Sanibel Planning Commission OKs waiver for plaza
The Sanibel Planning Commission approved a waiver request related to vegetation buffers and landscaping for a shopping center at its recent meeting, as well as continued its consideration of a recommendation to the city council to amend the Code to permit bonus, outdoor dining seating.
On July 13, the commission voted 6-0 to approve the wavier application submitted for Periwinkle Place, at 2075 Periwinkle Way. The request was approved subject to the following conditions:
– City-listed invasive exotic vegetation as well as invasive exotic vegetation listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) as Category I invasives shall be removed from all buffers (front, sides, and rear).
– Detailed plans, similar to those provided for front buffer (Coastal Vista Design Plan dated 6-23-21, as approved by planning commission), shall be provided for the rear and side buffers for review by city staff to ensure compliance with the waiver granted and attached conditions prior to implementation.
– Adhere to installation and maintenance standards identified in Chapter 122 — Vegetation at the time of installation for all buffers (front, sides, and rear).
– Rear and both side buffers shall comply with Section 122-49 — types, varieties and number for the small tree/medium shrub and small shrub/groundcover categories. The (east) side buffer shall comply with Section 122-48 — Location and size of required vegetation buffers.
– The front buffer plan (Coastal Vista Design Plan set dated 6-23-21) shall be implemented within 120 days of the adopted resolution.
– The side and rear buffers, pending final staff review and approval of plant schedules, shall be installed and completed no later than the end of 15 months from the adopted resolution for the west buffer, 27 months for (south) rear buffer, and 39 months for east buffer.
Prior to the vote, Steve Hartsell of the Pavese Law Firm requested that additional documents be included with the conditions on behalf of his client and the property owner, Dahlmann Periwinkle Place. The documents involved vegetation plans and plant counts for the buffers by the designer.
After discussions among the commission, city staff and Hartsell, including a short recess to find common ground, the commission approved including the attachments as reference materials.
Also at the meeting, the commissioners considered a draft ordinance prepared by staff that aims to amend the city’s Code of Ordinances to solidify the outdoor, dining pilot program that was temporarily put in place for the pandemic. It would allow bonus seating at restaurants and carry-out food stores.
During discussion, a handful of proposed changes to the draft language were sought by the commissioners. One involved cleaning up the text to “the maximum number of bonus outdoor seats permitted at a carry-out food store is 15 percent of the total permitted seats associated with the store, or 16 seats, whichever is greater. The maximum number of bonus outdoor seats at a restaurant is 15 percent of the total permitted seats associated with the restaurant, or not to exceed 32 seats.”
A motion to continue the public hearing to the next meeting so the changes could be made passed 6-0.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email