TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
SUBJECT: Ordinance 2019-08, Rezone of ± 207.5 acres from ‘Commercial Recreation’ to ‘Planned Community Development.’ (QUASI-JUDICIAL)
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Recommended Action
Approve and continue Ordinance 2019-08 for second reading to a date to be determined.
Recommended action for second reading: Approve Ordinance 2019-08.
General Information
Mark Gerenger, Managing Partner, on behalf of Sabal Trace Development Partners, LLC, property owner, formally submitted to the City of North Port four petitions for a ± 207.5 acre property including a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Rezone, Text Amendment, and Development Master Plan. The subject property is located between North Port Boulevard and Sumter Boulevard, north of Greenwood Avenue and south of Appomattox Drive. This property was formerly the Sabal Trace golf course, which ceased operations in 2015. The property is bordered on the north, east, and west by single-family zoning, with densities varying on the east (4 units per acre) and west (10 units per acre). On the south, east, and west sides the property is bordered by residential multifamily zoning, with condominiums and townhomes on either side. On the southern edge, the property has direct access along Greenwood Avenue and fronts the Cocoplum waterway.
The applicant also proposes to rezone the subject property to implement the Future Land Use of ‘Activity Center.’ The property is currently zoned as ‘Commercial Recreation (ComRec).’ The applicant is proposing a rezone to the City of North Port designation of ‘Planned Community Development (PCD).’ The rezone proposal is implemented through Ordinance No. 2019-08.
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved Ordinance 2019-08 as to form and correctness.
The petition was advertised in a newspaper of general circulation within the City of North Port on April 3, 2019, pursuant to the provisions of Section 166.041(3) (a), Florida Statutes and Section 7.01(b) of the Charter of the City of North Port, and Chapter 1 Article II, Section 1-12 of the City’s Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) as amended. Notices of the public hearings were sent to all property owners within a 1,320 feet buffer of the subject property.
The Planning & Zoning Advisory Board heard this item at their regularly scheduled meeting on April 18, 2019. Questions were asked regarding the following items:
• The ratio of single-family detached homes to paired villas.
o Answer: Uncertain at this time, would likely be a 60/40 split in either direction.
• The intended height of single-family structures.
o Answer: There may be two-story homes, likely 25-30 feet. Overlook from adjacent properties shouldn’t be too bad considering the 70 foot buffer. Villas will not be two story.
• The number of units intended for the property.
o Answer: It could be less than 500, but could not be more without a Comprehensive Plan Amendment.
• The finality of the project development standards and plan being presented.
o Answer: The property development regulations, such as setbacks, buffers, lot size, and density are being set into the Comprehensive Plan and Unified Land Development Code. These cannot be changed without amendments to those documents. The DMP is valid for 2 years.
• Reclaimed water on the site.
o Answer: The existing storage tank will be replaced with a new reclaimed lake.
• Concerns about increased traffic.
o Answer: There are improvements to the transportation system required as part of the approval of the process. The bridge will help with this.
o The bridge is desired by the developer. They are willing to design and construct, and are seeking through a separate application for a Development Agreement to discuss impact fee credits for the work.
o Staff supports the bridge as the preferred option for traffic improvement.
• The buffer being done prior to main construction of the site.
o Answer: The applicant committed that they would be willing to construct the buffer for each phase before beginning other site work but would not want to construct the entire buffer up front to avoid disturbing portions of the site unnecessarily.
o Staff has added a condition of approval to reflect this commitment.
• The types of trees that would be in the buffer.
o Answer: Could be black olives or oaks, would be determined at a later phase.
• The types of commercial uses in the mixed-use area; how uses were proposed.
o Answer: No end users are currently under contract, the most promising appears to be an Assisted Living Facility. Other uses evaluated include medical/office uses. Uses were proposed by the applicant and refined by staff.
• Arsenic remediation on the site.
o Answer: The issue has been known since the sale of the property. Required FDEP permits will be in place prior to approval of infrastructure plan. The City requested that the applicant start the process earlier to gauge status of the site.
• Lift stations having backup power.
o Answer: A lift station will be provided and must have an emergency generator or pump.
• Emergency access to the site.
o Answer: There are three points of access to the site. Two are full-access, the third is only for emergency purposes. It takes over the old route to the maintenance shed and proposes no improvements at the entrance other than a gate to ensure it is not traversed by anyone other than emergency personnel.
The Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of Ordinance 2019-08 to the City Commission.
There have been some minimal modifications to the staff report between PZAB and first reading after discussion with the City Attorney. These modifications are only to Section VIII. - Conditions and Safeguards, and to Section IX. - Recommended Action.
It is important to note that the staff report for the Central Parc development is combined to include all associated petitions (CPAL-18-060, REZ-18-070, TXT-18-179, DMP-18-071). The staff report is the same on all files.
Added for second reading
The City Commission heard this item at a special meeting on May 2, 2019.
A motion was made by Commissioner Carusone, seconded by Commissioner Luke, to approve and continue Ordinance No. 2019-08 for second reading to a date to be determined and to carry staff's recommendations to fix the scrivener's errors and title.
The motion passed unanimously. The scrivener’s errors have been corrected.
Strategic Plan
Stimulate diverse economic development opportunities and advocate for the creation of additional commerce parks.
Develop and implement policies that promote neighborhood revitalization and redevelopment.
Financial Impact
N/A
Procurement
N/A
Attachments: 1. Ordinance 2019-08 for Second Reading
2. Ordinance 2019-08
3. Central Parc Powerpoint
4. PZAB Draft Minutes
5. Staff Report, Central Parc at North Port
Prepared by: Nicole Galehouse, AICP, Planning Division Manager
Department Director: Frank Miles, MPA, Director, Neighborhood Development Services