Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you. I'll call the meeting to order. Could I have a roll call, please?

I was informed by Mr. Jasper that he had a conflict and would not be able to be here today. He did request an excused absence. Do I have a motion to that effect?

I have a motion and a second. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, the same. Thank you very much. The motion passes. We have a set of minutes from September 1st, 2026, a regular meeting. Do I have a motion?

I move to accept the September 1st, 2026 regular meeting minutes as presented.

We have a motion by Mr. McCann to approve. Do I have a second? Mr. Chairman, second. Mr. Hale? We have a second by Mr. Hale. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed the same and the motion passes. Thank you very much. Anyone signed up for general audience participation?

Oh, maybe we don't. Or a big introduction, perhaps.

Thank you. Welcome ladies, we look forward to your presentation.

Thank you. Do we have any questions? Questions or comments? Yes. Ms. Scherberg.

Thank you. Thank you. Very thorough overview. I really appreciate this. And it really appears as though this is going to be data-driven. Yes. You hit on a number of key terms that I liked, in particular amenities, things, walking distance, and so forth. What I'm wondering, though, is when you look at the parks within Venice, we have quite a variety. We have Centennial Park that, for the most part, is a parking lot. It also has a gazebo and a water feature, but it's a parking lot. So when I think of that as a park, I don't necessarily put it in the same term as I would Pine Brook Park or Preser

Any other questions for them? No? Wonderful presentation. We thank you very much. And I think we do need to entertain a motion as far as a recommendation. Do I hear a motion?

They don't need our blessing to move forward.

We let you do your thing. Yeah, thank you.

That's right. Very informative. Thank you very much. Thank you so much for having us.

And with that, that will... Bring us on to public hearings. We do have one continued from September 1st, 2026. This is a variance petition number 26-34VZ, Pam Health, Benna Signs. The staff is Nicole Tremblay. The agent is Kathy Song, Titan Sign Company. And the owner is Curry Lane, LLC. This is a quasi-judicial hearing. I do have a memorandum to read. This is to certify that the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on August 29th, 2026, as required by the City of Venice Land Development Code. Proof of publication is on file in the Planning and Zoning Office. And I wil

Thank you, ma'am. And we'll confirm speaker cards have been completed. And with that, Nicole, welcome. Take it away.

Do we have the agent to present their petition?

Any questions for the petitioner? Yes, Mr. Hale.

I think going to 312.67 is a little disproportionate size. I mean, it just seems like we went from 10 to all of a sudden over 300. My real concern here is that we're setting a precedent for these larger signs. And when you're on periphery, because you cannot get to the subject property from periphery loop, correct?

And when you're on periphery loop, if you're in a car, I don't care, you could be in a large SUV, you cannot see past the tree line or the hedge to even see the building. I mean, you can see the building, but I don't know who the audience is for the sign unless you're in an upper floor of the hospital. or the parking garage elevated to even see the sign. And then lastly, with the mapping technology we have today, this is a destination type, we'll call it a business or service. I'm sure most people are just plugging this into GPS and then we're going to come in from, I mean, I just don't see th

I could also just see where, in this case, because it's very unique the way this property is, that it would add to some confusion as well because you can see, even if you could see the signs, see the signs there and we can see the building, it's not accessible from periphery. We still have to go out on Pine Brook and make a left and then go in. So you can see it, but I can't get to it type of thing. So I don't know. It's just...

Mr. McCann. Yes. I'm going to sort of piggyback on the two previous comments. I happen to use doctors in the buildings off of Curry Lane right now as well as Sarasota Memorial Venice. But to me it does make sense that to have, to Mr. Hale's comment, some signage that really lets people know that your facility is right down Curry Lane as opposed to what we just discussed. I understand your comment of from the hospital looking over and they can see it, but the people who I think will be looking to find you, they want to come down Curry Lane and know where the heck you are. And I don't see that r

i guess also i understand what you're saying but it almost appears to me if i'm looking for the rehab hospital and i know it's off curry lane i would want to see that big sign on the wall as i'm coming down curry lanes there it is but yeah that's a comment so what it's just just to add my comment mr falagi almost

Took the words right out of my mouth, word for word. As I looked at this, I was like, who is the audience for this? If I'm over in the parking lot of the hospital, and I turned in there because I went, oh, there's the hospital. Well, wait a minute, that's not it. To see the sign over there, really, there's no way for me to get to it from when I'm in that parking lot. I'm also confused by that wouldn't have really helped me get me to where I'm going. Once you get over on the Pine Brook and you're driving down Curry Lane, then when you see a sign on the building, it accomplishes something. But I

Ms. Song, thank you. Within your presentation, would you go back a few of your slides? There's one small picture that in my mind really kind of captures the situation. Go back one more. Right there. Okay. The bottom right-hand side, is that what I would see today if I were on the periphery of your drive? Is that the back of the building?

So it is visible from the SMH campus, but you don't know what that building is because there isn't a name on it at all. So even if you knew it was on Curry, you wouldn't know the approximate location i'm not opposed to additional signage there perhaps the size is a bit overstated maybe that's the biggest concern that we would have because there are other buildings on curry lane that have medical features to them medical offerings, but that bottom right hand picture is what says to me it would be nice to have a sign there.

Looking at that, as you point out that picture, looking at that picture, I think that was part of my concern. You see the edge of the building, but where this sign is where you're showing where you want it is over in the middle of the building. All you can see from here is the very edge of that building. What does the sign do?

What am I seeing in the corner down here, this lower right-hand picture?

Well, that's the building, but what part of the building is it?

Okay. Yeah, it's the same as on the left side. So you would be seeing that sign if it were up there now, I'd be seeing it on that picture. Yes, yes. Okay. That's where my confusion was, is who's going to see it if there's no view from over in the other hospital parking lot?

No? Thank you very much. Do we have any audience petition participation signed up for this one?

Thank you, sir. That's it. That's it. All righty. Thank you. Any additional staff comments?

Thank you. Thanks. Thank you, Nicole. Any rebuttal?

OK. OK. With that, I'll close the public hearing. And do I hear a motion? Don't all jump at once. Mr. Flagey?

Yep. Based on review of application materials, the staff report and testimony and evidence provided during the public hearing, the Planning Commission, sitting as the local planning agency, finds that this petition does not meet the variance criteria in Section 1.13.1 of the Land Development Code because I'll just say broadly it doesn't satisfy all seven of the criteria and therefore moves to deny variance petition number 26-34VZ. We have a motion to deny.

Are you prepared to do that right now or do you need a couple of minutes to get that in order? Just give me a minute. I can take just a very brief recess if you want to speak with the attorney. I'll go for it, if we're okay.

I mean, we could probably do a few, but I think the hardship Number four, the alleged hardship has not been created by any person presently having any interest in the property where it was created as a result of a bona fide error. I think it was self-created. This is self-inflicted. They used... a majority, I think 93% of their signage allowance for the front, maybe they split those signs up at some point and have a smaller sign on the front and a smaller one on the back. To me, that was kind of self-inflicted. I'm just looking for the next page. That would be one if we just want to go with th

I just needed on the record which criteria you're using to deny, if that's the one that you're... And number six as well, I mean, when I was there, I didn't see any inhibition of anybody using the property. The parking lot was full. I mean, it's busy over there anyway, but I don't think it's going to be detrimental to their business at all as far as the variance granted is the minimum variance that will be possible. We'll make possible the reasonable use of the property. I don't think that that sign, whether that sign's there or not, is going to affect whether there's a reasonable use of the p

All right. We have a motion to deny. Do I hear a second? Oh, okay. Well, we had some more discussion. So, yes, Mr. McKeon seconded it. So, we have a motion to deny by Mr. Filagi. We have a second by Mr. McKeon. Okay. Any further discussion? Seeing none, could I have a vote, please?

Yeah, well, I meant to do that. Remember, this is a motion to deny. So a yes vote says deny it, a no vote doesn't. I would like to clarify that. I mean, that's the situation. So, okay. And... And they've all voted. And it's a yes. So the motion to die is approved. Five to nothing.

And that will then take us to... Zoning Map Amendment Petition Number 25-56RZ, Calvary Bible Church. The staff is Nicole Tremblay. The agent is the City of Venice. The owner is the Calvary Bible Church. This is a quasi-judicial hearing. I do have a memorandum to read. This is to certify that the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on August 29th, 2026, as required by the City of Venice Land Development Code. Proof of publication is on file in the Planning and Zoning Office. And I will open the public hearing. And could I have attorney question the members, please?

Okay, thank you. And we'll confirm the speaker cards have been completed. And I introduce Nicole, you're back again.

Any questions for Nicole? Nicole, since the city is the agent, I assume there's no additional presentation?

Thank you. Okay. With that, is there then any audience? Oh, wait. I'm sorry. No, I'm fine. Okay. I thought I saw your finger go up there. Thank you, Nicole. Thank you. Do we have any audience participation signed up on this one? Okay. Thank you. And in that case, there will be no additional staff, no rebuttal, and I'll close the public hearing. And do I hear a motion?

Based on review of the application materials, the staff report and testimony, and evidence provided during the public hearing, Planning Commission, sitting as a local planning agency, finds this petition consistent with the comprehensive plan and in compliance with the Land Development Code, including decision criteria in Section 1.7.4, and therefore recommends to City Council approval of Zoning Map Amendment Petition Number 25-56RZ.

I have a motion by Mr. McKeon to approve. Do I hear a second?

And I have a second from Ms. Shearberg. Any further comments? Seeing none, can I have a vote, please? and it passes unanimously five to zero. Okay, that will then take us to, I have a, okay. Next up is annexation petition number 26-14AN, Meehan Drive, Enclave. The staff is, again, Nicole Tremblay. The agent, again, is the City of Venice. The owner is Chelsea Lerenk. This is a legislative hearing. I do have a memorandum on this one. This is to certify that the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on August 29, 2026, as required by the City of Venice Land Development Cod

Okay, thank you, ma'am. And we'll confirm speaker cards have been completed. And Nicole, take it away.

Okay. But feel free to kind of speed through it. Second presentation.

Any questions on this one for Nicole? Seeing none, thank you very much. Any audience participation for this one? There's not? All right. Thank you. And I assume then no additional comments and no rebuttal. So I'll close the public hearing. And do I hear a motion?

The Planning Commission, sitting as the local planning agency, finds this petition consistent with the comprehensive plan and in accordance with Florida Statute Chapter 171, and therefore recommends to City Council approval of annexation petition number 26-14AN.

We have a motion to approve by Ms. Shearberg. Do I hear a second?

Yes, Mr. Hale? And we have a second by Mr. Hale. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, can I have a vote, please? And the motion passes 5-0. OK. Let's see here. Now, that brings us to... Future land use map amendment petition number 26-15 CP, Mahon Drive Enclave. Again, the staff is Nicole, the agent of the City of Venice. And this is a legislative hearing. I do have a memorandum on this one as well. This is to certify that the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on August 29th 2026 as required by the city of venice land development code

Any questions for Nicole? No? Say no. Thank you, ma'am. Any audience participation on this one? I assume there wasn't. All right. With that, I'm going to close the public hearing. And do I hear a motion?

The Planning Commission is sitting as the local planning agency finds this petition consistent with the comprehensive plan and compliance with Florida Statutes Chapter 163, Part 2, and therefore recommends to City Council approval of future land use map amendment petition number 2615CP.

We have a move to approve by Mr. Filagi. Do I have a second? Yes, Mr. McCann. And we have a second to approve by Mr. McKeon. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, can I have a vote, please? And the vote to approve is five to nothing.

And then that will bring us to Zoning map amendment petition number 26-16RZ, Mayon Drive Enclave. Again, the staff is Nicole Tremblay, the agents of the City of Venice. This is a quasi-judicial hearing. I do have a memorandum on this one. This is to certify that the public hearing for this petition was appropriately advertised on August 29th 2026 as required by the city of venice land development code proof of publication is on file in the planning and zoning office. Open the public hearing and can I have the attorney question the members, please have any member have any expert take communicat

I will say I have seen it in the past. I didn't make a specific one, but I am familiar with the location.

Yes. And we'll confirm speaker cards have been signed. Nicole? This time, one more time.

Any questions for Nicole? No? And once again, you're the agent, so I assume there's no further presentation. I'll skip through all that. Thank you. And any audience participation signed up this time? I kind of figured that was the case. And we'll cut down to the chase, and I'll close the public hearing. And do I hear a motion?

Mr. McCann. Based upon review of the application materials, staff report and testimony, and evidence provided during the public hearing, the Planning Commission, sending this to the local planning agency, finds this petition consistent with the comprehensive plan and in compliance with the Land Development Code including decision criteria in Section 1.7.4, and therefore recommends to City Council approval of Zoning Map Amendment Petition No. 26-16RZ.

Thank you, sir. I have a motion to approve by Mr. McKeon. And Mr. Hale is the second, so we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, can I have a vote, please? and that also passes five to zero. Thank you very much.

I saw you on TV. I wondered, is this a new career that's budding now?

Very good job. It came across very well. You did a nice job.

Any comments from the members? If not, I'm going to let you off early today.