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09-02-86SpMtg SEPTEMBER 2, 1986 A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, was called to order by Mayor Doak S. Campbell in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 7:04 P.M., Tuesday, September 2, 1986. Roll call showed: Present - Council Member Malcolm T. Bird Council Member Richard J. Dougherty Council Member Marie Horenburger Council Member Jimmy Weatherspoon (Arrived 7:06 P.M) Mayor Doak S. Campbell Absent - None Also present were - City Manager James L. Pennington and City Attorney Herbert W.A. Thiele. Mayor Campbell called the meeting to order and announced that this meeting has been called for the purpose of (1) holding a public hearing on the adoption of a Master Redevelopment Plan for the Community Redevelopment Areas of Delray Beach. 1. Tom Lynch, Chairman of the Community Redevelopment Agency, reported on the background of the formation of the agency. He commended the work of the members as well as the input of the citizens, the Acting Director, the DDA, members of staff at City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce. He introduced John Fernslow and Allen Prewitt of the con- sulting firm of Wallace, Roberts and Todd. Mr. Fernslow, Director of the South Florida group, gave a slide presentation reviewing the foundation of the plan; this culminates approximately eight months of work by the consulting team and the contributions of Economic Research Associates, Walt Keller & Associates and Cassella & Associates. The presentation reviewed the boundaries of the CRA, zoning, development and redevelopment opportunities, land ownership both public and private, condition of buildings, problems, goals and objectives and assets and opportunities. He reported the existing retail core is in relatively good condition and has a number of buildings of architectural and historical character and has recently been supplemented by the completion of Atlantic Plaza. Veterans Park is a crucial link between the two sides of the Intracoastal Waterway and is in need of some additional landscape, personal amenities and improve- ments. He commented on the location of the County Courthouse project and the reconfiguration of the existing Elementary School for an arts and cultural center. Mr. Fernslow advised they proposed three alternatives: (1) Basically envisioned several streetscape improvements throughout the area and zoning improvements. (2) Creation of an overlay zoning district on West Atlantic Avenue to allow for long range redevelopment of the parcels between 1st Street north and south and envisioned a catalyst office project to be implemented in the vicinity of the Courthouse. (3) Shows maximum action and proposed the possible rezoning of the entire West Atlantic Avenue corridor, the implementation of the office projects and the possibility of a hotel adjacent to 1-95 and the potential for retail/office catalyst projects. Having evaluated these alternatives with the CRA, the plan was then adjusted to incorporate the various comments they have heard and a final redevelopment concept was devel- oped. Major elements of that concept include the overlay zoning dis- trict on the West Atlantic Avenue corridor, the Courthouse project, a catalyst professional office project, and further bolstering the down- town retail core between the FEC tracks and the Intracoastal. Mr. Fernslow also commented on the creation of a highway commercial district along both north and south Federal Highway which would allow for a wider variety of commercial uses including new car auto dealerships. Another major element of the plan is the traffic circulation and parking plan. Recommendations here are improvements which will bolster the use of the by-pass system, by making signal improvements, and improving the congestion problems in the areas of N.E. 2nd Avenue and N.E. 4th Avenue. Probably the most important element of the plan is the future development plan which include streetscape improvements, office project on one of the two potential sites, either east of the new Courthouse location or on the site of the present City owned tennis courts and the public improvements to Veteran's Park. These projects are broken down into two phases, the first phase of which would extend from 1986 to 1990, with an anticipated cost of between 2.5 and 4 million dollars; from 1990 to 1995 anticipated cost ranges from between 3.8 and 5.5 million dollars. Mr. Fernslow presented renderings of the en- visioned improvements. Allen Prewitt stated that this plan can be done, is cost effective and is within the capabilities of the CRA to carry out. He stated that almost every idea incorporated into the plan has come from people here tonight and represents what Council has told them what they want to be done. Ken Simback, Acting Director of the CRA, stated the members of the CRA have reviewed the presentation by Wallace, Roberts and Todd and are recommending that Council adopt the redevelopment plan as a founda- tion for the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Delray Beach. The CRA also have a number of comments and are recommending that, in adopting this plan, they also adopt a number of minor modifications. Council has been furnished a memo outlining these modifications. Upon question by Mayor Campbell, Mr. Simback advised that Council does not need to adopt this resolution this evening; however, Council has two actions that must transpire prior to October 1st of this year in order for the plan to be put into effect and for the agency to receive tax increment funds for the present year. One is the adoption of this resolution adopting the plan and the second is the passage of an ordi- nance creating the Redevelopment Trust Fund. Mayor Campbell stated he would propose that we have our full hearing this evening, have a chance to get back to Mr. Simback on an individual basis with questions and then have it for formal adoption next Tuesday night. Council concurred. Upon question by Mr. Dougherty as to whether the plan as modified agrees with the local planning authority Land Use Plan, Mr. Simback stated he would not say it agreed 100 percent; the major differ- ences are with regard to two primary Land Use designations. One is the area on South Federal Highway south of S.E. 3rd Street which the plan proposes to be designated Highway Commercial; the local planning agency recommends General Commercial. The second conflict is the area on N.E. 4th Avenue north of Atlantic Avenue which the plan proposes to be designated Commercial Trades; the local planning agency recommends General Commercial. A public hearing was held having been legally advertised in compliance with the laws of the State of Florida and the Charter of the City of Delray Beach, Florida. James Bowen asked who determines the priorities of the plan as they are put into effect and if there is disagreement on those priori- ties how does the public state their case. Mayor Campbell advised he presumed it would be the CRA which will be the ultimate funding source. There will be published public meetings. Alice Finst, 707 Place Tavant, asked what is going to happen to the children's playground area at Veteran's Park; from the plans shown there didn't seem to be indication of any recreational activities being left. She urged that the children's activities be kept there somewhere in the area. Rev. Semmie Taylor stated there was no indication on what was going to take place on S.W. 5th Avenue. Mr. Simback advised that the plan recommends that the area on S.W. 5th between 1st and 2nd Streets be redesignated as Limited Commercial which would allow for some neighbor- hood oriented commercial development in that block. -2- 9/2/86 Sam Schwimer, Pines of Delray, stated the plan seems to him to be a step in the right direction to improve the City; however, there are two points he would like to make. He objects to the mention of provid- ing a hotel at Atlantic Avenue and 1-95 and also the idea of extending auto dealerships in the City. Rosetta Rolle, 301 N.W. 3rd Avenue, questioned having a public hearing tonight without the modifications; also, this being Election Day a number of people could not come. Mayor Campbell advised there is going to be another chance for additional input. Elizabeth Matthews, 1024 White Drive, stated she has a very strong feeling about the continual affirmation from all sources of enough parking in downtown; she hears from so many people that the reason they don't shop downtown is because there isn't enough parking. She would hope consideration would be given to a couple of parking garages. Paul Spizer, businessman on Atlantic Avenue, stated as he looks around he sees practically no businessmen here; he spoke to several people today and they knew nothing about the meeting. He questioned the method of advertising the meeting and asked how he could get a copy of the CRA booklet. Charles Ostrow, N.W. 20th Avenue, suggested that perhaps a way to get the business people involved would be to have the Chamber of Commerce inform the members of their association. Sandy Simon stated he wished to applaud the plan; perhaps he disagrees with some of the minor issues but felt it is critically important for Council to vote positively for this fundamentally. Upon question by Mr. Bird, Mr. Simback advised that the future of downtown Delray Beach is contingent on keeping the retail community healthy and also in the process of doing that fusing the downtown with a fairly large increment of residential and commercial office space development. It is important to improve the appearance and marketabil- ity of the downtown. Mr. Dougherty asked where the slum or blighted areas are addressed with respect to residential development. Mr. Simback stated they have added a whole new series of objectives with regard to housing; one of those objectives is that the Redevelopment Plan address itself to increasing the number of low to moderate income housing units. The Housing Authority and the Community Development Department, through their two major pilot programs, are providing a fairly adequate supply of single family homes in excess of 300 units onto the market over the next two to three years and the Redevelopment Agency will address itself specifically to multi-family units. They recognize the problem and recognize that an important objective of this plan is related to housing and they would think that as this process gains momentum, meaning gains return on the investment made in the early years, that housing programs would become more and more important. Upon question by Mr. Dougherty with regard to the difference between the consultant's space requirement projections versus what he read in the ERA study, Robert Cohn, Planning Director, stated that essentially the difference between the two studies is that the Mitnick study addressed the need for general office in the City and the ERA study is responding particularly to professional office and even more so to the need for professional office space in support of the Courthouse. It was their thought that perhaps ERA was being a little bit over- zealous. Discussion followed. Mr. Simback stated the CRA has discussed both the alternatives and has not expressed a preference for several reasons; one is they have not gotten into any site specific study at this point in time. With regard to development of relocation procedures and policy, Mr. Simback advised that the Community Development Department follows the uniform Relocation and Land Acquisition Act which does specify what those settlement procedures are. 'The CRA is not planning any reloca- tions with the exception of those already discussed with regard to the future Courthouse expansion. -3- 9/2/86 Mrs. Horenburger stated she has some questions on the highway commercial and the view toward the change at N.E. 4th Street and N.E. 2nd Avenue; she would like to ask that if and when this document is passed and we begin to look at actual zoning considerations with regard to the plan, if we might not first have more community input from the various interests within the CRA plan. She felt that some very specific needs assessment should be done with regard to the actual zonings and rezonings that might accompany this plan. Mrs. Horenburger left the Council Chambers at this time. Upon question by Mr. Weatherspoon with regard to the number of copies of the plan and where they can be picked up, Mr. Simback advised they are having some additional copies printed and they will be avail- able either in the City Clerk's Office or the CRA office at the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Weatherspoon stated he believed provision should be made in the plan to be able to set aside or utilize a certain percentage of the funds as they are generated for rehabing or housing. Mayor Campbell requested that either Mr. Lynch or Mr. Simback get with him in the upcoming week; he has some considerations and questions. Mr. Bird moved to continue the public hearing to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, September 9, 1986, in the Council Chambers, seconded by Mr. Weatherspoon. Upon roll call Council voted as follows: Mr. Bird - Yes; Mr. Dougherty - Yes; Mr. Weatherspoon - Yes; Mayor Campbell - Yes. Said motion passed with a 4 to 0 vote. Mayor Campbell declared the meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M.  ~~C i ty Clerk ATTEST: MAYOR The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach and that the information provided herein is the minutes of the meeting of said City Council of September 2, 1986, which minutes were formally approved and adopted by the City Council on ~,~. f~! /F~ NOTE TO READER: If the minutes that you have received are not completed as indicated above, then this means that these are not the official minutes of City Council. They will become the official minutes only after they have been reviewed and approved which may involve some amendments, additions, or deletions to the minutes as set forth above. -4- 9/2/86