2013-1017 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 17, 2013 City otSunny Isles Beach, Florida the garage. Architect Paul Slattery said they have an occupancy of a little over 400+ guests arriving at the building and so the full time occupancy will be just a little over 400. Commissioner Scholl asked the City Planner about the staff report which says setback variances requested may be justified due to the depth and shape of the lot, what does "may be justified" mean? City Planner Hasbun said it may be justified because the actual occupant is not creating the shape and the form of the lot but ultimately it is the Commission's decision if they would like to approve the variances or not. Commissioner Scholl said then that the building cannot be built without the variances, and you are saying that the lot may or may not justify the fact that the variances are being requested, and City Planner Hasbun said correct. Vice Mayor Aelion asked about the rooftop garden, it is going to be only trees and planters, no water features? Mr. Dezer said no water features, we wanted to give a space for people to have a cafe within the building and that is mainly to be used as an outdoor seating area. The idea of it was because of the zoning and required setbacks we wound up with a space there, and he would not want his tenants looking down on a blank roof. Vice Mayor Action also asked about the exit on Atlantic Boulevard on the issue of the school, is there going to be an exit on that side for the office building? Mr. Dezer said it is not an exit only, there is an entrance there as well. We feel from a practical standpoint that everyone will be using the Collins Avenue entrance. As you would normally go to Tony Roma's and City Hall you would not go through Atlantic Boulevard, you come off of Collins Avenue. Attorney Stamm said it is to compliment the flow of traffic, not to induce people, you are moving cars. Mr. Dezer said we are moving cars, and part of it, what Commissioner Scholl stated, about the width and the reason for needing that extra width of the building is because there is not enough room without that width to physically turn a car around and go up the next ramp. To put a turnaround in there to send them back up to Collins Avenue is nearly impossible if we want to keep a modest size lobby. City Planner Hasbun clarified for the record that the Traffic Analysis Impact Study was done by a private company, Enter Traffic, LLC. Commissioner Gatto said she thought there were two, egress, ingress on Atlantic Boulevard, did that change to one? She thought there was going to be an in and out on the north side and on the south side. Mr. Dezer said no, one is a service exit, and so it is not really an egress, it is on the plan. It will primarily be used early in the mornings to get the garbage out, etc. Commissioner Gatto asked how early in the morning because of the school issue, and Mr. Dezer said it is a service company and so they can organize garbage pickups at any time. If that is a concern of the neighbors they can have it picked up at 6:00 -7:00 p.m. Commissioner Gatto said her next question has to do with public parking, did she hear that there was going to be a dedicated elevator open just on the weekends for people to come in and use for parking to shop and go to the beach? Architect Slattery said yes there is a separate elevator for access from the public only, and it is located toward the east end of the building by easy access from the pedestrian walkway toward the south/east side of the building and is adjacent to the paved walkway that brings you from Atlantic Boulevard all the way out to Collins Avenue. Commissioner Gatto asked if there are a limited number of spots that you are dedicating for that on the weekends or is the garage open entirely to anyone? Mr. Dezer said it is going to be open entirely but there is going to be a small fee to go in. The garage will not be used on the weekends by the tenants of the office building, and so we don't mind if the 14