Tue, 2 Jul 2002 Billy Buzzett, VP-Strategic Development, St Joe Company, appeared before the Franklin County Board of Commissioners today to address issues raised in the Florida State Department of Community Affairs' (DCA's) Opinions, Recommendations and Comments (ORC) Report. Attached is a copy of the talking-paper used by Mr. Buzzett. It should be noted that Concern 8 and the associated Solution in the attachment identify a boat launch as part of the development, despite a previous unanimous decision by the Board of County Commissioners that no marina or associated functions would be approved for the development. Mr. Buzzett stated that St Joe/Arvida has much more detailed responses to the Orc Report than are contained in the attachment. He further stated he would make the detailed responses available to the commissioners later in the day. Also speaking to the commissioners was a representative of DCA, who explained his agency's concerns with the development as proposed (I previously emailed to you a copy of the Orc Report). At the end of the presentations, Mr. Buzzett requested that the commissioners schedule a July 16 public hearing for approval of the requested land use change for the property from Agricultural to Mixed Use Residential. In addition, Mr. Buzzett requested that the commissioners schedule an August 6 public hearing for approval of their Planned Urban Development (PUD) which will set forth the zoning and other specifics of the development. Both Mr. Buzzett and the DCA representative stated that they would work to resolve the DCA concerns by the July 16th date. Commissioner Sanders stated her concerns that two weeks was not sufficient time to properly address the issues contained in the Orc Report. Despite objections from Commissioner Cheryl Sanders, one of the commissioners, reading from a piece of paper reportedly given to the commissioner by a St Joe/Arvida representative just prior to the meeting, made a motion to schedule the requested public hearings on the dates requested. The motion was approved by the Board in a four to one vote, with Commissioner Sanders voting to oppose the motion. Below are the specifics of the public hearings: -SummerCamp land-use change approval, 5:00 p.m., July 16, 2002, courtroom, 3rd floor, Courthouse, Apalachicola -SummerCamp PUD approval, 10:15 a.m., August 6, 1st floor, Courthouse, Apalachicola APTA's current official position with regard to the SummerCamp development is that as an organization we are not opposing the development but we are opposed to the inclusion of a marina in the development. This position was established by the APTA Board of Directors in April 2002. By this email I am requesting that the APTA Development Monitoring Committee review the latest status of the SummerCamp development and, at our July 13 meeting, provide the members and Board with any recommended change(s) to our current position and specifically provide the members and Board with a recommended position on the inclusion of a boat-launch in the development. SummerCamp Comprehensive Plan Amendment Issues Response To DCA Concerns Concern 1 The amount of residential and non-residential development is unclear. Solution: Limit residential development to 499 single-family units, and non-residential development to 25,000 (heated/cooled) gross square feet of commercial and active recreation development, sixty hotel rooms, and ancillary non-residential development. Delete reference to allowing 1 residential per gross acre. Concern 2 Many of the potentially allowable non-residential land uses are not environmentally suitable for the area. Solution: Limit non-residential uses to passive and active recreation, restaurant, lounges, retail sales, personal and professional services, hotels, motels, and community facilities and services (excluding water and sewer treatment plants). Concern 3 There is no commitment to serve SummerCamp by a central wastewater treatment plant. Solution: Commit that all development in SummerCamp shall be served by central potable water and a central wastewater treatment plant, which will be located off-site on other lands owned by the developer or an affiliate and as determined by the jurisdictional agencies. Concern 4 The amendment does not adequately protect wetlands and the 50-foot landward buffer adjacent to waterbodies and wetlands. Solution: Commit to establish conservation easements in conjunction with review of wetland impacts by permitting agencies to protect wetlands and the 50-foot landward buffer adjacent to waterbodies and wetlands, while allowing for roads, utilities, and recreational crossings. Concern 5 The SummerCamp site is located within the Coastal High Hazard Area. Solution: SummerCamp is not in the Coastal High Hazard Area for Franklin County pursuant to State Rule 9J-5.003(I 7), F.A.C. which defines the Coastal High Hazard Area as the Category I Hurricane Evacuation Zone as delineated in the Apalachee Bay Region Hurricane Evacuation Study Technical Data Report For Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla, and Jefferson Counties, Florida (March 1997) (Plate 3-2). In the future, work with the County to ensure the County's Coastal High Hazard Map and related plan policies are revised and updated to be consistent with the aforementioned study; however, the plan revisions will not prevent the County from choosing to evacuate any areas not delineated in the Category I Hurricane Evacuation Zone. Prepared a DRI level hurricane evacuation analysis, which demonstrated no regional impact. Commit to a project specific hurricane preparedness and evacuation plan based on the provisions of Rule 9J-2.0256(5)(b), F.A.C. Concern 6 There is no stormwater study to address water quality issues from converting agricultural lands for development. Solution: Conduct a stormwater study; commit to use of native vegetation and The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program, as recommended by the Department of Environmental Protection. Concern 7 It is unclear whether the development site is environmentally suitable, given its location adjacent to the Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve. Solution: Additional data and analysis will be developed to demonstrate the site is suitable for this low-density residential resort and to determine any additional land use controls that may be necessary to address concerns regarding the Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve. Concern 8 It is unclear how shoreline development, such as docks and piers, will be constructed to avoid impacts to the Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve. Solution: Shoreline development shall be limited to one community dock and boat-launch area provided they would not be located in an area with seagrass be docks will be restricted in conjunction with regulatory review and approval of the community dock. Community piers shall be permitted in accordance with all applicable regulations. Concern 9 Provide justifications for the realignment of U.S. 98 and the reconfiguration of the U.S. 98/U.S. 319 intersection and amend Traffic Circulation Map No. 3. Solution: Provide additional data and analysis, including prior communications from the County urging intersection realignment, will be provided to support the need for the realignment based on safety and other public benefits. Given its scale, Traffic Circulation Map No. 3 need not be amended to address the relocation and realignment. Concern 10 Adequate information has not been submitted to demonstrate a need for additional residential development capacity on the County's Future Land Use Map. Solution: Provide a vacant lands analysis, which supplements the previously provided second-home analysis and justifies the need for additional residential development in the county for a resort community, which will primarily consist of seasonal residents. Concern 11 Demonstrate consistency of the amendment with the scenic road designation of U.S. 98. Solution: Provide additional data and analysis, which will show that SummerCamp's site plan and low residential density are consistent with the scenic road designation. |
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