2024-06-20 Official Minutes �L��•Of.OEF`ya CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
oi �. TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
=_..% ,:;; ' JUNE 20, 2024
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION
I. CALL TO ORDER
Administrator Ritter called the regular meeting of the Technical Review Committee (TRC)
for the City of Okeechobee to order on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. in the City
Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast Third Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee,
Florida (FL), 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
(OCFR Deputy Fire Marshal Jessica Sasser was present in his place), Police Chief Donald
Hagan, (Code Enforcement Officer Anthony Smith was present in his place), Public Works
Maintenance Foreman Marvin Roberts and Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) Executive
Director John Hayford. City Planning Consultant Ben Smith was present via Zoom.
Committee Secretary Patty Burnette and General Services Secretary Keli Trimnal were
also present. City Attorney, the Okeechobee County Environmental Health representative
and the Okeechobee County School Board representative were absent.
III. AGENDA
A. There were no requests for modifications to the agenda.
B. Motion by Building Official Newell, seconded by OCFR Deputy Fire Marshal Sasser,
to approve the agenda as published. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for items not on
the agenda.
IV. MINUTES
A. Motion by Building Official Newell, seconded by OCFR Deputy Fire Marshal Sasser,
to dispense with the reading and approve the April 18, 2024, Regular Meeting
minutes. Motion Carried Unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Site Plan Review Application No. 24-004-TRC, to construct 40 multi-family rental
units in two phases (five quadplexes with associated parking and storage facilities
on each block) on 4.24± acres, located between Northeast (NE) 3rd and 5th Streets
and NE 2nd and 3rd Avenues, Lots 1 to 12, of Blocks 110 and 121, CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE.
1. City Planning Consultant Ben Smith of Morris-Depew Associates, Inc. briefly
reviewed the Planning Staff Report. The dimensional standards review
appears to meet the requirements of the City's Land Development
Regulations (LDR) except for the following: Applicant must provide recent
surveys which demonstrate correct parcel boundaries; dumpster enclosure
details shall be provided; parking spaces must be set back a minimum of 20
feet from the right-of-way; dumpsters and loading zones appear to be located
within required landscape buffer, revise plans to demonstrate at least 10 feet
wide landscape buffers are provided around perimeter, except at driveway
locations; depict all proposed structures on site plans, including access stairs
and balconies, and provide setback and building separation measurements
for all structures; a minimum two feet of landscaping (shrub plantings, not
just grass) shall be required between vehicular use areas and on-site
buildings and structures; and provide a Photometric Plan consistent with
LDR Sec. 78-71. Additionally, Engineering review has not yet been
completed, and additional comments may be forthcoming and on-site
storage units are for use only by residents as an amenity or for site
operations as standalone Commercial storage is not permitted within the
Residential Multiple Family Zoning District (RMF).
TRC MINUTES, June 20, 2024, PAGE 1 OF 2
V. NEW BUSINESS A CONTINUED
2. Building Official Newell reviewed and discussed the nine conditions noted
on page 10 of the Planning Staff Report with Mr. Joshua Brown, Engineer
with Newlines & SLD Engineering. Mr. Brown informed the Committee
Members that most of the concerns have been corrected and that he is
currently working with Planner Smith. In addition, Building Official Newell
inquired about a secondary fire escape plan. OCFR Deputy Fire Marshal
Sasser noted as well that a secondary means of exit may be needed. She
will research and get back to the Applicant. Also, fire flow calculations will be
needed, and she inquired as to whether there would be gates on the storage
unit areas or whether they would just be opened. Lastly, she inquired as to
whether the dwelling units would be sprinkled. OUA Executive Director
Hayford commented that the sewer would be privately owned, but OUA
would need an easement if the water main would be going through the
property. Should the Applicant decide to go under the road and tap into the
OUA water main that way, an easement would not be needed.
3. Mr. Frank Mitchell Stephens, Registered Agent, Glenwood Park, LLC, 1209
East Cumberland Avenue, Unit 1201 , Tampa, FL 33602, advised he wants
to get plans approved before his final set is created. He will get with his
Engineer to address the nine conditions the Planner discussed as well as
looking into possibly adding stairs to the desks on the backside of the units
for a secondary means of escape. The storage unit areas would not have
gates, each unit would be individually locked. Lastly, he commented that the
dwelling units would not be sprinkled.
4. No public comments were offered.
5. Administrator Ritter disclosed he had spoken to both Mr. Brown and Mr.
Steven Dobbs, Engineers on the proposed project, as well as the Applicant,
Mr. Stephens.
6. Motion by Building Official Newell, seconded by OCFR Fire Marshal Sasser,
to approve Site Plan Review Application No. 24-004-TRC as presented in
[Exhibit 1, which includes the Planning Consultants analysis of findings and
recommendation for approval] with the following conditions being satisfied
prior to the issuance of any building permit: Applicant must provide recent
surveys which demonstrate correct parcel boundaries; dumpster enclosure
details shall be provided; parking spaces must be set back a minimum of 20
feet from the right-of-way; dumpsters and loading zones appear to be located
within required landscape buffer, revise plans to demonstrate at least 10 feet
wide landscape buffers are provided around perimeter, except at driveway
locations; depict all proposed structures on site plans, including access stairs
and balconies, and provide setback and building separation measurements
for all structures; a minimum two feet of landscaping (shrub plantings, not
just grass) shall be required between vehicular use areas and on-site
buildings and structures; and provide a Photometric Plan consistent with
LDR Sec. 78-71. Additionally, Engineering review has not yet been
completed, and additional comments may be forthcoming and on-site
storage units are for use only by residents as an amenity or for site
operations as standalone Commercial storage is not permitted within the
RMF Zoning District. Motion Carried Unanimously.
VI. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
No updates provided at this time.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Administrator Ritter adjourned the meeting at 10:22 A.M.
Submitted by:
BWtftAC
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, June 20, 2024, PAGE 2 OF 2