OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL

RESEARCH DIVISION

SPECIAL LAND USE AND ZONING COMMITTEE WORKSHOP MINUTES

April 6, 2009

11:00 A.M.

Conference Room A, Suite 425

Fourth Floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

Attendance: Committee Chair Art Graham; Committee Members Stephen Joost, Reggie Brown, Johnny Gaffney, Ray Holt, and Jack Webb; Shannon Eller, Office of General Counsel; John Crofts, Kristen Reed, and Bill Killingsworth, Department of Planning and Development; Merriane Lahmeur and Rick Campbell, Office of City Council; please see sign-in sheet for others in attendance

The Committee Chair, Art Graham, called the meeting to order at 11:06 a.m. for informational purposes and discussion relative to pending Ordinance 2009-248 (ORD Approving Proposed Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR) Based Text Amendments to 2010 Comprehensive Plan; Amending Various Elements (Intergovernmental Coordination, Capital Improvements, Infrastructure, Recreation and Open Space, Future Land Use, Transportation, Conservation/Coastal Management, and Housing) to Incorporate Recommendations from the EAR Report Approved by Resolution 2007-920-A).

Bill Killingsworth, Interim Director of the Planning and Development Department, advised the committee that while this proposed EAR is for the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, in many respects it is a 2030 plan. He indicated that vision plans for the city will be completed, and then the Future Land Use Element will be revisited. Some existing vision plans will need to be reconsidered due to growth, and there was discussion concerning potential revisions to the vision plan for the northern area.

Next, Kristen Reed, City Planner Manager in the Department of Planning and Development, gave an overview of the proposed EAR, noting that an update is required every seven years. She informed the committee that this is the transmittal round, and it will come back in October for the adoption round. In particular, issue statements are being removed and much of the language concerning wetlands and their permitting is being stricken in favor of St. John’s River Water Management District regulations. Changes in State of Florida requirements are addressed in the various elements. Ms. Reed further advised that presentations had been made to the Citizen Planning Advisory committees, and that there had been no opposition at the public hearing held by the Planning Commission.

Questions and discussion involved environmental quality, air quality requirements, traffic impacts, transportation concurrency, exception areas, and potential changes from the State of Florida that would impact what is done locally. Mention was made of air quality monitoring and where Jacksonville stands relative to failing to meet certain standards. It was expressed that some of the changes being considered could negatively affect Jacksonville’s use of fair share agreements rather than impact fees. Shannon Eller, Office of General Counsel, advised that attention is being given to pertinent events in Tallahassee.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

Rick Campbell, Research Assistant

(904) 630-1679

Posted 04.07.09/11:00 a.m.