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Summary Minutes:Regular City Commission Meeting January 18,2001 City of Sunny Isles Beach,Florida <br /> Public Speakers: Jeffrey Bercow, Esq.; Kobi Karp; Jorge Vera, Zoning and Code <br /> Administrator; Marla Dumas, Community Planning and Development Director; Mary Ann <br /> Eicke;William Lone; Gerry Goodman; Lorens Tronet, President of the Florida Ocean Club at <br /> 17275 Collins Avenue. <br /> Jeffrey Bercow,Esq. and Kobi Karp,project Architect,said that although the request is for an <br /> apartment hotel,the project will operate as a hotel,and be operated by the same hotelier as the <br /> neighboring property. Mr. Bercow requested withdrawal without prejudice of items 2,9,and <br /> 10. He said that requests #'s 1 and 7 are without staff support. He recited the names of <br /> various projects that had received zoning variances granting increased FAR and he submitted <br /> into the record, copies of the City's draft Zoning Resolutions for those projects. <br /> Mr. Karp said the project will operate with full valet parking, 24 hours a day. In response to <br /> Vice Mayor Kauffman's question, Mr. Bercow said they are willing to meet all the staff <br /> conditions,except they asked to waive the waiting period,and asked for 30 days from the end <br /> of the appeal period, and to amend Vera's condition #13 to include the wording "unless a <br /> building permit is issued for the project." <br /> Zoning and Code Administrator Jorge Vera read his revised report that was distributed at the <br /> meeting. Community Planning and Development Director Marla Dumas presented her report <br /> and noted that she agreed with Mr. Vera in recommending deferral or denial without prejudice <br /> of the applicant's request for non use variances relating to floor area ratio and parking, and <br /> approval with conditions of the variances relating to building obstruction, view corridor and <br /> setbacks. <br /> Lorens Tronet, President of the Florida Ocean Club, a residential building at 17275 Collins <br /> Avenue, asked members of the audience who had come in opposition to the application to <br /> stand, and then individuals did stand. Mr.Tronet expressed opposition to each of the <br /> requested variances. Mr. Bercow cross-examined Mr. Tronet,and also questioned Mr.Karp. <br /> Commissioner Morrow asked what the FAR would be if the elevator shafts, stairways, and <br /> amenities areas would not be calculated in the FAR. In response to Mayor Samson's question <br /> about the Streetscape Master Plan, Mr. Karp agreed to have landscaping to comply with the <br /> Plan. Mayor Samson said there were too many hotel units, and if it was a hotel, where was <br /> the restaurant? Mayor Samson asked them to reduce the number of units by 30. He said his <br /> concerns were over FAR and the parking, so if the number of units was reduced, the FAR <br /> would drop and the demand for parking would drop. Mr. Karp listed the amenities including a <br /> restaurant. <br /> Commissioner Iglesias expressed oppositions to the requested FAR,however he did not share <br /> the concern about the parking issue since the property would operate as a hotel. He also <br /> expressed disagreement in our calculating the elevator shafts, stairways, and amenities areas <br /> in the FAR. <br /> 4 <br />