LAUDERDALE ISLES CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

MINUTES - GENERAL MEETING October 18, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Charles Love

The following board members and trustees were present:  Charles Love, Sharon Barre,

Marie Love, Patricia Coba, Sabrina Farmer, Harriet Hodgson, Yelka Mikolji, Fran Zeitz,

Jim Crockett, Michael Nicholas and Rich Thompson  

There were enough voting members present to meet a quorum.

Guests: Sheryl Dickey - Consultant, Don Morris –City of Fort Lauderdale , Steve Sutter, Manager of Value Place , Kevin Knight, Project Manager / Landscape Architect with Land Design South

Minutes of Trustee’s meeting of August 16, 2007 were distributed earlier and approved.

 The President gave a brief summary of all the work that goes into the process of compiling and the efforts of the lane trustees in distributing our newsletter and flyers.  He advised the residents that the City would be presenting a power point presentation of the annexation rezoning of Lauderdale Isles.  A presentation on the 441 and Riverland Road proposed four story Value Hotel / Extended Stay would also be addressed.

 Sheryl Dickey, Dickey Consulting Services was introduced along with Don Morris, Acting Zoning Administrator with the City of Fort Lauderdale . A proposed draft zoning ordinance package was available for all in attendance. Don Morris gave a power point presentation of the annexation rezoning outcome.  He went over many ordinances in the 69 pages of the draft.

Don also reviewed a summary page which included feedback received at a public workshop where Isle residents voted to stay with Broward County zoning codes on 38 categories out of 45.  Residents chose seven categories with Fort Lauderdale City requirements which were: no non-profit neighborhood social and recreational facilities, no golf courses permitted, no places of worship, no temporary sales office, no off site parking lots, no wireless communication facilities in our neighborhood, and residents can use ¼ of their home for an office.  

 Mr. Morris advised us of tentative public meeting schedules:  Oct. 15^th, 18^th, 22^nd and 27^th 2007   

Presentation of refined workshop results and proposed draft zoning ordinance to annexation area groups.  November 20^th - Present proposed rezoning recommendations to the City Commission at City Commission Conference Meeting.  December 19^th – Present proposed rezoning recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Board at Planning and Zoning Board Meeting.

February/March 2008 – Present proposed rezoning recommendations to the City Commission at City Commission Regular Meeting.

Questions and answers followed.  Don Morris stated if anyone had further zoning questions

he could be reached at 954 828-5265 or call Deborah Rakowski, staff member at 954 828-3266.

 Charles spoke briefly about the proposed lane signs.  The City determined that the County owns the right-of-way where the signs were to be installed.  Charles would be meeting with the City.

It was noted that we will eventually have these lane signs.

 The President informed the attendees that a flyer regarding plans for a Value Motel/Extended Stay was distributed by local residents not LICIA. Charles contacted the developer and informed the group that they were not required to be present at our meeting but agreed to attend.

This project would be on one third of a parcel of land on Riverland Road and 441 and is zoned commercial.

 A rendering of this proposed planned development was displayed. Steve Sutter - Managing Developer and Kevin Knight project manager gave a presentation.  The proposed project would be a four story 50 foot high Value Motel / Extended Stay with 124 units, all have kitchenettes.

Rooms will not face residential areas. The building would be 100 feet from Riverland Road and dense landscaping would be provided.  It was stated there is a minimum stay of one week with weekly rates of approximately $340 - $429 plus security deposit. It is a reasonably priced hotel mainly for business travelers, computer techs or visiting nurses with an occupancy rate of 65%-70%. They run background checks against a data base.  There is a full time observation employee on site, staff trained personnel and eight cameras on the property.  Strict rules apply.  There would be a parking area in front of the hotel indicating sheriff / police department.  Access in and out of this site would be off Riverland Road and share the existing roadway now used by U-Store It, a storage facility.  There would be no entrance on 441. An approval process with the City would take under one year and construction of the hotel would take approximately eight months.  It was stated traffic studies, a marketing analysis and a feasibility study were conducted.  

Lots of questions were asked and opinions were voiced.  A resident opposed to this project asked what is the turn over for this type of hotel, response being it would be here for a long time.

1,200 to 1,500 hotels of this type will be built in the next five years. Another resident stated this type of hotel is the low end of an Extended Stay hotel and we do not need to attract undesirables in our residential community with crime being a factor.  A resident business person said she would not like to stay in this type of hotel when there are many other nicer ones to stay in. Another resident indicated we have day labor issues here and what will happen if this hotel is sold 3–5 years down the road.  We have no guarantees and do not need this to become a one night stay hotel.

A resident stated this project seems better than the high rise apartment complex that was previously proposed.

It was suggested to call City Commissioner, Cindi Hutchinson and put this issue on a future agenda.

 Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,

Marie Love - Secretary