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Home My WebLink AboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 06B_02/11/1999-~ VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA DEPAR'ITv1ENT OF COMMLJNI"I'Y DEVELOPMENT Post Office Box 3273 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 (561) 575-6220 Fax: (561) 575-6239 VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA COI~'IIVIUNITY APPEARANCE BOARD MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 18, 1998 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Community Appearance Board held a meeting in the Village Council Chambers at 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Wednesday, November 18, 1998. The meeting was called to order at 9:32 A.M, by Chair Leslie Cook. Boardmembers present were Chair Leslie Cook, Vice Chair Vic Strahan, Paul Coben, Molly McCormick, and Alternate Sharon Walker. Also in attendance was Scott D. Ladd, Clerk of the Board. IZ. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Cook announced that the agenda was approved. III. COMMONICATIONS FROM CITIZENS wade Griest, 494 Dover Road, questioned whether the new Sterling House project had been approved. Clerk of the Board Scott D. Ladd responded that the issue of two owners was being addressed by the attorneys and that a unity of control agreement would be required. IV. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES Chair Cook announced that the minutes of the September 30, 1998 meeting were approved as submitted. Red~decl Pnper CObmi[TNITY APPEARANCE BOARD MEETING MINiJTES November 18, 1998 Page 2 -------------------------- v. NEaa BUSiNESs 1. An application from Absolute Signs to install a wall sign for Salon Forty Four located at 277 II.S. One South. The sign is 9" black aluminum plate letters with an 18" black and purple logo and 48" purple bar stripe. Overall sign length is 12~-3". Mr. Dunham, representative for the applicant, explained that this was the same sign design that had previously been used. Clerk of the Board Scott D. Ladd explained that a new approval was needed to erect the sign because the uniform blue color chosen for the shopping center had not been used. Vice Chair Strahan commented that the Community Appearance Board had previously approved the same sign except it had been illuminated and this one was not. Boardmember Coben made a motion to accept as submitted the application from Absolute Signs to install a wall sign for Salon Forty Four located at 277 II.S. One South, which would consist of 9" black aluminum plate letters with an 18" black and purple logo and 48" purple bar stripe, with an overall sign length of 12'-3". Vice Chair Strahan seconded the motion. The vote oa the motion was: Leslie Cook - for vic Strahan - for Paul Coben - for Molly McCormick - for Sharon Nalker - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. 2. Tabled from October 23, 1996, as application from Cotleur & Hearing, inc., for review of landscape plans for Ordinance #377 compliance for The Villager CO~tONITY APPBARANC$ BOARD ~gTING MINi3T$S November 18, 1998 Page 3 -------------------------- Apartments, 360 Fiesta Avenue. Mr. William Shannon, Attorney for the applicant, explained that Landscape Architect Donaldson Hearing was on his way and that this matter had been tabled at the October 26, 1996 meeting for revisions to the landscape plan. Attorney Shannon reported those revisions and additional revisions as requested had been submitted by the applicant. Mr. Hearing arrived at 9:42 a.m. Mr. Hearing reviewed the additional revisions which had recently been made to the plans, and explained that space for parking was very limited on this site and commented there had been concern with making parking spaces smaller because there were so many elderly residents who typically needed larger parking spaces; however, the sizes had been reduced. Mr. Hearing explained that four new landscape islands had been added along Fiesta Avenue with mahogany trees planted in each island. Alternative arrangements had also been provided on the plans for the dumpster. Mr. Hearing advised the Board that as plant materials required replacement they would be replaced with native plants. In response to a question regarding why mahogany trees had been used, Mr. Hearing explained that mahogany trees thrived much better than oaks in a confined location adjacent to lime rock and would grow much quicker than oaks in this location. The mahogany trees were to be installed at 12~-14' with a 6~ spread which would reach a 20' to 40' canopy over time. Sod was proposed for the base planting. Chair Cook suggested a larger tree height at planting. Mr. Hearing explained that would increase the cost, which was a concern to the owners. Boardmember Coben expressed his opinion that this plan represented a significant improvement and addressed the October 1996 Board requests. During discussion of ficus at the rear of the building, Nir. Hearing explained those had been removed. Vice Chair Strahan pointed out that Ilex shown on the south end of the building was not listed. Mr. Hearing wrote in on two CObmii7NITY APBBARANCE BOARD MBETIN(~ MINVT$S November 18, 1998 Page 4 -------------------------- sets of plans the following addition: Ilex Schilling in No. 3 pots 12" x 18" overall, with spacing of 2'. Vice Chair Strahan requested some of the Ilex Schilling which was to be planted on the south end of the building be relocated to the islands. During ensuing discussion, Boardmember Walker requested the Ilex not interfere with opening of car doors. Mr. Hearing explained there would be a sod strip next to the island edge. Vice Chair Strahan questioned what should be done about the alternative plan for the dumpster, to which Mr. Ladd responded the Board could approve either way and that the alternative to be used depended on the actions taken by the adjacent property owner. vice Chair Strahan made a motion to approve the application from Cotleur ~ Hearing, Inc., for landscape plans for Ordinance #377 compliance for The Villager Apartments, 360 Fiesta Avenue, as submitted with the modification that a cumber of the Ilex Schilling plants currently shown in the south end of the property be relocated onto the terminal parking islands along the west aide of the property, the cumber to be determined by the Landscape Architect and his contractors and that approval shall include the original dwn~pster plan or alternative A. Boardmember Coben seconded the motion. During discussion of the motion Yice Chair Strahan commented to Mr. Hearing to move just enough of the Ilex Schilling plants to the islands to make a significant difference, to which Mr. Hearing responded that probably ten to twelve would be moved to each island. The vote on the motion was: Leslie Cook - for Vic Strahan - for Paul Coben - for Molly McCormick - for CON~DNITY APPEARANC}3 BOARD N~ETING MINUTI$S November 18, 1998 Page 5 -------------------------- Sharon Walker - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. VI. IINFINISHF3D BIISINESS Chair Cook reported that Code Enforcement Officer Sgt. Irovando had requested a letter expressing the opinion of the Community Appearance Board on the property at 498 Dover Road, to be presented at the Special Master hearing as comments from the Community Appearance Board. Chair Cook read into the record the letter which she had written and requested that the Board make any changes desired. Chair Cooke letter has been attached to and made a part of these minutes as "Exhibit A". Vice Chair Strahan questioned whether it was within the responsibility of the Board to express their opinion and send a letter, to which Boardmember Coben responded it was not in the charter of the Board; however, all of the members of the Board represented the community and the Board was considered to be aware of what community standards should be, and on that basis it was valid for Sgt. Irovando to request comments from the Board as to their opinion. Boardmember McCormick commented this issue was more than a neighborhood issue and was really a Village issue. Boardmember Coben commented it was an awful precedent to set. Vice Chair Strahan questioned whether this was the only property in the village like this, to which Chair Cook responded some properties had used rocks to cover their lawns but those had integrated a lot of landscaping so that the outcome was attractive. Boardmember Coben made a motion that the Community Appearance Board approve the letter written by Chair Cook which voices the Board s concern and makes recommendations regarding the unsightly property at 498 Dover Road. Boardmember ~ScCormick seconded the motion. COb~iJNITY APPTAR.ANCI3 BOARD NBETING MINOTBS November 18, 1998 Page 6 The vote on the motion was: Leslie Cook - for Vic Strahan - far Paul Cobea - for Molly McCormick - for Sharon Nalker - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Chair Cook commented that the back of the shopping center along Bridge Road was looking really bad and asked what was happening. Clerk of the Board Scott D. Ladd responded that he did not know. Boardmember Coben advised that there was to have been a meeting regarding that property the previous night, which had been canceled. Chair Cook suggested writing a letter appealing to the village regarding this situation. Vice Chair Strahan explained the village was trying its best to come to an agreement with the property owner and was getting close to a decision. Chair Cook expressed displeasure with the slow process and stated if she were any other commercial property owner who had been made to come up to the standards of Ordinance 377 she would be livid that this property had been allowed to slack off and even if they were in negotiations they should still be made to comply. Vice Chair Strahan reported the owner was very distressed that he had not been allowed to proceed with his plans. Boardmember Coben commented that the village had talked the property owner into waiting to see if they could come up with something better. Chair Cook stated that was ridiculous. Chair Cook expressed her opinion that the people of the Village should vote on whether the village should participate in the plan and move into that center, since there was a perfectly good space at the current village Hall. Clerk of the Board Ladd explained that the current Village Hall and annex building building had several space and code issues that ' 4 . COb~UNITY APPEARANCE BOARD FETING NINUTES November 18, 1998 Page 7 -------------------------- would need to be addressed in the violations. VII. ANY OTBER NATTERS near future. Boardmember Coben observed that since Ordinance 377 had been enforced and the Community Appearance Board involved with it, with the exception of Tequesta Plaza plus a couple of other properties, the improvements made had been significant and that in spite of what John Giba said it was good for the Village. Chair Cook commented the Village had been improved dramatically; and Vice Chair Strahan commented the streetscaping done by the Village had made a real difference. Mr. Ladd reported that people coming into the Village for the first time were very impressed. Other improvements, including the time and temperature sign at the bank and the fact that the bank had not been required to have that type of sign, were discussed. VIII. ADJOIIRNNENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 A.M. Respectfully submitted, .#~~ L, `~,~,,~ Betty Laur Recording Secretary ATTEST: c~CJ ~~ UJ, Ul ~u~(~~ Scott D. Ladd Clerk of the Board DATE APPROVED: CObmiUNITY APPEARANCE BOARD MES"PING MINUTES November 18, 1998 Page 8 EXHIBIT "A" November 17, 1998 To the Village of Tequesta: As Chairman of the Tequesta Community Appearance Board, I am writing this to voice our concern and make some recommendations regarding the unsightly property at 498 Dover Road. The owners of the property have covered the lawn area with black tar paper and secured it with concrete blocks, This is, needless to say, an extreme departure from a suitable and attractive treatment of a "yard". A nomtal yard would be composed of grass; even for those who are unwilling to care for the grass, it is possible to use a ground cover such as wydelia, lirope, and many others, surrounded by mulch. This yard treatment is to keep each home in tune with the neighborhood as well. It is the hope and goal of everyone in our coa~anunity to protect property values by maintaining a pleasing exterior appearance. The owners of this property are being unfair to their neighbors and the Village of Tequesta by placing tar paper on their property. At the very least the paper should be covered with mulch to give the yard a natural appearance. Also, I would recommend that the periphery plantings be weeded to allow what appears to be native vegetation to have a more kept look. For the good of the neighborhood we should ask for cooperation from the owners of this property. Sincerely, Leslie A. Cook