ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
February 2, 2009
Crowne Plaza Hotel
The Council met at 9:00 a.m. with a quorum present. Following approval of the December 8,
2008 minutes, the Council reviewed the following applications for waivers from the accessibility
code.
Trademark Cinemas: The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility
to all levels of new stadium seating in an 8 screen movie complex. This application had previously
been deferred to allow redesign of wheelchair seating and companion seats. The large theaters
have sight lines of 21 degrees while some seats in the small theaters have 29 degrees or greater.
The Council recommended approving the designs for the large theaters and deferring action on the
smaller ones to permit the applicant to redesign the layout so no seats have sight lines greater
than 30 degrees.
Strike Industries: The applicant requested a waiver from providing a platform lift to a
mezzanine containing five offices. The business provides offsite electronic support for security
at local corrections facilities and there is no public access. The Council recommended granting
the waiver as the applicant satisfied the condition that it would be disproportionate to the cost
of the alteration to install the lift.
Magic City Casino: The applicant requested a waiver for vertical accessibility to all
rows of bleacher seating in an existing dog track that is adding a casino. The stadium has been
designed to include wheelchair seating at both upper and lower covered concourses, including
accessible box seat areas. The Council recommended granting the waiver as it concluded it is
unnecessary that all rows of seats be made accessible.
accessibiity to the second floor of an office building. The second floor has not been built
out and is not conditioned space. An elevator shaft, pit and preliminary electrical work has
been provided and no elevator equipment will be installed until the second floor is completed
after a tenant has been identified. The Council recommended granting the waiver. All present
had the implicit understanding that an elevator would eventually be installed, but this was
not clearly stated in the motion.
Green Monkey Yoga Studio. The application was withdrawn at the request of the applicant.
accessibility to all levels in an outdoor performance venue. The project included removing
all existing bench seats and replacing them with individual fixed seats. Accessible and companion
seats are located on all three levels of the amphitheater, with required removable seat arms.
The Council recommended approving the waiver, provided all wheelchair seating locations are
not on the ends of the rows. They concluded it was unreasonable to require access to all rows.
accessibility in a new bleacher system in a public facility. According to the applicant, it
is technically infeasible to make all rows accessible and proposed placing wheelchair seatihg
on the floor in front of the bleachers. The Council recommended deferring action on the
request to allow the applicant to redesign the bleachers to integrate wheelchair seating
to provide two locations with companion seats in each of the three bleacher sections.