2014-1202 Special City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting November 20. 2014 City of Sunny Isles Beach. Florida David Plummer and Associations. Tim Plummer. President of the David Plummer and Associates. said that they met with staff and the City's Consultant to come up with a methodology for the Traffic Study and they looked at five (5) different intersections. This project with 194 hotel rooms and a 2.900 square foot restaurant is a fairly low generator of traffic. In both the a.m. and the p.m. peak hours, the net new trips for the project are about one a minute in- bound, and one every two minutes out - bound, it is about 85 two -way trips. They looked at Atlantic Boulevard as well with the valet situation and pickup drop -offs most of the traffic 90% will be coming in via Collins Avenue. They will have some exiting traffic that will use Atlantic Boulevard to go north on Atlantic to 178" to use the signal to make a left turn to go on to Collins Avenue. That is going to be about 18 or so in the peak hours. that is about one car every three minutes. and so it is a very, low generator of traffic on Atlantic Boulevard as well. They meet all the City standards and all the Comprehensive Plan issues. Cliff Schulman asked N11r. Plummer to analyze an alternative use for the property which is permitted by Zoning Code, and that would be an office use which is a similar type of usage taking place on the north side of City Hall. Tim Plummer showed the comparison and noted that they took a look at the different use if they had 110 square feet of office, and it is double the traffic volume in both the a.m. and the p.m. peak hours and so it is a significant change in traffic if it went with an office project, the peak hours period being 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.. and. 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mayor Edelcup opened the public hearing, and Tony Schneider of Avila Condominium representing its residents. said not one person was in agreement to alloy this project as the traffic would greatly impact the area. Luis D'Agostino of the Pinnacle handed out a public statement from the Pinnacle Association opposing this project. He said it would greatly impact traffic, it would eliminate egress and ingress in that area, and the left turn is impossible now as many cars are backed up there normally. Gloria Taft is also against this project; it is over powering with 18 stories, and way, too big for the area. We are already congested with traffic, and where is the quality of life. Howard Gordon said this reminds him of the Publix development. He likes the design but the project itself he is against. He doesn't want a concrete canyon on the west side. Mayor Edelcup closed the public hearing. Cliff Schulman noted for the record the gentleman mentioned parking for 194 rooms would be 194 cars, and he asked Robert Finvarb to report based on evidence to tell you what this type of hotel gets in the way of parking. Robert Finvarb said that they currently own and operate six (6) hotels in South Florida and their data shows about a 40% usage rate right now of parking spaces per hotel rooms. People are walking and biking, they are not driving. Commissioner Levin said the people using the cut through where the McDonalds is to drive through to Atlantic in back, that is private property, is that even permitted? She understands that there would not be an issue with the property owner to the north because you just recenth purchased that property. is that true, the NicDonald's parcel? Robert Finvarb said that is correct. Commissioner Levin said the easement for the two parcels, and Mr. Finvarb said it is on record right now and it will remain in place. Commissioner Levin said then that you control it basically. and Mr. Finvarb said that is correct. Commissioner Levin said you said you have a couple of meeting rooms but you don't have any ball rooms and so there will be no parties, events, etc. Mr. Finvarb said right, there are two meetings rooms that are 300 — 400 square feet. They accommodate 10 people each, there are no conference rooms. They can't have major events there. and he has actualh, agreed to a condition with staff to apply for a 9