2012-0920 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes:Regular City Commission Meeting September 20,2012 City of Sunny Isles Beach,Florida were disclosed: Mayor Edelcup, Vice Mayor Thaler, Commissioner Aelion, and Commissioner Gatto said that they individually spoke with Rabbi Alexander Kaller. Commissioner Scholl said he had Ex Parte communication with Rabbi Alexander Kaller and Neisen Kasdin, Esq. City Planner Claudia Hasbun reported noting that the Applicant is also requesting a parking variance of 55 parking spaces and a parking agreement of 26 off-site parking spaces which may be approved through Ordinance 9334 that allows for public parking bonuses which consists of a monetary contribution. The Applicant has submitted two designs: option 1 proposes to improve a portion of Bella Vista Bay Park with landscaped terraces and access stairs to the project, and option 2 does not include the use of Bella Vista Bay Park. Staff finds that the parking variance may justify to the nature of the uses with the project providing the Applicant enters into a parking agreement. However, staff considers that the baywalk easement area should be clear of any physical impediments. Therefore, City staff has no objections to the Applicant's request and the Applicant is generally consistent with the Land Development Regulations and the Comprehensive Plan. Public Speakers: Neisen O. Kasdin. Esq.; Rabbi Alexander Kaller;Jamie Shapiro,Architect; Julius Littman; Marianna Talalaevsky; Leib Kamishew; Sabena Beriy Neisen O. Kasdin,Esq.representing Chabad Lubavitch Russian Center of South Florida,Inc. reported and noted that Architect Jamie Shapiro will present the site plan. He said this is a unique use in the community located in the Town Center but this is truly a community facility. It will serve a large portion of the population of Sunny Isles Beach, most of the congregants reside in Sunny Isles Beach, and it is also a unique facility. It will have a place for worship as well as a Montessori style school,and a social hall for functions. It will serve as a community center for the congregants of this facility. It is also being built at a height much less than is allowed, it covers much less of the property than is permitted, and the overall building size is much less than permitted and is a facility with very low impact. Mr. Kasdin said this facility is only used on a limited basis, in that respect, the times of worship are on the Sabbath, Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon. There are functions perhaps on Saturday evening but during the rest of the week the facility will be relatively unused except for school and school activities. As a result,this is the genesis of the request for a parking variance, because while a religious facility is allowed, for a facility of this type the parking requirement of 98 spaces is far in excess of what an Orthodox Jewish Synagogue requires. There would only be one day out of the week with heavy use but even in that respect you will see that 60%of the congregants,because they are Orthodox,walk instead of using their cars. As a result, there is a much less need for parking then in a typical facility and as a result the imposition of the full parking requirement is a burden on this property. Although the initial hardship letter indicated that 26 spaces would be purchased from the City, it imposes a financial burden on this not-for-profit religious institution and as a result we are seeking a variance request for the full 76 spaces, 22 will be provided on site. Rabbi Alexander Kaller said ten (10) years ago he and his wife came to this City and started working with this community out of their living room in Poinciana Island. Over the last ten (10)years they have grown to over 700 people attending services on the High Holidays,and for that they go to a hotel. They also opened a Montessori Pre-School in a different location 6