Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo from Planning in Response to Doug Tamura~/rE IDIZ IAN,:--- ~J January 12, 2009 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: Sonya Watters MayorTammy de Weerd City Council Members: Keith Bird Joe Borton Charles Rountree David Zaremba CC: City Clerk, Will Thornton, Elroy Huff, Pete Friedman, Doug Tamura RE: Fairview Lakes Retail (MCU-08-002) -Request for Reconsideration The applicant, Doug Tamura, requested City Council review of the Commission's decision on the conditional use permit modification for the Fairview Lakes Retail project. This request was heard by City Council on January 6`" at which time Council directed the applicant to work with staff to determine an appropriate treatment and landscaping for the rear of the existing structure on the site. Mr. Tamura submitted a letter to the City Council, dated January 9, 2009, detailing proposed modifications to the site based on the discussion at the last Council meeting and subsequent recommendations from staff. Staff comments and recommendations from Will Thornton, Associate City Planner, and Elroy Huff, City Arborist, based on the City Council discussion are attached. A summary of these recommendations are as follows: • Paint a one or two color band that nzatclres the bottom of the facade projecting over t/ze arcade on the south and west elevations should be added along the upper portion of the remaining west elevation and along the length of the north elevation. This would be in addition to Mr. Tamura's proposal of the painted doors and wainscot on the north and west elevations to break up the lower portion of the facades. • Plant two additional trees, die same species as the existing trees, within the street buffer along Carol Street in the locations shown on the • Construct 4 foot tree wells and install and maintain bark mulch around the trees for protection. • Plant blooming flowers like Floribunda roses or outer blooming plants at the base of 3 of dze retainer walls to enhance d1e look of the landscape. Planning Department .660 E. Watertower Street, Suite 202, Meridian, ID 83642 Phone 208-884-5533 Fax 208-888-6854 . www.meridiancity.org Page 2 Lastly, the applicant is proposing a new trash enclosure to be located on the north side of the building within the required street buffer along Carol Street. Per UDC 11-3B-7C.6, impervious surfaces are prohibited within required buffers. Further, per UDC 11-3A-12B, trash dumpsters are required to be incorporated into the overall design of buildings and landscaping so that the visual and acoustic impacts of these functions are fully contained and out of view from adjacent properties and public streets. Staff recommends the proposed dumpster not be approved because of its location directly adjacent to Carol Street and across the street from office buildings, and because it will not be screened by landscaping. Therefore, staff recommends the applicant find another location for the dumpster that complies with the aforementioned UDC standards. Page 1 of 1 Sonya Watters From: William Thornton Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 11:45 AM To: Sonya Watters Subject: Fairview Lakes Elevations Sonya, Ideally, the north elevation would use a mix of materials and colors to create a complementary and consistent architectural character along Carol St with that of the south elevation. Mr. Tamura is proposing to add two additional colors to the north elevation. He is proposing a painted wainscot and to paint the service doors. From the photographs, I can determine at least five colors on the south elevation not including accent materials of stone and roof tiles. Based on the premise of adding painted bands to break up the north facade, the use of at least three additional colors would help tie the building elevations together. recommend adding a one or two color band to match the bottom of the facade that projects over the arcade on the south and west elevations. This banding should extend along the remaining west elevation and along the length of the north elevation to break up the upper portion of the facades. This would be in addition to Mr. Tamura's proposal of the painted doors and wainscot to break up the lower portion of the facades. William Thornton Associate City Planner City of Meridian Planning Department 33 E. Broadway Meridian, Idaho 83642 ph. 208.884.5533 fax. 208.888.6854 wthornton~a meridiancity. org 1/12/2009 January 8TH 2009 MEMORANDUM TO: Sonya Waters FROM: Elroy Huff RE: Fairview Lakes Subdivision I have visited the site and looked at the landscaping behind the building. This is a difficult landscape to improve on. There are 8 different in ground utility fixtures in the landscape, 4 rock retainer walls, 2 sets of concrete steps and 10 exit doors on the back of the building. I believe that evergreen trees would help soften the look of the building and improve the appearance. My concern is with the 10 doors on the building. Evergreens would make it more difficult to see clearly along the building. There are places to add 2 new trees that should be the same as what is already planted. New planting would cause some minor vision blockage, but it would be better than evergreen trees. New 4 foot tree wells to protect all of the trees should be reestablished with bark mulch and maintained. As the trees get larger the screening affect will improve how it looks behind the building. That will take about 10 years to get large enough to do a good job of screening. Planting of blooming flowers like Floribunda roses or other blooming plants at the base of 3 of the retainer walls would enhance the look of the landscape. I will be happy to meet on site and work out where new trees should be planted as well as sites for flower beds. Thank You, Elroy Huff Meridian Parks and Recreation Meridian Parks & Recreation 11 W. Bower Street, Meridian, ID 83642 Phone 208-888-3579 Fax 208-898-5501 www.meridiancity.org