Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

AGENDA AND NOTES

Citizens Growth Management and Planning Bill of Rights Workshop

March 17, 2015

4:00 p.m.

Present:               Brenda A. Holt, Chair, District 4

                                Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1

                                Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of Court

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                David Weiss, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

1.	WELCOME  Chair welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
2.	PRESENTATION OF EXISTING LANGUAGE IN SECTION 7001.1 OF THE GADSDEN COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE-CITIZENS GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING BILL OF RIGHTS a. History Allara Gutcher appeared before the Board and gave a brief history of the CBOR. b. Current language and process Part A-Citizen’s Growth Management Planning Bill of Rights-word “impacted” need to determine what and if impact would be. Morgan asked what impact be. Weiss suggested “impact” be taken out and all neighbors within ½ mile radius be informed. Part B-County does not maintain “Contacts for Neighborhood Association” list. “Impact”-when apartment complexes-who notified-residents or property owner-post a sign on property so residents would see sign. Taylor suggested when resident of apartment complex, send notice to “Resident of ____, Apartment 1A”, etc. Holt believed quite few things could be done on local level. Suggest clarification of second sentence, suggest strike last sentence Part C-Eliminate “unless all affected parties agree otherwise”. Part D-“Super Majority” clean up and use same language throughout. Part E-Statement unneeded. Part F-requirement should be located in pertinent section of Comprehensive Plan or LDC. Holt said to look at this section by section. A-Developers-does it include homeowner Mr. Presnell clarified the Land Development process. Dr. V asked since developers buy property more affordable, is there any that have decided not to go through this process. Allara said no-one had not personally told there CBOR was not reason they have not come to Gadsden County. Taylor asked if different terminology could be used for homestead property. There was discussion of how much property in the County was agriculture and what process would need to be used to split property among family members. Section B-who has to comply with neighborhood participation. Taylor said other factors in business not coming to county beside CBOR. Presnell said permitting is issue-fees and complication of permitting. V-need to seriously streamline permitting process. Hinson said county website based on 2000 census-needs to be updated because District 1 and 2 has dramatically increased since that census. Taylor asked attorney is anything could be changed without supermajority-no-takes supermajority.  Need to work together and be smart about it.   Need measures added to ensure developers notify surrounding citizens.  Look at Midway, growth was fast and now has sewer problems.  County does not have skilled workforce, businesses that do come bring in outside people to work, Safelite, Goodwill, Creek Entertainment. Dr. V asked for clarification-when given history of particular document, who is 1000 Friends of Florida and where come from Is state non-profit over-management group, watchdog group Morgan said discussion had been good and important to county-agriculture county and some people in county did not want growth, want to live in country.  Asked about gas tax-takes supermajority vote because impacts everyone in county.  For good growth, not all growth.  Allara said quasi-judicial hearing is where they are looking for site specific Commissioner Morgan stepped out. Morgan returned. Dr. V suggested workshop be continued and get language right to make county attractive for businesses to come in. Dr. V stepped out. Taylor said did not agree with not developing and folks not wanting to work.
3.	COMMISSION QUESTIONS/ANSWERS
4.	ADJOURN  Meeting adjourned at 5:39 p.m.