Meeting Minutes

Meeting Time: 5:00 P.M.

Members in Attendance: Gordon Lyons, Wayne Robinson, Tom O’Dea, Jim Wallace, Bill Prysi

Members Absent: Joe McHarris, Nancy Cohen, Al O’Donnell,

Minutes By: Terri Melna

Meeting called to order by Gordon Lyons.

Gordon Lyons opened the meeting and called for approval of the minutes of the May 8th meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded and carried unanimously. Minutes were approved with no changes.

Applicant: Lowe’s at Estero Town Commons

Fee: Paid

Presentation by: Eric Strickland, Kite Realty

John Musser & Bob Mitchell – Vanasse & Daylor

Discussion:

John Musser stated a sidewalk was added on the north and west side of the internal roadway per EDRC recommendation. Sidewalk access running north-south in the parking area was added per EDRC recommendation. Landscape isles in the parking area have been staggered per EDRC recommendation. 563 parking spaces. Bob Mitchell stated that on the landscape plan presented tonight the turn lanes and sidewalks had been entered for better clarity. Pedestrian accessways added. Will only be using a few magnolias but will use mahoganies. Will be using the spartina in the rear in the detention area. At the southern end of the property line on Three Oaks Parkway, the canopy has been beefed up and more understory added to shield the truck well area. In the northern part of this section, the landscaping opens up more to view the center. Store entrances are accented with larger royals. Lighting in the parking lots will meet the new Estero code. No architectural lighting will be used in the parking lot. Lighting will be downplayed. A comment to the previous presentation included the “boxy” look of the east-facing side (right elevation). This has been changed to a fully-developed façade. Color has been kicked up. The front elevation has more color and articulation and tile roofing has been used. The corner feature at the garden center is now emphasized. The dumpster will be screened by masonry. The EDRC committee told the applicant they liked the colors and didn’t feel they needed to be toned down. Sabals and bougainvillea will be used on the side of the garden center. A request was made and agreed to by Vanasse & Daylor to provide electronic versions of the elevations for the Estero Beauty Book.

Comments/Suggestions:

Applicant agreed to change the roof shape on the side of the garden center

Applicant: Barkis – no show – return in July

Applicant: Chevrolet Dealership @ Corkscrew & I75

Fee: Paid

Presentation by: Brian Bitner of Pavlik Design

Javier Negroni of Pavlik Design

Discussion:

This will be a 39,000 SF service center and showroom at I-75 and Corkscrew. There will be a Hampton Inn next door. Building sits at an angle so the front of the showroom will face northeast. One entrance in and out of the service bay areas will eliminate many open door areas which the EDRC committee liked. Building will be concrete tilt-up construction with wall stained and a steel roof. The dealership name and Chevy emblem will be put on a blue stucco feature. Landscaping not shown as final as this project is under review for their CPD and are looking for variances. If necessary, building perimeter landscaping can be added. Applicant was told 10% of the gross square footage of the building must be allocated for outside landscaping. Committee told applicant they felt the building design was contemporary rather than Mediterranean. This project is located at a major entranceway into Estero. The Coconut Ford dealership could not even be considered a starting point for this project. Corkscrew Overlay District has special requirements. Tin roofs are not part of it. Tile roofs are desired. Applicant was not sure what constituted Mediterranean. Even the surrounding property pictures on the applicant’s exhibits showed more Mediterranean features than the project being presented. Needs more landscaping and tile roof. Lighting has been toned down from Galloway Dealership. Photometrics were discussed and applicant was told the candlelight must be 0 at 50’ off the property. This is just to meet code. Light fixture shown not Mediterranean. Bonita Bay used tilt-up construction at their Town Center and it is Mediterranean and the applicant can be provided the address if they wish to see in person. The perimeter landscaping should be built on a berm to prevent a view of the car bumpers and lights. Use a D buffer. No signage shown. Applicant told it must be a monument sign. Wall signage will be minimalist. Must only identify the business. The blue stucco feature should not jump out at you.

Comments/Suggestions:

Building architecture should be changed to Mediterranean style

Coloring of the blue feature should be changed

Accents at roofline and offsets within the surface

Limited access – fire protection needs access

Lighting – look at heights and styles. If you can raise the height of the lights and use less of them. Applicant looking at 2-phase lighting where half of them get turned off after hours.

Come back with everything – bring landscaping as well as signage

Perimeter landscaping – soldiering of trees not conducive to Estero

Lake too boxy, revise to more sinuous shape, increase edge to area ratio.

Double-check internal landscaping in parking lot

Estero requests – 45 gallon, 12’-14’, 3” caliper with 4-5’ spread for all required trees

Building perimeter plantings could be more urban in style at the front of the showroom potion of the building and more screening and buffering along the sides of the service portion of the building

Outdoor furniture – table and seating for customers while cars are being serviced

Think about seat walls on the fountains

Make showroom area more pedestrian oriented and friendly

The 2 long walls are too repetitious. Use random roof lines, mix materials and colors

Add green space height along the southwest elevation

Look at both sides of the building – not just the side facing the street

Consider seating around the pond – will be a wet pond most likely, possibly lined.

Cluster trees along roadway

County looking at design plans which need to be specific. Specify littorals around the lake. Specific control elevation for installation. Look at both wet and dry seasons. Pick littoral plantings which can handle both seasons.

Applicant informed LDC revisions being voted on in July so be aware of these changes.

Applicant stated may need to defer returning until the August meeting due to number of changes.

Applicant: Estero Ridge

Fee: Paid

Presentation by: Brian Howell of Phoenix Associates

Discussion:

Project located at Estero Parkway and US 41. These will be local businesses. - three small restaurants, insurance company, hair salons. Buildings are set back off the roadway. Two access points – US 41 and Estero Parkway. Covered arcade to each store. Landscaping reflects soldiering of trees. Applicant used metal roof, shutters to blends into the community. Applicant informed Estero not looking for Old Florida style, but Mediterranean. No metal roofs – tile is desired. Signage for project should be monument. Individual store signage will be individual, channel-lit lettering. EDRC must see the signage – wants to see color, font, size. Applicant stated the buildings “didn’t impact US 41” – however, many of the units face US 41. Landscaping in parking lot – use open view areas. Building perimeter landscaping is good – will be better maintained. Use tall palms, large canopy trees, mid-story and low shrubs. Cluster plantings. Look at making end cap parking 20’ wide. Edge buffers need to be enhanced. Look at making L shaped and putting parking in rear. Move buildings up to road. This will be a major entrance – an important corner – a high profile corner. Pedestrian access and linkage – will there be a sidewalk along 41 or south side of Estero Parkway. Can call FDOT to determine. Across US 41 will be 7th Avenue type project with Mediterranean.

Comments/Suggestions:

EDRC must see signage.

Change style to Mediterranean.

Cluster plantings.

Look at making end cap parking 20’ wide.

Edge buffers need to be enhanced.

Look at making L shaped and putting parking in rear. Move buildings up to road.

Agreed no signage on the tower.

Applicant agreed to return – probably in July

Chapter 10 & 33 by Bill Prysi – Had a meeting with Rick Joyce. Agreed to all amendments but one - Exemption to use landscape architects on smaller industrial projects (under 10 acres and more than 2 acres of impervious). A vote among the board stated they did not want this exemption to be passed and it should be removed from this round of amendments. Vote passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.

Next Meeting: Next EDRC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2005, 5:00 P.M. at The Vines Country Club – The Perry Room