Meeting Minutes

OFFICIAL PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES

(in accordance with Chapter 33 of the Lee County Land Development Code)

Estero Community Park
The Estero Recreation Center
9200 Corkscrew Palms Boulevard
Estero, Florida

Meeting Date:                    Wednesday August 12, 2008

Meeting Time:                    5:00 PM

Members in Attendance:     Gordon Lyons, Bob Melzer, Bill Prysi, Tom O’Dea, John Goodrich, a member of the ECPP

Members Absent:                 Nancy Cohen, Al O’Donnell, Joseph McHarris, Gerald Simons, Jim Wallace

Chaired By:                           Tom O’Dea

Minutes By:                           Norma Reynolds

Meeting called to order by Tom O’Dea at 5:07 PM.

Opening Remarks:

Notes of opening remarks: Few members of the committee are in attendance due to vacations.

Judy Beech, a member of the Estero Community Improvement Foundation, announced the 2008 fund raising event. Their project is landscaping the perimeter of Estero High School. A Fashion Show including a raffle will be held Nov 12th at noon at Bice’s in the Coconut Point Mall. Tickets are $35.00 per person. Tom O’Dea thanked her and encouraged people to support this event.

Bill Prysi was commended for creating the new formats for the minutes and the agenda.

Applicant 1:    JHS & MCB

Location of Project       Coconut Trace Retail, NW Corner of US 41 and Vanderberg Way

Presented by:                          Brian Howell

Fee Paid:                                 Yes

SITE PLAN:

Presenter: Brian Howell

General Outline of Site Plan presentation: This is a one story, 19,930 square foot building housing a restaurant with outside dining, offices and retail space.  The design includes 13 units which range from 900 sq to 4400 sq, a covered walkway and an outdoor patio for the restaurant.  Parking planned for all sides of the building.

Committee Comments:        

• Flip parking to the back to meet or exceed the minimum parking required between building and US 41
• Move the building closer to US 41
• Pedestrian linkage needed.

ARCHITECTURE:
Presenter: Brian Howell

General Outline of Architectural presentation:  This project was presented as typical Florida-Mediterranean strip development.  Colors used would be variations of gold, tan and off whites with some henna and ginger. - Arches and curved entrances would be used to designate each space.  Roofline will be varied as presented in the plans.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Over all appearance is too busy.
• Arches are too repetitive.  Change size of archway tower to break building façade more.
• Spark the color
• Change the material used on the center building
• Not enough articulation on the back of the building
• Break up the roof line on eastern façade with architectural elements and landscaping.
• Perhaps add a tower on the corner to enhance rear of building to vehicular entry points.
• Play with the landscaping to enhance eastern façade of building.
• In absentia by e-mail: too ordinary

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE:
Presenter: Grant Willbanks
General Outline of Landscape Architectural presentation: No verbal presentation made.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Nice plan.

SIGN or other Pertinent Issue:

Presenter: Brian Howell
Monument style, 15 feet high including a 3 ½ foot base, lattice signs for tenant names plus 4 individual panels for other businesses – channel lit.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Base height is appropriate
• Address number is required
• Take lattice signs out – use the 4 panels only.

CONCLUSIONS:
Recommended and approved a DO letter with stipulations.

Applicant 2:         Wild Cat Run

Location of Project                 Corkscrew, 2 miles east of Interstate 75

Presented by:                        Michael Spencer/David Downey

Fee Paid:                               Yes

SITE PLAN:
Presenter: Michael Spencer

This is a resubmittal of the signage approved at the June 11th meeting.  The request is for minor changes of the identity columns at the main entrance, using 8 foot columns and 6 feet 4 inch fence – prefinished black wrought iron.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Nice presentation.

ARCHITECTURE:
Presenter: David Downey
The current Guard house is “tired”.  The proposed modest renovations for improvement will not affect the square footage, the character of the building, nor the footprint.  Proposal would remove the sloping section of the roof; build up the eave to match the roof height.  Roof tile would be green.  Cupola added to the roof using the existing color scheme.  All windows and doors replaced with aluminum.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• No objections

SIGN or other Pertinent Issue:
Presenter: Not applicable

CONCLUSIONS: approved

Applicant 3:               MIROMAR SIGNAGE

Location of Project                 Miromar Outlets on Corkscrew

Presented by:                          Michael Elgin

Fee Paid:                                 Yes

SITE PLAN:
Presenter: Michael Elgin

This was a courtesy review of proposed directional signage within Miromar Outlets. The plan is to install 3 digital signs to better direct traffic through the mall.  The light-emitting diode – LED – signs would be all be the same and would be placed 200 feet within the entrances of the mall. All signage will be ground mounted and will not be visible from outside the boundaries.  The signs will provide directions to specific stores at a 3 to 5 second interval; information will be pertinent to the time of day and planned special events.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• The committee recognized the grandfathered nature of the project and overwhelming appreciated the presentation to be informed of the planned changes.
• Consider framing the LED part of the sign to resemble existing monument signage and project architecture.  Current signage looks weak in comparison.  Committee requested that the proposed, at the least, be in the monument style required by the current code.
• Consider removing medallion from the base. Place on the framing.
• Paint the back side of the sign – perhaps include medallion.  Frame with landscaping.
• Plantings needed around the base. Hopefully this will eliminate signs along Corkscrew.

CONCLUSIONS:
Not applicable.

Applicant 4:       Wet Retail and Entertainment Center

Location of Project                 US 41 between Coconut Point Ford and Albertsons

Presented by:                          Damon Romanello, Jeff Hagle

Fee Paid:                                 Yes

SITE PLAN:
Presenter: Damon Romanello

Presented were plans for a Tuscan- styled project which includes 3 separate buildings, a covered walkway and extensive landscaping. The 7000 square foot southern most building will house a liquor store. The 7000 square foot northern building will be a restaurant with covered outside seating behind a trellis and an 800 square foot mezzanine overlooking the courtyard... The 40,000 square foot main building will include a gourmet deli, extensive wine and beer selections and offices.  Parking will be on the north and south sides.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Nice presentation.
• Proposed pedestrian circulation does not meet the desired and illustrated intent of Chapter 33 to provide linkages within and off-site.
• The Committee believes that through a rearrangement of parking, better internal pedestrian circulation could be achieved.  Current site plan is very weak in providing the required linkages.
• Current parking lot islands do not meet the required minimum width.  Applicant asked if they could prepare a proposed Alternate Betterment Plan that addressed these limitations.
• The Committee agreed to consider their approach and to review their revised design.

ARCHITECTURE:
Presenter: Damon Romanello

The buildings were designed based on architecture used in Tuscany.  All materials used will be authentic.  There will be 3 exterior fire places, 2 fountains, a 30-40 foot meandering water feature in the center with a bridge and trickling water down the exterior walls.  Faux finish will be used on the back side of the buildings.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Even though many may believe that the proposed Architectural Design is not “Mediterranean” as Estero typically requests, the proposed architecture is consistent with the Tuscan theme they have designed to.  The majority of the Committee agreed that the project architecture was well done and would be a great addition to Estero.
• Architecture is radically different from neighboring properties which is a positive.
• Architecture may have a positive influence on neighboring projects.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Presenter: Jeff Hagle

Very detailed plans were submitted for review.  The site features a cobble stone and flag stone walking path and pedestrian areas.  Plants will be allowed to “creep” toward the plaza and walking areas. Oak Trees will be used on both sides; there will be pocketed landscaping with lush focal plants, flowering plants and climbing vines on the buildings and 2 private sitting areas in the back corners of the site.

Committee and Public Comments:

• Nice job designing the landscaping to the building. The Committee recognized what appeared to be a good collaboration between Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
• Change cypress out –too much deciduous tree use for a primary buffer-perhaps use red cedar or other native mix.
• Great plant mix
• Create pedestrian linkage from the northern and the southern adjacent properties.
• Change orientation of the parking lot to create pedestrian linkage through the parking areas to the building envelope.
• Increase size of parking Landscape Island as per code requirements.
• Better access needed for the bicycle rack.

SIGN
Presenter: Damon Romanello

The logo for the center has not been finalized.  The Tower will include a landscaped base, the use of brick and clay barrel tile and a cascading water feature, lit from the ground

Committee and Public Comments:

• Need to come back for a review.
• Up lit signs are not allowed.

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 @ 5:00 PM

The Estero Recreation Center.

Meeting Minutes Approved:  July meeting minutes approved.

For the Estero Design Review Committee

These Minutes do not reflect a verbatim record of the Public Meeting conducted in accordance with Chapter 33 of the Lee County Land Development Code. However, reflect specific issues addressed and noted by each presentation. These Minutes are Official with the original signed copy as approved by the Acting Committee Chair or Designee. Unauthorized reproduction or alterations of these minutes are prohibited. These Minutes are the Copyright of the Estero Design Review Committee. All Rights Reserved.