By Emilie Gilbert
Herald Intern
The first Sanford City Commission meeting of the year was held on Jan. 12.
All items on the consent agenda were unanimously approved.
Water Treatment Operations
A $87,472 contract for engineering services to modify the system used to process biosolids from wastewater at the North Water Reclamation Facility was approved. Additionally, $88,415.10 was approved for the repair and replacement of equipment at the North Water Reclamation Facility distribution station.
The purchase of chemicals utilized for water and wastewater from Hawkins Water Treatment Group Inc., estimated at $200,000, was approved.
A settlement was approved for an additional payment of $11,025 to purchase two Del-Air AC units for the South Water Reclamation Plant.
Events
The special permit application for the “Cars and Coffee” car shows was approved for the first Sunday of every month from Feb. 1 through Dec. 6. There will be a road closure of Myrtle Avenue, from Fulton to First Street, from 8 a.m. until noon on car show days. “Twilight Artisan Market and Pet Stroll” also received approval for a special permit to use outdoor space for the event on select dates between February and December.
Public Hearings
The public hearings included five items that unanimously passed, including an ordinance that amended land development regulations, a petition to vacate a partial right of way of Avocado Avenue, a request to vacate the Castle Brewer Court plat, a vested rights permit for allowing three RVs to park, and a vested rights permit for a day care facility.
Anwar Syad, the property owner of a free clinic operated by United Medical and Social Services, applied for an Exceptional Use to establish a Community Resource Facility at 1109 French Avenue. The commission voted 4-1 to approve the application.
“I’m looking forward to it... For any Sanford resident, I think they should be happy because this place has been abandoned,” Syad said.
The committee considered an appeal of an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness that was denied by the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) for new construction with a prominently visible location at 101 E. First St. The applicant, Stephen Hepner, and the commission spoke at length during the hearing, but the appeal was denied due to incomplete and uncoordinated construction plans. The commission proposed to waive the Certificate of Appropriateness fees and give a six-month extension on the site building permit.
“I think it is clear we want to make this happen. It is also clear we are uncomfortable making design decisions without HPB,” Mayor Art Woodruff said.
Other Items
Among the other items approved were the procurement of services related to water and wastewater facilities and city roadway improvements. The committee also approved accepting $30,000 in grants from the Florida Department of Transportation to the Sanford Police Department for speed measurement devices and overtime.
