PARAB Minutes 01/24/1996 4
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES
January 24, 1996
Cocohatchee River Park
Vanderbilt Drive, Naples, Florida
___1112.20.1211.0
VERBATIM MINUTES
PRESENT: Joseph Zaks, Chairman
Gil Mueller
Timothy Blackford
ABSENT: Max A. Hasse, Jr.
Patricia A. Goodnight
ALSO PRESENT: Steve Brinkman, Parks and Recreation Director
Murdo Smith, Parks and Recreation Operations Manager
Gary Franco, Parks Superintendent
Jacquie Minnis, Secretary II
Andrew Kawczak of Marco Island
Elizabeth Kawczak of Marco Island
Joe Braet of Marco Island
Tom Sarano, OCPM
Brian Leith, Fantasy In Fire
Peter Foy, Event Director
I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
III. INVOCATION: NONE
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 29 and December 20 1995 meeting.
NO QUORUM TO APPROVE MINUTES ON JANUARY 24, 1996.
V. NEW BUSINESS/PRESENTATIONS
a. Chairman Joe Zaks said that PARAB is unable to approve the
minutes because of the absences of Max A. Hasse and
Patricia Ann Goodnight. ONLY 3 MEMBERS PRESENT.
b. Racquet Center Tennis Court Expansion - Chairman Joe Zaks
said the 1st item on the agenda for presentation is Andrew
Kawczak regarding Clay Courts.
Mr. Andrew Kawczak said that his wife Elizabeth Robinson
Kawczak will do the presentation.
Elizabeth Robinson Kawczak said that she has a 17 court
signatures of owners and renters of the condos at San Marco
Villas. Mr. & Mrs. Kawczak are very concern because the
Tennis court of the Racquet Club which is being runned by
Collier County Parks and Recreation Department. Mrs.
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Kawczak stated that they are also members of the club.
Mrs. Kawczak said that she understand that the Collier
County Parks and Recreation Department are proposing to
extend the tennis courts right behind the present tennis
court which will be very, very close to their house.
Mrs. Kawczak would like to read the statement to PARAB.
Court Statement - "ATTENTION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION. On behalf of the San
Marco Villas owners and renters who signed the petition
submitted to your Department, we request that the
Department refrains from building additional tennis courts
at the Marco Island Racquet Club. the proposed tennis
courts would come so close to the dwellings on the southern
side of the club that the occupants would be seriously
distributed. the Constant noise of tennis balls, shouts of
the players, lack of privacy during the day, and the
glaring lights in the evening, would cause such distress
that the present inhabitants would be practically forced to
move out from the premises facing the courts.
We are both tennis players and members of this club. We
know from our own experience that there are no substantial
difficulties in making a reservation a day before. We also
know, and made use of, the availability of the tennis
courts located within walking distance at Tommie Barfield
Elementary School which are available to members of the
club. It may be worth while to mention that within a short
distance there are also four courts at the YMCA.
However, if further investigation would confirm that there
is a real need to build more courts, space is available at
nearby Frank Mackle Park (which is also under Collier
County Parks and Recreation Department) for at least four
more courts adjacent to the basketball area, as well as at
the north end of the soccer field.
If more clay courts are particularly needed at the Racquet
Club, the preferable solution seems to be to replace the
three hard surface courts with clay, and build hard courts
at Mackle Park.
The implementation of the project would directly affect
twelve town-house type condos. We have been advised by
Real Estate professionals that there will be a significant
reduction in the value of these properties as a direct
result of this project. Moreover, all the property owners
at San Marco Villas will be affected to some degree,
because of the inevitable change in the type of occupants
of the twelve condos directly involved. We discussed the
situation with our neighbors, and we know that if
additional courts are built four of the owners will try to
sell, and three of those who rent would not be willing to
renew their lease.
We therefore request your Department to find an alternative
solution acceptable to all those involved.
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Mrs. Kawczak distributed copies of statement to PARAB.
Mrs. Kawczak asked Parab members whether they would like to
see the petition and did not know if PARAB had receive the
original petition.
Chairman Joe Zaks answered that he did receive a copy of
the petition.
Mrs. Kawczak stated that her lawyer was supposed to send a
copy of the petition.
Mr. Murdo Smith said that he only received the letter and
not a copy of the petition.
Mr. Gil Mueller asked whether if it were possible to make a
copy of the petition. A copy was made through the fax
machine.
Mr. Mueller "we understands your concern. I have done; and
been involved to something similar to it on numerous
occasion on Marco and we certainly want to do what is best
for not only the tennis players but also for tax payers. I
took the liberty of. . . .I discovered your objection about
ten (10) days ago. I took the liberty of doing a little
independent survey in your complex there and I spoke to
seven (7) people that own condominiums. I found that of the
seven (7) I spoke to there was only one (1) gentlemen that
voice any type of objection. A number of years ago they
were starting to play rather early in the morning and
sometimes at 7:30 a.m. and he said that, "that was not
good, that its not current, and as far as he is concern he
had no objections. No problem with noise, no problem with
lighting is concern and we are hoping to establish some
feeling with you folks regarding to your situation.
There is a number of things that can be done that might
minimize this problem. For example. .hedges! I don't know
if you are familiar with the Naples Bath and Tennis Courts.
There is a similar situation with people living very close
to the courts. They have put in hedges creating an
acoustical barrier. I asked one the people living on that
live on the side there. They said that it is unbelievable
how this would keep the noise from coming through that's
one thing we can consider to do. As far as the lighting is
concern I am not an expert on lighting. There are other
gentlemen's that perhaps are. The lighting can be adjusted
so that there is a minimum glare. Things can be put on the
standard to facilitate that. Also I felt that perhaps with
the permission of the staffs the might be a way of
gradually reducing lighting. Say for an example this a
hypothetical example, in the evening, rather than have all
the lights going until 10:00 o'clock to begin to turn the
lights off in certain areas of the complex preferably near
where your home and then if people come after 8:30 p.m. or
9:00 p.m. they can use court closer to the street. Another
thing is that the hours might be shorten we can put more
emphasis on people not emphasis but not allowing people to
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play. The clay courts are needed very badly they are being
maximize now. People that are paying for membership, club
membership are going to the public courts over at Barfield
because there certainly not enough rooms.
The distance involve in your particular case will be the
same distance as that exist between the courts and the
condominiums on the Eastside. There will be a minimum of
50 ft. in addition. I really don't see were that would
present any acoustical problem. I think what I am trying
to tell you is that you have staff that is extremely
capable and the staff that I know from past experiences
I've been excused the word exposed to them for a number of
years that will work with you in any way possible to
minimize any problem that might have. I can assure you of
that. I live on Marco Island am at the tennis courts 4
days a week and one night. I am aware of what is happening
out there I will give you my card and any problems you
might have I welcome you to call me. I can assure you
there will be a response.
What we are trying to do is to work with you and try to
solve your problem.
Mr. Kawczak said that he is very impressed cause of the
spirit in which you (Mr. Mueller) approach the issue.
However, the direction in which you are going is not
encouraging to us. We are already in the present situation
while the distance is quite substantial the distance is now
100 ft. the distance will be closer for this it will be
about 70 feet. We still feel; we are both writers; we work
often in the night. We hear this noise enough now there is
no question that a proper hedge would someone what be
pleasing. I hardly believe if there would a be distance
170 feet reduce to 50 ft. that the hedge will solve the
problem. The other issue is the hours is a very serious
problem because there is no control. The courts are open
24 hours.
Mr. Mueller; Oh really!
Mr. Kawczak responded, yes! yes! yes! Unfortunately, that
is one of the most unfortunate things there. There is
access to the courts 24 hours. Now in certain hours there
are those who are supervise, in other hours there are no
supervision and people come in the early hours. Now we are
someone surprise but I understand that various people
respond differently to the constant noise. There is no
reason for us to be dishonest or to create an artificial
situation. You (Mr. Gil Mueller) might have spoken to some
other people than the ones we spoke to. For an example we
spoke to the people in our area in the southern part.
Mr. Mueller, oh, oh, all the way to the through the
trees oh okay.
A map which was created by Joe Braet 7 years ago were
shown.
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Mr. Braet, this is the area we are talking about, this is
were the tennis area is located. These people here for
years have complain to Mr. Braet regarding the lights much
less the noise because this is a drawing I made up several
years ago. We put this honey suckle wall here and to plant
it high enough so that we can take away the lighting. For
some reason your light shine side ways. The whole back of
the building is light up like a Christmas tree.
Mr. Mueller we are aware of that.
Mr. Murdo Smith responded that the reason for that is
because those are old lights. When they were put in they
were on an angle. The two new play courts that we put in
the lights are tilted so you don't' get as much lighting.
Mr. Braet we did not plant this area here (pointing to map)
we planted along here because there was some very thick
hedges there and the County have all these Australian pines
in this area here.
Mr. Mueller responded and said to Mr. Braet that he is glad
that he clarify that. The people he spoke to were along
here (pointing to map) . I did speak to a few people that
are members of Marco Tennis Center but they live over here
(pointing at map) .
Mr. Kawczak this is what came from our investigation. The
people are particularly concern are located here (map)
there are 8 town house. It would be minimum of 50 feet.
we measured it, and according to our measurement its
exactly 50 feet. This is the North side and this is the
south side. The south side of our condos is exposed to the
sun through out the day. We try to live with as much as we
can. The condos in this area are really, very
uncomfortable. Now we also spoke with some people here not
all. We heard that one said that one can adjust themselves
with this. We later found out that the gentleman had a
problem with his hearing. We are not yet in this
situation.
Mr. Jim Monarch move out because he find it impossible to
live. I am saying all this to point out that the result
of your investigation go to somewhat different direction
than what we experience and what many of the folks we talk
to experience. Our conclusion goes to the direction that
if possible if there is a satisfactory solution without
extending this in the southern direction the racquet club;
If it would be possible that it should be seriously
considered.
Mr. Mueller said that he can assure Mr. Kawczak that it is
being seriously consider. Certainly by staff and I know
that it would be considered by this board (PARAB) . In my
survey I conducted with the 7 people I have met not one of
them voice a complaint. Other than one man says they use
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to start at 7:30 a.m. I think that that has been
corrected that's all that I have found. I dont' understand
why you feel that it would be such an annoyance for you.
May I say something (Mrs. Kawczak) . . Well I think all those
of those people on that side sign a petition complaining
about the noise. I find it very hard contesting these but
three of out of those people are renters and they work and
are out all day. They are not particularly concern.
What percentage of people (Mr. Mueller) town houses are
expose to this?
Mr. Kawczak answered that there are 8 town houses.
Mr. Mueller maybe I'm not reading this drawing correctly I
can only see 5 condos.
Mr. Braet pointed out that there are 6 condos and 6 town
houses on each side,, clAAti U o.. O-i.t ,, 4)A/tip
Mr. Mueller said that as Mr. Smith pointed out that there /
the lights that are ajacent
VI. REPORTS/UPDATES
a.
VII. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. Motion by Max Hasse to
adjourn. Seconded by Patricia Goodnight. Passed 5/0.
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