Minutes
for September 29, 2005
(subject to approval at the October meeting)
The meeting was called to order by Chair Schad, at 6:30 p.m.
Committee members in attendance included:
Leah Schad, Chair
Cathy Probst, Support Staff
Ralph Bair
Debbie Baj
Winston Crosbie
Lucius Wilcox
Keith Shivers
Robert Trepp
Jane Vickers
Jesus Armas
Josh Gentry
Also in attendance were James Dubois and Nat Roberts of Callery Judge Grove.
The minutes were approved from the meetings held June 30th and July 28th with no changes.
Leah Schad passed an article from the Sept. 12th Palm Beach Post entitled “Lifestyle Centers”. This article references town center concepts and directly relates to the road trip taken in July. Cathy will send out the article to all committee members.
The photos taken from the town center road trip in July were printed out and distributed to those who took the photos. The committee members were asked to indicate what it was they liked or didn’t like about the photo taken. Comments were made on the photo sheets for future reference in the planning process. James DuBois noted that he would make the photos available on the website, www.cjgrove.com .
The committee members further comments on town center concepts as follows:
• Plan the property to
invite people to come and look, design it well, attractive with unique
architecture and lush landscaping
•
Don’t put the buildings “in your face”, good signage
and well designed is important
•
Major roads with “slip roads” for easy access, utilize landscaping
for buffer and attractiveness, cut down on lighting near 2-3 story buildings
and use tall trees to cut out lighting from multi story buildings.
• Uniform the numbering on buildings for ease in locating for customer
and emergency vehicles
• Consider how streets should be named by a name or a number. A well-designed
road network may be easier to find streets by number
• Consider valet parking for restaurants for better accessibility and ease
in parking
•
Parking – is it better to have parallel, front, back or garage?
• Abacoa has parallel and it is hard to park
• Behind the building parking preferred but may not always be best. Some
front parking is good to show activity and open businesses. Also, access
for elderly more possible.
• Parking so that is convenient to store locations
• Parking garage can accommodate a lot of cars. City Place has 3 garages
well hidden.
• Parking must be designed so people want to come. Pedestrian walk must
be designed so people want to come.
PGA Commons
Esplanade needs a deeper buffer from th eroad, berm or ornate fence, to
help separate traffic from café tables, etc. Safety issue for
kids and noise issue. Parking behind stores and buildings is better.
Abacoa
Cold, bad landscape, ugly-horrific, 3 story apartments have no architecture
or style as compared to City Place which blends multi stories well. Too
many hurdles, obstacles and benches on walk ways. Orchestra shell to close
to traffic and street noise.
City Place
Use of landscape is very good, tiered “wall of landscape”.
Publix is well-designed into the look of City Place. Fountains and esplanade
nicely laid out. Focal point and historical building, Harriet Theatre.
Group agreed was okay to have “new-tique”. Landscaping use
and variety very good. Variety of architecture is good, pedestrian cross
over bridge and mix of store types, very good.
The committee was then asked to consider specific types of architecture.
There comments follow:
Old brick – Spanish style
Arches
Barrel tile roofs
Rod iron
Spanish-French style
Blends and multi levels
Water features
Lush landscaping, different sizes
Dark and light colors
No modern, no art deco
Plantation homes
Columns
Steeple churches
Large walk ways
Café areas, private
Different styles properly laid out
Mix value of homes throughout property
Consider creating main “gateways” of high quality architecture as a statement of entry to the property as a destination, and mini “gateways” to mini destinations, or individual neighborhoods, so that the property as whole is inviting and welcoming and the neighborhoods are also well framed. Signage codes may be necessary so that everything is well labeled and easy to find without being obtrusive or overwhelming. Layers of landscaping on the property. Businesses have a lot to do with how the parking is designed.
The travel diaries were collected from the members so that a list can be compiled of the various places frequented to allow the planning process to consider all needs for a town center.
The committee agreed to postpone the discussion of the charrette books to the October meeting.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2005
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
