04/03/2002
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD SPECIAL WORK SESSION
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 3, 2002
Present: Vacant Seat Chair
Carlen A. Petersen Vice Chair
Shirley Moran Board Member
Alex Plisko Board Member
Ed Hooper Board Member
John Doran Board Member
Absent: David Gildersleeve Board Member
Edward Mazur, Jr. Board Member
Also Present: Cynthia Tarapani Planning Director
Lisa L. Fierce Assistant Planning Director
Gina Clayton Long Range Planning Manager
Rich Kephart Senior Planner
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. at the Municipal Services
Building.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM 1 - Staff Presentations
Planning Director Cyndi Tarapani said the CDB (Community Development
Board) had requested this special work session to discuss the proposed amendments to
the Community Development Code regarding roof overhangs, appeals, and signs. As
the meeting is a workshop, no action would be taken. The CDB would decide whether
or not to take public input.
Ms. Tarapani and Vice-Chair Petersen welcomed newly appointed CDB member
John Doran.
a. Roof Overhang
Senior Planner Rich Kephart distributed a handout taken from the 2002 Florida
Building Code pertaining to exterior bearing walls and gable ends of roofs. Staff is
proposing that roof overhangs and eaves in Section 3-908A of the Code that allows for
building projections to extend 40% into the required setback or 10 feet, whichever is
less, remain as is, in an effort to keep this provision consistent throughout all zoning
districts. Staff prefers not to establish any variations for the LMDR (Low Medium Density
Residential) District, as exceptions are difficult to administer.
Concern was expressed that small lots would not be given the same
consideration for bay windows as they are for overhangs.
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Consensus was for staff to consider reducing the 30-inch extension into required
setbacks for windows to 24 inches.
b. Appeals
Mr. Kephart distributed a handout regarding staff’s proposed amendment to
Section 4-505 of the Code pertaining to Hearing Officer Procedures. He said the
Assistant City Attorney had proposed 4 suggestions to revise the language as discussed
at a previous CDB meeting.
Discussion ensued regarding the suggestions and concern was expressed that
problems could arise from the language that allows other persons to comment as
members of the public, although they would not be allowed to submit testimony or
exhibits. It was felt that permitting them to comment could be considered testimony.
Staff will confer with the Assistant City Attorney regarding the reasoning behind that
particular suggestion.
c. Signs
Mr. Kephart distributed a handout regarding Sections 80 – 92, Article 3. Division
18 of the Code pertaining to signs.
Concern was expressed that the City’s sign ordinance varies greatly from the
County and other municipalities’ ordinances. Ms. Tarapani said the City’s Code gives
staff and the CDB some flexibility with regard to signage issues. Clearwater’s Code is
performance, design, and quality based. A process is in place to address Code
restrictions for unique applications. Assistant Planning Director Lisa Fierce said
Clearwater’s sign Code sets it apart from the County by requiring signs be better
designed to achieve better results.
Concern was expressed that the Clearwater Mall redevelopment project is a
large project and may require more individual attention. Extensive discussion ensued
regarding the language in the Code regarding signage and staff’s proposed
amendments. Two members of the public voiced their concerns regarding the upper
limit caps in the Code, particularly with regard to small and medium tenants in shopping
centers and the need for greater visibility. They requested staff consider changes to
Section 91, 4(i), raising the maximum area permitted for attached signs to ”up to 6%” of
the building façade to which the sign is to be attached, considering that same
percentage in language in Section 92, 9, of the proposed amendments, more
consideration for larger parcels, and more consideration for businesses whose depth
from the right-of-way is greater than normal. Ms. Tarapani said the Code provides for
the ability to increase the size of signs up to the upper limit cap, increase the total area
of sign faces per business, and address related signage issues through the
Comprehensive Sign Program. Staff considers the entire site plan when reviewing
signage requests. Staff will take all the suggestions made today into consideration and
present the proposed amendments to the CDB at their April meeting.
It was remarked that sandwich signs should be permitted under the
Comprehensive Sign Program on the beach and in the tourist district. Ms. Tarapani said
the Legal Department has suggested some amendments be placed on hold pending the
outcome of litigation regarding signage.
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ITEM 2 – Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:14 a.m.
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