Wellington’s Architectural Review Board recommended approval of several items on Wednesday, Dec. 15, including color palette and monument signs for the Isla Verde shopping center; the parking garage, retail and office buildings at Lotis Wellington; and wall and ground signs at Luxe Healthcare at Wellington Green.
The board recommended approval of color palette and monument signs for the 19.22-acre Shoppes at Isla Verde, a multiple-use development of 163,000 square feet of commercial space with 350 dwelling units built in 2006.
The request was for approval of monument and multi-panel signs along the east side of State Road 7 with technical deviations and for the exterior color palette.
Senior Planner Kelly Ferraiolo said the northern portion of the plaza underwent major renovations in 2018 when the Sprouts organic grocery store was built.
“There are 14 technical deviations that have been granted for larger signs for this plaza, however the sign code has changed and only eight would be considered technical deviations today,” Ferraiolo said.
The applicant is requesting a new color palette to complement the already updated Sprouts portion.
“The applicant is requesting a new color palette for the Shoppes at Isla Verde,” she said. “The recent addition of Sprouts includes a refreshing, more contemporary palette that includes whites and grays with a copper accent. The remainder of the project and all amenities will be updated to complement the already updated Sprouts portion.”
Board Member Dayna Bertola made a motion to recommend approval of the changes, which carried 5-0.
Also at the meeting, the board recommended approval of the Lotis Wellington parking garage, office building and site amenities.
Senior Planner Damian Newell said the applicant is requesting approval of combined retail/office/restaurant buildings, apartments, a parking garage and site amenities for the project, located just north of Forest Hill Blvd. on the west side of SR 7.
“The parking garage is mainly to serve the future medical office building, but it will also provide parking for the other uses in the commercial section,” Newell said, adding that the site has 28 acres of open space with a lake, cypress preserve, dog park and greenway with a multi-use pathway open to the public, fitness stations and shade structures around the lake.
He said staff recommended approval of the application with 11 conditions, including that the 42-inch parapet along the top of the parking garage be increased to 5 feet (60 inches).
Brian Terry with Insite Studio, representing the applicant, said that a 42-inch parapet along the top of the three-story parking garage should keep parked cars on the top level of the garage well concealed from view.
Board Member Tom Wenham made a motion to recommend approval with a 42-inch parking garage parapet height, which carried 5-0.
In other business:
• The board also recommended approval of wall and ground signs at Luxe Healthcare at Wellington Green, which is a rebranding of an existing senior and rehabilitation care facility on Nu Vista Avenue near the Mall at Wellington Green.
Newell said the applicant is requesting a technical deviation for two wall signs where they are allowed only one, and to amend the master sign plan to include a directional sign.
“This facility recently changed ownership, so the current owners are looking for some additional signage,” Newell said. “You’re going to have additional traffic looking for the site. With that, they are requesting a total of two wall signs on the principal façade.”
Staff recommended approval of the application, and Board Member Roger Grave de Peralta made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation, which carried 5-0.
• The board also recommended approval of an alternative fence design at 12623 Quercus Lane in the Pinewood East neighborhood where 675 feet was installed by a contractor that allegedly continued work after the building permit had been denied due to the horizontal fence type. Peralta made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation with a portion of the fence moved back and a hedge installed. The motion carried 4-1 with Bertola opposed.
