06/01/2009
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
June 1, 2009
Present: Frank Hibbard - Chair/CRA Trustee, George N. Cretekos - CRA Trustee, John
Doran - CRA Trustee, Paul Gibson - CRA Trustee, and Carlen Petersen -
CRA Trustee.
Also William B. Horne II - City Manager, Rod Irwin - Assistant City Manager/CRA
present: Executive Director, Jill S. Silverboard - Assistant City Manager, Pamela K.
Akin - City Attorney, Cynthia E. Goudeau - City Clerk, and Rosemarie Call -
Management Analyst.
1. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:13 a.m. at City Hall.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the March 30, 2009 CRA Meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Petersen moved to approve the minutes of the March 30, 2009 CRA Meeting as
submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and
passed unanimously.
3. CRA Items
3.1 Approve a Development Agreement between the CRA and Rule LLP of
Clearwater, Florida, concerning the Bellinis Casanova project, 811 Cleveland
Street, delineating the terms and conditions for the provision of certain economic
assistance by the CRA.
Rule LLP is developing the “Bellini’s ‘Casanova’” project located at 811 Cleveland
Street (former Fiore’s Restaurant). The Project is a full renovation and expansion,
with outdoor dining, of the existing structure to create a full-service, 5835 sq. ft.
fine dining restaurant with valet parking. Flexible Development Approval was
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issued by the Community Development Board (CDB) on May 16, 2009 to permit
development of the Project.
This agreement provides CRA payment of certain development and equipment
costs for the project, reimbursement to the owner for the cost of utility
undergrounding across the public right-of-way as well as on the project site to
maximize development potential and facilitate redevelopment, and payment of
building permit fees for the project.
The purpose of this Development Agreement is to secure economic assistance
through the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to increase the economic
feasibility of a project which supports the implementation of the City of
Clearwater’s “District Vision” for the revitalization of the CRA area, and to further
the implementation of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan by the development
and construction and operation of the Project to enhance the quality of life,
increase employment and improve the aesthetic and useful enjoyment of the
downtown.
CRA staff has been working with the owner of the property to incentivize a full-
service restaurant into the Fiore’s building, via CRA assistance that would
generally "mirror" Cleveland Street District incentive programs and the DDB
Restaurant Relocation Program, but also including some more traditional CRA
commercial redevelopment incentives:
$ 85,000 for restaurant build-out and/or permanent fixtures ;
$ 43,500 for utility undergrounding, across Myrtle Avenue and the Site, by
Progress Energy/Verizon/developer, as a site redevelopment preparation cost;
$ 15,000 for facade Improvements to insure a "unified "architectural treatment on
the entire development;
$ 3,500 to pay building permit fees;
$3,000 for outdoor furniture grant.
Due to the location of the property just beyond the "edge" of the area where
our Cleveland Street District incentives are available, but also because quality
redevelopment of this strategic corner with high quality restaurants is consistent
with and facilitative of our downtown retail/restaurant strategy, staff believes it is
appropriate for the CRA to incentivize this type of project from the Redevelopment
Fund. The current project is one phase of a planned, coordinated redevelopment
of the block, with the first phase including the Café Supreme/Avis project.
The incentives are intended to be consistent with the restaurant recruitment and
facade improvements in the Cleveland Street District, with two exceptions: 1) The
DDB program limits the build-out grant to $50,000, but the size (6,000 +/- sq. ft.
compared to the average 2,500 sq. ft. restaurant in the CSD) and extent of
investment in the project (+/- $1.5 M) indicates a higher dollar participation is
appropriate in this case 2) the utility undergrounding and reimbursement of
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building permit fees are a normal CRA redevelopment site preparation and
incentive expenses.
Additionally, the ability of the owner to self fund and move forward with the project
at this time of economic downturn---with the assistance delineated above---is very
helpful to our redevelopment momentum and is another reason to support our
investment.
The incentives are to be structured as a five-year "forgivable" loan, secured with a
performance mortgage, with 20 % "forgiven" annually as long as the property
continues to be used as a full-service, white tablecloth restaurant. If it ceases to
be so operated during the five-year period, the owner would have to reimburse the
CRA for the outstanding balance. Similarly, if the property was sold during the
five-year period, the outstanding balance would become due and payable to the
CRA, unless the CRA agreed to the assumption of the development agreement by
the new owner. The source of funds would be the CRA Redevelopment Fund.
A concept rendering and site plan is attached to the Development Agreement and
is for your information/ use. The design is to be as an exhibit to the agreement.
The Development Agreement requires that any substantive change to the design
or site plan is to be subject to CRA approval.
In response to questions, CRA Executive Director Rod Irwin said the utility
undergrounding is for the entire block. Rule LLP is investing $1.6 million in
redeveloping this critical parcel in the CRA.
Developer Elias Louis Leousis said the site plan incorporates an outdoor terrace. The
project envisions a café style environment with limited outdoor seating on Cleveland
Street, which will be driven by demand. The original plan did include planters
encroaching the sidewalk but were no longer part of the site plan. Corrected renderings
will be provided.
Concerns were expressed regarding the 5-foot walkway requirement on the other side
of Myrtle Avenue. It was stated that future outdoor seating must meet requirements as
stated in ordinance at that time. Mr. Irwin said most of the business will take place
after 4:30 p.m. and that parking spaces at the Municipal Services Building (MSB),
Station Square, and Garden Avenue garages would be available as flex space. It was
stated that a permit to use parking at MSB, Station Square and Garden Avenue for valet
would not be needed if used after hours. Liability above what is required is not needed.
Mr. Leousis said the restaurant is expected to open before the holidays and will seat
200-250 individuals. Rule LLP will pay for undergrounding costs that exceed $43,500.
There will be an entrance on Cleveland Street and on the side.
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In response to questions, Planning Director Michael Delk said to achieve an urban
environment, there are no setbacks in downtown. The valet drop-off point will initially be
in the rear.
Trustee Doran moved to approve a Development Agreement between the CRA and
Rule LLP of Clearwater, Florida, concerning the Bellinis Casanova project, 811
Cleveland Street, delineating the terms and conditions for the provision of certain
economic assistance by the CRA. The motion was duly seconded and passed
unanimously.
4. Other Business - None.
5. Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
J~~
Chair
Community Redevelopment Agency
Attest
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