03/10/1998DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 10, 1998
Present: William McCann Chair
Kathy Milam Vice Chair
Alex Plisko Board Member
Mark Cagni Board Member
Howard Hamilton Board Member
Kathy S. Rice Deputy City Manager
Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney
Don McCarty Design Planner
Gwen Legters Board Reporter
Absent: Robert Herberich Board Member
MacArthur Boykins (resigned) Board Member
The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. in City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance and review of board procedures followed.
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
Minutes Approval - January 13, 1998
Member Cagni moved to approve the minutes according to copies submitted in writing to each member by the Board Reporter. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Proposals for Design Review
1. DRB 98-002 Pinellas County General Services Building, Mike Mason, Architect
509 East Avenue South (Building, Landscaping and Pinellas Trail Artwork)
Mr. McCarty related background information for the Pinellas County Courthouse remodeling project. The current request is for board review of the exterior design package for the consolidated
General Services complex on property encompassed by East Avenue, Turner Street, Myrtle Avenue, and Chestnut Street.
The item was presented by Architect Mike Mason, Mason Blau and Associates, Inc., Pinellas County Director of Facilities Management John Houck, and Landscape Architect Phil Graham, Phil
Graham and Associates. Architectural site plan, landscaping plan, parking layout, and color elevation drawings were reviewed. Director John Houck said the plan to consolidate the County’s
General Services operations into one building increased the parking requirement for the site. He detailed locations of proposed onsite and offsite parking areas.
Architect Mike Mason said he worked with City staff and mural artist John Gerbach to design an exterior theme titled, “A Day at the Beach.” He illustrated the proposal for a full-color
mural in a tropical marine type motif. The mural would cover most of the western facade of the
two buildings fronting on East Avenue. The western elevation was chosen to enable maximum exposure of the mural along the Pinellas Trail route. The mural will not cover the area immediately
surrounding the main entrance, to allow for visual emphasis of the entryway. Texturized cement plaster panels in a four-foot square grid will cover the sides and back of the buildings.
The panels will be painted in four-foot-wide parallel bands, three colors pulled from the mural: cream, white, and teal. Lower level windows in the front are to be single hung, in
a dark brown color for compatibility with the deep tones in the mural. Completion of the mural is to be in two stages. The northerly portion of the mural will be accomplished with
funds acquired through a Downtown Development Board funding program. A separate funding source will need to be found for the southerly portion of the mural. It was indicated this two-stage
process will not detract from the mural’s appearance, as each section could stand alone. Mr. McCarty noted he has discussed mural funding with the City administration and investigation
of a second source is underway.
Landscape Architect Phil Graham said his challenge was to transform the bleak landscape with aesthetic, low maintenance vegetation reflecting a Florida style. He detailed his plan to
aesthetically connect the entire block with ornamental and flowering trees, cabbage palms, Canary Island date palms, sod, shrubbery, and planters. Perimeter landscaping will screen
parking and utility areas. A row of cabbage palms in the narrow green space along the front elevation and two specimen Canary Island date palms flanking the entrance will help visually
tie the facade with the rest of the site. Palms will be strategically placed along building pilasters, and will be tall enough that their foliage will not interfere with view of the
mural.
Mr. McCarty stated the applicants have cooperated with staff to create a design that consolidates the site and incorporates pedestrian areas, despite site constraints. Parking areas
were done tastefully. The proposed materials and designs are an improvement to the overall design. Staff highly recommended approval. No verbal or written support or opposition was
expressed.
In response to questions, it was indicated the combined facility will have about 90 to 95 employees. The completed project will have approximately 140 parking spaces. About 100 parking
spaces were shown on plans submitted with the application. About 40 more overflow parking spaces not shown on the plans will be provided offsite. No problems are anticipated from sharing
parking with Pinellas Trail users, as trail use is typically heavier after normal business hours. Directional and informational signage will be brought back as a separate design review
application. Concerns were expressed that no attempt was made to disguise the warehouse appearance of the southeasterly building. While the general landscaping plan was praised, it
was felt the planting materials proposed along Myrtle Avenue do not sufficiently soften the blank rear wall. Discussion ensued regarding the limited available planting area, and suitable
planting materials for augmenting the planned landscaping. The applicants agreed to revisit landscaping along the eastern elevation and submit a new sketch for board review. It was
understood a full presentation would not be needed at that time.
Concerns were expressed the three color horizontal paint scheme does not tie in with the mural and gives the building a “striped” look that is not compatible with downtown design guidelines.
Discussion ensued regarding merits of orienting the mural toward East Avenue for the enjoyment of Pinellas Trail users versus placing it along more heavily traveled Myrtle Avenue for
maximum public viewing. Majority consensus was to eliminate the bold teal-colored band, substituting the cream color on the bottom course of cement plaster panels.
Member Cagni declared a potential conflict of interest with regard to this item.
Member Plisko moved to approve DRB 98 002 as presented, subject to conditions the lower teal stripe shall be changed to match the cream color used above, and a new sketch for improved
landscaping on the eastern elevation in back of the warehouse along Myrtle Avenue shall be submitted for board review. The motion was duly seconded. Members McCann, Milam, Plisko,
and Hamilton voted “Aye;” Member Cagni abstained. Motion carried.
Presentation -- "One City. One Future." – Deputy City Manager Kathy S. Rice.
Ms. Rice highlighted the conceptual blueprint of where the City needs to go, listing five major elements that will help regrowth:
1) Land Development Code. The existing code was written while Clearwater was a development community, and must be rewritten to facilitate redevelopment. The code will be renamed Community
Redevelopment Standards and will appear very different from the existing format.
2) Clearwater Beach. Parking lots are to be moved a block inland and a boardwalk created to open the beach to more pedestrian uses and maximize the water view. Many redevelopment opportunities
will be available. The plan is to open the entryway for better traffic flow. A design charette was used to determine needed beach improvements.
3) Downtown. Doubling the size of Coachman Park, converting the existing 80% asphalt on the bluff to 80% green space, and marketing downtown as the “east beach” are the focus. Movie
theaters, a festival marketplace, and a multi purpose entertainment complex at the base of the new bridge are being conceptualized as creative activities to draw visitors. One controversial
idea currently under discussion is a baseball stadium with additional programmed entertainment for year-round public enjoyment. The Church of Scientology will be asked to reduce the
number of locations it uses for its activities. Relocation of the main library will free the previous location for use as the future retail and entertainment district.
4) Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. Enhancements are currently underway to solve visual issues on the City’s main visual corridor.
5) North and South Greenwood. As the areas most impacted by downtown changes, the Greenwood neighborhoods provide the best opportunities for positive changes. Care must be taken to
ensure inclusion of all parts of the community. An all-day charette will take place on March 28.
Ms. Rice reviewed a list of “Immediate Action Items” taking place simultaneously to facilitate the above five major elements: 1) authorization of market studies for Beach and Downtown;
2) evaluation of Phillies’ economic impact; 3) preparation of a RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for developers to submit ideas for the bayfront, including Coachman Park expansion; 4) new
Main Library site selection; 5) “Mainstreet” program application; 6) completion of necessary parking studies; 7) acceleration of community-based initiative in North Greenwood area; 8)
implementation of regional stormwater retention project Downtown; 9) creation of incentive program for retail and commercial occupancy along Cleveland Street; 10) evaluation of maintaining
the existing Memorial Causeway Bridge as local traffic connection
between Beach and Downtown; 11) Land Development Code redesign; and 12) corridor enhancement along Cleveland Street, Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Mandalay Avenue, and Gulfview Boulevard.
A law firm has been hired to evaluate such corridor enhancements. Ms. Rice stated the excitement "One City. One Future." has generated will change the face of Clearwater over the next
ten years. Private dollars are redeveloping the former City Hall Annex site and Sunshine Mall with City incentives and infrastructure support.
In response to questions, it was indicated an interlocal agreement with FDOT determined location of the new bridge. While possibility of leaving the old bridge is being evaluated,
maintenance costs, down time for repairs, and restricted boat traffic are seen as reasons not to keep it. The appearance of the old bridge would detract from aesthetics of the new “signature”
bridge. One exciting element of removing the old bridge is the opportunity to expand green space in Coachman Park.
One member expressed concerns: 1) the City has not replaced dead palms on Memorial Causeway; 2) the City should be more assertive in doing what it can to manage mangroves along the
causeway; 3) negative talk about the sewer plant at the City’s entrance is useless because Countyside could not exist without it; and 4) nothing being done about the ugly appearance
of sea oats on the south beach that have grown dunes eight to ten feet tall. Ms. Rice responded the City realizes aesthetic mistakes were made in the past. A landscape architect will
be looking at a number of issues needing correction. Concern was expressed that parking was put on the beach to facilitate citizen access behind the big hotels and it is feared citizens
will lose beach access if the parking is removed. Ms. Rice said the City will address those issues.
Board and Staff Discussion
Mr. McCarty reported timing is extremely critical for the proposal to develop the former Annex site. A special Design Review Board meeting may be called, depending on when the project’s
plans are complete.
Mr. Plisko expressed concern that a large yellow menu board recently mounted on the corner of Angie’s restaurant was not approved with their signage packet. It was felt the sign is
out of scale and the colors do not relate to anything on the property. Consensus was for staff to address the matter administratively, indicating to the applicant the board does not
oppose a menu board, but the new addition is not consistent with what was approved.
Mr. McCarty reported a sign at The Mariner (the former Travelodge) that was voted down by the board was installed the day before the matter came before the board and has not been removed.
While not obtrusive, it was indicated the sign violates several elements of the design guidelines and City sign code.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:29 p.m.