During the meeting, the detailed presentation by staff on case PB 23-27, the proposed subdivision of the Palatka Mall property into four parcels, was meant to lead to a final plat approval. However, concerns were raised regarding the conformance of the plat with the city’s Municipal Code and Florida State Statute chapter 177. The applicant had previously addressed 18 items noted in the staff report, but subsequent examination by a board member during the meeting revealed several compliance issues. The identified problems included the absence of an index map, confusion over the designation of parcels and outparcels, and a lack of easements and permanent reference monuments, which are critical for restoring property lines in the event of a disaster.

The applicant’s absence from the meeting was noted, and the board expressed the need for the issues to be addressed before moving forward. This led to a unanimous decision to table the final plat approval. Additionally, it was suggested that a review by a registered surveyor be conducted, with the costs to be borne by the developer, to ensure all discrepancies are corrected before the plat returns to the board.

Furthermore, the board engaged in a discussion about plat and code requirements within subdivisions, led by a staff member, who provided a memo on this topic. The board examined the differences between subdivisions and planned unit developments (PUDs), the latter being increasingly utilized for their flexibility and innovation in planning. Concerns were raised about the outdated sections in the city code that govern the approval of subdivisions, PUDs, and plats, some of which date back to 1981. The board agreed on the need for a review and update of these code sections to better reflect current practices and requirements.