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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Local Planning Agency_06/14/2007MINUTES VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY MEETING TEQUESTA VILLAGE HALL THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2007 7:00 P.M. (Regular Village Council Meeting to Immediately Follow LPA Meeting) I. Call to Order and Roll Call The Local Planning Agency Meeting was called to order by Mayor Jim Humpage at 7:04 p.m. Present were: Mayor Jim Humpage, Vice Mayor Pat Watkins, Council Member Dan Amero, Council Member Tom Paterno, and Council Member Calvin Turnquest. Also in attendance were: Sitting in for Village Attorney Scott Hawkins was Attorney Stirling Halversen, Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., Village Clerk Lori McWilliams, and Department Heads. Mayor Humpage noted the Regular Council Meeting would follow immediately after the Local Planning Meeting. II. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Vice-Mayor Watkins moved to approve the agenda; Council Member Amero; motion carried unanimously S-0. III. New Business 1. Site Plan Review for Tequesta Fashion Mall, 150 US 1, for the addition of a stand alone 4,113 square foot building, to be erected on the right side of the site, to match the existing building on the left. This is a Mixed use zone. Mr. Randy Hansen of Interplan Architects stated they completed a free standing building approximately a year ago on the southeast corner of the site and currently the applicant wanted to construct a matching building to create book ends for the Fashion Mall. He noted the architecture was the same and the building would be the same size. He explained they had reduced some of the existing parking in order to place the building; however continued to exceed the required parking in terms of the overall landscaping. He stated they were in full compliance with the set back requirements for mixed use zoning, elevations and signage. (Council Questions) Council Member Paterno asked if the front landscaping was going into the easement due to the angle of the building and Mr. Hansen stated yes it was basically to provide a symmetrical look to the landscaping and noted it was the applicant's responsibility to landscape up to the sidewalk. Council Member Paterno asked what kind of signage would be utilized and Mr. Hansen stated provisions had been made for a maximum letter size area similar to the signage that was on the Local Planning Agency Meeting June 14, 2007 Page 2 of 4 dance studio previously. He stated the building was designed for the potential to host three tenants and therefore each tenant would have signage. Council Member Paterno referred to Ordinance 377 and stated it no' longer existed. He mentioned there were new Ordinances 78-393 which stated that renovations to existing properties must be brought up to current Code and therefore they needed to re-landscape the frontage. He asked if they plan to comply and Mr. Hansen explained the only landscaping they planned was around the building. He felt Ordinance 377 was brought into existence as a landscape Code and was a requirement that all properties within a certain timeframe would be brought into compliance at that time or waivers would be granted and this property was granted waivers for the remainder portions of the properties. He stated they have landscaped for these two buildings in accordance with the current Code. Council Member Paterno stated that according to the new Code when changes were made, it needed to be brought up to the current Code as per 78-393. Mr. Hansen stated his understanding was that what they have provided were being treated as out parcels and were landscaped according to current Codes. Council Member Paterno disagreed and believed the property was being altered and needed to be brought up to the present Code at least on the streetscape. Mr. Hansen did not believe that this was possible and stated that in order to meet the current requirements they would need wider buffers and additional landscaping that basically would take away significant parking that would not allow them to meet the current parking Code requirements for the existing Fashion Mall. Council Member Paterno asked Mr. Hansen to come up with a plan that was not as sparse as was being presented. Mr. Hansen suggested maybe adding additional trees into the existing landscape. Vice-Mayor Watkins clarified this site plan went before Planning and Zoning and Ms. Harding confirmed it had and that they had no issues with the plan as presented. Council Member Paterno stated he was willing to let inner islands go but wanted the US One frontage brought up to the Code minimums considering they have made considerable changes to the property. Vice-Mayor Watkins asked Ms. Harding if she saw any issues with the plan not meeting the Code adequately and Ms. Harding advised initially she saw no issues and spoke with Mr. Hansen about the landscaping to improve the appearance. She explained the office opinion was they had met the requirements of 377 on the existing site and was approved by Council and the Planning and Zoning Board had no issues with the plan. She stated she did not however see a problem with increasing the landscaping on the site and if this was the will of Council they could accommodate additional landscaping without taking away parking. Vice-Mayor Watkins commented on the blind spot when exiting the plaza and felt this was already a dangerous situation and did not want to see anything else that would potentially interfere with the line of site. She stated if there was something that could make it prettier without a major expense that would be nice but did not want to jeopardize the project. Local Planning Agency Meeting June 14, 2007 Page 3 of 4 Mr. John Isleib, Property Manager, stated this was an out parcel and they have complied with the current landscape Code which was done with the exact same building one year ago. He stated if there were separate maintenance issues, Code could site them and they would address as sited; however they were under current compliance and meeting Code. Council Member Amero believed that when site plans were amended Council could require additional changes, however did not believe in this case it would be good since it went to the Planning and Zoning Board and was approved with a 5-0 vote. He asked the applicant to pay special attention to upgrading the area and take the situation the Vice-Mayor mentioned into consideration. Mr. Isleib agreed and felt the center provided an updated look that would balance the mall and if something did not look balanced then it would be in their best interest to tie the center together. Council Member Amero understood Council Member Paterno's comments. He stated one of his election commitments was to encourage new business development along US 1 and asked how they planned to fill the space with all the current vacancies and what could the Village do to assist. Mr. Isleib stated they were struggling with the existing space and noted new space was easier to fill. He mentioned they were currently in negotiations with a national non-profit organization and trying to work with a local merchant to move them across street from the Publix Center. He stated the small businesses were struggling with taxes and insurance; CAMS increased 50% in one year. He suggested Council address budget issues and keep the efforts going and hopefully the climate changes and areas such as how Council addressed zoning issues and landscape requirements and expenses for small businesses. Council Member Amero stated Council had an open ear for ideas and asked for feedback. He mentioned there was an unwritten cross parking agreement and asked if they had spoken with the church regarding potential parking problems and Mr. Isleib stated there have been conversations at the Planning and Zoning Board level and it was more of a convenience rather than a necessity. Council Member Amero noted he supported the project. Mayor Humpage pointed out in the Planning and Zoning minutes that Chair Schaur, who was the church secretary, had no objection and encouraged parking at the church. Mayor Humpage mentioned the signage would have to be permitted and have to go through the process and Ms. Harding concurred and advised the signs would be raised lettering with the same color configuration of the existing mall and would not require additional approval; however the Board could make suggestions on signs and colors. Mayor Humpage pointed out the good planning of the buildings since they could be three separate units or could be made into one or two units for rental purposes. Council Member Paterno stated he approved of what the applicant was doing for the community and appreciated it; however he would like them to provide an upgrade on the frontage. Local Planning Agency Meeting June 14, 2007 Page 4 of 4 Council Member Turnquest stated that as far as aesthetics was concerned additional symmetry was a good idea and as Council Member Paterno pointed out additional landscaping would make the area look better and agreed it did look sparse and resembled a dead plaza. Mr. Isleib felt the new building would bring some spark to the area. (Public Comments) -None MOTION: Council Member Amero moved to approve the site plan for the Tequesta Fashion Mall; seconded by Vice-Mayor Watkins; motion carried unanimously S-0. IV. Adjournment MOTION: There being no further business to bring before the Local Planning Agency Board, Council Member Amero moved to adjourn the LPA meeting at 7:28 p. m.; seconded by Vice- Mayor Watkins; motion carried unanimously S-0. Respectfully submitted, ~au. me.w~-~..~. Lori McWilliams, CMC Village Clerk