Town Hall
About
Budget
Calendar of Events
Comprehensive Plan
Comprehensive Plan Amend.
Employment
Flood Information
Gallery
History
Home
Hurricane Information
Links
Lost & Found Pets
Maps
Meeting Minutes
New Resident Information
News
Newsletters
Noseeum Spraying
Ordinances
Parks
Proclamations
Resolutions
Town Officials
Town Updates
Volunteering
Water Restrictions

Building & Zoning
Code
Forms
Maps
New Building Checklist
Permit Fees
Permit Process
Permit Status

Police Department
About
Employment
Monthly Activity Reports
News Alerts
ORPD Links
Support Group
 

Public Hearing and Special Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Ocean Ridge held on Monday, August 9, 2004 in the Town Hall Meeting Chambers.  

The meeting was called to order at 8:00 AM by Chair Bruce Gimmy and roll call was answered by the following:  

                        Gerald Goray                                       James Bonfiglio
                        Ward Northrup                                    Ellen Bierlin

                                                Chairman Bruce Gimmy  

III.       Approval if Minutes

            A.        May 25, 2004  

James Bonfiglio moved to adopt the minutes of May 25, 2004 , seconded by Ward Northrup.  

Motion carried - yea 5.  

IV.       Discuss Traffic Calming Devices for Douglas Drive/Oceanview Drive , Tropical Drive and areas                throughout Town  

Town Manager Mathis advised that there have been several inquiries on the inland streets for traffic calming with particular interest at this meeting for Douglas and Oceanview Dr.  Director Hillery stated that Briny Breezes had just completed research on traffic speed bumps and he advised that there are certain engineering criteria and regulations for signage before and at the location of any speed bumps. Director Hillery also added that there is a regulation of at least ¼ mile distance before a speed bump may be installed which Douglas Drive and Oceanview Drive no not have.  

Mr. Northrup stated that the street does not meet regulations for speed bumps and that P&Z should discuss other alternatives for traffic calming.  

James Bonfiglio questioned if the problem on Douglas Drive was the speed or the number of vehicles that use the road and Manager Mathis stated that both heavy traffic and speeding were received as complaints by the residents. Director Hillery added that some of the problem is due to the residents who use the street and he did not feel that speeding was a large factor of the problem. He also commented that installing signage such as “No Outlet” may help decrease traffic.  

Mr. Bonfiglio felt that if traffic calming devices were installed on Douglas some of the traffic problems may be shifted to other streets. Mr. Bonfiglio also had concerns with liability to the Town if devices were installed.  

Mr. Gimmy advised that traffic tables were attractive and could be a possible solution.  

Public Comment  

Marie Speed, 51 Douglas Drive , thanked the Commission for considering traffic calming for Douglas Drive and agreed with the idea of traffic tables. She added that part of the traffic problem is due to the apartment complex on Douglas and that people do not realize that the street is complicated with hills and curves.  

Carlos Plaza , 51 Douglas Drive , suggested that clear signage be installed or possible mirrors to see what is coming around the curves. Mr. Plaza stated that another problem is the structure of Douglas Drive and with the hills and curves vehicles do not have time to react and slow their speed or avoid pedestrians.  

Director Hillery stated that mirrors were a good idea and also suggested that Douglas Drive be turned into a cul-de-sac blocking vehicle traffic to Old Ocean Blvd.  

Wilson Eick, 26 Douglas Drive , stated that the natural hill causes an increase of speed as vehicles come down and then there is a sharp turn which visitors do not realize and he also agreed with “No Outlet” signage.  

Mr. Plaza suggested planters be used to block the road that could be removable for emergency traffic and could still allow pedestrian and bicyclist traffic. He felt that it should be made clear that Douglas Drive was not for public use to the beach.  

Mr. Goray advised that he had met with city planners from West Palm Beach and Boca Raton and felt that traffic calming was a work in progress. Mr. Goray did not feel comfortable with commenting on a definite solution for all traffic calming and that each area in Town may require a different type or combination of calming devise. He also distributed photographs of several traffic calming devices used throughout Palm Beach County and suggested getting additional information from nearby city planners.  

Mr. Bonfiglio advised that he had met with planner from the City of Boynton Beach who discourages the use of traffic calming devises for liability issues such as accidents or damage to vehicles. He added that he has not made a decision on the issue but wanted to express all possibilities and to point out that installing devices could be very costly to the Town and may not work. Mr. Bonfiglio felt that there was an obligation to the whole Town and all of the residents.  

Mr. Northrup stated that a recommendation on a solution for the whole Town could not be made today.  

Ellen Beirlin moved to recommend to the Town Commission that signage be placed at Oceanview/Douglas Drive and A1A and to temporarily prevent access from Douglas/Oceanview Drive to Old Ocean Blvd. for a six month period to determine the effects on traffic calming, and to bring the item back to P&Z for a status hearing with a staff report, seconded by Ward Northrup.  

Motion carried - yea 5.  

Town Manager Mathis stated that the Commission requested that P&Z review and determine if other streets in Town require traffic calming. He also mentioned that the Town budgeted for a street repaving project with a projected schedule to start in January 2005 and suggested that P&Z review and plan possible traffic calming together with the paving.  

Mr. Bonfiglio stated that the problem areas need to be identified in order to address possible solutions.  

Mr. Gimmy stated that the Commission should be made aware that there is a town-wide traffic calming problem that needs to be addressed and also to inform the residents that there will be an ongoing study.  

Mrs. Bierlin suggested meeting or notifying the residents in each area that traffic calming solutions are being discussed. Town Clerk Hancsak advised that information is posted on the Town website as well as the newspapers and that site specific meetings have been held with property owners in the past.  

Mr. Goray suggested that a 5 point communication statement be relayed to the Commission that includes: acknowledging that traffic calming needs to be addressed, requiring the public safety department identify the problem areas, a study be completed of traffic calming devices and alternatives, requests for public comment, and that the P&Z will further review options.  

George Bierlin, 26 Hudson Ave. , felt that any kind of traffic devise could help with calming such as white stripping and agreed with meeting with city planners and working on the issue collectively.  

Mr. Northrup requested staff obtain an inventory of the widths of streets and rights-of-way to get a base map in order to discuss different measures for different areas.  

Town Manager Mathis advised that staff would have an inventory completed in a couple weeks and there was a consensus for Town Clerk Hancsak to schedule a P&Z meeting in September to discuss Town wide traffic calming.  

V.        Review the RMM District Regulations  

Town Manager Mathis advised that the Town Commission had requested that the P & Z review whether the RMM District regulations regarding the density should be revised due to the recent increase in maximum height.  

Mr. Goray stated that the RMM district is multi-family and felt that the increase in height was good for aesthetics and all agreed that the zoning regulations were adequate.  The Commission concurred.  

Mrs. Bierlin moved to recommend that no additional changes be made to the RMM District regulations, seconded by Gerry Goray.  

Motion carried - yea 5.

VI.       Discuss the preliminary plans for FDOT project concerning the shoulder widening  

Town Manager Mathis stated that preliminary plans were received from the Florida Department of Transportation and advised that when additional plans are received they will be forwarded.  

Mr. Bonfiglio questioned if the shoulder widening project could coincide with the drainage project. Town Clerk Hancsak advised that $237,000 of the drainage project is reimbursable and also on a time certain schedule. Manager Mathis added that the drainage project should be done within a year and the FDOT project will not be done for several.  

VII.      ADJOURNMENT  

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00 A.M.