2024-09-19 Handwritten Minutes CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING
HANDWRITTEN MINUTES BY PATTY BURNETTE
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Dawn Hoover, called the regular meeting of the Board of Adjustment for the City
of Okeechobee to order on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Co : W P.M. in the City Council
Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida.
II. ATTENDANCE
PRESENT ABSENT MOVED TO
Chairperson Dawn Hoover V VOTING
Vice Chairperson Doug McCoy POSITION
Board Member Phil Baughman \//
Board Member Carl Berlin Jr.
Board Member Karyne Brass
Board Member Mac Jonassaint V
Board Member Jim Shaw ✓ ✓
)(Alternate Board Member Dora Roberts
Alternate Board Member Vacant
VIA ZOOM
City Attorney Stephen Conteaguero /
City Administrator Gary Ritter V
City Planning Consultant Ben Smith
Board Secretary Patty Burnette
General Services Secretary Keli Trimnal
III. AGENDA
A. 1-1OOVP ✓ asked whether there were any agenda items to be added,
deferred, or withdrawn. There were • Q ww1.o( it }-1 ! u 1A U 0ru.L
#ti� k
`B. Motion by Board Member Q,ttg (VOA , seconded by Board Member-` cal
�� to approve the agenda as amended. I H
V.a.
Chairperson Hoover , Vice Chairperson McCoy , Board Membe s
Baughman , Berlin , Brass , Jonassaint , Shaw der.
Motion Carried/Denied. ✓
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IV. MINUTES
A. Motion by Board Member �144$ , seconded by Board Member
;o - to dispense with the reading and approve the August 15, 2024, Board
of Adjustment Regular Meeting minutes.
ti Chairperson Hoover , Vice Chairperson McCoy , Board Members
Baughman , Berlin , Brass , Jonassaint , Shaw t* i
Motion Carried/Denied.
V. OPENED THE QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING AT .
A. Cond fm u , 2024, Meeting, Special Exception Petition No. 24-003-SE which
requeststinue to allowro the a drive-throughJ ly18 service in a Heavy Commercial zoning district. (Ref Sec. 90-
283(1)), located at 100 SE 8th Avenue. The proposed used is for a new 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee
Shop.
1 Notary Public Patty Burnette administered an oath to:
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P. Burnette Handwritten Minutes, September 19, 2024, Page 1 of 54-12-
V. QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEM A CONTINUED
2. City Planning Consultant Mr. Ben Smith of Morris-Depew Associates, Inc. briefly
explained the Board made a motion at the July 18, 2024, Meeting to continue hearing
this application to permit the Applicant time to address how the proposed use would not
create traffic congestion as required by Land Development Regulations Section 70-
373(c) response to the list of findings number eight. He reviewed Staff Report from that
meeting explaining that the Applicant is requesting for consideration by the City of
Okeechobee Board of Adjustment a Special Exception to allow drive through service in
association with a new 7 Brew Drive-thru Coffee Shop. The applicant has submitted a
site plan with this request which proposes redevelopment of the property, which
currently contains two existing commercial structures. The site plan proposes a 535
square foot building, two dedicated drive-through lanes, and 8 parking spaces. Service
will only be provided through the drive-through, as no customer walk up window is
proposed at this time. If approved. a site plan application will also be required, which will
be reviewed by the City's Technical Review Committee.
The subject property is located with direct frontage on SR-70, one of the City's main
commercial corridors. Vehicular access is proposed via SE 8th Avenue, with no direct
access to SR-70. Existing commercial uses are located to the East, West and North.
The adjacent property to the South is Residential, though the subject property has
contained commercial uses for many years and is an appropriate location for a service
commercial use.
The proposed vehicular access point is located at the South end of the property.
providing as much distance from SR-70 as possible, which will minimize the potential
for conflicts from vehicle ingress/egress with other vehicles traveling on SE 8th Ave.
Additionally, the drive through service and pass through lanes are oriented to direct
vehicles facing predominantly West and then North while waiting in those lanes, which
will minimize the impacts of vehicle headlights aimed at the residential property
The adjacent parcel to the South is not undeveloped. It currently contains a residential
structure. The Board of Adjustment may require enhanced buffering/screening if
necessary to ensure compatibility of the proposed drive through with the existing
adjacent residential use. Additionally, the applicant is aware that the buffer along SE 8th
Avenue will be required to be at least 10 feet wide, per the City's LDR.
The ingress and egress driveway to the proposed project is proposed to the farthest
South location possible to reduce impacts on SE 8th Street. Drive-Thru configuration
brings customers around site, this mitigates any vehicles backing up into SE 8th Avenue
during peak conditions.
Demonstration of availability and capacity of water and sewer service will be required at
the time of site plan application. Regardless, the demand for services generated by a
535-sq. ft. building will likely be relatively low.
Regarding traffic generation, 7 Brew Traffic impacts are mainly pass-by trips. According
to traffic impact information provided, 7 Brew generates 80 trips in the AM peak hour
with 8 of those trips noted as new external trips and 72 trips pass by trips. Additionally.
the applicant has provided a queuing analysis which demonstrates that the proposed
design provides sufficient vehicle stacking to accommodate the estimated peak
demand, without causing stacking to exceed the limits of the site.
P. Burnette Handwritten Minutes, September 19, 2024, Page 2 of
V. QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEM A CONTINUED
The proposed use is consistent with the intent of the Commercial Future Land use
category. "Restaurant, Takeout Restaurant, Café is a permitted principal use within the
CHV District, per LDR Section 90-282(3). The drive-through service is listed as a special
exception use in the CHV District, as stated in LDR Section 90-283(1).
The proposed use will provide additional service commercial options for residents and
travelers and will likely increase the value of the property, thereby generating additional
tax base for the City. The proposed use is not expected to create any disturbance or
adverse effects on the public interest.
Service commercial with a drive-through is appropriate at this location adjacent to SR-
70. The only potential concern is the impact of this use on the adjacent residential
property to the South. The Board of Adjustment will determine if additional
buffering/screening is necessary to ensure compatibility. This commercial
redevelopment project is consistent with existing land use patterns.
The proposed redevelopment may have a positive effect on property values. All adjacent
properties are already developed, and this redevelopment project should not be a
deterrent to redevelopment of adjacent properties.
Landscape buffers will be required at time of site plan approval per LDR Sec. 90-534:
Minimum width of buffer along street frontage shall be ten feet and on other property
lines, two feet. At least one tree and three shrubs for each 300 square feet of required
landscape buffer.
Minimum code requirements for the South property line buffer will be 2 feet wide with 2
trees and 5 shrubs. The Board may consider whether additional buffering/screening for
the South property line is an appropriate condition to place on the approval of this special
exception request.
The proposed use will not include a residential component therefore, no direct effects
on density patterns and public-school facilities are expected.
The current site does not appear to contain modern stormwater management facilities,
whereas the proposed development will be required to meet all applicable stormwater
management standards. Drainage will likely be improved. The provided TIS estimates
vehicle trip generation is only 36 daily trips. The proposed development is not expected
to affect public safety.
Based on the materials and statements provided by the applicant and the foregoing analysis.
we recommend Approval of this special exception request for Drive-Through Service in
association with a 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee.
P. Burnette Handwritten Minutes. September 19, 2024, Page 3 of.5
V. QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEM A CONTINUED
P. Burnette Handwritten Minutes, September 19, 2024, Page,4 of�5
V. QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEM A CONTINUED
3. Mr. Chris Ossa, PE Kimley-Horn, was/was not present and available for questions.
There were .
4. No public comments were offered.
-t \
5, No Ex-Parte disclosures were offered.
/
4" 6. Motion by Board Member , seconded by Board Member
to approve Special Exception Petition No. 24-003-SE as presented in
[Exhibit 1, which includes the standards and findings as required for granting
Petitions per Code Section 70-373, and the Planning Consultant's analysis of the
findings and recommendation for approval] with the following conditions:
Chairperson Hoover , Vice Chairperson McCoy , Board Members
Baughman , Berlin , Brass , Jonassaint , Shaw .
Motion Carried/Denied.
CLOSED THE QUASI-JUDICIAL PUBLIC HEARING AT
I. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
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VII. adjourned the meeting at b ,ai3 P.M.
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P. Burnette Handwritten Minutes, September 19, 2024. Page 5 of,'h