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BOA11-18-08Min ~ CITY OF LONGWOOD Board of Adjustments Special Meeting Agenda CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS 175 W. Warren Avenue November l8, 2008 - 7:00 P.M. ATTENDANCE: BOARD: STAFF: Barry Revels, Chair Paul Sizemore, Community Services Director Arthur Heintz, Member Danielle Adzima Ramirez, Community Development - Autumn Doulong, Member Coordinator Aaron Rupp, Member Debby Reimers, Acting Recording Secretary ABSENT: Tom DeNegre, Member 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Revels called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Revels led in 'the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ELECTIONS A. VICE CHAIR Motion to Nominate Member Heintz as Vice Chair by Member Doulong, seconded by Member Rupp and carried by a unanimous roll call vote with member DeNegre absent. 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR: A. REGULAR MEETING: October 22, 2008 Vice Chair Heintz noted three corrections to the minutes. Motion to approve the minutes with corrections by Member Doulong, seconded by Member Rupp .and carried by a unanimous roll call vote with Member DeNegre absent. 5. PUBLIC HEARING Chair Revels opened the Public Hearing. BOA 11/18/2008 - page 1 i A. VAR 15-08 A variance to the Longwood Development Code ~ LDC, Article VI, Section 6.4.3.6.1, to increase the total allowable signage on the subject property 470 West State Road 434 Property ID#: 06-21-30-300-012A-0000 Applicant: Donald Wingate (property owner) Mrs. Ramirez explained the applicant was applying for a variance to the Longwood Development Code Article VI, Section 6.4.3.6.1.., to increase the total allowable signage on the property located at 470 West State Road 434 with the Future Land Use of General Commercial. She briefly summarized the sign code. Mrs. Ramirez told the Board there was an existing legally nonconforming ground sign at approximately 37.92 square feet which was already more signage than what the current sign code would allow for that property as the lineal frontage of the building is 26.1 ft which allows the property a total of 26.1 square feet of signage for the entire property under the current sign code since it was amended in December of 2007. She advised the Board that the applicant wanted to erect awnings on the front and sides of the building which would add an additional 89.59 square feet of signage bringing the total amount of signage to approximately 127.51 square feet including the existing ground sign. Mrs. Ramirez reminded the Board to keep in mind that if the variance is approved as requested without attaching the approval to a site specific element of the property it could set a precedent for future applicants requesting a similar variance. Chair Revels questioned if the applicant had anything he would like to say. Jeremy Litwack, who desires the variance as he plans on running his business from the subject property, spoke.. He stated that he is the CEO of Jeremiah's Italian Ice and stated his address to be 100 South Eola Drive, Orlando Florida. He said he was aware of the City's existing exterior building requirements and fully understands the desire to keep the community visually appealing and cohesive. Mindful of the requirements, he hoped to bring a solution that served both his business and the community of Longwood. He believed more signage would allow people to see the business sooner and not have to slam on their brakes in an aftempt to not miss the business entrance. Vice Chair Heintz inquired how many other locations the business had. Mr. Litwack responded this would be their 4~h location. The Board asked Mr. Litwaek if he was going to do some landscaping to the property and if he planned on utilizing the existing ground sign. Mr. Litwack responded affirmatively: Vice Chair Heintz asked, Mr. Sizemore if historically there were any other businesses that have. made a request like this. BOA 11/18/2008 - page 2 Mr. Sizemore recalled one requested variance concerning signage which he believed may have been prior to his employment with the City. He stated that to his recollection there were unique circumstances in that case and believed it was approved because the Board was able to tie the approval to a site specific element regarding the request. Chair Revels asked how long the awnings on the sides of the building were proposed to be. The applicant referred to their notes and estimated it would be approximately 8 feet on each corner side of the building. Debbie Whitescarver of Frank Daley Real Estate, PO Box 593, Winter Park, Florida, addressed the Board on behalf of the proposed variance request. She informed the Board that she received signed letters of approval from the surrounding businesses concerning Jeremiah's Italian Ice. The Board addressed staff in regard to the letters of approval as they were not included in the agenda packages. Mrs. Ramirez stated the letters of approval were submitted unsigned with the certified receipt to show proofithey were sent to the adjacent property owners. Ms. Whitescarver stated she had just recently obtained the signed letters and handed . them to the Board. Chair Revels closed the public hearing. Chair Revels stated he intended to visit the site one night prior to the meeting but drove past the building in question though he was familiar with the site. The Board members discussed that it was a positive that the building would be occupied and. the site would be improved. Discussion ensued concerning the variance request. Chair Revels reopened the meeting Motion to approve item 5A was made by Vice Chair Heintz, seconded by Member Doulong and carried by a unanimous roll call vote with Member DeNegre absent. 6. OLD BUSINESS Mrs. Ramirez stated there was no old business. 7. NEW BUSINESS Mrs. Ramirez stated there was no new business. BOA 11/18/2008 - page 3 8. DISCUSSION AND SCHEDULE FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Next regularly scheduled meeting is December 24, 2008 which falls on a recognized official holiday, therefore the regular meeting is cancelled. Mrs. Ramirez stated there are already two variance applications in for the month of December and informed the Board of two available dates in which a Special Meeting can be held, December 9th and 16th which both fall on a Tuesday. It was the consensus of the Board to have a Special Meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. In addition, the Board asked is staff could call them the Monday prior to the meeting to remind them of the meeting. Mrs. Ramirez stated it has already been noted and staff would continue to adhere to this request to the best of their ability. Vice Chair Heintz asked if members could be called when the agenda packages are ready so that they may have the option of picking them up from the Community Services Department or have the package emailed to them in lieu of staff sending them certified mail in order to save the tax payers money on certified mail. Mr. Sizemore stated that staff sent them certified in order to ensure the members received the packages, as there have been at least two Board Members state they didn't receive their agenda package. Mr. Sizemore acknowledged their request and stated that staff would attempt that method rather than mailing the agenda packages out per the Board's request. 9. PUBLIC COMMENT Jeremy Litwack thanked the Board and staff for all their assistance. 10. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn was made by Vice Chair Heintz, seconded by Member Rupp and carried by a unanimous roll call vote with Member DeNegre absent. Chair Revels adjourned the meeting at 7:36 pm. i Barry v s, Chair ATTEST: ers, Acting Recording Secretary BOA 11/18/20D8 - page 4 ~y