ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

DEC 8, 2008

The Council convened at 9:06 a.m. with 6 members present.

Consent Agenda:

Case #3 – AMC THEATER AT TYRON SQUARE. Withdrawn by applicant.

Case #2 – BREVARD HIGH SCHOOL CCC AUDITORIUM. The Council unanimously recommended approval based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 as unreashonable.

Case #4 – MIAMI DADE FIRE RESCUE STATION #10. The Council unanimously recommended approval in favor of the provisions of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

Case #5 - MIAMI DADE FIRE RESCUE STATION #67. The Council unanimously recommended approval in favor of the provisions of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

Case #6 - MIAMI DADE FIRE RESCUE STATION #40. The Council unanimously recommended approval in favor of the provisions of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

Case #7 – ROADS MONTESSORI, LLC. The Council unanimously recommended approval based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 related to 20% disproportionate cost.

Case #13 – STONEHEDGE, LLC. The Council unanimously recommended approval based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 related to disproportionate cost as well as its historic designation.

Case #9 – CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY. The applicant is requesting to use the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Building Element D for Children’s Use for a day care center. No waiver is necessary and could have been approved by the local building official under the equivalent facilitation provisions. In as much as the applicant has requested this waiver, at the request of the building official, the Council unanimously recommended approval in favor of the above referenced guidelines as equivalent for children.

The Following Cases were approved with Conditions:

Case #8 – COBBTHEATER AT OLD HYDE PARK VILLAGE. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in an existing movie theater complex undergoing renovations. The Council recommended approval by a vote of 5 to 0 (as one member was out of the room) based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 as unreasonable with the condition that plans be submitted to DCA staff to verify the dimensions of the accessible seating locations.

Case #1 – 800 OCEAN DRIVE. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the second and third levels of a three story historic hotel. This case was heard last meeting where the request related to the hotel restaurant was granted a waiver and the issues related to the second and third floors were dismissed without prejudice for the applicant to address concerns of the Council. The Council unanimously recommended approval with condition based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 as unreasonable due to technical infeasibility of the existing elevator shaft as well as its historic designation. The Council’s condition was for the applicant to send to DCA staff whether or not widening the existing elevator door is feasible and provide cost to determine if within the 20% provisions.

Case #14 – BRANDT INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the basement and second floor of an existing office building undergoing a $55,000 alteration. The building official’s review and recommendation form was missing which would indicate any permitted construction activity during the past three years. The Council unanimously recommended deferring the case for the applicant to provide the building official’s statement. However, the Council unanimously agreed that if the applicant could provide the evidence prior to today’s meeting for the chair’s review, they would allow the recommendation to be changed to approved based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 related to 20% disproportionate cost. The evidence was presented and verified. Therefore, the recommendation is for approval.

The following cases were deferred:

Case #10 – STRKE INDUSTRIES. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to a mezzanine being converted from storage to offices. The project cost was estimated at $70,000. The applicant was not in attendance. The Council unanimously recommended to defer for the applicant to provide additional information to include but not be limited to, breakdown of all cost (even those specific to accessibility), cost estimates for platform lifts, floor plan layout and specific use of office space. It was also recommended that the applicant be in attendance to address concerns of the Council.

Case #12 – TRADEMARK CINEMA CORAL SQUARE 8. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in an 8 screen theater complex being altered from sloped floors to stadium seating. As the plans were lacking in detail, the Council unanimously recommended to defer this case for the applicant to provide more information, to include but not be limited to, detailed seating layouts showing total number of seats, accessible and companion seating locations, dimensional plans, and elevations showing line of sights for each theater house type.

The following case was denied:

Case #11 – RAVALLO RESORT AND CONVENTION CENTER. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility in 489 sunken living areas in non-accessible guest rooms. This is a new $160,000,000 facility. The Council unanimously recommended denial based on lack of hardship to allow the installation of barriers in a new facility.