HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CAB 090706COMMUNITY AESTHETICS BOARD
September 7, 2006
Minutes
The Community Aesthetics Board met on September 7, 2006. The meeting was called to
order by chair Donna Wisneski at 5:35 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room
of the Municipal Complex located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida, and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
I. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Donna Wisneski — Chairperson
William Olsen — Vice Chairperson
Gail Vastola
Bettie Marks
Sherry Levy
Members Absent: Carolyn Waters
Vacancies: 1 regular member
2 alternate members
Also present: Vice Mayor and Council Liaison, Jody Barnett
City Forester and Staff Liaison, Mark Hendrickson
H. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Board approved the minutes from the June 6, 2006 meeting.
III. BOARD MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Mark Hendrickson informed the Board that the City Clerk's Office and Growth
Management Office have gathered applications for the vacant membership positions so
the City Council can appoint persons at their meeting in October. Of the three persons up
for reappointment, two asked to be continued. Applications, resumes and attendance
records along with a review by the Staff Liaison will be submitted for the Council's
review.
IV. DOWNTOWN AT THE GARDENS PRESENTATION
Mark Hendrickson presented a history of the Downtown at the Gardens. He distributed
some of the artist's renderings to the Board for review. Mark stated that his PowerPoint
presentation accurately represented what has been approved and what is presently in the
field. There has been some disparity between the artist renderings and what is actually in
the Downtown at the Gardens area. This development was initially approved by the City
Council on June 5, 2003 and amended in December 18, 2003. The latest major
amendment by the Council was approved on September 29, 2005. Downtown at the
Gardens is different from other projects in the City. It did get some landscape waivers to
allow less than 75% of the preferred species down the perimeter of the mall so they could
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use plant change outs during the year. The plants are not exotics from the preferred
species, but there are more plants than required. The waivers were justified specifically
for the middle of the open aired mall and they do exceed code. The developer wanted
flexibility to change out the landscaping, and in exchange the City got more landscaping
around the perimeter for that. That perimeter landscaping does exceed the Code. Mark
stated that people are used to developers doing so much more than code expects that
when a developer just meets minimum code it leaves a gap. Mark said he could show the
points where they went over code, but it wouldn't mean much when comparing to a
development that are well over code. All native plants to North Palm Beach County are
on the preferred species list. Other plants that may be used have to be wind tolerant, cold
tolerant, drought tolerant and flood tolerant as possible. Mark will try and get a revised
species list to the Board during the next few months. The availability of plants enters
into what developers can choose from. It was suggested by Bettie Marks that the
predominant trees in this project look scruffy. Mark stated the 55 -foot buffer has to use
native plants and what is there was already there. He added that all of our parkways have
almost a native interior plant pallet. As you move closer to the interior of a project then
other taller plants with height can then be added. The drawings depicted more colorful
plants than what were actually put in place.
All colors are approved by the City. Although there is not a color pallet, paint swabs are
approved by the planning commission. Mark has met with the developer and some
changes are being implemented. The development across the street is putting pressure on
the Downtown developer because of the higher use of colorful plants being used. Bettie
Marks stated that this was initially supposed to be a park -like area where people could
take a stroll and enjoy themselves. The Downtown in the Gardens environment was
presented differently from what has turned out. Mark stated that the park -like setting is
still in progress and will include the lake area. Only half of the lake area is finished, and
presently only four areas are ready for use. When the lake area is completed it will
include a bridge and three other public areas for the people to stroll around. In addition,
an amphitheater site near the Cheesecake Factory will be constructed for public use.
Mark continued, aesthetically speaking the surface on the second floor has been stained
and looks dingy. The surface is being retreated and a new surface installed so that these
areas will not show these stains. Outside areas will have roll -downs installed to hide
some of the beer kegs and trash areas. Bettie Marks stated that handicapped access and
the elevator being too far from the movie house had been discussed with the developer,
and he was not aware of some of the Board's concerns. No actions had been taken on his
part until articles began appearing. Jody Barnett stated that she knew the developer had
been aware that handicapped persons had access issues and that there were concerns such
as switching out the freight and public elevators. Mark Hendrickson stated that this entire
project is a work in progress and future amendments for aesthetics and function will be
strived for. A temporary parking area for service personnel will be set up while a second
parking facility is built per approved plans.
Mark stated that PGA Boulevard is the place to be, whether it is at the Mall, Midtown,
Downtown, Legacy or the Commons. These different areas meet the needs of different
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clientele. Once the lake area is completed it will be the largest community gathering
place in Palm Beach Gardens.
Donna Wisneski said the Board should stay on top of this development to see that it
evolves into its planned function. Mark Hendrickson related that the parking areas have
more trees than other developments. As a matter of fact, Mark stated that during the next
few years as these trees grow they will become so large that the business owners will be
upset because of business visibility.
Donna Wisneski asked Jody Barnett if she had taken comments back to the City Council
as promised during the June meeting of the Board. Jody related that she had, everyone on
the Council agreed with the comments and that was the first article in the hometown
news. As a result, the developer was surprised to find that everyone felt that it could have
been a better project than it is, it is a good project, but it could have been better.
Donna stated that our code is allowing buildings to be larger and the bar needs to be
raised for the future. The green buffers that we had years ago provided a different
aesthetic feel, and although the present use of smaller landscaping in new buffers will
grow in time, they are not providing the look the Board seeks. Noting that we are
approaching build -out and the heights and density need to be reconsidered where
landscaping is concerned, minimums should be raised and codes should be changed to
include not only numbers but quality and density of plants. Developers should be
informed of what our City expects. Mark stated that while this is true, the open space
percentages have to be raised before landscaping expectations can be changed. These are
areas that need to be pursued with the City Council.
V. FRENCHMAN'S RESERVE
From Hood Road to Prosperity Farms Road the upkeep has fallen down. Mark will bring
this to the attention of the people responsible and will see that it is corrected.
VL NEXT MEETING
Items for the Agenda for the next meeting will include: An update on the Sandhill Crane
Park, procedural direction on landscaping, increasing the code requirements for
landscaping, suggestions for Hood Road and an update on the City Hall complex
improvements.
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VII. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Approval:
onna Wisneski, Chairperson
Sherry Levy, B94 Memb
Bettie Marks, Board Member
William Olsen, Board Member
(Dn� - —\� \'n —
ai stola, Board Member
Carolyn Waters, Alternate Board Member
Attest:
--A fa- Foy( IVLA D C K/),/G
uesda Craig
Munici al Services Coordinator
Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim
transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk.
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