Loading...
Item H1 II,",'" vu u~ u,-. vU,", J.~~ rant!.' JU~~89B944 p. 1 LEE R. ROBE ATTORNEY AT LAW P.O. BOX 420259 25000 OVERSEAS HWY SUMMERLAND KEY, FL 33042 TELEPHONE (305) 745-2254 FAX: (305) 745-4075 E-MAIL Irrlaw@bellsouth.net SENT VIA FACSIMILE AND U.S. MAIL November 8, 2004 Jim Roberts, County Administrator Monroe County 1100 Simonton Street Key West, Florida 33040 Re: Request on behalf of Ed Handte to be scheduled as an agenda item for the BOCC Sounding Board Dear Mr. Roberts: My Assistant, Susan spoke today with Connie in your office who, at our request, scheduled Mr. Handte for the Sounding Board for the November 17, 2004 BOCC meeting in Key Largo. As Susan explained today to Connie, Mr. Handte does not feel that he can have a presentation packet ready for the BOCC on one weeks notice. Therefore, we would greatly appreciate if Mr. Handte's agenda item could be placed on the December 15,2004 BOCC meeting in Marathon, Florida. We have ab.eady advised Mr. Handte of this date and he is ready to attend and speak at this time. Thanking you in advance for your assistance. Sincerely, k ~~<- Lee R. Rohe, Esq., P.i\ cc: client H/ LEE R. ROUE ATTORNEY AT LAW P.O. BOX 420259 25000 OVERSEAS HWY SUMMERLAND KEY, FL 33042 December 8, 2004 TELEPHONE (305) 745-2254 FAX: (305) 745-4075 E-MAIL Irrlaw@bellsouth.net Dear Commissioners: I represent Mr. Handte in his efforts to preserve his property value and eliminate a code enforcement violation recurring on a daily basis next door to his home on Key Largo at mile marker 103.4. At your December 15th meeting, Mr. Handte intends to make a presentation concerning a neighboring commercial property. We have already discussed this matter at length with Code Enforcement and the Planning Department. We offer the following background information. On November 28, 2001, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution P81-01 denying an appeal, by Mr. Handte, of a building permit for interior remodeling and rear double doors issued to Key Largo Produce. See attached Resolution. At the time, Key Largo Produce was operating a retail and wholesale produce business out of a building next door to Handte. On page 3 of Resolution P81-01, within paragraph 4, in pertinent part it states: ". . . thus there is no enlargement to the lawful non-conforming use and therefore we find that the structure does not have to come into further compliance in the IS-M land use district." [Emphasis added.] At the time of Resolution P81-01, the rear of the Key Largo Produce building was fenced and had two asphah parking spaces. No other activity, except parking, occurred in the rear of the property. All other activity occurred in the front of the property bordering on U.S. 1. Mr. Handte's home, adjacent to the Key Largo Produce property, overlooks the rear of Key Largo Produce. Resolution No. 81-01 was appealed by Mr. Handte. Administrative Law Judge Stampelos, on October 8,2002, upheld Resolution P81-01, while ruling that the Key Largo Produce building continued to be protected by the law as a lawful non-conforming building and use. See attached Pinal Order. Either immediately before or after the Pinal Order was issued in favor of Key Largo Produce, in October 2002, Key Largo Produce ceased operation but not before the rear fence was removed allowing for greater use of the backyard. Also, the two asphalt parking spaces were eliminated through excavation (without a permit) and a rear loading dock installed (without a permit) at the double doors. (The double doors were allegedly installed to accommodate a large dumpster for the disposal of spoilage.) Permits were not available for the removal ofthe parking spaces removal and loading dock work because of the fact that such aheration would amount to an extension of the nonconforming feature of the structure. Hi Letter to BOCC- December 8, 2004 Shortly after Key Largo Produce folded, a new business occupied the building, CFS Carpeting. The CFS Carpet Company immediately began rear loading and unloading operations at the above-mentioned loading dock. A huge construction debris dumpster was also placed in the rear. The dumpster is being used as a commercial dumpsite for refuse from CFS job sites. Refuse from CFS job sites should be taken to the appropriate county dumpsite. Meanwhile, the rear of the property is continuing to be used for large delivery trucks loading and unloading carpet through the rear of the building on a daily basis. Mr. Handte's home, adjacent to this continuing delivery activity, is disturbed by the deliveries on a daily basis. Section 9.5-143 (c), attached hereto, prohibits "extensions" ofnon-conforming uses through either enlargement of a use by additions to the structure or occupancy of additional lands. We maintain that once the parking in rear and fence were removed and loading operations at the rear loading dock commenced, the non-conforming use of this property was "extended" via occupancy of additional lands. ~.. .. [1" :.., . .. _ _ I', H 1 I J J .. We believe that either the Planning Department or Code Enforcement or both should revisit this matter and determine whether the non-conforming use has been unlawfully "extended." In the alternative, we request that the matter be returned to the Planning Commission for a complete hearing. In sum, the rear activity should cease immediately. As additional background information, we have also included affidavits from neighbors and photos of the loading operations. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, ~~YIZ Lee Robert Rohe, Esquire cc: client ,.~ AFFIDAVIT OF MICHAEL BOYCE STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE I, Michael Boyce, of 101660 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida hereby state the following under oath: ] . I am over the age of 18 years; 2. I am the owner of Boyce Excavating located at 101660 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida; 3. In the first part of 2002, I contracted with William Brucato to dig an incline at the rear of his property located at 103375 Overseas Highway, beginning at a paved area to the south end of the property. In addition, I was hired to spread pearock over the area including the'rear access road. --- Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing Affidavit and the facts stated in it are true to the best of my knowledge. ~- ~ MIC Et BOYCE BOYC EXCA V A TING ************************** STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this 'J day of February, 2004 by Michael Boyce. ...'Htt-.. CATHElllNE LUDEKE ~ -'f,;,\ MY COMMISSION' DO 13341!.6 . EXPIRES: November 11, 200R BcrlIlId 1lW NcllIIy NIIIc UndlllWlOC "", (1/J-rt;LUi.a at~ Notary Public Personally Known V OR Produced Identification Type of Identification Produced .. AFFIDAVIT OF ROSS BLOODWORTH STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE I, Ross Bloodworth, of 3 Snapper Avenue, Key Largo, FL hereby state the following under oath; 1. I am over the age of 18 years; 2. I have lived in Largo Sound Park, at the above address since 1962; 3. I am the President of Largo Sound Park Homeowners Club Inc; I am referring to the Property known as 103375 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL. Prior to the ownership of William Brucato, in 2001, there was a fence that surrounded the back end of the property with a gate that provided parking for 2 cars on pavement. At the opposite end of the back of the building was the single rear entry door. After William Brucato purchased the property and planned to open a Produce Market and Delivery service from there is when action was taken with Mr Brucato, about the concern of his Garbage, Increased Use of property of a Non-Conforming Structure, and the use of large trucks that would be using adjacent streets of Largo Sound Park. Mr Brucato Stated in front of the Planning Commission and also made a statement in the Free Press Newspaper that he would Keep the Dumpster inside the back of the building until the night before pick-up, no trucks will use the rear of the property for access, and the Planning Commission at that time found no increased in Use. Mr Brucato pulled a permit to add a double door in front of the gate that gave access to the 2 parking spaces in the rear of the property in which he was going to keep the dumpster. It wasn't long after that, I confronted Mr Brucato, and another man in the alley way about cutting down the trees that had been there for over 25 years, Gumbo Limbo, Poision Wood. They walked away, so I reported the action to Code Enforcement, Nothing happened! Mr Brucato then was issued a permit to take down the fence, this is when the trucks and vans started to use the back of the property as a loading/unloading area. In the meantime the dumpster was then left outside to smell and attract rodents and other wild life that are protected. Again Code Enforcement was called, Nothing Happened! Mr Brucato at the beginning of 2002, then had Boyce Excavating come in and excavate the rear of the property, there was No Permit, from the side of the 2 parking spaces that are paved, out and over the septic tank and drain field. Where there had previously been grass growing there. Larger trucks started to access the back of the property, and the dumpster remained outside to smell and attract rodents. Again I and others called Code Enforcement, Nothing Happened! Mr Brucato business then failed in 2003 and the new use of property continued to use the back of the property and the alley as a Loading/Unloading Zone, there is. now a 20 yard dumpster there .' .. and is used as a dump site, which the smell continues and so do the numerious rodents and other protected wild life that come to graze. Again Code Enforcement was called, Nothing Happened! Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the following Affidavit and the facts stated in it are true to the best of my knowledge. ~"7 /::J Ross Bloodworth, --.. , Judi\tI A. Mondaine-Half t~' M'/ commission 00257280 '~J ex,ires October at. 2007 Feb 18 04 04:40p j.(lchard HOlt ldU::lJ 't::ll-U::lts.1 Feb 17 04 11:08a reb 12 04 08:31. Ipe rohe Richard Holt. 3052898944 13051 451-0981 .u'llM.yn' OJ'mmADBOLT ~:=. IIUdadBllll.<< 4'''' LaPillllJk Kqt....,...........tIf* d1c~__1IIIk I. L.-.-l...JIM .... 1. 1.......IIIIGJJ6i............ 1. Old _1nI J1114IIau..._.....10D15 aw-......., ......eaIy. .....- 1!IIIIr.2002 ......._1l1li ~......... '-_"_.I_"'I__~-"""'--"'_. dIt.. fIl.,......... . aidWd ifill ---........ I'I'ATa 01'......... COUMTYor.... 11 SMa .c. .JIIIlI)'" A ,jbM"" - "....11-.,.,..,...,. 20M.,........ ..........lII1~ftJi.-'.'"* II _. ~ ~ t:fL'f>.V """tlifl ,r ItJv ...~ "'- W~!'!~' . GAYi.EA.H\'MAH f-: ;-; ":'. ::tlMMlSSlON, CC 970531 .. : ,XPIRES: November~, 2004 ~~.. ~"n<lo<lTllru"OlIIyNllicUodo_ p. .1 p. I p.2 ( AFFIDAVIT OF EDWIN HANDTE STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE I, Edwin R Handte, of 103365 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida hereby state the following under oath: 1. I am over the age of 18 years; 2. I have owned the property at 103365 Overseas Highway since 1980; 3. In 1985, William Loyd constructed a metal building at 103375 Overseas Highway. 4. In 1993, Julio Gonzalez purchased Mr. Loyd's property. He permitted a fence from the southeast corner of the building east to the property line, north along the property line to parallel the northeast corner ofthe building, then west to the corner of the building. 5. In late 2001, or early 2002, William Brucato, the new owner of 103375 Overseas Highway, permitted the demolition of this fence. Later in 2002, he hired Boyce Excavating to dig out an incline adjacent to the original two permitted parkirig spaces required under Code in the rear, thereby turning this area into a loading ramp. 6. This action contradicts Mr. Brucato's statement to the planning commission in November of2001 when seeking conditional use approval, that "the double rear doors were only to be used to house a small dumpster which would only be placed outside on garbage pickup days." 7. Mr. Brucato presently rents out the property to a carpet and flooring company. This business also uses the back two parking spaces and "dug out incline" as a loading dock. 8. The carpet and flooring company placed a twenty yard dumpster in the rear over a drain field and septic tank, and removed interior walls without a permit. 9. I showed Monroe County Assistant Building Official John Bonniface the site in July 2003. He observed that the interior walls were removed. He subsequently informed me that he had relayed this information to Jack Reed, Monroe County Code Enforcement Officer. t-. Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing Affidavit and the facts stated in it are true to the best of my knowledge. ~~~~ ...***.******************. STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF MONROE Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this L day of February, 2004 by Edwin Handte . tbPJ,t. 0 ~..,- / Notary P lic ...",'';U,.", GAYlE A. NYMAN f.~'f."'~~ MY COMMISSION 1/ CC 970531 = . i;:i EXPIRES: November 2. 2004 1P Bonded Thru Notary Public Underwrite.. Personally Known OR Produced Identification ~~. Type ofIdentification Produced 2 -- - ~--..-_.. ---.---..--.----.---.-.---.-.-------. -------- _. 1 :2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 . 15 16 . 17 18 I 19 I 20 21 II 22 I 23 24 , 25 I a 1 ~RIGINAr ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL APPELLANT: EDWIN HANDTE Heard on Wednesday, November 28, 2001, at th Key Largo Library, 101485 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida, Monroe County, Florida, before the Monroe County Planning Commission, and Michaela K. Woods, Court Reporter. * * * * * * APPEARANCES: COMMISION: David C. Ritz, Chair Jerry Coleman P. Morgan Hill Denise Werling STAFF: John Wolfe, Planning Commission Counsel Marlene Conaway, Planning & Environmental Resources Maureen Lackey, Planner Judith Chambers, Planning Commission Coordinator Florida Keys Reporting 91421 Overseas Highway Tavernier, Florida (305) 852-2153 FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. ~ fl 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ~5 ~ 50 address. MR. BRUCATO: William Joseph Brucato. 142 North Sunrise, Tavernier. (Thereupon, WILLIAM BRUCATO, having been first duly sworn, testified as follows:) DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. MULICK: Q. Mr. Brucato, are you the owner of the premises that is the subject of this appeal today? A. Yes, I am. Q. What is the nature of your business? A. The nature of my business is retail sales of fruits and vegetables to the public. Q. Do you engage in any other activities there? A. We also have a delivery service that we bring to people. Q. Off premises? A. Yes. Q. People can come on premises and purchase? A. Yes. Q. And do they have to buy wholesale or would you sell to anybody? A. No. I'll sell to anybody who walks in the door. Q. Have you expanded the property in any way? FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. I r 1 2 I 3 1- 4 5 I 6 l~ 7 8 rn 9 10 r 11 [ 12 13 [ 14 ~ 15 16 U 17 ~ 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 51 For example, have you added parking spaces? A. No. Q. Have you added to the building itself? A. No. Q. Have you occupied any parts of the building that was not previously occupied? A. What do you mean by that? Q. Well, was there part of the building perhaps that was never used and then you decided for the first time to open it up? A. No. Basically it's only about a quarter of the building right now. Q. Ultimately what's going to be in there? Let's talk about the facility itself. A. Well, I plan on opening retail for fruits and vegetables. That was a lifelong goal when I was young, third-generation produce, selling organic fruits and vegetables on the highway. Q. Now, let's talk about the activities there You heard testimony about the garbage taking place. dumpster? A. Yes. Q. Where is the dumpster kept? A. We built a special dumpster an air-conditioned dumpster inside the side building where FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. \ r 1 2 [ 3 [- 4 5 I 6 I 7 8 C 9 ~ ..:& 10 fl 11 l 12 13 I 14 ~ 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 15 52 it's all enclosed. It's right in there. Q. Is it in there today? A. Yes, sir. Q. Has it been in there for a period of time? A. Yes. It stays in there until the garbage guys come and pull it out and dump it and we bring it back inside. Q. Do you know whether or not there was a dumpster before you opened the business? A. I never did see a dumpster there, but it looks like a -- the gate opens in the back of the building, it looks like there would be a dumpster, if there was one outside, right in that area where the -- right outside the dumpster. Where mine is inside, it looks like another one would be on the outside. Q. Do you intend to engage in an actively wholesale business at the premises? A. Yes. Q. To what extent? A. What do you mean by that? Q. Wholesale as opposed to retail. A. I ~lan on doing a little more retail than wholesale. lIve been in business for 12 years. I've been driving up and down the road. Like I said, I would just like to have a place on the highway where FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. l ! 1 2 I 3 [ 4 5 I 6 l 7 8 a 9 10 r~ .."'1 ':1 11 [ 12 13 I 14 ~ 15 \ 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ~5 53 people come to me more instead of me traveling all the time. Q. And that would be retail? A. Yes. Q. Let me ask you, Mr. Brucato, have you been in touch with Mr. Guzman in connection with the purchase of this property? A. Yes. Q. Did he at some point indicate to you that after he left the property that some of the goods there were still being sold? A. Yes. Q. Did you inquire of him specifically about that? MR. HUTCHISON: I would object. Mr. Guzman would need to testify to that. This is very strong hearsay. MR. MULICK: Well, 1111 tell you what then, I move to strike the sales tax documentation. I move to strike the material from the planning department. I move to strike the testimony by the witnesses as regards to what other pe~ple told them. I ask that all of that is stricken from the record if he's going to object to this being in. COMMISSIONER COLEMAN: Mr. Chairman, I ask FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. ( I 1 2 [ 3 l 4 5 ! 6 ! 7 8 Q 9 10 [1 11 I 12 13 I \ 14 ~ 15 I 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 54 that the board to reject the objection here. Let him testify. Other people testified. This is not a court of law. CHAIRMAN RITZ: Counsel? MR. WOLFE: I would advise the same thing. There are liberal standards as to what's admissable here. This is a hearing. It's not bound by the rules of evidences of the circuit court. CHAIRMAN RITZ: Please proceed. BY MR. MULICK: Q. Did Mr. Guzman give you any evidence that he had been selling beauty supplies out of the premises for any period of time? A. Yes. Q. I'm going to show you what appears to be two copies of documents. What are those? A. Those are receipts from beauty supply sales. Q. Did he tell you that those were products that were sold out of the premises? A. Yes, he told my those were sold out of the prem.l.ses. Q. On the dates set forth on them? A. Yes. Q. Did you prepare those? FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ~ 9 10 1"'1 I 11 I 12 13 ( 14 ~ 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 55 A. No. Q. Did you receive them directly from Mr. Guzman? A. Yes. CHAIRMAN RITZ: Do you happen to have the original documents with you? MR. MULICK: I have given that to Mr. Wolfe. Apparently what was done was the invoice was copied and given to Mr. Brucato. Those are copies from that. Q. Mr. Brucato, is it your intention to essentially engage in retail sales at the premises? A. Yes. Q. Is it your intention to keep the dumpster inside the building? A. Yes. Q. In fact, did you set aside part of the building specifically for that? A. Yes, I did. Q. And it's actually air conditioned? A. Yes. Q. Js it enclosed? A. Yes, it is. MR. MULICK: Nothing further. CROSS-EXAMINATION FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. I r [ [ r l ~ 56 ~ 1 BY MR. HUTCHISON: 2 Q. Let's talk about the dumpster. When is your 3 trash pick up? 4 A. Monday morning. S Q. When do you put the dumpster out to have it 6 picked up? 7 A. Sometimes I will either put it out late 8 Sunday. If I can't get there in the morning, it could 9 be Sunday morning I will have it out, because I don't 10 want to miss it. He gets there kind of early, so I 11 want to get it out early. 12 Q. But it's not left out on Sunday nor is it 13 left out on Saturday; is that correct? 14 A. It's not usually left out. It's only left 15 out like within a day. Like I said, I live 12 miles 16 away, so I just can't keep running there to put the 17 dumpster out. They can't come into the building. 1 8 Q . Soy 0 uta k e i t 0 u ton Sat u r day s; i s t II at 19 correct? 20 A. Not usually. 21 Q. But sometimes. "Not usually," does that mean ~2 you don't ever take it out on Saturdays; is that 23 correct? 24 A. I might have brought it out. I mean, my dad Z5 had a stroke a couple months ago and I know I had to FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. 57 [ [ Q fTi l 1 get the dumpster out early to get up to Orlando, so 2 probably I did have it out on a Saturday. 3 Q. Now, let's talk about the type of uses of the 4 building. You're also using both retail and wholesale 5 of produce; is that correct? 6 A. Basically it's retail. 7 Q. But you have trucks coming in to deliver 8 products; is that correct? 9 A. Yes, I have a delivery service. 10 Q. What type of trucks deliver product to this 11 property? 12 A. To me or to people that buy from me? 13 Q . To you. 14 A. I go to Miami and pick it up myself. 15 Q. In other words, you don't have any 16 deliveries? 17 A. No. I do all the -- 18 Q. You don't expect to have any deliveries; is 19 that correct? 20 A. I always go pick up stuff, so -- 21 Q. What type of traffic do you believe will be 22 generated as a result of ~his? 23 A. There shouldn't be any traffic at all. 24 Whatever the normal use is. 25 Q. We're talking the number of cars coming in I " FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. [ 1 2 [ 3 ( 4 5 I 6 [ - 7 8 Q 9 10 [1 11 ( 12 13 ( 14 ~ 15 16 b 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2~5 58 and out. A. I don't know. I just got in. Q. In your operations, you have to throwaway a lot of refuse; is that correct? A. Not really. Q. What type stuff is inside the dumpster? A. Basically it's fruits and vegetables that are not good enough to sell, so I have to dispose of them. I only deal with top quality. Q. Were you warned when you first bought -- when you first looked at this building, were you warned about the possibility of the building not being used for a period of time? A. I don't know anything about it. Q. In other words, you were never warned about the possibility of the building not being used for a period of time? A. No. Nobody said anything about abandonment to me. I donlt know what happened before I got there. Q. You were also told that the property had a BU-1 or BU-2 designation; is that correct? A. 11m not sure exactly that was. I came into the Realtor and I talked to them and told them what I was doing and they said it was fine. And I called up building and planning and they said it was zoned right FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. 59 ~ 1 for what I wanted to do. 2 Q. And who did you have discussions with at 3 building and planning? 4 A. Marty. I forgot his last name. 5 Q. Was that the only person? 6 A. There was another guy, too. I forgot his 7 name. 8 MR. HUTCHISON: No further questions. 9 CHAIRMAN RITZ: Any questions from the 10 board? 11 MR. MULICK: Just two follow-up questions. 12 REDIRECT EXAMINATION 13 BY MR. MULICK: 14 Q. Mr. Brucato, you said you spoke to somebody 15 regarding the purchase of the property at the planning 16 department? 17 A. Yes. 18 Q. Did you receive a letter from them? 19 A. Yes, I did. 20 Q. And what did that letter say? 21 A. It said it was fine to do what I wanted to 22 do. 23 Q. Did you get that letter before or after you 24 purchased the property? 2:5 A. Before. [ [ l ~ r1 FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. [ [ [ !. ~ ~ r ( [ ~ u 60 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. MULICK: Thank you very much. That letter is already in evidence, introduced by Mr. Hutchison. I have nothing further. Thank you. CHAIRMAN RITZ: All right. So now we've heard from the property owner and the appellant. Any comments from the general public? MR. BLOODWORTH: Once again, my name is Ross Bloodworth, and I'm the president of the homeowner's association of Largo Sound Park. CHAIRMAN RITZ: And you've already -- MR. WOLFE: He's already been sworn in. MR. BLOODWORTH: I have petitions and letters signed by other instances, because I am with KLFHA here in Key Largo, as well as a member of that and other things that's happened down south. We're just trying to keep overuse of a property that's happening in other places that has not been looked at by the county. I will give you a copy of all the letters and petitions that I had signed by the homeowners of the park. Our general problem is that the generation of the garbage and the smell, which is going to really affect, I think, the health of other FLORIDA KEYS REPORTING, INC. JI EDWIN HANDTE, STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS Appellant, ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 02-0477 VS. MONROE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, BILL BROCATO, and KEY LARGO PRODUCE, Appellees. ~ On Or about July 27, 2001, the Monroe COunty BUilding Department (Department) issued Permit No. 01-3-2249, based On an apPlication filed by William I. Brucato (Brucato), d/b/a Key LargO Produce (Brucato or Key Largo ProdUce) to construct a walk-in cooler and interior remOdeling for an eXisting structure of 2,700 square feet, legally described as BlOCk 11, Lots 13 and 14, located in Largo SOUnd Park, 103375 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Monroe COunty, Florida, hereinafter referred to as the property. Appellant, EdWin Handte (Handte), perfected his appeal of the Department.s decision to the Monroe COunty Planning cOmmisSion (CommisSion). COmmisSion staff recommended denial of Handte's appeal. I I .' The Commission denied Handte's appeal after a hearing on the merits. The Commission decision is memorialized in Resolution No. P81-01, adopted by the Commission on November 28, 2001. Handte seeks review of the Commission's decision to deny his appeal. This appeal was timely filed. Handte filed a Second Amended Brief and a Reply Brief, and the Commission filed an Answer Brief. Oral argument was held on August 19, 2002, and supplemented on August 26, 2002.1 The Division of Administrative Hearings, by contract, and pursuant to Article XIV, Section 9.5-535, Monroe County Code (M.C.C. or Code), has jurisdiction to consider this appeal. 1. Issues on Appeal Handte raises three basic issues on appeal: (1) whether there is competent substantial evidence to support the Commission's Findings of Fact that Brucato's use of the property and structure, i.e., as a retail/wholesale produce facility, is not a change of the prior nonconforming use of the property by Brucato's predecessor, Julio and Donna Guzman (Guzman), d/b/a All About Beauty and A Touch of Class; (2) whether there is competent substantial evidence to support the Commission's Findings of Fact that the Guzmans did not abandon or discontinue their nonconforming use of the property and structure for six 2 consecutive months; and (3) whether the Commission misapplied the Code. II. Facts The following facts are gathered from the evidence presented to the Commission, which are contained in the Record.2 On December 12, 1985, the Building and Zoning Department of Monroe County, Florida, issued a building permit to Bill Lloyd, the owner of the subject property at the time, for a sewing center, land clearing, and fill. On March 7, 1986, the Monroe County Building Department issued a Certificate of Occupancy for the building located on the property to be used as a sewing center. The building is 2,700 square feet and metal in composition. The property is located in an Improved Subdivision District (IS- M) land use district. The building was originally used as a sewing center, which began operation on the property from March 1986 until in or around 1993 when the Guzmans (Julio and Donna) began the operation of a beauty salon, known as All About Beauty, in or around 1993.3 The name, "A Touch of Class," also appears in the Record, and was created in 1993, at or around the same time as All About Beauty. Retail and wholesale beauty supplies were sold by All About Beauty. 3 Monroe County issued occupational licenses to Donna Guzman and All About Beauty, Inc., for the business address of the property, to expire on September 30, 2001. Donna and Julio Guzman executed a sworn affidavit4 on April 20, 2001, stating in part: 1. THAT they are the owners of real property located at 103375 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida 33037. 2. THAT until April 13, 2001, inventory was being stored and goods were being wholesaled and retailed by Carmen Martel, agent for All About Beauty. 3. THAT as of this date, All About Beauty maintains a current business license, bank account with First State Bank and full- time yard service and parking agreements. In or around June of 2000, Mr. Guzman placed the property and the building on the market for sale or lease. The building remained on the market and was actively shown by real estate agent Misty Pace until April 2001, when it was purchased by Brucato. Mr. Guzman placed hurricane shutters on the property at or around the time he listed the property for sale. One door was not boarded up in order to provide access to the building. Whether the Guzmans abandoned or discontinued the use of the property from June of 2000 until April of 2001 was the subject of much debate before the Commission and is an issue which will be resolved in this appeal. (The Commission found 4 " that the Guzmans did not abandon or discontinue their use of the property during this time.) As noted, the Guzmans stated that they continued to store inventory in the building until April 13, 2001. Ms. Pace confirmed this statement. During cross-examination, Ms. Pace stated that "[t]he building was never abandoned." She also stated that she had been in the building during this time and that [h]is [Mr. Guzman] daughter continued to sell beauty supplies. There was also Mr. Guzman's furniture in there from his house that he had been selling. There was also a full canvas operation in there that included machinery. There was [sic] a lot of boxes. When we showed the property we actually had to weed through some of the stuff. The building was full of his stuff. His daughter sold the stuff. I actually opened up the door to let people in to pick up some supplies that they had paid her for from her. She called me many times. Ms. Pace stated that "[t]here was a full canvas shop," with "rolls and rolls of canvas. There was [sic] beauty supply stations with the sinks and the shampoo stuff, and all the equipment to go with beauty supplies." Customers bought beauty supplies there, but she was unaware whether "the canvas stuff" ,was sold. However, Ms. Pace opened "the door for a couple of people who called. [Mr. Guzman's] daughter called and said would you -- this lady is going to pick up her stuff. It was in boxes like this. He sold everything in big boxes," i.e., beauty 5 supplies were sold either in boxes or sold individually. Ms. Pace "bought 15 bottles of shampoo." This was when Mr. Guzman "was selling everything out." (Prior to becoming a realtor, Ms. Pace was a hairdresser and bought supplies from Mrs. Guzman.) Ms. Pace also bought a dresser after Mr. Guzman left. (Mr. Guzman left the furnishings and "all of his stuff," i.e., beds, mattresses, living room sets, and refrigerators, from his house in the building, which "were continuously being sold by his daughter.") During the time the property was for sale, Ms. Pace recalls three incidents when she opened the door to let them pick up beauty supplies. The electricity to the building was terminated on or around April or June 2000. But according to Ms. Pace, the sales continued. The Record also contains two receipts, July 10, 2000, and December 4, 2000, for beauty supplies, such as shampoo, curlers, combs, etc. It appears these products were sold out of the property. These receipts indicated that sales tax were calculated for each sale. These facts are contrasted with other evidence of non-use. A Department of Revenue facsimile to Handte's counsel dated November 27, 2001, stated that the sales tax accounts for All 6 About Beauty, Inc., and A Touch of Class were closed on June 30, 2000. All About Beauty, Inc., with the same principal address as the property, was a Florida corporation, but voluntarily dissolved on August 14, 2000. The State of Florida, Department of Revenue reported that the sales tax accounts for All About Beauty, Inc., and A Touch of Class were closed on June 30, 2000. The electricity was terminated on or around April or June 2000. Handte provided an affidavit and also testified that he has been a resident of Key Largo, Florida, for 19 years; that his office is located at 103365 Overseas Highway, Block 11, Lot 15 [the property in question includes Lots 13 and 14]; and further, that the Guzman building was boarded up with the exception of the front door. The power was turned off, the water was turned off, there was no business use of this property since the owner left. On April 27, 2001 power was restored to this building. Handte elaborated on his affidavit during the hearing. Handte is building a house adjacent to the rear of the property. His office building is zoned IS-M, the same as the property. Handte confirms that the building (or structure) was not abandoned, only the use. There was a for sale sign on the property before Mr. Guzman left, until April 2001. According to Handte, only the front door was not boarded up to give access to 7 the realtors to show the property. Handte says there was no business conducted on the property from June 2000 until April 2001. Several neighbors offered letters and testimony to support Handte's position that the property was not being used after June 2000. Ross Bloodworth, living within 300 feet of the Brucato's business, was a friend of Mr. Guzman and helped "him pack up all of the supplies that he had from the beauty salon business so he could return those. And the only items that were kept in that business were of his personal property from his house." Mr. Bloodworth confirmed that the electricity was disconnected in April 2000. He clarified that he assisted Mr. Guzman in "packing up some of the beauty supplies that he had in the building, but he took care of relinquishing the supplies," i.e., "[Mr. Guzman] apparently probably sent them back to the people he had purchased it for credit." But, "pretty much all the beauty supplies was [sic] gone." Mr. Bloodworth also recalled Mr. Guzman had "some things in there for a boat canvas top repair shop that he had in there." Richard Holt rents an office from Handte next to the property. He last saw Mr. Guzman at the dumpster around June 16, 2000. He did not see anyone else occupying the 8 building on the property until the new owner improved the property. Also, several neighbors objected to a produce store being located in the neighborhood and raised concerns regarding, ~, the rot and stench which will result - a health hazard, and increases in traffic. Several others signed petitions opposing the produce store. Brucato purchased the property from the Guzmans in April 2001. Brucato's business on the property will be the retail sale of fruits and vegetables to the public. He also offers a delivery service off premises. He also intends to actively engage in a wholesale business at the property, but it is his intention to essentially engage in retail sales on the property. Brucato has not expanded the property since the purchase. Brucato built an air-conditioned dumpster inside the building where it is enclosed. The garbage remains there until it is emptied (trash picked-up) when it is returned inside. Brucato expects there will be normal traffic, although he does not know how many cars will visit the property because he "just got in." He picks up his produce from Miami. Prior to purchasing the property, Brucato received a letter dated April 6, 2001, from Martin Schultz, Senior Planner, for Monroe County, which states: 9 This letter is in response to your inquiry about operating a wholesale/retail produce facility at this site. According to the official Land Use District Map, this property is zoned Improved Subdivision (IS). The commercial building is greater than 2,500 square feet, which makes this building a non-conforming use. However, after consultation with the Sixth Edition of Trip Generation, published by the Institute of Traffic Engineers, staff had determined that both the current use and your proposed use are low-intensity commercial retail uses. Therefore, this does not constitute a disallowed change in use. It is not necessary for you to receive any approval from the Planning Department. However, please remember than [sic] anything you pursue for the site that is considered "development" (including signage) will require you to submit a site plan (and associated building permit applications) and bring the site into conformity to the maximum extent possible. In addition, since the use is non-conforming, only ordinary repair and maintenance is allowed. No enlargement of the use as an addition or occupancy of additional lands is allowed. Marlene Conaway, planning director, opined that Brucato's intended use of the property is not a change in use of the ~ property because his use is in the same classification of intensity (retail/wholesale) of use as his predecessor. Ms. Conaway also advised that a prior use would continue as long as 4- the property was for sale. According to Ms. Conaway, thi"s issue "has come up a number of times" and resolved in this manner. In Resolution No. PS1-Ol, the Commission made the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law: 10 1. Bill Brucatto [sic], owner of Key Largo Produce, received permit # 01-3-2249, issued by the Monroe County Building Department on July 27, 2001. 2. Based on the application submitted, we find that Edwin Handte, a nearby neighbor in Largo Sound Park, appealed the issuance of the building permit on September 4, 2001. 3. Based on the evidence and testimony submitted, we find that the IS-M land use district permits commercial retail of low- and medium intensity and office uses or any combination thereof less than 2,500 square feet of floor area as a major conditional use and that the IS-M sub-district indicator refers strictly to detached dwellings of masonry construction, not commercial buildings. Therefore we find that the building, with 2,700 square feet of floor area, in the IS-M land use district is a lawful non-conforming structure due to its size. 4. Based on the evidence and testimony submitted, we find that the building permit was issued for an interior remodel and walk- in cooler. The interior remodel and walk-in cooler does not constitute a change of footprint to the structure thus there is no enlargement to the lawful non-conforming use and therefore we find that the structure does not have to come into further compliance in the IS-M land use district. 5. Based on testimony and evidence submitted, we find that The Sewing Center, All About Beauty and now Key Largo Produce, all retail/wholesale establishments, have held occupational licenses in this building since 1986. Section 9.5-144 of the Land District Regulations states that "a nonconforming use devoted to a use permitted in the land use district in which it is located may be continued in accordance with the provisions of this section. We find that an organic produce retail/wholesale 11 establishment is of the same land use intensity as the Sewing Center and All About Beauty retail/wholesale establishments. Therefore we find that Key Largo Produce as a retail/wholesale establishment can continue in this building as no change of use has occurred. 6. Based on evidence and testimony submitted, we find that the owner was old and or ill and chose to sell the property and go out of business and had no intent to abandon the property or its existing uses. We conclude that testimony confirmed that the property had been listed for sale on the real estate. market at the time the owner had the power disconnected. Therefore, we conclude that the non-conforming use was not abandoned per Section 9.5-144(e) (1) of the Monroe County Code; and 7. Based on sworn testimony and evidence, we find that the Growth Management staff acted reasonably in their interpretation of the Monroe County Code in accordance with past practices and previous applicants in making the determination that the use had not changed and that the use had not been abandoned since the use was either in full operation as a retail/wholesale operation or on the real estate market for sale throughout June 2000; and 8. Based on the sworn testimony and evidence submitted, we find that the applicant acted in reliance on Growth Managements staff's understanding that the a [sic] wholesale/retail low-medium intensity use would be permitted to continue at the former location of All About Beauty; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the preceding Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law support it's [sic] decision to DENY the appeal of Edwin Handte for the Planning Department approval of building permit 12 # 01-3-2249 for interior remodel and walk-in cooler. III. Leqal Discussion The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this proceeding and of the parties pursuant to Article XIV, Section 9.5-535, M.C.C. The hearing officer "may affirm, reverse or modify the order of the planning commission." Article XIV, Section 9.5-540(b), M.C.C. The scope of the hearing officer's review under Article XIV is: The hearing officer's order may reject or modify any conclusion of law or interpretation of the Monroe County land development regulations or comprehensive plan in the planning commission's order, whether stated in the order or necessarily implicit in the planning commission's determination, but he may not reject or modify any findings of fact unless he first determines from a review of the complete record, and states with particularity in his order, that the findings of fact were not based upon competent substantial evidence or that the proceeding before the planning commission on which the findings were based did not comply with the essential requirements of law. Id. "The hearing officer's final order shall be the final administrative action of Monroe County." Article XIV, Section 9.5-540(c), M.C.C. 13 In DeGroot v. Sheffield, 95 So. 2d 912 (Fla. 1957), the Court discussed the meaning of "competent substantial evidence" and stated: We have used the term "competent substantial evidence" advisedly. Substantial evidence has been described as such evidence as will establish a substantial basis of fact from which the fact at issue can be reasonably inferred. We have stated it to be such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support a conclusion. . . In employing the adjective "competent" to modify the word "substantial" we are aware of the familiar rule that in administrative proceedings the formalities and the introduction of testimony common to the courts of justice are not strictly employed. We are of the view, however, that the evidence relied upon to sustain the ultimate findings should be sufficiently relevant and material that a reasonable mind would accept it as adequate to support the conclusion reached. To this extent, the "substantic3.l" evidence should also be "competent." Id. at 916 (citations omitted.) A hearing officer (Administrative Law Judge) acting in his or her appellate review capacity is without authority to reweigh conflicting testimony presented to the Commission or to substitute his or her judgment for that of the Commission on the issue of the credibility of witnesses. See Haines City Community Development v. Hegqs, 658 So. 2d 523, 530 (Fla. 1995). The question before the undersigned is not whether the record contains competent substantial evidence supporting the 14 it view of Handte; rather, the question is whether competent substantial evidence supports the findings made by the Commission. See qenerally Collier Medical Center, Inc. v. State, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 462 So. 2d 83, 85 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985) . The issue of whether the Commission "complied with the essential requirements of law" is synonymous with whether the Commission "applied the correct law." Haines City Community Development, 658 So. 2d at 530. All of these concepts are particularly relevant here because there are conflicts in the evidence and the Commission resolved these conflicts contrary to Handte's position. IV. ~ Article V of the Code regulates nonconforming uses. "The ~ purpose of this article is to regulate and limit the continued existence of uses and structures established prior to the enactment of this chapter that do not conform to the provisions of this chapter. Many nonconformities may continue, but the provisions of this article are designed to curtail substantial investment in nonconformities and to bring about their eventual elimination in order to preserve the integrity of this chapter." Article V, Section 9.5-141, M.C.C. See also JPM Investment Group, Inc. v. Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, 818 So. 2d 595, 598 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002) . 15 The Code expressly provides that "[n]onconforming uses of land or structures may continue in accordance with the provisions of this section." Article V, Section 9.5-143(a), M.C.C. (The Commission mistakenly cites Section 9.5-144, which pertains to "nonconforming structures" and is not applicable I ~* here. Handte does not suggest that the structure on the property was abandoned. Rather, he claims that the "nonconforming use" was abandoned. Section 9.5-143, pertaining to "nonconforming uses," is applicable here.) "Normal maintenance and repair to permit continuation of registered nonconforming uses may be performed." Article V, Section 9.5-143(b), M.C.C. "Nonconforming uses shall not be extended" and "[t]his prohibition shall be construed so as to prevent. [e]nlargement of nonconforming uses by additions to the structure in which such nonconforming uses are located" or " . [o]ccupancy of additional lands." Article V, Section 9.5- 143 (c) (1) (2), M.C.C. Further, "[a] nonconforming use shall not be changed to any other use unless the new use conforms to the provisions of the land use district in which it is located." Article V, Section 9.5.143(e), M.C.C. Finally, II [w]here a nonconforming use of land or structure is discontinued or abandoned for six (6) consecutive months. . , then such use may not be reestablished or resumed, 16 and any subsequent use must conform to the provisions of this = chapter. . . II Article V, Section 9.5-143(f) (1), M.C.C. It appears that these land use regulations should be strictly construed. See,~, County Council of Prince Georqe's County v. E.L. Gardner, Inc., 293 Md. 259, 443 A. 2d 114 (1982). See also Lee v. City of Jacksonville, 793 So. 2d 62, 67 (Fla. 1st DCA 2001) (Browning, J., dissenting) ("An ordinance is construed according to the enacting body's intent, and as the ordinance affects real property, strict construction is required. II (citation omitted.)) Further, it is a fundamental rule of statutory construction that statutory provisions which are part of the same act, here the Code, should be read in pari materia. Florida Jai Alai, Inc. v. Lake Howell Water & Reclamation District, 274 So. 2d 522 (Fla. 1973); Hernandez Investment Group, Inc. v. Monroe County, ? Florida, Case No. 97-4581 (DOAH Final Order June 5, 1998). V. The first issue to resolve is whether there is competent substantial evidence to support the Commission's findings that Brucato's intended use of the property is a continuing nonconforming use of his predecessors use. What is a change in a nonconforming use has been the subject of debate. See,~, 7 Fla. Jur. 2d, Buildinq, 17 Zoning, and Land Controls, Section 207, (1997); 83 Am. Jur. 2d Zoning and Planning, Sections 660-690 (1992). Article VII of the Code provides for "land use districts." Section 9.5.231 provides for "permitted uses" and states in part: "No structure or land in Monroe County shall hereinafter ~ be developed, used or occupied unless expressly authorized in a land use district in this division." Article VII, Section 9.5- 231(a), M.C.C. The property is located in the Improved Subdivision (IS-M) land use district. (A "land use" includes "[a] use that is permitted or permissible on the land under the plan, or element or portion thereof, of land development regulations. Article I, Section 9.5-4(L-3(c), M.C.C.) This land use district authorizes commercial retail of low and medium intensity and office uses or any combination thereof of less than 2,500 square feet of floor =:==:;; area as a major conditional use. Article VII, Section 9.5- 242 (d) (1), M.C.C. Subsection 9.5-242 (d) (1) provides for a general classification of land uses (commercial retail/office uses or any combination thereof) within the land use district, ~VO~S based on the level of intensity and square footage, not ~~7 \ specifically on type or kind of use. 5 -t A~ . - The Guzmans' previous use of the property was nonconforming because the building is 2,700 square feet, or 200 feet in excess 18 of the allowable limit. (Brucato does not intend to extend or add to the size of the building.) While the details of the prior use of the property are limited, there is evidence that All About Beauty and the Sewing Center operated in the building (on the property) as retail and wholesale commercial businesses since 1986, and that these uses are categorized as low-intensity commercial retail pursuant to Section 9.5-4(C-14(a)) of the Monroe County Code. There is also evidence from Brucato that his business will be the retail sale of fruits and vegetables to the public, with sales also at wholesale. Planning staff, including Ms. Conaway, concluded that Brucato's intended use did not constitute a change in use because the prior and subsequent uses of the property were sales at retail and wholesale. Ms. Conaway also explained that there ~ is no chanqe in use because both uses maintained the same level of intensity. With respect to traffic, again the evidence is limited and in dispute, but Brucato did not believe Key Largo Produce would increase customer traffic beyond the "normal use," although he was unsure. Brucato also stated that he would not add new parking spaces nor add to the building. Further, Senior Planner Schultz advised Brucato that "after consultation with the Sixth Edition of Trip Generation, published by the Institute of 19 Traffic Engineers, staff has determined that both the current use and [Brucato's] use are low-intensity commercial retail uses. Therefore, this does not constitute a disallowed change in use." ("Commercial retail low-intensity means commercial retail uses that generate less than fifty (50) average daily trips per one thousand (1,000) square feet." Article I, Section 9.5-4(C-14(a)), M.C.C. (emphasis added.)) Handte produced evidence that traffic would increase, especially around the neighborhood. It is the intent of the Code to limit the continuation of nonconforming uses under narrow circumstances. This is consistent with extant law. Nevertheless, the Commission had the prerogative to consider and weigh all of the evidence on this issue and did so. It appears that the Commission and staff used a class of use analysis when comparing the prior uses of the property with Brucato's intended use. It does not appear that the * Commission's (and staff) class of use approach is inconsistent with Subsection 9.5-143(e), where the Code provides for "permitted uses" by enumerated classifications within specified land uses districts, and specifically here regarding uses within Subsection 9.5-242(d) (1). But see Beyer v. Mayor and City ~ Council of Baltimore City, 182 Md. 444, 34 A. 2d 765, 769 (1943) (rejecting class of use analysis where use was abandoned). 20 There is competent substantial evidence to support the Commission's Findings of Fact that Brucato's proposed use of the property is not a change in use. The Commission's Conclusion of Law on this issue is also supported by the record. The next issue is whether there is competent substantial evidence to support the Commission's Findings of Fact that the Guzmans did not discontinue or abandon their use of the property after June 2000. There is no definition of abandonment or discontinuance in the Code. However, whether property or a use of property has been abandoned or discontinued has also been the subject of debate. See,~, 7 Fla. Jur. 2d, Buildinq, Zoninq and Land Controls, Section 206 (1997); 83 Am. Jur. 2d, Zoninq and Planrrinq, Sections 682-690 (1992). As a general rule, "[a]bandonment occurs when the landowner intentionally and voluntarily foregoes further nonconforming use of the property." Lewis v. City of Atlantic Beach, 467 So. 2d 751, 755 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985) (citations omitted). "Abandonment is a question of intent and he who asserts it has the burden of proving it." J.C. Vereen & Sons, Inc. v. City of Miami, 397 So. 2d 979, 981 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981) ('citation omitted). Further, as noted by one court: "Discontinuance or abandonment involves more than mere cessation. It results from the concurrence of two factors: (1) an intent to abandon and (2) some overt act or 21 failure to act which carries the implication that the owner neither claims nor retains any interest in the subject matter of the abandonment." Quinnelly v. City of Prichard, 292 Ala. 178, 291 So. 2d 295, 299 (1974) (citations omitted). Again, the evidence is in dispute. Ultimately, the Commission determined that the Guzmans did not abandon their nonconforming use, based on the Commission's findings that Mr. Guzman "chose to sell the property and go out of business and had no intent to abandon the property or its existing uses." The Commission accepted the evidence which indicated that "the use was either in full operation as a retail/wholesale operation or on the real estate market for sale throughout June 2000." The Commission also accepted the sworn testimony from Growth Management Staff, namely Ms. Conaway, that past practices had allowed for the continuation of nonconforming uses during the sale of a building or structure, where a nonconforming use transpired. When the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the Commission's findings, there is competent substantial evidence to support the Commission's findings that the Guzmans continued their nonconforming, retail/wholesale operation from June 2000 through April 2001. As a result, the Commission's ultimate finding, that the Guzmans did not abandon or discontinue their nonconforming use, is supported by the record. 22 The Commission's Conclusion of Law regarding this issue is also supported by the record. DECISION Based upon the foregoing, the Commission's decision to deny Handte's appeal is AFFIRMED. DONE AND ORDERED this 8th day of October, 2002, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. CHARLES A. STAMPELOS Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 8th day of October, 2002. ENDNOTES 1/ During oral argument, the parties were advised that three documents referred to in the Commission Resolution were missing from the Record on Appeal (Record), page 90; items 1, 4, and 5, i.e., the building application permit, a memorandum of the Monroe County Code Enforcement Inspector Yoli Krauss; and a memorandum from Raj Shanmugam of URS referencing land intensity and change of use. The parties coordinated their efforts to locate these documents. The Commission filed a Motion to Supplement the record with these documents, which were attached to the Motion. Handte objects only to the third item, which he says was not introduced during the hearing. The Commission has not filed a response. Based on the objection and a review of the Record, the Record is supplemented only with the first two documents and not the memorandum from Raj Shanmugam. 23 2/ See Article XIV, Section 9.5-538, M.C.C. for the contents of the Record, which includes "[a]ll applications, memoranda, or data submitted to the [C]omission" and "[e]vidence received or considered by the" Commission. 3/ The Guzmans' use of the building/structure was a nonconforming use because the floor area was (and continues to be) 2,700 square feet, which exceeds the 2,500 square foot maximum floor area for property designated as commercial retail of low and medium intensity. See Article VII, Section 9.5- 242(d) (1), M.C.C. Handte argues that Brucato has changed the use of the property and, as a result, such use is a major conditional use subject to conformity with other, more stringent criteria in the Monroe County Code. 4/ There was some discussion during the Commission hearing regarding whether the affidavit was before the Commission. Handte's counsel had a copy and the staff report of November 2, 2001, reflects consideration of the affidavit. Chair David C. Ritz announced that the Commission had one copy of the affidavit and it would appear that the affidavit was considered by the Commission in reaching its decision. (Record, pages 8 and 119) . 5/ Contrary to Handte's position, the Commission properly applied the current provisions of the Code in this case. See qenerally Dowd v. Monroe County, 557 So. 2d 63 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990), cause dismissed, 564 So. 2d 488 (Fla. 1990). COPIES FURNISHED: Karen K. Cabanas, Esquire Morgan & Hendrick Post Office Box 1117 Key West, Florida 33041 David George Hutchison, Esquire Post Office Box 1262 Key Largo, Florida 33037-1262 Nicholas W. Mulick, Esquire Hershoff, Lupino & Mulick 90130 Old Highway Tavernier, Florida 33070 24 Nicole Petrick, Staff Assistant Monroe County Planning Department 2798 Overseas Highway, Suite 400 Marathon, Florida 33050 .. . NOTICE OF RIGHTS Pursuant to Article XIV, Section 9.5-540(c), M.C.C., this Final Order is "the final administrative action of Monroe County." It is subject to judicial review by common law petition for writ of certiorari to the circuit court in the appropriate judicial circuit. 25 . t r r , I I I , , ~ RESOLUTION NO. P81-0J A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION DENYING THE APPEAL BY EDWIN HANDTE OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT STAFF'S ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMIT # 01-3-2249 FOR THE INTERIOR REMODEL AND ADDITION OF A WALK-IN COOLER OF KEY LARGO PRODUCE LOCATED AT MILE MARKER 103.3 AND FURTHER DESCRIBED AS BLOCK 11, LOTS 13 AND 14, IN LARGO SOUND P ARK, ISLAND OF KEY LARGO, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA. THE LAND USE DESIGNATION IS IMPROVED SUBDIVISION-MASONRY (IS-M) AND THE REAL ESTATE NUMBER IS 00472490.000000. WHEREAS, during a regular meeting held November 28, 2001, the Monroe County Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the request filed by Edwin Handte appealing the issuance of building permit # 01-3-2249 for interior remodeling; and WHEREAS, the proposed development is located on property legally described as Block 11, Lots 13 and 14 in Largo Sound Park, Island of Key Largo, as recorded in Plat Book 3, Page lU;and WHEREAS, the above-described property is located in the Improved Subdivision (IS- M) land use district; and WHEREAS, the structure has 2,700 square feet of floor area and is a lawful non- conforming use due to the size; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission was presented with the following evidence, which by reference is hereby incorporated as a part of the record of said hearing: Page 1 of 4 Initial~ C:\TEMP\handteresolution.doc r J J I I I , s- 1. Building permit application #01-3-2249 for the interior remodel and addition ofa walk-in cooler of a 2280 square-foot commercial building. approved by the Monroe County . ..' . Planning Department on June 26, 2001 and issued on July 27,2001. 2. Staff report prepared by Maureen Lackey, Planner, dated November 2, 2001; and 3. Application for Administrative Appeal to the Planning Commission received September 5,2001; and 4. Memorandum from Monroe County Code Enforcement Inspector Y oli Krauss. 5. Memorandum from Raj Shanmugam ofURS referencing land use intensity and change of use; and 6. Affidavit by Julio and Donna Guzman dated April 20, 2001; and 7. Occupational Licenses for All About Beauty, The Sewing Center and Key Largo Produce; and 8. Copies of sales receipts from All About Beauty dated December 4, 2000 and July 10, 2000; and 9. Sales tax account of All About Beauty; and 10. Letter to Key Largo Produce owner, Bill Brucatto from Growth Management staff; and 11. Superb Waste receipt for All About Beauty; and 12. Certificate of Occupancy for The Sewing Center dated March 7, 1986; and 13. Sworn testimony by the Growth Management Staff; and 14. Sworn testimony by the appellant and on behalf of the appellant; and 15. Sworn testimony by the owner and on behalf of the owner; and 16. Petition with signatures; and 17. Comments by John Wolfe, Planning Commission Counsel; and Page 2 of4 Initial bCf<. '- C:\TEMP\handteresolution.doc .' . . . . . . . . . . . ! i ~ ,. s 18. Affidavits and comments from the public and neighbors; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has made the following Findings of Fact and Conclusion of Law: 1. Bill Brucatto, owner of Key Largo Produce, received permit # 01-3-2249, issued by the Monroe County Building Department on July 27,2001. 2. Based on the application submitted, we find that Edwin Handte, a nearby neighbor in Largo Sound Park, appealed the issuance of the building permit on September 4,2001. 3. Based on the evidence and testimony submitted, we find that the IS-M land use district permits commercial retail of low-and medium intensity and office uses or any combination thereof less than 2,500 square feet of floor area as a major conditional use and that the IS-M sub-district indicator refers strictly to detached dwellings of masonry construction, not commercial buildings. Therefore we find that the building, with 2,700 square feet of floor area, in the IS-M land use district is a lawful non-conforming structure due to its size. 4. Based on the evidence and testimony submitted, we find that the building permit was issued for an interior remodel and walk-in cooler. The interior remodel and walk-in cooler does not constitute a change of footprint to the structure thus there is no enlargement to the lawful non-conforming use and therefore we find that the structure does not have to come into further compliance in the IS-M land use district. 5. Based on testimony and evidence submitted, we find that The Sewing Center, All About Beauty and now Key Largo Produce, all retaiVwholesale establislunents, have held occupational licenses in this building since 1986. Section 9.5-144 of the Lartd District Regulations states that "a nonconforming use devoted to a use permitted in the land use district in which it is located may be continued in accordance with the provisions of this section. We find that an organic produce retail/wholesale establislunent is of the same land use intensity as the Sewing Center and All About Beauty retail/wholesale establishments. Therefore we find that Key Largo Produce as a retail/wholesale establishment can continue in this building as no change of use has occurred. 6. Based on evidence and testimony submitted, we find that the owner was old and or ill and chose to sell the property and go out of business and had no intent to abandon the property or its existing uses. We conclude that testimony confirmed that the property had been listed for sale on the real estate market at the time the owner had the power disconnected. Therefore, we conclude that the non-conforming use was not abandoned per Section 9.5-144 (e) (1) of the Monroe County Code; and Page 3 of4 Initial~ C:\TEMP\handteresolution.doc . . . . ~ 7. Based on sworn testimony and evidence, we find that the Growth Management staff acted reasonably in their interpretation of the Monroe County Code in accordance with past practices and previous applicants in making the determination that the use had not changed and that the use had not been abandoned since the use was either in full operation as a retail/wholesale operation or on the real estate market for sale throughout June 2000; and 8. Based on the sworn testimony and evidence submitted, we find that the applicant acted in reliance on Growth Management staffs understanding that the a wholesale/retaillow- medium intensity use would be permitted to continue at the former location of All About Beauty; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the preceding Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law support it's decision to DENY the appeal of Edwin Handte for the Planning Department approval of building permit # 01-3-2249 for interior remodel and walk-in cooler. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting held on the 28th day of November, 2001. Chair Ritz Vice-Chair Werling Commissioner Coleman Commissioner Hill Commissioner Putney yes yes yes yes absent APPROVBDAS TO FORM AND ~ SUFFICIENCY . I ..' /1. BY ,J " . ;(-y'../[ r Alto ey's Office" 1 PLANNING COMMISSION OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA BY David C. . tz, Chair C (f( L -(; Signed this '_1/ 2 7 / day of .Jece/??i:Yer , 2001. Page 4 of 4 Initial ptl(., C:\TEMP\handteresOlulion.doc I MONROE COUNTY ***LIVE*** PERMIT STATUS REPORT DATE: 12/07/2001 PAGE : 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BASIC INFORMATION : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Permit no Master no CO issued Project RENUMBER Address Owner(s) Owner Addr Permit Type: Usage Class: Input Quan: General Cont: J~11126 Status : OPEN Apply date 08/10/93 Permit issued: 08/10/93 CO number 00472490000000- LARGO SOUND PARK PB3-111 KEY L GUZMAN JULIO & DONNA C 182 BAHAMA AVE KEY LARGO FL 33037 12 C404 Type N/A Appl. Valua: o Calc Valuat: 00955 RONNIE'S FENCING 800 o & FENCE REPA. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL CONDITIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Y 126 LIN FT F SIX FT HIGH CHAIN LINK FENC . LAND CLEAR IS ALLO~Y ~~T~ PERMIT. SECURITY FEN~~()NL'y I NO STORAGE . ~ER~TTE~ NON-DEVELOPMENT. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROPERTY INFORMATION : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section Frontage Township Range Zone clss Fld zone Units Front Left Bedrms Rooms Construe type Subdivision Engineer Architect 14 Lot Impact area Block Lot area Fire dist Fld elev Floors Back Right Sqft roof Sqft footprnt: Sqft livable : 50000000 61 39 o ================================================================================ CONTRACTOR INFORMATION : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Cont: 00955 RONNIE'S FENCING & FENCE REPA. ~l. I \;a/ls/olf '. ".... z MONRO. COUNTY BUILDINGJ'\~PARTMENT BUILDING PERMIT Date Applied: 06/17 I 2002Prepared bYaladroi:9ate Issued: 07/09/2002 Permit No.: 02302708 Permit TypeCOMMERCIAL MISCELLANEOUS . :Propel'ty;Addtess LARGO SOUND . SubdlvlsLonNaPl8.' . KEY LARGO PRODUCE INC 142 N SUNRISE DRIVE TAVERNIERFL 33037 3054515140 CROSSKEY MARINE CANVAS & UPHOL PO BOX 1865 KEY LARGO, .FL 33037 (305)4511302 133 COM 90 $dIledulS.of:Fees FEE DESCRIPTION APP FEE-SLOG PERMITS EDUCATION & INSP FEE INCOME FROM PERMITS FEE AMT 35.00 1.00 229.00 AMT PAID 35.00 1.00 229.00 BALANCE DUE 0.00 0.00 0.00 ------~----~- -------~_._--- ------------- ~*w FEE TOTALS *** 265.00 265.00 0.00 103375 OVERSEAS HWY(ORGANIC PRODUCE) AWNING WI SIGN NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT REQUIRED ************************************************** ** MORE INFORMATION TO PRINT ADDITIONAL PAGE REQ'D ~.........;'~~~."~.'>~~~.'-""~ .............. "." . ",,-. ,\ .-'" PLEASE RE~E REVERSE OF THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU SIGN AS OWNER, CONTRACTOR OR AUTHORIZED AGENT. ~...:~~/, .1// /J .~// .. /;~./ #'U~r BY /{'~~~a:/IL:V~ ,{2~.z6i~;;:t;;::; SlGNATUR OF OWNER, CONTRACTOR OR BUILDING DEPARTMENT./ AUTHORIZED AGENT 01111 ....,~,'" ...r-..."P , .. Permit #: 02302708 06/17/2002 Permit Type: COMMERCIAL MISCELLANEOUS Address: LARGO SOUND PARK PB3-111 KEY LARGO Owner: KEY LARGO PRODUCE INC 103375 OVERSEAS HWY(ORGANIC PRODUCE) AWNING W/ SIGN . NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT REQUIRED ************************************************** 1. APPROVED FOR INSTALLATION OF 1087 SQ. FT. AWNING AS SHOWN ON PLANS. 2. APPROVED FOR 72 SQ. FT. OF SIGNAGE ON AWNING - COpy - "KEY LARGO PRODUCE" "ORGANICS". 3. PAINT OR AFFIX PERMIT NUMBER TO SIGN STRUCTURE OR SIGN VISIBLE FROM GRADE. 4. PLANNING INSPECTION REQUIRED. PERMIT APPROVAL TO INSTALL THREE STEEL FRAME CANVAS COVERED WINDOW AWNINGS WITH SIGNAGE AS PER APPROVED PLANS. NO OTHER WORK THIS PERMIT. INSPECTIONS REQUIRED AS PER PERMIT CARD. DEEMED NON-DEVELOPMENT. D.C.A. EXEMPT ID SUBCONTRACTORS BUSINESS NAME NO SUBCONTRACTORS ASSIGNED PLAN REVIEWS COMPLETED STATE/COUNTY CERT # PLAN EXAM ABO 06/21/2002 mallettw P ** NO NOTES FOR THIS REVIEW ** 06/21/2002 buzzells P ** NO NOTES FOR THIS REVIEW ** 06/24/2002 ravellaj A ** NO NOTES FOR THIS REVIEW ** INSPECTIONS REQUIRED .BL99 - FINAL BUILDING PLAN - PLANNER FINAL MONROE COUNTY ***LIVE*** Item 1 of 1 BUILDING PERMIT RECEIPT OPERATOR: aladrob COpy # 2 Sec:14 Twp:61 Rng:39 Sub: Blk: Lot:00472490000000 DATE ISSUED.......: 07/09/2002 RECEIPT #.........: 37127 REFERENCE ID # ...: 02302708 SITE ADDRESS ...... LT13&14 BK11 LARGO SOUND P SUBDIVISION. .....: CITy............. : IMPACT AREA ......: OWNER.. ..........: KEY LARGO PRODUCE INC ADDRESS ..........: 142 N SUNRISE DRIVE CITY/STATE/ZIP .... TAVERNIER, FL 33037 RECEIVED FROM ..... CROSS KEY MARINE CONTRACTOR. ......: CULLIN,ROBERT A. LIC # 00133 COMPANY ...... ....: CROSSKEY MARINE CANVAS & UPHOL ADDRESS ..........: PO BOX 1865 CITY/STATE/ZIP ...: KEY LARGO, FL 33037 TELEPHONE ......... (305) 4511302 FEE ID UNIT QUANTITY AMOUNT PD-TO-DT THIS REC NEW BAL ---------- ------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- B- 01 APED FLAT RATE 1. 00 1. 00 1. 00 0.00 0.00 B- 0 EDUC FLAT RATE 1. 00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 B- 1B APPL FLAT RATE 1. 00 35.00 35.00 0.00 0.00 B-27A SIGN SQUARE FEET 72.00 9.00 0.00 9.00 0.00 B-23 AWNIN SQUARE FEET 1,087.00 220.00 0.00 220.00 0.00 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- TOTAL PERMIT : 265.00 36.00 229.00 0.00 *NOTE*: THIS RECEIPT HAS FEE CREDITS TOTALING: 36.00 METHOD OF PAYMENT AMOUNT NUMBER CHECK 229.00 045721 TIB BANK ------------ ------------ TOTAL RECEIPT 229.00 t' APPLICATION FOIt BUILDING PERMIT MONROE COUNTY GROWI'H MANAGEMENT DIVISION Note: ALL OWNER BUILDERS MUST APPLY IN PERSON (FS. 489.103(7)) Date 20_ P.rmiU () ~ ~(')~ ?Or: Application Dale: .In.,.. lat Z8 02 Pl'Op'rlyOwner".Name: '~.-Ikr._.Q -4<1::,:) !J:lr~\)('N~t(l(' ~IPhoM: 451.5140 Add,..: 1_75 Ov..l'!U!Jlalhr,y. < PropmyD'llCdpltolltK.y ~ I..~o Lot 13 &: I~k 11 RB. 00472480-QB008 Subdivl.1on Laqro Sound Patk MM 193 51..- US I Land u.. DlttrJct See. ~ Twn...IIL Rp. ___ Flood Zone Panel, Pfop....ConaIIucIlon: Three steel frome,coOyas covered window awnings 'fifth Slgnoge. , - - Roc'd by: ChICk .pJ!Jclttk bet, . for Roof.... P-ltI I'j!W A 9 AiIlA JUi-ROOF 0 SqUIN F.i:J. -lei R SlIq 1~7 ~ nWs.tt~.e:; Total C_ Conlacton Name: Cross K~y Canvas AddnlSS: PO Box 1865, Key largo Fl. 33037 Not Aollcable Ri-COVSR 0 . 90ft0..oo Phone: CX>>GVIIlt , 305.451-1302 CArtificcn "SP 1137 BondlD. Compan)' Name: Address: Arehtl.dlEnlln.ltJ". Name Wavne M. Grierson I ~~ Addl'flll: 91971 Overseas Hwv. TavemlerFla. 33070 Phone: Phone: 305--852-4245 MortPl' UDder'. Name: Add.,.: Phone: SubcontrKton: '" Sign: Eleclrlcal Mechanical ,- Computer' License If ~ Job Colt lDN cc;:mmATI' ~~~ ID. C,s, lOt _ C,5I ,ID. '. . :f~:!, " ":,":;'~$ti Septic Tank - Halth DepL Permit' , 1, . Ihor, U:daaDJication~me.10betrue.ndC.'Orrect. ~I'OYisIonIOflaw.at orduuancet IHt wli!lhW jdii r . Tho ant 01. It not reJUD1C 10 ve authority Po'v .... or allaws Nlulallna col\lt=~rt~o'C.'Onlttuc:tiO . "Notlce: In addltfon to thelllqWNDUlllflllaitJsJu__ there ;rmbe additional roltrictJo,,",PD~te.thJ..ubperty that II1IY be fol.Uld in the public roeordl of thil CQantY~.~iaaftJOAaI ill roquiNd fiC>>JjfOthilr'8IJ~~ Iudi.. waterl1llnapment distticts, state apnein or fedofalaaeadei.. Xf~~l~ . Yp ~~a ~ N~~ OF COMM:NCEMENT MAV m~JN;OU~A lWICE FOR RECOROINGY UOf :OMMENCE B IllANCING.C~lTWlTHYOU DE OR A ~VeEFORE 3UJU I.... Cornrnls1lon # CC941016 PERMrr COST RECEIPT' DATE FIRS MARSHAL RAD/RIiC 8UILDINC .2lt,~-. 00 ~ (0 -ot4--oc ROOFING ELECfRlCAL Ale, MECHANICAL PLUMBINC TOrAL PERMIT FBI! APP. FEE CREDIT ( -~. J ... .;;#. ~ ~-/;J~C - PERMIT FRS DUE J.. 2. '1 // IMPAC'rJU FORDEPAItTMENT USE ONLY ~ .~~ 1>-2f~ BUILDING OFFICIAL. ASS1' BUILDING OFFICIAL APPROVED FOR lSSUANCE OF PERMIT 1&CIIJlT, ~ DATI OEVILOPMINT ~No.J.DBVELOPMENT BPAPP3/97LF )-,J.\.r.~ MONROE COUNTY ***LIVE*** Item 1 of 1 BUILDING PERMIT RECEIPT OPERATOR: aladrob COpy # 2 Sec:14 Twp:61 Rng:39 Sub: Blk: Lot:00472490000000 DATE "ISSUED.......: 06/17/2002 RECEIPT #... ......: 36398 REFERENCE ID # ...: 02302708 SITE ADDRESS ...... LT13&14 BKll LARGO SOUND P SUBDIVISION ......: CITy............. : IMPACT AREA ......: OWNER ....... .....: KEY LARGO PRODUCE INC ADDRESS ..........: 142 N SUNRISE DRIVE CITY/STATE/ZIP .... TAVERNIER, FL 33037 RECEIVED FROM..... CROSS KEY MARINE CONTRACTOR.... ...: CULLIN,ROBERT A. LIC # 00133 COMPANy..........: CROSSKEY MARINE CANVAS & UPHOL ADDRESS....... ...: PO BOX 1865 CITY/STATE/ZIP ...: KEY LARGO, FL 33037 TELEPHONE ......... (305) 4511302 FEE ID UNIT QUANTITY ---------- ------------- ---------- B- 0 EDUC FLAT RATE 1. 00 B- 01 APED FLAT RATE 1. 00 B- IB APPL FLAT RATE 1. 00 AMOUNT PD-TO-DT THIS REC NEW BAL ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 1. 00 0.00 0.00 1. 00 1. 00 0.00 1. 00 0.00 35.00 0.00 35.00 0.00 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 37.00 0.00 36.00 1. 00 TOTAL PERMIT : METHOD OF PAYMENT AMOUNT NUMBER CHECK 36.00 045522 TIB BANK ------------ ------------ TOTAL RECEIPT 36.00 c- , /:/'-' /f -"". -,-- I .. ''1//1/1/1 /~/~~ c:;~~~c?/~ / c;J ;l ~#/C t:?/ 7;4// C/( C/lk/~// $~~8^ ....~'~" ~ / j&tlt//l tI,/V'?t?~2J~L U5~j) ~fr/~ 1/lA/1 c a ,6/C/? ~ ,W 7tJ ?o~o Z>t4'~~~ j)r///fl/5'///C rti/L:- CP~ ~~/~ ! I , ^ ."~'-....... - - ""'~;;. I ~j-" y /l/J([l/tl1 t/Yl ji/ ;1111{L (;t/11J / t-o~j)/,/t/C YW41/~-;;;L Ltl/lj)/;tl? ~;J(f FI i ! J ' i , " ;. ..-.,......_~ 1'tlr' rl~ ~J VV 11VD~ 11~1lJ; J 8(c/?J// / ~//t/c iC?/lDI/VC t/ t/# .?c4p~c //7/ f/u-~rz/r - 6ffc:?/'l/ ~~~/ Fl'rr ..'r ~ ," "m 'r'ru i'ijr''f . . .. , . . " .-, I) / /I ?~~1 j/~fl//~V /;?j?,A- ~r/O~ // r/?rJ /l/ r . r ' , . t i :tt~i;l ri-": ... i ': '~~ II ,i"t' ('r I ~, M t ~ ....., p/VrC///P5 JJu // KSI?? T//'#/ t?/y/,L) ou/57~~ C/f',4/?5 ~ /p;Jl/h/TIf->> 137 /t/t/,fA/;/f/ t: JJd/%ft7/W/f C7#/67 ZJ6 n~ /P /l/4J cJ~c-~#~/- -------- ~ l" ~ ~ ~ ~ "" ~~ \ ~ K ~ ~ "- ~ ~~J ~ ~ 5t?/ Tff -, r ~.... -'.~,\~J:~- , )lIFe; v07