CRA approves smaller HQ sign and phased landscaping; temporary occupancy limited to ground floor

The Community Redevelopment Agency approved a scaled-down exterior sign and a phased landscaping plan for the downtown HQ tenant, and heard that a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) will allow only ground-floor use until accessibility for upper floors is provided.

At the sign-design presentation, Blackman said the tenant had requested a backlit logo sign about 7 feet wide by 5 feet tall, but the CRA team recommended a smaller, blue metal sign to better fit the building's curved façade. "The sign that Regus HQ wanted was a logo sign that was 7 feet wide and 5 feet tall that was backlit," Blackman said. He added that a 7-foot sign would be two feet taller than the stucco bands and would not fit architecturally on the curved building, so the agency proposed a smaller mounted sign on the middle band above the front door.

Contractor Drew Locker described ongoing interior and exterior work intended to signal occupancy, including mechanical, plumbing and electrical final inspections on interior levels, plus parking-lot resealing, restriping, and installation of uplighting and parking-lot lighting. "Levels 2 and 3 are very close to being done," Locker said, and he said the team expects to have the ground floor ready for occupancy pending resolution of a remaining elevator issue.

Board members raised the question of whether the smaller sign would sufficiently indicate the building is open to the public. Blackman and Locker said exterior lighting and the addition of the mid-band sign should communicate that the building is operational; they also said any future change to larger or additional signage would be brought back for review and must comply with city sign code.

On permitting and occupancy, building official Greg Griffith told the board the permit condition requires ADA accessibility. "I cannot... issue a certificate of occupancy for the building" for Floors 2 and 3 because accessibility has not been provided, he said, but he added, "The best I can do is offer a TCO or temporary certificate of occupancy, but that will be limited to Floor 1 until such time as accessibility is provided for the balance of the floors." Griffith also explained that TCOs are typically issued in 30-day intervals and permit common use of the area covered by the TCO while work continues on the balance of the building.

The board moved to approve the sign design as presented and later approved the landscape plan; both motions carried with affirmative votes recorded at the roll calls. The landscape plan emphasizes low plantings and a low front wall "to be low" so planting beds do not create sheltered niches, and the project schedule is phased: sidewalk and concrete repairs first, then seal-coating and striping, parking-lot lighting, and landscaping last after FDOT and subcontractor directional-boring work that will disturb a 1,600-square-foot corner area is complete. Presenters said landscaping installation could be complete in August if utility work proceeds on schedule.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes correction): approved (mover: Committee member; second: Committee member); roll call recorded affirmative votes. - Sign design: approved (mover: Committee member; second: Chair); roll call recorded affirmative votes. - Landscape plan: approved (mover: Committee member; second: Chair); roll call recorded affirmative votes.

The board had no old business and moved on to calls for business from the audience and board remarks.