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human eye can actually see as there is no actual place where one can stand and see <br />how it actually lays out in real life; one can only see a portion, depending on where one <br />stands. He noted that in some of the areas where this design has evolved in the newer <br />drawings is a cap feature which highlights the top of the project. He added that there is <br />an emphasis on a more detailed design along the first floor accentuating the retail and <br />live/work portion of the project and distinguishing it from the residential on the upper <br />floors. He also presented an elevation along the top that shows the back of the large <br />building facing Owens Drive, which again is not a view in real life but one that shows the <br />level of detail provided on that particular building. He added that the green rectangles <br />on the bottom serve as a graphic illustration of plantings on a trellis. <br /> <br />Mr. Dolan presented a ground level floor plan of the retail buildings on Willow Road and <br />Owens Drive, recalling to the Commission that there was extensive discussion about <br />the depth of the retail space during the development of the Design Guidelines. He <br />noted that the issue came up, when the live/work space was presented, that the whole <br />idea should be designed so it is convertible to retail. He stated that staff had landed on <br />a minimum retail space of 40 feet, and when the original designs came in, they actually <br />showed a depth on the live/work of only 20 feet, which staff indicated does not meet the <br />guidelines and will not be able to convert to retail if they do not provide a depth most <br />conducive to retail. He added that the applicants then increased the depth to within <br />30 feet, with some measurement at 29 feet and others at 33 feet. He noted that this is <br />an improvement, but not quite there; therefore, a decision will have to be made on <br />whether this is going to be deep enough to attract retail and get that transition over time. <br />He indicated that this would not matter if the intent is to stay residential; however, the <br />deeper they are, the less attractive the back end becomes for residential because there <br />are no windows back there, and all of the light will be coming from the front. By way of <br />comparison, Mr. Dolan stated that almost all new retail buildings the City has been <br />looking at, for example, the Safeway development, have a minimum of 50 feet. He <br />noted that feet, not in the space seen and experienced as part of <br />shop, which is only about 30 feet, but including the bathrooms and some storage at the <br />back. He added that this does not mean there are some retail uses that could not <br />survive with 30 feet; this just is not the ideal dimension. <br /> <br />Mr. Dolan then presented more elevations showing the end building and noted that the <br />design on the end of a building will not have as much detail as some on the street <br />fronting them. He stated that in some cases this is acceptable because they will simply <br />not be seen as much, particularly when the buildings are close together. He noted that <br />the side of building on the corner has a fair amount of detail, with the live/work treatment <br />and special design on the corner actually adding a lot of interest. He then presented <br />more internal architectural elevations and detail on the revised live/work dimensions and <br />depth of 29 and 33 feet, how the parking works on the buildings with individual garages <br />wrapped around, and how much of the first floor it actually takes up. He then showed <br />the cap treatment provided on the tower elements which he feels is effective and adds a <br />little bit of , and which is the minimum that should be done. <br />He added that the applicant has also done some enhancements to the design on the <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 17, 2011 Page 9 of 36 <br /> <br />