City of Punta Gorda Council Meeting 07-12-17, 12 Jul 2017

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From YouTube: Punta Gorda City Council 7-12-17 Part 6

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Description

A

On our one-on-ones I think I mentioned this I forgot to bring it up. It's.

B

Not City Center, maybe.

A

That's why I didn't bring it up? We have another viable proposal. A contractor wants to move into and is a building.

A

And it's in a highway commercial district and the contractor wants to also be able to store his employees, vehicles, employees, contractors, vehicles that are used for the job and in order to allow that it's going to have to go and ask for a special exception for something that staff feels that we want. Why?

A

Because our code says, you can't have outdoors storage in the highway commercial without going through a special exception. There's a reason for that, because we don't want to have businesses just be able to put anything they want out there at a highway commercial. We understand that so here's a case where they.

C

Make a business.

A

Has come to us, they want to occupy a building, that's not occupied clean, it up run their business out of it just have their vehicles that they use in their business on site, and they can't do it without a special exception because of our code.

A

But we just don't want as a staff. We just don't want to open it up to anything. Because of what happens, what can happen in the highway commercial? For instance, you go on 41 next to Lashley marine. You have the instance whether you had a tenant outside the city store all kinds of things out there. That was, we had to call the county to get their code enforcement people. Fortunately the people finally moved out. We don't want that. There's.

D

This equipment, or is it vehicles and it's not being considered as parking of the vehicles, that's correct.

A

Our staffs opinion is.

E

That, because there's lettering on the sides of the vehicles, this.

C

Is the crazy thing what you see there? The junk car lot: that's allowed a non operating vehicle now that would be allowed if he wanted to do that, but he can't park his actual work trucks there and it's clearly like an industrial, so the two Lots over. So if I go across the tracks, live ship marine, those that's a different zoning districts.

C

They have all kinds of stuff outside but to us to the west is highway commercial and it's not allowed and it's clearly a steel building with a yard, a fenced yard for and I guess the way the code is written. If it was retail like a car repair place or a boat repair place or an RV repair place, they can have all kinds of vehicles out there. So work trucks can contractor work. Trucks not allow so I, don't know what we can do just.

F

To do any kind of process of what your I.

C

Mean the crazy part is the person needs. You.

F

C

50 days to do the due diligence and decide whether or not they're going to buy the property.

G

So can we go forward and give it you.

D

Know anyway, no no.

G

We're stuck well.

D

G

Can't help them out we're.

D

And we're not talking about like trailers and things of that nature. We're just talking about vehicles well,.

C

Maybe a trailer, a work trailer. It's.

D

It's changing the scenario a little bit. What.

A

Was it yeah we're talking about contractors, contractors business, they have work trucks, they might have some trailers. We do you know. Maybe it's the contract equipment.

D

Yes, yeah yeah all right, so it's a little bit different than the scenario that caused cause me to ask the question. Oh.

A

I didn't want to get into a whole discussion. I just wanted to say here's another instance.

C

Yes, here's another instance.

A

Where we as a staff, could not accommodate a very viable business that wants to move in without a special exception and there's a and and I know the reason that we put the restrictions in the highway commercial they're, valid reasons.

A

But now we're going to make this person if they want to go through the special exception process, which is not a guarantee. Even though staff is going to recommend approval. We just recommend to the guarantee do.

D

They have the option of fencing screenings for.

H

The record Lisa Hannon, an interim zoning official. There is currently a fence there. It would be considered an existing non-conforming fence because it is chain-link, I, think there's some slots in it, but even with screening. But the code is very specific. It says outdoor storage specifically prohibited unless approved by special exception. So Kay staff is reading the literal criteria of the code.

D

How do we define outside course towards it in a definitional sense.

C

E

See those storage, I suspect, they're parking cars. That's not storage! No.

D

It may go into the storage area.

H

Outdoor storage is to find the storage of goods products or vehicles by their owner or on a commercial basis for others outside of a permanently constructed building. This includes auto boat sales and storage areas. So, yes, it would be considered outdoor storage, centers.

A

It is the vehicles as.

H

Part of the business that's.

A

Another dilemma we have and, as I said, we were struggling as a staff trying to accommodate some businesses that want to move into the city and we're doing our best to try and help them through the process.

D

Let's confine us up to the question of the vehicles: how do we define the difference between a storage of a vehicle and parking the vehicle I.

H

May not know that answer.

D

Because I mean we might be all resolved, this particular situation and by an interpretation but but by outside, but outside storage would prohibit them spoiling machinery materials, you know- and maybe maybe even a detached trailer. But if we are able to resolve the problem because they want to be able to store overnight their commercial vehicles, that may not be.

H

Ok, the problem we would have with this if he stored his commercial vehicles, which would be vehicles used in his business. We don't allow sand star in a neighborhood center zoning district to keep his to keep his commercial vehicles even pickup trucks with their names on them at the site. They have to go to a storage or.

D

Loan, because of the process to a residential neighborhood, no.

H

It's because it's a commercial vehicle- and it's not permitted it's it- would it is considered outdoor storage of that vehicle. I.

D

Get that, but that's only district, isn't it because it's close to a residential well.

H

Its neighborhood center is still a mixed-use commercial development that doesn't permit outdoor storage and that would be considered outdoor storage of those they have called for. If.

D

We can make the determination that in this in this zoning district, the in the storage of commercial vehicles is acceptable because it's not near a neighborhood that would be a defensible distinction between commercial vehicles being stored. Here is not being considered outside storage versus commercial parking vehicles. It's important to the neighborhood. It.

C

Could we possibly it's a little random.

D

Hash it out here, I.

C

D

Know it's like I work with staff and see if we can come up a.

C

Landscape screening, I think, would be, you know, buy that in there too, if we, if we beat you, but if you.

D

Don't have to listen to us with the special exception business well,.

E

I, like the idea of using term parking their parking them there in that store, I think it's storage as being something with you're putting stuff in there and you know, you're not using it, and it's work.

D

Where we tried problems, though, is where, for example, someone would air program park, their RV or park, their boat trailer, and it's actually storage they're, storing it. There I, don't know if it, but if we can show that these are being done overnight or used on a regular basis, we'll work on just.

C

A guy right behind we're, tear landscaping, City they've, had out storage of vehicles and equipment. He's got open there now, but I guess he's told he's business about.

H

C

He's a boat dealer and he's a retail, but his yard is full of both in parts and stuff.

A

So as long as we can limit it to vehicles and maybe not equipment trailers, alright, so anyways.

C

I just bring that up. Yeah. Nothing is a.

E

Great example: I.

A

Brought it up to you one-on-one another instance and.

B

A

Know if, by some chance, we as a staff, try to stretch out a little and take some risks just be aware.

E

Well, it's the antenna consequences, as so Mozart write our.

F

Code might be yeah and.

E

I think that you know we do it like we said before, for for good reasons, and we look great, but there is these instances like this we're going to end up Oh and.

C

Things evolve over time. I mean look at this block right here, so the flagship Marine is special-purpose, but then those two buildings in the Dollar General is highway commercial. Then you got the police department. You know it's over time. It's evolved into different. You.

I

C

A different scenario than what we thought it was going to be so we'll have some kind of solutions, hopefully, hopefully, and if it does come back for a special exception. You already know what it's about. No.

D

C

Know it's about. You know what you know what it's about. Let me go there. I wasn't going to girly I, think. That's all I have.

C

Councilmember comments to appointment of the councilmember you put that on there. Yes,.

A

You took, we need to appoint a counselor to the the assisted living facility, gonna.

E

Make a nomination- oh yeah,.

C

Sorry somebody put their food food I would.

E

I would think that should be the councilmember whose district it is at least I would like to consider that I would.

F

Be honored to do that. I have I had offered to them prior to the hearing that I would be willing to do that so I, that's the Bischoff counselor I.

C

Would be concerned only because you voted against it and so.

F

I are explained myself about that. Don't worry the reason I voted against is only because I thought they had not addressed the size of the building and I would really like an opportunity to work with the developer to try to make that more conducive to fitting into the community, and that was the only reason I voted against it. I absolutely supported the project. I just wanted to make sure that they understood that they do need to work with the community to try to have the facility aesthetically pleasing and to blend into the community. I think.

C

They understand that and I wish, that is during the hearing. If there could have been some kind of proposal on you know, math size scale of the building. We could have considered that to make everybody happy, but that didn't happen right now as an.

G

Alternate I would be willing to volunteer to fulfill their role well,.

C

I know you worked with some of the neighbors being closely to I, asked.

G

Did Lennon and Nancy also, but now I work with them and with the Larry, stewartson and so forth, so I certainly would be willing. If we need an alternate, you will fulfill that.

C

Like I mean I would be conflicted about it, but the.

J

Only thing is a dead um I guess: you'd have to be comfortable with whatever they come up with. Ultimately, I mean yeah.

B

J

They can't make it smaller. I need to be okay.

F

And even if they don't I understand, but at least they made the effort to address the problem that still exists and- and that is because I still am hearing from citizens who would like to be on the committee so that they could have some input as well and that's the only reason. Absolute only reason. I voted I.

G

Think we offered I mean I yeah, you wouldn't recommend already I suspect there. By probably the same people I understand.

E

What you're, what you're saying but I.

C

Would just like the person to be it objective is tough and I. Think slim would do that. Yes,.

E

Like I have no problem doing that I mean I, think the Linh understands and has heard all of us and I think that that would be I'm comfortable. That linguist did the best job he's.

F

Probably really worried that I have I.

E

F

Conflict with it and if they decide they're not going to change the configuration of the building, that's simply it it will move forward. It's already been approved and it's going to be part of the community and I'm fine with that.

C

Okay, so this council member comments, we'll start with Gary.

G

G

Otherwise, I have no nothing for the debate of it. Well, I should just make because I have mentioned our and to Rachel. I will not be at the next. That's right: yeah, I,.

C

Don't get to what everybody said, other name and personal.

G

Conflicts I think it is sown. I will not be available for the next constantly, but I will write my opinions and ask our to express them. For me.

E

Yes, I'm counting down than just eight days now, eight days until tomorrow, a week from tomorrow, the public's, open.

A

F

They going to have any kind of a ribbon cutting that morning, uh I.

E

Don't think so, I think it's just going to be we're open at 7:00. I know that cut Realty is going to plan for a grand opening. This fall when that supermarket opens and I'm not sure when the Anytime Fitness is going to be opening, but I think I'm hearing from people October, and so somebody that knows the owners is asked to be put in contact with them. So I can find out more details there because the lease has been signed. It's just you know what kite doesn't even know. What any time fitnesses plans are. Yeah.

F

I asked that, because that's the same day as the FM Dons ribbon-cutting and grand opening that it's.

E

Just opening you just know, it's just show up and go in and see it so I'm just excited for our community that will have back to to Publix again so that'll be awesome.

B

So it will be out yeah.

E

And working on, we have a new event that we're working on for some Founders Day and what it's turning out to be. We talked about possibly using the firehouse, but what we're going to end up doing is our city manager has agreed to lead a bicycle ride toward and so now it's turning out.

E

Mitchell has a grand idea about a mural underneath the southbound 41 bridge, and so the mule Society is getting involved, and so now it looks like this could end up being a fund raiser for that Bureau, and so it's it's getting lots of legs, so I'm probably going to end up being a ride director after all, in it's like cheese I did this before now, but what.

F

E

Working on this, while we're all gone so, hopefully, when we get back we'll have all the plans put together for an event on the morning of December, the second that everybody will want to participate in Thanks. That will be lots of fun so and hopefully, I'll have something else to share with you on the 23rd. We get back with relative to pickleball so and have a great time off.

C

With nothing further yeah Carrie.

B

I just wanted to have a great vacation, but I just wanted to remind you all that if you would please let me know if you're going to be out of town just in case, if we need you, we know who's available and who's. Not so, if you're going to be gone a few days here in a few days, there just shoot me an email, so I know that you're not available. Okay,.

C

So it says comments any topics. Please take the podium over here space. Your name, you have three minutes come on. You guys laugh. Is this long? There's gotta be Thompson.

A

Okay, okay, good hi.

I

I'm Bob, no we're with black Miller. This is quite an interesting meeting today. I am a developer in town, I'm, pro-growth I have to say, I lived in Naples for 20 years and when I first came up today after Charlie the first time I ever came to Ponte quarter and I said: Charlie was nothing more than a three-hour urban renewal and look where we are. Today. We have a beautiful town and truly our growth, but we're not going to screw this up what we have a great community.

I

We have good people and good contractors in this community to care about this community, so we'll never become a Miami Naples or any of those things. We're always going to have our charm pomp order and thank you.

C

Any other citizens comments: okay, seeing none 2:09 Oh.