Estero Design Review Committee

Public Meeting
September 12, 2007
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, Bill Prysi,
Jim Wallace, Joe McHarris, and Al O’Donnell
 
Absent:                                   Nancy Cohen, and Gerald Simons
 
Chaired By:                            Tom O’Dea
 
Minutes By:                            Ramona Thomas
 
Meeting called to order.
 
Approval of the minutes of the August 8th meeting was called for.  A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded and carried unanimously.  Minutes were approved with no changes.

Applicant: Coconut Point Mall

Location: North and South Villages at Coconut Point including, Tract 3C-2 Extra Space Storage
 
Fee:                                Paid
 
Presented by:                Ned Dewhirst PE, SR VP of Florida Operation, Oakbrook Properties
 
Discussion:
Ned Dewhirst presented an update to the North and South Villages at Coconut Point Mall.  Two monument tower elements will be located at Williams Road & US41 and at the South property line.  The towers will be similar in design to the one at Coconut Point but not as tall.  The North Village will include Community Bank building and the Oakbrook 3-story office building both to be submitted to EDRC next month for review.  The Hearing Examiner’s report on the rezoning of the North and South Villages should be released in October and go before the Board of County Commissioners in November or December.  This includes The Art District in Tract 1 – B and the Extra Space Storage Building on South Loop Road which will be presented to EDRC at this meeting.  A restaurant is also still under review.  The landscape buffers are completed.  Lee Memorial parcels will remain dormant.

Extra Space Storage:

A multi-story storage facility, served internally with two large doors for loading & unloading, articulated facades on US41 & also facades heading north & south on US41, public parking for customers only with minor retail for business related functions only, second story is an on-site office manager suite, a 6-ft fence encompasses the entire parking area and will be buffered with landscaping, with enhanced paving at the entry to the property, the building has awnings & balconies for added detail.
 
Comments:

• Like it, love it, fabulous, best looking storage facility.
• Plant dry detention area.
• Email PDF file for posting on website.

Applicant: Fifth Third Bank

Location:                       Coconut Trace, U.S. 41 between Williams & Coconut roads
 
Presented by:                Damon Romanello & Jason Dontje
 
Discussion:
Fifth Third Bank is located on a 2.5 acre site with Calistoga Restaurant on the west side of US41 by the Coconut Point Mall.  To address the connectivity sidewalks were added to the existing sidewalks, added a bike rack at each building, one for the restaurant and one for the bank, tower was added to the bank building on the back side along US41.
 
Comments on architectural included:

• Does not meet Chapter 33 for interconnectivity.
• Use best efforts to circumvent the FL DOT control issues and have sidewalk come through Vanderberg Way & US41 plus add interconnecting walkways between the restaurant and the bank.
• Need more contrast of colors or more articulation on building, too subtle.

Landscaping:
Very few changes were made to the landscaping; D buffer along US41 has black olives, sables palms, live oaks; north & south buffer has shady ladies, black olives; interior landscape consists of live oaks, sable palms; perimeter landscaping of buildings for restaurant has cluster of sables, cassia trees, ginger, variegated colors, and bank has pygmy dates, sable palms.
 
Overall comments include:

• Monument signs look fine.
• EDRC will issue DO with comments regarding the connectivity and the bank building colors.

Gordon Lyons updated the EDRC on the signage plan for Super Target..  The east elevation, rear of the building, has no signage, the two sides, north and south elevations, will have signage and will be lit. They are still working on the additional landscaping to break up the massing on the West elevation as promised the EDRC by Super Target.
 
Comments include:

• EDRC requests that the lighting for the two side signs of Super Target be shut off at 11:00 p.m.
• EDRC requests Pet Smart to turn off sign facing the preserve, as it has no purpose.

Gordon will email Tom Schneider on these issues.

Candidate for EDRC membership:

The EDRC announced they are interviewing Bob Melzer for a candidate member of the EDRC.
 
There being no further business to come before the committee the meeting was adjourned.
 
Next Meeting: Next EDRC Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at the Estero Park Community Center.