PC 09/11/96 - Laserfiche WebLink

Staff would like to provide the apartments with wrought iron planter boxes. The applicant is concerned about the maintenance of the plants in such window planter boxes. . Staff recommends the spacing between the second floor windows be widened. The applicant has agreed. . . Staff suggests the bullnosed brick work be continued to the back elevation. The tower element has a tile feature. Staff recommends tile squares be added lower down elsewhere on the building to add continuity or remove the tile and add decorative brick work to the tower. Staff also suggests the applicant add a couple trellises to the south building wall. Overall, staff feels the building is attractively designed. Regarding parking, there are 14 parking spaces in the rear; 31 spaces are required. The project is deficient 17 spaces. Nine spaces should be marked for the residential use only, leaving five spaces for the retail uses. In-lieu parking fees were discussed by staff and are necessary for this project. Staff proposes giving the applicant credit for the five spaces since the applicant has agreed to make these spaces available to the general public. The applicant would provide in-lieu fees for the 12 remaining deficient spaces. This agreement led to the withdrawal of the parking variance. The BofA officials have concluded they do not need as much parking now as in the past and will work with the applicants regarding their parking situation and using/purchasing part of the BofA parking lot. Staff discussed the possibility of using the in-lieu fees from the development at 350 Main Street with the fees from the proposed project to be able to purchase a portion of the Bank of American parking lot to be used as a public lot. The City Council would have to approve the in-lieu parking agreement and fees. Staff estimates the in-lieu fees would be about $60,000. The landscaping is appropriate for the site as proposed. Staff is requesting an acacia tree at the northwest comer of the site be retained and a smaller tree (such as a Crape Myrtle) be added in this area. Staff also requests the existing trees be pruned by an arborist. On the recommendation of Commissioner Dove, staff suggests that the trash enclosure be relocated away from the building. Another condition to be added to the report is to modify the placement of the outdoor dining furniture so as not to interfere with access to the retail stores. Variance issues: The balconies on three units facing Main Street does not agree with the Downtown Design Guidelines concept for the overall look of Main Street; therefore, they recommend approval of the variance to remove the balconies from the three units facing Main Street. Overall, staff feels the building is well designed for the downtown area and recommends approval of the design review and the variance request (Z-96-125N-96-13), subject to the cOnditioDS of approval and the addition of modified trash enclosure location and outdoor seating plan. PllIDIIiug Commission Minutes Page 8 September n, 1996