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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 7A_3/26/1992 A 0.1 VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA 0.7S- BUILDING DEPARTMENT y Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive 4'047 Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 • (407) 575-6220 FAX: (407) 575-6203 COMMUNITY APPEARANCE BOARD MEETING M I NUT E S JANUARY 2 9 , 1 9 9 2 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Community Appearance Board held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Wednesday, January 29, 1992 . The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman Leslie Cook at 9: 30 A.M. Community Appearance Board members present were: Chairwoman Leslie Cook, Vice Chairman Paul Coben, Victor Strahan, Claudette Dalack and Peter Pallatto. Scott D. Ladd, Clerk. of the Board was also in attendance. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was approved as submitted. III. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES • There were no Meeting Minutes to be approved. Community Appearance Board Meeting Minutes January 29, 1992 Page 2 IV. NEW BUSINESS A. An Application from Charley Katz of Art Sign Company for Blockbuster Video, 229-231 U.S. Highway One, South (Village Square Shopping Center) for: o Add an awning to the existing fascia; o Two sets of graphics with the copy to read "Blockbuster Video" on the proposed awning; o Change the faces of a portion of the existing pylon sign from "Shopping Center" to ''Blockbuster Video". Charley Katz, of Art Sign Company for Blockbuster Video, and Bruce Gay, Head of Construction for Blockbuster Video for the Southeast Zone were in attendance. Mr. Gay gave a brief history of Blockbuster Video, stating that they are now a multi-national corporation, headquartered in Florida. He stated that Blockbuster Video considers itself to be a family- oriented video store, and would supply approximately 30 jobs - in the community, as well as a great deal of tax revenue. Their request was to have identification on the pylon sign and to install Blockbuster blue and , yellow awning on the fascia of the building. Mr. Gay explained that Blockbuster's standard sign package is normally much more elaborate than is being presented for the proposed Tequesta location. A number of representatives of the merchants of Village Square Shops were in attendance, and all were in favor of Blockbuster Video occupying the proposed space, as well as having no objection to the bright blue and yellow awning to be placed on the fascia. Mary Ann Stanton, Savings of America, felt the center needed a "draw" to promote traffic, and Blockbuster Video would be that draw. Bob McIntyre, of the T.V. and Audio Center, stated more traffic and more lighting at that center would discourage vagrants who have been seen hanging around that area at night. • Community Appearance Board Meeting Minutes January 29, 1992 Page 3 Boardmember Dalack stated she was not necessarily opposed to Blockbuster Video's occupancy, but was concerned about the bright blue awning with yellow letters. Mr. Gay stated that the blue awning with yellow lettering was recognized as Blockbuster's sign, lent itself to the success of the business, and that it was beyond his power to change the color, and stated_ further that the company would not change the color of the awning. Chairman Cook stated that the awning at the Blockbuster Video located on Indiantown Road was more discrete and attractive and did not surround the building. Mr. Gay reported that Blockbuster was required by the Community Appearance Board in Boca to conform to the shopping center they were located in, which is green. Blockbuster did conform but reports that that store does not bring a good return and an alternative location is being sought. Chairman Cook doubted that the success of Blockbuster Video could be accredited to their blue awning, but to the fact that they had a good inventory. Mr. Gay further reported that he is presently looking at approximately 45 potential locations. Tequesta fits the demographic profile for Blockbuster, with ample space, complimentary surrounding businesses, no close competitors, etc. Boardmember Strahan questioned whether the sign needed to be as big as proposed. Mr. Gay answered that the impact was necessary, since a major portion of the business is impulse. Mr. Milhauser, owner of Village Square Shopping Center, stated that a major tenant was needed for that center and felt that Blockbuster Video would be a positive draw and would within 60-90 days encourage a tenant for the empty restaurant. Vice Chairman Coben asked Mr. Milhauser if he would commit to bringing his free-standing signs into compliance. Mr. Milhauser reported that he is preparing a Bond regarding the main sign and will see that it gets to Mr. Ladd at the Department of Community Development. Mr. Coben stated that there are several free-standing signs there which are in violation. Mr. Milhauser stated that when the tenants who belong to the non-conforming signs leave the center, the signs will come down. Community Appearance Board Meeting Minutes January 29, 1992 Page 4 Scott Ladd explained that the Bond which Mr. Milhauser is referring to is to make the sign come into compliance with the Code or remove the sign at the end of the amortization period of the Sign Code. The Bond runs 90 days past the date of the expiration of the amortization. If compliance is not met at that time, the Village will call the Bond and correct the sign. Ways in which the main sign at Village Square Shopping Center does not conform to the new Sign Code are: 1) it is too high; 2) it is too close to the highway; and 3) has too much square footage. Vice Chairman Coben pointed out that if the Blockbuster Video sign is approved today, it will be illegal in 2.5 years. Mr. Gay stated that Blockbuster Video is aware of that and would not object to changing the sign at the end of the amortization period, but that presently the signage is necessary during the initial opening period. Boardmember Strahan felt the size of the awning was overkill for that particular corner, the amount of lighting coming from it was tremendous, and asked if it was possible to reduce the size of the canopy. Mr. Gay theorized that the awning says more than Blockbuster Video. A consumer sees 40 feet of awning and thinks "a 2000-square foot store". An end-cap or an out parcel appeals to Blockbuster. He pointed out that the height of the awning, was less than three feet as opposed to their standard four feet. The bottom line was an unwillingness to reduce the size of the awning. Boardmember Dalack also felt there was too much lighting and asked if it could be reduced. Mr. Gay stated the Board would be asking Blockbuster to give up their sign if the lighting was reduced. He stated further that 50% of Blockbuster's work force were high school students, half of which were female. Therefore, the lighting is necessary for security purposes. Boardmember Dalack asked if Blockbuster would be willing to compromise in any area. The answer was "No". The Board was concerned about the long-term effect on the center if the Blockbuster signage was approved. The many merchants of Village Square who were in attendance were adamant at the thought of Blockbuster Video not moving into that area and their general consensus was that if the Board tried to make the applicant compromise, Blockbuster would not move into that location. Community Appearance Board Meeting Minutes January 29, 1992 Page 5 Chairwoman Cook felt that the awning was 'too much' and that the colors did not fit the color scheme of the center. Mr. Milhauser stated that if it would help the Board in their decision, he would agree to paint the building white at the next re-painting to better coordinate with the blue awning. Mr. McIntyre of the T.V. and audio center stated that if the Board would accept Blockbuster Video and its colors, the merchants in that center would agree that when any sign ,is replaced, companion colors to Blockbuster Video and acceptable to the CAB would be chosen, and in fact, the tenants would be willing to have that appear in their lease agreements. Scott Ladd stated there exists a uniform sign format` in the appearance plan. Numerous shopping centers have opted to have uniform signage. The uniform signage is presented to the Board and approved and the sign contractor receives a permit if the conditions of the uniform signage are met. Any shopping center, at any time, can come to the Department of Community Development with a proposal for uniform signage, but it does need to be initiated by the property owner applying for signage. Vice Chairman Coben asked if Blockbuster Video would object if each tenant in their center had a blue awning such as theirs. Mr. Gay responded that there would be no objection from Blockbuster. The tenants in attendance stated in unison that they too would not object to blue awnings for everyone. Boardmember Strahan moved to approve the application as submitted, with the understanding that a uniform sign code to conform with Blockbuster Video colors will be created for the Village Square Shopping Center, allowing attrition to take its course. Boardmember Dalack seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Leslie Cook - against Victor Strahan - for Paul Cohen - for Peter Pallatto - for Claudette Dalack - for the motion was therefore passed and adopted. Boardmember Dalack stated that a white building accented with the Blockbuster sign colors would be striking. Mr. McIntyre volunteered to conform immediately. Community Appearance Board Meeting Minutes January 29, 1992 Page 6 V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Reconsideration of a previously-approved application from City Signs to replace the face of an existing 21 x 8' cabinet sign located at 275 U.S. Highway One, South (Village Square Shopping Center) . The Board heard this application at the October 23, 1991 meeting and approved the sign with white background and either black or navy copy. The applicant would like the Board to reconsider his request for the sign face with white background and red copy. Scott Ladd pointed out that the owner of the dry cleaning business with the red sign has never contacted him regarding the sign which is in violation. Bert Lieb, of City Signs, stated he was willing to re-do the sign in the previously approved navy or black. Vice Chairman Coben and Boardmember Pallatto felt the red sign was not that obtrusive. Boardmember Dalack moved to approve the dry cleaner sign with white background and red lettering until such time a uniform signage agreement is drawn up with the owner of Village Square Shopping Center. There was no second. Scott Ladd pointed ,out that if the present sign is approved based upon the proposed Uniform Signage Agreement for the center, a legal problem could present itself if, in fact, no Uniform Signage Agreement was ever made. Community Appearance Board Meeting Minutes January 29, 1992 Page 7 Boardmember Strahan moved that a six-month or less temporary approval be given regarding the white background sign with red lettering until a Uniform Signage Agreement is signed for the Village Square Shopping Center. At the signing of the Uniform Signage Agreement, the dry cleaners sign will be changed to conform with the uniform pattern. If no Uniform Signage Agreement is signed, then the dry cleaners sign will come before the Community Appearance Board for re-consideration. Boardmember Pallatto seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Leslie Cook - for Victor Strahan - for Paul Coben - for Peter Pallatto - for Claudette Dalack - for the motion was therefore passed and adopted. VI. ANY OTHER MATTERS Vice Chairman Coben asked why Christmas lights are still up at Nicole's Restaurant and The Chandelier and Abaco. Scott Ladd answered they are being cited. Mr. Coben also asked why Nicole's Restaurant is allowed to have two signs. Scott Ladd answered that they occupy two tenant spaces. Community Appearance Board Meeting Minutes January 29, 1992 Page 8 VII• ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:25 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Y14-d4'" Fran Bitters Recording Secretary Date Approved: By: . Clerk of the Board