2005 1117 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting November 17,2005 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida Vera reported noting that this is a mixture of a condominium and a hotel, with 140 hotel rooms and 134 residential units. He said that after staff review, he has recommended approval with conditions. Mayor Edelcup clarified that this was the site that was previously approved for Fantasy on the Beach and is across the street from the Arlen House on the Ocean. Public Speakers: Simon Ferro, Esq.; John Jenkins, Architect; Charles Rosner; Daniel Samet; Harold Gordon; Dominic Santoro; Henry Kay Simon Ferro, Esq., representing the applicant, reported and noted that the name of the project is AJA, located at 15701 Collins Avenue. John Jenkins, Architect, presented renderings of the project as well as 3-Dimensional models with and without TDRs. He said they have two curb cuts coming in and out of Collins A venue, the building is situated with a 20- foot setback on either side, the 90-foot podium base sits back even further which houses the parking structure and the tower rises above that, the loading bays are located to the north, and the required public beach access occurs along the south. Commissioner Goodman asked how wide the lot is and Mr. Jenkins said 1 50-feet wide. Mayor Ede1cup said that no variances are being asked for as this is a as-of-right building with TDRs added to it. Assistant City Manager Vera said that they also have a 10,000- foot public beachfront park in the rear of the property and they have added the amenities as far as foot wash, showers, and that they are in the plans through the beach access. Mayor Edelcup asked how they were addressing the Art in Public Places provision and Mr. Jenkins said that they a waterwall that is located in the front facing Collins Avenue, and distributed a rending of it. Commissioner Goodman asked Assistant City Manager Vera if in comparison, would he say this is a better design than what was in the original plan of the hotel they wanted to build in 2000, and he said yes it is a lot better than the prior design. Commissioner Brezin asked what the capacity would be for the 4,000-foot Ballroom, and Mr. Jenkins said they have not calculated the capacity yet. She asked if they have allocated enough parking spaces to deal with that ballroom should you have a function. Mr. Jenkins said they are providing an additional 30-parking spaces above what is required anticipating that there could be times when overflow would be an issue, and they envision this as being a fully valet service building. Mayor Ede1cup asked ifthere were plans for a restaurant, and Mr. Jenkins said they are looking at the possibility of providing some level of food service on the ground floor in the form of a terrace that overlooks the beach, the actual kitchen area is located upper level amenities on the ballroom floor, and noted that they have a DEP requirement that the kitchen be elevated above lobby level. Commissioner Goodman asked where the tandem parking will be and if it is for the hotel or the condominium, and Mr. Jenkins said it is for the hotel and is the lower two levels of the parking structure. Commissioner Brezin asked if the spa is for hotel only or if it is for the public as well, and who is running the spa? Mr. Jenkins said they are interviewing different hotel operators and at this point they don't know. Vice Mayor Thaler asked where the building color palettes were, and Mr. Ferro said he was not aware that he needed to bring them, however, the glass color is a clear glass with a light blue tint so it reflects some of the color ofthe sky and the ocean, the expressed balcony edges are envisioned to be white stucco and the parking structure, the vegetative screen is intended 9