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Sebring CRA Approves 5 Faade Grants

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: December 16, 2008

SEBRING - The Community Redevelopment Agency was scheduled to review three façade grant applications Dec. 9, but two more were added to the agenda during the meeting when the First Missionary Baptist Church requested two emergency grants.

Façade grants are tax increment funds used to make improvements to a building's façade. A façade is any exterior surface.

The Sebring CRA board of commissioners reviewed and approved by a 4-0 vote a request from Swan Resource Services Inc. for two building locations; 101 Circle Park Drive, and 107 Circle Park Drive.

On the 101 Circle Park Drive location, owner Stephen Swan requested $1,200 or 60 percent on a $2,000 removal and installation of two domed skylights to the roof.

"Charlie sucked one," said Swan. "I covered it with tarp, then Jeanne came and took another off."

On the 107 Circle Park Drive location, he requested $4,320 or 60 percent on a $7,200 roof resurfacing job. Both jobs are to be done by Cobb Roofing Inc. of Avon Park.

"It's a marvelous building," said Swan. "I live in that building myself."

Both buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places and qualify for the 60 percent double façade grant or the $6,000 cap.

Swan told the board members he did repeated patch jobs to the roof, but it dawned on him, "Why keep patching. Why not go ahead and do the whole thing," he said.

Both grant approvals were subject to approval Thursday by the Historic Preservation Commission.

The CRA commission also approved a request from Bill and Irma Timmons at 2131 Lakeview Drive No. 600, in the Fountainhead condominiums, for replacement of two windows.

The request was for $553 on their $1,845.28 construction bill.

There was some discussion by the board to close out grants it had approved years ago, but on which the work had not commenced.

"If work doesn't commence, they have to reapply," said CRA Chairman Gene Brenner.

Commissioner Jim McCollum suggested they consider doing so only on grants prior to one year, but suggested sending out a letter.

He said he preferred to see the work get done and perhaps put a few people to work, rather than close out the paper work.

Executive Director Pete Pollard said as the end of the fiscal year approaches, it generally sends out a letter.

"We normally get them to close it out," he said.

Barbara Walker, representing the First Missionary Baptist Church, at 622 Lemon Ave., in Washington Heights, said she would like an emergency façade grant approval for the roof on the church parsonage and the roof on the church sanctuary and window repairs.

Grant documents indicate the proposed improvement to the parsonage roof would be for $5,216, and requested a 30 percent grant for $1,565.

The repairs to the roof on the church sanctuary and window repairs were $10,647. The grant application was at 30 percent for the $3,000 cap.

The church's insurance company wants the roof repairs done to avoid further damage.

The board approved both requests as separate façade grants.

The church is applying to be placed upon the local register of historic places, said Pollard, and once a public hearing is held and the Sebring City Council approves the application, would qualify for 60 percent or $6,000 cap on future façade grant applications.

During a design review, the CRA approved the plans for an addition to the Habitat for Humanity for expansion of its administrative office, located at 159 S. Commerce Ave.

The CRA received a letter from Chad Clouser, a registered landscape architect with Heartland Designs Inc., who stated that in his opinion the city's landscape ordinance was not intended to apply on a project like this.

"It would only be possible if an exorbitant amount of variances were applied for and if all parties were willing to critically hamper use of the remaining site," wrote Clouser. "The project is a zero lot line property with existing frontage along the street and along the alley.

"The back is utilized for access and for staff parking. It may also have to be further utilized for retention. I do not believe that it is the intent of the ordinance to minimally beautify an alleyway for trash trucks and delivery vans to look at."

Clouser emphasized that he was not paid for writing his opinion letter and stated to the contrary, it could have benefited him to say the project needed a landscape plan.

Michael Jacobson, executive director for Highlands County Habitat for Humanity, told the commissioners he was willing to provide some parking spaces for his staff in the rear should it be necessary in the future if the city's parking lot regularly fills.

They also plan to re-sod, plant some bushes and flowers, he told the board.

The application was submitted to the Tree Board on Wednesday to determine if the city's landscape ordinance applies to the project and if the services of a landscape architect will be required.

"The Tree Board determined that the existing landscape ordinance was not intended to apply to projects similar to the habitat project," said Jacobson on Thursday. "However, Habitat agreed to 'green-up' the site after construction is completed and volunteered to submit those plans to the Tree Board once those plans are finalized."

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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