2023-05-18 Draft Minutes for 2/16/2023 °..'' CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
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TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
3a.
-, A. FEBRUARY 16, 2023
DRAFT SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Ritter called the regular meeting of the Technical Review Committee (TRC)for the
City of Okeechobee to order on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. in the City Council
Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida, followed by
the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. ATTENDANCE
The following TRC Members were present: City Administrator Gary Ritter, Building Official
Jeffery Newell, Okeechobee County Fire Rescue (OCFR) Bureau Chief Justin Hazellief, Police
Chief Donald Hagan, and Public Works Director David Allen. City Planning Consultant Ben
Smith, Okeechobee County Environmental Health (OCEH) Director Dianna May, Okeechobee
Utility Authority (OUA) Executive Director John Hayford, Committee Secretary Patty Burnette
and General Services Secretary Keli Trimnal were also present. City Attorney Gloria Velazquez,
and the Okeechobee County School Board representative were absent.
III. AGENDA
A. The City Administrator update under VI,will be given before New Business Item A.
B. Motion by Police Chief Hagan, seconded by Building Official Newell, to approve the
agenda as amended. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation.
IV. MINUTES
A. Motion by Building Official Newell, seconded by Public Works Director Allen,to dispense
with the reading and approve the October 20, 2022, Regular Meeting minutes. Motion
Carried Unanimously.
VI. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• Mentioned staff would be brainstorming to come up with a better process for the review
of site plans. The application specifically lists required documents needed at time of
submittal. Many applications are submitted with documents omitted which in turn causes
a list of contingencies that most of the Committee Members cannot review sufficiently
before a scheduled meeting.Going forward,applications will not be scheduled for hearing
dates until all required documents have been submitted for review.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Site Plan Review Application No. 23-001-TRC,to construct 28 rental units in two phases
(six duplexes, two single-family homes and associated parking on each block) on 4.24±
acres, located between Northeast (NE) 3rd and 51h Streets and NE 2nd and 3rd Avenues,
Lots 1 to 12 of Blocks 110 and 121, CITY OF OKEECHOBEE.
1. City Planning Consultant Mr. Ben Smith of Morris-Depew Associates, Inc. briefly
reviewed the Planning Staff Report recommending the following conditions are
satisfied prior to the issuance of any building permit: site plan must provide lot
dimensions for each structure, demonstrating compliance with City Land
Development Regulations(LDR)Section 90-450;site plan must include all building
features and impervious surfaces including balconies, over hangs, and covered
porches;site plan must provide setback measurements, lot coverage calculations,
and impervious surface calculations for all lots, demonstrating compliance with
LDR Section 90-450; the Applicant agrees that if utilities are not provided
separately to each structure and lot, parcels may not be subdivided unless a
master homeowners association is created to manage shared utilities; plans shall
be revised to remove Dahoon Holly from list of species to be planted under
overhead power lines and engineering review comments shall be addressed as
required by the City Administrator and Public Works Director, (a four page report
has been incorporated into the official minute packet).
2. Building Official Newell asked what the Applicant's intent was given the plans
depict the units as having four bedrooms with a bathroom for each and the single-
family homes as having six bedrooms with bathrooms for each. Is the intent to treat
the units like a dormitory type of use.
DRAFT TRC MINUTES, February 16,2023, PAGE 1 OF 3
V. NEW BUSINESS ITEM A
2. Continued: OCFR Bureau Chief Hazellief also inquired about the exact intended
use and expressed concern about the use of the single-family homes having six
bedrooms. Plans indicate a hydrant although another one may be needed. Police
Chief Hagan, asked about the proposed lease cost for each unit and asked for
clarification too on the intended use. Will they be duplexes or dormitories as the
plans depict four bedrooms and four bathrooms for each unit. Public Works
Director Allen expressed concern with stormwater detention; inquired about where
the existing stop sign would be relocated to and where would it be placed should
the property be divided in the future by the owner. Lastly, he expressed concern
with residents backing out into the street as opposed to a turnaround which would
be more sufficient and safer. OCEH Director May confirmed there would be no
pool for the proposed project. OUA Director Hayford advised that the wastewater
collection system and pump station was not the property of OUA, it is privately
owned. No force main is shown on the plans; the Applicant should contact Public
Works directly regarding a private collection system being located under the road
right-of-way; and there would be future conversations regarding hydrants.
Chairperson Ritter commented this application submittal was missing many
required documents that are provided on a checklist that is part of the application
itself.
3. Mr. Steven Dobbs, on behalf of the Applicant, Mr. Frank Michell Stephens,
Registered Agent, Glenwood Park, LLC, was present. Mr. Dobbs did not know
what the intended use was for the buildings. He discussed/reviewed with the
Committee the six comments listed on page nine of the Planning Staff Report and
added there will be no Homeowners Association.
4. No public comments were offered.
5. Chairperson Ritter disclosed he had spoken to both Mr. Dobbs and Mr. Stephens.
6. Motion by Police Chief Hagan, seconded by Public Works Director Allen, to deny
Site Plan Review Application No. 23-001-TRC as presented and continue it to the
May 18,2023,Meeting,to allow the Applicant time to address comments contained
within the Planning Staff Report and the Engineers'Report[as presented in Exhibit
1]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. Site Plan Review Application No. 23-002-TRC, requests to pave an existing outdoor
storage lot to include, storm water management system, on 3.153±acres located at NE
9th Avenue.
1. City Planning Consultant Smith briefly reviewed the Planning Staff Report.
Applicant is proposing improvements to an existing outdoor storage lot that
involves a parcel owned and managed by Westlake Royal Roofing, LLC. The
Applicant has indicated that the property will continue to operate as an outdoor
storage yard and no new uses are proposed. Staff is recommending approval of
the site plan with the following conditions: dumpster must be located on-site with
location approved by Public Works or owner is responsible for all solid waste
removal;a landscape plan must be submitted which complies with the City's LDR;
and revise plans to demonstrate compliance with culvert requirements.
2. Building Official Newell noted the Covenants for the Commerce Center may
require a fence. OCFR Bureau Chief Hazellief requested a knox box for gate
access should a fence be built; mentioned for open storage one cannot fill in the
entire space as fire lanes with proper width of a 20-foot minimum are needed for
maneuvering of the fire trucks and a turnaround is required after 150-feet.
Chairperson Ritter commented in lieu of a dumpster they would need to be
responsible for waste removal.
3. Mr. Andy Medina, Project Manager, on behalf of Property Owner,Westlake Royal
Roofing, LLC, was present. Mr. Medina is working on the South Florida Water
Management District permit, landscaping plans with the Architect and replacing
the culverts.
4. There were no questions from the public.
5. City Administrator Ritter disclosed he had spoken Mr. Medina.
DRAFT TRC MINUTES, February 16,2023, PAGE 2 OF 3
V. NEW BUSINESS ITEM B
6. Motion by Building Official Newell, seconded by Public Works Director Allen to
approve Site Plan Review Application No.23-002-TRC, as presented in [Exhibit 2,
which includes the Planning Consultant's analysis of findings and recommendation
for approval]with the following conditions:fire lanes meet a minimum 20-foot width
and after 150-feet a turnaround is required; if fencing is required by the Covenants,
then requested access for the Fire Department must be provided; dumpster must
be located on-site with location approved by Public Works or owner is responsible
for all solid waste removal; a landscape plan must be submitted which complies
with the City's LDR, and revise plans to demonstrate compliance with culvert
requirements. Motion Carried Unanimously.
VII. Chairperson Ritter adjourned the meeting at 11:09 A.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 Technical Review Committee 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.
DRAFT TRC MINUTES, February 16,2023, PAGE 3 OF 3