Planning, Zoning and Engineering Department 4970 City Hall Boulevard North Port, Florida (941)

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1 City of North Port Planning, Zoning and Engineering Department 4970 City Hall Boulevard North Port, Florida (941) Fax: (941) TO: THRU: FROM: Honorable Chair and City Commission Terry Lewis, Interim City Manager Patrick S. Collins, Planning, Zoning and Engineering Director SUBJECT: Planning, Zoning & Engineering Monthly Report DATE: December 6, 2010 Programs/Issues Updates Environmental/Grants Sumter Blvd. Miscellaneous Improvements Project: Equal Employment Opportunity-Local Agency Program reporting Continued to receive, process and forward payroll, On-the-Job Training (OJT) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) reports to FDOT. Resolved a payroll question regarding an Itran Partners employee who was listed as Supervision on the company s payroll report. Employee is a Foreman who is not subject to Davis-Bacon Law. Had he been a working foreman (i.e., an employee who spends much of his time working on the job in addition to supervising), a craft wage rate would have had to be determined for him. Green Team Continued to review submitted documentation for each task to ensure that the reviewer is referred to task-specific information. Some documentation is being enhanced and improved prior to submittal of the City s Florida Green Local Government certification application, which is anticipated before the end of December. The estimated point total for the City s Florida Green Local Government certification submittal will be at least 108, with the addition of a completed task regarding Mixed Use zoning in the City. Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program (GESRP): As of Wednesday, Nov. 24, North Port energy efficiency home improvement projects worth a total of $119, had been completed. A total of $30, in home improvement rebates had been processed as of the same date. GESRP: As of Nov. 24, 93 North Port homeowners had been approved for participation in the GESRP program, and an additional 49 applications were pending.

2 Strategic Action Plan (SAP): Co-wrote, with consultant Kathi Ruvarac, a newsletter article on the current status of the City s Strategic Energy Efficiency, Conservation & Environmental Responsibility Action Plan. SAP: Meet with consultant Kathi Ruvarac, Sarah Blanchard of SCAT, Michele Norton, and Lauren Lane and Christine Diaz of FDOT s Commuter Services Division to discuss the status of various SCAT projects, including installation of 19 bus shelters, the beginning of express bus service in North Port next year (complete with Wifi-equipped new buses) and the potential for a No Impact Day to showcase SCAT services and commuter services. Ms. Lane and Ms. Diaz will prepare a proposal for the event and present it to the City. SAP: Met with Terri Rodriguez, Lauren Lane and Christine Diaz regarding alternative commuting choices for City employees. Ms. Lane and Ms. Diaz would like to address the Management Team concerning these choices, including teleworking (working from home). SAP: Met with Scott Tombaugh, a solar energy contractor, and the City s consultant to discuss possible projects, including a solar energy demonstration project at City Hall. SAP: The Utilities Dept. has supplied additional requested data for the consultant s greenhouse gas calculations. However, FP&L has not supplied requested data. Coastal Partnership Initiative Grant Program Application As required by the grant program, contacted DEP, SWFWMD, the Army Corps of Engineers and Building and PZE for preliminary consultations regarding permitting for Phase I of the Canal & Creek System Master Plan implementation. In one way or another, all of the agencies said formal permits will probably not be required, although the City may want to request letters of exemption. Included this information in the grant application. Completed the application and provided it to Parks & Recreation, who submitted it one day in advance of the deadline. Florida Recreation Development Assistance Grant Received instructions from the DEP for modifying the budget for the Creek trail project so the items shown add up to $400,000, rather than the total cost of the project. Modified the budget pages and sent them to Parks & Recreation for forwarding. SWFWMD Cooperative Funding Grant Application As requested by Elizabeth Wong, edited her rough draft of the application and submitted it to Pam Ridolfi, who pasted it into the online application form. Ms. Ridolfi will also prepare the agenda item summary. Additional project specifics were requested by Utilities, which were appended to the application by Ms. Wong. Joint Management Advisory Board (for the North Port Performing Arts Center) Sent draft Memorandum of Understanding language regarding term limits and succession of citizen members to North Port High School Principal George Kenney for his review. Planning: Comprehensive Plan Reviews The legislators have suspended rule making activity for HB697. The language from HB697 is still in Chapter 163 of the Statutes. The suspension delays the development of guiding language for implementation of the statute that will be memorialized in the Florida Administrative Code. Bottom line: HB697 is still law and as a local government our upcoming EAR/Comprehensive Plan will 2

3 have to address what is in the statutes. However, there will be no guidelines like you would receive if rule making had been completed. Therefore, it will be somewhat challenging to determine what DCA is OK with regarding HB697. Again, this new legislation will be challenging to incorporate as it must be reflected in the Future Land Use, Housing, Transportation, and Conservation Element in effect to reduce green house gas and energy use per capita accounting for existing and future electric power generation and transmission systems. The City must look at specific actions that are measurable and attainable. Comprehensive Plan Amendment Completed the transmittal of the annual CIE amendment of the Comprehensive Plan to the Department of Community Affairs and all other review agencies including FDOT, SWFRPC, Sarasota and Charlotte County by the December 1 st deadline. N orth Port Gardens Development of Regional Impact (DRI) The property owner is reviewing North Port and other agency comments related to the DRI. The consulting team is awaiting official release to answer the sufficiency questions. Fiscal Modeling Staff has completed the NP FAM model update with FY 2009 budget actuals per the Capital Improvement Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Staff has performed a fiscal analysis of a large scale retail development within AC 5 and will do the North Port Gardens DRI in the near future. School Planning Attended the Sarasota County School Board Facilities Strategy Team meeting. Discussion points included Sarasota County waiving school millage for the next two years, that 30% of County students are attending classes outside of their jurisdictions, and preparations for the School Convocation which will be held at the Venice Community Center on Friday, January 21 st from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Myakka Mobile Home Park Staff is working with the property owner for funding options. Staff continues to review the Annexation application for this petition and preparing comments for Management Team review. Staff has been continuing discussions on this annexation with Staff from Sarasota County and the property owner. Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Attended the Beautification & Tree/Scenic Highway Committee meeting to discuss future grant opportunities for the upcoming cycle. Attended Sarasota/Manatee MPO TAC meeting to discuss the LRTP, discussing final project options and funding. Attended the Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO TAC meeting to discuss and finalize the LRTP, and tentative work program. North Port staff discussed and asked the LRTP consultant to change the Raintree interchange language to Yorkshire to be consistent with the Sarasota/Manatee MPO Plan. The group agreed with the change and will incorporate the change into their plans. Transit/Multi-Modal Transportation 3

4 Staff met with FDOT Commuter Services to discuss means for carpooling amongst city employees and also to plan a use transit day here in North Port to coincide with the delivery of the new express busses that will serve the City. This event is being planned for April City Planning staff continues to work out the details of a potential City Hall Park and Ride facility with SCAT. Planning staff is working out final easement agreement language with County legal staff. An anticipated January public hearing date is scheduled for the facility. Received solar pedestrian lighting and bus shelter designs for potential incorporation to the FDOT grant project within the FY2012 CIP project. The lights would be placed along the greenbelts on the south side of US 41 from Biscayne to Almonte Terrace (1.1 miles). The proposed light fixtures are unique and will be exciting to incorporate energy efficient fixtures in the City saving on the electric bills to maintain this project. Looking into the possibility of using solar bus shelters for the 5 designed sites ready for bid on US 41. Heron Creek NOPC Planning staff continues to have discussions with Heron Creek representatives and the Regional Planning Council as it pertains to the affordable housing provision within the NOPC for the Heron Creek DRI. Master Planning Met with a group affiliated with Vision North Port regarding a vision plan for the NW quadrant of AC 5. Discussions involved stormwater planning, land use issues, and their wishes for a water park facility, theater, outdoor dining areas that utilize the existing pond which was/is slated for destruction based on the current platting of the land (staff concurs with the preservation of the pond). Creating a draft Activity Center 5 Pattern Book outline for review. This outline lists staff tasks including but not limited to: o Environmental o Energy Efficiency o Transportation o Public Facilities o Phasing o Fiscal Sustainability o Design Also creating a public participation, stakeholder, and overall public hearing timetable. LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ULDC Completed changes adopted by Commission for Unified Land Development Code and Urban Design Standards Pattern Book. The document was transmitted to Municode for codification. S unsetting of Nonconforming Uses Staff prepared for and presented this ordinance to PZAB and City Commission. No action was taken by City Commission. WVID IslandWalk Staff is reviewing the Final Plans for Phase 1C. The Plat is under review and will be scheduled for public hearing. 4

5 Staff has reviewed the Final Plans for the Amenity Center and there are some changes that still need to be completed by the Engineer; these changes have been requested since the first round of Staff review. Gran Paradiso Staff discussed the Gran Paradiso project with a Realtor for a potential developer. Appearance Review Completed the update to the North Port 2002 Architectural Guidelines and incorporated Ordinance language, updated illustrations, photos for inclusion into the Urban Design Guidelines of the ULDC. Adult Living Facility Working with the developer of a potential multi-story senior apartment building, memory care facilities, nursing facilities, and ACLF facilities in AC1. Working with Chase Bank on building design issues as it is prepared to go before the TTAAB. This project will be an outparcel of the Cocoplum Village Development C ocoplum Continue to sign off on interior build-out of Building 1A and working with applicant to continue finalizing the build-out of Building 2. RaceTrac Gas Station Have been working with RaceTrac on a few site related issues; they will begin roadway work on Cranberry and Hillsborough next week. Staff will post this to the City s website. They anticipate opening in December. Goodwill Goodwill applied for a ULDC interpretation based on discussions to resolve the donation center issue in the front of the shopping center. Discussions will continue as staff and the applicant work to resolve the site design challenges. Talon Bay Working with the developer on terms of completion of the Talon Bay Subdivision. Toledo Crossings Prepared development reports for public hearing for a acre commercial/industrial development in the Midway (AC 5) Activity Center. S able Trace US 41/Sumter Sign Reviewed the sign contract to reconstruct the sign pursuant to Commission direction. After review, this contract was sent to legal for review. Fleet Maintenance Fa cility Site plans are currently under SDR final plans review W aters Edge Estates Working with the bonding company to ensure completion of subdivision as approved by Commission. 5

6 Stormwater: EPA Recently Promulgated Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) For Lakes, Streams And Springs EPA has set the final rule on 11/14/10 for the NNC for lakes, streams and springs in Florida. The majority of the City of North Port is located in the West Central region. For a given stream in the West Central region, the annual geometric mean of Total Nitrogen (1.65 mg/l) and Total Phosphorus (0.49 mg/l) concentrations shall not be exceed more than once in a three-year period. The City s annexed WVID area is located in the Peninsula region. For a given stream in the Peninsula region, the annual geometric mean of Total Nitrogen (1.54 mg/l) and Total Phosphorus (0.12 mg/l) concentrations shall not be exceed more than once in a three-year period. The nitrogen and phosphorus criterion has been lowered significantly from the earlier drafts of the NNC. There is a 15-month period for this rule to be effective from the date of publication in the Federal Register which is expected to be in early December Based on the City of North Port streams and canals historic water quality data, the NNC criteria can be met but not by a great margin of safety, in particularly for total phosphorus. Elizabeth Wong served on the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) legislative committee which will draft a letter of FSA position on the NNC rule. Several lawsuits are expected to challenge this NNC rule. Traffic Concurrency Management Program/Transportation: US41 / River Road Intersection Improvements Sarasota County continues right-of-way acquisition needed for the project. Review comments from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) have been more extensive than anticipated, which has delayed approval of the project for construction. The schedule remains as advertised for the construction of the intersection improvements in the first quarter of Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) The draft 2035 Up-date to the Long Range Transportation Plan Financially Feasible Plan was presented to the City Commission at their November 8 th meeting. The draft was to be presented to all municipalities and the two counties for comments prior to the December 13 th MPO Board meeting, where the plan will be presented to the MPO Board for adoption. The Technical Advisory Committee th (TAC) will review the proposed 2035 Update at their December 6 meeting for recommendation of approval to the MPO Board. The TAC will also review an amendment to the MPO s (2010/ /15) Transportation Improvement Plan and the Florida Department of Transportation District One s draft Five Year Work Program (FY 2011/ /16). T ransportation Advisory Committee The TAB met on November 2 nd, where the draft 2035 Up-date to the Long Range Transportation Plan Financially Feasible Plan was presented. The next meeting is scheduled for December 7 th. Grant Funding Reimbursement Request #1 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Award for the Sumter Boulevard Miscellaneous Improvements, Hansard Avenue to City Center Boulevard, in the amount of $677, was received by the City. 6

7 P roposed Development A traffic impact statement was received and reviewed for approval for the Toledo Crossings development. Capital Improvements Program Com mittee The committee, comprised of staff from various departments, met several times in November, with more meetings scheduled in December, to develop policies and procedures to improve the development of the yearly Capital Improvements Program. F inancial Overview Budget: Total monthly payroll for Planning, Zoning and Engineering was $30,018 for Executive Salaries and $7,818 for Regular Salaries. Line Item is at 50% and is set by Fleet Maintenance. Two vehicles were transferred out of Planning, Zoning and Engineering, leaving our department with two vehicles for use by 10 employees. A ctivity Reports Environmental: CHNEP Environmental Festival Made extensive preparations for and hosted a booth at this event on assisted in hosting this booth. Charlotte County Green Expo Jointly hosted a booth with Ruth Buchanan on this event on 11/13/10. 11/20/10. Other PZE staff Stormwater: SWFWMD Cooperative Funding Application for Rehabilitation of water control structure (WCS) 101 Coordinated with Utilities and Public Works staff and completed this SWFWMD application for $1.5 million funding request to rehabilitate the WCS 101 located on the Myakkahatchee Creek that serves as a reservoir for potable water supply to the water plant. Several of the gates cannot be fully closed and the metal sheet piling is corroded. W arm Mineral Springs Due Diligence Research at SWFMWD Archives and Department of Health Researched the extensive Warm Mineral Springs files as part of due diligence investigation and prepared a summary report. Rain Cisterns at Fire Stations at City Center and at Haberland Assisted the Consultant in the design of the rain cisterns at Fire Station 81 and 83. About 60% portion of this project construction cost will be reimbursable from a FDEP grant that was secured by the efforts of Elizabeth Wong and Stan Frank. Big Slough Watershed and Myakka River Watershed study Just received on 12/3/10 an update on the Big Slough Watershed model using the 2007 LiDAR data. This model has been QA/QC s by SWFWMD staff. Coordinating a joint meeting of North Port Staff, SWFWMD staff, Ardaman and Associates Inc. consultants and Peer Review Consultants for the second week in January

8 Attached Activity Reports: Petition Data November, 2010 Development Review Statistics November, 2010 Current Planning Projects November, 2010 Budget Actual to Percent Worksheets (Planning, Zoning and Engineering) 8

9 Petition Data for Public Hearing Planning, Zoning & Engineering OVERALL PETITIONS DATA November 2010 PZAB 1 TTARB 0 ZBA 0 Planning and Zoning Advisory Board Items TXT , Ordinance No , An Ordinance for the Amortization (sunsetting) of legal nonconforming uses located in the City of North Port. Commission Items Ordinance No , second reading, an Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida amending Article IV, Chapter 14, of the North Port City Code relating to the Tamiami Trail Appearance Review Board. Ordinance No , first reading, an amendment and revision to the Capital Improvement Element (CIE) of the City of North Port Comprehensive Plan. Ordinance , first reading, Petition No. TXT , Amendment to the Unified Land Development Code and the Urban Design Standards Pattern Book in compliance with the updating of the regulations for the Tamiami Trail Appearance Review Board. Discussion, and possible action, regarding the recommendations contained in the consulting report prepared by URS Corporation outlining long-term funding options for future financing of citywide stormwater management services. 9

10 Various Reviews & Customer Service Planning, Zoning & Engineering November 1, November 30, 2010 Project Types October 1, October 31, 2010 Pre-application Conferences 1 Final Plans & DO Issued 0 Building Permit Reviews 12 Customer Walk-Ins 24 Flood Inquiries 6 Temporary Use Reviews 2 Waiver of Fees 0 COA (Certificate of Appropriateness) 0 10

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