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2023-06-15 V. A. #23-003-TRC, Pre App Letter - K. Walpole KATIE EDWARDS-WALPOLE, P.A. t Attorney. Advocate. Adviser. January 31, 2023 Ms. Patty Burnette General Services Department City of Okeechobee 55 SE Third Ave. Okeechobee, FL 34974 SUBJ: Pre Application Plat Review/Replat of Price Addition and First Addition to Price Addition (the "Plat")/Park Street Commerce Center Dear Ms. Burnette: I have been appointed by William R. Grigsby, Jr., owner of 17 acres of property in the City of Okeechobee (the "City") further described herein, to serve as the applicant for permit and application requests. To facilitate the pre-application plat review process, I wanted to provide supplemental details about the property itself since it contains both platted lands and unplatted acreage that, once the plat and master site plan approval are obtained, will result in the development of Park Street Commerce Center(the "Project"), a platted subdivision with a master site plan and individual site plans for development of each lot. The main proposed features of the Project are as follows: • Four separate, devisable lots developed for commercial uses consistent with the existing Heavy Commercial Zoning and Commercial Future Land Use designation; • The lots will be served by 2 tracts dedicated on the plat for off-site stormwater retention and drainage, developed and permitted under an Environmental Resource Permit from South Florida Water Management District; • In lieu of forming an Owner's Association for the enforcement of covenants and restrictions specific to the operation and maintenance of common areas and improvements, the Developer/owner of Lot 4 will retain ownership of these two tracts and any common areas serving the Project. Lot owners will be subject to covenants and restrictions providing for the pro rata share of common expenses and standards for the aesthetics, maintenance, and uses of each Lot. • Each lot will be accessible to the public for vehicular access from State Road 70/Park Street by the realignment and construction of NE 13 Avenue to the east and NE 12 Avenue to the west, pursuant to a Driveway Connection Permit and associated drainage permit from the Florida Department of Transportation; • Water and wastewater service will be provided by the Okeechobee Utility Authority(the "OUA")through the installation of private lift stations, gravity sewers, and water mains,with Mail:9321 Chelsea Drive South,Plantation,FL 33324 Phone:(305) 281-7323 E-Mail:katie@flfarmlaw.com utility easements dedicated on the plat and recorded in the public records as required by for installation, maintenance, service, etc.; and • The removal of existing,wooden power poles in the NE 13 Avenue right-of-way, dedication utility easements for underground electrical lines for electric utility service by Florida Power& Light, and recorded non-exclusive business easements as required for installation, maintenance, access, etc. of their infrastructure. As you know, the property is under contract with the buyer proposing to develop the property for commercial development pursuant to a plat and master site plan as well as required permits from other agencies with jurisdiction such as Florida Department of Transportation("FDOT") and South Florida Water Management District("SFWMD"). Separate site plan applications will be submitted to the City for lot-specific development including any special exception permits. Preliminary, Conditional and Final Plat Acceptance: In furtherance of these objectives, we respectfully request confirmation from the City that applications for the master and individual site plans may proceed pursuant to the City's conditional approval of the Plat. This conditional approval of the plat reflects the understanding that some changes may need to be made during the concurrent permitting processes with the respective agencies such as FDOT and SFWMD. At the conclusion of the permitting process, the Final Plat will be presented to the City for approval and recording by the Clerk of the Court. Property Overview: The property is comprised of five contiguous parcels under common ownership. The property is under contract for sale. The Okeechobee County Property Appraiser has assigned the following numbers to each Parcel: Parcel 1- 3-15-37-35-0210-00010-0010 Parcel 2- 2-15-37-35-0A00-00009-0000 Parcel 3- 2-15-37-35-0A00-00009-A000 Parcel 4- 2-15-37-35-0A00-00010-0000 Parcel 5- 2-15-37-35-0A00-00011-0000 The following aerial shows the general location of the 5 parcels and the extent of a 300-foot buffer surrounding the Property: 2 e _ Ya.,..,a„•y A.--- .s.a�grwy..i.+.Y.,, + ,+ `. e A' 7' - ,ti • it, .ay L.J1td31 _ -E4 r 5rN-,: e: •.. t rr t . '' N �.. 1 i Er la: -. ft )' A � .'4 '1" i •r2 2R0 Sr `116.7ei,i,',O o'A - •L lc E e mow'r,,#y"a ��1IK if% : g � 4 •. 1 r r At• „f._.I _ -M if • ar 4 -ir J t L�..1 <. �Pt". 1. !fiy �►Y fi• A a I. R }y• _. OKEECHOBEE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISERS OFFICE + Price Addition to Okeechobee City Plat: Only one parcel has been platted. Parcel 1 consists of the Price Addition to Okeechobee City Plat(the "Plat"), recorded in the Public Records of Okeechobee County,Florida, at PB 2, PG 17. The Plat contains no restrictions on usage, such as residential or commercial. However,the current zoning is Heavy Commercial, and the Future Land Use is Commercial. Surveyed in 1925, the Plat subdivided the property into twelve (12)lots located north of Park Street/State Road 70. The image contained on Plat shows the location of these lots as well as the Streets and Alley. There are three(3) Streets shown on the Plat with their respective length and width. There is also one (1)Alley that runs east-west and separates Lots 7-12 from Lots 1-6. Regarding the ownership and use of the Streets and Alleys, language of the Plat provides the following dedication from the Prices: "Do hereby dedicate to the perpetual use of the public,the Streets and Alley as graphically shown on this Plat, the Streets and Alley for highway purposes only,reserving unto themselves their heirs and assigns the reversion or reversions of same if abandoned the public, or discontinued by law." 3 Florida law is helpful in interpreting the reversionary language of the Plat. If the heirs or assigns of the Prices wanted to claim an interest in the Streets or Alley, s. 177.085(2), Florida Statutes would bar it. Since the Plat was recorded in the public records in 1925, those heirs or assigns had until June 30, 1973,to file suit in court to establish or enforce any right to the Streets and Alley. A title search did not produce any records of such suits. In September 1994, Center Street and the Alley were closed, vacated, and abandoned by the City of Okeechobee. See Ordinance 671, adopted by the City Council and recorded in the Public Records of Okeechobee County, Florida, at ORB 359, PG 30. Ordinance 671 effected the Plat by vacating Center Street/NE 2 Ave. and the 15' Alley/Block 4. When the City Council, on behalf of the public, abandoned the right to use Center Street and the Alley for highway purposes, those abandoned portions shown on the Plat reverted to acreage, and fee ownership of the abandoned dedications are vested in William R. Grigsby, the record owner of Lots 1-12. The legal description of the Parcel 1, as demonstrated by Opinion of Title, show that William R. Grimsby is the apparent fee owner of: All of Lots 1 through 12, inclusive, lying North of North Park Street(a/k/a S.R. 70 f/k/a Fort Pierce Road) as now constructed, in Block 4, PRICE ADDITION TO OKEECHOBEE CITY, according to the plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 2,Page 17, of the public records of Okeechobee County, Florida. AND The alley in Block 4, PRICE ADDITION TO OKEECHOBEE CITY, according to the plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 17, of the public records of Okeechobee County,Florida, lying between Lots 1 through 6 and 7 through 12, as vacated by Ordinance recorded in Official Records Book 359, Page 830, Public Records of Okeechobee County, Florida. AND The street known as Northeast 2nd Street (f/k/a Center Street) as it runs East from Northeast 12th Avenue to Northeast 13th Avenue, particularly located North of Block 4, PRICE ADDITION TO OKEECHOBEE CITY, according to the plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 17, of the public records of Okeechobee County, Florida, as vacated by Ordinance recorded in Official Records Book 359, Page 830, Public Records of Okeechobee County, Florida. The graphic included on the Plat is provided below for reference: 4 .. _..._PRICE ADDITION TO OKE9E_E_CHOBEE CI TY CHOBEE COUNTY FLORIDi .. i A St/boy:Pis/on of thc soil th.,/erAretoj-Me 0;1'..SIVIIA.57cEe;ter."0,Fc-pet4.5,A7'..,;:14,..A;',.4/2.el€:_:_5;:se.irr Scee,y,fatin Av./.925- .5.. -50,1e, /".PS.. , . k) CENTER STREET •,, - . r'--.E..31. ..? ,-• .I//' 79 47./' .1/7' 4.77' (Zer.2.) !:2'.1 1 I ! I I I I— 1— W 1 1.1.1 ; 6 4 1 3 /ry CG ; I 1 p: (r) l'h :0. !2 cz, ig,e' . „ 1 , . 1,, 1 ALLEY :2.0 -col t 1 0 17i t`• N' I " - I I IQ i ›- I : Z I' I , 1 —I 7 8 9 /o // ! /.2 0 02 , I • (3 r. I 't I --1 I — I 1 ! 1 I I I I ri 5"'1°' • 1 I I 1' ,.. 24- 1 4779' I 477' 4 7 7' 477' 4 7 7' , 477' 1 zs:675.1124:45 1 Z66.29" ... - . :7:16.64' 1. . . I 1 6 NORTH PARK STREET • „:. Nt tn ca i3 1 ;,2 .4--___-- Z . ....-' _,...g.Ae.....1....t, S...E.'i. s.-c --.. -.— i :21L _ 1 R A Ni- 1 i. . To simplify, the language of the Plat is clear that the Streets and Alley, as graphically shown, were dedicated by the Prices to the public for vehicular uses. This dedication is not a conveyance in fee simple to an owner's association, the City of Okeechobee, or other entity. With Center Street and the Alley abandoned, the analysis now turns to Mobley Street and Lincoln Street. The Plat contains two (2) Streets providing access from SR 70: Mobley and Lincoln. Mobley Street consists of 25' and extends from SR 70/Park Street north to the limit of the Plat's boundary. Lincoln Street is depicted as a 50' street, extending from SR 70/Park Street north to the limit of the Plat's boundary. However, only 25' of Lincoln Street are included in the boundaries of the Plat. The neighboring plat, Riverside Park Subdivision, contains the eastern 25 feet of Lincoln Street. Here is the relevant excerpt of the Riverside Park Subdivision, from Plat Book 1, Page 23, Official Records of Okeechobee County,Florida: William R. Grigsby, Jr. is not claiming an ownership interest in property, streets, or dedications shown on the Riverside Park Subdivision. Consistent with Sec. 86-4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Okeechobee (the "Code") and s. 177.031(16), Florida Statutes, we believe that Lincoln Street, as dedicated on both plats, is a right-of-way, as defined, because it is land dedicated for use as a street by the public for highway purposes. Per Sec. 86-141(p) of the Code which provides that, "Half or partial streets shall be prohibited. Wherever a half street is adjacent li CENTER In N t. b 6 d A 2 :1 G `� 1 1W h Y { 4r f .I.!.F _ _f.7 .� a 1 n H i 8 ,9 ie .. f.t. Q 9 19 9 .A + t I1 J * t 9F • .p4. 1 130 ., ie O NORTH ,, _. PAR V — • -__.. —_ _p.L4 MACCLASHAH'S St 41 ADDITION Ater s....--•mil RIDA 65 Amnon. ~ 1J/.- ��,- - 'Vim; , �. •• 2 tr - 9 R ' PINE to a tract.to be subdivided, the other half of the street shall be platted within such tract." In accordance with Sec. 86-141(r) of the Code, Street names and lots numbers shall conform to the street naming and lot numbering plan of the City. Therefore, street names like Mobley and Lincoln will be replaced with NE 12 Ave. and NE 13 Ave., respectively, and the streets will be designed in accordance with the applicable land development regulations. Permits from the Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT") will be obtained for driveway connection to SR 70/Park Street. A preliminary application with representatives from FDOT was held on December 1, 2022. The applicant proposes that all 50' of Lincoln Street, as dedicated and shown on the two adjacent plats,be handled as follows: • Rename Lincoln Street to NE 13 Ave. (per Sec. 86-141(r); and • Align NE 13 Ave. with SE 13 Ave. (to comply with the future traffic circulation map of the City's Comprehensive Development Master Plan, The Manual of Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for City Streets, a/k/a the Public Works Manual). As mentioned earlier, most of the Property is not platted. Two unplatted parcels are adjacent to Lincoln Street, shown as a 25' dedication on the Riverside Park Subdivision: 2-15-37-35-0A00- 00011-0000 and 2-15-37-35-0A00-00010-0000. The City has indicated an interest in extending NE 13 Street north from SR 70/Park Street to NW 8 Street, thereby allowing access from SR 70/Park Street to the existing Okeechobee Commerce Center. Currently, the Property is encumbered in the northeast by an existing overhead transmission and distribution easement in favor of Florida Power&Light. There are also existing overhead utility improvements on both the Property and the 25' right-of-way(Lincoln Street) that in portions of NE 5 Street/Tenth Avenue. This close-up excerpt from the boundary survey demonstrates the challenges in obtaining the necessary approvals for the relocation and realignment of the existing transmission and distribution easement as well as the location of the existing 25' street dedication/right of way as shown on the adjacent Riverside Park Subdivision. 7 OAOO-O4i;V3-B000 1-15.37.35AOM.00100.0060 1.t5-3'.35-0040-OI00-WSO (06,PG 1995 - - _- O.R.H.SSE.PO.629 O.R9.$05.PG.4!3 P.O.C.PARCEL) y _.-rss ut::ovar.3:;i+ ` NE CORNER y - -.r',0:1:.EA-1. OF THE SOL r ST 1 4 = -- OF THE SOLTtE1EA.ST 1 OF SI 5.T37S.R35E .. FND S.r IRON RODE CAP _ !_ STA.\D�ED"ESE^3C LB 7429" — — -- - I NOtTl uro..Or SOUTHEAST )16a Or JOUTI AST 1.4 `_ ur sismsef!c ir' �� C/LNESTH (P) ————-- — • C/L TENTH AVENUE(P) LESb YORSH 59.00' �)44 ' 1� rorOl RANK 11FIV - ( X w LISP ♦� 11.: . ` _ 'O" SET I._"RUN ROD' ""---- L--_ IV ALL:HCx2:-E DISC STA.MPED'PR.I BSI(LB 3)SS" N:1059.769.9; • ' 's Ov ALLEY EL'X-ti 4 PER P3 PG LA P B l PG.23 There is also no approved site plan, subdivision, or plat for the acreage north of the Property. See, for example, those two properties with the City, each under separate ownership: Parcel 2- 15-37-35-0A00-00003-0000 (unplatted)Parcel 2-15-37-35-0A00-00003-B000 (unplatted). It is not economically for a Developer to construct and maintain a street at its own expense to benefit other developments and speculative development. Furthermore,the Code provides that local streets shall be so laid out that their use by through traffic will be discouraged. Sec. 86-141(d). The Replat is designed with this in mind. However,to achieve the City's vision and objectives for NE 13 Ave., we are amenable to language in the Plat that would dedicate the portion of NE 13 Ave. to the City of Okeechobee in perpetuity for highway use by the public with the City accepting the obligation to construct and maintain NE 13 Ave. as a public street. We would be amenable to conveying to the City- in fee simple- 25' of the eastern boundary of unplatted property, allowing the City to own, control, maintain and further develop NE 13 Street. The Development Agreement will reflect the details of this, if the City is interested. Otherwise, the Plat reflect the detail for streets and alleys without extension of NE 13 Ave. to a point of termination/dead end that does not connect or provide access to existing, improved streets or our Plat's proposed lots. In closing,we look forward the City's responses of the proposed plan and documents prepared by others so that we may review and revise accordingly on the proposed Plat and Master Site Plan. 8 Sincerely, //s//Katie Edwards-Walpole Katie Edwards-Walpole, Esq. FOR THE FIRM Enclosures 9 •iC is,J • •:•/.S 'a,i S r• • MO•� +O 3:k`, �� ;+ IN NQ 'p•a.:a ,:;ot i' 4%kr •� al`• •v� ., �4•*anal r... - .`j+;'!';ri'`a :•4'. �s �Ya ia • 1.a C•.�. A In S,•S. 4} • �A.. Y 7 h •.j t it Y 2 • glTr\ �� :l�rr ii n 4.)1. a. `I� J �R s !•;S=.\ ` 00• �*�� :l • - Y trP + , i � w 1•��� ' � ; •+f�j`�4 4 `.s a �� � io � A o . ll �S �. :l ° y •ratr � : tit. •t• •S•"a 4R �_,y1 4s? v • ,i v yv ,v Yf • �f aii : ♦td•)TY]]Y !• , i ��7a1ii_1 M\. f�j1•`w ( 1..., ;.!: � .e •. _r :141N . ('yQ4 • •,:•aw 0.0 M, ••• .N. ; i,:Zizlz# w • ♦i:"!1 N inrn • .• ••J it ir•.� .i2 N : b-•:trirVYi-: y t-4 Y .1 . 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