HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 121200CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
December 12, 2000
The December 12, 2000, Special Joint Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida, with the Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 6:30 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 Lauren Furtado, and Councilmember Carl
Sabatello. Mayor Joseph R. Russo was absent due to illness. Councilmember David Clark arrived
at 6:40 p.m. Interim Growth Management Director Steve Cramer called the roll of the Planning &
Zoning Commission and the following members were found to be present: Chair John Glidden,
Chair Elect Dennis Solomon, Barry Present, and Ted Rauch, Alternate. Joel Charming and Craig
Kunkle, Jr. arrived later in the meeting.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
Legacy Place - Parcel 28.01 Parcels A, B & C (Commercial Section)
Interim Growth Management Director Steve Cramer introduced Henry Iler, Iler Planning Group, who
reviewed his report on the project, and explained that approvals would be sought for an overall
master plan, commercial site plan, and residential site plan. Key issues introduced in Mr. Iler's
report included mixed use, residential density bonus, environmental preservation, Legacy Drive,
East -West Connector Road, and residential buffers, as well as visual impacts and architecture. Hank
Skokowski, representative for the petitioner, explained that the commercial pedestrian- oriented
center was the core of the project, in addition to which were a small area of commercial
development, and a residential area consisting of 384 rental apartments in 3 -story buildings. Mr.
Skokowski reviewed the entire site. David Bader, KA, Inc. Architecture, Cleveland, Ohio, reviewed
elevations of building complexes on the site, including the 400 and 500 building, 600 building, 700
building, 900 building which was the closest building to Alternate AIA, the Container Store, and
Jacobson's store elevations. Mr. Skokowski presented elevations of the 3 -story apartment buildings.
Terry King focused on the character of the development, which had been created to provide a new
downtown with a unique blend of national retailers, Worth Avenue - quality local merchants, and
unique restaurants not already in the City, which would have plenty of outdoor seating. Three of the
anchors would be the Container Store, Jacobson's, and Barnes & Noble. John Mullen, co- founder
of the Container Store, explained the store's history, discussed the honor they had received of being
the top one of the 100 best companies to work for in the country, and expressed his excitement in
having a store located in Palm Beach Gardens. Architect Gabriel Salazar, reviewed the proposed
architecture for the residential portion of the project.
John Glidden, Chair, Planning & Zoning Commission explained that the format for this workshop
was to ask questions and make observations. Vice Mayor Jablin added that no conclusions would
be drawn and no decisions made, and stated this meeting was purely conceptual.
ME
Mr. Glidden requested copies of the site plan, complimented the project, and made the following
suggestions: providing a large rotary to better integrate the residential and commercial areas; making
minor circulation improvements within the residential area, adding architectural details to certain
buildings including Jacobson's store building and the west elevation of the Container store building,
using pavers on the driveway areas that intersect the interior of the project, possibly installing an
additional pedestrian link, and assuring first -rate screening of service areas. Mr. Glidden questioned
if placing the air conditioning units on the roofs of the residential buildings would be a better
solution than using ground area in such a tight project and if they could be properly screened, and
questioned how this project would deal with the proposed mixed -use formula on which the
Commission had been working. Mr. Glidden recommended using the numbers in this project for
the formula if the mix of uses in this project worked out well. Mr. Glidden verified with Mr.
Skokowski that the gates shown were for vehicular traffic and that pedestrian and bicycle traffic
would still have access. Mr. Glidden questioned if the precast base on the elevations was scored,
which was verified, and expressed hope that colors would be changed so that the colors and materials
would better unify the project. Mr. Channing expressed agreement with Mr. Glidden's comments,
commented that he would be very interested in the architectural details, expressed concern with the
small ground area spaces at the apartments, and cautioned this was not City Place and must have
plenty of landscaping. Mr. King responded the landscaping budget was $1.2 million and the
proposed plantings were impressive. It was noted some of the landscaping had been omitted from
the elevations in order to better view the architecture. Approximately $62 per square foot, not
including tenant improvement allowances, had been budgeted for the buildings. Mr. Glidden
commented the buffer and berm and improved architectural details on the back of the Container
Store were needed because it would be very visible from the flyover; and suggested it would be nice
if the drive did not continue all the way around the back of the building so that landscaping could
go up to the building on the A I A side. Mr. Channing agreed. Mr. Present commented it was an
exciting plan, and suggested changes to the landscaping at the AlA entrance, as well as providing
trees to break up the parking mass where two parking lots were adjacent. Mr. Present expressed
concern regarding the future possible 4 -lane roadway. Petitioner explained the plan as shown
reflected suggestions to date and comments made at this meeting would be considered for
incorporation. Mr. Solomon concurred with the prior comments and commented that the
Commission would be interested in the overall lighting in both the commercial and residential areas,
overall landscaping, landscaping within the parking lot, and buffering. Petitioner explained there
would be 10' of plantable area in the buffer along the north side of RCA Boulevard. Mr. Solomon
requested material showing the roadways. Councilmember Furtado expressed concern regarding
how affordable housing could be offered in a high -end project, which she requested, be answered
at a later date. Councilmember Sabatello indicated his comments could also be addressed later.
Councilman Sabatello requested the west side of building 900 and the east side of building 700 be
addressed as to additional architectural details; indicated he did not understand the screen walls
behind building 900 and questioned how much could be seen through those screen walls; commented
the pedestrian walkways seemed to be an afterthought, and roadways were not highlighted with
special paving, lighting, etc. Councilman Sabatello commented that the restaurant washout areas
needed special consideration, that uses should be restricted on the residential balconies; there should
be restrictions on numbers of cars, and that accent lighting on buildings and landscaping should be
designed in the plans from the beginning. Councilman Sabatello also requested accommodation in
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the design for future widening of RCA, bus stops for schools and Palm Tran; unique features and
landscaping within the parking lots, and asked if two swimming pools and other planned recreational
facilities were sufficient for this project. Councilman Sabatello proposed fountains and lighting for
the ponds, and requested better integration between the commercial and residential areas.
Councilman Sabatello expressed his opinion that everything else looked very strong. Councilman
Clark commented he agreed with most of the comments that had been made. Councilman Clark
questioned and received clarification that the bridge between buildings 400 and 500 would be strictly
pedestrian. Councilman Clark expressed concern regarding the buffering on RCA Boulevard and
for the homes in Monet Gardens, indicated he wanted to keep the 80' right -of -way, and commented
he did not think the buildings in the corner had been well integrated into the project and
recommended bringing those buildings physically closer together with a strong pedestrian
connection, echoed the need for a stronger connection between the residential and commercial areas,
and favored the entry into the residential section not being gated. Councilman Sabatello requested
a clearer picture of how restaurant clients would be dropped off, to which petitioner responded by
indicating drop -off and valet areas, and promised to provide better dimensions on those areas. Mr.
Channing requested large -scale site plans to facilitate study of the project. Mr. Glidden asked if trees
shown in the parking lots were to scale, commented the landscaping there looked weak, and
requested types of trees and specific sizes be shown. Mr. Iler asked for comments regarding the
residential buffering to give staff direction. Councilman Sabatello indicated he was not comfortable
with the RCA buffering and wanted to see a cross section of the RCA widening and wanted to keep
the 80' right -of -way for Legacy Drive. Mr. Mullen expressed appreciation for the comments
regarding the Container Store and stated those would be responded to by the petitioner. Mr.
Channing complimented Terry King on the architecture. Vice Mayor Jablin commented he would
like to see signage up front and uniformity in the signage, with logos contained within specific areas
to make them look more or less uniform. The Vice Mayor requested renderings from the point of
the flyover and different aerial views. Vice Mayor Jablin wanted school bus stops, and stressed the
importance of pull outs by mentioning that in City Place there were spots that lacked pull outs where
traffic could not get by, from which this project could learn. The Vice Mayor indicated his support
for the 80' right -of -way, and questioned whether there were covered walkways, to which petitioner
responded approximately 60' of the center was covered with porticos. The Vice Mayor commented
the wash out areas for the restaurants needed to be contained in well screened areas not visible to the
public; and commented landscaping could play a large part in breaking up the two parking lots by
using a major landscape feature unique to the City. The Vice Mayor thanked those who had
participated in the workshop.
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ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by Councilwoman Furtado seconded by
Councilman Clark, carried 4 -0, the meeting was adjourned 8: L7 p.m.
APPROVAL:
ATTEST:
CAROL GOLD
CITY CLERK
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CHAIRMAN PRO TEM CARL SABATELLO
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CMAN DAVID CLARK
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COUNCILWOMAN LAUREN FUIF�TADO
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