May 10, 2022

Community Redevelopment Agency

Regular Meeting

May 10, 2022

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) of the City of Titusville, Florida met in regular session in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 555 South Washington Avenue, on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

Call to Order/Determination of a Quorum

Chairperson Diesel called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present were Chairperson Daniel Diesel, Vice-Chairperson Robert Jordan and Members Joe Robinson, Jo Lynn Nelson, Jim Ball, Sarah Stoeckel, and Greg Aker. Also present were Executive Director Scott Larese, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Attorney Richard Broome, and Sr. Administrative Assistant Emily Campbell who also completed the minutes. 

Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance 

Chairperson Diesel asked for a moment of silence and then led the entire assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Sr. Administrative Assistant Emily Campbell read the procedure for public comment.

Approval of Minutes

Motion:

Member Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the Community Redevelopment Agency meeting on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, as submitted. Vice-Chair Jordan seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously. 

Special Recognitions and Presentations – None. 

Titusville Playhouse, Inc. (TPI) Future Development Update - Representatives of the Titusville Playhouse, Inc. (TPI) provided an update on the TPI's future development plans.

The Titusville Playhouse, Inc. purchased property in the Palm Avenue and Julia Street area and plans to expand the Theater's presence in the downtown. The presentation highlighted the following:

• Developing Downtown’s Arts District – An Update
• We invited the Community to be part of the next act
• We shared our vision
• What we heard will help shape our development planning
• Performing Arts Hub Master Planning
• As planning process continues, we are proceeding with first steps
• We are Going BIG! And we are staying home

The TPI requested that Chairperson Diesel sign two letters of support for the state of Florida grants, support of the two beautification grants that were on the agenda, and asked for the CRA to embrace the art district in the CRA Redevelopment Plan Update.

CRA Attorney Broome stated that if the TPI wanted the Mayor’s signature, they would need to discuss it at the City Council meeting. 

Old Business 

Hanging Basket Presentation and Pilot Options – Executive Director Larese advised the request was to accept the presentation and provide direction.

Public Works Director Kevin Cook discussed alternative options to the original plastic hanging plants with the Community Redevelopment Agency. Some of the options discussed were pilot programs including native and Florida friendly hanging plants and ground plants.

Vice-Chairperson Jordan stated that he wanted to see live plants on the ground that do not have to be replaced every year. 

Nathan Slusher brought a hanging basket with purslane growing inside. Mr. Slusher stated that he bought these plants after the CRA meeting on April 12, 2022 and has only watered them twice. Mr. Slusher stated that the hanging basket and plant cost $35.63 total. 

Kathleen Perez stated that the City should have initially started with live plants instead of plastic, and discussed the negative impacts that the plastic plants would have if they entered the Indian River Lagoon.   

Stan Johnston stated that he appreciated Public Works Director Kevin Cook’s support for live plants instead of plastic.  Mr. Johnston discussed the negative impacts of plastic in the Indian River Lagoon and the Ocean. 

Toni Shifalo thanked the Community Redevelopment Agency and City staff for reconsidering the plastic plants and listening to the suggestions from the citizens. 

The Community Redevelopment Agency came to a consensus to create a pilot program with live ground plants and flowers instead of the plastic hanging plants.

New Business 

Ordinance No 14-2022 - Car Rental Agencies in Downtown Mixed Use District - Midtown Sub-district – Executive Director Larese advised the request was to review Ordinance No. 14-2022 and make a recommendation to the City Council.

The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this ordinance on April 6, 2022 and unanimously (7:0) recommended adoption, striking the prohibition against recreational vehicles.

In August 2021, City Council directed staff to review Section 28-107 requiring car rental agencies as a conditional use in the Midtown subdistrict of the Downtown Mixed Use District. In response to Council's request that staff reconsider the need for a conditional use in the Midtown subdistrict, staff developed an ordinance establishing car rental agencies as a limited use. Proposed standards for the use are:

• Lot size greater than one-half acre and less than two and one-half acres
• Direct access to a collector or arterial roadway
• Shall not include recreational vehicle or heavy truck rentals
• Shall not utilize on-street parking of vehicles offered for rent

Motion: Vice-Chairman Jordan recommend approval to council for Ordinance No. 14, as recommended. Member Nelson seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:

Member Aker                          Yes

Member Robinson                  Yes

Member Nelson                      Yes

Chairperson Diesel                 Yes

Vice-Chair Jordan                   Yes

Member Ball                           Yes

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

The motion carried unanimously.

Commercial Beautification Grant - 422 Julia Street. – Executive Director Larese advised the request was to approve the award of a Commercial Beautification Grant in the amount of $40,000 to the Titusville Playhouse Inc. for property located at 422 Julia Street, and authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement.

Redevelopment Planner Tim Ford stated that the proposed improvements were reviewed by the Historic Preservation Board and the Historic Preservation Board Officer for Standard and Special Certificates of Appropriateness at the May 2, 2022 Historic Preservation Board meeting and recommended approval with minor conditions including:

• Allowing the emergency repaired third floor widow to remain, provided the put a window seal at the bottom and add the grid so it matches the window on the other side of the building
• The roof replacement not change any of the building parapet façade or vents
• Future plans for the proposed Juliet balcony get ran by the historic officer to make sure that it meets the historic requirements as was previously there
• The colors of the building be white with blue trim   

Member Ball stated the he was an uncompensated member of the Titusville Playhouse Board and donates money but was not an employee. Member Ball stated that he would not be voting on this item. 

Motion: Member Robinson moved to approve the award of a Commercial Beautification Grant in the amount of $40,000 to the Titusville Playhouse Inc. for property located at 422 Julia Street, as requested. Vice Chair Jordan seconded the motion.

Discussion: Member Stoeckel asked for clarification on if the CRA was approving the grant with the Historic Preservation Board’s recommendations and asked if the Titusville Playhouse was aware of these recommendations. It was confirmed that the CRA was approving the grant with the Historic Preservation Board’s recommendations and the Titusville Playhouse was aware of the recommendations. 

The roll call vote was as follows: 

                                    Member Robinson                  Yes 

Member Nelson                      Yes

Chairperson Diesel                 Yes

Vice-Chair Jordan                   Yes

Member Ball                           Abstain

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

Member Aker                          Yes

The motion carried unanimously.

Commercial Beautification Grant - 428 Julia Street – Executive Director Larese advised the request was to approve the award of a Commercial Beautification Grant in the amount of $40,000 to the Titusville Playhouse Inc. for property located at 428 Julia Street, and authorize the City Manager to sign the grant agreement.

Redevelopment Planner Tim Ford stated that the Historic Preservation Board ruled on a certificate of appropriateness of the improvements with the following conditions:

• The roof placement not affect the design of the overall façade
• Detailed plans of the store front must be submitted for approval before it as permitted
• All glass must be clear
• Bulkheads remain the same
• The proposed awning must fit with the storefront opening and not expand past it
• They shall provide a cut sheet of the gooseneck biting for administrative approval

Motion: Vice-Chair Jordan moved to approve the award of a Commercial Beautification Grant in the amount of $40,000 to the Titusville Playhouse Inc. for property located at 428 Julia Street with the Historic Preservation Board’s conditions, as requested. Member Nelson seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:

                                    Member Nelson                      Yes 

Chairperson Diesel                 Yes

Vice-Chair Jordan                   Yes

Member Ball                           Abstain

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

Member Aker                          Yes

Member Robinson                  Yes

The motion carried unanimously.

CRA Redevelopment Plan Update – Executive Director Larese advised the request was to provide input to S&ME, Inc., the consultant that prepared the update to the CRA Redevelopment Plan, on the consultant's research and findings to date.

Public engagement activities included a walk-in workshop on April 14, 2022 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Downtown Welcome Center, an on-line survey, an interactive map of the CRA, and discussions with staff and some stakeholders in the CRA. S&ME would draft a Redevelopment Plan for the CRA's review and recommended approval at the June 14, 2022 CRA meeting based on the input from the CRA and S&ME's research and findings.

John Jones from S&ME provided a presentation to the CRA. The presentation highlighted as follows: 

• Community Redevelopment plan update CRA/City Council workshop
• Agenda
• Summary of public engagement
• Big questions
• Most Visited Places in the CRA
• Least Visited Places in the CRA and WHY?
• Amenities desired in the CRA
• Challenges for Businesses
• Challenges for Neighborhoods
• Open question
• On-line engagement
• Comments
• Proposed redevelopment strategies
• Support planned and programmed development in the CRA
• CRA Branding and Marketing
• Reinforce Connections (physical)
• Housing
• Proposed goals, objectives and policies
• Implements Strategies and Addresses Day-to-Day Operations of the CRA
• Conceptual master plan
• CRA board input
• Next steps
• Schedule

Stan Johnston stated that he has been a resident in Titusville for over fifty years and has seen many things come and go, including a scuba store. Mr. Johnston discussed the pesticides and herbicides going into the Indian River Lagoon and the damage caused by them.

The Community Redevelopment Agency provided input to S&ME for the Redevelopment Plan Update that included such issues as adding an Art District, slowing down the fast-paced traffic in downtown Titusville on US1, adding more lighting in downtown Titusville, expanding parking, adding amenities to attract visitors, and adding pocket parks. 

Petitions and Request from the Public Present

Hannah Cairns, the owner of Sunrise Bread Company in Downtown Titusville, discussed an issue with accessing her parking lot. Ms. Cairns stated that the northbound entrance to her parking lot was being blocked by construction, and the City did not know who owned the easement between Sunrise Bread Company and the building north of it that was under construction. 

CRA Attorney Broome stated that he saw a survey that referenced a four-foot easement and an eight-foot deed that he provided to the City Surveyor for assistance. 

Member Nelson stated that she received an email about Titusville Police Department’s Officer Willie Taylor. The email discussed the Boxing Club that Officer Taylor started in 2016 for kids that needed guidance. Member Nelson stated that channel 6 news awarded Officer Taylor with the making a difference award and that channel 6 news was going to come interview him. 

Mr. Johnston discussed the sewage spill that occurred in December 2020 at Sandpoint Park and Space View Park in Titusville. Mr. Johnston also discussed a survey at SNJ Oaks.

Executive Directors Report

Executive Director Larese submitted his written report and advised that all items were informational only. 

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.