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Record of Proceedings

Venice Planning Commission Meeting - June 3, 2025: Leo San Marco Design Alternative Denied, Site Plan Approved with Conditions

City Council & Boards — Tuesday, June 3, 2025
BodyVenice, Florida
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateTuesday, June 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 52:27

Original source
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0:50

Barry, we're ready when you are.

0:52

Thank you.

0:54

Good afternoon.

0:55

Could I uh uh like to call order today's meeting of June 3rd, 2025?

1:00

Could I have a roll call, please?

1:02

Yes, Chair Snyder.

1:04

I'm here, thank you.

1:05

Mr.

1:05

Wilson here, Mr.

1:07

Hale.

1:08

Here, Ms.

1:09

Sherberg.

1:10

Here, Mr.

1:11

McKeon.

1:12

Here.

1:12

Mr.

1:13

Young.

1:14

Here.

1:14

And Mr.

1:14

Jasper.

1:15

Here.

1:16

Thank you.

1:17

We've got a set of minutes from May the 20th.

1:20

Do I have a motion or suggested revision?

1:23

Mr.

1:23

Chairman.

1:24

Yes, Bill.

1:25

I move that we accept the May 28, 2025 regular meeting minutes as presented.

1:30

Thank you, Deb second.

1:32

Second.

1:33

Mr.

1:33

Chairman.

1:34

Thank you.

1:35

All in favor say aye.

1:38

Aye.

1:39

Any bo anyone opposed?

1:42

Chair was uh.

1:43

Do we have anyone signed up for general audience participation today?

1:47

No, there's no one signed up for general.

1:49

Okay, very good.

1:51

Uh so then we'll turn to our first public hearing, which is a design alternative petition number 25-14 DA Leo San Marco.

2:01

Staff is Nicole Trimbury, the agent is Joanne Rubio, and the applicant is Leo at Venice LLC.

2:09

This is a quasar judicial hearing.

2:12

I have a memorandum somewhere.

2:16

Which says this is to certify the public hearing for this petition was approvedly advertised on May 17, 2025, as required by the City of Venice land development code.

2:27

Proof of publication is on file in the planning and zoning off.

2:31

Uh let me open the public hearing and ask the attorney to question board members regarding any export date communications or potential conflicts of interest.

2:40

Before I do that, Chair, did you want to hear these separately or do you want to hear them together?

2:44

Well, I was thinking we could do them together if that's okay with you.

2:47

It's fine with me.

2:48

They're they can be heard separately too, but whatever your preference is.

2:53

Uh what does Nicole want?

2:56

Um, I have just one PowerPoint to cover both of them.

2:59

Then we'll do one together.

3:01

Thank you, Nicole.

3:03

Good job.

3:08

So we still need to do ex parte and conference of yeah, but why don't you open it?

3:12

If you're gonna hear them together, go ahead and open the other one?

3:15

Yes.

3:16

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning And Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Public Engagement██████████13%
Stormwater Management███████9%
Procedural██████8%
Land Development Code███4%
Homeowners Association Management██3%
Building Regulations█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Venice Planning Commission Meeting - June 3, 2025: Leo San Marco Design Alternative Denied, Site Plan Approved with Conditions

The Venice Planning Commission met on June 3, 2025, to consider two quasi-judicial petitions for the Leo San Marco development: a Design Alternative (25-14DA) for monument signage and a Site and Development Plan (23-37SP) for 200 multifamily units. After public testimony and deliberation, the commission denied the design alternative but approved the site plan subject to three stipulations.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the May 20, 2025 meeting. A motion referenced "May 28, 2025 regular meeting minutes," but the agenda listed minutes from May 20, 2025. The discrepancy was noted.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Chris Belligan (8310 Lightfoot Drive, resident north of the proposed development) opposed the project, citing insufficient infrastructure on Knights Trail, traffic concerns, and that similar nearby developments remain underfilled. He argued the city does not need more of the same type of housing.
  • Dan Seder (property owner on the north side) questioned the unit count, believing the original plan was for 61 rental units but hearing a build-out of 1,200 units. Staff clarified the 1,200 figure refers to the entire Knights Trail neighborhood cap, not this project.
  • An unnamed resident from Laurel Oaks raised concerns about stormwater management, noting the county's nearby fire training facility is built at a higher grade, potentially causing flooding and contamination to private wells and septic systems. He requested grading and elevation plans.

Discussion Items

  • 25-14DA Leo San Marco Design Alternative: The applicant sought approval for two ground signs without columns (a departure from the city’s standard base-cap-column monument design). Staff presented three proposed stipulations (wastewater improvements, easement resolution, and parking compliance) but did not take a position on the design alternative. Board members questioned the sign’s color (aqua blue) and whether it matched the architectural character of the buildings. The applicant stated they would be willing to change the color to better match the roof tones. Commissioner Hale argued the city’s code intends to distinguish city properties from county ones, and the proposed design fails to integrate with the building architecture. The commission found the design alternative inconsistent with LDR Section 87-3.5 criteria, particularly regarding negative impacts on adjacent uses and failure to provide a superior design.
  • 23-37SP Leo San Marco Site and Development Plan: The proposal includes 200 multifamily units (6.67 units/acre) on 30.17 acres within a 73.79-acre parcel. The plan includes cottages, duplexes, amenities, and associated infrastructure. Staff confirmed compliance with the comprehensive plan and land development code, except for parking—addressed via stipulation. Commissioners discussed stormwater management, the pond drainage area (in county jurisdiction), and the relationship of the sign to the overall architecture. The applicant affirmed a homeowner’s association would maintain stormwater systems.

Key Outcomes

  • Design Alternative (25-14DA): Denied (vote 7-0) based on failure to meet LDR Section 87-3.5 criteria regarding consistency with purpose and intent, potential negative impact on adjacent uses, and lack of superior design. The applicant may resubmit without a one-year waiting period.
  • Site and Development Plan (23-37SP): Approved (vote 7-0) subject to three stipulations: (1) wastewater system improvements; (2) easement resolution before plan effectiveness; (3) updated site plans reflecting compliant parking as provided in the agenda exhibit.

Meeting Transcript

Barry, we're ready when you are. Thank you. Good afternoon. Could I uh uh like to call order today's meeting of June 3rd, 2025? Could I have a roll call, please? Yes, Chair Snyder. I'm here, thank you. Mr. Wilson here, Mr. Hale. Here, Ms. Sherberg. Here, Mr. McKeon. Here. Mr. Young. Here. And Mr. Jasper. Here. Thank you. We've got a set of minutes from May the 20th. Do I have a motion or suggested revision? Mr. Chairman. Yes, Bill. I move that we accept the May 28, 2025 regular meeting minutes as presented. Thank you, Deb second. Second. Mr. Chairman. Thank you. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any bo anyone opposed? Chair was uh. Do we have anyone signed up for general audience participation today? No, there's no one signed up for general. Okay, very good. Uh so then we'll turn to our first public hearing, which is a design alternative petition number 25-14 DA Leo San Marco. Staff is Nicole Trimbury, the agent is Joanne Rubio, and the applicant is Leo at Venice LLC. This is a quasar judicial hearing. I have a memorandum somewhere. Which says this is to certify the public hearing for this petition was approvedly advertised on May 17, 2025, as required by the City of Venice land development code. Proof of publication is on file in the planning and zoning off. Uh let me open the public hearing and ask the attorney to question board members regarding any export date communications or potential conflicts of interest. Before I do that, Chair, did you want to hear these separately or do you want to hear them together? Well, I was thinking we could do them together if that's okay with you. It's fine with me.

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