Meeting Minutes

ESTERO DESIGN
REVIEW COMMITTEE

August 8, 2007
5:00 P.M.
The Estero Recreation Center
9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd.
Meeting Time:     5:00 P.M.

Members in Attendance:        Gordon Lyons, and Gerald Simons
 
Absent:                                    Tom O’Dea, Bill Prysi, Joe McHarris,
Nancy Cohen, Al O’Donnell, and Jim Wallace
 
Chaired By:                            Gordon Lyons
 
Minutes By:                            Ramona Thomas
 
Meeting called to order.
 
Approval of the minutes of the July 11th meeting was called for.  A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded and carried unanimously.  Minutes were approved with no changes.

Applicant: Calistoga Restaurant

Location:                       Coconut Trace, US41 by Coconut Point Mall
 
Fee:                              Paid
 
Presented by:                Todd Lausterer of Humphrey Rosal Architects
 
Discussion:
Calistoga Restaurant is located on a 2.5 acre site with Fifth Third Bank on the west side of US41 by the Coconut Point Mall.  The building is designed in the Tuscan style with earth tone colors.  The entry leads to an open courtyard with 2 entrances to covered exterior dining, roof includes a dormer with false windows, there is a parapet on the back of the building with decorative cornice, front doors are mahogany, storefront window frames are berry color to coordinate with the mahogany door, a service courtyard located on the back of the building fenced in by an 8-ft concrete block & stucco wall, with a solid aluminum gate which completely screens the area, the dumpster will be located in the fenced in service courtyard.
 
Comments:
Beautiful architectural design, no comments, criticism or recommendations.
 
All EDRC members are in favor of the project and approve.

Applicant: Fifth Third Bank

Location:                       Coconut Trace, US41 by Coconut Point Mall
 
Fee:                              Paid
 
Presented by:                Damon Romanello & Jason Dontje
 
Discussion:
Fifth Third Bank is located on a 2.5 acre site with Calistoga Restaruant on the west side of US41 by the Coconut Point Mall.  The building is designed with earth-tone colors, concrete roof tile, foam banding located between the soffit & wall, and split face mason along the bottom of the building.
 
Comments on architectural included:

• Very plain building.
• Put some architectural detail into the roof.
•  Look at the arches on the TIB Bank.
• Angles are very rigid.
• Colors on presentation do not represent the building well, there are no shadows, building is not described well by drawings, looks flat, has no depth.
• Architectural elements would help, possibly a tower or other vertical angles added to the building
•  Windows are not rendered.
•  Want more detail on the building.

Bring back next month with changes.
 
Landscaping:
The restaurant and bank has large plant material on the west perimeter (shady lady, live oaks, flowering Cassias), two royal palms at the entrance, US41 has type D buffer, native & exotic plants are added to enhance the corners of the site, added splashes of color at the highly visible areas, 70 canopy trees throughout the parking areas.
 
Comments:

• Need internal pedestrian access from main sidewalks.
• Add bike racks at each building, there are none shown on the plans.
•  Bring landscaping back next month with changes.

Applicant: Coconut Point Mall Update

Location:                       Super Target and Out Lots
 
Presented by:                Michael Sharp, Simon Property Group
 
Discussion:
Michael Sharp of Simon Property Group presented the following projects at Coconut Point Mall:
 
Hyatt Place, Jared Jewelers, Wachovia Bank, The Diamond District, CNL Bank, Verizon Wireless, and Simon owned small restaurant with offices located above.
 
Comments:
The committee complemented Simon Properties on the design changes above and would like to see the landscape changes to Super Target as promised by Super Target at our June meeting as soon as possible.

Applicant: Londonberry Plaza

Location:                       SW corner of Corkscrew and River Ranch Road
 
Presented by:                Francis Torres, Boughton Architects, Inc.
 
Discussion:
Plans were submitted to address all concerns of the EDRC from the June meeting, additional elements were added to the building to enhance the design.
 
Comments:  Looks great, beautiful building.
The monument signage was revised to address the recommendations of the EDRC, making the base of the sign wider.
 
Comments:  Looks good.
Landscape:
All light fixtures are incorporated into the landscape plan, sidewalk interconnectivity was added to link with the sidewalk on Corkscrew, bike racks were added at both buildings, plans revised to save as much as the existing trees and natural plant material as possible, main focus of landscaping is Italian cypress to enhance the existing natural plant material.
 
Comments:  Looks good.
 
All EDRC members are in favor of issuing the DO on Londonberry Plaza.

Applicant: Rick Johnson Tire and Automotive

Location:                       Broadway Grand Shoppes on the corner of Broadway and US41
 
Presented by:                Rick Johnson
 
Discussion:
Rick Johnson presented signage for the building to be located on all 4-sides of the building, 2 sides will be illuminated with back channel lettering. EDRC will not recommend anything greater than code on signage.
 
Comments:

• EDRC will not recommend anything greater that code on signage.
• The two lit building signs must be back channel lit.
• Will approve signage on all 4 sides of building, not to exceed maximum allowed per code.

Applicant: Cascades Entry Gate

Location:                       Entry to Cascades on Estero Parkway
 
Fee:                               Paid
 
Presented by:                Jack Stacy, Vice President, Cascade HOA
 
Discussion:
Jack Stacy, Vice President of Cascade HOA present plans to add a gate to the entrance of Cascades.
 
Comments:  Looks lovely, EDRC will recommend to Lee County for DO.

Applicant: Lock Up Storage at Half Way Creek

Location:                       West side of US41 between Marsh Landing and Fountain Lakes
 
Fee:                               Paid
 
Presented by:                Bob Soudan Jr., BRB Development
 
Discussion:
Jeff Curl of Q. Grady Minor presented landscape plans for the 10 acre development which includes a substantial amount of preserve area, exceeds code on the buffer; vegetation is added to the entire detention area.
 
Bob Soudan, Jr. of BRB Development presented plans for the 49,500 square foot storage facility located on the north end of the 10 acre development, just south of the Fountain Lakes entrance.
 
Comments:

• The building is unacceptable, not in any way Mediterranean; it cannot be saved with color.
•  It is plain with no articulation, just a compilation of parts that don’t have any relation to each other.
•  Have the architect create a Mediterranean design and come back next month.

There being no further business to come before the committee the meeting was adjourned.
 
Next Meeting:                         Next EDRC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at the Estero Park Community Center.