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Minutes 09-26-00e MINUTES OF THE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD WORKSHOP HELD IN THE LIBRARYPROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2000 AT 8:1S P.M. PRESENT J. Stanley Dube, Vice Chairman Mike Rumpf, Planning & Zoning Director Larry Finkelstein Hannah Matras, Economic Research Analyst Mike Friedland Lusia Galav, Senior Planner Woodrow Hay Steve Myott Maurice Rosenstock Pat Frazier, Alternate (Voting) ABSENT Lee Wische, Chairman Robert Ensler, Alternate 16 Introduction by Planning &Zoning Staff Vice Chairman Dube called the meeting to order at 8:20 p.m. 2'r New Business: A. Rental Development — Trends and Analysis For the past year or two, some of the larger single-family development communities have developed out. Itl appeared to disturb people that multi -family and two rental projects came into the City. Statements were made about Boynton Beach becoming a rental capital and opinions were formulated. In response to those remarks, staff collected information for education purposes. Hanna Matras said that she has heard discontentment over the last two years but she was never provided with details that enabled her to pinpoint the reasons for the concern. Ms. Matras provided summary information titled "Apartment Housing: An Overview". (A copy of that information is attached to the original set of these minutes on file in the City Clerk's Office.) The City of Boynton Beach is not unique. ; Apartment growth is happening all around. us. The apartment rental market over the last two years has been tremendous all over the United States. Over the past 10 years there have been changes that make the traditional family unit different from what it was in the 1960s. Ms. Matras pointed out that we couldn't have a downtown if we don't bring in high density housing. It is a proven fact that people from the suburbs will not come to the downtown. The City will not have control over whether that high density is comprised of apartments or condos. Ms. Matras advised the board that as soon as it is feasible, maps indicating the parcels that are still available for multi -family and single-family units would be provided Mr. Rumpf reported that one of the ideas expressed was the desire' for more valuable large -lot single- family homes. Because land values are so high, higher density housing is more desirable to the developers. 1 P WORKSHOP MINUTES PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 26, 2000 Ms. Matras said she would like to have the computer software that would allow the user to input the numbers in order to determine fiscal impact. Cities outside of Florida have custom-designedsoftware that produces these .figures. This software would help to guide the City <,with respect to its decisions. Ms. Matras explained that the expenditures, capital expenditures and revenues would have to be applied to each use to determine fiscal impact and this would be very difficult to accomplish. It ris an accepted fact that residential is a loser in the city because it costs the City more money than it generates. Ms. Matras said she would work with Finance to see of there is`ranything solid she could produce. Mr. Rumpf explained that sometimes it is easier to look at another community to make these determinations. Even though optimal land uses with respect to fiscal impact and revenues are the clean industrial types of uses, a lot of the uses we desire to have could not be supported :without a strong and growing residential base. We want to control and make certain we have the infrastructure in place for support and we must recognize the benefit of residential to our economy. Vice Chairman Dube requested that this information packet be incorporated into the members' manuals for future reference. Mr. Friedland recalled that during the Vision 20/20 planning process, it was stated that Boynton Beach was the narrowest community in Florida (nine miles wide). If that were the case, where would we put single- family residential housing? Mr. Friedland would like to know how we compare with other communities in Florida. Mr. Friedland would also like information that pertains to the average wage of the average person in our community. Ms. Frazier said she would be interested in learning about the developments in our community that do not pay taxes. Mr. Finkelstein appreciated the work that Ms. Matras did in providing the report regarding apartments. It is his opinion that the apartment projects' in this City are Class "A"' units and they are providing great amenity packages. There are people who are moving here from Boward and Dade Counties who are in a transitional state. These complexes provide a place for them to stay while` they look for a permanent residence in the community. It is also his belief that the people who move' into these complexes have discretions income to spend and the spend that money in the restaurants and stores. This generates discretionary pe Y pe Y money, for our City. Mr. Finkelstein is not frightened by the apartment growth' and he believes the market will indicate when we are getting overbuilt. Furthermore, we do not have very ;much land remaining that is zoned for multi -family projects. Mr. Finkelstein agreed with Ms. Matras that mixed-use projects are. vital to the redevelopment of the downtown. Ms. Frazier questioned when the construction of the apartments at the Gentleman Jim's site would begin. Ms. Galav said they are in permitting now and the groundwork should begin within four to six weeks. B. Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Recommendations Mr. Rumpf said staff provided the report to show the members the basic current updates ,to the Comprehensive Plan. Several of the specific area recommendations are outdated and ' have not been updated'. When the Comprehensive Plan was adopted, ,the Florida Administrative Code had a minimum criteria element that encouraged the evaluation of streetscape/landscape:, to identify problems and opportunities. A map was provided that identifies areas that correspond with, the text descriptions. That p adopted. The City is in the process of updating the Plan. Staff will continue to provide recommendations on land use changes and development activities and will take the 4 WORKSHOP MINUTES PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 26, 2000 next few months to go through the plan and begin to make the necessary revisions. He encouraged the members to review the material and retain the information for future reference. He urged the members to notify staff of any areas of the City that might need special attention or planning focus. Vice Chairman -Dube questioned whether the City would ever be able to annex the parcel of land near the BJs project site. Mr. Rumpf advised that the City would make another attempt to annex that property. Mr. Friedland asked for a status report on the multi -use project in Quantum Park. Ms. Galav reported that the first phase of the multi -use project known as Grotto Bay would come before the board next month. ;his is the multi -family rental project. The City is in the process of amending the PID Code to allow them to bring in their plan. 3. Comments by Members Mr. Finkelstein submitted a letter of resignation from the Planning & Development Boar explained that Mr. Finkelstein is moving out of the corporate limits of the City. The letter ty. (A copy off attached to the original set of these minutes on file in the City Clerk's Office.) the letter is Nike Fitzpatrick advised that the Greenways Project Subcommittee ma a put 'to ether 9 p of projected gy urged the members to keep this in mind when reviewing' land use � chreenwaYs for Boynton Beach. He anges. He further pointed out that there is nothing in the Comp Plan regarding native habitation as a zoning definition. The team would like to see a greenways definition incorporated into the zoning code for this City. Mary Law urged the members to consider animals and the habitat when reviewing projects that are submitted. She asked the members to help preserve some of the animals. 4 Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Planning & Developmenf Board, the meeting properly adjourned at 9:00 p.m. 10 net M. Prainito Deputy City Clerk (One Tape) ISI - 3 T