Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 05-21-07 workshop minutes — reading text

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING 283 OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 21, 2007 INTRODUCTION A Council Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, May 21, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. wth the following members present: 1"""" Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie ( arrived at 5:40 p. m.), Dr. Wayne Pullen ( arrived at 5: 40 p. m.), and Mike Minich Absent: Jim Hartwell Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; and Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director (absent); Toni Craig, City Attomey ( absent). CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. He reminded Council this is a workshop meeting to receive information only and not to hold discussions on the pros and cons. He will give the audience an opportunity to speak but Council did not want to get into an exchange because there is the potential it will come back before Council as a quasi~ udicial item. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. PROPOSED WAL- MART PROJECT Consideration regarding the proposed Wal- Mart project on Highway 98, Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach. The CDS Director stated this is an informational meeting to learn about what is being proposed byWal- Mart located on property that is half in Fort Walton Beach and half in Esther. She said at this Mary point they have submitted a rezone and comprehensive plan amendment to the City of Mary Esther and those have to be done before they can move ahead with the project. She said the zoning in Fort Walton Beach is Highway Commercial which allows a facility such as Wal- Mart. She explained in order to move forward between the two jurisdictions they have contemplated and discussed either a Development Agreement and/ or an Interlocal Agreement to deal with all the interaction and joint sharing with the City of Mary Esther. Jason Gabriel, attorney with Edwards Cohen representing Wal- Mart, first introduced the team of Lucas Anthony, civil engineer with Kimley- Horn; David Sims, landscape architect with Kimley- Horn; David Muntean, traffic engineer with Kimley- Horn; Michael Blinn with BRR Architects; and Cindy Marciglio with Wal- Mart. He stated the reason for the meeting is to formally introduce themselves and show what is being proposed at the site. He said Wal- Mart does highly value and place a premium on community dialogue as they have held various meetings and conversations with surrounding property owners, the school board and other stakeholders in the area, and they will continue to do so. Mr. Gabriel then touched on a few aspects of the project. He pointed out the site on Highway 98 is approximately 10. 5 acres located at the intersection of Highway 98 and Wright Parkway, with a little over 5 acres located in the City of Fort Walton Beach and the remainder in the City of Mary Esther. He mentioned the portion in the City of Fort Walton Beach has a Highway Commercial zoning and land use designation, and the portion within Mary Esther has a residential type zoning and land use. He said the proposal will present both Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther with a unique opportunity to develop the parcel into a single development as opposed to one that would be half commercial and half residential, and effectively address all the issues related to any development of that tract whether it be traffic issues, buffering, landscaping, etc.  284 Council Workshop 5- 21- 07 WAL- MART PROPOSAL cont. Mr. Gabriel said Wal- Mart in particular has the ability and the commitment to ensure that the end result of the development is something that everyone can be pleased and proud of. He went over some of the features of the proposal for a Wal- Mart Supercenter that will have a grocery component and a retail component, will be between 120- 124, 000 square feet which is half the size of a typical Wal- Mart, the architecture with a coastal approach, various pitched gable roof, canopies, columns, windows, tower hatches, and other features for an aesthetically pleasing store. Bill Garvie and Dr. Pullen arrived at 5: 40 p. m. Mr. Gabriel pointed out the store has been positioned so the land buffer between the Kingston Court neighborhood and the store itself has absolutely no traffic whatsoever traversing through the back, he pointed out a landscape buffer with a creek running through it which provides a nice amenity of landscape visual and sound buffer between the back of the store and the houses. He mentioned they u will also place either a wall or a nice iron rod fence that goes all the way up the west side of the property and a mason aesthetically pleasing wall along the north portion of the property to adequately buffer the site from Fort Walton Beach High School. He said they will implement a lighting system throughout which will be set in a downward direction with light shields to achieve a zero spill to the surrounding areas and there will be heavy vegetation throughout that will serve as both a visual and sound barrier between the properties. He mentioned the traffic issue and noted there already is traffic in the area and there will be traffic associated with the development; however, Wal- Mart has the unique ability to comprehensively address traffic issues that exist today and those the community will be facing tomorrow. He said Wal- Mart has committed itself with partnering with both the Cities of Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther, as well as the School Board and the surrounding community to ensure safe and efficient traffic circulation at the intersection. He mentioned that is above and beyond the regulations and requirements that Wal- Mart will already have to meet with the County, the Florida Department of Transportation, all Federal and State regulations. He concluded there is ten acres that will be developed into something whether it be a neighborhood of 25 homes on one- half and a Walgreen' s on the other, it will be developed and they are confident what they are proposing is a first class compact development which will appropriately compliment that area and that section of Highway 98. He expressed his gratitude and thanks for hearing their proposal. A question was asked about the vegetation behind the building, the height of the trees compared to the wall, and whether the building will be visible from the lots on the west. David Sims, landscape architect with Kimley- Horn, stated the tree heights vary from 12- 15' up to 50- 60' and they would be able to see through the trees. The question was asked if there would be an automobile shop on the site. Mr. Gabriel said there would be no automobile shop; it will be retail and grocery, that the property is 10. 5 acres and is compact so they are limited on what can be put in there which is why the store is limited to 120- 124, 000 square feet. It was commented the main entrance appears to be off Wright Parkway and there is an entrance off Highway 98, and it was questioned on the number of cars the Highway 98 be able to process, and it was mentioned during football season the northbound traffic on Wright Parkway is closed. Mr. Gabriel ~ replied with Highway 98 being a State Highway they are working with the Florida Department of Transportation in implementing the traffic pattems, which will have to go through their permitting J process. He said they have met with the School Board, and will continue to do so, to talk about ( potential improvements going north. He said they were put on notice on certain occasions a portion of W right Parkway is cut off, so they will have to take that into account with their operations. Mr. Gabriel confirmed that the existing businesses will remain. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. l  Council Workshop 5- 21- 07 285 WAL- MART PROPOSAL cont. Millie Thrush, 316 Sudduth Circle, questioned whether Wal- Mart would develop the alternative development mentioned, such as homes. Mr. Gabriel stated that would be by another developer and clarified he mentioned there are two conflicting land uses for that property. Doug Reed, 842 Santa Rosa Court and member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, expressed their problems with the project because of people wanting to park in the church parking lot and issues with