02/19/2019 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 19, 2019
Present: Vice Chair Christopher J. Anuszkiewicz, Board Member Mary A. Lau, Board
Member Mike Flanery, Board Member John Quattrocki, Board Member Brian Barker,
Acting Board Member Elizabeth Van Scoyoc
Absent: Chair Michael Boutzoukas, Board Member Jordan Behar
Also Present: Jay Daigneault—Attorney for the Board, Michael Fuino —Assistant City
Attorney, Michael L. Delk— Planning & Development Director, Gina Clayton - Assistant
Planning & Development Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter
A. CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. at the Main Library followed by
the Pledge of Allegiance.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
B. ROLL CALL:
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: December 18, 2018 and
January 15, 2019
Member Lau moved to approve the minutes of the December 18, 2018 and January 15,
2019 Community Development Board meetings as submitted in written summation. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
D. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD RE ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: None
E. CONSENT AGENDA: The following cases are not contested by the applicant,
staff, neighboring property owners, etc. and will be approved by a single vote
at the beginning of the meeting: (Items 1-3)
1. Case: FLD2018-11028 — 10 Bay Esplanade Level Two Application
Owner: Sunset Green Flash, LLC
Agent: Rod Collman; sdg Architecture (793 San Christopher Drive, Dunedin, Florida
34698; phone: 813-299-3800; email: rod @sdgfl.com)
Location: 0.758 acre located on the north side of the western terminus of Bay
Esplanade.
Request: The Community Development Board (CDB) is reviewing a proposed roof
replacement over an existing restaurant deck in the Tourist (T) District and seaward
of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) for the property located at 10 Bay
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Esplanade. The project requests allowable flexibility from setback requirements and
to allow new construction seaward of the CCCL; (Community Development Code
Sections 2-803.M and 3-905).
Neighborhood Association: Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition.
Presenter: Mark T. Parry, AICP, Senior Planner
See below for motion of approval.
2. Case: FLD2018-12029 — 1209 North Garden Avenue Level Two Application
Owner: Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County
Agent: Ken Rush; Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County (13355 49th St N,
Clearwater, Florida 33762; phone: 727-536-4755; email: krush @habitatpinellas.org)
Location: 0.134 acre located on the east side of North Garden Avenue
approximately 60 feet south of Bidwell Street.
Request: The Community Development Board is reviewing a proposed detached
dwelling in the Commercial (C) District for the property located at 1209 North Garden
Avenue. The proposal includes one detached dwelling approximately 12 feet in
height and requests allowable flexibility with regard to use (Section 2-704.F).
Neighborhood Association: Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition.
Presenter: Mark T. Parry, AICP, Senior Planner
See below for motion of approval.
3. Case: FLD2018-12030 — 1211 North Garden Avenue Level Two Application
Owner: Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County
Agent: Ken Rush; Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County (13355 49th St N,
Clearwater, Florida 33762; phone: 727-536-4755; email: krush @habitatpinellas.org)
Location: 0.134 acre located southeast corner of North Garden Avenue and Bidwell
Street.
Request: The Community Development Board is reviewing a proposed detached
dwelling in the Commercial (C) District for the property located at 1211 North Garden
Avenue. The proposal includes one detached dwelling approximately 13 feet in
height and requests allowable flexibility with regard to use (Section 2-704.F).
Neighborhood Association: Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition.
Presenter: Mark T. Parry, AICP, Senior Planner
Member Lau moved to approve Cases FLD2018-11028, FLD2018-12029, and
FLD2018-12030 on today's Consent Agenda based on evidence in the record, including
the application and the Staff Report, and here by adopt the Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law stated in the Staff Report, with conditions of approval as listed. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
F. LEVEL TWO APPLICATIONS: (Item 1-2)
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1. Case: LUP2018-11008 — 1885 County Road 193 Level Three Application
Owner: St. Mary & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church
Agent: Atef A. Hanna, P.E. (315 Tall Oak Trail, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34688;
phone: 727-359-9507; email: hannas100 @yahoo.com)
Location: 2.61 acres located on the east side of County Road 193 approximately
520 feet south of Sunset Point Road.
Request: The Community Development Board (CBD) is reviewing a request to
amend the Future Land Use Map designation from Residential Low (RL) to
Institutional (1) and making a recommendation to City Council.
Neighborhood Associations: Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition.
Presenter: Kyle Brotherton, Senior Planner
Senior Planner Kyle Brotherton reviewed the Staff Report which recommended denial.
Atef Hanna, representing the applicant, stated he was an engineer. He distributed
copies of a site plan. He said the plan would not create 67 trips but would improve
onsite traffic circulation and parking. He said the request for the church's contiguous
properties to have the same Institutional zoning would not create a pocket. He said the
church could not expand beyond its current chapel or increase its congregation.
Fr. Meena Ghaly of St. Mary & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church said it was easier to
serve a smaller congregation and he did not want more than 250 families in the
congregation. He said to handle fast growth created by increased immigration, the
church was trying to expand elsewhere, creating new churches in Largo and Palm
Harbor. He said the church did not want to expand the chapel but wanted to add
services for the current community.
In response to a question, Mr. Hanna said he submitted the site plan to the City earlier
although it was not required. He said he understood to move forward, the church
needed to contact neighbors with a plan and obtain a general consensus of support. He
said the church was trying to get together with neighbors one on one.
Amir Malak, representing the church, said they had met with neighbors a month ago
and some had visited the church. He said the church had a good relationship with
neighbors who had not expressed any opposition or said anything negative about the
request. He said neighbors had not been shown the site plan.
Mr. Hanna said the church planned to invite neighbors to an open house. He said the
church could not do anything until the request was approved. In response to a question,
Fr. Ghaly said the service building was used for Sunday school and as a dining hall. He
said the church wanted to keep the kids active and occupied with more sports.
It was questioned if staff might reconsider their recommendation after reviewing the site
plan. Concerns were expressed Institutional zoning would allow additional uses, the
access street was narrow and had traffic problems, and a public school was across the
street. It was recommended a detailed site plan be part of the approval process.
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Mr. Hanna said the church would accept approval with conditions. He said the church
wanted to address some flooding on the property. He said the congregation used the
basketball court. He said classes only were held on Sundays.
Three residents spoke in opposition to the request, noting neighbors' previous
opposition to the City's annexation and zoning of the church property and expressing
concerns the basketball court often was noisy late at night, lighting had changed in the
past 2 years with spotlights shining into homes, congregation members were rude to
residents trying to pull out of their driveways, Institutional zoning would permit many
uses including an 8-story building, the church kept growing, expansion would degrade
the neighborhood, the church could purchase more property and expand further, the
church only contacted 6 families re this request, County Road 193 could not handle
more traffic, the change could have unintended consequences, and final plans were
requested prior to approval.
Mr. Brotherton said the conceptual plan could change tomorrow. Staff was concerned
the access road was narrow, 2-lanes, undivided, and had a dead end. Approval would
increase the development potential of a 7-acre property. Staff opposed the request with
or without a site plan.
Planning & Development Director Michael Delk said the City did not have regulatory
authority to require a site plan for a rezoning request. Staff tried to accommodate places
of worship but had concerns the property, with 300 parking spaces and greater
development potential, lacked direct access to an arterial road.
In response to a question, Assistant Planning & Development Director Gina Clayton
said board approval would be required to expand traffic circulation and parking onto the
subject property.
Support was expressed for tying zoning change requests to site plans.
Mr. Hanna said the conceptual plan was not final. He said the church did not want to
create concerns or impact neighbors and was not proposing a greater use. He said a
new building would be used for an indoor basketball court which would limit noise. He
said the church was willing to work with the City and neighbors on a plan that all were
comfortable with.
Mr. Malak said neighbors were on the other side of traffic. He said the church tried to
contain the kids, keep them away from the street, and help the neighborhood. He said
the church was built in 1997; lighting had not been added during the past 3 years.
Mr. Delk suggested changes to the church property that would mitigate noise and
relocate parking away from residences. He said neighbors may accept an option that
accommodates the development potential of the current church property.
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Discussion ensued with concern expressed that many unknowns existed. It was
suggested continuing the item would permit church representatives to discuss
alternatives with staff.
Mr. Hanna requested a continuance to review options with staff.
See below for motion to continue to a date uncertain.
2. Case: REZ2018 -12005 — 1885 County Road 193 Level Three Application
Owner: St. Mary & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church
Agent: Atef A. Hanna, P.E. (315 Tall Oak Trail, Tarpon Springs, Florida 34688;
phone: 727- 359 -9507; email: hannas100 @yahoo.com)
Location: 2.61 acres located on the east side of County Road 193 approximately
520 feet south of Sunset Point Road.
Request: The Community Development Board (CBD) is reviewing a request to
amend the Zoning Atlas designation from the Low Medium Density Residential
(LMDR) District to the Institutional (I) District and making a recommendation to City
Council.
Neighborhood Associations: Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition.
Presenter: Kyle Brotherton, Senior Planner
Member Lau moved to continue cases LUP2018 -11008 and REZ2018 -12005 to a date
uncertain. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
G. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: None.
H. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
Chair — Comm
Community Development 2019 -02 -19
ev=lopment Board
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