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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201100020 Review Comments Preliminary Site Plan 2011-03-28ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #/Name ARB- 2011 -20: Crozet Library Phase 2 Review Type Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan for Phase 2 of library construction Parcel Identification Tax Map 56A2, Section 1, Parcel 18 Location 1171 Crozet Avenue, on the east side of Route 240, approximately 250' north of Tabor Street Zoned Downtown Crozet District (DCC), Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner /Applicant County of Albemarle/Ron Lilley Magisterial District Whitehall Proposal To construct a library with associated site improvements as phase 2 of the library construction. Context The library site is located on the east side of Crozet Avenue (Route 240), just south of the new Main Street. A two -story frame house and the Tabor Presbyterian Church are located to the south. Three one -story commercial buildings are located to the north of the library site on the same side of Crozet Avenue. Across Crozet Avenue to the west are one- and two -story commercial buildings and the Crozet United Methodist Church. The house, carport and sheds that previously occupied the library site have been demolished. Mature trees remain on site. A stone retaining wall borders the front of the property at the sidewalk. This portion of Crozet Avenue falls within the proposed Crozet National Register Historic District. Visibility The north, south and west elevations of the library will be readily visible from the Route 240 Entrance Corridor. ARB Meeting Date April 4, 2011 Staff Contact Margaret Maliszewski PROJECT HISTORY DATE APPLICATION/REVIEW TYPE RESULT October 20, 2008 ARB work session The ARB held a work session on the preliminary library design. June 3, 2009 BOS meeting The BOS approve the schematic design for the library and directed staff Reposition the trees near the to proceed to construction design November 2, 2009 ARB- 2009 -89 The ARB completed a preliminary review of the library proposal and planting sizes, quantities, etc.). Consult the parking lot. Six align the entrance drive. offered a number of comments for the applicant's next submittal. See the EC Guidelines for minimum sizes Attachment A for the action letter from this meeting. April 7, 2010 BOS meeting The BOS approved the division of the library project into two phases. November 1, 2010 ARB- 2010 -98 The ARB conducted a review of the Phase 1 parking lot proposal. December 1, 2010 BOS meeting The BOS authorized staff to complete the library design and One of these appears to be located on a utility a minimum planting size of construction drawings and to advance the project to a "bid ready" state. January 24, 2011 Coordination meeting Staff and the architect met with some BOS and ARB members to discuss previous ARB comments on the project and general coordination issues. ANALYSIS REF I COMMENT ISSUE RECOMMENDATION COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS REVIEW 1 Provide a plant schedule in the site plan 18 additional trees are shown on the Phase 2 Reposition the trees near the (include scientific and common names, plan. Ten are in the central planting island in dumpster to avoid the utilities. planting sizes, quantities, etc.). Consult the parking lot. Six align the entrance drive. the EC Guidelines for minimum sizes Two trees are shown flanking the dumpster. Provide a complete landscape and spacing. They are located on top of pipes and two other trees from the Phase 1 plan are shown nearby. schedule for Phase 2 planting. Ensure that Phase 2 trees have 2 Provide perimeter parking lot trees, 40' on center, 21/2" caliper minimum. One of these appears to be located on a utility a minimum planting size of or equipment. One of the Phase 1 trees shown 21/2" caliper. along the north side of the parking lot is missing from the Phase 2 plan. There is no Show all of the four Phase 1 landscape schedule for the Phase 2 plants. trees located on the north side REF COMMENT ISSUE RECOMMENDATION of the parking lot on the Phase Applicable guidelines: #30 2 plan. Include this note on the Phase 2 landscape plan: All site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant. 8 Provide a complete lighting plan as part Pole lights have been reduced to 14', but a Provide a complete of the site plan. Include all exterior photometric plan was not provided. lighting /photometric plan as lighting, both site lights and wall lights. part of the site plan. Include Reduce the height of parking lot pole Applicable guidelines: #22 -29 all exterior lighting, both site lights to 20' maximum. lights and wall lights. 9 Revise the plans to include a dumpster A dumpster screen detail was included in the Coordinate all drawings to screen detail. Ensure that the detail Phase 1 submittal. It shows a pressure treated clearly distinguish Phase 1 identifies the material of the screen. pine fence at 7' tall. A board fence is not and Phase 2 work. Ensure that the material is coordinated particularly coordinated with a brick and stone with the building material. library, especially considering its proximity to the library entrance, but the dumpster location is expected to have limited noticeability from the Entrance Corridor, given the distance and the existing and proposed trees. Applicable guidelines: #17, 18, 19, 21 10 If a generator is proposed, coordinate its A transformer pad is shown near the southeast Add shrubs at the west end of location throughout the site plan corner of the building. No screening is the transformer pad to screen drawings. Provide screening for the proposed. The equipment is expected to have the equipment from the generator and transformer. limited visibility from the Entrance Corridor. Entrance Corridor. Shrubs at the west end of the transformer pad REF COMMENT ISSUE RECOMMENDATION would be appropriate. Add this note to the site and architectural plans: Applicable guidelines: #17, 18, 19, 21 Mechanical equipment shall not be visible from the Entrance Corridor. 12 Coordinate existing and proposed trees The library site slopes down from the east Provide planting at the west on the south side of the building, parking lot end to the west at Crozet Avenue. end of the south elevation. ensuring that trees and/or shrubs are Consequently, the stone base of the building provided to soften the appearance of the increases in height as it approaches the blank wall areas. Entrance Corridor. At the west end of the south elevation, the stone base reaches a height of approximately 20'. There is a service door in this area, but there is no other relief for this stretch of wall. Towards the center of the elevation, three existing mature trees are to remain. Some additional planting along the base of the elevation would be appropriate. Applicable guidelines: #31 14 Consider metal to match the roof The polycarbonate has been deleted from the Provide a material schedule material as a more traditional proposal. Dove gray metal is proposed instead. on the architectural elevation replacement for the polycarbonate panel A materials schedule will be needed on the drawings. canopy over the Crozet Avenue architectural elevations with the submittal for entrance. Clearly identify the color and final review. material on the drawings. Applicable guideline: #9 15 Indicate if additional wall signs will be No specific information on wall signs has been Indicate if additional wall proposed for the building. If so, provide provided. Simple "LIBRARY" signs are shown signs will be proposed for the complete information for review (type, over the entrances on the parking lot side and building. If so, provide location, size, color, material, etc.). the Main Street side of the building. The complete information for purpose for addressing wall signage now is to review (type, location, size, ensure that the building design can color, material, etc.). accommodate the desired signage. REF COMMENT ISSUE RECOMMENDATION Applicable guidelines: Entrance Corridor Sign Guidelines 16 Consider diagrammatically, 3D if A streetscape view of Crozet Avenue has been None. possible, representations of this building provided, as has a 3D diagram of the within the context of the proposed streetscape. The views show Crozet Avenue zoning district to illustrate how it will between Tabor Street and the railroad overpass. relate to the surrounding context. Future potential massing of nearby buildings based on the Downtown Crozet District zoning 18 Consider re- scaling the building facades to relate to the 3- to 4 -story context of is shown. DCD zoning provides for a by -right the zoning district. minimum building height of 30' (or 2 stories) and up to 50' (or 4 stories). The average library height is 38'. Maximum height is 49' at the peak of the hipped roofs at the towers. The applicant points out that the two - story, 30' minimum height means 15' floor -to -floor heights, and the library's 18' heights are appropriate to a civic scale public building. The site grading is requiring this height to increase to 19'. The size of the library fits within the DCD requirements. The district allows buildings to be constructed that would be coordinated with the library, though the library may continue to maintain a somewhat grander scale as a public building. Applicable guidelines: #3, 5, 10, 12 17 Clarify the relationship between the The applicant has explained that the horizontal None. traditional language of the building and regulating lines of the building have been the contemporary language of the revised and simplified for a more unified building, and how materials relate to design. In addition, one material (stone) is now that. Organize the scalar relationships of being used at the base /ground level, where brick the windows and simplify the and stone were previously used. Furthermore, REF COMMENT ISSUE RECOMMENDATION relationship between the base and the the tower elements have been further refined main floor of the building. and their proportions and detailing appear more comfortable and coordinated with the overall building. Applicable guidelines: #9, 12 19 Relate the material selections more Photos of buildings in downtown Crozet have None. specifically to the context of downtown been provided to illustrate the context of the Crozet. project. They show mostly brick buildings with cornices, columns, storefronts, grouped and segmental windows, and stone retaining walls. Revisions to the library design based on the context study include: Stone is no longer being used for the entire towers; it is now used as a base for brick. Brick detailing in the tower piers has been revised to reflect local details. The brick will be a darker red than previously illustrated and the scale will be changed from the 12" Norman size to the regular 8 ". (Samples will be provided.) Applicable guidelines: 9, 10, 12 ADDITIONAL ISSUES REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION 34 The site grading should respect the No grading is shown for Phase 2 construction. Confirm that no grading will existing topographic characteristics of be required after Phase 1 is the site and blend with adjacent completed, or provide a Phase properties. 2 grading plan. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. Building scale 2. Proposed building materials 3. The relationship between the proposed design and the surrounding context (height, scale, materials, detailing, general character) 4. Planting for screening and planting on the south side of the building. Staff offers the following comments on the preliminary plan: 1. Reposition the trees near the dumpster to avoid the utilities. 2. Provide a complete landscape schedule for Phase 2 planting. Ensure that Phase 2 trees have a minimum planting size of 2'/2" caliper. 3. Show all of the four Phase 1 trees located on the north side of the parking lot on the Phase 2 plan. 4. Include this note on the Phase 2 landscape plan: All site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant. 5. Provide a complete lighting /photometric plan as part of the site plan. Include all exterior lighting, both site lights and wall lights. 6. Coordinate all drawings to clearly distinguish Phase 1 and Phase 2 work. 7. Add shrubs at the west end of the transformer pad to screen the equipment from the Entrance Corridor. 8. Add this note to the site and architectural plans: Mechanical equipment shall not be visible from the Entrance Corridor. 9. Provide planting at the west end of the south elevation. 10. Provide a material schedule on the architectural elevation drawings. 11. Indicate if additional wall signs will be proposed for the building. If so, provide complete information for review (type, location, size, color, material, etc.). 12. Confirm that no grading will be required after Phase 1 is completed, or provide a Phase 2 grading plan. 7 ATTACHMENT A �� pF ALB g ®7� �'IRGINZ� COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Community Development 401 McIntire Road, North Wing Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596 Phone (434) 296 -5832 November 11, 2009 Todd Willoughby Grimm and Parker Architects 1355 Beverly Road McLean VA 22101 RE: ARB- 2009 -89: Crozet Library TMP 56A2 -1 -18; 56A2-1-19,56A2-1-19A Dear Mr. Willoughby, Fax (434) 972 -4126 The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board, at its meeting on November 2, 2009, completed a preliminary review of the above -noted request to construct a new library building. The Board offered the following comments for the benefit of the applicant's next submittal. Please note that the following comments are those that have been identified at this time. Additional comments may be added or eliminated based on further review and changes to the plan. Provide a plant schedule in the site plan (include scientific and common names, planting sizes, quantities, etc.). Consult the EC Guidelines for minimum sizes and spacing. Provide perimeter parking lot trees, 40' on center, 2' /z" caliper minimum. Provide a demolition plan; ensure that trees to be removed are coordinated throughout the site plan. Coordinate the location of proposed trees with the locations of existing trees. Revise grading to avoid the drip lines of all trees to remain. Show trees to remain at actual size. Consider a native plant alternative to the Japanese Pieris. Increase the variety of proposed plants. Include the standard planting note on the plan: All site plantings of trees and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant. Provide a complete lighting plan as part of the site plan. Include all exterior lighting, both site lights and wall lights. Reduce the height of parking lot pole lights to 20' maximum. 9. Revise the plans to include a dumpster screen detail. Ensure that the detail identifies the material of the screen. Ensure that the material is coordinated with the building material. 10. If a generator is proposed, coordinate its location throughout the site plan drawings. Provide screening for the generator and transformer. 11. If a stormwater facility is proposed, coordinate its location throughout the site plan drawings. Include sufficient information in the site plan to illustrate how the grading and planting of the facility will eliminate its engineered appearance and will incorporate the facility into the site and streetscape. 12. Coordinate existing and proposed trees on the south side of the building, ensuring that trees and/or shrubs are provided to soften the appearance of the blank wall areas. 13. If a retaining wall is proposed, coordinate its location throughout the site plan. Indicate maximum wall height and top of wall/bottom of wall elevations. Indicate proposed materials and provide a sample. For walls 6' high or taller, provide a coordinated planting plan to mitigate the engineered appearance. 14. Consider metal to match the roof material as a more traditional replacement for the polycarbonate panel canopy over the Crozet Avenue entrance. Clearly identify the color and material on the drawings. 15. Indicate if additional wall signs will be proposed for the building. If so, provide complete information for review (type, location, size, color, material, etc.). 16. Consider diagrammatically, 3D if possible, representations of this building within the context of the proposed zoning district to illustrate how it will relate to the surrounding context. 17. Clarify the relationship between the traditional language of the building and the contemporary language of the building, and how materials relate to that. Organize the scalar relationships of the windows and simplify the relationship between the base and the main floor of the building. 18. Consider re- scaling the building facades to relate to the 3- to 4 -story context of the zoning district. 19. Relate the material selections more specifically to the context of downtown Crozet. * * * * There was also considerable discussion and recommendation from the ARB that a joint meeting of the ARB and the library steering committee should be held. You may submit your application for continued ARB review at your earliest convenience. Application forms, checklists and schedules are available on -line at www.albemarle.org/planning. Revised drawings addressing the comments listed above are required. Include updated ARB revision dates on each drawing and an ARB approval signature panel. Please provide a memo including detailed responses indicating how each comment has been addressed. If changes other than those requested have been made, identify those changes in the memo also. Highlighting the changes in the drawing with "clouding" or by other means will facilitate review and approval. If you have any questions concerning any of the above, please feel free to call me. Sincerely, Margaret M. Maliszewski Principal Planner cc: Trevor Henry (via email) ARB file 9 ATTACHMENT B This report is based on the following submittal items: Sheet # Drawing Name Drawing Date/Revision Date C1.1 Cover Sheet 2 -3 -2011 C4.1 Phase 2 Site and Landscape Plan 2 -3 -2011 C4.2 Phase 2 Utilities Plan 2 -3 -2011 - Architectural color submittal: Streetscape Development (2), Surrounding Context (2), Site Plan, Building Section, Axonometric View, Building Elevations (2) 2 -7 -2011 - Crozet Library view along Main Street - - Site photo — from Crozet Avenue 2 -17 -2011 - Site photo — from the intersection of Crozet Avenue and Main Street 2 -17 -2011 10