Planning board tables landscape proposal after Environmental Advisory Board asks for deferral

The Planning and Zoning Board of the Town of Melbourne Beach voted to table consideration of a proposed landscape ordinance to the November meeting after the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) asked for a deferral.

Dan Harper, a member of the Planning and Zoning Board, said, "The EAB asked us to defer this until next month. There's stuff on the trees. And since this is tied in with the EAB, I would say we wanted to defer to next month with this too." Harper's comment prompted discussion among board members about process and past submissions.

Board members said the landscape proposal had already been before the Town Commission twice and that the commission authorized a $1,000 payment for the town planner to review the proposal. Several members expressed concern the town planner had not yet completed that review. One board member asked that if the board votes to recommend approval next month, the planner be asked to review the specific draft in the packet to avoid a new "version 2" appearing at a later date.

After discussion, a member moved to table the item to November; a second was recorded and the motion passed on a voice vote.

Board members clarified roles: the landscape ordinance originated with the Environmental Advisory Board and the Planning and Zoning Board's role is to recommend approval or denial to the Town Commission. The board signaled it will vote on the proposal at its next meeting, and if the recommendation is favorable it will request the planner's review of that approved version before transmitting a final draft to the commission.

The board also recorded that the planner's review had been funded by the Town Commission and that the planner will be engaged only if the Planning and Zoning Board votes an affirmative recommendation.