Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Special Meeting_03/01/1994VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 . • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 (407) 575-6200 Fax: (407) 575-6203 V I L L A G E O F T E Q U E S T A S P E C I A L V I L L A G E C O U N C I L M E E T I N G M I NUT E S M A R C H 1, 1 9 9 4 I. The Tequesta Village Council held a special Village Council meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Tuesday, March 1, 1994. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 P.M. by Mayor Ron T. Mackail. A roll call was taken by Fran Bitters, the Recording Secretary. Councilmembers present were: Mayor Ron T. Mackail, Liz Schauer, Earl L. Collings and Joseph N. Capretta. Vice Mayor William E. Burckart was not in attendance at roll call, but arrived at 4:08 P.M. Also in attendance were: Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford, Village Clerk Joann Manganiello, Department Heads and Village Attorney John C. Randolph. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Collings moved to approve the Agenda as submitted. Councilmember Schauer seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Ron T. Mackail - for Liz Schauer - for Earl L. Collings - for Joseph N. Capretta - for the motion was therefore passed and adopted and the Agenda was approved as submitted. Roriirlci] Pnnav Village Council Meeting Miautes March 1, 1994 Page 2 ------------------------------- III. CONSIDERATION OF A MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT. Mr. Joseph Benjamin. Mayor Mackail gave a brief history of how the Master Plan was initiated and the direction it is believed to be taking. In 1987 the Village Planning Commission coordinated a community survey regarding two major concerns: the rising costs of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue; and the condition of Tequesta shopping malls. Tequesta has opted out from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and created its own Fire Department. What is to be done to resolve the empty and deteriorating shopping mall areas remains to be seen. Tequesta, in the spring of 1989, created the Downtown Development Task Force for determining the problems of the central business district of Tequesta and to make recommendations relative to its improvement and enhancement. Through this, a Charrette was formed to create a Downtown Master Plan for the development and redevelopment of the downtown area, in order to transform Tequesta to a once-again thriving condition. An economic recession from 1991-1993 all but halted any development plans. Today, Joseph Benjamin, leader of a local development team, presents to the Village, the concept of a plan he feels will solve the problems of Tequesta's downtown area. A) Presentation of Master Plan Development Concept by Joseph Benjamin, Chairman, Christopher's Village Foundation: Mr. Benjamin introduced himself and his development team and presented his proposal to the Village Council. Mr. Benjamin felt the Village's original Master Plan created in 1989 was not unattractive but essentially impossible. He explained that the project he is presenting can only be implemented by a partnership of public and private interests working for their common good, differing from most projects contemplated. He explained that the project is unique in that it will create an arts Village, and that it strives to carry out a modern commercial development within the structure of a full public charity, with a view to providing a perpetual foundation for the college, and in so doing, maintains the life of the Village Center in a dynamic and constantly developing form. x He felt his plans would produce what the people of Tequesta desire: new commerce, new educational establishments, new cultural establishments, and new homes. Village Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 1994 Page 3 ------------------------------- Mr. Benjamin felt his strong team of professionals would ensure that the planning, architecture, management, and faculty direction would be of the highest order. An overhead slide presentation was given to demonstrate the Master Plan proposed by The Christopher's Village Foundation. It was Mr. Benjamin's proposal that his Foundation secure the ownership of the land and buildings bounded by Bridge Road to the south, Old Dixie Highway to the west, County Line Road to the north, and U.S. Highway One to the east. He proposed to establish and maintain a teaching College of performing and fine arts and architecture within a cultural center; to develop the land acquired to provide a new, modern, vibrant center, and to encourage the revitalization and rehabilitation of the existing properties that will remain. He felt the development would produce an annual surplus, which would steadily grow, and give basic support to the Arts Center created. The Norton Foundation put up $250,000 to fund the initial expenses of the Arts Center and agreed to lead the establishment of the Arts College. The Lighthouse Gallery and BRITT gave unreserved support and approval to the project. The Foundation has appointed Gunster Moakley and Stewart as it's legal Counsel; Cope Linder Associates of Philadelphia as project Architect; Fred Preiss as Consultant Architect. The Christopher's Village Foundation was seeking the approval, in principle, of the Village Council of Tequesta in the above- mentioned venture, and recommended that the Village appoint a Committee to negotiate an agreement with the Foundation which would enable the project to proceed. 8) Questions and Answers: Councilmember Schauer stated that she must abstain from discussing, questioning and/or voting regarding the above-referenced proposal because of a conflict of interest, since Mr. Benjamin is seriously considering retaining the engineering firm by which her husband is employed. Councilmember Collings asked what the timetable would be for the initial financing beyond that of the Norton Foundation. Mr. Benjamin felt the project would be a 5-6 year one and could not forecast beyond that. If the Village approves the proposal, the Christopher Foundation, in 28 days would be able to give fuller details of the project and its financing. Village Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 1994 Page 4 ------------------------------- Councilmember Capretta felt such a project would be a major change for the Village, changing the very character of the Village and the way it operates. Therefore, in order for the Village to support the project, it would be necessary to thoroughly and fully understand it. The major question in Councilmember Capretta's mind was the feasibility and profitability of operating this entire concept. He felt these key questions must be more precisely defined. Mr. Benjamin stated that the Civic Center, which Tequesta would be asked to fund, would only comprise 6$ of the total development, and stated further that he could not presently inform the Village of the cost of the project since the plan presented is only conceptual. When the Village's attitude regarding the project is known and a Committee has been appointed to determine that actuality of the project, then the Foundation would be able to make a preliminary estimate of costs so that the Village might have sufficient information available to make a decision. Councilmember Burckart left the meeting at 4:45 p.m. Councilmember Capretta asked for an explanation of cultural center which is planned to be at the heart of the downtown area, concerned that if he could not support that portion of the project, he might not be able to support the project at all. Mr. Benjamin asked, "which is the most important leg of a tripod?" He explained that there are three interests at the heart of the project: municipal, commercial, and institutional -- the three legs of the Arts Center College; take any one of those three legs away and the project will not succeed. Mr. Benjamin stated that the Arts Center College would not change the character of Tequesta at all. The only difference would be that the central heart of the Village will be changed from a derelict state to one which is thriving and enjoyable for the residents of the Village. C) Direction of Village Council Regarding Tequesta Involvement with the Proposed Development: Jack Horniman, Village Planning Consultant was encouraged by the proposal presented by The Christopher's Village Foundation and encouraged the Village Council to look beyond the short term benefits. He felt the proposed plan has all the components the Village is looking for and would create a vital downtown for the Village. He felt the key of the proposal was the tripod concept of the downtown center. Village Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 1994 Page 5 ------------------------------- Mayor Mackail felt it was important for the Village Council to set some goals and objectives to determine, with the ability of the Village Manager, whether the proposal presented was one the Village could implement. It was Mayor Mackail's recommendation was to give the Village Manager the opportunity to explore the feasibility of the proposal that was presented, to discern questions presented by the Village Council, and to determine whether the Village should become involved, and to what degree. Couacilmember Colliags moved that the Village Manager be directed to explore the feasibility of the Christopher Village Foundation proposal and how the Village should become involved. Couacilmember Capretta seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Ron T. Mackail Earl L. Colliags Joseph N. Capretta Liz Schauer - for - for - for - abstain the motion was therefore passed and adopted. IV. COIrIIKTJNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Paul Stelter, President of the Lighthouse Gallery Foundation, was delighted to hear that the cultural center was an integral part of the proposed project and encouraged the Village Council to endorse the project wholeheartedly. Carlton Stoddard stated that since the people of Tequesta are very much interested in fine arts and education, he felt the proposal was not only good, but sound. Ed Nelson felt the Village was looking behind with its previous Master Plan, but felt that the plan proposed today was looking to the future and that the plan was a good one. He urged the Village Council to look favorably upon the proposed project, since he felt it could become a reality. Village Council _ Meeting Minutes March 1, 1994 Page 6 ------------------------------- V. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Collings moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Capretta seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Ron T. Mackail - for Liz Schauer - for Earl L. Collings - for Joseph N. Capretta - for the motion was therefore passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 P.M. Respectfully submitted, ~~~_ J~ Fran Bitters Recording Secretary ATTEST: J nn Mangani to Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: ~.1 ~~ isL . / 99s~