2023-07-20 Approved Minutes 0a
OKy!�= CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
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LL TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
JULY 20, 2023
•--4""';,,,, 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, July 20, 2023, at 10:05 A.M. in the City Council
Chambers, located at 55 Southeast (SE) 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 Keith Bourgault and
OCFR Deputy Fire Marshal Jessica Sasser, Police Chief Donald Hagan, Public Works
Director David Allen. City Planning Consultant Ben Smith attended electronically via Zoom
and Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) Executive Director John Hayford (entered the
Chambers at 10:10 A.M.). Committee Secretary Patty Burnette and General Services
Secretary Keli Trimnal were also present. City Attorney Gloria Velazquez, Okeechobee
County Environmental Health (OCEH) Director Dianna May, and the Okeechobee County
School Board representative were absent.
III. AGENDA
A. There were no items added, deferred, or withdrawn from the agenda.
B. Motion by Building Official Newell, seconded by Public Works Director Allen, to
approve the agenda as presented. 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 June 15, 2023, Regular Meeting minutes
and the July 5, 2023, Special Meeting minutes. Motion Carried Unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Site Plan Review Application No. 23-008-TRC, to redevelop a vacant 2,425 square-
foot building formerly used as a convenience store and gas station to a Medical
Marijuana Dispensary, on 1.06± acres, located at 510 Northeast (NE) Park Street.
1. City Planning Consultant Mr. Ben Smith of Morris-Depew Associates, Inc.
briefly reviewed the Planning Staff Report recommending the following
conditions/outstanding code deficiencies: provision of complete landscape
buffers, reduction in the width of the southern access to SE 6th Avenue,
provision of landscaping between the building and parking area, the elevated
concrete island located within the drive aisle connecting the Northern and
Southern areas of the site should either be removed, or a more substantial
blocking of that access should be proposed, provision of improved access to
dumpster, demonstration that all two-way drive aisles are at least 24 feet wide
and provision of a sidewalk along the entire SE 6th Avenue frontage.
2. Building Official Newell inquired about the plans for blocking the path between
the Wendy's Restaurant to the West and the site. OCFR Deputy Fire Marshal
Sasser commented the circulation for fire access is good and requested a
knoxbox for access to the building. Police Chief Hagan inquired as to whether
there were any open Code Enforcement cases, and Administrator Ritter
responded there were none. In addition, he requested for improvements to be
made to the South end of the property and retention pond area, which is not
being maintained. He is not in support of a gravel parking area. Public Works
Director Allen requested the new sidewalk along SE 6th Avenue be extended
like was done on the East side with the Burger King Restaurant build, and ADA
curbing to meet Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) specifications.
OUA Executive Director Hayford pointed out that there is a 2-inch water main
running along the South side of the property and that there possibly could be
utility lines as well. Administrator Ritter also suggested improvements being
made to the South side and proposed using sod, shell, concrete or paving. He
mentioned if should they be proposing to tie in the irrigation with the
landscaping, they want to consider irrigation for the South end if proposing sod.
TRC MINUTES, July 20, 2023, PAGE 1 OF 3
V. NEW BUSINESS ITEM A CONTINUED
Planner Smith commented there could be a concern with drainage should the
City require paving, since no increase in impervious surface calculations were
being proposed.
3. Mr. Ammar Adnan, and Mr. Aaron Pakulak, both with Pennoni, and Mr. Jesse
Balaity with Balaity Property Enhancement, on behalf of the Applicant, Mr.
Nicholas Jones, were present electronically via Zoom. The seven comments
listed on page 11 of the Planning Staff Report were discussed. Their client
would prefer to have the area to the South as gravel due to costs. Deliveries
would be in the front only by either small SUVs or mini vans.
4. No public comments were offered.
5. No disclosures of Ex-Parte Communications.
6. Motion by Building Official Newell, seconded by Public Works Director Allen, to
approve Site Plan Review Application No. 23-008-TRC as presented in [Exhibit
1, which includes the Planning Consultant's analysis of findings and
recommendation for approval] with the following conditions: provision of
complete landscape buffers on all four boundary areas; reduction in the width
of the Southern access to SE 6th Avenue; provision of landscaping between the
building and parking area; the elevated concrete island located within the drive
aisle connecting the Northern and Southern areas of the site should either be
removed, or a more substantial blocking of that access should be proposed;
provision of improved access to dumpster; demonstration that all two-way drive
aisles are at least 24 feet wide; provision of a sidewalk along the entire SE 6th
Avenue frontage, additional buffering to the SE (backside) of the building;
remediation to the rear swale; ADA access for NE corner of sidewalk; and
enhancement and cleanup of the rear (South) area. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
B. Bridgewater on Taylor Creek Pre-Application Plat Review/Site Plan Application No.
23-009-TRC, review re-plat of Lots 6 through 10, TAYLOR CREEK MANOR, Plat
Book 3, Page 4, Okeechobee County Public Records, into 12 Lots (one for each
townhome), common area and access tracts, totaling 1.31± acres located at 116 SE
8th Avenue.
1. City Planning Consultant Smith commented the Plat was reviewed for
conformance with the City's Land Development Regulations (LDRs) and
Statutory platting requirements. Only one minor formatting error was
discovered on page 2, Abbreviations and Legend Table. Legend is covering
abbreviation under South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Staff
finds the proposed Plat plan to be consistent with the approved site plan
(Application No. 21-005-TRC), the subdivision requirements of the City's LDRs,
and the statutory platting requirements, therefore recommending approval with
the following corrections to be made prior to final plat approval: correct the
formatting error on page 2 of the Plat regarding the Abbreviations and Legend
table, Lots need to be numbered instead of lettered.
2. Administrator Ritter mentioned it is not recommended to receive revisions right
before meetings as it does not allow Members time to review. No other
comments were offered.
3. Mr. John Rice, on behalf of Property Owner, B & T Fair Investments, Inc. was
not present. Prior to the start of the meeting, he emailed an updated copy of
the Plat.
4. There were no questions from the public.
5. There were no disclosures of Ex-Parte Communications.
6. Motion by Public Works Director Allen, seconded by Building Official Newell to
approve the Bridgewater on Taylor Creek Pre-Application Plat Application No.
23-009-TRC, as presented in [Exhibit 2] with the following contingencies:
correct the formatting error on page 2 of the Plat regarding the Abbreviations
and Legend table; lots need to be numbered instead of lettered; and minor
amendment to one of the tracts due to location of a manhole. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
TRC MINUTES, July 20, 2023, PAGE 2 OF 3
VI. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
No updates provided at this time.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Ritter adjourned the meeting at 11:09 A.M.
Submitted by:
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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.
TRC MINUTES, July 20, 2023, PAGE 3 OF 3