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Minutes 06-26-03M'~NUTES OF THE COMMUNXTY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKSHOP HELD I'N THE LI'BRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORI'DA ON MONDAY, 3UNE 26, 2003 AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT Larry Finkelstein, Chairman .leanne Heavilin, Vice Chair Jos~ Aguila Alexander DeMarco Henderson Tillman Lindsey Payne, Board Attorney Mike Rumpf, Planning & Zoning Director Dick Hudson, Senior Planner Margelly Beltan, Urban DesignedPlanner Susan Vielhauer, CRA Controller ABSENT Don Fenton Michelle Hoyland ALSO PRESENT Mr. David Zimet, newly appointed director of the Boynton Beach Faith-Based Community Development Corporation, was in attendance. Dan DeCarlo, Neighborhood Project Specialist, was also present. 1. Call to Order Chair Finkelsteifl called the workshop to order at 6:02 p.m. called the roll. The Recording Secretary 2. Workshop :L) LDR Rewrite Format Dick Hudson, Senior Planner, introduced Ms..lody Rivers, Senior Project Manager with the RMPK Group, and Attorney .lohn McPherson, also with the RMPK Group. Mr. Hudson explained that staff had been working with The RMPK Group to rewrite the Land Development Regulations (LDR). The Board provided its input at a previous workshop and was given a copy of the proposed format to review. The purpose of today's meeting was to gain the Board's input on the final draft of the Code framework and organizational format. 3ody Rivers, Senior Project Manager with The RMPK Group, explained that before they could proceed with the actual rewriting of the LDR, the format had to be Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop - Ocean District Plan & LDR Rewrite Format Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2003 approved and finalized. The major complaint about the current Code is its lack of organization and the difficulties experienced when trying to find something in it. Ms. Rivers gave a detailed description of the table of contents and explained how they had incorporated parts of the Model Land Development Code (written by their firm in 1989), and the comments of all those who had provided input to it: the City Commission, the Planning & Development Board, the CRA, the Chamber of Commerce, the neighborhoods, and various planners and developers. The combined comments of all parties and the efforts of RMPK coalesced into the proposed format being presented to the Board at this meeting. Changes will be made according to comments that have been received and will be presented for approval at a later date. The Land Development Regulations Rewrite (Code Framework and Organizational Format) document is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Attorney McPherson pointed out that on Page 14, Urban Design Guidelines, there would be different guidelines for height, massing, open space, and so forth for each district in the redevelopment area. Chapter 12 will be a Procedural one and will show exactly what steps need to be taken for various submittals. ]:t "walks" a person through the entire process from start to finish. Turnaround and review times will be included as well. A brief question and answer session followed. Mr. Tillman wanted to be sure that non-conforming lots would be addressed since this is an important issue with him. Mr. Hutchinson stated that the Design Guideline Overlays for the districts would have guidelines that were over and above those of the City. Mr. Finkelstein stated that as long as the City continued to give lots away, they would continue to come before the Board for variance requests. Chair Finkelstein thanked The RIVlPF Group for their efforts and stated that the Board was looking forward to seeing its comments incorporated in upcoming drafts. He hoped that the Design Guidelines could also be incorporated so that the Code did not have to be revised as soon as it was published and Ms. Rivers agreed. 2) Ocean District Plan Presentation lVls. Margelly Beltran, Urban Planner for the City and Project Manager for the Ocean District Plan, gave a PowerPoint presentation on this topic. A copy of the Plan is on file in the City Clerk's office. Ms. Beltran explained that the Ocean District Community Redevelopment Plan had been prepared in a cooperative effort between the Planning and Zoning Division and the 2 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop - Ocean District Plan & LDR Rewrite Format Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2003 Department of Development. The team members were Ms. Beltran, Mr. Greene, Mr. Rumpf, Mr. Hudson, and Ms. Matras, Executive Summary (excerpted from the Plan) The Ocean District is directly adjacent to the city's downtown core. As such, it serves as a gateway community to the downtown area and supports the Federal Highway Corridor. The Ocean District Community Redevelopment Plan was prepared to serve three purposes. First, the Plan will contribute toward the updating of the existing Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Plan. The CRA Plan is being revised in a five-part effort. The first effort is the Federal Highway Corridor Community Redevelopment Plan that was adopted in May of 2001. The second effort is the Heart of Boynton Community Redevelopment Plan, which was adopted in December of 2001. The Ocean District Community Redevelopment Plan is the third component of this update process. The fourth part will address the Boynton Beach Boulevard Corridor, followed by the element to include the industrial area west of Interstate ]~-95. The second purpose of the Plan is to recognize certain broad goals that need to be achieved in order to make the downtown Boynton Beach a successful place. In terms of these goals, a successful place can be defined as: 1) A desirable place to live and work where both residents sand workers have a sense of responsibility for the successful outcome; 2) A place of unique character with public spaces where people feel comfortable together; 3) A place of common vision and physical predictability for all new development that will allow for commercial and residential growth. A place of profitable investment that provides a positive aesthetic experience; and 4) A memorable place of human interaction and cultural benefit. The third purpose of the Plan is to provide recommendations for projects and programs, including amendments to the adopted future land use plan and zoning code, to be undertaken in order to create a new image and mix of uses for the civic and cultural center of the city. The Plan calls for areas that lie south of N.E. 3rd Avenue and north of N.E. Ist Avenue to feature the most intense development. The areas containing Town Square should provide a transition from civic and cultural to urban form. The areas north and south of Ocean Avenue will frame the Ocean Avenue corridor, providing support for its business and other activities, while also supporting the preservation of the predominantly residential character of the neighborhood that lies in the southeast area of the Plan. Collectively, these planning areas will form a hierarchy of development that will result in economic growth and a pedestrian-oriented, vibrant town center. 3 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop - Ocean District Plan & LDR Rewrite Format Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2003 Specific recommendations to guide the City toward realization of orderly and aesthetically pleasing development and redevelopment in the Ocean District Community Redevelopment Plan are summarized as follows: 1. Amend the Nixed-Low Regulations to add specific development standards for the Ocean District. A lesser density and intensity will provide a transition from the current allowed density and intensity in the adjacent downtown area; Develop detailed signage standards to improve the aesthetic appearance of the Ocean District; and Develop a design program for structures and street furniture to include a color palette. Ns. Beltran concluded the presentation and the Board proceeded to discuss it. Board Comments and Questions Mr. Aguila inquired why the Plan was not more concentrated in the Ocean Avenue area from Seacrest Boulevard to U.S. 1 and why it encompassed Boynton Beach Boulevard, when there was a Plan in discussion for that. Chair Finkelstein stated that it was because in the Visions 20/20 process, they created the Ocean District and the borders were determined at that time. There will be a separate Boynton Beach Boulevard Corridor Study, which would fit in that section. Mr. Hutchinson stated that the districts needed to be changed. At the moment, with so many overlapping studies, it was almost impossible to tell what was going on. At best, the Boynton Beach Boulevard Corridor Study should extend all the way from [-95 to the water. Chair Finkelstein stated that he did not mind approving this Plan as an update to the CRA Plan, realizing that there were a lot of generalities, and a few minor things that had to be fixed. He envisioned coming back to discuss it when the Boynton Beach Boulevard Corridor Study was complete to decide where the boundaries should be. He was not in favor of "rewriting" the whole Ocean District Plan at this time. Hr. Aguila noted that the Visions 20/20 Plan had been written a long time ago and should be viewed as a guideline and a base. He then asked about the proposed Civic Center and Convention facility and who was going to pay for it, build it, and maintain it. IVlr. Hutchinson commented that at the end of the Ocean District Plan there were three sources of funding listed and the City was not one of them. Mr. Aguila commented that on the west side of [-95, there was half of what used to be an entrance column to Ocean Avenue, until [-95 came in and cut off the Ocean Avenue 4 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop - Ocean District Plan & LDR Rewrite Format Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2003 main road. He wanted to see this entry replicated on the east side of Seacrest Boulevard and Ocean Avenue to create a "grand" entrance that leads down to the east, to the bridge, and on to the water. He wanted to see Ocean Avenue landscaped, with soft pavers and furniture, and made into a really special entry to the City. Chair Finkelstein stated that he agreed with IVlr. Aguila about making the Ocean Avenue entrance something really special. He was not in favor of a roundabout at this location. Mr. Aguila also hoped that Seacrest could be narrowed with median landscaping to slow down traffic, realizing that it was a County road. Mr. Aguila asked staff if they had done any coordination with other agencies on such roads as Boynton Beach Boulevard, which is part of the hurricane evacuation route. Ms. Beltran stated that Mr. Livergood had addressed this on page 80 under Traffic Circulation, with a notation that a specialized traffic study would have to be undertaken. Mr. Aguila commented on the Plan that was presented, saying that the two flex pavilions belonged on Seacrest Boulevard and the parking garage belonged on the other side. Mr. Hutchinson stated that they should come off the Corridor and be put where the parking is now, behind the old high school. Mr. Hutchinson mentioned that the Plan indicated off-street parking on Boynton Beach Boulevard and staff had already told him that this would not happen. Everyone agreed that a lot would depend on owner participation and cooperation. Ms. Beltran thought that if the Plan were to be adopted, as is, they were looking into doing something like an Urban Code for the area, that would tell them where the buildings would be placed, the type of landscaping, the height, and generally get more specific. Mr. Hutchinson stated that he thought this was what the CRA was doing and that the CRA was to sign a contract on .~uly 8 for this same thing. Vice Chair Heavilin was concerned about the 500 block of Ocean Avenue and the contrast that would exist between the Arches, a very upscale project on the south, and the very similar area to the north with a more everyday appearance. IVlr. Hutchinson thought that the 150-foot high building between the Arches and the north would soften this contrast considerably. Mr. Hutchinson's concern was about the wedding cake design and how it would be affected on Ocean Avenue by 150-foot buildings potentially abutting 45-foot buildings, especially near the railroad tracks. He wanted to see ramping across Ocean Avenue all the way to Boynton Beach Boulevard and the railroad track intersection, where the maximum massing would tie in to the coastline across the tracks. Chair Finkelstein stated that there was a whole block that could be used to step down before they got to the one that was west of the Arches, and another step at the railroad tracks. 5 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop - Ocean District Plan & LDR Rewrite Format Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2003 Mr. Hutchinson was in favor of more specifics in the Plan so that developers could make reasonable decisions. He felt that the current Ocean District Plan already had several comments that were at least somewhat obsolete. Chair Finkelstein thought that the Board should accept the Plan as its overall concept for the Ocean District and then start adding some real definitions and specifics. Mr. Hutchinson stressed the need for a planning document that says, "Here are your setbacks and here are your heights." Chair Finkelstein stated that the Ocean District Plan had a lot of historical information in it and was not the specific plan he envisioned as far something that could be implemented to effect changes, in spite of some specific recommendations in the back of the Plan. Mr. DeMarco had to leave but commented that they were at least moving forwards and not backwards. He was concerned about the political climate since some candidates were pro-business and others were not. Also, there was a silent group who wanted the "status quo" and did not want to see large-scale development, no matter how potentially "wonderful." He thought that the CRA should be sensitive to this group of people in its revelation of new ideas and plans for the area. Chair Finkelstein thanked Mr. DeMarco for his thoughts. Chair Finkelstein had a lot of questions on the Goals and Objectives in the Plan because some of them were not specific to the Ocean District Plan. Also, on page 21, the restriction on building heights to two stories or 25 feet should be changed to 30 feet. Ms. Beltran said that this was part of what had to be amended in Section 3, "Land Use Problems and Opportunities" of the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use support documents. Chair Finkelstein disagreed with the use of the word "entire area" on page 20 in the discussion of the Public and Private Governmental/Institutional land use category and Public Usage zoning district. Chair Finkelstein did not believe it was appropriate to list Barista Way as having the lowest traffic volume, since it is an alleyway and not a street. Mr. Hutchinson noted that the intersection of 3rd Street and Boynton Beach Boulevard would become a major intersection and the Plan did not address the issue of traffic control or a traffic light. The Board also wants to try to get the medians back on Boynton Beach Boulevard to help guide traffic. In general, the Board realized that they wanted to establish a plan of record, even though it would have to be amended when the Boynton Beach Corridor Study was Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop - Ocean District Plan & LDR Rewrite Format Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2003 completed. They also knew they needed to look at specifics on massing, heights, and setbacks. Mr. Hutchinson thought that this could be accomplished by a reference in the Plan to an upcoming Design Guideline Overlay. IVlr. Hutchinson wanted to see ranges placed on the maps indicating the current development standards of the CRA. The range could be similar to what Palm Beach County uses in their Zoning Code, i.e. 9 to 14 units per acre. Mr. Rumpf stated that they might want to be a little less specific and more conceptual to avoid locking themselves into certain rigid parameters. There was agreement on the Board that some flexibility in the Plan would be useful. Mr. Hutchinson expressed it as giving flexibility with parameters because this would give the developers room for creativity. However, a little more detail in the area of massing, heights, setbacks, and so forth would give the developers more confidence in the City's direction. For example, Mr. Aguila felt that the two "flex" spaces could be on Seacrest Boulevard, but the current Plan showed them elsewhere as if that were "it." IVlr. Rumpf thought a statement could be added that it was the intent of the Plan to provide a conceptual vision but not the exact locations. IVlr. Hutchinson thought that it might be best to show a particular area and say, "Here are the components we are looking at: a park, an open space, and parking." Mr. Aguila stated that the Plan should be somewhere between a bubble diagram and a design. The Board gave Ms. Beltran direction to add figure and map nomenclature to make the document easier to understand. In the text for example, there could be references to Figure 4 and Figure 4 could be identified. The maps are numbered in the l:ndex but there are no page numbers on the maps. Mr. Hutchinson also asked that the street sections be made larger and placed one to a page for greater visibility and ease of understanding. Mr. Aguila expressed a desire to disallow fountains or water features, if possible, since they bring about maintenance problems. Mr. Rumpf expressed appreciation for the comments made by the Board. He thought that the Overlay could be referenced along with a statement that the information might be updated or superseded when the Boynton Beach Corridor Study is incorporated. The Planning & Zoning Division will meet with Mr. Hutchinson, who will transmit a few more specific comments from the members to Planning & Zoning. The Plan will be revised and presented to the Board at a later date, with a draft version being forwarded to the CRA Board members, allowing sufficient time for them to read and digest it. The approved, final result will be incorporated into the appropriate segment of the CRA Plan. The meeting was duly adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop - Ocean District Plan & LDR Rewrite Format Boynton Beach, Florida June 26,2003 Respectfully submitted, Susan Collins Recording Secretary (063002) 8