The Port Orange City Council meeting of 1 3 2012 lasted from 7 pm until 1141 pm. I will not have time to review the meeting using my dvr, nor post any video segments of the meeting. I offer my amateur observations of some issues discussed, knowing full well that my interpretations may be mistaken. I invite anyone to correct me , where needed. -- hank 1 3 12 at 1144 pm |
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Item 14 - Discussion Relating to Impact Fees
The City Council has discussed Impact Fee abatement in the past. The policy decision is whether the City will join some of the other Volusia County cities and the County in passing some type of abatement program to act as a stimulus for new residential development . |
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Observations by POAN Hank: There are empty lots and foreclosed homes west of Nova Road in Port Orange. These sections need financial help in building on the empty lots. One problem pointed out, is that to build a home near a foreclosed home, would probably mean to build the structure at a price of less than $140,00 which is not viable to the construction industry which would like to put people to work in the construction field. East of Nova Road, some well known developers would like to start building residential homes, with the financial stimulus of the city taking away or lowering the impact fees. I myself, wonder why we need more homes, that people in this financial climate, can not afford to buy. The incentive seems to be to put construction people back to work, but I question the wisdom of producing a product that very few are buying in today's financial market. The motion was amended, and I am not sure what was decided upon by the City Council. We will get the results when the DBNJ does a much better job of reporting on this council meeting. -- hank 1 3 12 at 1154 pm
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Port Orange OKs impact fee moratorium
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Three cities looking at different parts of the same problem 1 6 12 |
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At its October 27, 2011 meeting, the Planning Commission recommended approval, 5-0, of the administrative request to amend Chapters 2, 12, 17, and 18 of the Land Development Code to add “pain management clinics” as a permitted use with special development requirements within the “PO” (Professional Office) zoning district and to provide accompanying and clarifying regulatory requirements and definitions. Please see the attached staff report for more information. Staff recommends adoption of Ordinance No. 2011-32, amending Chapters 2, 12, 17, and 18 of the Land Development Code (LDC), as recommended by the Planning Commission. |
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Observations by POAN Hank: I do not understand why the city has to pass legislation on pain management, when the state has already done so. A doctor appeared before the city council, and complained about the new proposed city ordinance, which would restrict him from writing out pain prescriptions, or was it dispensing pain medication after 7 pm at night. Therefore, the city council agreed to change the bewitching hour to 9 pm. I remember that about 4 or 5 years ago, the city council voted to become a partner with Halifax Hospital. I never understood what that meant, and what might be the ramifications of such an alliance. Councilman George Steindoerfer voted against such an alliance, but the rest of the city council voted for it. Was Dennis Kennedy, who works for Halifax Hospital a city council member during that vote? Perhaps not, but might have been waiting in the wings. I am sorry, and excuse me Port Orange City Council members, but if I think this way, maybe others who are striving to know what is going on, are thinking the same way. So let me understand this now. After 9 pm, my family doctor can not give me, or prescribe for me pain medication, but if I go down to the Port Orange Halifax Hospital emergency room, that hospital doctor can? If I need correction on this thought, offer it now. e mail hank -- hank 1 4 12 at 12 05 am. |
for the complet Port Orange City council Meeing agenda
click on the following link:
see the complete meeting agenda
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At its November 17, 2011 meeting, the Planning Commission recommended approval, 4-0, of the request to rezone approximately 33.2 acres, located on the east side of Dunlawton Avenue., north of Taylor Branch Road, from “F-C” (Flood-Plain Conservation), “A” (Agricultural), and “ICD” (Interchange Commercial District) to “PCD” (Planned Commercial Development). If the rezoning request is approved, the MDA and CDP will provide the regulatory framework for the development of a shopping center on the subject property, and associated site improvements on the property located off Taylor Road. The staff report is attached for more information. Staff recommends adoption of Ordinance No. 2011-40 rezoning and approving the Master Development Agreement (MDA) and the Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) dated November 30th, 2011, as recommended by the Planning Commission. City Manager Comments: The City staff has worked with the developer to resolve all the details and the project is ready for consideration on second reading. What is remaining is the finalization of the terms and conditions of the Yorktowne extension and the proportionate fair share agreement.
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POAN Hank's observations: Altimara shopping center will be adding a BJ's warehouse and Golden Coral restaurant. I think I will use BJ's rather than go up to Daytona Beach for Sam's Club. A number of people have told me that the Golden Coral restaurant is good. Because of previous traffic problems , and the anticipated increased traffic load at the intersection of Taylor Branch Road and Dunlawton Ave., it is planned to close down that intersection. Vehicles which regularly use the Taylor Branch Road will have to use the extended York Town Blvd. extension, from Dunlawton Ave. to Taylor Road. I guess most of the possible inconvenience will be to the many residents in the communities off of Bogsford Road. However, Charley Clark, a Bogsford Road resident appeared before the city council, and I was with him about a year ago in the Altimara area when he showed me where the Yorktown Blvd. extension would come out onto Taylor Road, and if I understood him correctly, it was either right at Bogsford road, (making a new intersection) or a little east of Bogsford road. A representative for the developer of the Altimara center asked the city council to exempt the developer from mitigation costs of replacing trees connected with the redirection of a canal, and the right away of the new roadway extension. It went so fast, I don't remember what the council decided upon. The DBNJ will tell us and it will be referenced on this web page, or maybe the Port Orange City Manager will inform us. --- hank 1 4 12 at 1215 am
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The City Council adopted the MDA which contained the waiver language related to mitigating the trees in the Yorktowne right of way and in the canal alignment as well as on the old canal alignment. -- Ken Parker, City Manager of Port Orange.
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Port Orange OK's long-delayed Altamira project 1 6 12 |
tem 21 - Gamble Place Discussion
In September, Mayor Green sent a letter to the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) concerning Gamble Place. Recently, MOAS responded to the Mayor’s letter. MOAS has indicated a willingness to enter into discussions with the City of Port Orange that could eventually lead to the transfer of the property from MOAS to the City of Port Orange. Policy Issue #1: Does the City Council believe that Gamble should be part of the City of Port Orange park system? Policy Issue #2: Does the City Council desire to enter into negotiations with MOAS concerning the terms and conditions of the transfer? Policy Issue #3: The City is required to obtain an appraisal on the property. Does the City Council desire to have the property appraised? Because of the unique conditions and restrictions in the deed that was transferred to MOAS from Nature Conservancy, we will be using an appraiser who is on the State approved list of appraisers since they are more likely to have appraised properties for the State with development restrictions on them. If we are to go forward, then the property must be appraised. I have attached the budget prepared by the Parks and Recreation Department. This assumes that the City would maintain Gamble with the City workforce. Prior to any property transfer, the City Council must know: 1. Condition of the buildings and what repairs will be required to restore them. A capital budget would need to be prepared and reviewed by the Council in addition to the operating budget. 2. A controlled burn plan would need to be developed by the City of Port Orange as well as a cost estimate. 3. An evaluation of the trails on the Gamble property to determine what improvements are needed in order to make them passable and safe to the citizens who may visit and tour the property. Capital costs and improvements would have to be provided to the City Council.
If the property is transferred, the City Council would need to determine how the property would be managed – by City staff or a private entity. If a private entity option is selected to manage the property on behalf of the City, a request for proposal would have to be developed and put out to bid. The City could not simply award the bid to a vendor without accepting competitive proposals. At some point, the Council would have to adopt a fee schedule for Gamble if an admission charge is levied.
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Observations by POAN Hank: Once again the vote went so fast, at the late hour, that I am not sure if the council decided to enter into negotiations with the museum about the Gamble property. It was interesting to me, that councilman Bob Ford made comment that someone who owns land near the Gamble place phoned him and he thinks others on the city council, expressing an interest that the city buy the Gamble land from the Museum. Mr. Ford commented that he is not interested in buying the land and then turning around and selling it to someone else. I am asking Mr. Ford if I am interpreting his remarks, correctly. I have expressed my opinion in the past. We in Port Orange do not need the Gamble place. A Mr. Russell and a dock owned by the city, may or may not need the Gamble place. I think there is some kind of a spruce creek canoe or kayak place, west of the Gamble Place whose owner might like to see the city buy the property. And then, there is an anonymous financial donor, who I guess is providing maintenance money for keeping up the Gamble place. I guess it is time for me to say. -- The deal stinks to me, when the city has other financial responsibilities. I think the city council voted not to negotiate with the museum about the Gamble place, but I am old, and tired, and we need someone more reliable than me to tell us what the council decision was. --- hank 1 4 12 at 1225 am |
The consensus of the City Council was to have discussions with the Museum about ransferring the Gamble property to the City of Port Orange. Ken Parker, City Manager of Port Orange. |
| Port Orange, museum hope to make a deal on Gamble Place |