT.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. AND IN THE MEANTIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, THE SECOND HEARING PERHAPS, IT WOULD BEHOOVE US ALL TO EDUCATE OURSELVES ON WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT AT BROWNFIELD.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR IN PUBLIC EXENT THAT THERE IS ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I WEAN COURAGE ANYBODY WHO HAS THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS JUST TALK TO ANY RANK AND FILE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, TALK TO SOMEBODY IN YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, TALK TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TALK TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TALK TO ANY BUSINESS OWNER. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY BUSINESS OWNER WHO'S BEEN INUNDATED WITH APPLICATIONS TO HIRE ON THESE JOBS THAT WE KNOW TO HAVE DONE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE AD NAUSEAM, I SIT ON THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COUNCIL. THEY DID A REGIONAL WORKSHP IN EVERY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA. EVERY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA GAVE FEEDBACK THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY A QUESTION THAT SHOULD BE I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING US TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
TO COMMISSIONER D... >> WELL, I ACTUALLY MEANT TO COMMENT ON THAT ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I LIKE TO DEAL WITH THE FACTS. I LIKE TO DEAL WITH METRICS SOMETIMES TO ADDRESS THINGS. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE IN MIGRATION OF WORKERS IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY VERSUS THE OUT MIGRATION TO WORK, 60% ARE COMING IN AND 40% ARE GOING OUT. IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF CALCULUS TO FIGURE OUT THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE DRIVING INTO ST. JOHNS COUNTY TO WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING HERE AND THEY'RE DRIVING IN FROM THE OUTLYING AREAS WHERE IT'S MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE, AND THE QUICK METRIC, LET'S GIVE ONE EXAMPLE, MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY HAS GONE DOWN BUT STILL AROUND $560,000. JACKSONVILLE IS AROUND $350,000. SO I LIKE DEALING FACTS, AND THAT TO ME DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS AN OBVIOUS NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS COUNTY FOR WORKERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD A HALF MILLION-DOLLAR HOME.
>> I DO HAVE COMMISSIONER JOSEPH UP NEXT. >> I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DISAGREE WITH YOU ALL, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO STUDY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I USED TO BE IN ADVERTISING, AND THE WORST ADVERTISER WAS THE ONE THAT SAID, WELL, I DON'T DO IT AT HOME, SO NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO DO IT. SO I REALLY -- I NOTICED IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVE STRATEGIES FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY THAT THEY ARE DOING A STUDY THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, IT LOOKS LIKE 2023, I THINK, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD'S ON THE BOARD. I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TO SEE EXACTLY NUMBERS SO THAT IT JUSTIFIES THE OVERGOING OF OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU.
>> AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANY OF YOU SLIDLY AND GO OVER THE PROGRAM.
I DO THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION BESIDE IT. COUPLE OF YEARS IN FACT THE STATE PASSED IN ADDITION TO THE LEGISLATION BASICALLY STATING THAT A DESIGNATED AREA DOES NOT
[10. Mickler's Wharf Structural Analysis Update. ]
EVEN HAVE TO BE CALLED A BROWNFIELD AREA BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE MISCONCEPTION AROUND WHETHER, YOU KNOW, A BROWNFIELD AREA HAS TO BE DOCUMENTED AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BRIEFLY, THERE IS NOT ANY PERMANENT REMEDIATE CONTAMINATION, THERE IS SOLID TWHEAS HAS BEEN ALREADYREMEDIATED TO ANSWER YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION. >> THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE TO GET IT ON CALENDAR.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA
[04:45:03]
ITEM NO. 10. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> MS. DIAZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, KATIE DIAZ, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT. EARLIER THIS YEAR THE PONTE VEDRA ALLIANCE ASKED TO ANSWER CONVEY ANCE OF MISTAKELER'S WHARF. AT THE JULY 19TH MEETING STAFF PROVIDED ESTIMATES OF ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POTENTIAL CONVEY ANCE. AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION, WE RECOMMENDED THAT ANALYSIS BE DONE. WE HIRED A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND A REPORT WAS PROVIDED OUTLINING THE CAUSE OF THE DEFLECTION AND. HEEDING AND PROBABLE COSTS.
THE REPORT INDICATES THAT UNEVEN DECKING CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT EMBEDMENT OF THE PILES IS WHAT CAUSED THE DEFLECTION IN THE DECK. AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THAT A LOAD TEST IS CONDUCTED TO ENSURE THAT THE PILES ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING A WIDE LOAD AND CREATE A LEVEL DECK. THIS STRUCTURAL FIX PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM CONTINUING IN THE FUTURE. AS AS A LESS COMPREHENSIVE OPTION, THE ENGINEER RECOMMENDED TEMPORARILY SUPPORTING THE STRINGERS AND DECK, DISCONNECTING THE PILE CAPS, RAISING AND LEVELING THE STRINGERS AND DECKING AND REFASTENING THOSE PILE CAPS.
THIS WILL ADDRESS THE THAT I SHALL IS CURRENTLY OCCURRING AND THAT COST IS ESTIMATED AT $55,000. ADDITIONALLY IN OUR RESEARCH OF MICKLER'S WHARF, ENGINEER DRAWS ARE NECESSARY AND A FINAL SURVEY IS REQUIRED AND THE COST OF THAT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $5,000.
WE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED REPAIRS TO THE BULK HEAD RAILING, RAILINGS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE PICKET NICK TABLE AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $5,195. AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE INCLUDING SIGNAGE AND ADA PARKING AT $7,420. ARE SO TO SUM THIS UP, THE INITIAL COST OF CONVEY ANCE SHOULD THE BOARD CHOOSE TO ACCEPT ARE UNDER TWO OPTIONS, OPTION 1 IS $246,215. AND THAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURAL REPAIR AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS. AND OPTION 2 IS THE LESS COMPREHENSIVE REMEDIAL REPAIR, THOSE SAME MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS AT $72,615.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING TODAY IS THAT THE BOARD MAKE A DECISION BETWEEN ACCEPTING THE CONVEY ANCE AND DENYING THE CONVEYENS AND IF IT IS ACCEPTED, WHICH OPTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AS WELL AS FUND FOG ARE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AT A COST OF $5,584. WE WOULD ASK FOR FUNDING FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ALONG WITH MIKE DALTON FROM
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND RYAN CANE FROM PARKS AND RECREATION. >> THE FORMER CHAIRMAN SAVED IT
FOR ME. >> THERE'S ONE PHOTO I TOOK AND IT'S REALLY IN DISREPAIR.
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE TABLE IS WHAT CONCERNS ME. I'VE SEEN LOTS OF DIFFERENT CARS NOT GET OUT OF THEIR CARS, SIT THERE WITH THEIR WINDOWS ROLLED UP, DOING GOD KNOWS WHAT, AND I'VE SEEN MAYBE TWO FAMILIES FISHING MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK.
BUT NOT DAILY. IT'S BASICALLY EMPTY, AND AT NIGHT, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO NOT NOT BE THERE AT NIGHT. I WENT AND TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORS.
THEY SAY -- THEIR QUOTE WAS CREPY CARS SITTING THERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WATCH IT ALL DAY LONG. WHEN I DID SPEAK WITH THE PERSON WHO'S -- WHO HEADED THE GREENWAY ALIE EXPANS SHE SAID THAT THEY DID HAVE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE ELSE WHO WOULD HELP THEM.
I WAS ALSO LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY NEXT TO IT. MAYBE YOU WANT TO SHOW THE NEXT
[04:50:07]
SLIDE THIS IS OUR UPKEEP AND THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FRONT.THE LOGS ARE MOVED AROUND AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF IT HAD BEEN A KAYAK LAUNCH OR SOMETHING THAT IS MORE USEFUL. BUT NEXT DOOR IS SOMETHING THAT A COUPLE OF RESTAURANTS ARE GOING TO BE GOING IN. AND IF ANYTHING THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH THE MONEY. >> ANYBODY ELSE?
I THINK WE SHOULD HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> AT THIS TIME THE COURT WILL
ORDER PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NO. 10. >> I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER JOSEPH NOT WORTH THE MONEY AND ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE INFERIOR QUALITY STAFF WORK.
LET'S STOP RAISING THE STAFF AND SAYING THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT.
AND LET'S CONSIDER EVERY EXPENDITURE HERE AND ASK THE QUESTION THAT SENATOR GARY HART ASKED HIS STAFF WHEN HE WAS FIRST THE SENATOR BACK IN 1975, IS IT BASED ON NEED OR GREED? WE KNOW TO BE DOING THAT AND WE HAVE A BUDGET MEETING, WE'RE ACTUALLY TOLD TWO YEARS IN A ROW BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE DON'T NEED THAT KIND OF POSTURE. WE KNOW GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE AND STOP WASTING OUR MONEY.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THEN -- NO. 10? >> NICOLE CROSBY, 1169 NECK ROAD. THIS IS A SPUFER MOMENT THOUGHT. I LIVE NEAR THERE AS WELL.
I CAN SEE THIS HAVING REALLY NICE POTENTIAL IN THE RESTAURANTS.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY THAT COULD BE SORT OF PUT ON ICE FOR NOW.
YOU KNOW, CORDONED OFF, KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM IT IF IT'S NOT SAFE BUT PERHAPS THE RESTAURANTS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN TAKING IT OVER BECAUSE IT'D BE A GREAT PLACE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A MEAL AND WANT TO WALK OUT AND LOOK AT WATER. I COULD SEE IT BEING A NICE EXTENSION OF THE RESTAURANTS BUT COULD AGREE THAT MAYBE IT'S NOT THE BEST THING RIGHT NOW FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE OVER. SO I'M JUST -- WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IF THAT'S REALISTIC, I'M
JUST THROWING THAT IDEA OUT THERE. >> THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NO. 10? SEEING NONE, WITH HE WILL CLOSE
PUBLIC COMMENT. >> MS. DIAZ, ANYTHING TO ADD? >> NO.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. DIAZ? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL TRY.
OKAY. I MAY BEING A MOTION NUMBER -- I DO SAY MICKLER'S WHARF? OKAY. RIGHT HERE. OKAY.
YOU WANT TO DO IT? CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME DIRECTION PLEASE?
>> SURE. COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, I THINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA COVER PAGE THERE ARE A SERIES OF OPTIONS OF MOTIONS, ONE WOULD BE OPTION 1, WHICH WOULD BE TO ACCEPT THE STRUCTURE BUT TO DO THE COMPREHENSIVE FIX MS. DIAZ DESCRIBED.
OPTION 2 WOULD BE TO ACCEPT IT BUT DO THE MORTGAGE REMEDIAL WORK AND AT THE BOWM SEE AN
OPTION TO DENY THE REQUEST. >> BUT WHAT'S THE BEGINNING? >> YEAH.
[11. Consider the proposed 202 3 St. Johns County Legislative Action Plan and Top Three Legislative Priorities. ]
IT'S THE REQUEST -- THE MOTION WOULD BE TO DENY THE REQUEST FROM THE PV GREENWAY ALLIANCE AND TO ACCEPT CONVEYANCE OF MICKLER'S WHARF TO S JOHNS COUNTY.>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> OKAY, WE'VE HAD A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
ALREADY, THAT DENIAL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MS. DIAZ FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE ARE TO AGENDA ITEM NO. 11. WHICH IS THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN. THE TOP THREE LEGISLATIVE PRIORS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS . PGH A AM TECLER, GRANTS AND LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.
TODAY I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN IN GENERAL IT'S A LIST OF
[04:55:08]
PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM OUR STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT'S EXILED BY THE BOARD, STAFF AND, OH O'CONNEL PILED BY THE BOARD, STAFF AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. WE COORDINATE WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL LOBBYISTS, AND AS CHAIR COMMISSIONER WHITEHER YOU'LL BE PRESENTING THE ACTION PLANS AND DELEGATION ON OUR ANNUAL MEETING COMING UP ON THE 19TH. A LOT OF PARTS OF THE PLAN ARE NEW THIS YEAR. WE'VE MADE IT MORE STRATEGICALLY FOCUSED.WE HAVE INCORPORATED A NEW DESIGN TO ENHANCE READABLE, STREAMLINE THE DOCUMENT DOWN FROM 98 TO 10 PAGES, REDUCED THE CATEGORIES DOWN FROM 13 TO 7, AND WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED THE EXTERNAL PARTNER REQUEST AS AN ADDENDUM THIS YEAR. CATEGORIES ARE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT COMMISSIONER DEAN, WE'VE ADDED YOUR FOCUS ON THE ROAD NETWORK FLOWING INTO THE FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY. WE'VE ALSO ADDED YOUR INITIATIVE COMMISSIONER WHITEHURST REGARDING THE CHARTERING TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE PROGRAM. WE'VE ALSO HAD A FOCAL POINT ON COUNTY ROAD 210, STATE ROAD 16 AS WELL. SECOND CATEGORY IS ECONOMIC RESILIENCY.
AND WITHIN THAT CATEGORY COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, I KNOW THAT AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY IS TOKING SENT ADVISE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, PRESERVE FARMLAND AND ENSURE FOOD SECURITY.
AND WE ARE EXPLORING POLICY CHANGES AND APPROPRIATIONS TO KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT DIRECTION WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT INITIATIVE. THIRD CATEGORY IS COASTAL PROJECTION AND FLOOD MIDMITIGATION. AND HERE WE HAVE THE U.S. CORPS OF ENGINEERS FEASIBILITY STUDIES. WE ALSO HAVE LOOKING AT FLOOD MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY PROGRAM. I WANTED TO MENTION, BAILIFFS LISTENING TO SOME OF THE EARLIER ITEMS, THAT -- TALKING ABOUT GRANTS POTENTIALLY FOR THE HASTINGS AREA. SOME OF THE COMPETITIVE GRANTS REGARDING RESILIENCY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MAY BE A GOOD OPTION IN THAT AREA. I'D LIKE TO ALSO MOVE ON TO THE SECOND -- TO THE NEXT CATEGORY WHICH IS RESILIENT FEATURE FOR CHILDREN.
HERE THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT INITIATIVES, COMMISSIONER ARNOLD, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR INITIATIVE, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON BRINGING ABOUT THE EXRET HENCE ASSIST WELL-BEING OF EACH CHILD.
AND SPECIFICALLY TO THAT, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, TREATMENT PROGRAMS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MANY OTHER TYPES OF SERVICES. AND ONE POINT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS ABOUT POTENTIAL GRANT. THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO HELP FACILITATE THAT SITUATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ALSO COMMISSIONER WHITEMEASURES THERE'S A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT INITIATIVES HAVE YOU AS WELL, ONE IS LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION AND SUPPORTS FACILITIES AS WELL AS LOOKING AT ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN VAPING ESTABLISH AMS AND SCHOOLS. AND THEN FINALLY THE LAST THREE CATEGORIES WOULD BE WATER YEAH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THE PROPOSED MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE 2023 ST. JOHNS OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER THEM. >> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
THE BOARD OR COMMENTS FOR MR. TECLER? >> I'LL JUST SAY GREAT WORK, GREAT WORK. THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR ON THE COMMISSION, AND THIS IS THE MOST ORGANIZED AND THOUGHT-OUT AND PRESENTED LEGISLATIVE PLAN THAT I HAVE RECEIVED.
SO I WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE STAFF THAT WORKED ON THIS AND IT'S A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION, AND NOW MUCH I UNDERSTAND WHAT I SUPPORT. FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> VERY GOOD. ANYBODY ELSE? COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? MR. TECLER, I DID HAVE A QUESTION. AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR COMMISSIONER JOSEPH, THE RESILIENCY TO INCENTIVIZE AGRICULTURAL, PRODUCTION, PRESERVE FARMLAND. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF AN ASK TO OUR DELEGATION? I'M PRESENTING THIS BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ON THE 19TH. I'D LIKE TO KIND OF KNOW WHAT THE THOUGHT IS BEHIND THAT AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN EARLY OF A BILL? ARE WE LOOKING FOR A BILL OR
JUST -- HELP ME UNDERSTAND. >> YES, SIR. I THINK WE'RE EXPLORING SEVERAL OPTIONS. I KNOW THAT THE FLORIDA SENATE IS LOOKING AT A WILDLIFE
[05:00:03]
CORRIDOR. THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT LAND CONSERVATION.POTENTIALLY THERE MIGHT BE OPTIONS TO HELP INCORPORATE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES OF COMMISSIONER JOSEPH WITHIN A POTENTIAL BILL THAT COULD BE MOVING IN THE LEGISLATURE WHEN WE COME UP TO SESSION NEXT SPRING. BUT, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS
KIND OF IN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. >> COMMISSIONER JOSEPH. >> SO I CAN DESCRIBE TO YOU WHAT I WAS THINKING BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT. BUT, YOU KNOW, AFTER COVID -- BEFORE COVID, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE WALKING THROUGH DISNEY WORLD AND THOUGHT, OH, YOU WOULD NEVER SEE THIS EMPTY, AND WITHIN A MONTH, IT WAS EMPTY. AND THE RESILIENCY OF OUR COUNTY, OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT OUR -- THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND OUR CONSTITUENTS, RYE.
SO IF THERE'S EVERY A MAJOR -- LET'S SAY THERE'S A MAJOR WAR OR A PROBLEM WITH OUR COUNTRY, ST. JOHNS COUNTY, IF WE PAT YOU A WALL AROUND OUR COUNTY, WE COPY SUPPORT THE PEOPLE HERE.
WE HAVE AGRICULTURAL WATER, FOOD, SUN, WE HAVE EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO BE OUR OWN LITTLE NATION REALLY. BUT ALSO THE AGRICULTURAL PART CAN ALSO HELP THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN THE NEEDS OF COURSE, INSTEAD OF BUILDING OUT OUR AGRICULTURAL USING IT TO SUPPORT OUR LIFE HERE ON THIS PLANET IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE WOULD HAVE -- PATHS HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD THEM BUT YOU CAN LIVE ON POTATOES AND CABBAGE IF ALL 20 TO HELL. SO ANYWAY THAT'S HOW I WAS LOOKING AT IT IS RESILIENCY AND A BACKUP PLAN FOR OUR COUNTY AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> OKAY. THAT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. SO WE KNOW A MOTION.
>> OR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. WE DO NEED TO HEAR PUBLIC
COMMENT. >> AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA
ITEM NO. 11. >> THANK YOU. ED SLAVEN, I'M ACTUALY VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS HE WILLTIVE ACTION PLAN. EVERY SINGLE ONE BEFORE TODAY THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER WAS BRILLIANT. A WORK OF ART.
IT WAS WELL WRITTEN. IT WAS WELL RESEARCHED, IT WAS ARTICULATE ON ISSUE AFTER TISSUE AFTER ISSUE. IT COLD THE LEGISLATURE WHERE WE STOOD AND HOW WE CAUGHT IT INTO 10 PANICS. WE COMPANY DO BARE, WE MUCH -- PLEASE SEND THEM BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND INFIX I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE PRIOR LEGISLATIVE PLANS HAD SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS. FALSE CLAIMS ACT. DID YOU KNOW COMMISSIONER JOSEPH THAT IN FLORIDA WE HAVE A PEAKED HAM LAW SIMILAR TO ONE THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS, THE LINCOLN LAW THAT LETS ITS CITIZENS SET ITS SHOES INTO THE GOVERNMENT AND SUE THE GOVERNMENT FOR COR FRAUD AND HELP THE GOLF GET MACHINE BACK BUT IN FLORIDA IT DOESN'T APPLY TO LOCAL DOCHTS, CITIES, COUNTIES OR SERB TAX DIFFERENCES.
SO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT THE STATE AND THEN YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM IT.
AND I POINTED OUT MEETING AFTER MEETING AFTER MEETING WHEN THIS COME UP EVERY YEAR, WE KNOW TO TELL OUR LOBBYISTS. WHY DO WE HAVE LOBBYISTS, WHY DO WE HAVE THOMAS AND MORE TO BE IN HIS GROUP TO BE LOBBYISTS FOR THE COUNTY. THE BEST LOBBYSTS ARE THE COMMISSIONERSES AND THE SEND BEST WOULD BE THE STAFF. WHY WOULD WE HIRE A CONFLICTED GROUP WHICH REZ RAISE MONEY FOR REPUBLICANS WHAT WE KNOW THIS LEGISLATIVE ACTION SPLAN WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ON THE 19TH AND WHAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT EVERY YEAR SENSE 2006 AND THAT IS THE ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORICAL PARK AND NATURAL SEASHORE. EVERY DEAN WORKING MANAGEMENT DISTRICT HELPED TO ACQUIRE 70,000 ABEERS OF LAND AND THAT LAND IS ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND FOR THE STL HISTORICAL PARK AND NATIONAL SEASHORE.
HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOURISTS SPENT TWICE AS MUCH AND TWICE AS LONG AND WE CAN TEACH THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ABOUT OUR HISTORY WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FACILITY SECOND TO NONE, LIKE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE, LIKE OUR OTHER NATIONAL PARKS AND SEASHORES. THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TALKING ABOUT BUT YOU DON'T THAT IN 10 PAGES. PLEASE REDISWHRECT PLAN AND SEND THE COUNTY STAFF TO RETOOL THE OLD VERSIONS WHICH WERE 90 PAGES OVER WHATEVER, IT WAS ARTICLE, REALLY GOOD JOB.
AND PLEASE FIRE THOMAS THARANTENO JUNIOR, HE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR US.
[05:05:04]
THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> HELLO, AGAIN.
JOE, 1005 BLACKBERRY LANE. I'M GOING TO GO THE OTHER DIRECTION.
I LIKE THIS PLAN VERY MUCH. I'M A NUMBER CRUNCHER, AND AS I HAVE SAT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLANS AND HERE'S ONE FROM LAST YEAR, 98 PAGES, AND OH MY GOSH, JUST PAGE AFTER PAGE AFTER PANIC AND NUMBER AFTER NUMBER AFTER NUMBER. SO I WAS SO, SO VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE NEW FORMAT.
I MEAN, YOU HARDLY KNEW WHERE TO BEGIN. THIS WAS JUST SO BIG.
IT WAS SO BIG. AND I DO AGREE IT WAS COMPREHENSIVE BUT -- AND IF YOU WANT COMPREHENSIVE OUTLINE OF WHAT THE COUNTY HAS AS OPTIONS GO BACK TO 2022 AND, YOU KNOW, READ THE PLAN. BUT WE KNOW PRIORS, AND THIS PLAN DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB I THINK BECAUSE IT DOES SIMPLIFY AND IT DOES FOCUS AND, YOU KNOW, IT EVEN GOES SO FAR AS TO SAY THESE ARE OUR TOP PRIORS. SO -- AND YOU CAN GO TO THOSE EIGHT PAGES THAT FOLLOW THIS AND READ MORE DETAIL, AND YOU CAN CALL AND TALK TO STAFF AND GET EVEN MORE DETAIL.
SO EVER THE NUMBER CRUNCHER THAT I AM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE COMPARISON BE BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022. I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT -- AND I'LL TRY TO USE MY PEN HERE QUICKLY -- THAT, YOU KNOW, MANY OF DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED TO TRANSPORTATION. ALMOST 90% OF THE COUNTY'S PRIORITY WAS FOR TRANSPORTATION.
SO AS YOU LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S PLAN, STILL BIG NUMBERS. 90% OF THE PRIORITIES ARE TRANSPORTATION. SO LET'S BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY ARE OUR TOP PRIORS AND WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY. SO I THOUGHT I HAD HEARD THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE THREE TOP PRIORS. THERE ARE FIVE LISTED. I SAY PRESENT ALL FIVE.
BUT IF THERE IS A NEED FOR THE COUNT TO IN FACT SIMPLIFY THIS DOWN TO THREE.
HEY, FROM MY STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, I JUST PUT A STAR NEXT TO THE 3 I'D GO WITH AND PUT THAT OUT THERE FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE. I WON'T GO INTO THE LOOK OF DETAILS ON THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE RECENT STORM THAT WE HAD AND THE PICTURE THAT APPEARED IN THE NEWSPAPER, THIS IS OUR ECONOMIC DRIVER.
THIS IS OUR ECONOMIC DREEFER. WE CANNOT LOSE THIS. AND I DO NOT SEE IF OKAY, I DO SEE COASTAL PROTECTION, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT RESILIENCE AND I WOULD JUST URGE THE COUNTY HERE TO BEFORE DECEMBER 19TH TO REALLY LOOK CLOSELY AT IS IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE WE WANT THE FOLLOWING FIVE THINGS LET'S MAKE THOSE THE BEST THEY CAN BE. WE KNOW ST. AUGUSTINE WE KNOW TO
COOPERATE. YOU'VE GOT THE MUSCLE. >> THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> JOE, LOOK ON LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS COASTAL PROTECTION AND FLOOD MITIGATION PRIORITIZE
STATEMENT. >> FANTASTIC. >> AND IF I MAY, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I THINK YOU HAVE AN OUTDATED -- YOU DON'T HAVE THE CURRENT PACKET OF OUR
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, WHAT YOU WERE SHOWING IS NOT IT. >> OH, NO.
I CLICKED THE HEADING AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT. I APOLOGIZE.
[12. Post-Hurricane Ian and Nicole Beach Update.]
>> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS FROM COMMISSION CENTERS WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A MOTION. >> I'LL MOVE. MOTION TO DO THE 2023 ST. JOHNS
COUNTY LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE ANSWERTH?
>> I THINK I'VE GOT WHAT I NEED, I'VE GOT MY DIRECTION. >> THANK YOU, GUYS.
WE ARE ON TO TO AGENDA ITEM NO. 12. MR. GI AMANCO.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRESENTATION LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE COAST FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND KIND OF WHERE WE ARE IN POTENTIAL PRONGS AS WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR COASTLINE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE THE ESTIMATED SAND LOSS FROM HURRICANE IAN, WHICH IS AROUND
[05:10:03]
1.9 MILLION CUBIC YARDS. JUST TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, WE LOST 1.4 MILLION IN MATTHEW.WE DO NOT HAVE THE -- ALL THE SURVEY DATA YET FOR HURRICANE NICOLE, THAT WOULD -- IT TAKES 6 TO EIGHT WEEKS TO COME IN. SO I'M ASSUMING SOMETIME IN THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY WE'LL HAVE THAT DATA. WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE FEMA MATTHEW/IRMA PROJECT, AND THIS IS JUST SHOWING THE -- WHAT THAT PROJECT WAS. IT WAS A SAND TRUCK PROJECT.
COMBINE MATTHEW AND IRMA STORMS. WE LOOKED AT -- WE DID THE EASEMENT REQUEST, AND AS I TALKED IN THE MEF MEETINGS, WE LOOKED AT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. THESE AREAS ARE THE PLACES THAT WANTED THE PRONG. IT WAS ABOUT 750,000 CUBIC YARDS OF SAND.
RIGHT NOW THE SAND HAS BEEN PLACED. THEY ARE FINALIZING SOME OF THE SEE OATS AND SOME OF THE FINAL CLEAN-UP. WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY BY JANUARY TIME FRAME, MAYBE A LITTLE AFTER TO FINALIZE SOME OF THE RESTORATION OF THE PARKING LOT AND SOME OF THE FINAL PUNCH LIST ITEMS. SO THAT IS FINISHING UP RIGHT NOW. I BROUGHT THIS SLIDE BACK IN, THIS IS THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT I SHOWED LAST TIME I WAS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD ABOUT MERCY BERMS. WE ARE STILL MOVING BOARD ANNIEIAN STUDY TO SEE WHAT'S ELIGIBLE AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANT. WE HAVE SENT THE EASEMENT REQUEST OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT 60-DAY LOCK HAS STARTED. I HAVE A COUPLE OF EASEMENTS ALREADY COME BACK TO US, BUT SOMETIME IN JANUARY OR THE BEGINNING OF THE CALENDAR YEAR I'LL COME BACK TO BOARD WITH THOSE RESULTS THAT SHOW WHAT COMMUNITIES AT LEAST GOT THE 60% LIKE I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE ON PARTICIPATION. BUT I WANTED TO SAY, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A -- NOT A SPRING COASTLINE BACK TO PRESTORM CONDITIONS BUT PROTECTIVE SAND TO PUT IN FRONT OF -- PROTECTED PROPERTIES, IMPROVED PROPERTIES TO PROTECT FROM A FIVE-YEAR STORM.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW OUR COASTLINE IS WAY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IN MATTHEW AND IRMA.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A SANDOVAL A LITTLE LESS THAN THE 750,000 IN MATTHEW AND IRMA BECAUSE OUR PROFILES ARE DIFFERENT. SO THAT'S JUST -- THE EXPECTATION OF THE COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU SAW IN FEMA, MATTHEW, IRMA, BEACH BERM, THAT'S NOT HOW MUCH SAND IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ANNIEIAN/NICOLE PROJECT YOU WOULD SEE IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE HALF OR ONE THIRD OF THAT
BECAUSE THE WAY OUR COASTLINE IS DESIGNED RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S BETWEEN THE COUNTY LINE AND THE PARK. IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS HERE'S A PROFILE AND PUT SAND ON IT.
IT TAKES SOME TIME TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE NUMBERS RELATIVELY SHORTLY HERE AND WE'LL GO AND LOOK AT SOME PROCUREMENT PROCESSES AND THEN AGAIN WHEN I COME BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR I WILL HAVE MORE OF A DEFINITE NUMBER OF COST AND PARTICIPATION RATE WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES. BUT THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'S POTENTIALLY MOVING FORWARD IN THAT AREA. WE HAVE A PONTE VEDRA BEACH RESTORATION PROJECT. THE FUTURE PROJECT -- IT'S NOT ENOUGH SAND TO WARRANT THE COST RATIO FOR A DREDGING PROJECT. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD, THE CAPPING PROJECT IS A TRUCK PROJECT. WE'LL TRY TO MINIMIZE AND LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS BUT DREDGE WE'RE BEING TOLD IS THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH SAND TO DO THAT PROJECT. PONTE VEDRA BEACH RESTORATION PROJECT, THAT IS A DREDGE PROJECT. THAT IS A PROJECT THAT WE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO, WE HAVE ALL OF THE PERMITS IN HAND READY TO GO FOR THAT PROJECT. THE BOARD AT TIME WHEN WE WERE GETTING READY TO START THE FEEMENT MA PROJECT WANTED US TO PUT THE PROJECT ON HOLD UNTIL THE FEMA PROJECT WAS COMPLETE TO SEE HOW IT HELD UP BEFORE WE MOVED FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT.
SO WE HAVE NOT MOVED FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. IT IS OF SITTING THERE.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE PERMITS TO MOVE FORWARD THIS IS FRONT THE FASTEST AND MOST SUBSTANTIAL.
A SAND WE COULD GET IN PONG A VEDRA BEACH RELATIVELY QUICKLY,. SO SOMETIME NEXT YEAR, WE COULD
[05:15:07]
SEE HAND ON THE BEACH. THERE ARE SOME FUNDING OPTIONS NECESSARY TO THIS PROJECT.WE HAVE SOME STATE APPROPRIATIONS READY. AND SOME COUNTY FUNDS ALREADY MATCHING SOME OF THE STATE FUNDS. SO WE HAVE SOME FUNDING READY, JUST NOT THE ENTIRE FUNDING OF THIS PROJECT. WE STILL HAVE TO DO EASEMENTS.
>> WHEN WE DOT DREDGE PROJECT WE WANT IT IN THE HIGH 90S. THE ARMY IS LOOKING AT 100% EASEMENTS, I WILL SAY WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGH 90S SO WE DON'T HAVE JUST HOLES, MISSING TEETH ALONG THE BEACH IT IS 2 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SAND. NOT EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME AMOUNT OF SAND, IT'S CONTOURED TO THE BEACH. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THAT PROJECT WAS $40 MILLION THE LAST ENGINEERING ESTIMATE BUT WE NOW HAVE TO DEAL WIN OPERATION THAT SO THE NUMBERS COULD BE A LITTLE HIGHER. WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET.
CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THIS PROJECT? WE'VE BEEN WORK ON THIS FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE THIS AFTERNOON, IF WE GO FORWARD, AND THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE PROJECT WHEN IT COMES TO BEACH RENOURISHMENT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REALLY HAVE THREE SOURCES OF FUNDS.
AND JOBE HAS OUTLINED THEM. THE BED TAX OR THE TOUR THEIST DEVELOPMENT TAX, THERE IS THE MSTU AND THE LEGISLATIVE FUNDING FROM TALLAHASSEE. AND BEFORE MY -- MY RECOMMENDATION IS BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS WITH A SURVEY OF THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS ALONG THE STRETCH OF BEACH, TO ASK THEM IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE, OUR POSITION IN THE PAST HAS BEEN THAT UNLESS THE HOMEOWNER WANTS TO PARTICIPATE, OUR POSITION HAS BEEN OKAY, WE WON'T. WE WON'T IMPOSE AN MSTU FEE IN YOU'RE WILLING AND WANTING TO PAY IT. WE WON'T KNOW WHAT TO SURVEY UNTILES UNTIL WE HAVE ANNAL.
WE'VE HAD A GOOD YEAR THAT WENT FROM 14 MILLION TO 22 MILLION WITH THE TAX BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING AND ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION IS COMING.
HOPEFULLY -- NEVERTHELESS, MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE DETERMINE WHAT LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION IS THIS SPRING, WE DETERMINE AS WE LOOK AT THE BED TAX BUDGET HOW MUCH REVENUE WE CAN HEAR FOR THE PONTE VEDRA BEACH PROJECT, AND THEN WE CAN DO A SURVEY OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH KNOWING HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE FROM THE LEGISLATURE, HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE FROM THE BED TAX AND THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE THE MSDU LEVY. I ALWAYS WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND THAT'S HOW WE DO IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT.
>> YOU WERE ON BOARD AND EVEN WITH ME ON WHAT WE KNOW AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'D BE
GLAD TO ADDRESS IT. >> YES, AND I'M 100% OF THE HOMEOWNERS WHO WANT TO HELP PAY FOR THE RENOURISHMENT, I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT. I THINK THAT'S AWESOME.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE OF THE TRUCKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND RUINING OUR STREETS AND FAMILIES AND OUR HOMES. SO I'D RATHER SEE IT FROM THE
OCEAN. >> AND I'M 100% WITH YOU ON THAT.
BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD DURING THE FEMA BERM ENHANCEMENT BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE FEDERAL PERMIT. NOW WE HAVE THE FEDERAL PERMIT AND NOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO OFFSHORE DREDGING WHICH I'VE BEEN WAITING ON FOR FIVE YEARS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OF DIFFICULT. SO AS WE MOVE DOWN THE BEACH WE HAVE SOUTH PONTE VEDRA BROKEN UP
[05:20:15]
INTO TWO AREAS. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL FROM THE PARK DOWN TO SARANOTA.WE HAVE POTENTIAL FOR A CAP B, AGAIN, IT'S BE KIND OF THE THEME FOR THE ENTIRE COAST.
WE HAVE THAT POTENTIAL AND STILL MOVING FORWARD ON IT. WE ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CAT G. IT IS A NON-EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURE, A PERMANENT PROJECT.
SINCE THIS SECTION BETWEEN BASICALLY R-76 AND 102 IS THE -- THIS IS WHERE THE WEEKS PROJECT, THE PROJECT WE JUST COMPLETED, THAT IS NOW CONSIDERED AN ENGINEER BEACH, WE HAVE A TEMPLET. WE CAN GO TO FEMA AND POTENTIALLY LOOK AT HAVING THEM RESTORE THAT BEACH TO THE TEMPLET. THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE -- NOT REALLY ISSUE BUT HAVE TO OVERCOME AND HAVE TO PROVE IS THAT THE SAND NO LONGER WITHIN THE SYSTEM SO WE HAVE TO GO AND SURVEY THE -- NOT JUST THE LAND WARD SIDE OF THE BEACH BUT TO DETERMINE THAT IT'S NOW A NEAR SHORE SYSTEM. THEY CONSIDER THAT SAND STILL THERE, YOU DON'T GET A CHANCE TO CLAIM THAT. BUT IF WE CAN SHOW THAT THAT SAND IS NOT WITHIN THE NEAR SHORE SYSTEM OR ON THE BEACH, THEN WE CAN CLAIM THAT SAND AND GET THE TEMPLET BROUGHT BACK -- TO GIVE BACK TO THE TEMPLET. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING FOR, A LONGER TERM PROJECT. THAT IS NOT A REALLY QUICK CAT B PROJECT. WE'LL GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, THE APPROVAL PROCESS AND THE BOARD WILL HAVE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF ASSURANCE OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS AS WE GO THROUGH THERE. WE WILL HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH FEMA AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE BEACH. IF YOU KIND OF PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN ARMY CORPS PROJECT WHERE THE ARMY CORPS PROJECT HAS A TEMPLET AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THEY COME BACK AND FIX THE TEMPLET. FEMA IS KIND OF LIKE OUR ARMY CORPS FIX IF WE CAN PROVE THE SAND IS NOT THERE. SO THAT'S THAT CAT G. WE ALSO HAVE A STUDY GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THIS AREA, AND THIS IS -- WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL OF PONTE VEDRA.
WE ARE MEETING WITH THE ARMY CORPS ON THE 13TH. HOWEVER WE JUST FOUND OVER OVER -- FOUND OUT OVER THE LAST DAY OR SO THAT THEY ARE LEANING TOWARDS A POLICY SIGNIFICANCE DECISION THAT IS GOING TO BASICALLY CHANGE THE WAY THE CORPS DOES FEASIBILITY STUDIES OR PROJECTS. NOT JUST IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY BUT FOR THE CORPS.
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT BRINGING IN THE COST OF EASES FOR THE STRETCH THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO PROTECT IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AS A COST RATIO BASICALLY AGAINST THE DAMAGES. BE BREAKING IT DOWN, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE'S $90 MILLION IN EASEMENTS THAT THE CORPTS IS GOING TO PUT INTO THEIR CALCULATIONS IN THIS STRETCH OF BEACH THAT WOULD BASICALLY FACILITATE THIS PROJECT TO BE NON-VOID.
THEY WOULD PULL BACK FROM IT. SO WE JUST FOUND THAT OUT WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THAT THEY ARE LEANING TOWARDS THAT, AND SO I WILL LOOK TO ASK IF I HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUEST A LETTER BE SENT FROM THE CHAIR TO THE CORPS SAYING THAT WE DON'T AGREE WITH THIS POSITION.
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO REALLY BRIEF YOU ON THIS. WE JUST FOUND THIS OUT THAT THEY'RE LEANING TOWARDS IT BUT WILL BRING THIS UP AGAIN AT TEND TO SEE IF THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S CONSENSUS TO DO THAT. WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE BEST TO THE CORPS AND NOT GO THROUGH A PROCESS, THAT WE'VE ALREADY SPENT MONEY, TIME AND EFFORT ON A POLICY DECISION THAT
IN OUR OPINION DOES NOT REALLY MAKE SENSE. >> I WANT TO SORT OF BREAK THIS DOWN IT HASN'T MADE ANY SENSE REALLY, TO BE HONEST. THE CHORPS IS NOT SAYING THAT WE KNOW TO COME UP WITH $90 MILLION. BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY 40 YEARS OF DOING THESE PROJECTS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO ASSIGN A VALUE TO THESE AND THAT VALUE IS $90 MILLION. SO WHEN THE COURT GOES BOARD A BEACH RENOURISHMENT IT'S BASED ON WHAT'S CALLED THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
IF IT'S ABOVE ONE, THEY TEND TO GO FORWARD, IF IT'S BELOW ONE, THEY DON'T.
IF YOU HAD 90 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE COAST COST, THERE WILL NOT ONLY BE A BEACH RENOURISHMENT
[05:25:01]
PROJECT NOT ONLY IN ST. JOHNS BUT IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK WE'RE HAVING A MEETINGTHIS WEEK -- >> YEAH, THE 13TH, NEXT WEEK. >> SO ANYWAY, IT'S -- YOU HEARD HIM RIGHT, IT'S CRAZY. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE REDEDUCTMENT THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO US. THE PREDICAMENT THAT'S BEING
PRESENTED TO US. >> SO AS WE MOVE DOWN THE BEACH INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF SOUTH PONTE VEDRA, WE CALL THIS A COASTAL STORM MANAGEMENT AREA.
THIS IS THE AREA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AN ARMY CORPS PROJECT AND THIS IS A RECENT PROJECT SO THIS GOES EXACTLY TO WHAT COMMISSIONER DEAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THEY DID NOT POSE THOSE REGULATIONS ON THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS IN THE SAME STRETCH OF BEACH BUT IMPOSING IT ON THIS NEW PROJECT. SO WITH THAT SAID, THOUGH, THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE OF THE NOR EASTERS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPACT AGAIN THE DAMAGE PIECE OF IT, THE EMERGENCY PIECE OF THIS, AND IT'S GONNA BE FEDERALLY FUNDED FOR THIS AREA, AND THEY'RE COMING TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION SOMETIME THIS YEAR, I WOULD SAY BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, OR EARLY FLL TIME FRAME, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS RIGHT NOW BUT FEDERALLY FUNDED THROUGH THE CORPS. JUST SOUTH OF THAT IS A SMALL SECTION OF BEACH, RELATIVE TO THE OTHER ONES I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BUT IN THIS AREA THE ONLY THING WE HAVE POTENTIALLY HAPPENING IS THE CAT B PROJECT. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS ON THE BOOKS FOR THIS. I WANTED TO QUICKLY TALK ABOUT CORPSIS POINT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ELIGIBLE FOR A FEMALE PROJECT AREA BUT WE DO LOOK AT IT.
LOG AT OPTIONS TO HELP STABILIZE THE CORPSIS POINT, KIND OF THE TIP THERE.
SO WE HAVE SOME GOOD OPTIONS ON THE BOOKS IF THE BOARD SO CHOOSES TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE CORPSIS POINT. SO YOU LOOK AT A $10, $15 MILLION PROJECT, MORE OF A HARD STRUCTURE, TO HELP STABILIZE THE BEACH. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE BOARD HAS ALREADY APPROVED AT CORPUS POINT DRIVE, IF YOU CAN PICTURE A HOUSE ON THE ANSWERED THAT HAS THE SEAWALL AND JUST TO THE EAST OF IT THERE'S ROCK. WE ARE GOING TO CONNECT THOSE TWO HARSH STRUCTURES WITH THIS SEAWALLST NOT GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF THE FLOODING PROBLEMS AT CORPUS POINT BUT SHOULD HELP. AND AS WE MOVE SOUTH INTO THE SOUTH OF THE INLET'S, WE HAVE THE SHORE PROTECTION PROJECT. THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER CORPS PROJECT.
THIS IS ALSO GOING TO BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME. WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECTS OF THE NORTH, THE ARMY CORPS IS LOOKING AT BASICALLY THE PUTTING ONE BID OUT FOR BOTH THESE PROJECTS AND HOPEFULLY THEY DO IT TOGETHER. THAT'S THE COURSE PLAN.
SO THIS ALSO WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE CORPS AND CONSTRUCTED SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.
SO AS WE MOVE SOUTH, WE SEPARATE BUTLER AND CRESENT. THEY ARE -- TOGETHER WE DO SEPARATE THEM AT THE 206, IF YOU WILL, LINE. STATE ROAD 206.
THESE TWO AREAS WE DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CAT B PROJECT IN THE MATTHEW/IRMA PROJECT.
THE RESIDETS DID NOT WANT -- THEY DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROJECT.
WE HAD VERY LOW EASEMENT ACCEPTANCE. I WOULD SAY IN THE 20 TO 30% RANGE. HOWEVER, CLOSER TOWARD AS YOU WERE, WE DID HAVE ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE OF RESIDENTS THAT WANTED IT, WE WERE ABLE TO -- IT JUST MADE STONES DO THAT STRETCH, NOT JUST ONESIES TWOSIES BUT A CONTINUED STRETCH OF SAND AND SO WE WE DID IT IN THE SUMMER HOUSE PROJECT. THAT HELD UP WELL BUT HAD SEVERAL STORMS THAT TOOK THAT SAND AWAY BUT YOU CAN SEE REMNANTS OF THE PROJECT STILL THERE.
SUMMERHAVEN IS -- WE BROKE IT UP INTO 2. WE HAVE SUMMERHAVEN NORTH, WHICH
[05:30:02]
IS JUST SOUTH OF THE INLET, AND IF YOU'VE DRIVEN OVER THE A1A, YOU SEE THE SAND JUST TO THE LEFT THERE IF YOU'RE HEADING SOUTH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SUMMER HAVEN NORTH, THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A CAT B PROJECT. AGAIN, IN THE MATTHEW/IRMA PROJECT, THE RESIDENTS DID NOT WANT IT SO WE DIDN'T GO DOWN THERE, THAT'S JUST NORTH OF THE ROCK PREVENTMENT IS THIS THIS EVENING WE'RE HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS TO DEPUTIES STUDY AND THIS IS THE STEP WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT THEIR IDEAS TO US.AND SO PRESENT THEIR IDEAS OR AND THEN WE'LL SHOW ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
WHEN YOU GO BACK TO IRMA AND MATTHEW WHEN THE ROAD WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, WE WENT TO FEMA AND SAW THE CAT C, WHICH IS A ROAD PROJECT. FEMA CAME BACK AND DENIED THAT PROJECT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ROAD WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THAT THEY COULD NOT USE FEDERAL FOUND REBUILDED A ROAD IN THE HIGH HAZARD AREA THAT THIS WAS IN.
SO WE CONVINCED FEMA TO ALTER THE PROJECT TO A CAT G, WHICH IS BASICALLY, AS I MENTIONED EARLY, MORE OF A TEMPLET TYPE OF BEACH. THAT PROJECT WAS $1.6 MILLION VEGETATIVE DUNE ON THE EAST OF THE SIDE THAT WE HAVE DOWN THERE. AND AS WE RECALL IT WAS GONE WITH THE FIRST NOR EASTER WHICH WAS WITHIN A MONDAY OF IT BEING PLACED DOWN THERE.
THOSE TWO PROJECTS COULD HAPPEN. I WILL BRING IT BACK AS WE TALK MORE FOR CAT B PROJECT FOR THE ENTIRE COAST. WHAT I WANT TO SAY WITH MANAGER TREE REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS SENDING A LETTER TO THE RESIDENTS DOWN THERE, ASKING ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A BUY-OUT PROGRAM IF EITHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, SOME COMBINATION OF FUNDS COMES TOGETHER TO BUY THOSE RESIDENTS OUT. RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO FUND.
BUT I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHO WANT TO BE BOUGHT OUT. WE'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME TO A GOOD AGREEMENT YET. SO WHEN I SAY MANAGER TREE RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO'S DOWN THERE, WHAT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST IN THAT PROGRAM AND WE HAVE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
TWO THINGS I LIKE TO POINT OUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WE HAD ONE WAS WE HAD TO MAINTAIN OF, PROVIDE THE ROAD WHY IT WAS THERE AS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THE DAILY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. HOWEVER, IF THE CATASTROPHIC WEATHER CAME IN AND THE ROAD WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, OUR -- WE HAD A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO TRY TO FIND FUNDING TO REPAIR OR TO REPLACE OR TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, A ROAD BACK. I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED BOTH OF THESE THINGS. WE MAINTAINED THE ROAD AND AFTER THE STORM THERE'S NO MORE ROAD THERE. WE HAVE TRIED FEMA AS WE'VE GONE TO CAT C PROJECT, WE'VE LOOKED FOR OTHER FUNDING, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. TRYING TO GET MACHINE DOWN THERE, THERE'S NOT MONEY THERE. AND SO I JUST AGAIN WANTED TO MENTION THAT THERE.
AND MY FINAL -- OR MY ASK. AGAIN, THERE'S TWO ASKS. AND THE FIRST ASK IS I'M LOOKING FOR FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE BASELINE SURVEYS OF ALL THE BEACHES.
SO WE FLIGHT LIGHTAR AND DO UNDERWATER SURVEYS. I USUALLY FUND THEM IN MY OWN DEPARTMENT FUNDS, ONE PER YEAR, BUT WITH TWO STORMS I DIDN'T BUDGET FOR TWO.
SO I NEED THAT BASELINE TO MOVE FORWARD. IT HELPS NOT PHONE WE DO FEMA PROJECTS, IT HELPS IN ANY REALLY OTHER PROJECTS. IF SOMETHING COMES AVAILABLE AND WE KNOW TO SHOW WHAT DAMAGE WAS, THESE SURVEYS GIVE US THAT DATA. AND THEN THE SECOND ASK, AGAIN, AS WE JUST FOUND OUT THE LAST DAY OR SO, THE FEMA ASK -- EXCUSE ME, THE ARMY CORPS, THAT I WOULD REQUEST A CONSENSUS FOR THE CHAIR TO SEND A LETTER TO THE CORPS ON OUR POSITION THAT WE DISAGREE WITH THE EASEMENT ACQUISITION NUMBERS BE PUT INTO OUR COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR
[05:35:07]
OUR PONTE VEDRA PROJECTS. AND DAMON IS HANDLING OUT A LETTER THAT WE STARTED DRAFTING TODAY. AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. I DON'T THINK YOU MENTIONED THEUP TO HALL MEETING TONIGHT. >> YES, AT 6:00 AT CATHOLIC CHURCH ON ANASTASIA ISLAND...
WE LEARNED FROM THE BIGGER AUDITORIUM. AT THIS TIME THE BOARD WILL HEAR
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM NO. 12. >> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY AT FIRST I GOT INVOLVED. IS THERE A -- SO, THIS WAS A HOUSE MY SISTER BOUGHT IN SOUTH PONTE VEDRA IN 2006. AND YOU CAN SEE THE DUNE STRUCTURE IS PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S PRETTY LONG. AND SHE WAS PRETTY HAPPY THERE UNTIL THE TWO STORMS CAME.
AND I'LL JUST SHOW YOU. SHE ENDED UP SELLING IT. AND THIS IS THE SAME HOUSE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT BEACH WAS ENGINEERED. SO SHE HAD ZERO BEACH WHATSOEVER. IT WAS A DISASTER. CAME IN HER HOUSE TWICE ON BOTH STORMS. AND AT THE TIME SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD PLENTY OF BEACH AND THAT'S WHAT GOT ME INVOLVED IN THIS ENTIRE PROJECT. YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN TO EVERY BEACH IN OUR COMMUNITY IF WE DON'T WATCH OUT. SO I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE NORTH FLORIDA AREA MY WHOLE LIFE AND WE USED TO GO TO JACKS BEACH, AND IT WAS PROBLEMS AND A SEAWALL AND THEY GOT A RENOURISHMENT 50 YEARS AGO. I'M DATING MYSELF, BUT IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE BEEN GREAT FOR THEM. IT'S GREAT FOR AMELIA ISLAND.
THEY WERE JUST GOING INTO THE WATER AND THEY HAVE A GREAT BEACH NOW.
IT'S TIME FOR PONTE VEDRA. THIS WAS A RECENT PICK PICTURE I TOOK.
THIS IS THE TRASH OF IMPORTANT A VEDRA RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHAT EVERY BEACH WILL LOOK LIKE. AND IT'S A JEWEL OF OUR COUNTY. 40% OF OUR TAX REVENUE COMES IN FROM THAT ONE DISTRICT, ABOUT, AND WE REALLY NEED TO PROTECT IT.
AND SO I'M IMPLORING TO YOU DO THIS. THE REASON I THINK THE FAIRNESS WILL COME IN PLAY AND WE DID A LOT TO GET THE BEDS RAISED. YOU KNOW -- THE BED TAX RAISED.
SO FAR IT'S TIME TO PAY BECAUSE PONTE VEDRA BRINGS IN $4 MILLION OF BED TAX.
BEFORE WE STARTED ALL WE GOT BACK WAS $100,000, TOTALLY UNFAIR.
SO TIME TO INVEST ABOUT $2 MILLION INTO THIS BEACH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE THIS. THIS IS WHAT WE WILL END UP WITH ACROSS THE ENTIRE PONTE VEDRA AND ALL OF THE PROPERTY VALUES WILL FALL AND ALL THE TOURISTS WON'T COME, AND THAT'S WHAT'S PAYING FOR A LOT OF IT. WE WILL GET AN MSGU BUT HAS TO BE REASONABLE.
WE PAY A LOT OF TAXES ON THAT BEACH. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I PAY, BECAUSE IT'S EMBARRASSING HOW MUCH I HAVE TO PAY FOR PROPERTY TAX.
BUT, ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO LEAVE WITH THAT PICTURE AND JUST SAY I LIVE BETWEEN MICKLER'S AND IGUANA, AND THIS IS A BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC. I SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VISITING THOSE BEACHES. I DO. I WALK BOTH WAYS, IT'S SO IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, MS. ANGELO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS LAURA ROBINS, PONTE VEDRA BOULEVARD. SINCE JULY OF 2021 FOR 17 MONTHS, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, 52 WEEKS A YEAR, I HAVE LIVED IN DIRT, DISARRAY AND CONSTANT NOISE.
[05:40:05]
MY HOME HAS BEEN BASICALLY UNLIVEABLE. AND THE OUTSIDE IS WORSE.I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE COUNTY WAS ABLE TO CONDUCT A $33 MILLION MULTI-YEAR DUNE RESTORATION PROJECT OUT OF A ONE-ACRE RESIDENTIAL LOT ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAIVERS THE COUNTY GAVE THEMSELVES TO DO THIS, IMAWTS NOT IN CONFORM ANCE OF ZONING LAWS. BUT I AM SPEAKING SO THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
PUBLIC PROJECTS SHOULD BE DONE OUT OF PUBLIC ACCESS. NO ONE RESIDENT OR GROUP RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE UNDER THE CONDITIONS THE COUNTY CREATED.
I'M NOW GOING TO PLAY YOU BRIEF SNIPPETS OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN MY HOUSE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. NOT TO MENTION BEING IN EXCESS OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY HOME AND PROPERTY WHICH I HAVE APPEARED HERE MANY TIMES AND NOBODY HAS WORKED WITH ME TO RESOLVE IT. THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE INSIDE MY HOUSE ON A DAILY BASIS.
NEVER HAS BEEN, NOT IN 17 MONTHS. >> AND LET'S TRY OUTSIDE...
WHERE MY CHILDREN PLAY. WOULD YOU LIKE THIS? >> THIS IS THE NOISE LEVEL STANDING OUTSIDE MY FRONT DOOR. DO YOU LIKE IT? COMMISSIONER DEAN, I ADDRESS THE BOARD AS A WHOLE. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS LIKE THAT? EVERY DAY...
968 PONTE VEDRA BOULEVARD ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT MY NEIGHBOR JUST PLAYED THAT YOU NOISE FROM. AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS LIKE. I KNOW YOU'VE PROBABLY ALL BEEN THERE BEFORE BUT IT'S A WOODED STREET, VERY QUIET RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS LOOKING SOUTH FROM MY PROPERTY. THIS IS LOOKING NORTH FROM MY PROPERTY.
IT'S A VERY NICE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHAT HAPPENED, FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I GO ANY FARTHER, I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M FULL SUPPORT OF A BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT. AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE BERM PROJEC. I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY NEED IT. WE KNOW THE SAND, WE KNOW TO PROTECT THE BEACHES AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW YOU CAN TAKE A PUBLIC PROJECT AND PUT IT ON A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT. THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE LOT. THE LOWER HALF OF THIS LOT IS PONTE VEDRA BOULEVARD.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE STREET THERE. IT'S JUST CUT OFF. THE TOP HALF OF IT IS OCEAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT. AND THOSE ARE HOME ON EITHER SIDE OF IT.
THE HOME THAT WAS THERE IS GONE. YOU CAN SEE IT HAD A CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY.
THAT'S OLD WOOD, 40 FOOT HIGH BERM AND STRONG OAKS AND SO FORTH THAT ARE IN THERE, LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING AFTERWARDS. THIS IS FROM THE BEACH LOOKING BACKWARDS. THE CONTRACTOR, CLEAR-CUT, ALL OF THAT, AND IF YOU NOTICE ON
[05:45:01]
THE SIDES, THE BERM IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHERE THEY ARE.WE ARE NOW AT WATER LEVEL WITH THIS, AND IF YOU LOOK ON THE SIDES HERE, THIS IS THE HEIGHT OF WHERE THE HOUSES ARE. THIS IS WHAT THIS CONTRACTOR DID.
YOU'VE ALL BUILT A SANDCASTLE WHEN YOU WERE A KID AND I BET YOU ALL HAVE PUT THE LITTLE WALL IN FRONT OF YOUR SAND CASTLE AND IT WAS REALLY COOL UNTIL THE WAVE CAME UP AND GOT BEHIND THAT WALL AND YOUR CASTLE GOT KNOCKE DOWN. THIS CONTRACT HERE KNOCKED DOWN THE WALL. STORM SURGE WILL GO RIGHT THROUGH THAT AREA.
THEY HAVE SINCE PUT SAND BACK BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS OVER BUT IT IS LIGHT SAND.
THERE'S NO TREES, THERE'S NO ROOTS HOLDING ANYTHING IN THERE MY ASK TO YOU IS DON'T SEND A LETTER TO THE PEOPLE, LOOK THE BEACH WHICH IS MISLEADING. IT SAYS IN ORDER FOR FOR THE COUNTY TO ACCESS THE DUNES DURING THIS POTENTIAL PROJECT THE BEACH WOULD NOT BE ACCESSED BY YOUR PROPERTY FROM YOUR ROAD OR ACROSS THE STREET OR ON THE SIDES OF THE YARDS.
IT'S MISLEADING. EVERYBODY WILL SIGN THIS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT GOT
PASSED. >> THANK YOU, SIR. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING YOUR
MATERIALS TO THE COUNT CLERK. >> SURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.
>> MY NAME IS CHRISTIE AUSTIN. I'M AT 829 PONTE VEDRA BOULEVARD, PRIOR TO THAT I LIVED AT THE BREAKERS AND PRIOR TO THAT I STAYED AT MY PARENTS' HOME AND PRIOR TO THAT I STAYED AT MY GRANDFATHER'S HOME WHICH WAS 337 PONTE VEDRA BOULEVARD. I'VE BEEN COMING TO THE BEACH OR LIVING AT THE BEACH SINCE I WAS 1 YEARS OF AGE. I'M NOW TURNING 74.
AND I LOVE THE BEACHES. THIS WAS THE JOY OF MY CHILDHOOD.
I CAN'T TELL YOU COMING DOWN THAT DOUBLE LANE ROAD FROM JACKSONVILLE AND THEN TURNING RIGHT WAS THE MOST EXCITING THING I THINK THAT HAPPENED TO ME EVERY YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE OR HOW I WOULD HAVE GROWN UP WITHOUT SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS I'VE WATCHED THE BEACH DISAPPEAR, AND IF ANYBODY THINKS THAT INACTION IS BEST THING TO DO, I CAN'T IT. I WATCHED IT JUST DISAPPEAR AND IF WE'RE NOT EXPEDIENT IT WILL BE TOO LATE. BECAUSE THE BREAKERS, IT CAME INTO THE YARD AT BACK AND JUST CUT IT AWAY, AND THERE ABOUT -- SUPPOSE -- AND I'M SURE THOSE PEOPLE WATCHING IT THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE BREAKERS AND I COULDN'T -- I COULD WEEP FOR THEM. IT'S NOT AS BAD WHERE WE ARE, WE WATCHED THE OCEAN COME IN EVERY DAY AND THE BEACHES GETTING LESS AND LESS, ALMOST DAILY. I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS, I DON'T MIND PAYING TAXES. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO PAY TAXES TO GET SERVICES FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUT IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET AND IF YOU PAY THOSE TAXES ALL THEIR LIFE, WHY CAN'T THE BEACH BE RESTORED. WHY CAN'T PEOPLE THE PUT THEIR MINDS TO IT AND DO IT.
AND IN A WAY THAT HOPEFULLY DOESN'T CAUSE AS MUCH DISTRESS AS TO THE TWO NEIGHBORS DOWN BY MICKLER'S. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE EASEMENT PAPER WE GOT.
I DON'T WANT TO SIGN IT INTO PER PATUITY. I THINK IT SHOULD SAY IN FIVE YEARS WE CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. THAT YOU ARE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK BUT IMPORTANT ONE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE YOUR TAX MONEY COMES FROM. I'M HAPPY TO PAY IT BUT LIKE TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MA'AM NOT QUITE AS EASY IF YOU'RE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRYING TO GET IT DONE, TRUST ME. FOR SIX YEARS IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING PROCESS.
>> NICOLE CROSBY. I TOO AM LOOKING TO THE REAL BEESH RENOURISHMENT.
IT'S BECOME LIKE AN ANNUAL RITUAL SADLY FOR ME TO REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT THE GEO TUBES.
I KNOW WE SAW THEM BRIEFLY EARLIER BUT THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE WITH IN PONTE VEDRA.
[05:50:08]
NOT ONLY ARE THEY AN EYESORE BUT A MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS COMMISSION -- I REALIZE IT'S DEP'S PROBLEM BUT ALSO THE COMMISSION'S PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS COMMISSION DID PROVIDE -- OF THE LANDING, THE USE OF MICKLER'S AS A LANDING.AND SO THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME DEGREE OF COMMISSIONER APPROVAL OF THE GEO TUBES.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY COMPLETELY PRIVATELY FUNDING SO WHEN WE SEE THEM SITTING HERE EXPOSED YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND I REMEMBER SO WELL THE HOMEOWNER GETTING UP HERE AND SAKE, BASICALLY, THAT WE'RE NEVER GONNA SEE EXPOSED GEO TUBES.
WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO SEE THEM. THEY'RE GOING TO COVER THEM IMMEDIATELY. THEY SAID THAT, I HAVE IT ON VIDEO.
AND THEY HAVEN'T. THEY JUST LEAVE IT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS ON END, AND I'M IN TOUCH WITH DEP ABOUT IT, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS GIVING THEM SOME KIND OF LITTLE EXTRA THING, WITH, WE'RE GIVING THEM ANOTHER SIX MONTHS FOR THIS OR THAT, MEANWHILE WE'RE LIVING WITH THE EYESORE, A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, AND I'M ASKING YOU AS THE COUNTY WHETHER IT'S STAFF OR COMMISSIONERS OR SOMEONE, TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON DEP, TO CONTACT DEP AND SAY ENFORCE YOUR PREMISES OR GET THESE TUBES REMOVED. THEY SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS.
THIS IS BECOMING THE NORM. THIS SHOULDN'T BE THE NORM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> I AGREE. MY LIFE FRIEND DAVID THUNDERSHELL QUEEN PUT IT BEST WHEN HE SAID DEP STANDS FOR DON'T EXPECT PROTECTION.
WE KNOW THE NATIONAL PARK'S PROTECTION, THEY MANAGE LAND, THEY MANAGE HISTORIC RESOURCES, THEY WOULD DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. I DO NOT TRUST THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND WHEN YOU RESEARCH THE ARMY CORPS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE TO OUR COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY WEST OF THE 100TH MERIDIAN, THEY'RE HORRIBLE AND NOT REALLY ACCOUNTABLE BUT IF YOU GET THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE INVOLVED, THEY KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THE COASTLINE AND YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE NATIONAL SEASHORES THAT WE HAVE, AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB. WE KNOW INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION. WE HAD IN SAINTS COUNTY UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO -- WE HAD IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD IT, IT'S BEEN A ABOLISHED.
OUR POORLY DRAFTED CURRENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLAN DOESN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT ANY OF THESE ISSUES. LET ME QUOTE WHAT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT SAID, HE WAS DEALING WITH PROBLEMS LIKE OUR OWN TIME, AND HE SAID, GOVERNMENTS CAN ERROR, PRESIDENTS DO MAKE MISTAKES BUT THE IMMORTAL DAUNTE TELLS US THAT THE DIVINE JUSTICE WEIGHS THE SINS OF THE COLD BLOODED AND THE SINS OF THE WARMHEARTED IN DIFFERENT SCALES. BETTER THE OCCASIONAL FAULTS OF A GOVERNMENT THAT LIVES IN THE SPIRIT OF CHARITY THAN THE CONSTANT OMISSION OF A GOVERNMENT FROZEN IN THE ICE OF ITS OWN INDIFFERENCE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE, FOLKS. OUR GOVERNMENT HERE ST. JOHNS COUNTY DOESN'T GIVE A FIG, AND I'M GLAD I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HUNTER CONRAD DOESN'T RETURN PHONE CALLS FROM.
HE WAS GIVING ME A COMPLEX. BUT WE KNOW A BETTER STAFF. WE KNOW A STAFF THAT IS COLLECTED AND DIRECTED AND REDIRECTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS TO DO THEIR JOBS AND NOT JUST MEETING AFTER MEETING, OH, THE STAFF DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. NO, THEY DON'T DO A GOOD JOB.
THEY REALLY, REALLY DON'T. AND THE NATIONAL PARK AND SEASHORE IS THE ANSWER.
PEOPLE IN PONTE VEDRA KNOW IT. PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY KNOW IT.
I THINK THERE'S AN IDEOLOGICAL PROBLEM. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT TO WORK. THERE'S SOME PEOPLE FOR ANYLOGICAL -- FOR IDEOLOGICAL REASONS THEY WOULD LIKE THE GOVERNMENT TO FAIL. I'M NOT WITHIN OF THEM.
I KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT CAN WORK, AND I'VE SEEN FOR INSTANCE OUR AMPHITHEATER, THEY WERE GOING TO CONTRACT IT OUT TO A BUNCH OF GRIFTERS, AND AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAD NEVER EVEN PLANNED A CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY WAS GOING TO BE GIVEN THE MANAGEMENT THERE.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WISELY SAID NO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES DO IT.
WE EXPECT EVERYBODY TO WORK HARD BUT NEED THE STAFF TO WORK SMARTER AND NEED THEM TO BE MORE ETHICAL AND NEED TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND WORK WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
WE KNOW TO HAVE A PRESENTATION BY DEP HERE AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HERE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. SLATER. >> HI THERE.
[05:55:03]
>> 2092 ST. PIPER COURT ON PONTE VEDRA BEEF. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY FOR 10 YEARS. TWO CHILDREN BOTH IN PONTE VEDRA HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN ADVISING PUBLIC OFFICIALS MOSTLY IN FLORIDA REGARDING DISASTER RECOVERY AND THE VARIOUS FEDERAL DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAMS. I'M A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND PERSONALLY SECURED AND MANAGED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANTS.
HOW DO WE PROVE THAT -- WHAT THE PREVIOUS DISASTER CONDITIONS WERE, WE HAVE SURVEYS THAT WOULD HELP US ARGUE OUR CASE. THE FEDERAL CALL SHARE FOR IAN IS CURRENTLY 75%.
THE NON-FEDERAL COST SHARE 25% IS SPLIT 50/50 BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY WILL PAY 12.5% OF ITS OVERALL FEMA CLAIMS. LAST WEEK I WAS AT THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE WHERE I LEARNED THAT THE STATE IS PURSUING FOR THE FEDERAL CONFERENCE TO BE INCREASED FROM 75% TO 100% THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. IT'S NOT GUARANTEED TO HAPPEN THIS TIME BUT IT HAPPENED IN
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.