Meeting Minutes

ESTERO DESIGN
REVIEW COMMITTEE

OFFICIAL PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES

(in accordance with Chapter 33 of the Lee County Land Development Code)

Estero Community Park

The Estero Recreation Center

9200 Corkscrew Palms Boulevard

Estero, Florida

Meeting Date:                      Wednesday 07.09.2008

Meeting Time:                     5:00 PM

Members in Attendance:     Tom O’Dea, Gordon Lyons, Bob Melzer, Bill Prysi, Al O’Donnell, Joseph McHarris

Members Absent:                 Nancy Cohen, Gerald Simons, Jim Wallace

Chaired By:                           Gordon Lyons

Minutes By:                           Norma Reynolds

Meeting called to order at 5:00 PM.

Opening Remarks:

Notes of opening remarks.  None

Tom O’Dea made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 11th meeting with the proviso that the proper sized letterhead be added.  Approved unanimously.

Applicant 1:               Pawlet Plaza

Location of Project                 Corner of Williams and Three Oaks Street

Presented by:                          Jerald Owen, Jeffrey Moore, Ahmad Kareh Primary Individual

Fee Paid:                                 Yes

SITE PLAN:

Ahmad Kareh, civil engineer for the project, addressed the issues made by the committee at the last meeting.  The plans now include staggering the site of the buildings, making the lake more serpentine-shaped, adding more walkways between buildings for pedestrians, increasing the internal landscape island to 18 feet in width, and adjusting the entrance.

ARCHITECTURE:

Jerald Owen presented the new color schemes.  He brought 13 color chips explaining there were 4 color schemes – red, green, gold and earth - which they are planning to use. Like buildings would be in the same color palette – 3 colors per building. Stronger colors would be used on the back of the site; softer color palette on the front.

He also presented window wrap, terra cotta medallion, and Movier roof tiles as examples of what will be used.

The back sides of the buildings have been redesigned to make them respond more favorably with the environment. Hips, gables and window treatments have been added.

The entry tower base will be a terra cotta color with a gold pyramid and cashmere trim. Letters will be back lit. Dumpster site will be painted a dark color.

Committee and Public Comments:                 

• This presentation showed incredible improvement and was dramatically better.
• Consider adding a parapet, railings or a balustrade to break the linear look of the roof line fronting Three Oaks.
• Darken the red colors.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE:

Jeff Moore explained that his primary focus was to create an identity for each building.

Each will have different combination of palm tress. The plant list with the quantities was included in a report given to each committee member.  Grass will be used in the buffer zone, they have the required number of trees for the parking lot and Royal Poinciana will be planted around the pond.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Three Oaks Parkway buffer needs to relate to the buildings allowing openings for visibility of the buildings - use more clustering with gaps to allow viewports to architecture.
• Consider packing general trees harder – Consider using more general trees on western property line to buffer existing adjacent residential community.
• Make the parking lot dense – must use 12 foot/45 gallon trees minimum and play with the mixture of the trees.  Add not to specify 45 gallon minimum as per code.

SIGN or other Pertinent Issue:

Sign needs to be presented for approval.

CONCLUSIONS:

The committee recommended approval of the plans.  Tom O’Dea signed them.  A DO letter will be sent with the stipulations.

Applicant 2:                McDonald’s

                                                  Coconut Crossing on US 41

Presented by:                          Al Lopez, Mark Hartley

Fee Paid:                                 Yes

SITE PLAN:

Albert Lopez commented on the changes of the site plan.  It now includes access from the sidewalk to US 41.  Moving the building to the back of the site presents too much of a problem for parking and the drive thru window so they are not planning on changing the location of the building.  The landscape design includes less cypress trees.

Committee Comments:

• Location of building – Committee was disappointed in the decision not to move the building to the back of the site.
• The number of parking spaces doesn’t meet code – must present a plan eliminating 6 spaces on the front of the building
• Another landscape design needs to be presented – need a mixture of hardwoods and palms with the cypress trees.  Also need 45 gallon trees – 12’ minimum height trees, not 30 as indicated on the plans.

ARCHITECTURE:

Mark Hartley explained how he adapted the plans to reflect comments from the committee. The proposed roof is now a hip roof with a single slope - lightened in color. There doesn’t seem to be a way to increase the building to 5,000 square feet. Maximum allowable height is 25 feet – if that is lowered the equipment will show.

Committee and Public Comments: 

• Canopy over the drive thru needs to be articulated
• Colors are fine.
• According to Lee County the intent of the front of the building should be to simulate a peaked roof.
• Drop the parapet down in the middle of the building to break up the roof line.
• Eliminate small piece on the side of the building

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE:

None per se.

SIGN or other Pertinent Issue:

They must return with designs to apply for signage approval.

CONCLUSIONS:

DO letter to be sent with stipulations.

Applicant 3:  Kohl’s

Location:                       Coconut Crossing at US 41

Presented by:                Joseph Jurewicz, Project Engineer

Joseph explained that the county required an administrative amendment.  He requested that the committee approve the removal of the parking blocks from the Kohl’s parking lot.

The committee said they have no objection.

Conclusion

Approval letter to be sent.

Old Business:

None

Meeting adjourned at 6:20 PM.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 08.13.2008  @ 5:00 PM

The Estero Recreation Center.

Meeting Minutes Approved:

for the Estero Design Review Committee

These Minutes do not reflect a verbatim record of the Public Meeting conducted in accordance with Chapter 33 of the Lee County Land Development Code. However, reflect specific issues addressed and noted by each presentation. These Minutes are Official with the original signed copy as approved by the Acting Committee Chair or Designee. Unauthorized reproduction or alterations of these minutes are prohibited. These Minutes are the Copyright of the Estero Design Review Committee. All Rights Reserved.