ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
May 26, 2011
The meeting was conducted via webinar beginning at 9:00 A.M. Members present were: Jack Humburg, Julia Kates and Barbara Page. Since no quorum was present, the members consensus is reflected. Applications for waivers from accessibility code requirements were reviewed as follows:
1. FREIGHT
REVENUE RECOVERY OF MIAMI, INC.,
The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to a 1,979 square foot second level in an existing warehouse/office facility. The project was originally constructed in 1981 and is undergoing an $80,000 alteration to upgrade life safety and accessibility features since the local building department discovered the original construction had been done without a permit. The toilet room on the first floor is being made accessible; doorway widths are being widened and accessible hardware is also being installed. According to the applicant, these changes exceed 20 percent of the cost of the alteration, without considering the $19,793-26,500 cost of lift equipment. The applicant also stated that the second floor was not constructed to be able to support a lift and would be technically infeasible to install one.
Recommendation: Approve, based on disproportionate cost.
2.
VAPIANO
RESTAURANT,
The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to an existing 450 square foot mezzanine that will seat 32 customers. The accessible first floor dining area will provide a total of 258 seats. The project also includes construction of a new, 850 square foot mezzanine that will house an office, a prep room, storage and electrical room. According to the applicant the second mezzanine will have fewer than five employees working there and is not open to the public. The total project cost will be $800,000 and the applicant estimates it would cost a additional $75,000 to install an elevator to the dining mezzanine.
Recommendation: Approve as being unnecessary for the non-public office housing five or fewer employees and for the dining area which is duplicated on the first floor.
3.
XL SOCCER
WORLD ORLANDO, ORLANDO
The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in four sets of metal bleachers. Each bleacher system will seat 42 spectators and the applicant proposes placing 4 wheelchair and companion seats between each pair of bleachers, rather than incorporating them into the system. The project is undergoing a $650,000 alteration to the 32,975 square foot first floor.
Recommendation: Approve, provided all accessible seating and companion seating is placed between the bleachers and signage provided to designate the area designated as accessible.
4.
The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the second floor of a historic dwelling that was converted to commercial use in the 1980s. The existing first floor contains 1,917 square and a 793 square foot addition is being constructed on that level; the current second floor has 1,191 square feet and will add 987 square feet to that area. The project is being undertaken to add an additional three offices to the law firm. Both the applicant and the building official refer to this structure as a historic building, but no documentation was provided. According to the applicant, the only viable option to provide access to the second floor is a chair lift, which will require modification of the existing stairway for approximately $4,850 to $5,000, plus the cost of equipment. Note: A chair lift will not permit a wheelchair user to travel independently between floors as there is no method of transporting both the individual and the chair concurrently.
Recommendation: Defer and request documentation of proposed type of lift and an explanation of how to provide equivalent facilitation for client consultation.
5.
SHERBROOKE
APARTMENTS, INC.,
The project is a hotel/apartment building originally constructed in 1948 with 33 units in a 3 story, 17,000 square foot structure. The rooftop solarium is being restored and according to the applicant, additional work must be done to provide a secondary means of egress from the area. Furthermore, adding additional floor area would exceed the permissible amount allowed under local zoning regulations and thus, prohibits the construction of an additional elevator stop. The applicant stated it is not cost, but construction regulations that prevent the area from being accessible.
Recommendation: Dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, as the building does not meet the federal criteria for an elevator exemption.
Note: The applicant subsequently requested final action be deferred until the August, 2011 meeting.
6.
LA FITNESS
AT HUNTER’S CREEK EXPANSION,
The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to three exercise platforms in a fitness facility undergoing a $988,000 addition. The area in question is an exercise room used for spin bicycle functions and has equipment located on the accessible level as well as three elevated platforms. Equipment is also located on the accessible level, where the instructor will also be located to provide individual attention or assistance if needed. According to the applicant, it would be impractical to try and construction ramps or other means to access the upper platforms because of the size of the room.
Recommendation: Grant, as unnecessary and technically infeasible.