2022-10-20 Draft Minutes1• k Eby
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
a BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
SUMMARY OF BOARD ACTION
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Hoover called the regular meeting of the Board of Adjustment for the City of
Okeechobee to order on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 6:03 P.M. in the City Council
Chambers, located at 55 Southeast Third Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida, followed by
the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. ATTENDANCE
Roll was taken by Board Secretary Patty Burnette. Chairperson Dawn Hoover, Vice Chairperson
Doug McCoy, Board Members Phil Baughman, Karyne Brass, Rick Chartier, Mac Jonassaint
and Alternate Board Member Carl Berlin, Jr. were present. Board Member David McAuley and
Alternate Board Member Jim Shaw were absent with consent. Chairperson Hoover moved
Alternate Board Member Berlin to voting position.
III. AGENDA
A. There were no items added, deferred, or withdrawn from the agenda.
B. Motion by Vice Chairperson McCoy, seconded by Board Member Jonassaint to approve
the agenda as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for issues not on the
agenda.
IV. MINUTES
A. Motion by Board Member Chartier, seconded by Board Member Jonassaint to dispense
with the reading and approve the May 19, 2022, Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting
minutes. Motion Carried Unanimously.
V. CHAIRPERSON HOOVER OPENED THE QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:05 P.M.
A. Special Exception Petition No. 22-002-SE requests to allow an Alcohol and Drug
Rehabilitation Center in a Light Commercial Zoning District, (Ref. Code Sec. 90-253(21))
located at 201 through 205 Northeast (NE) 6th Street for the proposed use of expanding
the existing alcohol/drug rehabilitation center located directly North of the property.
1. Notary Public Patty Burnette administered an oath to Mr. Steven Dobbs, 209
Northeast 2nd Street, Okeechobee, Florida, Lieutenant (Lt.) Belen Reyna, City of
Okeechobee Police Department, Okeechobee, Florida, and Mr. Ben Smith, Morris-
Depew Associates Inc., 2914 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida, who
responded affirmatively.
2. City Planning Consultant Smith reviewed the Planning Staff Report recommending
approval with conditions.
3. Mr. Dobbs on behalf of Property Owner, 608 Okeechobee, LLC, was present and
responded to questions from the Board. He indicated his client has reviewed the
requirements and conditions the Planner listed on page seven of the Planning Staff
Report and has no issues with meeting them. Comprehensive Plan Small Scale
Future Land Use Map Amendment Application No. 22-005-SSA was approved by
the City Council on August 16, 2022, and Rezoning Petition No. 22-005-R was
approved by the City Council on September 6, 2022, which meets the first
condition listed on the report. He will be submitting an Alley Use Agreement which
will aid in traveling back and forth between the subject property and the abutting
existing facility to the North. Staff monitors patients while outdoors exercising,
smoking, and walking around the block. Maximum length of stay for patients is 30
days.
4. Police Lt. Reyna shared a five -page log of calls [incorporated into the official
minute file] the Police Department has received from the existing facility itself from
February of 2015 until August of 2022. Basically, patients can not be made to stay
at the facility and can leave on their own free will. Calls may increase with
expanding the facility.
DRAFT September 15, 2022, Board of Adjustment Meeting Page 1 of 2
V. QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEM A CONTINUED
For the record, 20 surrounding property owner notices were mailed,
advertisements and three signs were posted on the subject parcel, with no
objections or comments received to date.
5. No Ex-Parte disclosures were offered.
6. Motion by Board Member Brass, seconded by Board Member Jonassaint to
approve Special Exception Petition No. 22-002-SE as presented in [Exhibit 1 which
includes the standards and findings for granting Petitions per Code Section 70-
373; and the Planning Consultant's analysis of the findings and recommendation
for approval] with the following special conditions: outdoor cigarette disposal
receptacles shall be provided on -site; no patient shall be admitted to the
rehabilitation facility unless dropped off by a friend or relative and that no vehicle
in any way associated with the patient or person dropping off the patient be left at
the facility overnight; a perimeter fence matching the existing rehabilitation facility
fence (concrete block) shall be required to surround the subject site; an enhanced
landscape buffer five -feet wide shall be required along the East property line which
will also accommodate the proposed fencing and a hedge; alley abandonment
shall be approved, or an alley use agreement shall be executed to accommodate
a sidewalk between the subject property and the abutting existing facility to the
North and to accommodate perimeter fencing around both sites; 15 parking spaces
for employees and two for visitors, to total 17 spaces, shall be provided on the
subject property; and the site plan should provide an appropriate location for a
dumpster enclosure. Motion Carried Unanimously.
CHAIRPERSON HOOVER CLOSED THE QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:40 P.M.
VI. Chairperson Hoover adjourned the meeting at 6:40 P.M.
Submitted by:
Patty M. Burnette, Secretary
Please take notice and be advised that when a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board of Adjustment with respect to
any matter considered at this proceeding, he/she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record
includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. General Services' media are for the sole purpose of backup
for official records.
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