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1988.02.10_PB_Minutes_Regular• February 10, 1988 TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA PLANNING BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MINUTES 9: 30 A.M. Chairman Rome called the Regular Meeting of the Planning Board, Town of Highland Beach, Florida, to order in the Commission Chambers at Town Hall at 9:30 A.M. The Recording Secretary called the roll. Present were Chairman D. R. Rome, Vice Chairman J. E. Ward, Regular Members M. A. Waldman, A. Leng, A. R. Keller, and Alternate Member R. M. Gregerson. Absent from this Regular Meeting was Alternate Member A. J. Harbin. Also present at this Regular Meeting were Town Attorney D. K. Friedman, Recording Secretary A. M. Kowals and members of the general public. MOTION by Vice Chairman Ward/Mr. Waldman to accept and approve the Minutes of the January 13, 1988, Regular Meeting and the January 20, 1988, Special Meeting of the Planning Board as submitted received favorable votes from all Members. NEW BUSINESS The Planning Board Members briefly discussed the Florida Inland Naviga- tion District (FIND) property which is indicated on the Town map as GSD (Government Service District). Chairman.Rome advised the Members that FIND is ready to dispose of land for recreation or passive and has offered property to (in this order) the State, County and Municipality who are allowed fifty (50) days to acquire said property without any charge whatsoever. If the government (i.e. Highland Beach) owns the property, they do not pay taxes on it. The Town feels the property being offered is on the Hoffman Tract which is Town Lot 63 on the Town map. Following the discussion, the Planning Board Members agreed there should be more open space in Town and the density and growth should be controlled. It was the consensus of the Board that there was no reason why the Town should not accept a gift from the State and a memorandum to that effect, from the Planning Board, should be sent to the Town Commission. Mr. Waldman noted the Town has no zoning for recreation use and it is his feeling the Town should designate the GSD property "R" for recrea- tion use only so that nothing (except those things for recreation use only) can be built on that land. Mr. Waldman suggested it would be ap- propriate, at this time, to recommend to the Town Commission that the Town have an "R" designation. • I PLANNING BOARD Regular Meeting - Minutes • February 10, 1988 Page 2 of 5 Chairman Rome noted the Planning Board is doing a land study where a recreation area can be included; we will make a recommendation to the Town Commission saying we discussed and approve the Town accept this land from the State. Upon proper MOTION made by MR. WALDMAN/MRS. LENG a roll call vote which resulted as follows was taken. Mrs. Leng 'aye' Mr. Waldman 'aye' Mr. Keller 'aye' Mr. Ward 'aye' Mrs. Rome 'aye' At this time, Chairman Rome welcomed the newly appointed Regular Member, Arthur R. Keller, to the Planning Board. OLD BUSINESS The next agenda item, said Chairman Rome, is the review, by the Planning Board Members, of the Elements of the Comprehensive Plan. Chairman Rome informed the Members that she attended a meeting at Town Hall at which Mr. Jim Park of Gee and Jenson was present. Mr. Park advised that all elements must be filed under Chapter 9J-5 of the Rules of the Department of Community Affairs (there is no reason to rush the process). The contract for this process, continued Chairman Rome, will is be done at the Town Commission level. Chairman Rome stated Mr. Lance De Haven Smith, Associate Director (FAU/FIU) Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems, will review the Town Plans to see if there are any discrepancies that have to be corrected. The Planning Board Members were in the process of reviewing the "TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE - PRELIMINARY ELEMENT DRAFTS: HOUSING, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE, CONSERVATION - DATED OCTOBER, 1987" when it became apparent that the manuals which were prepared and sub- mitted by Gee and Jenson were not consistent as many pages were missing. Also, the pages were not numbered; that made it difficult for the members to review the material. Members were unanimous in their deci- sion to halt the review and return the manuals to Gee and Jenson with specific instructions that they be properly updated or new manuals be submitted. At 10:40 A.M., Chairman Rome recessed the Regular Meeting of the Planning Board. Chairman Rome reconvened the Regular Meeting at 11:00 A.M. at which time the Recording Secretary reported that the Elements Manual in question was discussed with the Town Manager who advised a meeting with Gee and Jenson representatives was scheduled for the following day, at which time said manuals will be returned to Mr. Park for proper updating. is Chairman Rome acknowledged the Water Study dated 1/1/88, prepared by Vice Chairman Ward and asked if the Members had any questions regarding this study. PLANNING BOARD • Regular Meeting February 10, 1988 Page 3 of 5 Mr. Ward explained that the City of Boca Raton is our most likely source of water supply. With permission from South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), Boca Raton has taken steps to sink new wells. Boca Raton's present well and water treatment capacity is 70 mgd and 60 mgd respectively. Its SFWMD permit is for 39 mgd with current consumption at 35 mgd, representing 90% utilization. It is understood that the well expansion program approved by SFWMD will increase pumping capacity to 90 mgd. Continuing, Mr. Ward stated the Town Commission of Highland Beach has written to the Boca Raton Council asking the provision of 2 million gallons of water per day. Mr. Waldman said there is a limit as to how much water (how many wells) can eventually be dug. We have a serious salt water intrusion factor. South Florida is a peninsula and it sits on salt water, continued Mr. Waldman. In a discussion regarding desalinization, Mr. Ward noted that it is similar to reverse osmosis and it is a very expensive process. SFWMD is pro reverse osmosis which is defusion through a membrane. Chairman Rome inquired if some sort of a membrane, which acts as some sort of a filter, is placed in the pump to keep the salt from coming through. Town Attorney Friedman stated Camp Dresser McKee recommended that was • not a viable method due to the prohibitive cost. Mr. Waldman noted that the water situation is a world wide problem; and, in Florida where there is the proximity to the ocean plus the overcrowd- ing, it is a real problem. You can dig wells but when you have salt water intrusion, you can not drink that water, continued Mr. Waldman. Mr. Keller stated the water is brackish which is slightly salted and the reverse osmosis cleanses the effect by backwashing. If the water is slightly salty, the Town Water Treatment Plant can handle it, said Mr. Keller. Mrs. Leng commented that the goals and objectives are big factors and asked Mr. Ward to give an analysis of what these goals and objectives of the Planning Board should be so the Members can then submit Mr. Ward's Water Report. When Mr. Keller advised the Water Report from Camp Dresser McKee is out, Town Attorney Friedman noted Mr. Ward's study was more correct. Mr. Ward said the Town should get something over 2 million gallons per day and be permitted to max out at 3 million gallons per day. It is a question of negotiating with Boca Raton and receiving approval from SFWMD for the withdrawal of the 3 million gallons per day. Mr. Ward noted the Town has taken the correct measure. Mr. Keller informed the Planning Board Members that the Town has entered • into a contract with James Montgomery Engineers and they have been instructed to contact Boca Raton regarding the Town's water request. PLANNING BOARD • Regular Meeting - Minutes February 10, 1988 Page 4 of 5 Mr. Ward noted that if the Town gets approval for 2 mgd with permission to withdraw 3 mgd, the Town would be okay with the present zoning as there are a total of 3,426 dwelling units in Highland Beach. Under the recently adopted new zoning and with the other zoning in force, Mr. Ward's report indicates the Town could go to 4,403 dwelling units. Chairman Rome and Members of the Planning Board thanked Vice Chairman Ward for his Water Study Report. Mr. Ward stated that in the course of his research for the Water Study, he came across a lot of discrepancies in the figures from Camp Dresser McKee and former Town Manager Williams. Planning Board Members were in receipt of the Traffic Study submitted by Mr. Bartlett (formerly a Regular Member of the Planning Board). Members were to review this Traffic Study prior to the Traffic Plan that is to be submitted by Gee and Jenson. Town Attorney Friedman noted that Mr. Bartlett's Traffic Study was originally used by a developer and the Town also considered that report for some of the data relating to the traffic counts; this particular consultant was to use the Treasure Coast Stand- ards which are a lot looser whereby a level "D" of traffic is acceptable. • Chairman Rome reminded the Members that the Public Hearing scheduled for February 24, 1988, at 9:30 A.M. is in regard to the application for a site plan review for five dolphin pilings. Chairman Rome informed the Planning Board Members that she tendered her resignation from the Planning Board as she will be serving on the Town Commission. Consequently, she will be unable to chair the next meeting. At this time, Mr. Waldman nominated John Ward to serve as Chairman of the Planning Board. Mrs. Rome seconded the nomination. Mr. Ward stated he will serve in the interim, but he wants the record to show that he does not want to be Chairman of the Planning Board. A roll call vote resulted as follows: Mr. Keller 'aye' Mrs. Leng 'aye' Mr. Waldman 'aye' Mrs. Rome 'aye' Mr. Waldman then nominated Mrs. Leng to serve as Vice Chairman of the Planning Board. Mrs. Leng declined the nomination. At this point, Mrs. Rome nominated Mr. Keller to serve in the capacity of Vice Chairman. Mr. Keller stated this is an entirely new culture for him and he suggested that he assist Mrs. Leng in that capacity. Mrs. isLeng then agreed to accept the position of Vice Chairman in the interim. r PLANNING BOARD isRegular Meeting - Minutes February 10, 1988 Page 5 of 5 A roll call vote resulted as follows: Mr. Ward 'aye' Mr. Waldman 'aye' Mr. Keller 'aye' Mrs. Rome 'aye' Upon proper MOTION, the Regular Meeting of the Planning Board was adjourned at 11:35 A.M. APPROVED: ��-�� D. R. Rome, Chairman if Ward, Vice Chairman M. C,,Waldman A t-t e A t : / Amelie ,Leng Date: A. R. Keller