READY FOR REFERENDUM ……READY TO RUMBLE…..
The CIC will have a general meeting this coming Mon. 2/2/09…and a part of their meeting will be to further “attack” Commissioner Dodd ala the Cristie Furth MPSC statements of untruths…claiming he is for 4 stories…overlay districts and less green space…WRONG!…Try “planned development”….as stated before…during and after he was elected…
FROM THE CIC LETTER….
‘A topic that the CIC organization must watchdog? is a discussion among certain members of the dais to raise the height limit back up to four stories (currently 3 stories) along our beach front in Old Town. The current height limit situation and what has been discussed will be thoroughly reviewed as well as possible action to be taken by the CIC at this meeting so, please plan to attend and let your thoughts be known.’
BC….From The Town Website...http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=14431&sid=9
PAY ATTENTION TO…Sec. 7.1….(a)(b)(c)…./PARAGRAPH 8 & 9….
ARTICLE VII. PLANNING AND ZONING
Sec. 7.1. Maximum height for buildings established; referendum vote required for increases in zoned residential-district height limits.
(1) No building within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Town, as they existed on March 20, 2006, shall have more than four (4) stories above grade, and the maximum height of buildings within the Town that have four (4) stories above grade shall be forty-four (44) feet above grade, as defined in the Florida Building Code, or above a horizontal plane eighteen inches above the crown of the roadway at the highest point adjoining the property on which the building is located, whichever of those two levels is higher. The maximum height for all other buildings within the Town shall be thirty-three (33) feet
(a) Above grade, as defined in the Florida Building Code, or
(b) Above a horizontal plane eighteen inches above the crown if the roadway at the highest point adjoining the property on which the building is located, or
(c) Above the minimum elevation for a habitable, finished floor permitted under applicable federal or Florida state regulations,
Whichever of those three levels is highest. Height shall be measured from the applicable base level specified above to the highest point on a flat roof, or to the median elevation between the peak of a sloped roof and the lowest edge of the sloped roof. In accordance with the Florida Building Code, bulkheads and penthouses used solely to enclose stairways, tanks, elevator machinery or shafts or ventilation or air conditioning apparatus shall not be included in determining building height; all other roofs structures, including parapet walls, shall not exceed four feet in height above the maximum allowed building height.
(2) In any building within the Town that has more than three (3) stories above grade, the first story shall be at grade level and shall be used for parking, either with or without toll collection booths. The first story may also be used for storage, refuse, security, registration, maintenance, and/or access, either with or without a lobby, provided that at least one-half ( 1/2) of the square footage of the first story is used for parking. Only within districts of the Town zoned for business (“B”) use, the first story of buildings having more than three (3) stories above grade may also be devoted to non-residential commercial uses, provided that dedicated parking required by Town ordinance or code for the proposed buildings is provided off-street at a location on or adjacent to the property on which the buildings are situate, and designed so as to enable the parked vehicles to egress the parking space without having to back out into traffic. In any building within the Town that has more than three (3) stories above grade, the first story shall be restricted to the above enumerated uses, and may be used for no other purpose whatsoever. For the purposes of this provision of the Charter, a story is at grade level if its floor is at or below grade and its ceiling is above grade; a story that is at grade level is also above grade. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed so as to prohibit any building within the Town that has more than three (3) stories above grade from also having one (1) or more subterranean stories below grade, provided, however, that in any building within the Town that has more than three (3) stories above grade, all subterranean stories shall be subject to the same restrictions on use as are established in this paragraph for the first story.
(3) Buildings which exceed thirty three (33) feet above grade, and which exceed thirty three (33) feet above the horizontal plane eighteen inches above the crown of the roadway at the highest point adjoining the property on which the building is located, but which are nevertheless allowed under subparagraph (1)(c) of this Section, and which do not include a non-habitable first floor with ample parking as required by Town ordinance or code, in accordance with the number and type of units in those buildings, must have dedicated off-street parking at a location on or adjacent to the property on which the buildings are situate. Parking for buildings in this category must be designed so as to enable the parked vehicles to egress the parking space without having to back out into traffic.
(4) All existing buildings within the Town that were legally in compliance with existing height and use restrictions on March 20, 2006, or were grandfathered on that date, but that either exceed the maximum building height limit established in paragraph (1), above, of this section of the Charter, or that fail to comply, where applicable, with the restrictions on use established in paragraph (2), above, of this section of the Charter, (hereinafter referred to as “Non-conforming Buildings”) shall be considered legal, but non-conforming.
(5) Notwithstanding the maximum building height limit established in paragraph (1), above, of this section of the Charter, an existing non-conforming building may be replaced by a new nonconforming building when, and only when:
(a) The existing non-conforming building has:
(i) Been destroyed by fire, natural disaster, or other act of God; and
(ii) The property owner has submitted and received Town approval of a site plan depicting the replacement building; and
(iii) Construction of the replacement building is commenced within twelve (12) months of the date of destruction; or
(b) The existing non-conforming building is:
(i) Demolished as part of a Town approved redevelopment of the property; and
(ii) Prior to demolition, the property owner has submitted and received Town approval of a site plan depicting the replacement building; and
(iii) Construction of the replacement building is commenced within six (6) months of the date of site plan approval.
(c) The Town Commission may grant one (1) or more six (6) month extensions to the time periods for commencement of construction established in paragraphs (5)(a)(iii) and (5)(b)(iii), above, provided a written request for extension is filed with the Town Clerk prior to (in the case of a first request for extension) the expiration of the initial applicable time period for commencement of construction or prior to (in the case of a subsequent request for extension) the expiration of the most recent extension of the applicable time period for commencement of construction.
(d) All new non-conforming buildings constructed pursuant to the provisions of either paragraph (5)(a) or (5)(b), above, shall comply, where applicable, with the restrictions on use established in paragraph (2), above, and the provisions for parking availability established in paragraph (3), above, of this section of the Charter.
(e) The maximum allowable height of any new non-conforming building constructed pursuant to the provisions of either paragraph (5)(a) or (5)(b), above, shall not exceed the original height of the non-conforming building which it replaces, plus any additional height which (because of the requirements of state or federal law, or because of the restrictions on use established in paragraph (2), above, of this section of the charter) may be necessary to obtain the same number of habitable stories as was contained in the original non-conforming building. Nothing in this section of the Charter shall be construed to prevent a new non-conforming building from being constructed to a lesser height or from containing fewer habitable stories than that of the original non-conforming building which it replaces. For the purposes of this provision of the Charter, the term “habitable story” means any story or part thereof that is used as a home or place of abode, either permanent or temporary, by one (1) or more persons.
(f) The maximum allowable square footage of any new nonconforming building constructed pursuant to the provisions of either paragraph (5)(a) or (5)(b), above, shall not exceed the original square footage of the non-conforming building which it replaces, plus any additional square footage which (because of the requirements of state or federal law, or because of the restrictions on use established in paragraph (2), above, of this section of the Charter) may be necessary to obtain the same number of habitable square feet as was contained in the original non-conforming building. Nothing in this section of the Charter shall be construed to prevent a new nonconforming building from being constructed either with less total square footage or with less habitable square footage than that of the original non-conforming building which it replaces. For the purposes of this section of the Charter, the term “habitable square footage” means the square footage of that portion of a building that is used as a home or place of abode, either permanent or temporary, by one (1) or more persons.
(6) The maximum building height limits, the restrictions on use and the maximum allowable square footage, and the provisions governing parking established in paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (5), above, of this section of the Charter, shall be applicable to all real property located within the boundaries of the Town as the boundaries exist on March 20, 2006.
(7) Every resident of the Town shall have the standing to enforce the maximum building height limits and the maximum allowable square footage established in paragraphs (1), (2) and (5), above, of this section of the Charter, by means of a suit in equity seeking either mandamus; prohibition; or any combination thereof, but nothing in this provision of the Charter shall he construed to either create a cause of action at law for money damages, or to authorize a court of equity to award money damages as an incident to equitable relief, or to authorize an award of attorney’s fees to the prevailing party or to any other party.
(8) The maximum building height limit established in paragraph (1), above, of this section of the Charter, supersedes any existing zoning ordinance or land development regulation to the extent that said zoning ordinance or land development regulation establishes anywhere within the Town a maximum building height limit greater than that established in paragraph (1), above, of this section of the Charter, but nothing in this section of the Charter shall be construed to supersede, modify or repeal any existing zoning ordinance or land development regulation that establishes anywhere within the Town a maximum building height limit lower than that established in paragraph (1), above, of this section of the Charter.
(9) The Town Commission may not increase, by ordinance or by variance, the maximum building height limits established in paragraphs (1) and (5), above, of this section of the Charter, nor may the Town Commission modify, amend or repeal, by ordinance or by variance, the restrictions on use established in paragraph (2), above, or the provisions for parking availability established in paragraphs (2), (3) or (5), above, of this section of the Charter, nor may the Town Commission increase, by ordinance or by variance, the maximum allowable square footage established in paragraph (5), above, of this section of the Charter. The maximum height limits established for residential zoning districts including, but not limited to, R-5, RS-4, RS-5, RD-10, RM-15, RM-16, RM-25 and PUD in the Town’s land development code as of March 20, 2006, may be increased, or such districts re-zoned for any other use whatsoever, only by a referendum vote of the registered voters of the Town in the manner established in Article IV, Section 4.7 [50] of this Charter for the repeal or amendment of initiated ordinances. The Town may not create new categories of zoning without approval of such categories by a similar referendum vote; and all provisions of such new categories of zoning must be submitted to the voters for approval.
(10) The maximum building height limits established in paragraphs (1) and (5), above, of this section of the Charter, may be increased only by an amendment to or by repeal of this section of the Charter. The restrictions on use established in paragraph (2), above, and the provisions governing parking availability established in paragraphs (2), (3) and (5), above, of this section of the Charter, may be modified, amended or repealed only by an amendment to or by repeal of this section of the Charter. The maximum allowable square footage established in paragraph (5), above, of this provision of the Charter, may be increased only by an amendment to, or by repeal of this section of the Charter. Except as expressly provided below, this section of the Charter may be amended or repealed only by means of a majority vote of the registered voters of the Town at a referendum election held either on the same day as a regularly scheduled November general election or on the same day as a regularly scheduled March municipal general election. The amendment or repeal of this section of the Charter at a special election held on a day other than a regularly scheduled November general election or on a day other than a regularly scheduled March municipal general election is expressly prohibited, except that a special election or special election by mail may be held to correct, to the minimum practicable extent, a provision adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to violate the State or Federal Constitution or any valid state or federal law, but only after such adjudication is affirmed on appeal. Amendments approved at a special election may include no elements not directly related to such court adjudication.
(11) These provisions of the Charter shall be effective immediately upon adoption by a majority of the registered voters of the Town voting in a referendum to amend the Charter so as to include these provisions. Upon adoption, the maximum building height limits, the restrictions on use, the maximum allowable square footage and the provisions governing parking availability established in paragraphs (1), (2, (3) and (5), above, of this section of the Charter, shall immediately apply to all real property located within the boundaries of the entire Town. Upon adoption of these provisions, and pending amendment of any portion or portions of the Town’s Code of Ordinances inconsistent with this section of the Charter, the more stringent provisions of this section shall apply.
The Futures says Bert J Harris is coming in a few weeks….HOLY SMOKES!….http://www.florida-eminent-domain.com/private-property-act.html
The confusion over the Charter…the Code…the grade…the 100 year flood plain…the coastal construction control line…http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/tech-rpt.htm
Depending on who is reading it…misreading it…and not taking the time to go to those who drew it up for the definitive answers…
This writer’s opinion…the only thing we can all agree on….. the Commission needs to direct the Manager to immediately place an ad in the FLOCites Datagram and other “clearinghouses” for a first rate Development Director….ASAP…
more to come……
Tags: heights, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Scoops
