Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-09-2010 Special-BRP, Merrill Lynch lawsuit — reading text

follow the " subzones" within Special Redevelopment Area then went over the 11 areas within the City ( 12 including residential). She explained an expanded bonus system will relax planning standards in exchange for specified public benefits in designated areas and the Land Development Code will tailor the bonus system to suit each Special Planning Area. She noted the performance standards are the key to implementation of planning incentives. She went over the three levels of performance standards categorized as: standard grade development with " by- right" standard development criteria; staple development with and pedestrian design standards; and added density and/or intensity for building design standards prime development with the highest density and/or intensity for attaining a heightened level of amenities beyond staple development levels. In conclusion, she said staff would like to hear any ideas from the Panel. 15- Business Retention Panel October 22, 2009 SPECIAL PLANNING AREAS In response to the question on where the changes stand in the process, Ms. Abell explained the Future Land Use Element that establishes the Special Planning Areas has gone to the Municipal Planning Board who recommended approval and will go to City Council on November 24`h, then the entire Comprehensive Plan amendments will be sent to the State who will have 90 days to respond and then the City will have two months to respond. She anticipated it will be spring before the Land Development Code can be changed. She noted the City is able to move forward with the Economic Implementation Plan and staff is working on getting the plan to Council so staff can start . implementing it. It was questioned if there was room for flexibility on the list of incentives. Ms. Abell explained there will be a finite list spelled out in the Land Development Code so the developers will be able to see in black and white what works for their project. She said the only flexibility would be for a Planned Unit Development because that allows the developer to master plan that area; the Land Development Code does not allow flexibility when it comes to negotiation. It was questioned whether having the Performance Standards would eliminate the need for a project to go before the CRA or the MPB. Ms. Abell explained the Performance Standards are only an instrument to help the developer in planning their development; it is completely separate from the Development Review and it does not address who reviews what. She said the Municipal Planning Board and the CRA have certain review authority which will be unchanged. Mr. Rice expressed the desire to cut through some of the " red tape" and thought it needed to be addressed in their recommendation to City Council. The- City Manager explained the Municipal Planning Board is constituted as a result of State law_ and review authority is given by Council in the Land Development Code; the CRA is constituted by State Statute which does not grant authority to review projects and the Interlocal Agreement between the City and the CRA does not grant review authority, the authority exists in the Land Development Code. He said the reason some Boards have review authority is by Council approving the Land Development Code that has the requirement. He pointed out that staff is charged with reviewing projects to make sure they are consistent with the Code, and if there is no statutory requirement then he did not see anything that would bar the Panel from making a recommendation. OPEN FORUM WITH BUSINESS OWNERS Bob Hudgens, Broker with Coastal Realty and member of the Board of Adjustment, discussed his thoughts on what would make the City a little bit more business friendly. He talked about the change he made to a sign which made it non -compliant, showed photos of non -compliant signs in the City that will have to be brought into compliance by 2011, and said to retrofit the signs will be very expensive. He believed the City needs to take a serious look at the sign Code. He mentioned the difficulty one of his tenants experienced in trying to get water turned on. He then discussed his experience with the review process before the CRA which he believed became subjective rather than objective. When asked his opinion on architectural standards to guide development he did believe in giving guidelines as long as they are still able to make money. The City Manager explained when a legislative body decides to change the sign law they have to inform everyone that their sign will have to be brought into compliance by a certain date, and gives the business owner the opportunity to write it off their taxes. 16- Business Retention Panel FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Rice expressed he is still interested in understanding all the City Boards /Committees and how much staff time is spent supporting the various groups. He added his interest in receiving information on which groups are required by State Statute, which groups can have their operations taken over by Council, and if it would become an obstacle if Council were to become the CRA. Mr. Siner discussed business retention and giving incentives to businesses to come to Fort Walton Beach, such as a rebate on water tap fees, permitting fees, etc. He brought up the issue of pedestrian and bicycle friendly areas and parking of cars and mentioned his clients dislike giving up land for stormwater because there is no direct benefit. He commented if the City could invest in infrastructure to build a parking garage then the businesses could maximize the square footage on their property, then the businesses will generate tax dollars that will help pay for a parking garage. The Chairman extended the invitation to any business person who would like to speak with the Panel and asked the members to advise staff of anyone they know. NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER MEETINGS Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, there was a consensus that the next meeting will at 5: 30 p.m., and the Panel will skip the December meeting then 19th be held Thursday, November meet again in January 2010 to compile the information for a recommendation to City Council. ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7: 00 pm. ddm 17-  MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS RETENTION AD HOC PANEL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 INTRODUCTION The meeting of the Business Retention Ad Hoc Panel of the City of Fort Walton Beach was held on Thursday, September 24, 2009, at 5: 30 pm in the Council Chambers of Fort Walton Beach City Hall with the following members present: Barry Stafford, CEO of Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Chairman; Andy Corbin, President, Technical Services Laboratory; Tom Rice, Owner of Magnolia Grill and member of the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority, Vice- Chairman; Brian Rosales, Banker; Gulf South Bank; Mark Siner, President and Owner of Choctaw Engineering Absent: Jane Briere, Director, UWF Small Business Development Center Also Present: Robert Mearns, City Manager; Michael Beedie, City Engineer CALL TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order at 5: 30 pm and roll call was taken. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Chairman led in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Rosales moved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Corbin seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Corbin, Rice, Rosales, Siner, and Stafford in favor ( Briere absent). APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Rice moved to approve the minutes of August 27, 2009. Mr. Corbin seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Corbin, Rice, Rosales, Siner, and Stafford in favor (Briere absent). DISCUSSION OF TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Michael Beedie, City Engineer, explained the purpose of the Transportation Element is to establish a multi -modal transportation plan for the City and to identify key bikeway, pedestrian way, mass transit, and road improvements needed within the city and to consider funding mechanisms for implementation. Mr. Beedie informed the City is currently amending the Comprehensive Plan based on the 2008 Evaluation and Appraisal Report ( EAR), and the changes in the Transportation Element represent updates in order to implement recommendations of the EAR. Mr. Beedie noted this is a discussion item for the Panel and there is no Staff recommendation. Mr. Siner discussed the problem with the roadways and the problem of capacity on roadways. Mr. Beedie informed the City has recently been designated a transportation concurrency exception area, which means the way daily trips are calculated will change from peak hours to the number of trips in and out of a driveway, and the focus has shifted towards a pedestrian friendly environment. Mr. Stafford noted that several communities have traffic signals that count the number of seconds pedestrians have to cross the roadway. Mr. Beedie reported the City is in discussion with FDOT for grant funding to have something similar in the downtown area to make it pedestrian friendly. 18- Business Retention Panel September 24, 2009 TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT ( CONT) Discussion included the fact that the City- may not have enough density. in the urban area to utilize a multi -modal program and that zoning needs to be looked at to enable greater pedestrian traffic. Mr. Beedie informed that the Future Land Use Element ( FLUE) is working toward creating special planning areas in the City where densities will increase. Mr. Rice discussed the Corridor Authority, which- represents eight counties, and their efforts to redirect traffic on Highway 98, and noted that Okaloosa County has no representative at this time. Mr. Rice noted the tools are out there for the Authority to do a study if the City and the Council would make the request to do so. Mr. Rice also noted that the Emerald Coast Bridge Authority is still there and is just waiting for guidance on what direction to take. Discussion included the status of the bridge and Mr. Rice advised that four plans were discussed and that two options were considered, but at this time no one is taking any action on the plans. Further discussion included the process of rezoning for a new business. The City Manager stated there are a few things to consider, including looking at the land use plan and if the proposed zoning is consistent with the land use category, and whether the request is compatible with the adjacent properties. Also discussed was whether property can be rezoned without the request of the property owner. The City Manager explained that it could, with advertisements being done and public meetings being held notifying of the rezoning. He advised if there is an area inconsistent with the land use plan, but does not change the use on the property, the property becomes a non -conforming use. STATE OF BANKING AND CREDIT MARKETS Mr. Rosales gave an informative presentation on the state of banking and credit markets in today's economy. He noted that the task of the Panel is to provide the City Council with recommendations to ease the business climate of the