Meeting MinutesESTERO DESIGN
REVIEW COMMITTEE
Public Meeting
April 9, 2008 at 5:00 P.M.
The Estero Recreation Center
9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd.
Meeting Time:
5:00 P.M.
Members in Attendance: Tom O’Dea,
Gordon Lyons, Al O’Donnell, Bob Melzer, Nancy Cohen, Bill Prysi, and Joe
McHarris
Absent:
Gerald Simons and Jim Wallace
Chaired By:
Tom O’Dea
Minutes By:
Ramona Thomas
Meeting called to order.
Opening Remarks:
The Chairman noted that one of the committee members was absent because his
brother died suddenly. The committee expressed their sympathy and condolences to
Jim Wallace and his family.
It was reported that there are signs being put up that do not conform to the
Estero community’s interpretation of the Lee County signage review staff has not
been cooperating with EDRC in insisting that all signage in Estero must first be
reviewed by the EDRC. All future signs will come before the EDRC for
review. The EPPC is doing a study to determine recommended changes to
clarify the current signage code.
The Bonita Health Center will be painting their facility and is changing
colors and asked that the committee review the selected colors. It is not
currently required for approval of colors by the EDRC. EDRC will continue
to work on the “Urgent Care” sign being changed to conform to code.
However, the EDRC voted unanimously in favor of the proposed colors for the
painting of the Bonita Health Center.
Approval of the minutes of the March 12th meeting was called for. A
motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded and carried unanimously.
Minutes were approved with no changes.
Location:
The Brooks Town Center, Three Oaks Parkway and Coconut Road
Presented by:
Ramon Acevedo of Gora McGahey Associates in Architecture
Discussion on Site Plan:
Edward McDonald from Hole Montes presented site plans for Fine Mark National
Bank and Trust located in The Brooks Town center, a 9390 sq ft 2-story bank on
the SW corner of the outparcel. There will be a reduced size of the phase
3 & 4 buildings to compensate for the additional square footage of the bank,
which went from 1-story to 2-story and will be using same colors as the Brooks
building. The drive through changed to 2 lanes, all parking and remaining site
plan is the same. The east facing entry has a colonnade created that
reaches to the south side of the building, and includes a second entrance to the
front door. The building consists of a cast stone base with stucco bands
of rock like material, barrel tile roof, trim around windows of raised stucco,
blue window frames with blue canvas awnings, and a setback for the second story.
The east side includes a stairwell. The north elevation has offices above and
will have blue awnings on windows. The roof structure over drive through is a
solid roof. The intent of the building design & color is to match & blend the
surrounding buildings on the parcel. The landscaping for the bank consists
of grouped cabbage palms at the SW and SE corners of the building using same
plant palate as remaining site, Montgomery palms on north & south elevations to
screen stair element, jasmine vines on south side, hollies on north side, lower
plantings of simple native plants. Dense mass of oaks & cabbage palms on north
edge of property extending from NW corner to the dumpster to create layers,
various trees which include slash pines to provide buffer along north side of
property
Comments:
- EDRC noted that a portion of the building frontage perimeter landscaping
consists of parking to walk to building without a landscape break. However, the
committee supports the methodology the applicant has presented utilizing
architectural elements to create a pedestrian court.
- Noted that the tree sizes specified need to meet the minimum sizes
discussed in chapter 33. Also noted some concern in getting tree from ligustrum at the required minimum size if used as required trees.
The EDRC voted in favor of issuing the DO letter with comments as noted.
Motion carried unanimously.
Presented by:
Architectural Design Collaborative, Karen Anderson
Discussion:
Karen Anderson presented Bank of America which is currently under
construction and had a sighting mishap causing the building to be 7.3 feet
further east on the site so they are seeking a site amendment. The building is
shifted to the east, closer to US41, and will now include a total of 36 parking
spaces. Parking on the east side of the building is being eliminated. The
landscape buffer is being made wider, and all utilities are moved closer to the
road & unaffected by the building. The transformer is set closer to the building
and the building design did not change.
Comments:
- Add three (3) palms with staggered heights of 16-24 feet on to SW corner of
the building to help define the elevation.
The EDRC voted in favor of issuing the site amendment with comments as noted.
Motion carried unanimously.
Location:
Coconut Crossing, corner of US41 and Coconut Road
Presented by:
Joseph J. Jurewicz PE, Project Engineer, Staples of Scott & Gobel Architects,
Brad Guarino, Development Manager, J.E.D
Discussion:
Brad Guarino & Joe Jurewicz presented changes to Kohl’s per the comments of
the January 2008 EDRC meeting. The roofline over Kohl’s signage is made a
complete gable with hip roofs. Added eave & soffit on front roof line to match
vernacular & soften, the north & south elevation towers have been made complete with 4-sided hip roofs. Railings on the towers have been completed with faux
window treatments made of black tile. The Serengeti finish is removed & is now
an efface finish. Roof tile color is same as on Lowe’s building. Added more
contrast in colors and diamond medallions. Sable palms are added on rear of
building with variation of heights.
Comments:
- The number of sable palms needs to be increased (approximately 60%) at
heights that break up the roof line on the south and west side.
- Add four (4) royal palms, one each to the corners of both Kohl’s main
entries, move the planters closer to driveways to make relationships to
buildings more conducive to large palms.
- Tenant signage must be lit letters on an opaque background. Project
logo must be reverse channel lit lettering.
- Monument Sign design (form) does not relate to the project architecture
well enough.
- Bring signage back with changes and indicate letters will be back channel
lit.
The EDRC voted in favor of issuing the DO letter with comments as noted.
Motion carried 5 to 1 with Bill Prysi opposing.
Presented by:
Bill Prysi, President Conceptus Land Architects, Inc.
Discussion:
Bill Prysi, of Conceptus Land Architect, Inc. presented a proposed zoning
amendment for the buffer which exceeds the intent of the original buffer.
The original zoning buffer calls for a fence on the DO and there is now a wall
in place, in lieu of a “fence” which
Fountain Lakes planted areca palms along
the wall on the side facing their community and do not want the areca palms or
the wall removed. The amendment consists of adding 44 cabbage palms of
staggered height placed between the wall and the existing cypress trees, Sixteen
foot laurel oaks are scattered into the buffer. Letters from the owner and
Fountain Lakes are also included in the package. The application is
compliant with the intent expressed in the original DO order. There are
power lines located in the buffer but no easement.
Comments:
- EDRC has no objections and would be in support of it being compliant.
Presented by:
Bill Prysi, President Conceptus Land Architects, Inc.
Discussion:
Bill Prysi of Conceptus Land Architect and Ned Dewhirst of Oakbrook
Properties presented plans for the buffer located along US41 which was put in
place two years ago per a zoning amendment and DO approval. This buffer
creates an issue which covers the area along where commercial marquee signage
will go. There are 10 trees per 100 feet with a double row hedge for the
minimum which calls for 50% actual trees, 50% palms, 197 trees require having
100 trees on the increased landscape plan.
Presenting a betterment plan to the zone along the sidewalk, will pull in
trees at the buildings to bring up & ungulate providing an opening at the
marquee views. The proposed amendment conceptually makes sense, will keep
shade trees in the buffer and have added trees to the back of the art center
theatre. Oakbrook supports the revised buffer and thinks it would be good.
Comments:
- The EDRC supports the deviation to the zoning of the proposed design versus
the original design and installation applied with the caveat that the new buffer
design provides transitional design elements from the old buffer into the new.
- The proposed design constitutes a “better” approach to the subject of the
required landscape buffer responsive to the site, proposed architecture and
original intent of the previous buffer installed.
The EDRC voted in favor of the deviation to the zoning with comments as noted
and as long as it "blends" with the landscaping at the southern end of the
Rapallo site. Motion carried unanimously.
Presented by:
Joe McHarris, McHarris Planning & Design
Discussion:
Joe McHarris presented plans for the Riverwoods Kiosk & Pavilion which is
internally located in the Riverwoods community and will not be viewed
externally. The structure will house mailboxes as they are required by the
Postal Service to be externally placed. It is an open structure, metal
roof with wood structure, no tile located in project, and the kiosk & pavilion will be plantation style to
match the project theme.
The EDRC voted in favor of issuing the DO letter. Motion carried
unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the committee the meeting was
adjourned.
Next Meeting: Next EDRC Meeting will be held on
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at the Estero Park Community Center.
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