HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 062101 and P&Z WorkshopCITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
WORKSHOP MEETING
June 21, 2001
The June 21, 2001 Workshop Meeting of the City Council & Planning & Zoning Commission of the City
of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was called to order at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the
Municipal Complex located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and opened
with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL: The City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials were found to be in
attendance: Vice Mayor Eric Jablin, Councilmember David Clark, and Chair Pro Tem Carl Sabatello.
Mayor Joseph R. Russo and Councilmember Lauren Furtado were absent. The following members of
the Planning & Zoning Commission were in attendance: Chair Dennis Solomon, Vice Chair Craig
Kunkle, Jr., Chair Pro Tem. Barry Present, Joel Channing, John Glidden, Steven Tarr, Alternate Ernest
Volonte, and Alternate David Kendall. Dick Ansay was absent from the meeting.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STANDARDS: Growth Management Director Charles Wu thanked
the Planning & Zoning Commission for their work, and explained that a draft of architectural design
guidelines had been prepared by the consulting firm of Glatting, Jackson, Kercher, Anglin and Lopez.
Mr. Wu requested direction from the two boards on implementing and enforcing these guidelines,
whether they would be guidelines or zoning regulations, whether they would apply to the whole City or
only certain areas, and what style was desired. Mr. Wu explained that the consulting firm had used the
original budget and direction was needed before new funding was requested. David Cutner, of Glatting,
Jackson, reviewed the guideline principles, which had been divided into two categories: land use and site
design principles and building design principles. Mr. Wu explained that the guidelines should not stifle
creativity and that style should be discussed. Mr. Solomon indicated that many areas of the guidelines
were vague, and he preferred they be applied initially as guidelines rather than regulations so they would
be flexible, that they apply to a specific area, and that they should not include micro - management. Mr.
Glidden expressed his opinion that the present system worked well and that the guidelines were needed
only for two areas: smaller projects that were now scrutinized less than larger projects, and to give
developers a sense of the direction their projects should take during their planning stage so that a great
number of workshops would not be needed. Mr. Glidden agreed with Mr. Solomon that the guidelines
should not include micro - management or specifying good and bad design. Mr. Glidden expressed his
opinion that the guidelines should apply along PGA Boulevard rather than to the whole City, and should
strive for quality design with creativity. Vice Mayor Jablin agreed the guidelines should encourage
creativity and should not be requirements. Mr. Tarr expressed his opinion that the City was really not
a pedestrian friendly community and the City worked the way it was laid out, but walking could be
encouraged within projects and a pedestrian friendly downtown core area could be developed. Mr.
Kunkle agreed with the previous comments, stated variety made the City good and a common theme for
the whole City should not be imposed. Mr. Solomon suggested that staff work on the guidelines to bring
them along, and present them in another workshop, with the consultants playing less of a role to save
money. Mr. Channing described buildings in Paris created by micro - management, and favored the
guidelines because the MacArthur Foundation was no longer guiding quality of development. Mr.
Channing indicated the City was beautiful, and a lot of it was due to landscaping, that the guidelines
should be applied City -side, and that he would rather make it harder for new projects in order to assure
a better City in the future. Mr. Present agreed with Mr. Channing that the guidelines should be applied
Citywide, and that the draft guidelines should be polished and some of the micro- management removed.
Mr. Sabatello favored the guidelines, indicated that the City needed to develop a consistent direction
knowing it would change over time, and that the guidelines should apply City -wide because older
buildings would be torn down and the guidelines would be needed for the upgrades. Councilmember
Sabatello suggested upgrades to parcels be consistent with the newer nearby projects, that guidelines
should enhance creativity, and that clearer direction as to what the City did not want was needed. Mr.
Sabatello questioned whether staff had enough direction to work on this, and complimented the
Commission for their work. Councilmember Clark also complimented the Commission for their work
that had saved the City Council so much time. Councilmember Clark indicated these should be
guidelines rather than regulations, should enhance creativity, should include different types of
architecture, should be Citywide, and should be pedestrian friendly. Councilmember Sabatello noted
the City Council had been working on connecting existing corridors to enhance them with pedestrian
walkways. Mr. Channing commented strict code enforcement and new infrastructure had been used to
start the redevelopment of Miami Beach, and cautioned that the City should not forget the older
neighborhoods. Mr. Glidden noted that most of the City Council and the Commission seemed to favor
making the guidelines City -wide and if that were done hard core formulas and specifics must be
eliminated, suggested considering different project types by looking at examples, and considering a
stricter standard on PGA Boulevard. Mr. Glidden acknowledged the need to fund additional monies for
the consultant, but suggested an open volunteer brainstorming session that could provide written ideas
to the consultant for review and presentation at another workshop, recommending that focus could be
on special concerns such as power lines, covered parking, etc. Mr. Wu suggested the Chair be
authorized to appoint a subcommittee to meet every other week and work with staff on these issues.
Consensus of the City Council was to proceed with appointment of the subcommittee. It was clarified
that the meetings of the subcommittee would be noticed and that anyone could attend. Mr. Solomon
noted that a recent project had contained two buildings that were mirror images and the Commission
needed direction on such items. Mr. Channing indicated the recent practice of holding more workshops
to review project concepts had been good. Vice Mayor Jablin thanked everyone for his or her good
work.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by Councilman Clark,
seconded by Councilmember Sabatello, carried/-0 /fhe uAetin�fvas adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL:
MAYOR
SO
C
CH AN PRO TEM SABATELLO
COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK
COUNCILWOMAN LAUREN FURTADO
ATTEST :' c CAROL GOLD, CITY CLERK