Minutes
for January 26, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Leah Schad at 6:30 p.m.
Members in attendance:
Leah Schad, Chair
Cathy Probst, Support Staff
Jesus Armas
Ralph Bair
Debbie Baj
Winston Crosbie
Lucius Wilcox
Dave Self
Keith Shivers
Robert Trepp
The minutes from the November 17, 2005 meeting were approved as written.
Lead Schad introduced our new member Cindy Ponga. Mrs. Ponga has attended most of the meetings over the last year and the committee welcomed her place as a permanent member of the committee replacing departing Jane Vickers who moved out of the area.
Chair Schad asked the audience members to introduce themselves.
The Charrette Report was discussed with Nat Roberts commenting on the purpose of the report and what it contains. The Committee members had no further comment.
Nat Roberts mentioned that citrus canker has affected more trees which
are in the process of being destroyed. He gave an update on the DRI process
stating that it goes through 3 processes:
• DRI application to Treasure Coast Regional Planning
• Future Land Use application (signs posted around grove)
• Environmental Resource Permit from South Florida Water Management District
All inquiries regarding upcoming meeting and hearing dates will be directed to the Callery Judge website at www.cjgrove.com
CJG plans to send a letter or flyer to a large number of acreage residents informing them of the plan and process.
Upcoming meeting dates of interest:
Land Use Advisory Board (LUAB) original meeting date rescheduled to March
10.
County Commission Meeting April 27 with a second commission meeting in
August.
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Meeting March 17
Nat received feedback from the Treasure Coast Regional Planners that they are concerned with the current plans’ density on the outside edges. Nat will discuss the concerns further with the planners to understand exactly what their concerns are. The committee discussed the possibility that the planner doesn’t understand the make up of this area and the surrounding neighbors who want that large buffer and larger lot sizes at the outer edges of the property. Nat relayed that the buffers around the property were planned to “protect” the Acreage and Loxahatchee residents from the development. The residents were very clear during the charrette process that they wanted to have some distance from their property to the new homes with buffers of some type as well as avoid additional lighting.
Road lighting was discussed with some audience members concerned about keeping the “night skies”. The committee has addressed this issue in a prior meeting and asked for the plans to consider special lighting to allow “night skies”.
One audience member was concerned about how water and sewer would be affected in the Acreage with this plan. Nat gave a brief history of how Seminole Improvement District currently provides water to several schools, shopping centers and Lion Country Safari with their on site water plant. The plans allow for an improvement in the way the water flows through the Callery property and it actually ends of better and cleaner going out. Nat mentioned that water reuse would be planned for irrigation systems within the property.
Chair Schad indicated that CJG has gone through a rigorous and unusual process to be good neighbors by opening all meetings to the public, by forming the Neighbors Advisory Committee, by posting all meeting minutes on the website, by going through the DRI process and by considering the current and future needs of the area to provide a well planned community.
Audience members commented on their concern about increased traffic with the new homes being built. The committee has discussed traffic concerns at several meetings and heard presentations by traffic engineers about how the traffic network is being planned. CJG has paid for numerous traffic studies to address this issue and ensure the road network would be the most efficient for the increased road trips. One of the purposes of the community is to capture road trips within the property by offering homes, offices, stores and entertainment within a short distance from one another.
Nat used the map in the conference center to show the equestrian trails being planned on the perimeter of the property providing the opportunity for surrounding neighbors to use the trails.
Chair Schad asked the committee to consider compiling a letter to the county commission regarding the work the committee has done over the last year including positives and negatives about the plan. It was suggested that the negatives be presented with the solution on how the Callery plan is addressing those perceived negatives. Chair Schad asked each member to write down his or her thoughts and bring to the next meeting.
Callery Judge Grove is working to provide their best case for the plan to the county commission. If the commission does not approve the plan, Nat Roberts was not able to answer what direction they will take. The committee discussed the possibilities if the CJG plan doesn’t go through and CJG sells to a developer including walled and gated communities, track housing, no town centers, and more. It was mentioned that Mr. Roberts has received numerous offers in the past to sell the land, however, CJG has a plan and a vision for this land which they feel would be best suited for the future of the area. It was discussed that if the plan is not approved, difficult business decisions will have to be made.
Committee Member Robert Trepp asked if the public can attend LUAB meetings. Nat Roberts and Leah Schad said these are open to the public and comments from the public are accepted. It was suggested that committee members attend meetings when possible.
Chair Schad asked for members to consider future meeting topics and bring those ideas to the next meeting. Robert Trepp suggested the committee discuss the “what ifs” depending on the decision of the commission. Robert would like the committee to offer its opinion on what alternatives we would prefer if the CJG plan is not accepted.
Next meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2006
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
