1. Call to Order

 Chair Parramore called the meeting to order at 6:03PM.   

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Commissioner Roberts led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U. S. Flag.

3.

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS – ROLL CALL 

Roll was called by Deputy Clerk Sara Green.

Rev. Dr. Joe Parramore                 PRESENT

Lori Bouie                                           PRESENT

William Chukes                                PRESENT

Eugene Sherman III                         PRESENT

John Youmans                                  PRESENT

Tracey Stallworth                            PRESENT

Wayne Williams                              PRESENT

Charles Hayes                                   ABSENT

Anthony Powell                               ABSENT

Charles Roberts                                PRESENT

Karema Dudley                                 ABSENT

4.

Approval of Minutes- November 18, 2021

A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SHERMAN AND SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR BOUIE. THE MOTION WAS VOTED ON VIA ROLL CALL VOTE AND PASSED 7 TO 0.

Rev. Dr. Joe Parramore                 YES

Lori Bouie                                        YES

William Chukes                                YES

Eugene Sherman III                         YES

Tracey Stallworth                            YES

Wayne Williams                              YES

Charles Roberts                                YES

5.

DISCLOSURES AND DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS

Darrin Tayler- 215 S. Monroe Suite 500- Agenda Item 8

Robert George- 1967 Commonwealth Lane- Agenda Item 9

PUBLIC HEARINGS

6.

PUBLIC HEARING (LEGISLATIVE)- Pat’s Grocery (4901 Bainbridge Highway, Quincy Florida 32333) Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment (SSPA 2021-03)

 County Attorney Clayton Knowles excused himself from the item and said his colleague, Ms. Opal McKinney-Williams, would be the legal representation.

 Principal Planner Justin Stiell came before the Board to introduce the item. 

               “The active use on the site is a convenience store. The applicant seeks to amend the Future Land Use Map “FLUM” designation of a 1.00-acre parcel from Rural Residential and Public/Institutional to Commercial future land use designation (Attachments #1). This amendment is a small-scale map amendment per §163.3187, Florida Statutes. The application indicates that “The land use amendment is proposed to allow the Future Land Use designation to match the current use of the property which is commercial” (Attachment #3). The parcel is located along State Road 267 (4091 Bainbridge Highway, Quincy Florida 32333) (attachment 1). The current use as a convince store is nonconforming to the Rural Residential and Public/Institutional FLU. Policy 1.3.3 allows for non-conforming uses to remain until they are

discontinued, abandoned, or substantially changed. The intent of the Commercial future land use category is to provide for general commercial activities (attachment 2). The designation criteria for the commercial FLU is along a collector or arterial roadway, as designated on the functional classification of Roadways Map in the Transportation element of the Gadsden County Comprehensive Plan. The minimum area for a Commercial use (convenience store) is 1 acre (43,560 sq. ft.) the proposed amendment would allow for the current use to be consistent with the Future Land Use designation.”

Mr. Stiell said the Planning Department suggests Option 1- Recommend approval of the Pat’s Grocery (4091 Bainbridge Highway, Quincy Florida 32333) Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment (SSPA 2021-03).

  Mrs. Beatrice Pruitt, 104 Makayla Lane, Quincy, FL, came before the Board to speak against the item. She said she believed it would be a negative impact to the property value.

 Mrs. Elva Peppers, Florida Environmental Land Service, 221-4 Delta Court Tallahassee, came before the Board and stated she is representing the applicant, the Patels. She said there was not a proposed change to the building being a convenience store but rather just bringing it to up to code.

 Vice Chair Bouie stated that the citizens were concerned other commercial activity will come if this request is granted. She asked Mr. Stiell what the likelihood of that happening was. Mr. Stiell replied that if that were wanted, the applicant would be class 2 type 2 and would have to come back before the Board. 

 Commissioner Stallworth asked if there is any use for this in the future if it’s changed? Mr. Stiell said no, however, some are worried the building will be an internet café. Commissioner Stallworth asked how many internet cafes in the county? Mr. Stiell said he is unsure.  

 Mr. Stiell said as of now the applicant’s building is of nonconforming use which is why there is the need for a change.

 Commissioner Sherman asked if this were to be granted, was there any grandfathering type situations with this? Mr. Stiell said according to policy 1.3.3, yes.

  Vice Chair Bouie asked if the applicant can continue operating now without any updating. Mr. Stiell said yes.

 Commissioner Stallworth said he felt this was an enigma because the citizens living there did not know what it could possibly be and could bring property value down. 

 VICE CHAIR BOUIE MADE A MOTION FOR OPTION TWO TO DENY AND COMMISSIONER CHUKES MADE THE SECOND.  THE BOARD VOTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE.

Rev. Dr. Joe Parramore                 YES

Lori Bouie                                           YES

William Chukes                                YES

Eugene Sherman III                         YES

Tracey Stallworth                            YES

Wayne Williams                              YES

Charles Roberts                                YES

7.

 Public Hearing (Quasi-Judicial)- Tracy’s Earth Angels Conceptual/Preliminary Site Plan (SP-2021-05)

  Justin Stiell, Growth Management Director, introduced the item.  He said this was for consideration of an application to approve a Conceptual/Preliminary Site Plan for the proposed childcare facility Tracy’s Earth Angels and gave the background regarding this item.  He said the applicant proposes establishing a 1716 square foot childcare facility, with associated parking, vehicular use area, and driveway.  The development site is 1.03 acres in area and located at 711 Adolphus McMillan Road, Chattahoochee, Florida.  He added the proposed development appears to comply with the required setbacks for non-residential uses.  However, the right of way and sent back from the center line of the right of way have not been labeled.

There was no one present to speak on this item.

 VICE-CHAIR BOWIE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE OPTION ONE AND COMMISSIONER STALLWORTH MADE THE SECOND.  THE BOARD VOTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

Rev. Dr. Joe Parramore                 YES

Lori Bouie, Vice-Chair                    YES

William Chukes                                YES

Eugene Sherman III                         YES

Tracey Stallworth                            YES

Wayne Williams                              YES

Charles Roberts                                YES

8.

Public Hearing (Quasi-Judicial) – Midway Business Park (DA 2021-01) consideration of Ordinance #2021-012 amending the Gadsden Station Development of Regional Impact and approval of the Midway Business Park Development Agreement consistent with Chapter 163 Florida Statutes

 Justin Stiell, Growth Development Director, came before the Board to introduce the item.  He said this was to consider ordinance number 2021-012 to remove the Anderson Columbia Property from the Gadsden Station Development of Regional Impact and to approve the Midway Business Park Development Agreement between Gadsden County and the developer, Anderson Columbia.

 Darrin Taylor, 215 S Monroe St., Suite 500, Tallahassee, FL  32302, Esquire, appeared before the board and stated he represented Anderson Columbia.  He said this property is located at U.S. 90 and Interstate 10 and is an ideal place to have an industrial park.  He said Gadsden county’s economic development agency was a very strong supporter of this project and was one of the prime locations to have economic development.  He said the roads have been built and is considered a “Shovel ready site”.   The final plat was approved 2 years ago.  They were asking to simplify the agreement with the following amendments:

1.       Remove all of Anderson’s property from the DRI boundary as well as other smaller adjacent properties;

2.       Delete the DO conditions the only impact the Anderson Property;

3.       Reduce the industrial DRI entitlements by 600,000 square feet which is the maximum amount of development envisioned for the Midway Business Park; and

4.       Revise the DRI acreage and entitlements to reflect a prior DRI amendment approved by the City of Midway.

 Commissioner Sherman that he was concerned about the traffic on Brickyard Road, would that be impacted.  Mr. Taylor said the Development Order was approved for much more development than was ever built there.  He said transportation mitigation was what the commissioner was referring to and he explained.

 Chair Parramore said in the event that development rose there to the level it would require a traffic study, that would have to be part of the application process?  Mr. Stiell responded yes.

 COMMISSIONER SHERMAN MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE OPTION ONE AND COMMISSIONER ROBERTS MADE THE SECOND.  THE BOARD VOTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

Rev. Dr. Joe Parramore                 YES

Lori Bouie, Vice-Chair                    YES

William Chukes                                YES

Eugene Sherman III                         YES

Tracey Stallworth                            YES

Wayne Williams                              YES

Charles Roberts                                YES

9.

Public Hearing (Quasi-Judicial) – Havana RV Park Special Exception Use (SEU-2022- 01)

 Justin Stiell, Growth Management Director, came before the Board to introduce the item.  He said this was for consideration of a request for approval of a Special Exception Use for Recreational Vehicle Park as outlined in the report.  He said the Future Land Use for the proposed RV Park is designated commercial.  The proposed access to the site is along U.S. 27 and a Florida Dept of Transportation driveway permit will be required.  He said there were several design standards that had not yet been identified.  He explained the Special Exception Use Criteria for approval.  He said the planning staff recommended approval of the Havana RV park and there were no conditions included.

 Chair Parramore said he was trying to visualize where the property was located and asked if it was south of the lumber company? Mr. Stiell said he was unsure.

 Robert George, George & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., 1967 Commonwealth Lane, Tallahassee, FL appeared before the Board.   He said this property was located just south of Coastal Lumber Company.  He said it is a 19 bay RV Park and will have an onsite residential home.   

 Chair Parramore said they were not here to discuss the site plan and Mr. Steele said that was correct.      

 Commissioner Chukes asked if they would enter off Highway 27 and Mr. George responded yes.

 COMMISSIONER ROBERTS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND COMMISSIONER CHUKES MADE THE SECOND.  THE BOARD VOTED BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE.

Rev. Dr. Joe Parramore                                 YES

Lori Bouie                                                           NO

William Chukes                                                YES

Eugene Sherman III                                         NO

Tracey Stallworth                                            YES

Wayne Williams                                              YES

Charles Roberts                                                YES

GENERAL BUSINESS

10.

PLANNING COMMISSION DISSCUSSION- New Business

 Chair Parramore said he was going back to the first agenda item regarding Pat’s Grocery.  He hated to see anyone not have the ability to expand and grow their business while at the same time understanding the concerns of the citizens.  He said currently they were operating on a non-compliant land use piece of property and asked if it were possible, when an application such as that comes in for future land use, if they could gain a little more information and knowledge of what they planned or may plan to do with the existing property.  Mr. Stiell said they could ask the question but whatever response given would be the information they would have.  Chair Parramore asked if the land owner did not present anything in the application process and Mr. Stiell said no.

Chair Parramore then asked if Mr. Stiell had any new business for them.

 Mr. Stiell said they had a potential new member to the Planning Commission that will be presented at the next BOCC meeting.

 Commissioner Roberts said no business owner asks for an adjustment without a plan so in his eyes they have an intent.  

 Chair Parramore said as with the RV Park at Lake Talquin, they knew their intent.  It helps with discussion if there is insight.

 Commissioner Sherman said he had concerns with their enforceability.

Chair Parramore asked their next meeting.

  Mr. Stiell said they were going to look at what the best decision about meetings would be.  He said there had been very few meetings over the last few months and will look to see if there was a better time to meet.  Commissioner Bouie apologized and said she is coming in from work in Tallahassee and never know how heard they will end.  She said her intent is to be there but starting 15 mins later may give her the opportunity to be there on time.   Chair Parramore said he appreciated that but to dovetail on that, there are some commissioners that have not participated since the first meeting and asked if there was a Resolution for that.  Mr. Knowles said that was part of the ordinance and believed it said if after two meetings missed, they could be removed.  Chair Parramore asked who was responsible for that process, this commission or the BOCC?

  Commissioner Bouie said it needed to be the Board. Mr. Knowles read aloud a part of the Ordinance.

 Chair Parramore asked for the next meeting if he could get a list of all of the current commissioners and the attendance record for them? He said he knew some have not been participating.

 Commissioner Chukes said he missed the October meeting and since then, he has not received a packet.  Mr. Stiell said all of the Commissioners have been emailed for every meeting since October and the phone number they had in their file was not working and Mr. Dixon did provide them with a current phone number.  Commissioner Stallworth and Commissioner Bouie said they have not gotten theirs in months.  Commissioner Stallworth and Chair Parramore said they received theirs in the mail that morning.  Chair Parramore said they do receive links for the online agendas but he was “not spending my time, money, and ink” printing things.  

 Commissioner Williams said when he started the Commission last year, he had a schedule for meetings, he was emailed the packet two weeks in advance.  He said he did not mind printing, he just would like them in a timely fashion so he can go to sites and be able to prepare properly for the meeting.

 Chair Parramore asked what was needed to make a meeting schedule and if everyone was comfortable with Thursday nights at 6:00 p.m.  He asked if it would be helpful to change the time to 6:30 and would ever one be comfortable changing to 6:30?  The consensus was yes, they will meet the third Thursday at 630.

 Mr. Stiell said they strive to send out the packets at least 14 days in advance and was not sure what was going on that it was not happening.  Commissioner Roberts said his was mailed on the 8^th. 

 Commissioner Bouie said previously before he was there she had asked for a workshop to address the new board members and remind the old board members and what they should be doing.  Mr. Stiell said they would be getting one possibly two new board members and it would be a great opportunity to have the workshop at that time.

 Commissioner Sherman thought last calendar year they had discussed a few topics and asked if they still had the list.   Mr. Knowles said one was the Florida senate bills and they were going to go over quasi-judicial versus legislative.  Mr. Knowles asked when they would like to have the workshop? Set it now?

 Commissioner Chukes said there were a lot of things they were not familiar with and may not know the right questions to ask to get to a certain point.  Was there any way when the packets were being put together, if they could figure out the Commissioners may need to know more about the item and what the client was trying to do.  Mr. Knowles said he was hesitant to do that because he was supposed to be neutral in this and workshops would be best for that.

 Chair Parramore said with Pat’s Grocery deal, it is a very delicate balancing act that they ensure that the land use plan is compliant with the current use of the property while at the same time trying to accommodate the property owner as much as possible.  He said workshopping that issue would have been the perfect example where they may have gotten a little more information where they could have brought the land use in compliant with the current land use code.  He added everyone is not always going to get what they want.

   Bouie- would they have to come back before the board? Justin- yes. Clayton, some are in municipality ERI.

  clayton’s explanation of digital arcades and the land development code. Listen to Bouie’s question.

  clayton- workshops on basic ethics, quasai-judicial, what is expected or explained from applicants.     

  joe- workshop on the full process of an applicant/application. Clayton- good exercise, QJ need to make the analysis.

  Sherman discusses workshop possibilities. Quality instead of quantity in regards to workshop discussion matter.  Concerned with Future Gadsden. Jobs? Physically attractive?

9.

PLANNING DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

10.

NEXT MEETING-

  workshop? Sherman, look at the future schedule. Meeting don’t have things to be considered, make that a workshop. At staff discretion.  Joe- workshop at 5, meeting at 6:30.

  Bouie- lots of expired things on the books. Justin asks for list of previously requested workshops.

   Stallworth- won’t be here may 25-27^th.

11.

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

   motion adjourned at 7:29pm.