ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
May 7, 2007
The Council convened at 9:04 a.m. with a 5 member quorum.
Consent Agenda:
Case #3 – Soho Beach House was deferred at the request of the applicant prior to hearing the case.
Case #1 – Gables Cititower. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to an office tenant space, undergoing alterations costing $65,000 that is elevated approximately 4 feet above the first floor elevation. This case was deferred at the last meeting for the applicant to provide the existing real estate office floor plan and cost of permitted construction from the last 3 years to verify the hardship. Upon review of the requested documentation, the Council unanimously recommended approval based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 related to 20% disproportionate cost.
Case #2 – South Point Park . The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in a informal outdoor terrace seating area of 70 seats. The Council unanimously recommended approval based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 as unnecessary. Even though approved from the Florida specific requirements, this does not relieve them from the requirements of Title II of the ADA .
Case #4 – Academy for International Studies, Inc. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the second floor of an existing classroom building being leased by a charter school. The proposed renovations estimated to be $7,500 is specific to graspable handrails for stairs, automatic door closures, door panic hardware and such. Based on the facts presented by the applicant, by definition none of these renovations trigger the alteration provisions of F.S. 553 or Chapter 11 of the FBC. Even though there is no need for a waiver and in as much as an application was made, the Council unanimously recommended approval. Though they do not trigger the accessibility provisions, they are not exempt from the provisions of Title II of the ADA .
Case #5 – Sessums, Mason, Black & Caballero. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the second floor of an existing office building undergoing a $44,110 alteration. The Council unanimously recommended approval based on the provisions of F.S. 553.512 related to 20% disproportionate cost.
Deferred Cases:
Case #6 – The Mercato. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in a new $4.5 million theater complex. The submitted documentation and plans lacked sufficient detail to verify compliance. Therefore, the Council unanimously recommended deferral of this case for the applicant to provide drawings with detailed dimensions for ramps and sight line angles.
Denied Cases:
Case #7 – Bob Wilson Dodge Garage Addition. The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the upper two levels of a new $5.5 million 3-story garage addition. The lower level of the garage is to be used for automotive service drop-off and contains a service area, customer waiting area, toilet rooms, staff lounge and conference room. The upper floors are to be used for new car inventory. As this structure is 3 stories, it is not exempt from ADAAG elevator requirements. Based on the facts presented, the Council believes the garage does not meet the exception for storage areas not open to the public and the estimated cost of $175,000 to provide an elevator is not disproportionate to the new construction cost. Therefore, the Council unanimously recommended denial due to a lack of hardship.