Board of Adjustment

                                                                                    Regular Meeting

                                                                                    June 28, 2007

 

***********************************************************************************************************

 

The Board of Adjustment of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida met in regular session on Thursday, June 28, 2007 in the Community Center, 509 Ocean Avenue, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 

Present were Chairman Robert Schaefer, Vice-Chairman David Wildman, Members Xochitl Ross and Alternate Member John Remark. Absent were Members Charles Tennant and Lou Failla.  Also in attendance were Town Manager Jim Bursick, Planning Official Dennis Ragsdale, Town Attorney Gary Sack, Building Official William Whitelock and Town Clerk Lenore Milan. 

 

Chairman Schaefer called the meeting to order. 

 

Approval of Minutes  

 

Member Ross amended the minutes to read seats rather than parking spaces, in the last paragraph on page one.

 

Vice Chairman Wildman made a motion to approve the May 24, 2007, Regular Meeting Minutes, as amended, which was seconded by Member Ross.  The motion carried unanimously by those members present. 

 

Public Hearing

 

Chairman Schaefer read the Special Exception Application for consideration, he noted that the

Special Exception Application 1 – 2007 was continued from the May 24, 2007 Regular Meeting. 

 

Special Exception Application 1-2007 Town of Melbourne Beach Land Development Code, Section 7A-36(d)(3), Special Exceptions:  Eating and drinking establishments.  The property is legally described as Lots 1 through 6, Exchwy R/W, Block 5, as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 58 of the Public Records of Brevard County, Florida.   

 

This application was submitted by Djon Pepaj, restaurant owner.  The subject property has a street address of 1009-1011 Atlantic Street, Melbourne Beach, FL  32951.

 

Chairman Schaefer stated that this application has been continued due to the fact that, at the last meeting, documentation was not submitted in a timely fashion, and that  if the Board does not have it timely, you will have to re-apply.

 

Town Attorney Sack stated that a motion was needed, nothing in the Code that supports not allowing you even if they submitted this late.  He said the Board should go ahead and continue to the next meeting.  There was a discussion regarding the process.

 

Mr. Cliff Repperger, 1800 W. Hibiscus, of Gray Robinson, P.A., representing Mr. Pepaj, stated that they did submit plans consistent with the Code, with the final seating capacity at 75.  He advised that he requested all the information on Boomerangs, which was responded to timely from the Town.  He then presented Document #1, a copy of the Board of Adjustment meeting minutes of June 6, 1989, when the matter was first considered for the restaurant purchase.

 

 

Mr. Repperger presented document #2, a copy of the Final Order of approval dated June 20, 1989, with conditions that the Planning and Zoning Board review the final site plan, and that it also be approved by the Town Commission, and that the parking lot meet all Ordinance requirements. With the July 11, 1989 recommendation for approval of the Town Commission by the Planning and Zoning Board.

 

Document #3 was a copy of the March 16, 1992 Planning and Zoning Board Minutes, stating that the applicant desired to build a two-story office building and a second story onto the restaurant.  He stated that, on page three, Chairman Campbell stated that he would call the Town Attorney to verify whether or not another Special Exception needed to be applied for.  It was continued to April 6, 1992.

 

Document #4 was a copy of agenda and minutes of the April 6, 1992 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting, in which Chairman Campbell states that this property is located in the 6-B zoning district and stated that a restaurant is a special exception in this district and the special exception will cover these expansions per the Town Attorney.

 

Document #5 was a copy of page 12 of the Town Commission meeting of April 15, 1992, in which Chairman Campbell stated that the Town Attorney through the Town Manager believes there is no additional special exception required to expand the use granted by a special exception.  The Town Manager stated that the applicant will meet the parking requirements as they currently are which is 56 spaces.

 

Document #6 was a copy of a Business Occupational License application dated October 31, 1994 for Ray’s Restaurant with 150 seats, same special exception in 1989.

 

Document #7 was a copy of a letter dated August 1, 1995, for an Occupational License renewal for Ray’s by the Sea Restaurant for $225.00, 150-seat restaurant. 

 

Document #8 was a copy of a Business Occupational License application dated September 29, 1995, with a name change to Boomerang Restaurant, with no special exception required at that time.

 

Mr. Repperger presented this documentation (copies of each are attached for the record) and stated that this should be considered a restoration.

 

There was a discussion with Town staff and the Town Attorney regarding the Special Exception. 

 

Town Attorney Sack stated that the applicant is asking that the Special Exception go forward.

 

Mr. Repperger stated that he was requesting a continuance, that the staff and Town Attorney may resolve this.

 

Vice Chairman Wildman made a motion to continue this item at the August 23, 2007 meeting.  He stated that this information could have been brought up months ago; he said he would like to see a nice restaurant, and that this was the last continuance, either way, which was seconded by Alternate Member Remark.

 

Town Planner Ragsdale spoke about the series of variances that would be required, including parking on First Avenue.

 

The motion carried, by those members present.

 

***

 

The next item on the agenda was the review of conditions related to Burrito Beach’s Special Exception Use located at 315 Ocean Avenue.

 

Mr. Richard Torpy, 202 N. Harbor City Blvd, representing Burrito Beach, advised that this Special Exception is not up until August.

 

Member Ross stated that the Board did not receive a complete package.

 

There was a discussion regarding any complaints with regard to Burrito Beach.  Town Manager Bursick stated that there had been two sign issues, and one cooking unit issue.

 

Vice Chairman Wildman inquired as to whether this was noticed.

 

Town Manager Bursick stated that there was no renewal application, that the Town did not, at the present time, have a process for this.

 

Vice Chairman Wildman stated that the neighbors need to have an opportunity to voice their opinion.

 

Mr. Torpy stated that the Town did not have expirations, and no process in seeking renewal.

 

Vice Chairman Wildman stated that the Board did not feel that the applicant was imposed upon, and that notice should be made to the surrounding areas.

 

After a brief discussion regarding notices to the areas, and with Mr. Torpy out of town for the next Board of Adjustment Regular meeting, a special meeting on July 25, 2007 was given as a possibility.

 

Mrs. Gail Gowdy, 215 Ash Ave, spoke about Section 7A-152 regarding duties of the Board with Special Exceptions renewal and termination dates; one of Burrito Beach’s conditions was a renewal date in August, doing it prior is an untimely appeal.

 

Mr. Terry Williamson, 316 1st Ave, stated that item number 13 states that his approval is effective until the Board of Adjustment’s August 2007 meeting.  He asked about complaints being made in writing to the Building Official.

 

Town Attorney Sack stated that if the Board approves a month early, to be consistent with the Code, they could make it effective after the one-year expiration date.  He said if anybody has complaints, they should send them to the Building Official and come to the Board of Adjustment and get their information into the record.

 

Town Attorney Sack advised that the Town Clerk was asking who will pay for the notices and advertising. 

 

Chairman Schaefer advised that the applicant should pay for the notices and advertising.

 

Vice Chairman Wildman made a motion to move this Special Exception Use to July 25, 2007,and  properly notice at the expense of the applicant, which was seconded by Alternate Member Remark. 

 

 The motion carried by those members present.  

 

***

The meeting duly adjourned at 7:15 P.M.

 

 

                                                                                                _______________________

                                                                                                Robert Schaefer, Chairman

ATTEST:

 

 

_______________________

Lenore R. Milan, Town Clerk