2/11/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1992 BOOK Chairman Eggert announced that a workshop with County staff and City Council is scheduled for this afternoon, but Mr. Zorc pointed out that he wanted to speak before the Board today because at a workshop you are not necessarily given the right to speak in public. Commissioner Scurlock stated that he is thoroughly satisfied with the work of the committee. He had considered the closing of 16th Avenue, but took that out as an option since there are only three connecting streets, 14th, 16th and 20th Avenues, that will allow one to cross the Twin -Pairs when it is finally constructed. He believed that three access points to be able to move east or west is minimal at best and that doing away with one of the three would be a mistake. He felt the larger footprint provided by the acquisition of the out parcel would not change anything in a major way but to give us a construction site while we are building the facility and a future site to build offices for the Public Defender's Office and the State Attorney's Office. He noted that it was the County's direction from Vero Beach to try not to have any variances, and we have abided by that. He felt that Commissioner Wheeler has done an outstanding job with the Courthouse Planning Committee and that the consensus of opinion is that the best design has been reached. Commissioner Wheeler appreciated Mr. Zorc's interest incoming today and felt his plan has merit. However, the Committee looked at various concepts, and it was felt that no matter what concept that came forward, you could find some merit in it. Basically, at this point, Commissioner Wheeler stated that he is happy with the concept and design that was submitted and approved. Mr. Zorc felt that the Board was missing his point totally, which is that there is now an opportunity to place the Courthouse over the entire two -block area without any constraints. He emphasized that even the architect has said that they worked within the constraints of not closing off 16th Avenue. Chairman Eggert agreed with Commissioner Scurlock about not closing off one of the three access points. In the beginning, she would have liked to have seen 16th Avenue closed off, but after many meetings, she is convinced that closing it would throw off the traffic pattern. Commissioner Bird felt that the approved plan concentrated on getting the people into the building in an easy manner, and Commissioner Wheeler emphasized that the building was designed to be very functional. It could be designed to face any direction, but the Committee decided to have the building facing west so as to be easily accessed from the parking garage. 22