Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 03-09-1976 Regular — reading text

HEARD FOR VARIANCE TO BUILD a side- street variance to 12. 83 feet TOWNHOUSE located on Lot 22, Block 2, Oakland Addi- tion. The street is known as Rogers Street. This variance is requested to accomodate six townhouses that will be sold indi- vidually.  3/ 9/ 7?_ _ 143 MUNICIPAL PLANNING BOARD recommends denial of the request due to the fact that the proposed development is to be of the townhouse concept, which means that each of the six units will be individually sold with a share of the total parcel of land. I This, in effect, creates six individual parcels, none of which meet the subdivision criteria for square footage of land, set- backs, etc. For this reason, there is no zoning classification which applies to permit the development and construction of a townhouse. The Planning Board will pursue a review of ways and means to prepare a zoning classification suitable for townhouses, which will be submitted to Council at a later date. Mr. Baughman moved that the recommenda- tions be approved. Motion was seconded by Mr. Bishop and Mayor called for dis- cussion. Mayor recognized Mr. Horace Shepheard, requestor. Concerning # 2, Mr. Shepheard stated that the piece of property is zoned R- 2. I don' t see any provision in the ordinances for townhouses. The Planning Board informed me that they would work on a project that would help me. I am concerned about how long this will take. I have my money tied up in this. Townhouses do not have side yards. In all the present ordinances, you have to have a side yard. We are interested in when this could get underway. Mayor recognized Mr. Robert Hudgens, 17 Driftwood. Mr. Hudgens stated, this is a serious problem. The zoning regula- tions domake allowance for a townhouse not project. This is in R- 2 zoned land. It would be legal for us to use this land for an apartment complex, but we want to I provide decent housing for under $ 28, 000. This is being held up simply because there are no provisions in the ordinances for townhouses. Mr. Hunt stated that Council is trying to comply with the letter of the law. If they build this complex on this land and call it apartments, do we have res- trictions to prevent them from selling these units.  p.'~'~~"",';:'~""'-""'_'",._..,,,.., ......-..-... 3/ 9/ 1~ 144 City Attorney explained that this ordinance was written before we in Fort Walton Beach had heard of townhouses. The way our ordinances are designed, you would have to build in a commercial zone. What the Planning Board is saying is that they would like to take a look at it. Mr. Baughman moved that Council ask the Planning Board to look into this and re- port back to Council within the next two weeks. Motion was seconded by Mr. Palmer and carried unanimously. REQUEST TO SUBDIVIDE PARCEL Concerning recommendation # 3, Mr. Shepheard stated that the reason for wanting to dev- elop this is land cost. I want to build a little house 30' x 34' without garage, three bedrooms, bath- and- a- half, under the 235 program. But we are still fight- ing land cost. We feel that 7, 500 square feet Or less is really nice for this small house. There are small houses in the area. I am trying to comply with what is in the area and also keep my land cost down. Mr. Hudgens stated that this is an effort to build a house you can sell for $ 25, 000 instead of $ 31, 000. Mr. Hunt said, I am sure you are familiar with the problem we are faced with. Our ordinance does not allow a lot size of 7, 500 feet. The Planning Board is working on a study to offer better utilization of the land, but right now we don' t have any basis to make this variance. Mr. Shepheard replied that he realizes the situation. My idea was to come here and show my interest in this. We need to put more people closer together. Mr. Rigdon stated that this type request l has come before this Council four or five times. My question is do we want to go j J to 7, 500 foot lots as standard size. j We are putting more people in our area, and can our utilities stand these pro- blems? I would like the Planning Board to look at this again a little harder and see if they can help this man.  o3/ 9/ 7(q. __ 145 Mr. Rigdon moved that this request be put back into the Planning Board and that they make a recommendation back to Council. Motion was seconded by Mr. Baughman and carried unanimously. Concerning Committee recommendation # 18, I JOE POLLAZIO REQUEST Mayor recognized Mr. Joe Pollazio, who presented some drawings for Council to look at. Mr. Rigdon stated that Mr. Pollazio is not adding on to a building, he is build- ing a new building. We have had trouble with his building before. There are some questions on his drawings. I think he should turn the drawings over to the build- ing inspector. There are some questions that the Building Inspector should approve before approve it as Council. we It is not addition. an It is a new building. I am not in favor of voting on these draw- ings until the Building Inspector approves them. There are too many unanswered ques- tions on those drawings. There are some things wrong there and we need to get them corrected. I am ready to hold a special meeting to help you but I want the City Inspector to look at the draw- ings first. Mr. Rigdon moved that the drawings be turned over to City Building Inspector for his approval and that we have a special meeting when he approves them. Motion was seconded by Mr. Bishop and carried unanimously. BUFFER ZONE BEHIND JACKSON Concerning recommendation # 2 of Council TRAIL APARTMENTS as Committee recommendations, a City Manager presented the following report from City Engineer: " Developer has paved over l5- foot and 30- foot drainage ease- ments and buried two existing manholes.