Minutes 09-27-11
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27,2011, AT 6:30 P.M. IN
COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PRESENT:
Roger Saberson, Chair
Matthew Barnes, Vice Chair
James Brake
Leah Foertsch
Sharon Grcevic
Cory Kravit
Brian Miller
Vince Piraino, Alternate
Mike Rumpf, Planning and Zoning Director
Stacey Weinger, Board Attorney
1. Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Saberson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Vice Chair Barnes led the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2. Introduction of the Board
Chair Saberson introduced the members of the Board. New Board Alternate, Vince
Piraino, was acknowledged later in the meeting.
3. Agenda Approval
Motion
Mr. Brake moved to approve the agenda as presented. Ms. Grcevic seconded the
motion that unanimously passed.
4. Approval of Minutes from August 23, 2011 meeting
Motion
Ms. Grcevic moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Brake seconded the motion that
unanimously passed.
5. Communications and Announcements: Report from Staff
Mike Rumpf, Planning and Zoning Director, reported the following:
The New Site Plan for an office building in Quantum Park for the Literacy Coalition was
approved by the City Commission on September 6, 2011.
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Meeting Minutes
Planning and Development Board
Boynton Beach, FL
September 27, 2011
On September 20,2011, the City Commission approved:
~ The breweries and breweries with tasting rooms in certain zoning districts on
second reading;
~ the indoor instruction and training items in the M 1 zoning district rather than in
selected properties along major corridors on first reading; and
~ amendments to the sign regulations, which changed the methodology to
determine how wall signs are calculated, and adding the word frontage, on first
reading.
Mr. Rumpf stated the members would take formal ethics training at the next meeting.
The County Commission on Ethics changed its Code and advisory Board members
were required to take the training. The presentation will be approximately one-hour. He
noted there was only one item on the next agenda so it was hoped the meeting would
be short.
6. Old Business: None
7. New Business:
Attorney Weinger administered the oath to all those intending to testify.
A.1. Habitat for Humanity at SW 6th Avenue and SW 1st Street (LUAR 11-
001) - Approve Habitat for Humanity (LUAR 11-001) reclassifying subject
property from Public and Private Governmental/Institutional (PPGI) land use to
Moderate Density Residential (MoDR) land use; and
Approve Habitat for Humanity (LUAR 11-001) rezoning the subject property from
R-1-A, Single-family Residential District to R-1, Single-family Residential District.
Hanna Matras, Senior Planner, explained the request as captioned above. The
property was approximately one acre. Ms. Matras requested hearing the items together
and voting on them separately, as they would require two separate ordinances. She
also reported as of July 2011, the Community Planning Act no longer required small-
scale amendments to be reviewed and approved by the Department of Community
Affairs.
Ms. Matras explained Habitat for Humanity intended to transfer the property for this
project to the Community Land Trust in order to establish a six-lot, single-family
subdivision. The project would not require a site plan. Five lots would be platted for
single-family homes, and one lot would be designated as a green open space. Each of
those lots would become an independent land-trust entity with a 99-year land lease.
The lease agreement would include maintenance fees for all common areas and fees
dedicated to replacing specific capital systems, such as roofs. Habitat for Humanity
would contract with a property management firm to maintain each of the parcels as well
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Meeting Minutes
Planning and Development Board
Boynton Beach, FL
September 27, 2011
as the green space.
Staff reviewed the request and concluded the requirements had been met. The density
for the entire property would still be 4.9 units per acre, which was lower than the
maximum density allowed in the low-density residential classification. The reason
Habitat for Humanity requested moderate density was because the specification was
consistent with the City's zoning for the project. The request was consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan. The City has always had problems with housing for very-low
income individuals and Habitat's income criteria was slightly above the very-low income
category. Habitat for Humanity would hold the mortgage. The property owner would
not go into foreclosure and the mortgage was a no-interest mortgage. In terms of
homeownership for very-low income individuals, this was the best model the City had.
Public facilities would serve the project, and staff requested the Board recommend
approval to the City Commission.
Mr. Miller commented he has observed the construction and felt the project was
wonderful for the City, as it would clean up the area.
Brian McCarron, Habitat for Humanity building designer, 638 Eddy Street, Boca Raton,
stated the concept with the parcel was to create a community. The design orients the
front of the homes towards the inside courtyard space of the parcel. Irrigation would be
provided through well water. The Land Trust would work in the same fashion as the
Land Trusts in Delray Beach and Palm Beach. By doing so, it prevents individuals from
flipping the properties, and it may allow for the inhabitant a certain percentage of profit
over a period of years, if sold. If the inhabitant left the property, the home would revert
to the Land Trust and another 99-year lease would begin with the new owner.
Habitat for Humanity was attempting to educate individuals and has had essentially, no
foreclosures in the 20 years they had the program. They are partners with the
homeowners. Some programs allowed for improvements to the property, such as a
pool, while others did not. Mr. McCarron did not believe this program would allow for
such improvements. The project would include an association established through
Habitat for Humanity, to take care of the property and common areas. Being a Boynton
Beach resident was not a requirement for the program. Mr. McCarron believed the
prospective homeowners typically were Boynton Beach residents, but not in all
instances. There was a pool of people who qualified for the program, and some were
allowed to choose their location through sweat equity, as recipients must provide a
certain amount of time building homes for others.
The plans for the homes varied slightly. Habitat for Humanity offered more of an open
floor plan with the bedrooms split on each side. The garages faced Pelican Point. Even
though the garage faced east, they would have a back patio, dressed like the front
elevation of the home. The smallest home was a three bedroom, two bath, one-car
garage and would be about 1,300 square feet. There were alternate plans for four and
five bedroom homes up to 1,500 square feet. The home that would be constructed
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Meeting Minutes
Planning and Development Board
Boynton Beach, FL
September 27,2011
would accommodate whoever qualified for the home and their needs.
There was no public present.
Chair Saberson requested a motion to authorize the change for Land Use Designation
in the Comprehensive Plan, from Public and Private Government/Institutional to
Moderate Family Residential.
Motion
Mr. Miller so moved. Mr. Brake seconded the motion that unanimously passed.
Chair Saberson requested a motion to approve the Rezoning from R-1-A Single-family
District, to R-1 Single-family Residential District.
Motion
Mr. Miller so moved. Mr. Brake seconded the motion that unanimously passed.
There was brief discussion about when construction would commence. Habitat for
Humanity was interviewing five different builders, so all the homes could be constructed
in about a week. Mr. McCarron had no information when the next group of homes in
that area would be built. Conventional builds, if used for the next phase of the project,
would take about six to eight months.
8. Other
9. Comments by members: None
10. Adjournment
Motion
There being no further business to discuss, Mr. Brake moved to adjourn. Ms. Grcevic
seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
~~a~tJLULLI)ll 0h'\JlLl
Catherine Cherry r
Recording Secretary
100311
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