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HomeMy Public PortalAbout02/24/2000MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING HELD BY THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW AND PLANNING BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2000, AT 8:30 A.M., IN THE TOWN HALL, 100 SEA ROAD, GULF STREAM, FLORIDA. I. Call to Order. Chairman Wheeler called the meeting to order at 8:30 A.M. Roll Call. Present and Chris Wheeler Participating: Hewlett Kent Muriel Anderson Douglas Hornberger Charles Frankel Absent with Notice: Perry O'Neal Marjorie McGraw Also Present and William Thrasher Participating: John Randolph Rita Taylor David Van Dinter Rob Dittman Sam Caprio Shane Ames Leela Ellis III. Minutes. Chairman Vice Chairman Board Member Board Member Alternate Member Board Member Alternate Member Acting Town Manager Town Attorney Town Clerk Applicant Pres. -Place Au Soleil Contract Purchaser Agent-Caprio & Ellis Applicant A. Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of 12-16-99 B. Special Joint Meeting with Town Commission of 12-16-99 Mrs. Anderson moved that the minutes of each of these meetings be approved as circulated and Mr. Hornberger seconded the motion with all voting AYE. IV. Additions, withdrawals, deferrals, arrangement of agenda items. The Town Clerk requested that the date of the July meeting be discussed and there was no objection. Chairman Wheeler directed that the matter be decided at this time. The Clerk advised that July 27 would be the usual date for the meeting but that there is a scheduling conflict with a Town Commission meeting. C% She questioned what other date would be acceptable. It was unanimously agreed that the July meeting would be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2000 at 8:30 A.M. V. Announcements. A. Meeting Dates 1. Regular Meeting 2. Regular Meeting 3. Regular Meeting 4. Regular Meeting & Public Hearing, 3-23-00 at 8:30 A.M. & Public Hearing, 4-27-00 at 8:30 A.M. & Public Hearing, 5-25-00 at 8:30 A.M. & Public Hearing, 6-22-00 at 8:30 A.M. Architectural Review and Planning Board Regular Meeting & Public Hearing February 24, 2000 Page 2 Chairman Wheeler called attention to the above meeting dates and there were no comments. VI. PUBLIC HEARING. Chairman Wheeler asked please stand to take the Oath. OAmes, Sam Caprio, Leela Ellis, Reginald Harris. that all persons who intended to speak The Clerk administered the Oath to Shane Rob Dittman, David Van Dinter, and With regard to ex -parte communications, Mrs. Anderson reported she had spoken to staff and Commissioner Lynch by phone, and had met with Place Au Soleil Homeowners Association. Mr. Kent stated he had driven by two of the sites and had spoken to the staff. Chairman Wheeler advised he had visited all three sites and the Van Dinter site from the water, and had spoken to staff. A. Applications for Development Approval 1. An application submitted by David Van Dinter the owner of property located at 960 Emerald Row, Gulf Stream, Florida, which is legally described as Lot 59 Place Au Soleil Subdivision. Chairman Wheeler asked Mr. Van Dinter if he wanted to make a presentation to which Mr. Van Dinter replied that he made an informal presentation at the December 1999 meeting of the Board and has nothing to add at this time. Chairman Wheeler asked Mrs. Anderson how the Place Au Soleil Homeowners Association felt about this. She advised that while the Association believes that there should be some type of size limitation, they would prefer to look at a code change rather than a variance. Mrs. Anderson further advised that the Association was concerned that with a variance, a precedent would be set that would affect the entire town. Attorney Randolph advised that variances can only be granted if hardships are proven and that a precedent would not necessarily be established. Mr. Kent felt that the staff remarks and recommendations should be taken into consideration, adding that he is in agreement with them. �\ The staff recommendations, should the variance be recommended for v approval, are as follows: 1) Prior to application for a building permit to construct the lift, a restrictive covenant shall be filed imposing two restrictions on the use of the lift; a. No boat over 32' in length (as measured according to U.S. Coastguard standards) shall be stored on the lift. b. No boat exceeding 11' in vertical clearance shall be stored on the lift. Height is to be measured from waterline to the highest point on the boat, including installed canvas or bimini tops, but excluding antenna. 2) The boatlift shall be setback a minimum of 35' from the north side property line. 3) The boatlift shall have a maximum lifting capacity of 15,000 pounds and shall be supported by only four wooden pilings. No I-beam members and no concrete supporting posts shall Architectural Review and Planning Board Regular Meeting & Public Hearing February 24, 2000 Page 3 be installed. 4) Prior to application for a building permit the applicant shall bring back for Planning Board approval a site plan and boatlift specifications demonstrating compliance with the above conditions. Chairman Wheeler stated that he had no problem with handling this as a Ovariance, as it is a unique problem. He expressed concern with the size of the boat and felt the 32' suggestion to be workable. Mr. Wheeler believed it would be necessary to have a cross brace on the lift and felt there is probably a product on the market that could supply a lift with a cross brace that would be at water level, which would not be too unsightly. Mr. Hornberger agreed that there should be a limit on the size of the boat, and the appearance of the proposed lift should be a prime consideration. Chairman Wheeler asked Mrs. Anderson if the Place Au Soleil Association would be in favor if a variance was granted that followed the staff guidelines. Rob Dittman, President of the Place Au Soleil Homeowners Association, was recognized. He stated that he has seen the Town grant numerous variances and noted that they should find real hardships to justify the variance, and handle any others through code changes. He was firm in the position that the Association wants this matter to be code regulated. He suggested that the size of a boat be limited by the foot frontage of the lot. He contended that variances amount to spot zoning, and with 11 lots in Town having frontage directly on the Intracoastal, and no other docking possibilities, this should be code regulated. He pointed out that there are marinas for large boats that are widely used. Chairman Wheeler advised that he is under the impression that a study is underway with regard to the possibility of a future code change. Mr. Van Dinter stated that he agreed with Mr. Dittman. He felt it is unfair for the Town to require a covenant, as it will always remain as a blemish on the title to the property. Chairman Wheeler asked Mr. Van Dinter if a variance with conditions as recommended by the Town Manager would serve his needs. Mr. Van Dinter replied no, as he could not accept the condition that a covenant be filed. Mr. Frankel pointed out that just having a water front lot does not guarantee docking facilities. He noted that some people just like the views that go with water front property and never have a boat. Chairman Wheeler advised that he could not support a variance without the restrictive covenant, and the Board Members were in agreement. Architectural Review and Planning Board Regular Meeting & Public Hearing February 24, 2000 Page 4 a. VARIANCE to permit installation of a boat lift that exceeds 500# lifting capacity and will not be attached to a sea wall. Mrs. Anderson moved to recommend denial of the variance inasmuch as the applicant has stated that he would not accept a restrictive covenant. The motion was seconded by Mr. Kent. Roll Call: Mrs. Anderson; AYE, Mr. Cj Kent; AYE, Mr. Hornberger; AYE, Mr. Frankel; AYE, and Chairman Wheeler; AYE. Mrs. Anderson then moved to recommend that the Town Commission look into the possibility of a future code change regarding the size of boats and boat lifts. This motion was seconded by Mr. Hornberger. Roll Call: Mrs. Anderson; AYE, Mr. Kent; AYE, Mr. Hornberger; AYE, Mr. Frankel; AYE, and Chairman Wheeler; AYE. b. LEVEL 3 ARCHITECTURAL/SITE PLAN REVIEW to permit construction of a 24'x5' wooden dock and installation of a 25,000 lb., four -motor aluminum cradle boatlift supported by 8 pilings. Mrs. Anderson moved and Mr. Kent seconded that it be recommended that approval of the Level 3 Architectural/Site Plan be denied. Roll Call: Mrs. Anderson; AYE, Mr. Kent; AYE, Mr. Hornberger; AYE, Mr. Frankel; AYE, and Chairman Wheeler; AYE. 2. An application submitted by Shane Ames as Agent for William Gilmore, owner and contract seller of the property located at 965 Orchid Lane, Gulf Stream, Florida, which is legally described as Lot 85 Place Au Soleil Subdivision. Mr. Shane Ames displayed a color rendering of the existing home, with the proposed improvements, and a site plan. He explained that they are proposing to add a master bath addition on the southwest side of the existing home, a new porch with columns and a railing across the front of the roof, a Bermuda cap on top of the chimney, and new bay windows on the rear and north elevations. In addition, the existing brick will be covered with stucco, and quoins added at the corners. Mr. Ames called attention to the Flemish gable end on the front and explained that this design is common in the Bermuda architectural style and is being used to off set the wide chimney on the front of the house. Chairman Wheeler noted that the Flemish gable is shown smaller on the architectural drawing than that shown on the color rendering. OMr. Ames advised that the smaller version shown on the architectural drawing will be used. He circulated pictures of Flemish gables that were taken from books on Bermuda style architecture. Mr. Kent felt these would be wonderful additions to the house, but added that he even liked the taller gable better if it was possible to have something in back of it. He commented that the bay windows were nice on this plan. Mr. Hornberger and Mr. Frankel both liked the improvements as proposed. Architectural Review and Planning Board Regular Meeting & Public Hearing February 24, 2000 Page 5 Mrs. Anderson, referring to the landscaping, asked if some additional material could be planted to soften the appearance of the Flemish gable. Mr. Caprio, the contract purchaser, pointed out that the majority of the front lawn is now covered with concrete. He advised that he will need a larger septic tank and drain field and he will be removing the concrete O and replacing it with a meandering brick paver driveway. He advised that there will be extensive landscape material on both sides of the driveway and a berm with a secondary layer of material. He further advised that three Foxtail palms will be planted in front of the Flemish gable. Mr. Hornberger called attention to the large setback, noting that there appears to be ample landscaping planned. Mr. Frankel noted that choice of material may be limited due to a potential problem of root intrusion. Mr. Ames explained that they are attempting to play -up the Flemish gable, not hide it. Chairman Wheeler agreed with Mrs. Anderson, that they would prefer more landscaping material to soften the appearance of the gable. Mr. Hornberger felt no additional landscape material was necessary in that he liked the appearance of the gable. Mr. Frankel agreed, adding that this is a big improvement to the property. Mr. Kent also liked the Flemish gable and felt the proposed planting will have a softening effect on the gable. Mr. Caprio, when asked, advised that he does not want to add more landscape material as both he and his wife like the Flemish gable and want it to be seen. Chairman Wheeler noted that he and Mrs. Anderson do not agree with the proposed exposure of the Flemish gable, adding that the difference is a matter of personal taste. a. LEVEL 2 ARCHITECTURAL/SITE PLAN REVIEW to permit the addition of a bathroom and front porch to an existing Bermuda style single story home. �) Mr. Hornberger, based on a finding that the proposed plans are consistent with applicable review standards, moved to approve the proposed plans with 3 of the 4 conditions recommended by the Town Manager as follows: 1) The Construction Traffic Management Plan submitted with the application shall be followed during construction. 2) The impervious cover in the front yard shall be reduced to comply with the 40% cap provision in the Town's Design Manual. 3) Approval from the Place Au Soleil Homeowners' Association shall be secured prior to application for a building permit. The motion was seconded by Mr. Frankel. Roll Call: Mrs. Anderson; NAY, Mr. Kent; AYE, Mr. Hornberger; AYE, Mr. Frankel; AYE and Chairman Wheeler; NAY. The fourth recom- Architectural Review and Planning Board Regular Meeting & Public Hearing February 24, 2000 Page 6 mendation, changing the gable to a hip roof, was not discussed. 3. An application submitted by Shane Ames as Agent for David and Leela Ellis, owners of the property located at 8 Driftwood Landing, Gulf Stream, Florida, which is legally described as Lot 12 Driftwood Landing Subdivision. Mr. Shane Ames displayed a color rendering of the existing home with the proposed improvement, and a site plan. He explained that this a pod G design and Mr. & Mrs. Ellis want to add three guestrooms. He further explained that there is not enough room to add another pod so it was decided to add a second story over the garage. Mr. Ames pointed out that it was only necessary to raise the garage roof 6' higher to accomplish this. He advised that there are open beams inside the house, making it very lofty. Mr. Ames noted that the home is at the end of the Cul-de-sac and the entire property has very lush landscaping so that the home can hardly been seen. He closed by calling attention to the railing detail on the balcony that wraps around the second story which gives a tropical feel to the design and breaks up the height. Plans also include a small teahouse. Mrs. Anderson liked the design, as did the other members of the Board. Chairman Wheeler asked if the Driftwood Association had approved the design, as it was his understanding that they are opposed to second story construction. He noted that a second story addition to the house next door had been approved recently by both the Town and the Association. Mrs. Ellis stated that she had given copies of the plans to the Board and she had received no objections. Chairman Wheeler explained that it would be necessary to have an affirmative letter from the Driftwood Landing Association. a. LEVEL 2 ARCHITECTURAL/SITE PLAN REVIEW to permit the addition of a second story over the existing garage. Mr. Kent moved and Mrs. Anderson seconded that based on a finding that the proposal meets the intention of the Design Manual and applicable review standards, the improvements be approved as submitted with the following conditions recommended by the Town Manager: 1) A Construction Traffic Management Plan, that has been approved by the Town Manager, Oshall be submitted prior to the issuance of a building permit application, and the plan shall be followed during construction. 2) Written approval from the Driftwood Landing Association is received prior to application for a building permit. Roll Call: Mrs. Anderson; AYE, Mr. Kent; AYE, Mr. Hornberger; AYE, Mr. Frankel; AYE, and Chairman Wheeler; AYE. VII. Items by Staff. There were no items by staff. VIII. Items by Board Members. There were no items from the Board. Architectural Review and Planning Board Regular Meeting & Public Hearing February 24, 2000 Page 7 IX. Public. There was no public comment. X. Adjournment. Chairman Wheeler adjourned the meeting at 9:30 A.M. Cr7/a Rita L. Taylor, own Clerk