CCPC Minutes 02/05/2009 R
February 5, 2009
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Naples, Florida, February 5, 2009
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Planning
Commission, in and for the County of Collier, having conducted
business herein, met on this date at 8:30 a.m. in REGULAR SESSION
in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida,
with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Mark Strain
Karen Homiak
Donna Reed-Caron
Tor Kolflat
Paul Midney
Bob Murray
Brad Schiffer
Robert Vigliotti
David 1. Wolfley (Absent)
ALSO PRESENT:
Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney
Joseph Schmitt, CDES, Administrator
Ray Bellows, Zoning & Land Development Review
Page 1
AGENDA
Revised
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET A l' 8:30 A.M., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2009, IN THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ROOM, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, COUNTY
GOVERNMENT CENTER, 3301 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST, NAPLES, FLORIDA:
NOTE: INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO 5 MINUTES ON ANY
ITEM. INDIVIDUALS SELECTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN
ORGANIZATION OR GROUP ARE ENCOURAGED AND MAY BE ALLOTTED 10
MINUTES TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM IF SO RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
PERSONS WISHING TO HAVE WRITTEN OR GRAPHIC MATERJALS INCLUDED
IN THE CCPC AGENDA PACKETS MUST SUBMIT SAID MATERIAL A MINIMUM
OF 10 DAYS PRlOR TO THE RESPECTIVE PUBLIC HEARJNG. IN ANY CASE,
WRJTTEN MATERJALS INTENDED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CCPC SHALL
BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY STAFF A MINIMUM OF
SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL MATERIAL USED IN
PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE CCPC WILL BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF
THE RECORD AND WILL BE A V AILABLE FOR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IF APPLICABLE.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THE CCPC WILL
NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO, AND
THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE
PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND
EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
3. ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
4. PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENCES
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ~ DECEMBER 18, 2008, REGULAR MEETING
6. BCC REPORT- RECAPS - DECEMBER 16,2008, REGULAR MEETING
7. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
8. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
A. CPSP-2008-6, A staff initiated petition amending the Capital Improvement Element of the Collier County
Growth Management PIau to incorporate updates based on the 2008 Annual Update and Inventory Report on
Public Facilities (AUIR), the 2008 Water and Wastewater Master Plans, and additional staff analysis,
including updates to the 5-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements (for Fiscal Years 2009 - 2013) and
the Schedule of Capital Improvements for Future 5- Year Period (for Fiscal Years 2014 - 2018).
[Coordinator: Corby Schmidt, AICP, Principal Planner] [ADOPTJON HEARING - Consent)
B. CPSP-2007-6, A petition requesting an amendment to the Potable Water Sub-Element of tbe Public
Facilities_Element of the Collier County Growth Management Plan to amend Policy 1.7 to add a reference
to, and incorporate, the County's '~Ten-year Water Supply Facilities Work Plan." [Coordinator: Carolina
Valera, Principal Planner] [ADOPTION HEARING - Consent)
1
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Petition: SV-2008-AR-13618, CUM Naples Hotel Partners, LLC, is requesting three sign variances to
allow two wall signs for Spring Hill Suites, and one directional monument sign to serve as both an on-
premises sign for Spring Hill Suites and an off-premises sign for Fairfield Inn. The first variance is from
Section 5.06.04.CA. of the Land Development Code (LDC), which requires that one wall sign shall be
permitted for each single-occupancy parcel, to allow two wall signs. The second variance is from Section
5.06.04.C.16.b.i. of the LDC, which allows a maximum sign area of 12 square feet for an off-premise
directional sign, to allow a 35.5T square foot off-premise sign. The third variance is from Section
5.06.04.C.16.b.ii. of the LDC, which allows a maximum sign height of 8 feet above the lowest center grade of
the arterial roadway for an off-premise directional sign, to allow a maximum sign height of 12 feet. The
subject property is located at 3798 White Lake Boulevard, in Section 35, Township 49 South, Range 26
East, Collier County, Florida. (Coordinator: Nancy Gundlach, AICP)
B. Petition: PUDZ-2007-AR- 11320, Sembler Family Partnership #42, represented by Robert Mulliere, AICP
of R W A, Inc and R. Bruce Anderson, Esquire, of Roetzel and Andress, requesting a rezoning from Rural
Agriculture (A) zoning to Mixed-Use Planned Unit Development (MPUD) to be known as McMullen
M PUD. The 19.32 acres Rural Agricultural zoned site is proposed to permit a mixed-use development. The
rezoning petition allows for a maximum of 122,000 square feet of medical office and medical support
facilities, and up to 48 multi-family dwelling units, with allowances for modifications of commercial activates
and residential uses for additional permitted commercial uses. In no case shall the commercial square footage
exceed 185,000 square feet. The subject property is generally located one- half mile east of Collier
Boulevard (CR 951) on Rattlesnake-Hammock Road Extension, the south one-half of the Southeast one-
quarter of the Southwest one-quarter of Section 14, Township 50 South, Range 26 East, Collier County,
Florida. (Coordinator: Nancy Gundlach, AICP) CONTINUED TO 3/5/09
10. OLD BUSINESS
II. NEW BUSINESS
12. PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM
13. DISCUSSION OF ADDENDA
14. ADJOURN
2-5-09 eepe AgendalRB/mk/sp
2
February 5, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to
the February 5th, 2009 Regular Meeting of the Collier County
Planning Commission.
If you'd please rise for Pledge of Allegiance.
(Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
Item #2
ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Will the secretary please take the roll
call.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Caron -- I'm
sorry, Commissioner Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Chairman Strain?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Vigliotti is
present.
Commissioner Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Here.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Commissioner Wolfley is
absent.
Commissioner Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Here.
Page 2
February 5, 2009
Item #3
ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that, we'll look at addenda to
the agenda.
Some of you may have gotten an e-mail that today's one item,
which is the CHM -- Naples Hotel Partners, LLC was on and then off
and then on and off. But it is on. I guess they're going to go with the
advertised distance, and that's the distance that apparently is reflected
in our packet. So we're good to go.
The second petition, the Sembler Family Partnership, Number
42, McMullen MPUD, has been continued to March 5th of'09.
We have a couple items we'll go through in chairman's report.
And this meeting, when it is over, we will -- no, no, Catherine, not
now, but you're one of the couple items.
MS. F ABACHER: I need to add to the agenda, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No problem. Once this meeting is over,
we'll adjourn and we'll reopen a continuation of the RLSA meeting
and we'll go from there.
But right now let's talk about the timing of the next RLSA
meeting. Today when we start up, we only will have a couple hours,
two to three hours. That is not going to be nearly enough time to finish
up. I've asked staff to look at the availability of the CDES room and
this room -- this room is booked solid, so that's kind of out of the
question -- but to finish up over at CDES where we started.
I asked them to exclude Mondays and Tuesdays as available
dates, because Mr. Midney has difficulties on those two days being
there. And I think it's important, since this is generally in his area, that
he is at least available as much as possible for those meetings.
What that has done has provided us with three dates after today
for the RLSA. And I'm telling you this now so that when we come to a
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February 5, 2009
motion to continue, we can have the dates kind of picked out.
February 20th is available. February 26th and February 27th --
no, I'm sorry, just -- Tom, it's just the 20th and 26th, is it not?
MR. GREENWOOD: We've identified in rooms 609-610 -- Tom
Greenwood, for the record.
We've identified in rooms 609-610 availability for the Planning
Commission, if you wish, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, the 20th
of February.
And the -- and again, looking at late week, the 26th of February,
all day is available.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, by 10:00 a.m., does that mean
there'll be another --
MR. GREENWOOD: There's going to be something else prior
to that, and I'm not real sure what it is at this point.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Would you have enough time to set the
room up?
MR. GREENWOOD: You may want to -- I'd have to check and
make sure.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Ms. Caron, did you have
something you wanted to mention?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Oh, I was just going to say the
26th is better for me, if we're jumping in here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I think we're going to need both,
and that's where I'm coming from. Based on the review process and
the little bit of time we have today, I don't think we'll get through all
of the GMP amendment part of it today alone.
And then I don't know about the rest of you, but I have collected
over a page of questions that aren't related to any specific GMP item.
Then we have to go into deliberations and discussion on each
one of the policies that we feel need to be changed. And then we
finally can entertain a motion.
I don't want to lock us into having to cram all that into one day.
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February 5, 2009
And if we can get it done in one day, that's great. But I'd like to have
the two days reserved as a backup in case we can't finish it.
Mr. Midney, if we were to look on the 20th in the afternoon,
would that work better for you?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY : Yeah, I'll be there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That will give time to set the room up --
staff could set the room up.
Does that -- does the 20th starting at 1 :00 work for most
everybody here?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Sure.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Then the 26th, does everybody
feel comfortable with that date?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, so we'll-- Tom, if you could set
those aside, what we'll do is during the discussion we'll make a motion
to continue then to one of those dates.
MR. GREENWOOD: I will do so.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
That takes care of the addenda to the agenda on that item.
Our next regular meeting is February 19th. Does anybody know
if they are not going to be here on the 19th?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we'll have a quorum. That's going
to have a little bit busier schedule than todays.
Then the -- that's the last item on the addenda to the agenda.
Item #5
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 18, 2008, REGULAR
MEETING
We'll go to approval of minutes. Our regular meeting minutes
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February 5, 2009
from December 18th.
Is there a motion to either modify or recommend approval?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved to approve.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Vigliotti made a motion to approve.
Is there a second?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you. Ms. Homiak seconded the
discussion.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
Ray, the BCC report recaps. Anything you want to add?
MR. BELLOWS: I have nothing for today.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
Item #7
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
And then Chairman's Report. There are two things. A letter with
five pages, I think, of attachments, including kind of like a petition. I
don't know if it's an official -- yeah, it is, petition for the denial of
rezoning known as Heavenly MPUD, along with two pages of letters
Page 6
February 5, 2009
from people on the Heavenly PUD was sent to this building for some
reason.
Ray, I'll turn it into you for the record, as regards to distribution.
It needs to be included in packets on the Heavenly PUD or --
MR. BELLOWS: Correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- sent out to us in some manner. So
before the days over I'll make sure you get this and it gets distributed.
MR. BELLOWS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Then the other item on today's
chairman's report. Catherine has a brief discussion on some lingering
issues she has been badgering us about for a while.
Come on up, Catherine.
MS. F ABACHER: Thank you, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think it's a sign code, right?
MS. FABACHER: Exactly.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We've been putting that on and off. I'm
not sure where we're at with it, but thank you.
MS. FABACHER: Okay.
You all must be glad to see me. I haven't bothered you in a long
time.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, I feel neglected.
MS. FABACHER: Well, you won't be now.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Is this fluorescent color illegal?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Not on the design.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Guys, be careful. Everything's on
record. So as you speak, it gets typed as best it can.
MS. FABACHER: Okay, ready for me to begin, Mr. Chair?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes, go right ahead.
MS. FABACHER: Okay. What we've given to you is the
preliminary draft of the sign code revisions. It's all in the memo here.
But just as a brief reminder, we were sued by Bonita Enterprises, Ltd.,
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February 5, 2009
because of that truck that came through town. We went to court on
that case.
As part of the settle -- the court declared sections of the sign
code unconstitutional. And part of the settlement agreement was for us
to take those out.
And I might add, if we don't, then we become liable again to be
-- we could be sued again.
The hard part that you're going to have is in advising the BCC.
Because to make this document content neutral -- you'll see when you
read the articles in here what these terms mean. But to make it content
neutral, speaker neutral, have no prior restraints and not be over broad,
we have a very vague thing, and it could be that anybody could put
anything on any sign, essentially. Under the First Amendment, that's
allowed.
I will have presentation for you in two weeks, along with the
final -- we're just making a few tweaks. But I will have a full
presentation on it.
But I thought for now I have the new revision in here, along with
a copy of the current sign code that's from supplement five, which is
in-house being proofed right now, so we're almost caught up on the
LDC.
And I've also put in a couple articles by -- I put the lawsuit in
here. I put in several articles too by Dr. Mandelker, who is our
recognized constitutional scholar. And then a couple other articles
from other persuasions. Some came from a book put out by the sign
industry. But it all addresses the legal issues and constraints. And this
is one of the most litigated issues in land use law is signage and the
free speech. So it's going to be a tough one, but I know the board -- it's
scary to loosen the controls. So what you have to do is weigh the risk
you take of losing control of what goes on the signs versus how safe
you are against being sued again. Because I think we have a very large
settlement we've paid out already, and we could be sued again.
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February 5, 2009
But there's going to have to be a balancing act. And at some
point -- and I know the board is going recommend -- I mean is going
to depend entirely on your recommendations. But at some point we
have to feel like we can protect ourselves but not to such an extent that
we put ourselves in harm's way legally again.
So in two weeks we will give you the final -- just a little
tweaking. And later this week I hope to send you the strike-through
and underscore version, which is very lengthy, and we had to stop
working on it because it was so difficult, and worked on the clean
copy. Now we're having it, you know, put into the ordinance form for
you all.
So if you have any questions at all in the next two weeks or
something, please e-mail me and let me know. Because it's a work in
progress. And if you can let me know ahead of time, I can get with Dr.
Mandelker and we can work on those issues that you find. But we
would very much appreciate your help on this.
One final thing is, we have not made any substantive changes in
the sense of -- we are allowed to talk about the size of signs, the
location of signs, the placement of signs, the number of signs. We're
allowed to do that. We have not changed any of those things from the
regular code. All we've done is tried to take out the content-based,
speaker-based, prior restraint issues. So good luck.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Brad, did you have a question?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I did, but she actually answered
it.
MS. F ABACHER: And also, Dr. Mandelker will be here. We
have set the dates for the first public hearing, or possibly only public
hearing, for March 2nd and 3rd, it's on the cover there, when the
public meetings will be held here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Klatzkow, in the litigation or the
court case that resulted in some kind of settlement, did we provide a
defense or was that just a -- never got to court, never got to trial? Was
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February 5, 2009
it mediated? How did it --
MR. KLATZKOW: Oh, no, we defended it and we duly got our
heads handed to us.
As Catherine said, this is a balancing act. I can give you a sign
ordinance that's 100 percent safe against any legal attack and we'll
look like Las Vegas, and we don't want that. Any so retreat from that
is opening you up to a little bit of attack.
So it's a balancing. You know, it's going to be a little bit of risk
here, but if you want to maintain the standards of the community,
that's what you do.
This isn't like real property law or the law involving, you know,
wills and estates, which has been the same for centuries. This changes
every year. And it's really in the eye of the beholder.
And the fact of the matter is, our sign ordinance would have
been upheld through most parts of this country. The part of the
country we live in, we have a court up in Atlanta that's very liberal
when it comes to this sort of issue. And it's what you deal with. And
the Supreme Court's never really definitively ruled on the issue. One
case that came to them, they split 4-4 on. And it's quite frankly an area
of the law that's constantly evolving. And it's in the eye of the
beholder.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, where I was going with my
question, my part of the request on whether or not we had a defense, I
assumed there was, it was just what was in it, meaning if you had case
law citation in the defense, is there a possibility that we could have a
link to that case law so we could review it, if need be?
MR. KLATZKOW: If you'd like, yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I mean, is it Westlaw? Or if you could
just provide the citation.
MR. KLATZKOW: Well, I can provide you with the opinion
that the court gave, if you want that. That's really --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think if we haven't got that -- I know
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February 5,2009
I've seen --
MR. KLATZKOW: If you want to see our briefs, I can get you a
copy of our briefs as well.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Would you mind? That would be
helpful.
MR. KLA TZKOW: Don't mind at all.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Jeff, how much did it cost us to
settle the lawsuit?
MR. KLATZKOW: I don't have the number off the top of my
head, but it wasn't cheap.
MS. F ABACHER: Excuse me.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Catherine?
MS. FABACHER: Mr. Chair, I wanted to add, though, that, you
know, Jeff has really given you some good background, but Jeff
Wright could probably get the case law that you want, because he's the
one who's worked on this thing.
MR. KLATZKOW: Catherine, I think I could do that too.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, I think the County Attorney can
do that, too, Catherine.
MS. FABACHER: I understand, Ijust--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I'd rather go to the source, so if you
don't mind, that's all taken care of.
MS. FABACHER: I'm trying to take it easy on him, not throw
him under the bus.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, nobody was. I was simply looking
for additional backup that we may want to review to understand better
what we can and can't do.
MS. FABACHER: Absolutely.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Nobody was throwing anybody under
the bus. In fact, I have the highest regard for our County Attorney, he's
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February 5, 2009
done an excellent job. It's just a matter of --
MS. FABACHER: For both of us.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Huh?
MS. FABACHER: You have the highest regard for both of us.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes.
So Catherine, with that, is there anything else?
MS. F ABACHER: No, that's it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
MS. F ABACHER: Thank you.
Item #8A
PETETION: CPSP-2008-6, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Let's move on to consent agenda items.
The first one is CPSP-2008-6. It's the Capital Improvement
Element that we heard before. Anybody have any concerns, questions
or whatever? If not, is there a motion to approve that consent agenda
item?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So moved.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray, Seconded by Mr. Vigliotti.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
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February 5, 2009
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
Item #8B
PETITION: CPSP-2007-6; POTABLE WATER SUB-ELEMENT
The second consent item is CPSP-2007-6, the lO-year water
supply facility's work plan.
Is there any discussion or is there a motion to recommend the
approval of that consent item?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I'll move that item as well.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray's made--
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- the motion, second by Mr. Vigliotti.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLAT: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries.
Both of those are 8-0.
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February 5, 2009
Item #9A
PETITION: SV-2008-AR-13618; CHM NAPLES HOTEL
PARTNERS, LLC
Now, into our first and only advertised public hearing for today.
Petitions SV-2008-AR-l36l8, the CHM Naples Hotel Partners, LLC,
requesting three sign variances to allow two wall signs at the Spring
Hill Suites.
All those wishing to participate in this item, please rise to be
sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any disclosures on the part of
the Planning Commission?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, hearing none, we'll move forward
with the applicant's presentation.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Morning.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You need to say your name for the
record, if you could.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Sure. My name is Mike Bou-Sliman. I am
the managing partner for CHM Naples Hotel Partners, and obviously
representing the property at this time.
We have two lots here, lots 15 and 16, that we were constructing
two hotels on, actually. There's a Spring Hill Suites, which we just
recently opened, and Fairfield Inn and Suites that we're under
construction on right next door, so we control both parcels.
What we are asking for, it's really pretty simple. We've got --
we've already been permitted for the one sign that's on the building
facing west, which faces 951, Collier Boulevard. And we currently
have been permitted for the monument sign, which has just the Spring
Hill Suites logo on it.
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February 5, 2009
What we desperately need because of this location is a sign on
the south side of the building facing the interstate. These hotels, both
of them, are what we call limited service properties. And we depend
about 35 to 40 percent of our business on drive-by traffic. So signage
is very critical to us to be able to bring people in off the freeway
and/or going up and down the roadway to occupy our building.
With the current sign that we have on the building and with the
additional wall sign we're asking for, the building is 61,000 square
feet. We still actually fall below the maximum allowable square
footage, which I believe is 250 square feet. So even between the two
signs, we're still below your maximum allowable square footage. So
we've reduced the size of those signs so we comply with that.
We do not have, you know, any residential around it us. It's all
commerciallindustrial. So I don't -- feel very confident the sign doesn't
present any problems for anybody in the neighborhood.
Our neighboring properties, I'll just add, across the highway, the
Comfort Inn and the Super Eight, which obviously have been there for
a little while, both have the two signs on their buildings. And I've got
documentation for that, if you'd like it.
And also, there's another hotel along the freeway up on Pine
Ridge, the Best Western, which only has single street frontage, and
that also has two signs also.
So, you know, it's basically, you know, critical for hotels of our
nature to be able to have that sign so people can view us and find our
hotel.
The second part to it is simply an entry sign. The Fairfield,
which is under construction right now, sets back off the road a little
ways, and we have one single entry drive. If you look at your site plan
you'll see we have one single entry drive that's going to service both
properties. So we're just asking that the entry sign for the Fairfield just
be placed with the Spring Hill sign, since it's out at the road front.
The Fairfield one actually, you know, if we were -- if we were to
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February 5, 2009
put it at the entry of the Fairfield, it basically serves no purpose.
Because once they're in the drive, they know where they're at.
So that's kind of the general summary.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Are there questions of the
applicant?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I do.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: On your new site, are you going
to have any signage on that up on, what is it, the --
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Fairfield?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- white -- yeah, going into
there.
What's going to be for signage on the new site where you're
going to have the Fairfield?
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: There'll just be a building sign, one
building sign, facing Collier Boulevard, which would be the west side
of the building.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So people coming off of
Collier making that turn on the trail, you're not going to have anything
on that corner pointing them down towards your access drive?
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow where
you're talking about. Like on -- off of Collier Boulevard?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. You come off of Collier,
I forget the name. It's --
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Oh, City Gate Boulevard?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: City Gate. And you're going to
go down City Gate for a little bit and then you're going to make --
head south on White. So nothing's planned for that corner?
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Not out by City Gate and Collier
Boulevard, no. No, we have no signage out there. That of course is not
our property. And we've asked the developer ifhe would try and do
something out there but, you know, nothing has been proposed or
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February 5, 2009
planned at this time.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But that -- in other words, I'm
talking about the corner of your property where you're building the
Fairfield Inn. It would be the northwest corner.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: No, actually -- you're talking about the
northwest corner of lot 15, which would be the Fairfield site?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Correct.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: No, there's nothing that's going to front the
street. We've actually just been approved recently for lots. But the
front portion of the Fairfield is actually going to be a separate parcel,
or actually is now a separate parcel. It's just a one-acre out-parcel. So
yeah, there's nothing else proposed for there.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. Then the other question
is the south sign, the one facing 75, it kind oflooks a little crowded on
that facade. In other words, I know you need a larger sign because you
have a greater distance, but --
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: To the contrary, there's an off -- that's a
pretty big facade. It probably --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm actually thinking of the
pediment that it's actually mounted on. I know the total length ofthe
building is quite large, but --
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Yeah, are you looking at the sketch that --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: -- that was in the enclosures?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: In other words, the one on the
west side kind of balances nice. This one looks like it's crowding. To
me anyway. I mean, it's an aesthetic issue.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Right. I--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Do you need it to be that big, or
maybe position it slightly lower or something to --
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Yeah, I would tell you now looking at
that, I'm not sure that's a real good representation of how it -- you
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February 5, 2009
know, scaled, you know, versus the actual facade.
Let me -- Nancy, do you have that one photo I sent you where he
did scale it right on the building?
MS. GUNDLACH: Let me check it for you.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: We did actually have the sign company
scale it on an actual photograph of the building.
No, it's an actual color photograph of the building. Give me one
second, I think I've got it in my file.
This is a shot of the actual physical building. I believe, and I
apologize to you that -- yeah, the sketch that you have, you know,
showing a 32-foot total width of that sign, the width of that parapet
wall, as we call it is, you know, probably 50 foot in width, and has a
height of -- I would say of at least 11 feet.
So the sign letters themselves are only -- they're two-foot ten,
which is 34 inches is the tallest letter. And 34 inches against 11 feet is
-- you know, I think it will -- aesthetically it will fit in there pretty -- I
mean, it will look quite uniform.
But in answer to your question, if you'd like it to be a little bit
smaller, I don't have any problem with making it a little bit smaller, as
long as we've got something on there, I think it'll get seen.
We can go to a 24-inch letter, which would cut it down. A 24 or
even a 30-inch letter.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I mean, the point is the one on
the east is proportioned fine.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Right.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: This one is out of -- so what
you're saying, that the total impediment up at the top is how much
feet, you say?
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: If you look -- you see the top row of
windows --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes.
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: -- which is the fourth story. If you go from
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February 5, 2009
even that EIFS above that to the top of that peak, it's easily 11 foot. It
means, I could get you the actual dimensions, but --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: The width is what I'm looking --
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: The width I would tell you, is at minimum
50 feet.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. All right. Then it will
probably fit. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other questions?
Mr. Kolflat?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Are these signs lit?
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: I'm sorry?
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Are these signs lighted?
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: Yes, sir.
But it's not a -- I will tell you, it's not a -- they're very subdued
lighting. It's not a neon type of any nature of that where it's glaring.
It's just straight back lighting.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any other questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do you have any problems with the
recommendations by county staff?
MR. BOU-SLIMAN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Hearing no other questions, we'll
ask for the county staff presentation. Thank you.
MS. GUNDLACH: Good morning, Commissioners. I'm Nancy
Gundlach, Principal Planner with Zoning and Land Development
Review.
And staff is recommending approval of this Spring Hill sign
variance. And it is subjected to three conditions of approval. And one
of -- the second one is slightly going to change, but I will begin with
the first one.
The first condition of approval is that the second wall sign, that's
the one on the south side that we were just discussing, will be located
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February 5, 2009
on the southern building facade.
The second condition of approval, which is changing slightly, is
that the directional monument sign shall be limited to 35.5 square feet,
not 44. 35.5 is the size that was advertised.
And the third condition of approval is that the directional
monument sign height will be limited to l2 feet.
And I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any questions of staff? Mr. Schiffer,
then Ms. Caron.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Nancy, recommendation one,
after going through the hearing and what they present us, is there any
way they could move that sign someplace else but where they're
showing it?
MS. GUNDLACH: That sign is going -- if you look at that
elevation of the building --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right.
MS. GUNDLACH: -- and you see the white area, that's where
they're proposing the sign on -- they need the south on the south
facade to face I - 7 5.
Mr. Bou-Sliman had offered to make that sign slightly smaller, if
it's the proportions that are kind of bothersome. He is willing to do
that.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: My question is --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, I don't think that's the question.
MS. GUNDLACH: Oh, what's --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, go ahead, Brad.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: The question is it's on the
southern facade. I mean, is the intent allowing him so that that sign
can wander around on the facade, or is it to -- in other words, why are
we saying that? Because this is where we're expecting it to be, exactly
there.
MS. GUNDLACH: There is -- okay, I'm going to back up a little
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February 5, 2009
bit and share with you the code requirements.
This hotel is allowed to have one wall sign. And currently there
is one that exists on the western facade. And the request is of course to
have this one on the southern facade so they can get their visibility
from I-75.
So I'm not quite sure if that answers your question. It's just
simply where they desire for it to be. They feel that there's --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: My concern is does
recommendation one give them the ability to move it anywhere they
want on the southern facade? In other words, why don't we just strike
recommendation one. I can't see any advantage to it. I can't see -- I
mean, he wants it there. That's the only prominent spot on the
building. Why would we need that at all?
MS. GUNDLACH: Okay, I see your point.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But the concern is that if we
leave that in there, he has the right to let it wander all over that facade.
MR. SCHMITT: Can I -- for the record, are you just
recommending that for number one we cite specially as showing on
the referenced drawing?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. I mean, wouldn't that --
MR. SCHMITT: The second wall sign, Sign B, shall be located
on the southern building facade as displayed on figure one or
whatever.
So it specifically cites where it would go on the building. That's
what you're looking for?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I think my confusion comes in
is that the applicant has an application. He shows, you know,
documents showing where he wants to put the sign.
MR. SCHMITT: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Why would our
recommendation have to say that he has to put the sign as per the
application? I mean, doesn't that go without saying?
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February 5,2009
MR. BELLOWS: For the record, Ray Bellows.
I think the intent is that sometimes the provision is subj ect to the
encroachment or variance as depicted on the illustration.
In this case we'd make this an exhibit to the resolution. That
would lock it in the location. I think that was the intent of that
stipulation.
But I agree with you, it should be more specific as to this
graphic.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So in your recommendation one, we'd
reference the graphic in some manner or form when it comes back for
consent.
MS. GUNDLACH: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, we are -- in number two
we're now changing the size of that sign to go with the advertising.
Do you have administrative authority to increase the size of that
sign anyway?
MS. GUNDLACH: We don't.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Okay, thank you. That's good.
MS. GUNDLACH: I wish we could, but we don't.
COMMISSIONER CARON: That's good. So 35.5 means 35.5.
MS. GUNDLACH: Yes.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Thank you, that's a good thing.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Thank you, Nancy.
MS. GUNDLACH: You're welcome.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any public requests?
MS. BELPEDIO: No one has registered.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that we'll close the public
hearing and entertain a motion.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll make a motion.
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February 5, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I recommend we move Petition
SV-2008-AR-13618 with a recommendation of approval as per the
staff recommendations as amended today.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, motion's been made and
seconded. Just so we're clear in the staff recommendations, because it
has to come back on consent. And number one on the
recommendation, there will be a reference to the graphic that's been
provided to us in some manner so that we lock it in. And number two,
the 44 will be changed to 35.5.
Were there any other changes to the recommendations from staff
that we missed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, with that in mind, all those in
favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries 8-0.
Thank you. And with that, we will need to entertain a motion to
adjourn, because we advertised the continuation for 9:30. So we're
going to have about 28 minutes in which we have to break and come
back. Is --
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
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February 5, 2009
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- there a motion to adjourn?
Mr. Vigliotti?
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Me.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER KOLFLA T: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
COMMISSIONER VIGLIOTTI: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, the meeting is adjourned. We'll
come back at 9:30 and resume a continuation of the RLSA meeting.
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February 5, 2009
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 9:03 a.m.
COLLIER COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION
MARK STRAIN, Chairman
These minutes approved by the board on
presented or as corrected
as
Transcript prepared on behalf of Gregory Reporting Service, Inc., by
Cherie' R. Nottingham.
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