OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

CHERYL L. BROWN 117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

DIRECTOR 4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

OFFICE (904) 630-1452 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

FAX (904) 630-2906

E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

LUZ COMMITTEE WORKSHOP MINUTES

September 17, 2013

4:30 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1^st floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

Attendance: Council Members Lori Boyer (Chair), Bill Bishop, Matt Schellenberg, Jim Love, Robin Lumb, Ray Holt, Don Redman

Also: Council Member John Crescimbeni; Jason Gabriel – Office of General Counsel; Folks Huxford, Bruce Lewis and Gary Kresel – Planning and Development Department; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Paula Shoup – Legislative Services Division

Chairwoman Boyer called the meeting to order at 4:36 p.m.

Small-scale land use amendment process

Chairwoman Boyer reported that the state law has been changed regarding the processing of small scale land use amendments and the Ordinance Code currently does not have a procedure listed. Former LUZ Committee Dylan Reingold had started on a draft of a small scale amendment process before he left to take his new job. Ms. Boyer and Gary Kresel of the Planning and Development Department felt that the current package of materials mailed out to the owners of every property owner within a 350 foot radius of the site of a proposed land use amendment is probably a case of overkill, sending too much information on all possible land uses to persons who have little ability or interest to understand what it all means. Ms. Boyer suggested a simple letter announcing the proposed change and providing a web site address that would provide all the information for anyone interested in checking.

Council Member Crescimbeni requested a copy of a typical mailed package to see what citizens are receiving and how it is presented. He noted that there are some in the community who don’t have computers or internet access, so an expedient way to deliver paper copies to those who request it is needed. In response to a question from Mr. Crescimbeni about the nature of phone calls typically received by the Planning Department from persons who receive the packets, Mr. Kresel stated that the most common questions are what all the information means, and what impact it might have on the recipient’s property. Council Member Schellenberg advocated for electronic delivery of the documents as the wave of the future. Council Member Lumb was interested in how the 350 foot radius was chosen as the proper zone of notification. Was there a specific rationale for 350 feet vs. 500 feet or 1,000 feet? The committee discussed the fact that the impact of the zone of notification varies greatly depending on which part of the city the property is in. In a densely populated subdivision a 350 foot radius may cover scores of adjacent homes, while in a sparsely populated rural area the same radius may generate only 2 or 3 notices to adjacent undeveloped properties. Ms. Boyer suggested that perhaps different notification zones could be applied to dense urban areas vs. rural areas.

Comprehensive Plan periodic evaluation and appraisal reviews

Ms. Boyer noted that a recent change to state law has effectively gutted the requirement that the City produce an evaluation of the effectiveness of its comprehensive plan every 7 years for review and approval by the state. The requirement to review the plan remains, but there are no state standards for adequacy or evaluation. She suggested that the committee consider whether the City wants to continue the EAR (Evaluation and Appraisal Report) process on its own for local evaluation purposes and what criteria might be established for such a review. The current draft prepared by Jason Gabriel deletes the criteria that were previously in the Code and were required by state law since the state law was repealed.

There being no further business, the agenda meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

Jeff Clements, Council Research Division (904) 630-1404

Posted 9.19.13

5:00 p.m.