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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1987-01-16 Workshop Meeting11 Mrs. Miller requested confirmation of the Council's appointments to the Resort Tax Committee. Those to be confirmed arg: General Manager of the Sheraton Bal Harbour, Sea View General Manager Larry Cliff, Bernie Burke of the Singapore, and Stanley Whitman of the Bal Harbour Shops. A motion was offered by Mr. McKeehan to confirm these appointments and seconded by Mrs. Antiles. As there was no further discussion, CIE, rc,cd unanimously (4-0). Mrs. Miller requested that Council approve the award of a bid agree- ment with Mid -town Plumbing in the amount of $20,200. This is for the replacement of the underground fuel tanks at public works. This expenditure was not provided for in the current operating budget but due to the nature of the problem repairs should proceed immediately. A motion to approve this bid award was offered by Mrs. Anti.Les and seconded by Mr. Laikin. There being no further discussion, the motion carried unopposed (4-0). Mrs. Miller asked that Council expand the membership of the Budget Committee to include Mr. Stanley Whitman of the Bal Harbour Shops, Mr. John Alden of the Sheraton Bal Harbour, 'die Harbour House General Manager, the Civic Association President, Mr. Charles Merwitzer and Mr. Sidney Feldman representing the ocean froa residents. Mrs. Miller also noted that the roll of this committee ..een expanded such that they will meet year-round. A motion to approve these appointments was offered by Mr. McKeehan and seconded by Mrs. Antiles. There being no further dis- cussion, the motion carried unopposed (4-0). Mayor Sherman noted that the Village Manager is not included in the Employees Holiday Fund. He requested that the Council vote to award Mrs. Miller one week's salary as a Christmas bonus. A motion to approve this bonus was offered by Mr. McKeehan and seconded by Mrs. Antiles. There being no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously (4-0). As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned to a Pension Committee meeting at 11:25 A.M. yMa'yor Attest: ' f Gt64, k Village Clerk December 9, 1986 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WORKSHOP SESSION JANUARY 16, 1987 A workshop session of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held on Friday, January 16, 1987, at the Bal Harbour Village Hall. The meeting was called to order at 2:05 P.M. by Mayor John S. Sherman. Those present were: January 16, 1987 12 Mayor John S. Sherman Asst. Mayor Sol Taplin Councilwoman Estelle Antiles Councilman George Lai.kin Councilman C. B. "Burt" McKeehan Also present: Village Manager Louise K. Miller Village Attorney Richard J. Weiss Village Clerk Carole S. Morris This workshop session was convened to hear preliminary results from Dean Thomas Regan as to the studies he is conducting on behalf of the Village in consideration of variances being requested for property located at 9929 Collins Avenue (proposed as the Bal Harbour Park building). Mayor Sherman opened the meeting by introducing Dean Thomas Regan of the University of Miami School of Architecture. Dean Regan then began his presentation, first by explaining the scope and method of his inquiry. He noted that his assignment was to review the shadow impact and aesthetic impact of the proposed Bal Harbour Park building and further to contrast 'this with the building that could presently be constructed under our existing code. Dean Regan emphasized that this is not his final report - which will be made at the Council meeting on January 27, 1987 - but instead a workshop session. He explained the methodology used is comparative and that the results are presented in the form of a photo montage. The lights were then dimmed and Dean Regan began his presentation of the shadow impact. Evaluations were made considering the extreme dates of the year, June 21 and December 21. Dean Regan concluded that that there was no significant difference in the shadow impactflof the proposed building and the buildable envelope. Dean Regan then began his presentation as to the aesthetic impact of the building. He noted that the impact of the height of the building is softened by its set back from the roadway. Dean Regan explained that it is the side setbacks which create or protect against the canyon effect. Dean Regan had not yet reached any conclusions as to the recommended side setback for this building but would make that decision in time for the Council meeting. In setbacks, to the height of the sion on this matter. of 182Bal.Bay Drive, proposed building in response to further questioning regarding the side Dean Regan explained that they must be considered in relation structure and again, he has not yet reached a deci- Edith Cooper, present representing Mr. Jospeh Hart requested that Dean Regan show the impact of the relation to the residential. area of the Village in his final evaluation. Mr. Sam Leigh, of 9801 Collins Avenue, noted that even if the side setback variances are permitted, the building will still have setbacks as large or larger than the other ocean front build- ings. Mr. Leigh felt the emphasis should be placed on the height of the building. Mr. Dan Paul, an attorney retained by residents of the Sea View, stated that the only way to break the canyon effect is t� adhere to the current Bal Harbour code - no compromise should be made as to the side setback of the building. Moreover if residents were unhappy with the present buildable envelope, the Village should take measures to re- view and if required, re -write our existing building code. Mr. David Trapp, a resident at 284 Bal Bay Drive and a member of the Architectural Review Board, requested that Dean Regan include a projection of what the ocean front would look like with each of the existing properties built to their maximum limits. Mr. Charles Merwitzer, 10155 Collins Avenue, spoke in Favor of the variances, stating that given the choice between the proposed structure and what could be built under our existing code, January 16, 1987 13 he would far rather have the Bal Harbour Park building. Marc Kovens, developer of the property, requested an opportunity to make a pre- sentation. Mr. Kovens stated that this proposal is a world -class building and that if no satisfactory resolution with the Village residents can be reached, the building will not be built. He further stated that the building will attract a desireable resident to Bal Harbour and will provide substantial tax advantages to the Village. In response to the wishes of the Village, he announced that he will reduce the building to 24 floors and that nothing will be built past the bulkhead (the drawing reflecting this contained an error by the architect) More- over, this building will not flood the existing condominium market in Bal Harbour but instead willincrease the values of property located adjacent to it. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McGinnis, 88 Camden Drive, both spoke against the variance, urging the Council to uphold the current zoning code. Mr. Mattie Blank, 9801 Collins Avenue, spoke in favor of the proposed building, calling it the "lesser of two evils". Evelyn Gilbert, 120 Harbour Way, spoke against the variance. Sidney Feldman, 9801 Collins Ave, requested that the developer consider moving the tennis courts out of the front of the building and replacing them with landscaping. Mary Stahl, 239 Bal Bay Drive, expressed concern that the concerns of the residents would not be considered by the Council in rendering their decision. Mayor Sherman explained that the recommendations of the Beautification Committee, Architectural Review Board, and the expert consultants (Deans Regan and Cantonese) would all be considered together with the views of the residents as the Council makes their decisions regarding this variance. Moreover, the Council would request that Dean Regan include the questions asked by the residents in his final presentation to Council, Mr. McKeehan noted that if the variance is granted, he would request financing infor- mation from the developer in order to ensure that the building will be com- pleted in a timely manner - with no delays as occured when the 101 building was under construction. Dean Regan agreed to make his final presentation at the Council meeting of the 27th and to include the factors requested. Additionally, at that time he will render his decision as to the recommended height and side setbacks for the building. Tentatively, Dean Regan placed the height in the 22 - 24 floor range. He would make no statements as to the appropriate side setbacks. As there was no further business to come-befbre the Council, the meeting adjourned at 4:05 P.M. Mayor • Attest: Village Clerk January 16, 1987