1                    CITY OF JACKSONVILLE

 

       2                    LAND USE AND ZONING

 

       3                         COMMITTEE

 

       4

 

       5

 

       6             Proceedings held on Thursday, January 3,

 

       7   2008, commencing at 5:05 p.m., City Hall, Council

 

       8   Chambers, 1st Floor, Jacksonville, Florida, before

 

       9   Diane M. Tropia, a Notary Public in and for the State

 

      10   of Florida at Large.

 

      11

 

      12   PRESENT:

 

      13        MICHAEL CORRIGAN, Chair.

                CLAY YARBOROUGH, Vice Chair.

      14        RICHARD CLARK, Committee Member.

                MIA JONES, Committee Member.

      15        E. DENISE LEE, Committee Member.

                ART SHAD, Committee Member.

      16        JACK WEBB, Committee Member.

 

      17

           ALSO PRESENT:

      18

                BILL BISHOP, City Council Member

      19        RAY HOLT, City Council Member.

                BRAD THOBURN, Director, Planning Dept.

      20        JOHN CROFTS, Deputy Director, Planning Dept.

                SEAN KELLY, Planning and Development Dept.

      21        KEN AVERY, Planning and Development Dept.

                DYLAN REINGOLD, Office of General Counsel.

      22        SHANNON ELLER, Office of General Counsel.

                JESSICA STEPHENS, Legislative Assistant.

      23        MERRIANE LAHMEUR, Legislative Assistant.

 

      24                         -  -  -

 

      25

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           2

 

 

       1                   P R O C E E D I N G S

 

       2   January 3, 2008                         5:05 p.m.

 

       3                         -  -  -

 

       4             THE CHAIRMAN:  Good evening, everyone.

 

       5             We are about ready to start the Land Use

 

       6        and Zoning Committee meeting for Thursday,

 

       7        January 3rd, a rare Thursday night Land Use and

 

       8        Zoning Committee meeting.

 

       9             We do have a new procedure, a policy in

 

      10        effect based on some legislation passed by the

 

      11        council at the last meeting last year, which is

 

      12        in regards to lobbyist registration.

 

      13             If you are here tonight to speak on a bill

 

      14        and you have a financial gain in the bill,

 

      15        either paid directly by a corporation or entity

 

      16        or the lobby or will have a financial gain, you

 

      17        must fill out a lobbyist registration form prior

 

      18        to speaking.

 

      19             The forms are located right over here on

 

      20        that side.  So please make sure you come up and

 

      21        fill it out and turn it in to the basket so we

 

      22        can have it on the record prior to your speaking

 

      23        tonight.

 

      24             If you are writing it when I call your name

 

      25        and have not finished writing it, I understand

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           3

 

 

       1        that and will allow you to speak and then

 

       2        continue to write, but you must have it turned

 

       3        in or at least started prior to you speaking

 

       4        tonight.

 

       5             That will be a regular thing here at the

 

       6        City Council.  So if you can pass it on to your

 

       7        friends and neighbors and let them know if

 

       8        they're coming down here and they're to be

 

       9        compensated or have a financial gain, that they

 

      10        need to register with the City.

 

      11             We appreciate it.

 

      12             If you'd like to do it ahead of time, you

 

      13        can always contact Cheryl Brown, our council

 

      14        director, and she'll be happy to help you with

 

      15        that process.  We appreciate your cooperation.

 

      16             Okay.  We're ready to get started.  Let me

 

      17        let everybody know the committee members that

 

      18        are here tonight.  We have Councilmember Webb,

 

      19        Councilwoman Lee, Councilman Clark.  I'm

 

      20        Chairman Michael Corrigan.  We have

 

      21        Vice Chairman Clay Yarborough, and we have

 

      22        Councilmember Art Shad.  Councilwoman Mia Jones

 

      23        should be joining us shortly.

 

      24             We have a number of bills tonight to take

 

      25        up.  A number of you may be here for item number

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           4

 

 

       1        54, located on page 16, which is the Craig Field

 

       2        extension.  I will tell you that that will be

 

       3        taken up towards the end of our action items on

 

       4        our agenda tonight and will be the last item we

 

       5        take up.  We do not anticipate a heavy burden

 

       6        before that, but we want to make sure that we

 

       7        allocate plenty of time for that issue to be

 

       8        heard, so it will be taken up at the end of our

 

       9        agenda.

 

      10             We do have a visiting councilmember, former

 

      11        councilmember, that's here with us tonight that

 

      12        I saw on the way in, Councilmember

 

      13        Warren Alvarez.  I believe Councilmember

 

      14        Warren Alvarez had an item.  Out of respect for

 

      15        him, in his adjustment to retirement, so he can

 

      16        feel like he's still involved in the council

 

      17        process, committee members, let's go to page 12

 

      18        and take up his item first.

 

      19             It's page 12, item 39, 2007-1193.  We will

 

      20        open that public hearing.

 

      21             Seeing no speaker cards on -1193, we will

 

      22        close that public hearing.

 

      23             MR. CLARK:  Move the bill.

 

      24             MR. YARBOROUGH:  Second.

 

      25             THE CHAIRMAN:  I have a motion and second

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           5

 

 

       1        on 2007-1193.

 

       2             Seeing no discussion on that bill, open the

 

       3        ballot and record the vote.

 

       4             (Committee ballot opened.)

 

       5             MR. CORRIGAN:  (Votes yea.)

 

       6             MR. CLARK:  (Votes yea.)

 

       7             MS. LEE:  (Votes yea.)

 

       8             MR. SHAD:  (Votes yea.)

 

       9             MR. WEBB:  (Votes yea.)

 

      10             MR. YARBOROUGH:  (Votes yea.)

 

      11             (Committee ballot closed.)

 

      12             MS. LAHMEUR:  Six yeas, zero nays.

 

      13             THE CHAIRMAN:  By your action, you have

 

      14        approved 2007-1193.

 

      15             Councilman Alvarez, always a pleasure to

 

      16        see you.  Come back and see us often.  You can

 

      17        stay tonight if you'd like.

 

      18             MR. ALVAREZ:  My condolences.

 

      19             THE CHAIRMAN:  For those in the audience

 

      20        that don't know, Councilmember Alvarez was a

 

      21        standing councilmember on the LUZ Committee for

 

      22        a number of years.  It's great to see him back

 

      23        here tonight.

 

      24             Okay.  Let's go back to the front and go

 

      25        through a number of items that are going to be

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           6

 

 

       1        deferred or rereferred.

 

       2             We'll begin with item number 1, 2005-718.

 

       3        We'll open that public hearing.

 

       4             Seeing no speakers, we'll continue that

 

       5        public hearing with no further action.

 

       6             Items 2 and 3, 2005-1161 and 2005-1228, are

 

       7        both deferred.

 

       8             Top of page 3, item 2005-1399.  We'll open

 

       9        that public hearing.

 

      10             Seeing no speakers, we'll continue that

 

      11        public hearing until January 15th with no

 

      12        further action.

 

      13             Item 5 and 6, 2006-24 and 2006-220, are

 

      14        both deferred.

 

      15             Bottom of page 3, 2006-360.  We'll open

 

      16        that public hearing.

 

      17             Seeing no speakers, we'll continue that

 

      18        public hearing on May 6th, 2008.

 

      19             Top of page 4, 2006-520 is deferred.

 

      20             Item 9, 2006-658.  We'll open that public

 

      21        hearing.

 

      22             Seeing no speakers, we'll continue that

 

      23        public hearing until April 1st.

 

      24             Item 10, 2007-144.  We'll open that public

 

      25        hearing.

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           7

 

 

       1             Seeing no speakers, we'll continue that

 

       2        public hearing till -- continued till March

 

       3        4th.

 

       4             Item 11, 2007-145.  We'll open that public

 

       5        hearing.

 

       6             Seeing no speakers, we'll continue that one

 

       7        till March 4th.

 

       8             Top of page 5.  Item 12, 2007-384, is

 

       9        deferred.

 

      10             Item 13, 2007-566.  We'll open that public

 

      11        hearing.

 

      12             Seeing no speakers, we'll close that public

 

      13        hearing.

 

      14             MR. CLARK:  Move the bill.

 

      15             THE CHAIRMAN:  I have a motion.

 

      16             Do I have a second on the bill?

 

      17             MR. WEBB:  Second.

 

      18             THE CHAIRMAN:  Motion and second on

 

      19        2007-566.

 

      20             MS. LEE:  (Inaudible.).

 

      21             THE CHAIRMAN:  It's number 13 on the

 

      22        agenda.

 

      23             Seeing no speakers, open the ballot and

 

      24        record the vote.

 

      25             (Committee ballot opened.)

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           8

 

 

       1             MR. CORRIGAN:  (Votes yea.)

 

       2             MR. CLARK:  (Votes yea.)

 

       3             MS. LEE:  (Votes yea.)

 

       4             MR. WEBB:  (Votes yea.)

 

       5             MR. YARBOROUGH:  (Votes yea.)

 

       6             (Committee ballot closed.)

 

       7             MS. LAHMEUR:  Five yeas, zero nays.

 

       8             THE CHAIRMAN:  By your action, you have

 

       9        just approved 2007-566.

 

      10             Item 14, 2007-578.  We'll open that public

 

      11        hearing.  We have no speakers, but we do have

 

      12        Margo Moehring from the Planning Department.

 

      13             This is a semiannual text amendment

 

      14        concerning coastal high hazard and hurricane

 

      15        evacuation.

 

      16             Is Ms. Moehring here or is she -- she's not

 

      17        in the room.  We're going to hold off on that

 

      18        one.  We'll get back to that one in a few

 

      19        minutes.

 

      20             Mr. Crofts, you can let me know when she

 

      21        gets here.  We'll go back to it.

 

      22             MR. CROFTS:  Yes, sir.

 

      23             THE CHAIRMAN:  Committee members, turn with

 

      24        me to the top of page 6.  2007-581 is deferred.

 

      25             (Ms. Jones enters the proceedings.)

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           9

 

 

       1             THE CHAIRMAN:  2007-659.  We'll open that

 

       2        public hearing.

 

       3             Seeing no speakers, we'll continue that

 

       4        public hearing.

 

       5             Item 17 and 18, 2007-803 and 2007-835, are

 

       6        both deferred.

 

       7             We are on the top of page 7, 2007-919.  We

 

       8        have -- we will -- this is an appeal.  We're

 

       9        going to follow the standard appeal process

 

      10        we've been using in this committee.  We

 

      11        typically allow ten minutes to each side, unless

 

      12        Councilmember Holt has additional information on

 

      13        that.

 

      14             Is that okay with you?

 

      15             MR. HOLT:  (Inaudible.)

 

      16             THE CHAIRMAN:  If I can call on

 

      17        Councilmember Holt before I open the public

 

      18        hearing.

 

      19             Do you want to open the public hearing

 

      20        first or after?

 

      21             MR. HOLT:  Go ahead.

 

      22             THE CHAIRMAN:  Okay.  We're going to open

 

      23        the public hearing.  I only have one speaker

 

      24        card, Charles Mann.

 

      25             Mr. Mann, come forward, please.

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           10

 

 

       1             (Mr. Mann approaches the podium.)

 

       2             MR. MANN:  Mr. Chairman and members of the

 

       3        committee, Charles Mann, 165 Arlington Road,

 

       4        representing the landowner.

 

       5             This item has been before you before.  It

 

       6        was a height appeal.  It was a height appeal to

 

       7        a denied minor modification.  It was passed by

 

       8        this committee to raise the height of the

 

       9        building on Heckscher Drive to 45 feet.  It was

 

      10        compromised at this meeting to 42 feet.

 

      11             Since then, in talking with the honorable

 

      12        Councilman Ray Holt, we have decided -- we've

 

      13        asked for it to be rereferred from council back

 

      14        to this committee so that we could adjust the

 

      15        height to 40 feet, which is agreeable to my

 

      16        client.

 

      17             Again, we would appreciate your support on

 

      18        this as we had before.

 

      19             Thank you very much.

 

      20             THE CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.

 

      21             Councilmember Holt.

 

      22             I have no further speakers.  I'll close the

 

      23        public hearing and call on Councilmember Holt.

 

      24             You can stay seated.

 

      25             MR. HOLT:  I just wanted to say that I

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           11

 

 

       1        agree with Mr. Mann.

 

       2             We had issues with this and we have worked

 

       3        through them, and I feel like this is probably

 

       4        the best compromise we can come to at 40 feet.

 

       5        So I'm not going to oppose this at this point,

 

       6        and I would appreciate if the committee would

 

       7        support it.

 

       8             Thank you.

 

       9             THE CHAIRMAN:  Okay.  So based on that,

 

      10        what I hear you saying is you would support an

 

      11        amendment to change the maximum height to

 

      12        40 feet and grant the appeal?

 

      13             MR. HOLT:  Forty feet (inaudible).

 

      14             MR. MANN:  Yes, sir, that's correct.

 

      15             THE CHAIRMAN:  Do I have a motion?

 

      16             MR. YARBOROUGH:  Move it.

 

      17             MR. CLARK:  Second.

 

      18             THE CHAIRMAN:  I have a motion and second

 

      19        on the amendment.  All in favor of the amendment

 

      20        signify by saying aye.

 

      21             COMMITTEE MEMBERS:  Aye.

 

      22             THE CHAIRMAN:  All opposed.

 

      23             COMMITTEE MEMBERS:  (No response.)

 

      24             THE CHAIRMAN:  The amendment carries.

 

      25             MR. YARBOROUGH:  Move the bill as amended.

 

 

 

 

           Diane M. Tropia, P.O. Box 2375, Jacksonville, FL 32203


 

                                                           12

 

 

       1             MS. JONES:  Second.

 

       2             THE CHAIRMAN:  Motion and second on

 

       3        2007-919 as amended.

 

       4             Seeing no discussion, open the ballot and

 

       5        record the vote.

 

       6             (Committee ballot opened.)

 

       7             MR. CORRIGAN:  (Votes yea.)

 

       8             MR. CLARK:  (Votes yea.)

 

       9             MS. LEE:  (Votes yea.)

 

      10             MS. JONES:  (Votes yea.)

 

      11             MR. WEBB:  (Votes yea.)

 

      12             MR. YARBOROUGH:  (Votes yea.)

 

      13             (Committee ballot closed.)

 

      14             MS. LAHMEUR:  Six yeas, zero nays.

 

      15             THE CHAIRMAN:  By your action, you have

 

      16        approved 2007-919.

 

      17             MR. MANN:  Thank you.

 

      18             THE CHAIRMAN:  Thank you, Mr. Mann.

 

      19             Councilman Holt, we appreciate you working