2017-0216 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes:Regular City Commission Meeting January 19,2017 City of Sunny Isles Beach,Florida Mr.Kasdin proceeded to give a brief overview of the existing conditions of the property. He added that there's an existing apartment building with 335 units. The two(2)new buildings will be 190 feet tall with 127 units each. There will also be a parking structure that will replace the existing surface parking. There will be a total of 589 units,which will include 35 dedicated and required workforce housing units. The property is zoned high density and multi-family or RMF2, with an underlying land use of medium to high density residential. Because of the odd configuration of the property, narrowing as the property goes from west to east,this creates the need for the variances. As the City Planner stated,the variances that are being sought are the setbacks for the parking garage, setbacks for the porte cochere, which is the covered entrance for the automobiles, and a building separation variance. Section 265.34 D(6)(a)of the City's Code states that"When there are two or more towers on the same property, the building separation shall be a minimum of 50 feet between the towers." This project has a separation of 33 feet 7 inches at the narrowest point and 43 feet 9 inches at the corners,between the north tower and the parking garage.The parking garage,by virtue of its height at 80 feet, is considered a tower. This is what triggers the need for variance. It is not really a matter of the separation between two towers, rather a separation between the north tower and the parking garage. With respect to the parking garage setbacks, the applicant is requesting a side setback of approximately 13 feet 2 inches on the southern portion of the parking garage, which is on Kings Point Drive, where normally 25 feet are required; and also a side setback of approximately 16 feet 11 inches on the northern portion of the parking garage,the waterway side, where normally 25 feet are required. Each of the proposed buildings contain a porte cochere which encroaches at the side setback along Kings Point Drive. Although the proposed buildings are setback 25 feet, each porte cochere is proposed to be setback approximately 3 feet 2 inches. A porte cochere is a necessary element of a building to provide an area where vehicles can arrive at the building, people can be dropped off in a way that they're safe and protected from weather. Other properties throughout the City, including those in the RMF-2 district, have a porte cochere feature. Mr. Kasdin proceeded to summarize the project highlights, mentioning the dedication of 0.407 acres-of land fronting Collins Avenue for the purposes of continuing Intracoastal Park. He added that the bay walk along the perimeter of the property, on both the northern and southern portions,will provide a great public amenity and promenade. Workforce housing is also of significant importance. The City Code now provides specific regulations for how to provide workforce housing, and the property will be providing 35 units for an extended period of time as workforce housing units. The project will also be providing art in public places: 2 water features and 1 fountain at each of the new towers leading to the bay walk, 5 bougainvillea trellis sculptures, and approximately$135,000 of other art on the property,as well. The applicant may propose additional artwork on the site of approximately$365,000, or alternatively they will pay the remainder into the public art fund. Mr. Kasdin stated that, because this project has to be staged, the applicant is requesting a total of 36 months to obtain building permit. The first stage will be to build a parking garage 4