What were the most significant items on the Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission agenda for March 2024?

Q: What were the most significant items on the Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission agenda for March 2024?

· **Minneola locks down Live Local Act exposure:** Ordinance 2024-10 is a significant defensive measure — limiting Live Local projects to only I-1 and B-1 zoning districts, excluding PUDs, capping density at 8 units/acre, and capping height at 35 feet. This dramatically narrows where future Live Local projects can go, signaling the City learned from the Pointe Grande experience and is using every tool available to control future affordable housing placement. · **Downtown CRA gets permanent use restrictions:** The prohibition on bars, smoke shops, massage parlors, and payday lenders in the Downtown CRA signals Minneola's vision for its town center — family-friendly, retail/restaurant focused. This is character-defining regulation for the emerging downtown district. · **Sugarloaf PUD commercial relocation improves accessibility:** Moving the commercial parcel outside the gated community shows the PUD evolving to serve the broader community, not just residents behind the gate. This is a positive sign for commercial viability and neighborhood services. · **Swearing-in of Trujillo, Jackson, and Calderon:** Three members were sworn in at this meeting (having missed January), completing the board's annual reorganization.

Meeting Reading

Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission

March 4, 2024

5 items on the agenda

**Minneola locks down Live Local Act exposure:** Ordinance 2024-10 is a significant defensive measure — limiting Live Local projects to only I-1 and B-1 zoning districts, excluding PUDs, capping density at 8 units/acre, and capping height at 35 feet. This dramatically narrows where future Live Local projects can go, signaling the City learned from the Pointe Grande experience and is using every tool available to control future affordable housing placement.
**Downtown CRA gets permanent use restrictions:** The prohibition on bars, smoke shops, massage parlors, and payday lenders in the Downtown CRA signals Minneola's vision for its town center — family-friendly, retail/restaurant focused. This is character-defining regulation for the emerging downtown district.
**Sugarloaf PUD commercial relocation improves accessibility:** Moving the commercial parcel outside the gated community shows the PUD evolving to serve the broader community, not just residents behind the gate. This is a positive sign for commercial viability and neighborhood services.

On March 4, 2024, City of Minneola's Planning & Zoning Commission considered 5 agenda items. **Minneola locks down Live Local Act exposure:** Ordinance 2024-10 is a significant defensive measure — limiting Live Local projects to only I-1 and B-1 zoning districts, excluding PUDs, capping density at 8 units/acre, and capping height at 35 feet. This dramatically narrows where future Live Local projects can go, signaling the City learned from the Pointe Grande experience and is using every tool available to control future affordable housing placement. **Downtown CRA gets permanent use restrictions:** The prohibition on bars, smoke shops, massage parlors, and payday lenders in the Downtown CRA signals Minneola's vision for its town center — family-friendly, retail/restaurant focused. This is character-defining regulation for the emerging downtown district. **Sugarloaf PUD commercial relocation improves accessibility:** Moving the commercial parcel outside the gated community shows the PUD evolving to serve the broader community, not just residents behind the gate. This is a positive sign for commercial viability and neighborhood services.

CHANGE LENS

THE READINGmeeting record

City of Minneola Planning & Zoning Commission — March 4, 2024

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting Quorum: Yes (5 members present including alternates) Duration: ~56 minutes (6:30 PM – 7:26 PM)

Attendance

Present: Vice-Chairman Oscar Trujillo (presiding), Commissioner William McCoy, Commissioner Nathan Focht, Commissioner Leonard Jackson, Alternate Member Denise Calderon, Alternate Member Joanna O'Halloran
Absent: Chairman Jeff Henderson (excused by motion 5-0)
Staff Present: Mark Johnson (City Manager), Grant Watson (City Attorney), Eric Raasch (Contract Planner, Inspire Placemaking Collective), Joyce Heffington (City Planner), Corey DeVogel (Planning Technician)
Other: Kevin Carey (Advisor), David Yeager (Advisor), Councilor Debbie Flinn (Council Liaison)

Agenda Items

Item 1: Approval of December 4, 2023 and January 8, 2024 Meeting Minutes

Type: Other
Action: Approved
Vote: 5-0
Notable Discussion: None.

Item 2: Sugarloaf PUD Minor Developer Agreement Amendment

Type: PUD Amendment
Case Number: [not available]
Location: Sugarloaf PUD
Applicant: Matt Cuarta
Request: Relocate commercial parcel location within Sugarloaf PUD — current location is behind a gated community restricting access; proposed location would allow easier public access
Current Zoning: PUD
Proposed Zoning: PUD (amendment)
Staff Recommendation: Staff comfortable with request, subject to addressing any comments prior to council
Action: Approved with conditions
Vote: 5-0
Conditions: All future staff comments must be addressed
Notable Discussion: Vice-Chairman Trujillo asked about the reason for change; Matt Cuarta explained current commercial location behind gated community limits accessibility. Kevin Carey (Advisor) noted the new roundabout wasn't shown on proposal and asked about clarification on pod development flexibility and trail space.

Item 3: Hills of Minneola Town Center Preliminary Subdivision Plat (Tabled)

Type: Subdivision Plat
Location: Hills of Minneola Town Center
Action: Tabled to April 1, 2024 at applicant's request
Vote: 5-0

Item 4: Ordinance 2024-09 Prohibition (Downtown CRA)

Type: Ordinance
Case Number: 2024-09
Location: Downtown CRA district
Request: Permanent prohibition on smoke shops, massage parlors, payday lenders, bars, lounges, nightclubs, and establishments deriving 50%+ revenue from alcohol sales within the Downtown CRA district (excluding areas like the Hills)
Action: Approved
Vote: 5-0
Notable Discussion: Joyce Heffington noted a temporary prohibition was already in place; this would make it permanent. The prohibition is specific to the Downtown CRA district.

Item 5: Ordinance 2024-10 Live Local Act Regulations

Type: Ordinance
Case Number: 2024-10
Request: Establish comprehensive regulations for future Live Local Act projects including restrictive covenants, annual reporting requirements, income qualification standards, mixed-use development standards, and limiting Live Local applicability to Industrial (I-1) and Business (B-1) districts only — excluding PUDs and areas subject to development agreements. Density capped at 8 dwelling units/acre; building height limited to 35 feet.
Action: Approved
Vote: 5-0
Notable Discussion: Joyce Heffington explained this would not apply to current Live Local projects (Pointe Grande) due to timing of submittal and DRC meeting. The ordinance establishes extensive requirements: 40% affordable unit set-aside for 30 years, annual income reporting, 20% commercial floor area minimum for mixed-use, 20% open space, street-oriented design, and critically defines "commercial, industrial, or mixed use" zones as only I-1 and B-1 — effectively limiting where future Live Local projects can be built. Major transit stop defined as existing rail rapid transit only.

Public Hearings Summary

Number of speakers: 0
General sentiment: N/A
Key concerns: None raised — no public comment on any item

Key Signals

Minneola locks down Live Local Act exposure: Ordinance 2024-10 is a significant defensive measure — limiting Live Local projects to only I-1 and B-1 zoning districts, excluding PUDs, capping density at 8 units/acre, and capping height at 35 feet. This dramatically narrows where future Live Local projects can go, signaling the City learned from the Pointe Grande experience and is using every tool available to control future affordable housing placement.
Downtown CRA gets permanent use restrictions: The prohibition on bars, smoke shops, massage parlors, and payday lenders in the Downtown CRA signals Minneola's vision for its town center — family-friendly, retail/restaurant focused. This is character-defining regulation for the emerging downtown district.
Sugarloaf PUD commercial relocation improves accessibility: Moving the commercial parcel outside the gated community shows the PUD evolving to serve the broader community, not just residents behind the gate. This is a positive sign for commercial viability and neighborhood services.
Swearing-in of Trujillo, Jackson, and Calderon: Three members were sworn in at this meeting (having missed January), completing the board's annual reorganization.

Raw Notes

Meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM. Vice-Chairman Trujillo presided in Chairman Henderson's absence. Trujillo, Jackson, and Calderon were sworn in by Grant Watson. Joyce Heffington announced a monthly farmer's market at Minneola City Hall on the third Wednesday of each month, 5:00-9:00 PM.

[THE READING]meeting record