[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6109454,"mediaKeyId","2761964-c2ef8bd75b915cee9f9a78bd79958647","parentId",2761964,"title","Planning board backs amendments moving many zoning decisions from staff to City Council","audioSeconds",1485,"startMs",1250000,"endMs",2735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2761964-c2ef8bd75b915cee9f9a78bd79958647&start=1250&end=2735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2761964-c2ef8bd75b915cee9f9a78bd79958647/thumbnail_1250000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109454/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Planning-board-backs-amendments-moving-many-zoning-decisions-from-staff-to-City-Council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109454-0d37f5e261af0fbfbe6af945714eb6e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609768&Signature=ot569Yl0ntIRxsh5VN6hXuG~s1-9RCqiBG9ZBuy0evTAEwovL~6Bzfmw5OiDB4ggi-XcGbuE5a-XuScdTdaJpDCUljOWF67SBrODsx8eK-OL7SJ-8k9aQzl8uFCSvMoKR~8aXs1rAH-QdH-0xStJYVwqQwqtfpllEyybrUlhwcuYJ6UD4twB6pXNQMLeRlgVlEJq-vHEvpNDCh245F5~de~UEUhG9kM3aK33bgTMlcqb3IXSEHUJjUTTIuHsoIanpyC5m2uzqnMvawUBO4qcKbCSC9hIeqUiyfidLGEl7X3UGvLO0937C2GZpSvKEMdEep-82~tmu~vCxpVNw5IFpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Punta Gorda, FL","date","2025-03-25T06:54:41Z","article","The Punta Gorda Public Order Planning and Zoning Board on March 24 voted to recommend City Council approve ZA02-2025, a set of proposed amendments to the city's Land Development Regulations that would move many final decisions currently made by the zoning official to City Council.

Rachel Berry, the city's zoning official, told the board the changes reassign decision authority for variances, special exceptions and certain mitigation approvals from staff to council and would require that the planning board issue written recommendations rather than final decisions on those items. \"These are proposed amendments to the land development regulations related to the zoning official authorities and other processes that are related to those proposed amendments,\" Berry said, describing the package and noting it had been reassigned from the quasi-judicial portion of the agenda to the legislative portion.

Key changes summarized by staff include: replacing several administrative approvals with council-level final decisions for requests such as deviations in the Traditional Punta Gorda area, additional height and density approved through mitigation, waterfront setback reductions, some fence and visibility exceptions, certain temporary use permits, and administrative variances. The proposal would also send requests for architectural modifications and some landscape and parking standard modifications through the Development Review Committee (DRC) and then to council for final action; the DRC is composed of city department representatives including public works, building, fire, police and utilities.

Board members asked clarifying questions about where specific mitigation provisions would appear in the code. Staff said City Council had directed that mitigation approvals be finalized by council and that some related language would be moved to other sections; one board member urged that all mitigation requirements be grouped together rather than split across sections for clarity.

The board's motion recommended approval to City Council with conditions that the package include specific wording changes. The conditions recorded in the motion directed inclusion of edits to section 16.8 subsections h and i (to replace the word \"decision\" with \"recommendation\" for the planning board), a parallel change in section 16.1(f), and a recommendation that the two mitigation paragraphs in section 3.2(l) be consolidated so all mitigation provisions appear in a single place in the code. The motion passed unanimously; the transcript records the vote as unanimous but does not show an itemized roll-call tally.

Board members and staff also discussed operational details, including that building-inspector determinations (for example, measurement of fence heights where grade has been modified) would rest with the building official, named in the discussion as Ron Kajowicz, and that applicants would still receive staff recommendations even though final decisions would go to council. The board noted the change will increase the number of items sent to council and advised the public and applicants to expect additional council-level reviews if the amendments are adopted.

The board's recommendation advances ZA02-2025 to City Council for final consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","D:\\Recent Videos\\Planning and Zoning Boiard Meeting 3-24-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Punta Gorda Planning and Zoning Board on March 24 voted unanimously to recommend City Council approve ZA02-2025, a package of land-development regulation amendments that shifts numerous approval authorities from zoning staff to City Council and clarifies review steps for variances, special exceptions and other development approvals.","taxTitle","Punta Gorda City, Charlotte County, Florida","taxId",54477,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6109461,"Planning board accepts Owls Yacht Club withdrawal, applies 12-month bar on refiling",820,410000,1230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2761964-c2ef8bd75b915cee9f9a78bd79958647&start=410&end=1230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2761964-c2ef8bd75b915cee9f9a78bd79958647/thumbnail_410000.jpg","/articles/6109461/Punta-Gorda-City/Charlotte-County/Florida/Planning-board-accepts-Owls-Yacht-Club-withdrawal-applies-12-month-bar-on-refiling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109461-e5cd64307057d731b5efc332eba5836f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609768&Signature=QhWniIHe4iyFPTxOrgbqXW-kVzuXiBmxSi971fbXrRlLmSb3VXChBLpGirL7K1UnBuqU7iqT~~bEi6Xnh0SkcKIH-2zJwLFc-aIeXBTy-oYEc7yJNdqYRfVbQ53XRoDL2UC7we2fRJlJtrDM4br3B14~lLX91i5Li5xky7CF9EjXVMwCy8E5h4xl~E9XViZ6~uPaKkBZO1qcKHCE~E2ZEKKQQQltBX0diZWae8Rf~aBW7MKhKvhpQfehjM5QjDXOBow9pYipimOTtF~N3oN2p-Fkl-aIQvIHZ-IkZXBQT54KSCxKbSNw1yI3UlmvdHyefQx7d~wBjSaO7BnKFIfpIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Punta Gorda Public Order Planning and Zoning Board on March 24 voted to accept the Owls Yacht Club's request to withdraw special-exception application SE-02-2024 and to accept that withdrawal \"with prejudice,\" effectively invoking the code provision that limits refiling on the same property for 12 months.

City attorney David West, advising the board, told members that the city code contains a specific provision for special exceptions under chapter 26, section 16.8(j). \"It does allow an applicant to withdraw the application, requested any time,\" West said, but he explained that if the request is made after notice has been published the withdrawal requires the consent of the advertised body and that, unless the board says otherwise, a new application concerning the same property cannot be filed within 12 months.

The applicant, Jake Dye, representing the Owls Yacht Club, told the board the club disagreed with staff findings and sought time to gather more documentation. \"We very much do not agree with the findings of the staff,\" Dye said. He said the club plans to refine its application on issues raised by staff and the public and that collecting the necessary studies and legal advice would take time.

A member of the public, James Tanner, said he supported a 12-month moratorium. \"I think a 1-year moratorium would be appropriate,\" Tanner said during public comment.

A board member disclosed a conflict and recused himself from votes on the matter because he is employed by the yacht club. The board then considered motions and ultimately approved a motion to consent to the withdrawal \"with prejudice.\" The motion carried unanimously; the transcript records the vote as passing unanimously but does not list individual roll-call votes.

City staff noted a filing fee of $7.50 for an entirely new application. West told the board that if the applicant intends to supplement the existing application rather than file a new one, the 12-month limitation would not technically apply; the board's action to accept the withdrawal with prejudice was intended to clarify the applicants' and the board's expectations about whether the club would refile or supplement the pending application.

The board's action removed the item from its docket for the near term; whether the club returns with a supplemented or new application will determine how the 12-month provision applies.

The public hearing on SE-02-2024 had been continued from a prior meeting and the city attorney told members that, because an unofficial online notice had said the matter was withdrawn, the board should consider whether the public had adequate notice before finalizing any action.","The Punta Gorda Planning and Zoning Board on March 24 consented to withdraw the Owls Yacht Club's special-exception application SE-02-2024 and accepted the withdrawal with prejudice, a move that triggers a 12-month limit on refiling the same application unless the board specifies otherwise.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning board backs amendments moving many zoning decisions from staff to City Council

Planning board accepts Owls Yacht Club withdrawal, applies 12-month bar on refiling