Laserfiche WebLink
Summary Minutes:Regular City Commission Meeting July 16,2015 City of Sunny Isles Beach,Florida <br /> Ms. Hasbun noted that there are several conditions including that a restaurant use is not <br /> allowed on the ground floor, and the Applicant has agreed to that. These conditions also <br /> include the reduction of units. In addition, the Applicant is not requesting any variances. <br /> If approved, the site plan application is subject to all conditions stipulated on the Staff <br /> Report. City Attorney Ottinot said for clarification no restaurant or retail uses on the <br /> ground floor, and Ms. Hasbun said that is correct. <br /> Public Speakers: Ethan B. Wasserman, Esq.; Tim Lobanov; Luis O. Revuelta, Architect; <br /> Mike Malina; Rabbi Yisrael Baron; Shimon Bouskila; Chayim Kessler; Sharly Digadker; <br /> Sam Jaffee; Joy Cohen; Yehuda Schechter; Kevin Thomas; Tucker Gibbs, Esq.; Alain <br /> Elkaim; Alex Shnayder; Luis Diagostino; Michael Traugutt; Toby Baron <br /> Ethan B. Wasserman, Esq. representing 17550 Collins Avenue, introduced his team here <br /> tonight, Dimitriy Romantsoff and Tim Lobanov from the Applicant ownership, Luis O. <br /> Revuelta and Carolina Kaufmann from Revuelta Architecture, Tyler Nielson, Landscape <br /> Architect, and Richard Garcia, Traffic Consultant. He thanked the (Commission for <br /> allowing them to come back and re-present their project. At their last Nearing there was a <br /> lengthy presentation and testimony and they do not intend to repeat any unnecessary <br /> presentations, as the previous hearing is part of tonight's record. At their last hearing in <br /> May they heard the concerns and the praises of this Commission as well as the general <br /> community. The general consensus is that the City wants to pump the brakes on automatic <br /> granting of TDRs on the west side of Collins Avenue. They heard that loud and clear and <br /> they are happy to say they are here tonight not requesting any TDRs as part of this <br /> Application. The prior project floor area ratio contained about I 65,000 square feet, this <br /> project only contains 126,000 square feet, this represents a 23% decrease in project floor <br /> area. The Commission also expressed their concern over the density of the project, we <br /> reduced the density from 77 residential units to 61 residential units, and this represents a <br /> 20% decrease in the density of the project. <br /> Mr. Wasserman said their previous project contained a restaurant on the ground floor, after <br /> hearing from this Commission and certain neighbors they removed that restaurant, it is now <br /> a commercial office space. From a traffic standpoint this is a plus as a commercial office <br /> space generates less traffic than a high volume high turnover restaurant. He pointed out that <br /> his client did not create the traffic conditions on Collins Avenue, as high-rise after high-rise <br /> has been approved on Collins Avenue, it would be unfair for anyone to claim that this 61- <br /> unit residential building with commercial office space is where we dray'`the line. For the <br /> record, both their expert traffic studies as well as the City's expert's review of their traffic <br /> study conclusively determined that this project will not negatively affect traffic. Both <br /> reports are substantial competent evidence to rely on with respect to traffic. The loading is <br /> solely contained within their building. The cars & trucks will pull in from Collins Avenue, <br /> there is enough internal radius to turn back into the loading space and then pull straight back <br /> out onto Collins Avenue. They will have a Dock Master on site to monitor this and ensure <br /> compliance with this route. Mechanical lifts were mentioned at the last hearing, they are <br /> happy to say that they have eliminated all mechanical lifts in the project. As to height,there <br /> is a proposed Code Amendment which has not been adopted on second reading yet. Even <br /> though this Code Amendment is not complete, as with every other aspect of their project, <br /> his client intends to respond to the City's comments or concerns. Their original project was <br /> 190 feet and when they presented it to staff, it had a 20-foot mechanical height which is <br /> fairly typical for projects of this size. They brought it down 20 feet before presenting it two <br /> 4 <br />