FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSSION
ACCESSIBILITIY ADVISORY COUNCIL
September 28, 2011
The Council met via webinar on September 28, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. Those present were Jack Humburg, Bill Riha, Julie Bluhm, Barbara Page and Bob Gerwe. The minutes of the July l27, 2011 meeting were approved as written. The following applications for waivers from the accessibility code were reviewed.
Sherbrooke Apartments, 901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach: 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. The applicant requested that further review be deferred until the December meeting to pursue other options with the building department.
Recommendation: Defer action for further research
Ocean Breeze Hotel, 6600 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach: The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the second floor of Building B of a two building hotel undergoing a $1,375,000 alteration. Building A has a chair lift for guests to access the first floor of the hotel and an elevator for the second and third stories. Building B has 48 units, of which, six are accessible at the first floor level. Estimates of $92,078, $110,190 and $113,790 were submitted as the cost of installing an elevator to serve the second floor. Although the estimates do not meet the threshold for disproportionate cost, the applicant contends that having more than the required number of accessible rooms renders additional accessibility to the second floor unnecessary. Further cost breakdowns were submitted by the applicant to substantiate disproportionate cost.
Recommendation: Approve, based on disproportionate cost.
Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach, 905 Drexel Road, West Palm Beach: The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in a four tiered bleacher system in a new, $3,000,000 children’s services facility. The bleachers are providing wheelchair seating areas at the ends of the first row of seats. No estimates were provided; however, the basis for the waiver request is the technical infeasibility of making each row accessible. The Council expressed concern that the wheelchair seating as designed is not integrated into the overall seating plan.
Recommendation: Defer further review to the next meeting and suggest that the applicant either incorporate wheelchair seating into the first row of seats or provide a platform at the same height as the first row.
Vita Restaurant, 1908 Collins Avenue, Miami
Beach: The applicant requested a
waiver from providing vertical accessibility to the 2,517 square foot second
floor of a restaurant undergoing a $121,727 alteration to create an additional
573 square foot courtyard used for dining purposes. The property is an existing building located
in a historic area of
Recommendation: Approve, based on disproportionate cost.
Frank Entertainment, 9025 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach: The applicant is requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in a new $8,000,000 entertainment complex housing a bowling alley, bar and food service area and 12 movie theaters. A waiver is also requested for access to an elevated projection platform. Each movie theater either meets or exceeds the required number of wheelchair and companion seating locations. The applicant estimates it would cost an additional $40,000 for an elevator to the platform and $12,000 for lifts for all tiers of seats.
Recommendation: Approve, based on being unreasonable to require access to all rows of seats and for the project platform to the extent a waiver is needed.
IPIC Entertainment, 301 Plaza Road, Mizner Park, Boca Raton: The applicant requested a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to all rows of seats in stadium style movie theaters undergoing a $4,767,125 alteration. The project includes a 9,183 square foot restaurant with the theaters on the second floor. Each theater has at least the minimum number of required wheelchair seating locations or in several theaters exceeds that requirement. According to the applicant, it is technically infeasible to make every row of seats accessible.
Recommendation: Approve, based on being unreasonable to require access to all rows of seats.