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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200200146 Staff Report 2003-01-06 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project#: Name ARB-2002-146: Real Estate III,Flagship Office Renovations Review Type Preliminary review of an amendment to a site development plan Parcel Identification Tax Map 45B 1, Section 5,Block A,Parcel 11 Location East side of Route 29 North, across from Hilton Heights Road Zoned Entrance Comdor(EC),Highway Commercial,(HC) Magisterial District Rio Proposal To alter the façade and porch of the existing building to create a better scaled formal entrance and handicap accessible ramp ARB Meeting Date January 6,2003 Staff Contact Margaret Maliszewski PROJECT HISTORY In October of 2002 a representative of Real,Estate III consulted with staff on proposed changes to the existing building. On November 4, 2002 staff asked the ARB if the proposed changes could be reviewed administratively, or if the proposal required full ARB review. The Board indicated that full ARB review would be required. A minor site plan amendment(or Letter of Revision)will be required for the proposed changes. PROPOSAL The applicant proposes to renovate the existing building by: 1. Removing the existing porch, columns, and railing and constructing a new porch. The proposed porch is composed of four columns 1%' wide x 15' tall, supporting a 28'-wide pediment that reaches a height of approximately 28'. The pediment includes a. half-round window The existing porch is centered on the building,but the new porch would be constructed off-center. 2. Removing the existing decorative moldings at the top of the wall and replacing them with new, simpler moldings that do not include dentils. 3. Removing the northern door surround on the front elevation. A new wall light is shown next to the door 4. Replacing the southern door and door surround on the front elevation. The new surround includes an arched pediment. 5. Removing and replacing the existing stair and ramp. The new stair has curved railings, bnck treads, and a brick border.The length of the new ramp runs perpendicular to the length of the building. 6. Removing the existing cupola. 7. Addmg one new wmdow on the south elevation. The new window is intended to match existing windows. 8 Removing a portion of the existing sidewalk and constructing a new sidewalk. 9. Painting the building white. ARB 1/6/2003 Real Estate III façade renovations—Page 1 M1 .. ANALYSIS Context General Character of the Area: The existing building is located in a busy commercial area on Route 29 North. Nearby Buildings: Immediately to the north is a convenience store/gas station (Hess). To the south is the High Tech Signs/Rug Depot building. Across Route 29 to the west is Wal-Mart and Sam's Club Surrounding Landscaping: The site includes some existing landscaping, consisting primarily of shrubs along the porch and ramp, shrubs in a parking island, and shrubs at the base of the monument sign. There are no EC trees at this site,though some trees do exist on the slope at the back of the site. Visibility The building is clearly visible from the Route 29 North Entrance Corridor and will remain so if the proposed renovations are completed. Painting the building white is expected to make the building more noticeable. Site Development Layout: The sidewalk, stair, and ramp layout would change slightly with the current proposal. The new porch and main entrance would be located off-center. Grading: Grading is required for the ramp construction. Site Landscaping: No new landscaping has been proposed. Entrance Comdor trees would help integrate the site into the surroundings. Site Lighting:No new site lighting is proposed. Structure Compatibility with historic sites/structures: The proposed portico is a strong reference to histonc architecture.With the new portico,the focus of the building will be shifted off-center. Scale: The proposed portico has a grand scale. Matenal/Colors: The applicant proposes to paint the brick building white (Benjamin Moore White Dove flat), and to use white trim(Benjamin Moore Atrium White semi-gloss) It is anticipated that changing the color to white will make the building more noticeable. Although some buildings in the County's Entrance Corridors are white, and although some buildings may historically have been white, buildings in the immediate vicinity that have been reviewed by the ARB (Hess, Seminole Plaza, Antiquer's Mall, Wal- Mart, Sam's) are primarily red bnck. (The HighTech Signs building is light blue/gray and the Dan's Automart building is white. These buildings were constructed prior to the establishment of Route 29 North as an Entrance Corridor.) Changing the building color from red to white would reduce the compatibility of this building with its surroundings. ARB 1/6/2003 Real Estate III façade renovations—Page 2 Forms/Features- The prominent features of the existing building are the cupola, the porch, and the door surrounds.With the proposed renovations,the prominent feature of the buildmg is expected to be the new portico and the new door surround. Blankness: Blankness is not a feature of the existing building or the proposed alterations. Accessory Structures and Equipment: There is an existing mechanical unit at the southwest corner of the building. The plan shows a wooden retaining wall added on the north and west sides of the unit. Details on the appearance of the wall have not been provided. Landscaping could be used to minimize the impact of this area. Building Lighting: A wall light is shown at the northern entrance to the building. A large lantern style fixture is shown hung from the ceiling of the portico. Details have not been provided on these proposed fixtures. Building Landscaping: No new landscaping has been proposed, but there are existing shrubs, and it appears that some of them will be lost with the proposed work. Plants should remain around the base of the porch and in the vicinity of the sidewalk and ramp to help soften the appearance of these elements and integrate them into the site.More details are required. Signs No new signs have been proposed.There is an existing monument sign in the front yard. RECOMMENDATIONS Staff offers the following comments: 1. The brick walls should remain unpainted. 2. Provide complete details on the proposed light fixtures. Fixtures that emit 3000 or more lumens must be full cutoff fixtures. It is recommended that all new fixtures be full cutoff fixtures. 3. Regarding landscaping: • Provide a landscape plan. • Indicate which plants are proposed to be removed. • Provide 31/2" caliper shade trees, 35' on center, along the EC frontage Intersperse ornamental trees along the EC. • Provide appropriate plantings along the foundation of the porch, at the corners of the building, along sidewalk and ramp areas, and at the mechanical unit wall to soften the appearance of the overall building and to integrate it into the site. • Provide a landscape schedule. ARB 1/6/2003 Real Estate III façade renovations—Page 3