2007.02.14_PB_Minutes_RegularTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
• PLANNING BOARD
REGULAR/PUBLIC HEARING MEETING
Wednesday, February 14 2007 9.30 a m
Chairman Leonard O. Townsend called the Regular Meeting to order in Commission
Chambers at 9:30 a.m. Present were Chair Townsend, Louis Stern, Victor Hadeed,
Leonard Bell, Marie Marchesani, Ken Tapman and Patricia Pembroke. Also present was
Town Attorney Tom Sliney and Building Official Bob Dawson.
Chair Townsend distributed a proposal for a Town Meeting to consider the
Comprehensive Plan, matters of aesthetics and the powers and duties of the Highland
Beach Planning Board (attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.)
Chair would like to arrange for a meeting or series of meeting be held to decide what
"legacy" do we want to leave to residents in Highland Beach. It's an idea and open to
discussion. Mr. Sliney noted that the Town does have a Comprehensive Plan.
OLD BUSINESS
PRELIMINARY REVIEW FOR 12,000 LB., FOUR POST BOAT LIFT FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 1107 RUSSELL DRIVE #A, LOT 17. OWNER: JOSEPH P. CORY.
APPLICANT: BOCA DOCK & SEAWALL.
Chairman noted that the Planning Board originally considered this application at its
November 8, 2006 Regular Meeting and its December 13 Workshop Meeting. There was
question as to whether a 75 degree requested angle is considered parallel or
perpendicular docking. Legal consultation concluded the 75 degree was considered
more perpendicular than parallel
Recording secretary noted for the record that all criteria had been met to call an
advertised Public Hearing. All who would speak were sworn in.
Ken Wells, Boca Dock & Seawall, spoke about the docking at 75 degrees:
. Easier to bring boat into navigational channel and dock at property
. Will not cause navigational hazards to other vessels
. Will enhance view corridor as opposed to parallel parked boats
. Enhance property values by allowing space to dock a larger boat than by parallel
parking
. Boats will not. encroach on others property.
Mr. Cory spoke and noted that his primary purpose to put lift in is safety, due to the
many storms we have experienced. Moving boats to the center of the canal and tying
them off to each side of the canal is a major effort. It was noted that Ken Wells has
received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency for both state and federal
• regulatory jurisdictions. Mr. Sliney asked Mr. Wells if these approvals have been
Planning Board
• February 14. 2007 Page 2 of 4
submitted to the Town as part of the package. Mr. Wells noted no, and Mr. Sliney asked
him to do so.
The following residents expressed their opinions for or against application:
1. Sadie Spadafina, 1105 Russell Drive [Against Application]
(blocked views)
2. Deloras Gardellas, 1106 Bel Air Dr. [Against]
(will hamper navigation/look like amarina/presented a petition for the record)
3. Damon Benedict [For]
(supports for safety reasons from hurricanes/navigational purposes for parking)
4. Adrian Valvade, 1027 Russell Dr. [For]
(good selling point/wide canal; should not be a navigational issue)
5. Greg Norheim, 1103 Russell Dr. [For]
(Lt. in marine patrol/safety issue from storms/parallel parking creates trespassing on
neighboring property/DEP approved)
6. Kimberly Norheim, 1103 Russell Dr. [For]
(Two separate issues -boat lift and perpendicular parking. Would like to do the same
thing/canal is wide enough to navigate/problems of encroaching and tying off on
neighboring property.
7. Ciccarone; 1107 #B Russell Dr. [For]
• (The second applicant, asked to clarify if the Board was going to consider application
as two separate issues, because if they did not approve perpendicular docking, would
they approve at lease a boat lift at the parallel angel. Chairman noted that the
application was being considered as a whole package.)
8. Greg Bowen [For]
(canal currently has two perpendicular lifts at end of canal)
9. Gram Guthire [Against]
(precedence it sets/safety, aesthetics, density/unattractive appearance especially if
other boat owners choose to do the same thing)
0. Lee Yaffe, 1020 Bel Air Dr. [For]
(safety issue with parallel docking)
11. George Sax, 1118 Bel Air Dr. [For]
(doesn't increase density/will help for safety)
Against - 3 For - 8
Chairman Townsend commented that some feel the pilings are "ugly" and equate. to a
parking lot. Therefore the Board needs to consider two things. On one hand we have
a situation where we are going to consider whether we should allow something that is
not as nice; i.e. if you park a boat parallel, you don't have much of a view, but when that
boat is not there, you can see the canal. On the other hand if you have a four post/boat
lift, it is safer for hurricanes, but when that boat is not there, you still have these ugly.
• pilings sticking out of the water.
Planning Board
• February 14, 2007 Page 3 of 4
The Planning Board will make a recommendation to either approve, disapprove or
approve with conditions this application fora 12,000 Ib. four post boat lift
Consider whether to recommend approve for 75 degree 4 post boat lift for property
located at 1107A Russell Drive, lot 17, Joseph Corey.
Ms. Marchesani would like to go on a site inspection. Mrs. Pembroke would like to
consider proposal but to limit the size of allowed boats to 30 or 35 feet. Mr. Sliney
commented that a precedence set may not occur due to the changing of board members
who may not remember this particular incidence. If the Board wanted a binding
regulation, a change in the zoning code would be needed. It was noted that this is a
special exception due to the applicant requesting a 75 degree angle of the boat lift.
Mr. Sliney noted that because of the angle of the boat lift, the Board is talking about this
under the special exception section of the code. Mr. Sliney recommend the Town
Commission .study this and look at the existing conditions. The Board postponed a
decision until they could conduct a site visit. A date of February 28 was selected for a
site visit and meeting.
The following MOTION was made by MR. TOWNSEND/MRS. MARCHESANI:
• ADJOURN CONSIDERATION OF BOTH FINAL REVIEW FOR 12,000 LB., FOUR POST
BOAT LIFT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1107 RUSSELL DRIVE #A, LOT 17.
OWNER: JOSEPH P. CORY AND 1107 RUSSELL DRIVE #B, OWNER: FRANCIS J.
CICCARONE UNTIL WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2007 AT 9:30 A.M. FOR A
WORKSHOP MEETING, ADJOURN FOR BOTH SITE VISITS THEN RECONVENE FOR
CONSIDERATION OF BOTH APPLICATIONS.
The following rollcall vote was taken:
Hadeed yes
Stern. yes
Pembroke yes Motion carried
Tapman yes
Marchesani yes
Townsend .yes
With no further business to come before the Board, MOTION to adjourn was made by
MR. TOWNSEND/MR. HADEED at 11:50 A.M.
•
Planning Board
February 14. 2007 Page 4 of 4
APPROVE:
Leonard O. Townsend, Ch.
Leonard D. Bell
Victor P. Hadeed
Louis P. Stern
Patricia A. Pembroke
Ken Tapman
Marie Marchesani
Attest: ~ : mate: ~-l/-C~
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