July 16, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission (2025-07-16)

CITY OF MOUNT DORA, FLORIDA PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES FOR JULY 16,2025

I. Call to Order

Having been duly advertised as required by law Chairman, Miles Beach called the regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission to order at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday July 16,2025.

II. Roll Call with Determination of Quorum

Present: Miles Beach, Adrian Coombes, Barbara Tietmeyer, Tom Dring, Harris Turner, Andrea Lother & Suzanne Scheck

City Staff and Attorney: Michele Janiszewski, Senior Planner; Ryan Winkler, Senior Planner; Whitney Scott, Administrative Coordinator; Andrew Hand, City Attorney

III. Approval of Minutes

The Staff stated that meeting minutes from June 18,2025 will be provided at the next regularly scheduled meeting on August 20,2025.

IV. Public Comment for Items Not on the Agenda

None.

Discussion on the Sunshine Law regarding public hearings. Mr. Hand stated that minutes have to be taken of public hearings but an audio recording is not required. There is no required time frame that minutes are required to be completed.

V. New Business

A. Request for Variance; Sara T Rhodes Life Estate (Project Name); 410 N Tremain Street (Site Address); Sara T Rhodes Life Estate (Owner); Eco Construction Group LLC (Applicant). Project No. VAR25-01.

Mr. Hand swore in Staff and the anyone present who planned to provide testimony on any of the agenda items.

Ms. Janiszewski provided a summary of the application and stated that, based on the findings of facts, staff found the application inconsistent with Land Development Code Section 2.1(6), the standards established to authorize a variance.

The Board had no ex-parte communications to disclose.

Lisa Smith stated that the structures are existing and approving the variance request would allow the proposed garage to utilize the existing concrete footprint which would save on construction costs. She stated that several properties along Tremain Street have accessory structures with a similar, reduced setback.

No members of the public wished to provide comments on the application.

Robert "Bobby" P. Rhodes of Eco Construction (Applicant), Lisa Smith of Eco Construction, and Tracey Rhodes (Property Owner) provided testimony on the application.

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Tracey Rhodes testified that the shed is falling down and needs to be rebuilt. The plan is to rebuild the shed and come back at a later date with a plan for a garage. She stated that along Tremain there are other non-conforming structures, including the house on the corner of 3rd and Tremain.

Ms. Scheck stated that she owns the property located at 3rd and Tremain and that the detached garage under construction meets the five (5) foot setback requirement.

The Board expressed concerns regarding the potential stormwater runoff caused by the variance request. Mr. Rhodes stated that all of the eaves will be guttered and everything with a flat surface will be guttered.

Discussion regarding withdrawing request for garage and breezeway. Mr. Rhodes stated they would like for everything to be done at one time.

The Board inquired whether or not the current setback was in place when the accessory structures were constructed. Ms. Janiszewski stated that she is unable to confirm what the setback would have been in the 1940s and she could not affirm whether or not the structures obtained building permits when they were constructed. She stated that both structures are considered non-conforming and may continue to be maintained but are subject to the non-conforming provisions and may not be expanded.

The Applicants clarified that they are seeking to remove the carport and accessory building and construct a garage and new accessory building in the previous footprints.

Mr. Rhodes provided a picture for public record (Exhibit A).

The Board asked staff if they were aware of any existing accessory structures which are also noncomplaint to their setback requirements. Ms. Janiszewski stated not to her knowledge.

The Board inquired about the purpose of proposed shed and the Owner stated that they would ideally like an extra bedroom.

Ms. Janiszewski provided clarification regarding a non-conforming structure and states that if the structure would be removed, the new structure would need to adhere to the current regulations.

Discussion on beautifying the accessory dwelling unit in the current footprint and the applicability of the non-conforming provisions. Staff stated that regular maintenance and interior alternations are permitted in a non-conforming structure and the variance request comes in when seeking to remove or replace the structure. Staff clarified that if the Property Owner was seeking to keep accessory structure in place and complete interior alternations, it would not require a variance.

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MOTION by Mr. Coombes, Seconded by Mr. Dring, to TABLE the application until the next Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting.

AGAINST: NONE

MOTION CARRIED: 7-0

B. Request for Future Land Use Amendment; 2100 Smith Avenue (Project Name); 2100 Smith Avenue (Project Address); Lindsley Paving Company (Owner); Lindsley Paving Company (Applicant). Project No. FLUM25-02.

Ms. Janiszewski provided a brief summary of the proposed application and stated that staff recommends approval with conditions of the above-referenced request for the Small-Scale Future Land Use Map Amendment and forward the same consideration to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Approval is subject to annexation.

Discussion on conditions of the recommendation. Staff clarified that annexation applications are only presented to City Council and the Applicant had submitted a rezoning application for the property as well.

Mr. Steve Young of Civil Design Solutions testified that they would like to develop the property as a whole and need to annex the subject property since the other property is already within the City. He stated that they would submit a site plan in the future encompassing their entire property and the subject property, which has previously been used as a borrow pit, would be redeveloped into a retention pond.

Ms. Karen Carver, a nearby resident, shared her concerns regarding dump trucks coming through her subdivision which would result in pot holes, nails, and other damages to the roads. She stated that Center Street and Smith Avenue are self-maintained roads and not made for traffic. She stated that the roads are not capable to support the proposed use.

July 16, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission — 2025-07-16. 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 10:00 AM