TOWN OF I N D I A L A N T I C

Brevard County, Florida 32903

LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY/ZONING AND PLANNING BOARD

March 23, 1999 Indialantic Town Hall

MINUTES NO. 99-6



MINUTES OF A ZONING AND PLANNING BOARD MEETING HELD IN THE INDIALANTIC TOWN HALL ON MARCH 23, 1999

Present:

Victor Kostro, Chairman

Bruce Bogert, Vice Chairman

Robert Doherty, Member

Thomas Kleving, Member

John MacNeill, Member

Gerald Gonsalves, Alternate

Michael Ullmer, Alternate

Brian Barber, Building Official

Ed Washburn, Town Planner

Barbara Brownlie, Secretary

1. CALL TO ORDER AT 5:30 PM

Chairman Kostro called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

2. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MEETING MINUTES

A. Minutes No. 99-5- Regular Meeting - February 23, 1999

Mr. MacNeill requested that the first paragraph of Item 4B be changed to reflect that Mr. Gonsalves did directly approach him and attempt to make a statement concerning the issue. Mr. Gonsalves adamantly denied this took place.

Chairman Kostro suggested that the minutes be changed to include both Mr. MacNeill's statement and Mr. Gonsalves' denial.

Mr. MacNeill moved to approve the minutes as amended. Chairman Kostro seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

The minutes were amended as follows:

Mr. MacNeill disclosed that, following the February 11, 1999 Special Council meeting, Mr. Gonsalves had approached him, addressed him by name and started making a statement related to this issue. Mr. MacNeill stated he walked away without responding.

Mr. Gonsalves denied this incident took place.

B. Approval of Sunset Review Recommendations to be forwarded to Town Council

Chairman Kostro moved that the Sunset Review Recommendations on Chapters 11, 13.5 and 18 be forwarded to the Town Council for their consideration. Mr. Doherty seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

3. REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A. Fencing Procedure Recommendations (continued from February meeting)

Town Planner Ed Washburn presented proposals which would amend the fencing procedure per the changes being discussed. He advised that there is a problem in that the definition of "lot," according to Indialantic Code, differs from the definition of "lot of record" and that a lot can be made up of more than one lots of record. Therefore, back-to-back lots are defined under the term "lot" for building purposes under our code. He explained that the recommended fencing procedures for back-to-back lots have several ramifications including rendering the adjacent lot useless which could possibly be considered as a "taking" of property.

Mr. Washburn also noted that an easement is not a right-of-way and no permanent structure can be placed there unless the easement is vacated.

The Board discussed the possibility of setting landscaping standards as a buffer to such fences. There was also some discussion on fencing the front yards of properties which meet the requirements for Zone B in Mr. Gonsalves' recommendation.

Chairman Kostro noted that the Board had committed, over the course of two meetings, to a healthy debate on this subject pursuant to Section 17.68 of the Indialantic Code.

Mr. Doherty moved to not submit the recommended fencing procedure to the Town Council. Mr. Kleving seconded. Motion carried with Mr. Bogert, Mr. Doherty, Mr. Kleving and Mr. MacNeill voting "yes." Chairman Kostro voted "no."

Chairman Kostro advised Mr. Gonsalves that he, as a private citizen, has the opportunity to take his proposal directly to the Town Council.

4. NEW BUSINESS

A. Review of building height definition (requested by Walt Fredrickson)

Mr. Fredrickson pointed out the ambiguities in the definition of building height which must be dealt with by the Building Official. He maintained that the present code penalizes design and that the code should be in conformity with how we want the community to look and develop architecturally. Mr. Fredrickson presented two approaches used by other Florida cities to determine building height which allow for hip and gable style roofs.

Building Official Brian Barber agreed that the code is poorly written and promotes flat roofed buildings.

Town Planner Ed Washburn pointed out that, since the Town is virtually built-out, building height is a controversial and sensitive issue. But he agreed that there should be some allowance for flexibility of design.

Mr. Doherty moved to consider Mr. Fredrickson's suggestions and address the issue further at the next meeting. Mr. Kleving seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

The Town Planner was also requested to come up with language amending the code.

5. REPORT FROM BUILDING OFFICIAL

Mr. Barber's reports for February were included in the packets.

In response to questions, Mr. Barber explained that there is a set fee of $50 for a residential roof and no set fee for a commercial roof.

He also advised that he would initiate some action concerning the condition of the parking lot being used by the OceanView Diner.

6. REPORT FROM TOWN PLANNER

Mr. Washburn advised that he expects to hear from the state on the EAR amendments some time in April.

7. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 PM.



______________________________

Victor Kostro, Chairman



_______________________________

Barbara Brownlie, Secretary