2019.04.10_PB_Minutes_Regular• TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
• PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
Town Hall / Commission Chambers Date: April 10, 2019
3614 South Ocean Boulevard Time: 9:30 a.m.
Highland Beach, Florida
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson David Axelrod called the Planning Board Meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. He asked
all present to please silence all cell phones/devices.
2. PRESENT UPON ROLL CALL:
Board Member Peter Rodis
Board Member John Boden
Board Member Warren Lewis
Board Member Evelyn Weiss
Vice Chairperson Michael Kravit
Chairperson David Axelrod
Town Attorney Brian Shutt
Town Clerk Lanelda Gaskins
ABSENT: Board Member Harry Adwar
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Board Members led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Chairperson Axelrod asked if there were any deletions or corrections to the Agenda. There
were none.
MOTION: Vice Chairperson Kravit moved to accept the Agenda as present. The motion
passed unanimously.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Chairperson Axelrod indicated Public Comments were limited to 5 minutes each. He asked if
there were any Public Comments.
Commissioner Evalyn David stated the proposed ordinance related to vacation rentals was
draconian and overbearing as currently proposed. She stated she hoped the Planning Board
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019
Page 2 of 12
would recommend an ordinance which served the needs of the Town, but was less demanding.
She stated visitors would not register as required by the proposed ordinance as this would
subject said visitors to harsh conditions.
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
There were no Minutes to be approved.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
There was no Old Business.
8. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Current Ordinance Requirements for Stormwater Management Presentation by
Building Official Jeffrey Massie.
Buildin$z Official Jeffrey Massie reviewed the goals of the presentation:
1) Discuss stormwater ordinance, 2) Review how an ordinance was currently regulated, 3) Review
how Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) regulations pertained to Town Ordinances, and
4) Identify opportunities for improvement and a method of compliance moving forward.
He reviewed basic terms:
1) Runoff, the volume of rainwater not contained within a property, 2) Seasonal high water table,
a measurement of the groundwater level below the ground surface, 3) Design water table, the
difference between ground elevations, 4) Design Storm Event, established by ordinance from the
FDOT Rainfall Intensity Curve, 5) Pervious versus Impervious, green areas vs paved/developed
areas, 6) Exfiltration Trench, a system of perforated pipe, rock, and fabric that acted as a
storage/percolation system for stormwater capture/treatment, and 7) Retention swales, green areas
which temporarily held stormwater to facilitate percolation/transpiration.
He stated the current Ordinance indicated Town property owners were required to capture the first
inch of runoff generated by a storm event. He stated any type of stormwater retention required
professional design by Civil Engineers. He reviewed how to calculate runoff measurements and
the various equations which could be employed. He noted it was important to keep things simple.
He discussed trench systems and hydraulic conductivity. He noted the Town followed the best
management practices recommended by FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) and
SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). He reviewed the different soil profiles
throughout the Town of Highland Beach including organics and sloped. He indicated there were
opportunities for improvement which included identifying properties currently not retaining the
first inch of runoff, notifying identified property owners of the need to retain the first inch of runoff
on private property, as well as the need to prevent runoff into the DOT right of way. He noted
developing a uniform method of compliance with the above regulations would be difficult. He
explained FDOT mandated avoiding runoff from driveways into the mainline roadway and
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 3 of 12
recommended trench drains. He stated FDOT standards were adopted into Town Ordinance under
section 2647. He stated the drainage system requirements were adopted in 1972 and referenced
runoff capture and swales. He reviewed the basis for determining design criteria to establish
natural stormwater capture in existing soils. He reviewed a simplified ground storage/runoff
equation, typical soil storage capacity east of AIA and west of AIA. He listed possible solutions
for drainage problems such as exfiltration trenches, removal of organics and re -sodding, and
identifying noncompliant properties. He discussed the rain event in February 2019 and displayed
graphs illustrating rainfall intensity and measurements. He displayed and discussed pictures of
flooded swales, vegetation encroachment, slope runoff, and areas of no swales along AIA. He
stated Stormwater requirements were written into Ordinance and adopted July 25, 2000; however,
the Ordinance regarding paving and right of way development had been in effect since 1972. He
noted evaluating all existing development would take time and Staff. He noted development prior
to the Stormwater Ordinance adopted in 2000 was not exempt from right of way regulations
according to the 1972 Ordinance adoption. He noted the greatest opportunity for improvement
was therefore in the right of way. He indicated FDOT right of way issues needed to be addressed.
He stated trees and other landscaping encroachments and grading which sloped towards the road
should be eliminated or a catch system should be installed. He noted permitting was required for
all activity in FDOT right of way. He noted the goal was compliance and voluntary compliance
was preferred. He stated he believed once residents were made aware of what could be done to
fix the issue many residents would willingly comply. He stated there were exceptional residents
in the Town of Highland Beach; he had witnessed resident's willingness to get involved and fix
issues and he believed the overwhelming majority would be willing to comply. He listed questions
to consider moving forward: was this a code issue, should a special magistrate be utilized, should
compliance be strictly voluntary, was a grading system required, etc. He stated he believed
professional engineering should be involved.
Chairperson Axelrod asked if the Planning Board should vote on recommendations to the
Commission. Member Rodis stated 95% of the Citizens voted against aggressive action and asked
if there was a less stringent solution to consider. Building Official Massie explained current
regulations for retention of the first inch of water was straightforward, but applied to new
development, or development into the right of way; therefore, as development continued and
permits were filed, stormwater drainage would be reviewed and regulated. He noted the problem
was in determining solutions for existing development. He noted even after all residents were in
compliance, there would still be drainage issues as Florida rain was excessive; however, the
situation would be much improved. He indicated individual homeowners needed to be made aware
of, and come into compliance with, the stormwater drainage regulation requirement.
Member Boden asked if it would be wise for the Town to do an inventory of noncompliant
properties. Building Official Massie responded in the affirmative; this could be accomplished with
a fair amount of Staff time and would be beneficial. Member Boden asked if this should be a part
of the process. Building Official Massie responded in the affirmative. Member Boden reported
on the west side there were two drainage systems, one at Toscano and one at the Highland Beach
Club. He asked if either of these drainage systems were functioning. Building Official Massie
responded he was unsure; the drainage systems would require evaluation by an engineer. He noted
the drainage systems were designed to capture 2.5 inches of stormwater. He noted Seagate to the
north had a massive trench capture system which was permitted prior to the 2000 Ordinance, but
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 4 of 12
functioned well. Member Boden stated steps needed to be taken to determine if drainage systems
were being properly maintained and who was responsible for drainage maintenance. Building
Official Massie stated property owners were responsible for maintenance. He stated drainage
system maintenance could be regulated through an Ordinance. Member Boden stated he believed
property owners would cooperate with maintenance requirements if aware of said requirements.
Vice Chairperson Kravit stated he felt it would be a simple matter to identify the problematic
properties simply by identifying flooding after a rain event. He stated requiring residents to fix
the retention areas could be costly and overbearing; however, as was done in many Towns,
property owners could be given a reasonable timeframe in which to comply. He suggested sending
code enforcement letters to the various property owners identifying the issues that were prohibiting
drainage and asking property owners to come into compliance within a certain time period such as
90 to 120 days. He stated the Building Official and Town Manager should regulate this. He noted
the more problematic concerns could be addressed through engineering. He stated he agreed
drainage system maintenance should be addressed and recertified or documented at regular
intervals. Building Official Massie agreed it was important to prioritize and determine a
reasonable time frame. Vice Chairperson Kravit stated condo associations changed from year to
year and tended to seek out the least expensive and not necessarily the best methods for
compliance. He stated this was not an insult, it was an observation. Building Official Massie
agreed.
Member Lewis asked about the sidewalks. He stated he noted in the 10 year event many sidewalks
were covered with substantial water, forcing residents to walk in the roadway. He asked what
caused the runoff on the sidewalks. Building Official Massie stated he was unsure, but would
opine the problematic sidewalks should have been built up higher; the soils on the west were less
pervious and did not allow the water to drain. He indicated he did not know the solution, but
suggested a rolling bring system, elevating the sidewalks, or installing pervious pavers. He
recommended obtaining a study to discover the best solution.
Member Lewis stated the Commission requested input from the Planning Board soon, especially
given the FDOT roadway improvement plans. He stated situations such as the sidewalk and
swales needed to be identified by professionals and addressed, and if not done would be extremely
problematic in the future. He asked the Planning Board to provide direction, possibly
recommending a pared -down solution regarding what was proposed. He stated zeroing in on the
drainage situation and sidewalk improvements might be useful. Building Official Massie noted
when it became a matter of Public Safety it was important to address the problem. He stated Public
Works Superintendent Pat Romano attended a seminar and had information regarding innovative
engineering methods for walkways. Member Lewis stated he wished to employ a comprehensive
approach moving forward.
Member Weiss stated she agreed with the prior comments. She stated she wished Building
Official Massie could make the same presentation at a Town Hall Meeting. She stated residents
had very short memories and tended to forget there was a flooding issue until it rained again. She
stated she wished the Town Commission would hurry as well. She noted residents wanted what
was best for the Town and this was a problem which needed to be addressed quickly.
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 5 of 12
Chairperson Axelrod thanked Building Official Massie. He noted Town Manager Marshall
Labadie was working with FDOT towards a roadway improvement design timeline for 2021 and
a work timeline of 2025. He stated first FDOT should be asked to fix the swales. He stated he
was a walker and he noted most sidewalk flooding was due to downhill slope and Code
Enforcement should get involved. He noted trench systems were relatively inexpensive,
approximately $10,000 dollars, and could be easily installed. He stated there were condo
associations with working trench systems. He expressed it was time to identify and address the
problems. He stated the Commission needed to review Code, possibly improve it, and the Planning
Board was willing to assist.
Chairperson Axelrod asked if there were any Public Comments.
Member Lewis stated he had heard many different deadlines regarding the FDOT road
improvements. He noted it was imperative for the Commission to establish firm deadlines the
Town could depend upon. He stated it was important to speak with FDOT and establish a firm
timeline which would enable the Town to create its own timeline and plan.
Commissioner David agreed planning was needed, and ordinance review was needed. She stated
the Planning Board was responsible for developing plans and making recommendations to the
Commission. She stated she understood FDOT would be evaluating the road in April 2019 and
had not established a timeline or parameters; this would happen after road inspection. She stated
it was imperative to plan accordingly knowing it might be some time before the plan could be
implemented.
Vice Chairperson Kravit stated the residents of the town voted against the proposed solutions
within the referendum. He stated the Town of Highland Beach had a Town Manager, Building
Official, Code Enforcement Official, and others, and he was not certain it was the Planning Board's
responsibility to create programs and develop plans. He stated the Planning Board was in place to
review plans, not to develop plans. He stated he believed an excellent Town Manager, Building
Official and Code Enforcement team were in place and -if there were areas along the sidewalks
currently flooding and causing Public Safety issues, this needed to be addressed through normal
Town operations immediately. He reported during the last storm he looked at the sidewalks and
there were some low areas of sidewalk which flooded and could be fixed by raising the sidewalks.
Town Manager Labadie reported he met with FDOT approximately a week ago regarding
FDOT's responsibilities. He noted FDOT intended to address some spot drainage issues, but
would not redo the entire right of way corridor. He indicated FDOT would make a pavement
analysis and as the pavement was in relatively good condition there would be no rush to complete
the 3R roadway improvement project. He noted FDOT had no intention to resume the repair of
the swales project as initially contemplated prior to fixing the road, but would fix drainage issues
as related to the road and sidewalks only to FDOT standards. He reported FDOT was willing to
partner with the Town and work cooperatively. He noted FDOT had not assigned a timeline for
the 3R project, but would develop a timeline over the summer, and most likely construction would
begin in 2024 or 2025. He explained FDOT's priorities with flooding events involved traffic and
vehicles, not pedestrians. He explained FDOT evaluated the percentage of the road under water
and the amount of time it took to drain to determine problem areas. He stated the 3R project was
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 6 of 12
a mill and overlay project, not a reconstruction project, and typically did not include stormwater
management systems. He noted if the Town wished to make improvements above and beyond
FDOT's minimum standards, this would be at the cost of the Town. He noted he would be meeting
with FDOT regularly and rebuilding relationships. He stated Building Official Massie made very
good points and he noted Code Enforcement was working on developing an appropriate amount
of enforcement which would not anger the public. He agreed residents would be willing to assist
once made aware of how to assist.
Town Manager Labadie noted Town was working on the Budget, including the Capital
Improvement Program. He noted issues had been identified within the sanitation system and he
felt it would be possible to make right of way drainage improvements alongside sanitation system
repair. He noted the Engineers were reviewing the sanitation system problems and developing
solutions. He explained a huge stormwater management system which kept all water out of the
right of way and road would come at a huge cost.
Member Boden inquired if there was enough time to develop a shared plan of action regarding
sidewalks with FDOT prior to start of construction in 2024 or 2025. Town Manager Labadie
explained FDOT had no interest in fixing the Town's sidewalks. He noted FDOT's willingness to
work with FDOT depended on the scope of the proposed project. He stated FDOT expressed
concern regarding the right of way improvements which encroached upon the roadway. He
reviewed the types of projects FDOT was willing and not willing to participate in. He noted FDOT
did not wish to upset property owners.
Chairperson Axelrod stated the Planning Board should make the recommendation (or motion) to
allow the Town Manager, Building Official and Planner work together and come back to the
Planning Board with recommendations.
Member Lewis asked if there were any plans to engage an outside professional engineering firm
to review stormwater drainage and offer solutions. Town Manager Labadie responded in the
negative. He noted it would be helpful to have baseline engineering data. He stated Staff would
not unilaterally make decisions, but would propose suggestions to the Boards and Commission.
He indicated in the process of building GIS data, better data would become available to help
determine what could be done and what the limitations were. Member Lewis noted a 95% vote
should not deter the Town from obtaining expert opinions and expert data. He stated if Staff did
not work towards disaster prevention he felt it would be a disservice to the Town of Highland
Beach.
Chairperson Axelrod agreed. He stated he hoped the Town would bring in a civil engineer to
address the drainage issues.
Member Rodis asked if there was a discussion with the City of Delray and City of Boca Raton
(indecipherable) 1:01:15. Town Manager Labadie noted a regional approach was important and
he would collaborate with other communities regarding climate resiliency and what other
communities were doing. He noted he had not communicated with his counterparts regarding
partnering on drainage solutions. He stated there would be opportunity to inquire about the 3R
project within neighboring municipalities and possible partnering.
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 7 of 12
Member Rodis mentioned in the past the City of Delray and the City of Boca Raton named the
Town of Highland Beach a private beach and excluded the Highland Beach from an improvement
project. He stated he felt the City of Delray and the City of Boca Raton had an obligation to
include the Town of Highland Beach in potential improvement projects.
Chairperson Axelrod stated the City of Delray was currently spending $376 million dollars to
correct flooding issues and did not need to take responsibility for the Town of Highland Beach.
He stated it was a good thing to be a private beach and retained certain beneficial rights as a private
beach.
Town Manager Labadie reported the City of Delray was working on a beach re -nourishment
project. He stated he had contacted the City of Delray's re -nourishment company regarding the
cost of re -nourishing Highland Beach, and the potential of savings if done in partnership with
Delray.
Vice Chairperson Kravit noted the last time the City of Delray re -nourished its beach Highland
Beach acquired a significant portion of sand due to the current pulling the sand south. He asked
where the Town stood with the crosswalk project.
Town Manager Labadie stated the Commission approved the task order to move forward with
KCI. The crosswalk project was officially underway and the engineers would begin developing a
strategy to present to FDOT this afternoon. He stated FDOT was willing to work with the Town,
but there were, of course, limitations. He stated he believed the crosswalks would be similar to
Deerfield's crosswalks: a pedestrian activated signal and two-way toggle, with a lighting system
embedded into the road and solar power. He noted one complication would be the required 4 foot
square landing pads, as some current cross walks landed in areas where construction of said landing
would be difficult. He noted FDOT could have additional requirements regarding landing
improvements. He explained "time is of the essence" was written into the task order and he hoped
to get the crosswalks installed this summer. He stated FDOT felt this was a bit ambitious, but he
was hopeful.
Chairperson Axelrod asked about the location of the similar crosswalks. Vice Chairperson
K gyjI responded the crosswalk on El Rio Trail, on Spanish River, was a good example of the type
of crosswalk which would be used. Town Manager Labadie concurred. He stated the current
crosswalks would not be realigned, no new crosswalks would be added; existing crosswalks would
simply be enhanced. Vice Chairperson Kravit noted lighting was poor in the area of the
crosswalks; it was difficult to visualize walkers. He asked Town Manager Labadie to consider
utilizing a system with LED lights which illuminated the crosswalk itself while in use.
Chairperson Axelrod asked if a motion was necessary. Member Boden responded in the
negative; he hoped the Planning Board had expressed its wishes and provided some direction for
the Commission through the discussion. He stated he hoped the Commission would understand it
was important to allow some expenditure for additional expertise to assist the team in planning.
Chairperson Axelrod stated it would be wise to bring back the RFP to employ a civil engineer.
Town Manager Labadie stated the RFP was terminated.
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 8 of 12
B. Discussion of the Proposed Ordinance Relating to Vacation Rentals.
Town Manager Labadie stated on March 26, 2019 Staff explained to the Commission there were
bills moving through the Legislature addressing vacation rentals, or "short term rentals." He noted
there was concern of Legislature setting preemption and as a result it was decided to put an
Ordinance in place to prevent Legislature from controlling Highland Beach's short term rental
regulations. He indicated he and Staff created a proposed ordinance in this regard due to
Commission interest; the Commission indicated Staff should bring the proposed ordinance before
the Planning Board for review. He noted Town Attorney Shutt had reviewed and commented on
the proposed ordinance. He explained the ordinance did not prohibit vacation rentals; the Town
legally could not prohibit vacation rentals. He explained the ordinance proposed a registration
process informing the Town where the vacation rentals were located and reviewed life -safety and
public -safety issues, inspections every two years, rental agents involved, application fees, parking
availability, etc. He stated the proposed ordinance was designed to ensure continued quality of
life in the Town of Highland Beach.
Chairperson Axelrod noted certain condo associations had rules regarding length of rental
occupation. He asked if he understood correctly the State Legislature and the proposed ordinance
would not change or modify condo association rules and regulations. Town Manager Labadie
responded in the affirmative; the ordinance mostly addressed single-family structures, beach front
properties, and possibly townhomes.
Town Attorney Shutt indicated State Law changed in 2014 to indicate local government could
regulate vacation rentals, but could not prohibit vacation rentals, nor impact the duration or
frequency of rentals. He noted the current proposed ordinance was as stringent as legally allowed.
He noted condo associations could regulate duration and frequency of rentals within its own condo
building.
Member Lewis asked if his condo association's three month rental duration rule could be changed
by Town or State legislation. Town Attorney responded in the negative.
Member Lewis asked about the local phone service requirement. Town Attorney Shutt responded
a hard phone line would be required within each rental unit if the ordinance was approved as it
was. Member Lewis noted the proposed ordinance required one parking spot per bedroom of
rental. He noted his three bedroom condo only had one assigned parking space. Town Attorney
Shutt noted this could prove problematic if the ordinance was not changed prior to approval.
Member Lewis asked if the pool of guest parking places could be included in the parking space
count. Town Attorney Shutt noted this could be considered. Member Lewis stated parking at his
condo was limited; he felt a one parking place per bedroom requirement was too stringent.
Vice Chairperson Kravit stated he felt a hardline telephone requirement was dated and would be
problematic. He stated the parking regulation was too restrictive needed to be reviewed closely as
it could open the Town to liability issues. He stated he agreed with the code inspections and fire
inspections. He noted in the proposed ordinance where it read "Florida Safety Code" and "Florida
Fire Code" it should read "Florida Fire Prevention Code" and should be changed. He noted
otherwise he approved of the proposed ordinance.
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 9 of 12
Member Boden asked how many Airbnb homes and other vacation rentals were currently
advertised for the Town of Highland Beach. Town Manager Labadie responded he did not know.
Member Boden stated it was important to ensure the ordinance was not overly restrictive and was
similar to other town's ordinances to prevent possible litigation.
Chairperson Axelrod asked if other municipalities had similar ordinances in place. Town
Attorney Shutt explained other municipalities had stricter ordinances in place prior to July 2011.
He noted when the law changed in 2014 ordinances similar to the proposed ordinance came into
effect. He explained he had reviewed other municipality's codes in beach front areas prior to
creating the proposed ordinance. Chairperson Axelrod asked if State Legislation, if passed, would
overrule local ordinance and wondered if the Commission should wait until State Legislation was
passed prior to considering the ordinance. Town Attorney Shutt explained it was impossible to
predict how the State Legislation would impact local ordinance. Chairperson Axelrod asked if
the State Legislative session ended May 1, 2019. Town Attorney Shutt responded that sounded
correct, but he was unsure. Chairperson Axelrod wondered if this item should be tabled until the
State Legislative session ended. He explained the ordinance could not be approved until after May
1, 2019. Town Manager Labadie explained often State Legislation included language which
indicated if a municipality had its own ordinance in place prior to a certain date the municipality's
ordinance would take priority; there was a risk to waiting until State Legislature passed prior to
approving the ordinance.
Vice Chairperson Kravit asked at what point a single -family -living condo building became a
transient living facility. He stated requirements for life safety devices and fire exits differed
between the two. Building Official Massie responded this was an excellent question. He reported
Ft. Lauderdale addressed the issue through creation of a certificate of use program. He stated the
Town could consider a similar certificate of use program to be adopted through ordinance.
Discussion ensued regarding the certificate of use program, balancing fire codes, would FPA be
enforced, high rise regulations compared to low rise regulations, lighting and stairwell
requirements, home owner versus condo association requirements, the certificate of use program
triggering change of use for a building, association laws versus local laws, and Building Code.
Commissioner David stated she felt the ordinance was too restrictive and residents would simply
not register through the Town. She stated if the Town wished residents to comply the ordinance
needed to be reasonable. She indicated it was important to inspect rental properties to ensure
safety; therefore, the ordinance should not have large fees and overbearing restrictions which
might prevent compliance. She stated it was unreasonable to require homeowners to report each
time a home was rented. Chairperson Axelrod indicated the ordinance required homeowners to
declare when the home was being rented. Commissioner David stated this would be extremely
problematic; homeowners would not want a public record of when said homeowners would not be
in residence. She explained this could increase the risk of a property being robbed or vandalized.
Chairperson Axelrod stated it was not a declaration when homeowners would not be in residence,
but a declaration of when a home was being rented by outsiders. He stated he was also concerned
about entities such as Airbnb, and wondered how Airbnb regulated rentals as compared to how the
Town wished to regulate. Commissioner David noted New York City was having problems with
Airbnb. She stated she felt requiring one parking space per bedroom was unreasonable and
requiring a land line was unreasonable; however, regulating rate of occupancy, for example two
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 10 of 12
people per bedroom, was not unreasonable. She stated this would prevent a large group of college
students from renting a three bedroom unit. She stated it was good for the Town to have control
regarding rentals, however, it needed to be reasonable control, not overbearing control.
Member Boden asked if a homeowner advertised on Airbnb or some other website, but was not
registered with the "town, could the homeowner be found in violation and tined. He asked if this
could be written into the ordinance as he believed this was a reasonable method of ensuring
compliance. Town Manager Labadie responded in the affirmative. He asked if the Town could
write an ordinance regarding rentals in general, be it short term or long term. He explained this
might prevent State Legislature from allowing the Town to regulate rentals as it deemed fit.
Chairperson Axelrod stated as a homeowner and a member of the Toscana HOA he would not
approve. He stated he believed this would be extremely problematic. Town Attorney Shutt noted
the Town could define regulated rentals as any rental with an occupancy time limit of less than 1
year.
Vice Chairperson Kravit asked if there was currently a problem with life -safety regarding
vacation rentals. He noted he had not heard of any issue. He stated he was concerned about the
Town adopting overly restrictive ordinances unnecessarily.
Member Boden stated he felt it was important to understand the magnitude of the problem prior
to any decision making.
Chairperson Axelrod stated he wished to know how many Highland Beach homes were
registered through Airbnb. He stated he would entertain a motion to recommend the Commission
table this item until more information was gathered regarding problems the Town faced, until the
restrictions were reduced, and until the State Legislative session was complete.
MOTION: Vice Chairperson Kravit moved to recommend the Commission table this item
until more information was gathered regarding problems the Town faced, until the
restrictions were reduced, and until the State Legislative session was complete.
Member Weiss seconded the motion.
Town Attorney Shutt asked if the Planning Board simply wished for more information prior to
making a recommendation. He asked if the Planning Board wished to direct Staff to gather
information and come back to the Board. Chairperson Axelrod stated he recommended the
Commission table this ordinance until more information was reviewed. Town Attorney
noted this item had not come before the Commission as of yet and therefore could not be tabled
by the Commission. Discussion ensued regarding the motion.
AMENDED MOTION: Vice Chairperson Kravit amended the motion: table the ordinance
until further information was received and recommend the
Commission await discussion until further information was
reviewed by the Planning Commission. Member Weiss seconded
the amended motion.
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019
UPON ROLL CALL:
Vice Chairperson Kravit - Yes
Member Weiss - Yes
Member Rodis - Yes
Member Boden - Yes
Member Lewis - Yes
Chairperson Axelrod - Yes
Motion carried 6 to 0.
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Page 11 of 12
Town Clerk Gaskins announced a Town Commission Workshop Meeting would be held on
April 30, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. She asked if the Planning Board Members were available on
Wednesday May 8, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for a potential Planning Board Meeting. She called for
availability via roll call:
UPON ROLL CALL:
Member Rodis
- Yes
Member Boden -
Unsure
Member Lewis -
Yes
Member Weiss -
Yes
Vice Chairperson Kravit
- Yes
Chairperson Axelrod
- Yes
She stated a Planning Board Meeting would be held May 8, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Chairperson Axelrod reported it had been suggested the Planning Commission hold meetings
during the late afternoon/evening hours, such as 5:00 p.m., to enable more citizens to attend. He
asked the Planning Board for thoughts and availability. He asked if this would be problematic for
Staff. Town Manager Labadie responded he believed if it was necessary Staff would attend a 5:00
p.m. meeting; there might be problems for part time staff. He noted a 5:00 p.m. meeting would be
less problematic than a 7:00 p.m. meeting. Member Boden stated he preferred 9:30 a.m.,
otherwise, the Planning Board did not express difficulties with a 5:00 p.m. meeting time.
Planning Board Regular Meeting Agenda
April 10, 2019 Page 12 of 12
10. ADJOURNMENT:
Chairperson Axelrod called for a motion to adjourn at 11:23 a.m.
MOTION: Member Lewis moved to adjourn. Member Weiss seconded the motion, which
passed unanimously.
Me Meeting was adjourned at 11:23 a.m.
APPROVED at the May 8, 2019 Planning Board Meeting:
ATTEST:
Transcribed by: TEI/he
QanedGaskins, MM Date
Town Clerk