02/20/1985 RegularCC 035
Regular Meeting
Board of County Commissioners
Friday, February 20, 1985
Key Colony Beach
A regular meeting of the Board of County
Commissioners convened on the above date. Present and
answering to roll call were Commissioner Alison Fahrer,
Commissioner William Freeman, Commissioner John Stormont,
and Mayor Wilhelmina Harvey. Absent from the roll call was
Commissioner Ed Swift. Also present were Danny L. Kolhage,
Clerk; Kermit Lewin, County Administrator; Sheri Smallwood,
Assistant County Attorney, acting as County Attorney due to
the illness of Lucien Proby; members of the County's
Consulting Engineers Firm; members of the Press and Radio;
and the general public.
All stood for the Invocation and Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
Sheri Smallwood, Assistant County Attorney,
addressed the Board concerning the expiration of the
Moratorium in April and requested direction from the Board.
Motion was made by Commissioner Fahrer and seconded by
Commissioner Stormont to authorize the advertisement of an
Ordinance to extend the Moratorium for six months or -until
the Land Use Plan is completed, whichever occurs sooner.
Roll call vote was unanimous with Commissioner Swift not
present.
The Board then entered into a discussion concerning
the Referendum for Municipal Service Taxing District No.
1-D. The following individuals spoke: Al Damron, who
requested that the Board approve the Referendum request for
District No. 1-D scheduled for April 9th. Pete Lubert, Curt
Blair of the Big Pine Civic Association, and Reggie Paros
also addressed the Board. After discussion, the County
Administrator was directed to form a committee to review the
operation of the Fire and Ambulance Districts. Motion was
made by Commissioner Stormont and seconded by Commissioner
Freeman to adopt the following Resolution requesting the
Supervisor of Elections to call a Special Referendum on
April 9, 1985 in Monroe County, Florida for Municipal
Service Taxing District No. 1-D. Roll call vote was unani-
mous with Commissioner Swift not present.
RESOLUTION NO. 055-1985
See Res. Book No. 42 which is incorporated herein by
reference.
Commissioner Stormont discussed a memorandum from
him to the County Commissioners and Dr. Doyle, Director of
Planning and Zoning, dated February 18, 1985 concerning the
Winn -Dixie site in Key Largo at U. S. Highway No. 1 and
Blackwater Drive. Following discussion by the Board, motion
was made by Commissioner Fahrer and seconded by Commissioner
Stormont to refer the matters raised in the memorandum of
February 18th to the County Attorney and Dr. Doyle and
directed that a Stop Order be issued immediately so that no
further work could proceed until the matter was clarified.
Roll call vote was unanimous with Commissioner Swift not
present.
BOARD OF APPEALS
The Board of County Commissioners sat as the Board
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of Appeals. Present were Commissioners Fahrer, Freeman and
Stormont, and Mayor Harvey. Absent from the meeting was
Commissioner Swift. Also present were Danny L. Kolhage,
Clerk; Kermit Lewin, County Administrator; Sheri Smallwood,
Assistant County Attorney; Dr. Jeffrey Doyle, Director of
Planning and Zoning; members of the Press and Radio; and the
general public.
Mr. Fred Tittle, attorney representing Dr. and Mrs.
Roger Sorg, addressed the Board concerning their request for
a modification or rescission, pursuant to Section 10,
Chapter 61-2503, Laws of Florida, as to the decision ren-
dered on September 21, 1984 by the Board of County
Commissioners sitting as an Appeals Board, regarding Palm
Island, as recorded in Plat Book 3, Page 40, and located in
Section 9, Township 66 South, Range 32 East, Marathon, pre-
sent zoning RU-1 and BU-2, proposed zoning RU-3. Motion was
made by Commissioner Fahrer and seconded by Commissioner
Freeman to reaffirm the Board's previous position to remand
the matter back to the Zoning Board for a full review.
Motion was withdrawn. Mr. Tittle then addressed the Board
and requested that his request for a re -hearing either be
approved or denied. Motion was made by Commissioner Fahrer
and seconded by Commissioner Stormont to reaffirm the
Board's previous position to remand this matter back to the
Zoning Board for a full review. Roll call vote was unani-
mous with Commissioner Swift not present.
Mr. Fred Tittle, representing U. S. Homes, and Mr.
Blakely, representing U. S. Homes, identified themselves.
Mr. Joe Miklas, attorney for the appellant, addressed the
Board concerning the appeal filed through his office as to
the decision rendered by the Monroe County Zoning Board on
June 26, 1984 granting Final Major Development Approval,
Final Development Plan Approval, Final Community Impact
Statement Approval and Final Change of Zoning from RU-5 to
RU-3, along with five contingencies being met. Subject pro-
perty on a parcel of land situated in County of Monroe,
State of Florida, known as being parts of Lots 1, 2 and 3 in
plat showing subdivision of property belonging to Absalom
Albury, et al, surveyed and platted by George McDonald,
Surveyor, Plat Book 1 at page 64; Part of the Survey of
Burton properties recorded in Plat Book 2 at Page 89;
Burton's Yacht Basin, as recorded in Plat Book 2 at Page 119
and Amended Plat of Portion of Burton's Yacht Basin recorded
in Plat Book 3 at Page 98 and together forming a parcel of
land bounded and further described by metes and bounds, AND
TOGETHER with: that portion of the submerged parcel as
described in T.I.I.T.F. Deed No. 22,575 (711-44) as recorded
in Official Record Book 197, at Pages 6 and 7 of Monroe
County, Florida, lying adjacent thereto. LESS THEREFROM:
Exception No. 1( The Southeasterly half of Lot 8 and all of
Lot 9 in Block 1 of Burton's Yacht Basin. Exception No. 2)
Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Block 2 of Burton's Yacht Basin.
Exception No. 3) Lots 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Block 3 of
Burton's Yacht Basin, together with a strip of land 50 feet
wide, west of, and adjoining Block 3, and more particularly
described by metes and bounds. Exception No. 4) That part
of above described premises included within deed recorded in
Official Records Book 331, Pages 11-12, being a revising in
the right-of-way median of the Northbound lane of U. S.
Highway No. 1. Exception No. 5) Right-of-way area for
Burton's Drive, being a strip of land 25 feet wide on either
side of the centerline of Burton's Drive. Exception No. 6A)
A strip of land 300 feet wide, adjacent to and East of Old
State Road 4A, in SE 1/4 and NE 1/4 and Lot 4, Section 27-62-38,
extending from the South line of Lot 4, Plat Book 2, Page
64, to the north line of the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section
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27-62-38, also as shown on ,Plat Book 151 Page 64, excepting
the right-of-way of Burton Drive. This project is known as
Planter's Pointe. Mr. Blakely then raised questions con-
cerning the ability of the 'Commission to hear this appeal
due to the late filing and jthat the appeal does not satisfy
the requirements of Chapter 6-239 of the County Code. Mr.
Blakely also requested that;Commissioner Stormont recuse
himself due to the fact thalt he served as a member of the
Zoning Board at the time this project appeared before the
Zoning Board. Commissionerj Stormont quoted the District
Court case of the Izaak Wal;lton League v. Monroe County and
refused to recuse himself. Motion was made by Commissioner
Fahrer and seconded by Commissioner Stormont to proceed to
hear the appeal. Roll call -I vote was unanimous with
Commissioner Swift not pres'lent. Mr. Joe Miklas, repre-
senting Wendell Weaton and tihe Upper Keys Citizens
Association, addressed the Board concerning his appeal. Mr
Blakely, representing U. S.' Homes, addressed the Board. Mr
Joe Miklas then addressed tihe Board for rebuttal. Motion
was made by Commissioner Swift and seconded by Commissioner
Freeman to uphold the decision of the Zoning Board and to
deny the appeal. Roll call' vote was taken with the
following results:
CommissionerilFahrer No
Commissioner Treeman Yes
CommissioneriStormont No
CommissionerjSwift Yes
Mayor Harvey' No
Motion failed. Motion wasjthen made by Commissioner Fahrer
and seconded by Commissioner Stormont to adopt the following
Resolution reversing the decision of the Zoning Board of
Monroe County, Florida, without prejudice, and approving the
request of the office of Joe Miklas, attorney, to reverse
the decision- of the Zoning,Board of Monroe County, Florida,
granting Final Major Development Approval, Final Development
Plan Approval, Final Community Impact Statement Approval and
Final Change of Zoning from RU-5 to RU-3, along with five
contingencies being met, and directing the County Attorney
to apply to the Circuit Court -for an Order releasing the
County from the Stipulation previously entered into for the
Project known as Planter'siPointe.
RESOLUTION NO. 056-1985
See Res. Book No. 42 which;is incorporated herein by
reference.
Roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Commissioner'Fahrer Yes
CommissionerllFreeman No
CommissioneriStormont Yes
Commissioner;Swift No
Mayor Harveyl Yes
Motion carried.
Mr. Joe Miklas, attorney for the appellants,
appeared before the Board concerning the request of Travis
Investments, Inc. to reverse the decision of the Monroe
County Zoning Board on October 24, 1984, in denying their
zoning change from RU-1 and BU-2 to BU-1 on Lot 8 and Lot
19, Block 5 of Strattons Subdivision, as recorded in Plat
Book 2, Page 38, and located in Section 28, Township 63
South, Range 37 East, Upper Matecumbe. Mr. Miklas
addressed the Board and discussed a proposed settlement of
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the objections raised at the Zoning Board. Motion was made
by Commissioner Swift and seconded by Commissioner Stormont
to continue this appeal hearing until March 8th. Roll call
vote was unanimous.
Michael Halpern, attorney representing Joseph M.
Clark and Robert D. Schweinler, addressed the Board con-
cerning their request to reverse the decision of the Monroe
County Zoning Board on August 31, 1984, in denying their
request for a zoning change from BU-2 to BU-2 with a BU-2E
on Lot 522 of Port Largo Fifth Addition, as recorded in Plat
Book 6, Page 109, and located in Section 33, Township 61
South, Range 39 East, Key Largo. Mr. Frazier White indi-
cated that he would be discussing the appeal and was a party
to the proceedings at the Zoning Board level. Mr. Halpern
requested that Commissioner Stormont recuse himself as he
was a member of the Zoning Board when this matter was
reviewed by the Zoning Board and cast the deciding vote.
Acting County Attorney Sheri Smallwood advised the Board
that it was the position of the County Attorney's Office
that a County Commissioner should not sit on an Appeals
Board to determine a matter which he had previously con-
sidered and acted upon while serving as a member of the
Zoning Board. Upon being asked, Commissioner Stormont
refused to recuse himself. Attorney Michael Halpern then
proceeded to discuss the appeal. Mr. Frazier White
addressed the Board in opposition to the appeal. Ms. Alina
Davis of the Port Largo Property Owners Association,
addressed the Board concerning the position of their
Association. Motion was made by Commissioner Swift to con-
tinue this appeal until the March 20th meeting. Motion was
withdrawn. Motion was made by Commissioner Swift and
seconded by Commissioner Freeman to grant the appeal and
overturn the decision of the Zoning Board. Roll call vote
was taken with the following results:
Commissioner
Fahrer
No
Commissioner
Freeman
No
Commissioner
Stormont
No
Commissioner
Swift
Yes
Mayor Harvey
Yes
Motion failed. Motion was then made by Commissioner Swift
and seconded by Mayor Harvey to continue this matter until
March 20th. Roll call vote was taken with the following
results:
Commissioner
Fahrer
No
Commissioner
Freeman
No
Commissioner
Stormont
No
Commissioner
Swift
Yes
Mayor Harvey
Yes
Motion failed. Motion was made by Commissioner Fahrer and
seconded by Commissioner Stormont to adopt the following
Resolution upholding the decision of the Zoning Board of
Monroe County, Florida, without prejudice, and denying the
rquest of Joseph M. Clark and Robert D. Schweinler to
reverse the decision of the Zoning Board of Monroe County,
Florida denying a change of zoning from BU-2 to BU-2 with
B U - 2 E .
RESOLUTION NO. 057-1985
See Res. Book No. 42 which is incorporated herein by
reference.
Roll call vote was taken with the following results:
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Commissioner
Fahrer
Yes
Commissioner
Freeman
Yes
Commissioner
Stormont
Yes
Commissioner
Swift
No
Mayor Harvey
No
Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A Public Hearing began at 2:15 P.M. concerning the
HUD Rental Rehabilitation Program. Mr. Bob Bensko discussed
the application for the HUD Rental Rehabilitation Program.
Mr. Bensko also advised the Board that the two previous HUD
Projects concerning Hibiscus Park and The Rock in Marathon
were not approved by the Department of Community Affairs.
Motion was made by Commissioner Swift and seconded by
Commissioner Freeman to indicate to the Department of
Community Affairs the Board's protest of the rejection of
the HUD Projects for the Hibiscus Park and The Rock in
Marathon areas due to the critical needs of the County for
low-cost housing and the impact of Critical Concern. Motion
was made by Mayor Harvey and seconded by Commissioner Fahrer
to amend the motion to include a recommendation that the
State use Critical Concern designation as one of the factors
to determine appropriate projects for HUD funding. Roll
call vote was unanimous on the amendment and roll call vote
was unanimous on the original motion as amended.
Accordingly, the Board unanimously adopted the following
Resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County, Florida, directed to the State of Florida Department
of Community Affairs, protesting the rejection of the Grant
Applications filed for The Rock and for Hibiscus Park,
demanding special consideration for Monroe County in connec-
tion with such Grant Applications in the future, and urging
that the County's status as an Area of Critical State
Concern be considered as a major factor in future grant
allocations.
RESOLUTION NO. 058-1985
See Res. Book No. 42 which is incorporated herein by
reference.
Motion was then made by Commissioner Fahrer and seconded by
Mayor Harvey to adopt the following Resolution authorizing
the Mayor of Monroe County, Florida to submit an application
for grant funds to the Federal Department of Housing and
Urban Development pursuant to its Rental Rehabilitation
Program.
RESOLUTION NO. 059-1985
See Res. Book no. 42 which is incorporated herein by
reference.
Motion was made by Commissioner Fahrer and seconded by
Commissioner Swift to postpone until March 8th a proposed
Memorandum of Understanding between Monroe County and the
Monroe County Housing Authority. Roll call vote was unani-
mous.
CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP
Commissioner Swift then discussed the Code
Enforcement Board and some of the problems they were having.
Mr. Dale Baldwin addressed the Board and presented a list of
problems being faced by the Code Enforcement Board and
requested, among other things, better coordination between
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Commissioner
Fahrer
Yes
Commissioner
Freeman
Yes
Commissioner
Stormont
Yes
Commissioner
Swift
No
Mayor Harvey
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No
Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A Public Hearing began at 2:15 P.M. concerning the
HUD Rental Rehabilitation Program. Mr. Bob Bensko discussed
the application for the HUDaRental Rehabilitation Program.
Mr. Bensko also advised theiBoard that the two previous'HUD
Projects concerning Hibiscus Park and The Rock in Marathon
were not approved by the Department of Community Affairs.
Motion was made by Commissioner Swift and seconded by
Commissioner Freeman to indjicate to the Department of
Community Affairs the BoardV's protest of the rejection of
the HUD Projects for the Hibiscus Park and The Rock in
Marathon areas due to the critical needs of the County for
low-cost housing and the impact of Critical Concern. Motion
was made by Mayor Harvey an;d seconded by Commissioner Fahrer
to amend the motion to include a recommendation that the
State use Critical Concern designation as one of the factors
to determine appropriate projects for HUD funding. Roll
call vote was unanimous on the amendment and roll call vote
was unanimous on the original motion as amended.
Accordingly, the Board unaniimously adopted the following
Resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County, Florida, directed to the State of Florida Department
of Community Affairs, protesting the rejection of the Grant
Applications filed for The Rock and for Hibiscus Park,';
demanding special consideration for Monroe County in connec-
tion with such Grant Applications in the future, and urging
that the County's status as!an Area of Critical State
Concern be considered as a Major factor in future grant;
allocations. II
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RESOLUTION NO. 058-1985
See Res. Book No. 42 which"is incorporated herein by
reference. 1
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Motion was then made by Commissioner Fahrer and secondeid by
Mayor Harvey to adopt the following Resolution authorizing
the Mayor of Monroe County,'! Florida to submit an application
for grant funds to the Fedeiral Department of Housing and
Urban Development pursuant 9to its Rental Rehabilitation'
Program. r
RESOLUTION NO. 059-1985
See Res. Book no. 42 which�is incorporated herein by
reference. i
Motion was made by Commissioner Fahrer and seconded by
Commissioner Swift to postplone until March 8th a proposed
Memorandum of Understanding's between Monroe County and the
Monroe County Housing Authq,rity. Roll call vote was unani-
mous.
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CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP
Commissioner Swift then discussed the Code
Enforcement Board and somegof the problems they were having.
Mr. Dale Baldwin addressedithe Board and presented a list of
problems being faced by the Code Enforcement Board and
requested,.among other things, better coordination between
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the Building Inspectors and Code Enforcement Violations
Inspectors. The Board then asked Mr. Baldwin to report back
to the Board in ninety days concerning these problems to see
if any effort had been made to rectify them. Motion was
made by Commissioner Swift and seconded by Commissioner
Freeman to appropriate the sum of $16,800.00 from
Contingency to represent ten months' salary for a position
of Code Enforcement Administrator who would oversee the Head
Violations Inspector and all of the Violations Inspectors
for better coordination of the Code Enforcement function in
Monroe County. The criteria for the job will be five years
of City and County administrative experience and five years
in law or Code enforcement, and the person holding this
position will report directly to the County Administrator
and will be hired in accordance with the personnel policies
and procedures of the Board of County Commissioners. Roll
call vote was unanimous. Mr. John Sanclimenti discussed the
position. The Board indicated there would be another
Workshop on Code Enforcement in ninety days and directed the
County Administrator to put the item on the Agenda. The
following individuals discussed Code Enforcement: Charles
Mohrbacher; Woody Butler; Barbara Epstein, Secretary to the
Code Enforcement Board; Frank Steckleberg; George Moore;
Mary Lin Johnson.
MOBILE HOME WORKSHOP
The members of the Board addressed the citizens
present concerning their feelings about mobile homes and
problems experienced with replacing mobile homes in areas
not zoned for mobile home use. Mayor Harvey discussed the
proposed Ordinance which would provide procedures and
methods to accomplish this and which was now being handled
administratively by the Director of Building, Planning and
Zoning. The following individuals spoke concerning this
matter: Kieran Mahoney, Maggie Culver, Barbara Shell,
Charles Wheeler, Thelma Howard, Connie Smith, Frank
Steckleberg, Rita Capps, George Camp, Mary Lou Whitford,
John Sanclimenti, Joe Grabowski, Mary Lou Woodward, Floy
Moore, S. L. Sanclimenti, Tim Johnson, Mary Sukup, Roy
Stone, Mike Miller, A. T. Johnston, C. J. Frow, Clay Smith,
Connie Smith, Pearl Sinclair.
The Board adjourned without further action.
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