A regular MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

May 2, 2023

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on May 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., in the County Commission Chambers, Lake County Administration Building, Tavares, Florida. Commissioners present at the meeting were: Kirby Smith, Chairman; Douglas B. Shields, Vice Chairman; Sean Parks; Leslie Campione; and Josh Blake. Others present were: Jennifer Barker, County Manager; Melanie Marsh, County Attorney; Niki Booth, Executive Office Manager, County Manager’s Office; Kristy Mullane, Chief Financial Officer; and Josh Pearson, Deputy Clerk.

INVOCATION and pledge

Commr. Smith welcomed everyone to the meeting. He indicated that they were meeting in person and were being streamed live via the County website; additionally, they were also broadcasting this meeting via Zoom Webinar for members of the public who wished to provide input. He added that the meeting was starting later than usual, noting that they had a great law enforcement memorial service in front of the Lake County Historic Courthouse.

Dr. Joscelyn Ramos Campbell, with Hope International Church in the City of Groveland, led the Pledge of Allegiance and gave the Invocation.

virtual meeting instructions

Mr. Levar Cooper, Director for the Office of Communications, explained that the current meeting was being livestreamed on the County website and was also being made available through Zoom Webinar for members of the public who wished to provide comments during the Citizen Question and Comment Period later in the agenda. He elaborated that anyone watching though the livestream who wished to participate could follow the directions currently being broadcast through the stream; furthermore, he relayed that during the Citizen Question and Comment Period, anyone who had joined the webinar via their phone could press *9 to virtually raise their hand, and anyone participating online could click the raise hand button to identify that they wished to speak. He said that when it was time for public comment, he would read the person’s name or phone number, unmute the appropriate line, and the speaker would be asked to provide comments. He added that everyone would have three minutes to speak, and after three minutes an alarm would sound to let them know that their time was up. He added that they previously notified the public that comments could be emailed through 5:00 p.m. on the previous day, and those comments were shared with the Board prior to the meeting. He stated that anyone wishing to provide written comments during the meeting could visit www.lakecountyfl.gov/commissionmeeting, noting that comments sent during this meeting would be shared with the Commission after the meeting was concluded.

Agenda update

Ms. Jennifer Barker, County Manager, stated that there were no updates to the agenda.

citizen question and comment period

No one wished to address the Board at this time.

public hearings: REZONING

rezoning consent agenda

Ms. Janie Barrón, Senior Planner for the Office of Planning and Zoning, displayed the advertisements for that day’s rezoning cases on the overhead monitor in accordance with the Florida Statutes. She said that there were four cases on the agenda, and that Tabs 1 and 2 were on the consent agenda; additionally, Tabs 3 and 4 were on the regular agenda. She mentioned that there was an errata memo for Tabs 3 and 4, noting that the conceptual plan had been revised for Tab 3. She added that for Tab 4, the ordinance and staff report included a revised conceptual plan, noting that the ordinance also included revised and modified transportation conditions. She requested approval of the consent agenda.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

There being no one who wished to address the Board regarding any cases on the Rezoning Consent Agenda, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

On a motion by Commr. Shields, seconded by Commr. Blake and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved the Rezoning Consent Agenda, Tabs 1 and 2, as follows:

Tab 1. Ordinance No. 2023-24

Rezoning Case # RZ-22-06-4

Reed Property

Rezone 6.4 +/- acres from Agriculture (A) to Light Industrial (LM) to allow the future development of a 50,000 square foot industrial building for light flex space on the property.

Tab 2. Ordinance No. 2023-25

Rezoning Case # RZ-22-19-1

T-Mobile Crown Castle

Amend Community Facility District (CFD) Ordinance #1998-15 to increase the height of the existing monopole communication tower from 164-feet to 165-feet.

rezoning regular agenda

Tab 3. Ordinance No. 2023-26

Rezoning Case # FLU-22-14-4

Haines Creek RV Village

Amend the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) to change the Future Land Use Category (FLUC) on approximately 27.71 +/- gross acres from Rural Transition to Planned Unit Development (PUD) and amend associated Comprehensive Plan Policies to incorporate the proposed development program for the Haines Creek RV Village Planned Unit Development which will include 159 mobile home, park model and RV lots, 15,000 square-feet of commercial uses, and associated facilities.

Tab 4. Ordinance No. 2023-28

Rezoning Case # RZ-22-30-4

Haines Creek RV Village

Rezone approximately 27.71 +/- acres from Neighborhood Commercial (C-1), Community Commercial (C-2), Urban Residential (R-6) and Agriculture (A) and establish a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to accommodate a 159-lot (90 existing and 69 proposed) Recreational Vehicle (RV) park; superseding and replacing CUP #119-5 and CUP #119A-5.

haines creek rv village flu

Commr. Smith believed that this was a quasi-judicial case.

Commr. Shields mentioned that he had spoken with the applicant.

Commr. Parks said that he had nothing to disclose.

Commr. Campione stated that she had nothing to disclose.

Commr. Blake relayed that he had a phone call with the applicant.

Commr. Smith remarked that he had spoken with the applicant.

Ms. Barrón presented Tab 3, Rezoning Case # FLU-22-14-4, Haines Creek RV Village. She explained that the applicant was requesting to amend the future land use (FLU) map to change the FLU from Rural Transition to Planned Unit Development (PUD). She added that the applicant would like to amend the appropriate Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) policies to incorporate the proposed development, which would include a 159 lot mobile home park, park models and recreational vehicle (RV) lots, including 15,000 square-feet of commercial uses and associated facilities. She related that the size of the property was 27.71 acres, and she displayed a map of the property showing the current and proposed FLUs, along with the current zoning. She commented that the current zoning encompassed several different zoning districts, and that this would be addressed in Tab 4. She showed the existing and proposed development standards, which discussed the existing Rural Transition FLU, the allowable development, the proposed program, maximum impervious surface ratio (ISR), minimum open space, and the building height; additionally, it also included the proposed PUD and the proposed allowable uses. She displayed the revised conceptual plan, which included a new entrance from County Road (CR) 44 that connected to the emergency access, and a right in and right out from CR 44 onto Oak Drive. She showed an aerial image of this, and she recalled that the Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved this item on the regular agenda at the April 5, 2023 meeting; furthermore, staff found the request consistent with the Land Development Regulations (LDR) and the Comp Plan.

Mr. Greg Beliveau, with LPG Urban and Regional Land Planners and representing the applicant, said that since the Planning and Zoning Board meeting, the applicant had a few meetings with the Public Works Department to address the access to the subject property. He stated that they had also found a deed from 1989 that dedicated Hickory Hollow Road to the County, noting that this had been provided to the Public Works Department. He relayed that the applicant had agreed to dedicate additional right of way on Hickory Hollow Road. He also indicated that they had agreed that the access to Hickory Hollow Road would be for emergency access only, if required by Lake County Fire Rescue, noting that residents were concerned that there would be traffic impacting that road; otherwise, the access would be blocked off. He hoped that this would appease their neighbors, as the development would have no impact as an access point. He explained that the north or east access was right in and right out, and that the applicant would do minor modifications to this. He mentioned that the applicant had been contentious to the single access location because originally, they would have been one paying for most of the modifications to that signal. He opined that the Public Works Department had realized that this was a family operation and that it was not a corporation. He commented that they would do the same improvements that they were previously going to do to the north or east entry, and that this would be their commitment to the signal. He added that the other condition placed on the property was that the internal road connecting to the signal was to be a right of way which could be negotiated down to around 25 feet since the applicant would be doing the stormwater internally. He indicated that the applicant was amicable with these conditions, and that they would provide a better site plan later in the current week to mirror these conditions since it was done just prior to the current hearing. He felt that they had appeased the property owners to the west, that they reduced conflicts on Hickory Hollow Road, and that they were providing additional right of way to that road system; therefore, he hoped to move forward.

Commr. Parks asked if the western side of the property would be where some of the new lots would be, and Mr. Beliveau confirmed this. Commissioner Parks then inquired if there was a wetland impact.

Mr. Beliveau clarified that there was a 50 foot buffer and that they would not impact the wetlands. He then recalled that another concern at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting pertained to the property due west of the subject property. He explained that there was currently a natural tree canopy buffer along the western property line, and that the applicant would keep and augment that buffer, noting what that neighbor saw currently was what they would see after the project was completed.

The Chairman opened the public hearing.

Ms. Linda James, a resident on Hickory Hollow Road, expressed concerns about the proposed access into the expanded RV park. She relayed her understanding that they were just going to create an emergency entrance, and she indicated concerns for increased traffic from the numerous developments on CR 44. She opined that Hickory Hollow Road was in poor condition and that it was not conducive to traffic, except for residents. She said that she was happy to hear that it would only be an emergency entrance.

Mr. Greg Forster, a resident on Nature Trail, asked if there would be any use of Nature Trail for this item.

Ms. Barrón pointed out Nature Trail on a map.

Commr. Smith indicated that he did not foresee this happening because they were not utilizing Hickory Hollow Road.

There being no one else who wished to address the Board regarding this matter, the Chairman closed the public hearing.

Commr. Parks asked staff about plans for addressing long term traffic on CR 44, and if this was on their list of priority projects.

Mr. Fred Schneider, Assistant County Manager, relayed that the Public Works Department was discussing looking at CR 44 from United States (U.S.) Highway 441 to State Road (SR) 19 and the City of Eustis bypass. He mentioned that they would evaluate the projected traffic over the next 20 years, and that they would likely have to concentrate in certain areas. He elaborated that they would evaluate some of the intersections along the route and see what needed to be done, noting that this was the first phase of working on CR 44. He was unsure if it was currently on the list of priority projects, and said that they would add it for the next round when they identified what improvements they thought they might need along that corridor.

Commr. Smith commented that it could also be brought up to the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Commr. Campione asked that when staff did a traffic analysis of 159 mobile homes, park models and RV units, did they attribute the same number of trips per day as if it was a residential subdivision.

Mr. Schneider clarified that they followed the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip generation manual, and that different uses had different trip generation rates. He stated that these would likely be less than single family homes. He also relayed that through the discussion which occurred recently, they would access across from the traffic signal at CR 473 and SR 44, noting that it would have much less of an impact on traffic safety and capacity versus where they were previously going to be. He opined that the new entrance would be much better for entering and exiting, and he did not think that it would affect the intersection capacity significantly.

Commr. Campione questioned if the residents would be full time or more like snowbird residents.

Mr. Jeff Earhart, Engineering Manager for the Public Works Department, mentioned that Mr. Beliveau had said that the residents were generally seasonal. He added that single family would generally generate about 10 trips per day, and that the subject development was estimated at about three trips per day; furthermore, they were estimating about 150 additional trips, which still put them above 85 percent of the capacity of CR 44.

Mr. Beliveau showed the preliminary traffic numbers, and said that they were 90 units and were only expanding by 69 units. He stated that their current a.m. peak hour trips were 18, and their p.m. trips were only 22, commenting that their expansion would be 15 a.m. peak hour trips and 19 p.m. peak hour trips. He added that the property had seasonal residents who drove their RV units in and left them. He mentioned that it was a 55+ community and that they had amenities onsite, and said that it had been there since 1989. He opined that the subject property was minor compared to their neighbors, and he relayed that they had also donated right of way on CR 44.

Commr. Campione noted that the County had discussed housing inventory, and she asked if there was a limit in the ordinance stating that residents could not live there year round.

Mr. Beliveau responded that it had been a seasonal park since 1989, with the peak period being January, February and March.

Commr. Campione inquired if the units were vacant when no one was there for the season.

Mr. Beliveau confirmed this, and said that the owners and their maintenance crew took care of it.

Commr. Campione asked if the units collected tourism taxes, and Mr. Beliveau confirmed this. Commissioner Campione then asked if someone could rent the unit for the whole year if they chose to.

Commr. Smith relayed his understanding that one had rent for a lot that they paid monthly on, and that they could stay if they wanted.

Commr. Campione opined that it was a positive in some ways because having places to live was important.

Mr. Beliveau clarified that approximately 40 percent of the residents stayed there year round.

Commr. Blake asked if Tabs 3 and 4 had to be voted on separately or if they could be combined into one motion.

Ms. Melanie Marsh, County Attorney, replied that they could be done as one motion.

On a motion by Commr. Blake, seconded by Commr. Campione and carried unanimously by a vote of 5-0, the Board approved Tab 3, Rezoning Case # FLU-22-14-4, Haines Creek RV Village, and Tab 4, Rezoning Case # RZ-22-30-4, Haines Creek RV Village.

reports

commissioners reports

commissioner shields – vice chairman and district 1

four corners meeting

Commr. Shields mentioned that he had a Four Corners meeting with Ms. Evelisse Bookhout, with Hands of Hope America, and other not-for-profits. He relayed that an idea was that, with the other three Four Corners County Commissioners, they could possibly create a map of government services and not-for-profits in the area for residents who moved there.

lead meeting

Commr. Shields said that he had a board meeting with Lake Economic Area Development (LEAD), and that things were continuing to move well.

Lake-sumter mpo meeting

Commr. Shields stated that he had a Lake-Sumter MPO meeting, and that the census data was filtering in. He added that according to the census, the Cities of Clermont, Mascotte and Groveland were part of the City of Orlando region due to the traffic patterns. He said that this could potentially affect the Lake-Sumter MPO in the future, and he questioned who decided if it was an MPO versus a transportation planning organization (TPO).

Commr. Blake thought that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) decided, and that they had already determined that in the upcoming year the Lake-Sumter MPO would be transitioning into a TPO.

Commr. Shields relayed his understanding that there had to be 200,000 individuals in one city, and he was unsure if they met this requirement. He stated that if they lost the Cities of Clermont, Mascotte and Groveland, then this possibly changed things; additionally, a toll road was going to Sorrento, and Sorrento could possibly be part of the City of Orlando region. He also indicated that Four Corners was 90,000 people currently.

Commr. Blake wondered about the threshold for bedroom community traffic.

live local act

Commr. Shields remarked that some people had asked him about the State of Florida Live Local Act, and he wondered if the Board could receive a briefing on this.

Ms. Marsh indicated that she was still reading through this, and that staff would bring it back to the Board in May 2023; furthermore, it did not go into effect until July 2023.

commissioner parks – district 2

live local act

Commr. Parks relayed that he had received reference material for the Live Local Act, and he thought that it would be important for the County, noting that it would give them a toolbox. He also relayed his understanding that the act had been passed unanimously.

commissioner campione – district 4

hand in hand organization

Commr. Campione stated that before the previous Board meeting, she had visited the Hand in Hand substance abuse and recovery organization, which was based primarily in the City of Eustis; however, they served the entire county. She explained that it was a faith based group that focused on substance abuse and recovery for men and women, and that they had much community support. She said that she had attended their gala, and that she wanted to bring recognition to what they were doing and the success they had. She also indicated that they had many volunteers who helped with the program, and that they were focused on getting people back on their feet and helping them build their confidence to return to the workforce and address their addiction. She wished them ongoing success.

commissioner smith – chairman and district 3

veterans of foreign wars meeting

Commr. Smith related that he had a meeting with a few of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organizations.

astor republican party meeting

Commr. Smith said that he had attended the Astor Republican Party meeting, noting that he and Commissioner Parks had been there to provide a community update to the Astor community. He also thought that it was well attended.

Commr. Campione asked about the questions or issues related to Astor.

Commr. Smith responded that some issues had been brought up, and that he and Commissioner Parks had provided their contact information; additionally, he was waiting on residents to reach out to him.

Commr. Campione thanked them for attending, noting that she had been unable to attend.

Commr. Parks indicated that Commissioner Smith had relayed this message.

national truffle day

Commr. Smith commented that it was National Truffle Day.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be brought to the attention of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

_________________________________

kirby smith, chairman

ATTEST:

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GARY J COONEY, CLERK