Planning and Zoning Board - Regular Meeting

Thursday, August 27, 2026

The Surfside Planning and Zoning Board approved a new single-family home application and recommended modifying town code regarding board advice on municipal projects.

About this meeting

Government Body
Planning and Zoning Board
Meeting Type
Planning And Zoning Board
Location
Surfside, FL
Meeting Date
August 27, 2026

Transcript

194 sections

0:00 – 1:07Speaker 8

little liaison report. Good evening, Shlomo Danziger. Should I give my real address to the town? 9000 Harding Avenue. You're welcome to come knock on my door. Everybody seems to do that anyways. This is the second time I'm coming up, only because I've missed the last couple of meetings. So, just to, I guess, reiterate, a couple months ago, the town, we put a moratorium on the previous zoning. We had multiple, multiple lawsuits, both on SB 180, Burt Harris. Not to mention it wasn't the directive of the commission to reduce the value of people's property, so there was an immediate moratorium while the town attorneys worked to clean up the previous code and reverted back. That also included the design guidelines. We have been working on the site on some things, and we hope to present that soon to the commission, do a bit of a workshop, and then pass that down to you. And additionally there's something on your agenda, which I will get up and speak more about when the time comes But it is very nice to be here and thank you for having me and if there's anything again I'm gonna be sitting here if there's anything you'd like me to bring back to the council.

1:08 – 1:22Carolyn Baumel

That's what I'm here for Thank You mr. Mayor any questions for the mayor before we start Are you consulting any additional people outside for your new suggestions

1:23Speaker 8

Like at another firm right now? No.

1:25Carolyn Baumel

No, no. I mean, I guess locally.

1:29 – 1:45Speaker 8

Am I consulting? We're getting input from people, yeah. That's what we do as the council, try to get input from both the community and those people, the subject matter experts, and we hope to have something good to present, to discuss, yes.

1:47James Mackenzie

Will the, you're going to present them how? What is going to be the procedure?

1:52 – 2:49Speaker 8

So the first step would really just to be to sit down with the council because I haven't, or the commission, this hasn't been presented to them at all yet, right? We kind of put a moratorium on the current design guidelines. But at the same time, we would like to present residents with, hey, here's what you need to be thinking about when you build your house. These are some of the stuff that you should have in mind. And if you do, that's showing ready good faith. that you have the challenges in mind that we face as a barrier Island, as a community that's evolving from, you know, a 1400 square foot home to four and a half thousand and what that means to the neighbors. So if you take certain things into consideration, again, the attorney has kind of addressed, you know, state law prohibits us from, from restricting a project because it doesn't conform with You know, the personality of the community, that's hard to define. But again, I think if people will show good faith and, you know, coming back before this board, that would go a long way. And it's also suggestions that maybe the architects didn't have in mind beforehand.

2:49James Mackenzie

So this board will have some input at some point?

2:56James Mackenzie

In case it needs a little massaging, right?

2:58 – 3:09Speaker 8

Yeah. And then the item later on in there is also about input. You know, that's the entire thing is we want to make sure that there's input from this group of professionals that we have within the industry.

3:11Speaker 8

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3:14Speaker 9

Let's move on. Approval of the minutes.

3:17Speaker 6

Chair, if I may, I would like to request support for this item to next meeting. They were not ready for today's meeting.

3:28 – 3:43Carolyn Baumel

Well, I mean, I don't have a problem approving the minutes, even though I wasn't here, but I was made aware that... They're not ready? This looks like the minutes to me.

3:43Speaker 9

Those aren't the minutes. That is number 6A.

3:47Carolyn Baumel

I'm sorry. You stand corrected, I thought. No problem with... May I have a motion, please? Motion to defer.

3:57Speaker 9

Can we get a second, please, guys?

4:03Speaker 6

All those in favor say aye.

4:05Speaker 6

Any opposed? No. Motion carries. Sorry, I thought that was.

4:10Speaker 9

Number 5A, 8826 Hawthorne Avenue.

4:15Carolyn Baumel

Is the part, are they here?

4:16Speaker 9

What's that? They are here, only one thing here.

4:20Speaker 6

Chair, if I may, you had skipped over the general order of business.

4:28Speaker 9

Well, it helps if I put these on. Yes, agenda and order of business.

4:37Speaker 6

If there are not any changes, we can move on to the next item.

4:43Speaker 9

I'm sorry, I was being talked to, what?

4:46Speaker 6

If there are not any changes made by the board, we can move to the next item.

4:50Speaker 9

Is there any changes made by the board for?

4:55Speaker 9

We'll go to the next item, which is number five. Is 8826 Hawthorne Avenue here? They are. Okay. Let's proceed, please.

5:04Speaker 6

Chair, I believe the attorney needs to read his statement before.

5:07 – 5:25Speaker 9

Okay. No worries.

5:54 – 7:22Speaker 4

The applications on this evening's meeting agenda are quasi-judicial in nature. The decision of whether or not to approve or recommend approval of such applications is not a popularity contest. We cannot base our decisions only on opinions, however important those opinions are. By law, we must base our decision on legal criteria and on substantial competent evidence. This means testimony or other evidence based on personal observation or relevant expert testimony that a reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support a conclusion. This includes the recommendations of the town's professional staff, as well as some personal opinions about whether people are in favor of or against the application. Everyone shall be given the opportunity to speak. If you intend to provide testimony as to any of the applications considered tonight, you shall and must be sworn in by the clerk before your testimony is taken. Please know if you speak, you may be subject to cross-examination. If you refuse to either be cross-examined or to be sworn, your testimony will be given its due weight. The general public will not be permitted to cross-examine witnesses, but the public may request the board to direct questions on their behalf to either staff or the applicant. For each application considered tonight, we will first hear from town staff and then from the applicant. After this, the chair of the board will allow anyone from the audience who has been sworn in to provide testimony. Please make your comments concisely. Madam Clerk, can you confirm the compliance with the advertising and notice requirements?

7:23Speaker 6

They have it confirmed.

7:24 – 7:44Speaker 4

Board members, have any of you had any ex parte communications with the applicant or any member of the public, either for or against any application to be heard tonight? If so, please state so for the record and the nature of the communication. None. Madam Clerk, please swear in staff and those who intend to speak on any item on the agenda.

7:46Speaker 6

Please rise, rise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm to say the truth and only with the truth? You may be seated.

7:56Speaker 9

Chair, we may proceed with the item. OK, thank you. Staff, who is going to present this item for us?

8:07 – 10:00Speaker 1

Yes, this is an application for 8826 Hawthorne Avenue. Staff finds that this application does meet the zoning code requirements. And if the board finds that the plan is consistent, staff recommends approval with the following condition that a drainage and grading plan are reviewed and determined to be consistent with the code requirements. PERSUANT TO THE TERMS OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THE SITE PLAN REVIEW HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS IN EFFECT PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CODE CHANGES IN 2024. THIS APPLICATION IS A REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT A NEW TWO STORY SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON 8026 SQUARE FOOT LOT. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 8826 HAUTHORN AVENUE IN THE in the H30A zoning district. The property is an interior lot, and the exterior design elements on the front facade include smooth stucco finish and aluminum railings. Brawn frames are proposed for all windows, and tabardine stone for outdoor wall panels. The front facade provides a calculation on both the first and second floors, with a recessed entryway. The rear of the home features similar material finishes as the front and sides. The proposed lot coverage for this home is 3,210 square feet, which is 40% and allowed by code. The first floor with the floor area ratio of 0.71, which is allowed by code and the setback calculations for additional second floor setbacks have been provided and are compliant with the minimum requirements. A grading plan was not provided and that will be a condition to be submitted at the time of building permit. And with that, again, staff is recommending approval and the applicant is here to answer any questions and speak a little bit about their project.

10:03 – 10:17Speaker 9

Thank you very much. Who from the applicant would like to come up and speak? Okay.

10:17Speaker 7

How are you?

10:18Speaker 9

Good. And yourself?

10:19Speaker 7

Good. I'm Tamara Feldman. This is a talented team. We brought with us a box of finishes so you can review.

10:26Speaker 6

My apologies, Chair. If I could please have a name and address for the record from the speaker.

10:31Speaker 7

Tamara Feldman.

10:32Speaker 6

If you could please speak into the microphone.

10:35Speaker 7

Tamara Feldman.

10:37Speaker 9

Address, please.

10:37Speaker 7

My address? Yeah. 1125 Northeast 125th Street, fourth floor. Thanks.

10:44Carolyn Baumel

You want to show the materials? Bring it up.

10:47 – 12:03Speaker 7

So what we designed here, we wanted to create a tropical modern home. We wanted for it to feel warm within the streets and private at the same time. We do have here the drainage plan also, the grading, so we can give that to you. As mentioned, we're using warm materials on the outside, wood cladding, travertine, a lot of greenery, foliage. If you like, can I pass through these renderings here? Can I flip? Yes. So how do I flip here? How do I flip? So I'll show you the renderings. This is the home at night. As you can see, we're adding adequate landscape lighting to also enhance the materials throughout the house. This is the back of the house. So we did level the whole first floor and then we walk two steps down to the dock. And this is the house lit from the back at night as well. Do you want me to present to you the material?

12:03Speaker 6

Yeah. Chair, if I may, if they can please speak into the record. Thank you.

12:12 – 13:07Speaker 7

So I don't know if you can see it well from there, but these are the windows, and this is the bronze frame for the windows around, which is going to be a very thin frame. And we're using the same finish for the louvers of the house as well. So it's all very consistent. So as you can see, this is the windows, and this is the frame for the louvers. The house would be mainly travertine. Do you have a travertine? Oh. Yeah. So this is a travertine that goes on the exterior of the walls. You can see here, and there's a wood cladding. Yeah. The metal wall as well. So it's, it's a very homey, pleasant home also with warm materials that you can tell. And as mentioned, we met all codes required to construct this house for our client. Any questions?

13:14Speaker 6

Board members, please speak into the microphone.

13:17Speaker 7

So this is going in the, if you see here, we have metal cladding under the roof and also in the front garage.

13:26Speaker 8

The garage and the door.

13:28Speaker 7

Yeah, in the front door, these two pieces here.

13:31Speaker 3

Okay. And is that a planter that's above the garage? Does that protrude over the garage, out over? Correct.

13:41Speaker 7

No, no, it does not protrude over the garage, no. So there's a planter that's the same level as a garage. We'll show you. It's flush with the garage. OK. There's a better view.

13:51 – 14:02Speaker 6

Terry, if I may, all speakers, please speak into the microphone and state name and address for the record. There's going to be someone else besides just one person speaking. Thank you.

14:03Speaker 7

So you can see here that we do have, you see the aluminum lip that goes around as well?

14:08Speaker 7

Above the garage, we have a window to give natural light to come in, and above that, then we have the planters around.

14:14Speaker 3

Okay. The only reason I comment about the planters is because I have planters above my garage.

14:20Speaker 7

The drainage.

14:21Speaker 3

And they tend to leak, and they kind of protrude over. We cut the drain holes, but it's always been a problem, cracking and spalling.

14:31Speaker 7

Yeah, we're doing internal drainage.

14:33Speaker 3

Okay, so you actually have, you know, I don't have that.

14:36Speaker 7

So we will not have spouts or anything coming out here.

14:39Speaker 3

All right. And the other thing is that you seem to have these louvers. What material is those louvers?

14:44Speaker 7

Also aluminum.

14:47Speaker 3

Okay. And those move up and down as you can actually change it or is that a fixed angle?

14:57 – 15:11Speaker 7

No, those are fixed. Those are fixed. So our client really wanted to have privacy in the front of the house. That's why also the door is a bit more recessed back as well. The way that these louvers work is when they open the windows, you can open the louvers to clean the windows.

15:12Speaker 3

but otherwise they stay over the windows and that's for their privacy windows.

15:16Speaker 7

For privacy, yeah, for privacy. It still brings in light, but it's for privacy, but they are, you see how there is a partition in the middle, so you can swing them open to clean the glass.

15:29Speaker 3

It's a very nicely designed home. Thank you. I like the design and the materials. Anybody else have a question for them? Thank you so much. Before we open it to the public.

15:39 – 16:06James Mackenzie

Yes. Ms. Feldman? Yes. Can you bring us to the, well, maybe this is better. Let's stay here for a second. I wanted to comment on the garage as a mass, not as location or whatever, as a mass. And how it articulates with the rest of the theme of the house, as you said, tropical.

16:07James Mackenzie

Modern. Can you take us to the rear?

16:11Speaker 7

To the rear or to the front?

16:13Speaker 7

This is the rear.

16:14James Mackenzie

Yeah, but we can't see the house.

16:17Speaker 7

This is the other rear. Yeah.

16:19 – 16:39James Mackenzie

This is what I think best describes your tropical paradise. Correct. It's very light from a structural point of view with the exception of this cross line, which is that planter that goes all around, right?

16:39Speaker 7

Correct. A planter and a balcony. So that's the balcony out of the master bedroom.

16:42 – 17:32James Mackenzie

Yeah. But in this perspective and in reality, you don't see, this is a very prominent line. And I think if you go back to the previous image, And I think it does a great job of creating that lightness. The second floor kind of sits on top of that band. Can we go to the front, please? In this view, I think it tells us a story. The garage is sort of disarticulated. in my opinion. I mean, I'm just trying to help.

17:32Speaker 7

Yeah, we had an issue here. We tried to turn the garage. It's not possible for driving in. We tried to put the doors inside.

17:40 – 18:06James Mackenzie

I'm not making suggestions. It's all up to you. But I just want us to agree that there seems to be a disconnect. You know, the entire perimeter of the house is nice and clean. It identifies itself with that tropical paradise feel that you want to create. And we get to the front and we don't really have much other than this massive door that projects towards the street.

18:06 – 18:23Speaker 7

Let me interrupt you for a second because here if you see it, it's hard to tell with this light on the TV, but you see this wraparound that continues to wrap around to the door. So it is a continuous element here with the wood cladding. It's no burning.

18:23 – 18:56James Mackenzie

At a different level than the rest, right? Okay. So I was hoping to suggest that maybe you want to try to lighten up this mass. And I think you did it a go with that very thin line that defines what's the garage door. and what is the window between that little band, which is, in my opinion, a little timid compared to the massing and the strength of that band that goes around the house.

18:56Speaker 7

We also... Go ahead. Sorry. I don't want to interrupt you, but we're also dealing with a height variation, which is...

19:03James Mackenzie

I live two doors from this.

19:05Speaker 7

Yes, you know.

19:06 – 19:21James Mackenzie

And I live across his house. Right, okay. So I can see where he's coming from with this language. But I think that he's trying, where he currently, and excuse me, this may not be allowed to talk about where he lives, but.

19:22Speaker 7

The wood or the?

19:26 – 20:11James Mackenzie

But where he currently lives, that garage is nematized, or it's part of the language of the entire mass. Here, it's not really doing the same job. And I would like you to explore a different treatment the garage is a garage, it's not moving. I'm not suggesting that. I'm just simply saying that this is not in tune with the poetry of the rest. Therefore, I think if you would be able to somehow, this black line, for example, which is like an eyebrow that you created. It's bronze also. To try to articulate. Okay.

20:13Speaker 9

This is not We're supposed to stick with the guidelines.

20:18Speaker 7

I appreciate it.

20:19 – 20:31Speaker 9

Of what we have. You made the point across. We need to keep focused on the guidelines. Our jurisdiction here is the guidelines only. What we think is good and not good for the House. We must stick with the guidelines that are in that yellow sheet right next to you.

20:32James Mackenzie

I think you get the message. Thank you. Thank you.

20:34 – 21:22Carolyn Baumel

OK. I want to tell you that I just want to say thank you, because it's not so typical of the contemporary or modern. It's got that landscape element, which I think is very important. When I saw it immediately, I'm like, OK, you've got that landscape going on. But I also saw, I don't know if it was intentional, that Balinese effects. Correct. I didn't see anybody talking about it, but I appreciate that. I know a lot of great architects that I admire who bring in that Balinese effect. I think the stone is not going to be so overly proud. I think it's going to become part of the nature of the scene that you've created. Absolutely.

21:22 – 21:43Speaker 7

I think it's lovely. Thank you. I appreciate it. So, yes, we didn't want to continue with the same contemporary boxes that we have in a lot of the streets in Starside. We wanted to bring warmth to the community. And I think, you know, how we achieved it, it's very appealing. And it is tropical modern is Balinese, but yes. Thank you.

21:44 – 21:57Speaker 3

I also saw in the plans that you have a two-story atrium in the living room, which I thought was, you know, it's a beautiful aesthetic for the home.

21:58Speaker 3

And, you know, you sacrifice interior square footage, another room, but I think it really... you know, makes it a beautiful house. Thank you so much.

22:08Speaker 7

We're actually, we're showing here the other side of the house with the interior atrium.

22:13 – 22:54James Mackenzie

I'd like to make a second comment about the fence in the front. Yes. There seems to be two, two solutions that you are showing in the plans that we were, we're looking at. One is in the front facade and that language, is clear, but then there's an exhibit on another page that shows a totally different edge against the property line, on the property line. And they seem to differ from each other. Can you clarify which one is the actual solution?

22:54Speaker 7

Yes, it's the one with the two, let me look at the plan that you're referring to, because it should be the same, but.

22:59Speaker 9

I missed that.

23:02Carolyn Baumel

The setbacks will dictate where the fence actually sits. Yeah.

23:07Speaker 7

What site plan, what page?

23:08James Mackenzie

Well, the fence in this case is right on the edge of the property.

23:14Carolyn Baumel

There's a, no, go upside down. I don't see that either. I don't observe it in this way at all, no.

23:21James Mackenzie

Let me show, if you give me a minute, I'll go to the exhibit that you need to open.

23:31Speaker 7

Mm-hmm, that's where, exactly, that's a pedestrian door right here. You're showing your pedestrian door, and then you have the gate.

23:40Speaker 9

And how far back is the gate?

23:43Speaker 7

From the, do you have the setback plans on the gate?

23:48Speaker 9

I can barely see my screen. No, don't worry. So that's why I'm asking.

23:52Speaker 7

The iPads are little. Yeah, let me see if we have it here on the dimension on it. You have it there on the thing? Too little. Here, you have to speak on the mic.

24:02Carolyn Baumel

I mean, it shows the proper setback, 20. It's like 25 feet.

24:05Speaker 9

Okay, so if it's a proper setback, then it's fine. It's already been approved by staff that it's a proper setback?

24:11Speaker 9

Thank you. Okay. No, it's already approved by staff that it's proper. Okay. Thank you.

24:21James Mackenzie

Thank you so much. It was on A01. Very much.

24:24James Mackenzie

It was on page A01.

24:26Speaker 7

Yeah, we have it here. It's right here. Thank you. It's 20 and 11 inches. 20 feet, 11 inches.

24:33Speaker 7

Thank you so much.

24:35Speaker 9

Is there anyone from the public that would like to speak on this? Going once, going twice, no. Okay, I'll bring it back up here.

24:45Carolyn Baumel

I move to approve.

24:50Speaker 9

We have a motion to approve. Is there a second?

24:54Carolyn Baumel

You did a good job. Second.

24:56Speaker 9

There is a second.

25:02Speaker 6

Yes. Board Member McKenzie?

25:07Speaker 6

Board Member Stapel? Yes. Chair Forbes?

25:10Speaker 9

Yes, but we do need to add that the drainage plan needs to be approved.

25:15Speaker 9

Which has not been approved as of today, correct?

25:19 – 25:38Speaker 1

correct and the condition would be that they submit that for a review during the building permit okay we have it ready if you want to before then um it's good just got to go through its technical review sure no problem thank you so much appreciate it good luck to you guys thank you it is i like it

25:59Speaker 9

Mr. Mayor, back up to you. Ordinances and public hearings.

26:08 – 26:37Speaker 6

Chair, if I may, may I return the ordinance to the record? Please. Thank you. Item 6A, an ordinance of the Town Commission of the Town of Suerza, Florida, repealing ordinance number 2026-1804 in its entirety relating to planning and zoning board powers. Provided for reinstatement of the Town Code to its previous version, provided for survivability, provided for codification and inclusion in the code, provided for conflicts, and provided for an effective date. Item 6A.

26:42Speaker 9

Now, Mr. Mayor.

26:43 – 29:32Speaker 8

All right, good evening, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the board. So what you have before you, and just to give a little bit of history, in April of this year, Two of the commissioners, along with a mayor whose term had ended by charter the month before, decided to pass an ordinance which basically restricted the commission's ability to review a project. And the intent, as stated on the dais, was to delay progress and delay projects moving forward for the next council. This ordinance that they created, it just created another step in the approval process, which would drag anything from what used to be maybe a month to three months, because then we had to go back to planning and zoning, and then it came back and any changes would have to go back and forth. And essentially it was intended to just make things go in a circle for the next two years. So not wanting to operate under those constraints, this commission came in and decided to reverse a couple of those ordinances, which essentially restrained us. This was one of those items that I guess based, we do listen when we sit up there and some of the members of the public and some of the members of the commission also kind of said, hey, You know, we've got a qualified board here. Why cut it out completely? How about we just revise the way it's written, which is a mandate and a requirement. but kind of put it into our SOPs and our protocols that, you know, assuming the town manager has done their due diligence in a project, usually the commission, the planning and zoning board is roughly about a week before ours, a couple of days before our agendas are prepared, which means at that point, a project should be ready to present to you guys to get your feedback and input. So what this initially in the first reading of this ordinance, we just kind of struck out everything that was inserted. and inserted back anything that was struck out. This version kind of just, you know, it massages it back in and essentially creates a process for the town manager stating that all projects within a certain, you know, at a certain interval should come to this commission or this council to get your feedback and your input to bring back to the commission at the same time. It also doesn't restrict us because if there is a project that we need to move forward and as written, it doesn't restrict the commission from moving on any project presented to us, but at the same time creates that process. So I'm here, I'm listening to the feedback. We can bring that back to the board. I think this is coming back before us probably on the third, assuming the attorneys get a chance to review it and things before it goes back onto the agenda. Is it a crisis, an emergency? We could bring it back in October if needed, if it still has to be massaged. But the idea is we want to make sure it's worked out and flushed out before it comes back to us. So first step is to get your input and then it goes back to the attorneys and they play with that and then hopefully something to bring back for second reading to the council.

29:35Carolyn Baumel

Is this more commercial based or it's not single family home?

29:39Speaker 8

No, so this would be for I guess town projects that interface with the city, you know that that the residents will see that may change the appeal and the feel and understand.

29:51Speaker 3

I mean it should be before this ordinance this new ordinance which was passed in April, what was the procedure.

30:00 – 30:14Speaker 8

There was none stipulated in the code. Whatever the commission wanted to do, they did. Often they would push things to the planning and zoning, but there was no requirement, there was no stipulation that said you cannot move forward with a project until that happens.

30:14 – 30:28Speaker 3

Okay, so the municipality was exempt and they were treated a little bit different from the residents or commercial building developers? Essentially, yeah.

30:30 – 31:12Speaker 8

I mean, at the end of the day, our code, you know, the boards and committees work for the commission, not the other way around. You are a resource for us. And how we, you know, choose to utilize that resource and set it up. And, you know, at the end of the day, we're elected. We're not developers coming in to buy a building. We also represent the people. But, again, finding, you know, getting input and getting feedback from developers That's why the board is here also, you know, in addition to the single family homes, but to provide us with some guidance and feedback because you also speak to residents and you're just another point of contact with the community. So we want to make sure, again, that that is still a process that we would like for the town to follow. But at the same time, we don't want to tie our hands down if something were to happen.

31:14 – 31:25Speaker 9

Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind, can we hear from Mr. Kustlis? And then if we have questions, we'll bring you back up here. Sure, I'll stick around. Thank you. Mr. Kouselis, how are you, George?

31:26 – 33:57Speaker 5

Good. George Kouselis, 9225 Collins Avenue. As you probably heard, the ordinance passed in April was just too meddlesome in so many ways. But if you throw it out entirely, it kind of says, well, why is this body not at least taking a look at what the town does? And so what you have before you is I think a very streamlined version. The mayor described it pretty well, but it does few things. It basically gives the commission the ability to do something, but it doesn't require them to pass it by you. It also requires the town manager, if they get you involved, to keep their eye toward the commission schedule and basically schedule you guys with enough time to get this onto the commission's agenda without any further delay. And then it goes to basically define what we're talking about major projects. We're talking about a new tennis center. The 96th Street Park would have been something. Big things. We're not talking about a new storage shed somewhere on the back here. It also talks about district-wide improvements, so things that may pervade the single family. Like if we're going to go with new street lights, OK, that may be something you want to chime in on. signage, not just the random stuff, but if there was something that would pervade the town and give it a look, I think you guys should look in on that. And appropriate intervals, that's the second bullet down there. And I think if we're talking about a building, you see it at the end of schematic design, right? That's when the building is fleshed out by a design consultant so that you know really what it looks like on the outside. And that's the appropriate time. Further down the process is too late. stuff is really, it's gone into the oven and it's cooking at that point. And for you to see it after this stage, it's also getting more into the realm of what the building department would look at. So this is using the terminology of what design consultants use, schematic design, design development, construction documents, basically picking the right moment in time that I think it's ready for you guys to look at. And that's pretty straightforward, simple, short and sweet. Thank you. Thank you, George. Appreciate it.

33:58 – 34:09Speaker 9

Does anyone have any questions for Mr. Koussas or for the mayor? I guess, is there anyone else that wants to speak on this behalf? Okay, sorry.

34:09Carolyn Baumel

The room's flooded.

34:10Speaker 9

Now we'll bring it back.

34:11Carolyn Baumel

I do have one question.

34:12 – 34:29Speaker 3

Of course. When you talk about streamlining the process, how much additional time is required to bring this before the Planning and Zoning Board or, you know, for approval before, and what would this be as far as the delay in?

34:30 – 35:23Speaker 5

It shouldn't be any, because what will happen is the town manager is running the project. It's not like a commercial project when you don't know what's really going until it lands on the town planner's desk, and then she has an interval, which she has to put it on your agenda. The town manager is going to be looking ahead, and they will know that, well... By November, I need to get it on the commission's agenda. So I need to get it in front of the planning board in advance of that because I want the commission to hear this in November and to have the planning board's input. So there should be no delay. It's just another item you'll have in one of your customary meetings in enough time. It's not like they will delay because of the way it's written. They won't say, oh, planning board hasn't seen it yet, so I have to put the commission off another month. It's on him to get it scheduled properly.

35:24Speaker 3

Mm-hmm. Any building, municipal building still has to follow the code. So this is just an additional design.

35:34 – 36:32Speaker 5

Well, it's the same thing that you see when you do a municipal project, you worry about the traffic, the trash location, all kinds of stuff. You look at stuff. Now, there may not be all the same requirements of it, but you'd probably like to know. I mean, think of the, you know, what the building department looks at is not the stuff that you look at for municipal or for commercial buildings or for houses. It's different. And so if, let's use the tennis center as a hypothetical, you would just look at that building and say, It's a good statement for our town. It fits in right it makes a signature upon this entry from the south It's the way it's impinging on say the War Memorial the Veterans Memorial is you know, there should be more elbow room between the two Whatever, but you use your your expertise as planners to just locate it.

36:33Speaker 9

Okay Thank You George

36:36 – 37:02Carolyn Baumel

I think this is great. I'm just going to say that you've put together an outstanding board and you have good advisors who you can speak with. So I hope, well, obviously I'm going to make a motion to pass, you know, to pass this right away and that the commission has takes advantage of their boards.

37:04 – 38:10Speaker 8

I'd give it, I guess, a quick example. I mean, you know, even on the commission, we come from different backgrounds. Up here, you're all not just architects, but you're builders, architects, attorneys. Everybody looks at the same thing and sees something a little bit differently. Even this memorial, you know, the Champlain Memorial that was recently passed, something that came up that slipped through the previous commission and the previous board until, you know, Miami-Dade kind of flagged it was like, we need access to the beach, right? There's only very few blocks within this coastal area that can access the beach in case of an emergency. You got Bell Harbor 101, you got 96 and previously 88, and they really needed to keep that access point. that's something that you know the right person who has that background would have looked at it and kind of flagged it so it's important and we recognize the importance of getting people's influence from all walks of life and different backgrounds and and it only makes projects better not worse so that is the intent of this commission and that's why hopefully we can you know again direct the manager to ensure that that's part of the process moving forward for the town great you made the motion you need a second i second the motion

38:13Speaker 6

Board Member Baumel? Yep. Board Member McKenzie?

38:19Speaker 6

Board Member Stapel?

38:21Speaker 6

Chair Forbes? Yes. Chair, the motion carries.

38:24 – 38:35Speaker 9

Thank you. The next meeting will be on September 24th. This is a quick meeting. Which meeting do we skip? It's November.

38:37Carolyn Baumel

Which meeting do we skip on calendar?

38:40Speaker 6

November is the meeting being skipped.

38:42Speaker 9

Okay, there were three discussions items. Does anyone up here want to have any discussions on any of those three items that are listed in eight?

38:52Carolyn Baumel

Oh yeah, what were the three?

38:54 – 39:07Speaker 9

They were future discussion item tracker and protocol on placing items to the planning and zoning agenda and amendment to code 9016 to allow us to call special meetings.

39:10 – 39:22Carolyn Baumel

Okay, I mean, I I don't know why I was thinking it was was was one of those items like taking signs off of our Not on this one. No. No, I can answer that.

39:23 – 39:36Speaker 1

Okay, because that may be the meeting we missed No, I have that that was approved by By the board already and it's gonna move forward to the October town commission meeting on first reading Okay. Thank you.

39:38Speaker 9

Thank you for that. And if there's not anything else, do I have a... Move to adjourn.

39:48Speaker 9

I told you I'd make these quick, guys. All those in favor? Aye.

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.