HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.24.69M I N U T E S
ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION
City of Sanford
April 24, 1969
City Commission Room, City Hall
8 :00 P.M.
Present Clifford W. McKibbin, Jr. - Chairman
C' Donald Bishop, Jr.
Arthur H. Harris
Robert E. Karns
John Daniels, Jr.
Phillip H. Logan
City Manager W. E. Knowles
Building Official Linvel Risner
Building Inspector Kermit Wallstedt
Gerald L. Dake, Planning Consultant
Absent Jefferson R. Davis
John Y. Mercer
C. F. Brooke Smith, M.D.
The Chairman called the meeting to order.
Alex. J. Serraes, President, Downtown Sanford Merchants'
Association was present and outlined for the Board Members a
proposed beautification plan for "Downtown First Street ".
The project in mind is as follows:
1. Presently encourage the merchants on First Street
to fix up the front of their stores in addition
to the inside.
2. Merchants have specified that they do not want to
eliminate the angle parking and go to parallel
parking.
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3. The original plan was the continuation right on
through to Sanford Avenue the construction of
3 -foot islands down the middle of the street
with breaks at the intersections.with planting
of palm trees in the island using rock or maple
chips to finish them off which would eliminate
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the grass maintenance; suggesting that maintenance
would be by City personnel or prisoner trustees.
Mr. Serraes, associated with the local gas company,
stated that he felt sure that his company would donate
gas lights to be installed in the median planters,
such as Winter Park has.
However, the merchants were opposed to going down
the middle of the street mainly because it would
mean going to parallel parking and felt that it
would be a hazard to those elderly persons driving.
(Mr. Serraes stated that he could no longer believe
that Sanford is an "old folks" town).
A secondary project that he had in mind was such as
the City of DeLand has which is a 3x9 foot planter
on the edge of the sidewalk at the curbing which
could be built out of brick, and then line benches
in between each planter other than the present situation
of the benches being on the sidewalks and practically
in the middel of the sidewalks.
Mr. Serraes therein requested the Board's endorsement
of the islands, removing the benches and clearing the
sidewalks, and to go to the parallel parking.
Mr. Serraes stated that he felt that if the beautification
plan could be implemented that it would give the merchants
an incentive to do something with the fixing up of their
stores.
The Chairman reiterated the program of three points being
that of; Constructing island in the middle of the street;
parallel parking, and removing the benches to the lakefront.
The Planner pointed out that some towns such as Mt. Dora
and Leesburg have succeeded on their own with downtown beauti-
fication ideas such as outlined by Mr. Serraes. They were
carried out by one "agressive" individual starting the plan.
Mr. Dake felt that the Board should give their wholehearted
efforts to support the beautification plan for the downtown area.
On a question relating to the parallel parking idea, the
Planner felt that if the downtown is going to serve its function,
we have to carry on the imitation of some of the outlying shopping
centers by getting adequate off- street parking.
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He also felt that parallel parking is not going to be any
great problem and that eventually, in time, all the traffic will
be taken off of First Street in some manner.
Mr. Harris made mention of a mediocre idea of taking out
every other two or three parking spaces and making a planting
area with the benches on that and a little grass island not quite
as far out as the driving lane but almost as far out as the end
of the car would park. Also, with this idea, small trees or
shrubs could be placed around the planting area and parallel
parking could be considered.
The City Manager pointed out that the present angle parking
is on a 60 degree angle. The Planner suggested dropping the
angle parking back to approximately 30 degrees which might still
allow the island affect and still allow the two traffic lanes
on the basis that the street width on First Street being that
of approximately 60 feet.
Mr. Karns mentioned the present traffic congestion on First
and the flow of traffic backed up a block from the intersection
of First and Park in the afternoons when persons are taking care
of banking matters, and that this is the ease of shopping centers
because of the traffic flow. Mr. Logan mentioned that he hoped
consideration would be given to proper maintenance of any planters
downtown so that they would not become an eyesore as did the
"pot" planters that are presently on First Street from lack of
care by the merchants.
Mr. Serraes stated that if the planter strip down the
middle of the street is not approved then he would recommend
the sidewalk planters as the City of DeLand has done. He
also called attention to sidewalk planting, relating particularly
to use of palm trees wherein they could create a problem with the
canopies on the store buildings in that some of the canopies might
have to be cut back and also the hurricanes could present a problem
or hazard.
Mr. Serraes concluded by stating that he would like to receive
the endorsement of the Zoning and Planning Commission in that he
anticipated approaching the City Commission on April 28th, with
the respective plan. Mr. Dake stated that he would lend
assistance toward a workable plan::of beautification and parking
for First Street.
The Chairman stated that he would entertain a motion to
recommend to the City Commission that the pra�osed project of
the Downton Merchants to have First Street islands'.Installdd
MR
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and angular parking on First Street be revised as to angle
to accomplish safety with islands installed,`; and that the
Planning Commission will lend assistance in the design and
advice.
On mo an of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Bishop and
carried, it recommended to the City Commission that the
beautification plan of the Downtown. Merchants Association
be accepted and that the Planning Commission will lend
planning assistance and advice.
In answer to a question by a board member as to the City's
responsibility toward the downtown merchants, the City Planner
stated that if Sanford is to have individuality, an image or a
focal point and wish to keep a central downtown business district,
then the City has some responsibility toward keeping it. He
also added that the downtown property owners should be stimulated
to take as much interest as the City takes.
Consideration was next given to the application of Phillip
J. Ness for the rezoning from C -1, Neighborhood Commercial, to
that of M -1, Light Industrial, located as follows:
Bounded on the east by Hardy Avenue; south by
West 25th Street; west by the old RR /ROW; north
by the Shamrock service station and 7 -11 store.
A Public Hearing on said application was held at the "un-
official" meeting of March 13, 1969, with no action taken at that
time. Mr. Harris, Acting Chairman at said meeting, apprised
the board members as to what had transpired at said public hearing.
After discussion of the area, Mr. Harris moved that the
request of Mr. Ness for the respective rezoning be denied.
Seconded by Mr. Karns and carried.
Airport zoning and planning was next considered, relative
to the acquisition of the Sanford Airport, with the Chairman
reporting that at the Sanford Industrial Commission's meeting
on the prior Monday (The Chairman being a member of the SIC),
the SIC took action to accept the recommendation of W. E. Knowles
that the SIC get together with the consulting firm of Booker
and Associates and the Chairman understood from Mr. Rathel,
Director of SIC, that he had written a letter requesting that
Booker include in the thirty man days work that is allowed
under Booker & Associates government contract for them to do
some airport zoning work and long range planning.
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The Chairman thought it would be well for the Z & P and
the SIC to wait on Booker's final report in this area because
it has been pointed out that airport zoning is quite different
than municipal zoning. In the meantime, the Building Official
is issuing permits under the City Manager's administrative
expansiveness; referring to activities out at the Sanford
Airport that are in keeping with the use of the airport.
The Chairman presented a letter of resignation from
board member John Y. Mercer due to meeting date conflicts with
his position at the United State Bank of Seminole. The
Board accepted the letter with regrets and requested that it
be referred to the City Commission.
Consideration was next given to name suggestions to be
submitted to the City Commission for an appointment to fill
said vacancy. The following names were suggested:
Staff Derby
B.C. Conklin
Alex Serraes
Garnett White
(other names for future reference are:
Capt. John Williams, Dr. Louis Perez, Ben
Howland, Dr. Ringling, Bill Hemphill, Dr.
John Darby, Donald Jones)
The matter of attendance record of the members for the
last past six months was next discussed as it relates to
having less than five members attending and creating a "lack
of quorum" wherein pertinent matters cannot be officially
handled. Suggestions were made to the possibility of holding
the meetings during a particular time during the day; changing
to a different day of the week; upon members being absent from
three consecutive regular meetings or two out of five meetings
they would be required to resign. No official action was
taken at this time on how attendance could be made mandatory.
The Planner stated that this Board needed to be a very
active board regarding the matters that will be coming up
through planning and consideration should be given to appointing
members that will attend the meetings. He mentioned that some
retirees make very good members because they have the time and
usually the interest wherein sometimes persons are appointed that
are all ready overloaded with work and other board meetings.
Mr. Karns suggested that possibly the City Commission might
have some recommendations to the solution. However, it
was felt that the matter should be handled on the level
of the Zoning and Planning Commission.
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The Planner mentioned that beginning at the next session
there are three planning items that are presently on the drawing
board that will be ready for discussion and consideration. He
did not elaborate as to the items.
The Chairman brought to attention that the Building Official
had been approached relative to a builder wishing to place an
office in the C -1, Neighborhood Commercial, zoning and desired to
install a redwood fence in the back with idea of leaving or storing
outside his excess supplies and -or materials; the office being
that of drafting and not like a lumber yard. The Chairman inter-
preted that the building official may make a determination that is
within the scope of activities that are normally within C -1.
It was pointed out that the problem is one that the material keeps
on accumulating. Mr. Harris interpreted the ordinance
to read that it does specify that all materials will be stored
within an enclosure in a C -1 area.
The Planner reported that he spend the day in Orlando with
the Tri- County Planning Director and has learned that this re-
spective organization has contracted with the engineering firm
of Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff to undertake a very ex-
tensive airport study of the tri- county area w4ich will include
a general aviation plan as to where the general aviation facilities
should be; and, how many of these should we have and what is the
role of the Sanford Airport. Included in same will be the
recommendation for land use adjacent to the airports and the
type of uses that do not conflict with air travel pertaining to
sound, noise, airport patterns, zoning, approaches, etc.; and,
coming up with some standards regarding airport property design;
design of the uses that will be adjacent to the airports. The
Planner recommended that in the best interest of Sanford we
should have something on paper regarding what our proposals are
for the use of our airport property. Not only the area that
is within the airport boundary limits, but also some of the
areas adjacent to the airport so that our plans can be tied
in with their plans and the overall program. The Chairman
stated that the SIC had requested the SIC Director to request
the Booker Company to get this particular work right out within
60 days and then a copy of same could then be forwarded to the
Orlando engineering firm doing the Tri- County work. The
City Manager stated that a lot of the work is already done,
particularly in the Booker Report and through what FAA (Federal
Aviation Administration) has done with the hopes that it can
all be drawn together in a plan for the City for land use and
airport zoning and capital improvements.
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The Planner also understood that at the
Shoemaker, some months ago, the Tri- County P1
did a specific study of the air base property
fringe areas and the property itself, and put
report. The City Manager stated he had not
but would check on same.
request of Kay
anning Commission
area, including
same into a general
seen such a report,
The Chairman announced that A. B. (Tommie) Peterson, Jr.,
Chairman of the City's Scenic Improvement Board, could not be
present and had anticipated the presentation of a City of Sanford
Beautification Plan. The City Manager outlined it as being
a beautification contract with the Tri- County Planning Commission
and the City Commission's appointed Scenic Improvement Board which
is working with Harlan Hanson, Director of Tri- County Planning,
Orlando, and have come up with a combination contract to tie in
with the Tri Planning Council, who was already doing a beauti-
fication general plan for three counties, to incorporate a special
study for the Sanford area only. The §IB approached the City
Commission at budget time and asked for7$5,000 appropriation
and the City Commission has set it aside in the congingency fund.
Now the federal funds have come through. The federal project
through the Tri- County is going ahead;now it has come down to the
point as to whether or not the Z & P Commission feels it advisable
to support and recommend along with the Scenic Improvement Board
that the City undertake this specialized study,in addition to the
federal program,of the City of Sanford only on a beautification
project(s). Further, the contract has been outlined and the
City Commission ran through it at their last meeting; it is quite
detailed; and the SIB feels that it is what they need or will have
to have to start with and in particular it is a requirement if the
City wishes to be eligible for any of the federal funds under the
federal beautification grants.
The Planner stated that, as he understood it, the actual
contract resulted in five specific beautification projects within
the City as a first year effort within a five -year plan and of
those they will do detailed drawings and detailed planning schemes,
cost estimates, not only putting in the shrubbery and materials,
but also the annual cost of maintenance after the plantings are
in.
After discussion, Mr. Harris moved that a recommendation
be submitted to the City Commission that the respective beauti-
fication plan be adopted and the contract for same executed.
Seconded by Mr. Karns and carried.
Mr. Harris moved to request of the Scenic Improvement
Board that upon execution of the Contract by the City Commission
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with Tri- County the Z & P Commission urges the SIB to consider
the beautification of the downtown area as the first priority
project as a cooperative effort with the plan as presented by
Mr. Serraes. Seconded by Mr. Logan and carried.
The Planner stated that at the request of the Chairman he
would provide in ten days a preliminary plan for the beauti-
fication and parking for the downtown area of First Street.
The sketch to be done for a one block area with the idea it
would be implemented for the overall project.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
L
A / X l � a� d
Chairman