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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201100062 Review Comments Preliminary Site Plan 2011-06-27ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #/Name ARB- 2011 -62: The Shops at Stonefield — Regal Cinema Review Type Preliminary review of a Site Development Plan Parcel Identification Tax Map 61W, Section 3, Parcel 23 Location In the Stonefield development located at the northwest corner of Route 29 North and Hydraulic Road. The cinema is proposed for the location bounded by Hydraulic on the south, Swanson on the east, and Stonefield Blvd. on the west. Zoned Neighborhood Model District (NMD); Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner /Applicant Albemarle Place EAAP LLC/Edens & Avant (Chris Haine) Magisterial District Jack Jouett Proposal To construct a 14- screen cinema with associated parking and site improvements as part of the Stonefield (previously Albemarle Place) development. Context The cinema is proposed as part of the Stonefield Town Center development. The back of the cinema faces Hydraulic Road. Development on the south side of Hydraulic includes a mix of commercial and residential properties, most at 1 -2 stories in height. Visibility The proposed cinema will be readily visible from the Hydraulic Road Entrance Corridor. It will also be visible from the Route 29 North corridor. ARB Meeting Date July 5, 2011 Staff Contact Margaret Maliszewski PROJECT HISTORY DATE REVIEW TYPE TOPIC 1/3/2011 Work sessions The ARB held work sessions on the proposed Stonefield development, addressing 4/18/2011 Stonefield design guidelines, Hyatt Place elevations, concept elevations for the Regal 5/16/2011 cinema and Trader Joe's, more in -depth discussion of the Regal cinema design, and 1 The goal of the regulation of the design of concept designs for the town center buildings. (See Attachment A for comments made 6/6/2011 at the work sessions.) 6/20/2011 design that reflects the historic 9/15/2008 Work session A work session was held on the revised conceptual design of the Albemarle Place within the corridors reflects the traditional project. 2005 -2006 Work sessions and In 2005 and 2006 the ARB conducted reviews of Blocks A, B, C, D, F and G in the formal reviews proposed Albemarle Place development. ANALYSIS REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION GENERAL GUIDELINES Purpose 1 The goal of the regulation of the design of The proposed building does not reflect the Revise the cinema to achieve a development within the designated Entrance traditional architecture of the area. Its forms design that reflects the historic Corridors is to insure that new development and features do not reflect the forms and architecture of Albemarle County. within the corridors reflects the traditional features of Albemarle's historic landmarks. architecture of the area. Therefore, it is the purpose of ARB review and of these Guidelines, that proposed development within the designated Entrance Corridors reflect elements of design characteristic of the significant historical landmarks, buildings, and structures of the Charlottesville and Albemarle area, and to promote orderly and attractive development within these corridors. Applicants should note that replication of historic structures is neither required nor desired. Compatibility with significant historic sites: 4 The examples contained in Appendix A should The scale, materials and forms of the Revise the cinema design to relieve be used as a guide for building design: the proposed building do not illustrate a strong the blankness of the walls. standard of compatibility with the area's historic reference to historic architecture of the area. structures is not intended to impose a rigid The series of pilasters at the western end of design solution for new development. the building, if their depth is sufficient, will Replication of the design of the important suggest the colonnades that are found on historic sites in the area is neither intended nor buildings of the area, but the feature is not desired. The Guideline's standard of sufficient to compensate for the size and compatibility can be met through building scale, character of the other two blank building materials, and forms which may be embodied in blocks. The lattice at the eastern end of the architecture which is contemporary as well as building will help with providing a sense of traditional. The Guidelines allow individuality in human scale for pedestrians near the design to accommodate varying tastes as well as building, but from the EC it appears to be special functional requirements. acting as screening for the blank wall behind it. The ARB has historically required that blank walls be treated with architectural features, not hidden by screens. Compatibility with the character of the Entrance Corridor 5 It is also an important objective of the Guidelines The buildings on the south side of Revise the white, light tan, and light to establish a pattern of compatible architectural Hydraulic Road are generally not prominent grey colors of the proposed cinema characteristics throughout the Entrance Corridor structures; most are relatively small in scale so that a significant portion of the in order to achieve unity and coherence. Building and executed in red brick. The scale, building's surfaces are faced with designs should demonstrate sensitivity to other blankness, color and material of the the darker, warmer colors of the nearby structures within the Entrance Corridor. proposed cinema do not reference these town center's material/color palette. Where a designated corridor is substantially nearby structures. The wider use of darker, developed, these Guidelines require striking a warmer earth tones throughout the cinema careful balance between harmonizing new building would provide for greater development with the existing character of the compatibility. corridor and achieving compatibility with the significant historic sites in the area. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES Compatibility with significant historic sites Structure design 9 Building forms and features, including roofs, The proposed cinema does not incorporate Incorporate architectural features windows, doors, materials, colors and textures windows, doors or roof forms — into the building that are compatible should be compatible with the forms and features architectural features typically used to with the significant historic of the significant historic buildings in the area, connect new buildings to the area's historic buildings in the area and that help exemplified by (but not limited to) the buildings architecture. The primary features of the reduce the scale and blankness of described in Appendix A [of the design proposed building are the large, blank, boxy the design. guidelines]. The standard of compatibility can be shapes, which are not based in the area's met through scale, materials, and forms which historic architecture. Revise the building colors to darker may be embodied in architecture which is earth tones. contemporary as well as traditional. The Shades of gray, white and tan are proposed replication of important historic sites in for the building. Although these colors have Revise the building materials to use Albemarle County is not the objective of these been used in the historic architecture of the no more than 50% synthetic stucco. guidelines. area, their application here emphasizes the non - historic features and character of the If wood siding is used, indicate how building (the size, scale and blankness). it will be treated to maintain an appropriate appearance over time. The primary building material proposed for the cinema is synthetic stucco. As with the colors, the synthetic stucco tends to emphasize the scale and blankness of the design. The extensive use of the synthetic material is unprecedented in the Entrance Corridor. Incorporation of a significant amount of true masonry into the design would be appropriate. Metal siding is illustrated in this proposal. Its application in the tall recessed panels at the west end of the Hydraulic Road elevation gives the building an industrial appearance. The metal panels were replaced with wood siding in a recent revision to the cinema design. The ARB expressed concern about maintaining the finish and an appropriate appearance for the wood. The building measures approximately 220' 10 Buildings should relate to their site and the x 320' x more than 40' tall. This large scale surrounding context of buildings. does not relate to the much smaller scale of the buildings on the south side of Hydraulic 11 The overall design of buildings should have Road. As viewed from Hydraulic, the human scale. Scale should be integral to the building is divided into three boxes, with building and site design. minor changes in color and a pattern of screed lines used to break up the blankness and reduce the scale. Alternate /additional treatments are required to mitigate the scale. 12 Architecture proposed within the Entrance The primary impression of the building is Revise the cinema design to provide Corridor should use forms, shapes, scale, and that of three blocks, not a cohesive whole. a greater unity of parts. materials to create a cohesive whole. 13 Any appearance of "blankness" resulting from The use of channel screed lines to break up Provide a detail on the plans to building design should be relieved using design the wall surface does not sufficiently relieve clarify the width and depth of the detail or vegetation, or both. the blankness of the design. channel screed lines. Revise the cinema design to relieve the blankness. 14 Arcades, colonnades, or other architectural In one of the cinema work sessions, some None. connecting devices should be used to unify ARB members indicated that the trellis groups of buildings within a development. might be utilized to help unify the blocks of the building. The trellis was extended in a later revision. Accessory structures and equipment 17 Accessory structures and equipment should be A loading /dumpster area is located at the Provide a roof plan; include the integrated into the overall plan of development northwest corner of the building. A rooftop mechanical screen on the plan. and shall, to the extent possible, be compatible mechanical screen projects above the Provide drawings to clarify the with the building designs used on the site. western block of the building. The screen is to be constructed of prefinished metal visibility of the roof screen/equipment from the ECs. If 18 The following should be located to eliminate visibility from the Entrance Corridor street. If, panels in white. The screen is set back from the screen is visible, revise it to an after appropriate siting, these features will still the west and south elevations. Its degree of architectural element that is fully have a negative visual impact on the Entrance visibility from the ECs is unclear. Visible integrated with the architecture of Corridor street, screening should be provided to roof screens are generally not appropriate the building. eliminate visibility. for the EC. Visible screening should have a. Loading areas, the appearance of an integrated architectural b. Service areas, element. c. Refuse areas, d. Storage areas, e. Mechanical equipment, f. Above - ground utilities, and g. Chain link fence, barbed wire, razor wire, and similar security fencing devices. 19 Screening devices should be compatible with the design of the buildings and surrounding natural vegetation and may consist of: a. Walls, b. Plantings, and c. Fencing. 21 The following note should be added to the site plan The note does not appear on the plans. Add the following note to the site and the architectural plan: "Visibility of all and architectural plans: "Visibility mechanical equipment from the Entrance of all mechanical equipment from Corridor shall be eliminated." the Entrance Corridor shall be eliminated." Lighting General Guidelines 22 Light should be contained on the site and not Spillover exceeds .5 fc at the entrances into Revise the lighting plan to eliminate spill over onto adjacent properties or streets; the site from Hydraulic Road. spillover beyond .5 fc, and to use an LLF of 1.0 The photometric plan was calculated using LLFs of .6 and .65. The LLF must be 1.0 to meet County requirements. 26 Dark brown, dark bronze, or black are Fixture and pole colors are not clear from Provide one complete light schedule appropriate colors for free - standing pole the information submitted. in the site plan. Provide complete mounted light fixtures in the Entrance Corridors. information for all site and wall Two schedules are provided, but complete fixtures. Identify the color for each lighting information is not included. Some fixture /pole. Include the quantity of catalog numbers do not appear to match the each fixture. Include catalog cut sheets that have been provided. numbers for all fixtures; ensure that catalog numbers match the cut sheets. Include the cut sheets on a sheet of the site plan. 27 The height and scale of freestanding, pole- Pole lights proposed in the parking lot on Limit the parking lot pole lights to mounted light fixtures should be compatible with the west side of the cinema are 35' tall. This 20' high, including bases. the height and scale of the buildings and the sites is compatible with the height of the cinema, they are illuminating, and with the use of the site. but it far exceeds the 20' limit and the Typically, the height of freestanding pole- typical height of pole lights approved in the mounted light fixtures in the Entrance Corridors ECs. Because the parking lot is adjacent to should not exceed 20 feet, including the base. the EC, the 20' limit should be maintained. Fixtures that exceed 20 feet in height will typically require additional screening to achieve an appropriate appearance from the Entrance Corridor. 29 The following note should be included on the The note does not appear on the plan. Include the following note on the lighting plan: "Each outdoor luminaire equipped with a lamp that emits 3,000 or more initial lumens shall be a full cutoff luminaire. The spillover of lighting from luminaires onto public roads and property in residential or rural areas zoning districts shall not exceed one half footcandle." plan: "Each outdoor luminaire equipped with a lamp that emits 3,000 or more initial lumens shall be a full cutoff luminaire. The spillover of lighting from luminaires onto public roads and property in residential or rural areas zoning districts shall not exceed one half footcandle." Guidelines for the Use of Decorative Landscape Lighting 30 Light used for decorative effect shall: A number of light fixtures are proposed to Reduce the amount of illumination a. be compatible with the character of the illuminate the cinema building. Fixtures are on and around the cinema building. Entrance Corridor. Compatibility of exterior proposed at the top of the recessed panels at lighting and lighting fixtures is assessed in terms the west end of the Hydraulic elevation, in Add the following notes to the plan: of design, use, size, scale, color, and brightness. the vertical members of the trellis on the Automatic timing devices shall be Hydraulic and east elevations, and in the used to extinguish exterior building Where used for decorative effect, outdoor light railing on the east elevation. This amount of illumination between 11:00 p.m. 31 fixtures shall: exterior building illumination is and dawn. Building lighting shall a. be equipped with automatic timing devices and unprecedented for approved buildings in the not be modified to reflect seasonal shall be extinguished between the hours of 11:00 Entrance Corridors. The nighttime colors. p.m. and dawn. renderings suggests a high level of b. be shielded and focused to eliminate glare. illumination. Illuminating the recessed Glare control shall be achieved primarily through panels at the west end of the Hydraulic the use of such means as cutoff fixtures, shields Road emphasizes the scale of the building and baffles, and appropriate application of and its non - historic character. mounting height, wattage, aiming angle, fixture placement, etc. There is no indication that automatic timing c. be cutoff luminaires, aimed so as not to project devices will be used for the wall lights. their output beyond the objects intended to be illuminated; or non - cutoff luminaires, equipped Most of the fixtures used to illuminate the with glare shields, visors, barn doors, and/or building are not full cutoff fixtures. Some other similar shielding accessories as required to are to be installed in recessed areas of the meet the following criteria: Light distribution wall, trellis or railing. Most are aimed at the from all lighting installations shall be cut -off at wall in general, not at relatively small, all angles beyond those required to restrict direct specific architectural features. illumination to within the perimeter of the landscape feature being illuminated. d. never exceed 3,000 lumens. Further restrictions on lumens may be imposed by the ARB. e. not be modified to reflect seasonal colors. f. be of a number that is compatible with the scale of the object and the development to be illuminated, such that the light emitted will not over - illuminate or overpower the site, as determined by the ARB. Landscaping 7 The requirements of the Guidelines regarding A substantial amount of landscaping will be See below. landscaping are intended to reflect the required to promote visual order and to landscaping characteristic of many of the area's integrate the cinema into the corridor. significant historic sites which is characterized by large shade trees and lawns. Landscaping should promote visual order within the Entrance Corridor and help to integrate buildings into the existing environment of the corridor. 32 Landscaping along the frontage of Entrance Entrance Corridor street trees are shown 40' Revise the landscape plan so that Corridor streets should include the following: on center instead of 35' on center. No large shade trees at 31 /z" caliper are a. Large shade trees should be planted parallel to ornamental trees are included along the spaced 35' on center, parallel to the the Entrance Corridor Street. Such trees should corridor. EC. Intersperse ornamental trees be at least 31/2 inches caliper (measured 6 inches among the shade trees. Identify the above the ground) and should be of a plant The plant schedule lists proposed species, trees on the plan by species. species common to the area. Such trees should be but the plan does not identify the species of located at least every 35 feet on center. individual trees. b. Flowering ornamental trees of a species common to the area should be interspersed among the trees required by the preceding paragraph. The ornamental trees need not alternate one for one with the large shade trees. They may be planted among the large shade trees in a less regular spacing pattern. 33 Landscaping along interior roads: Trees are proposed along Stonefield Blvd., Show 21/2" caliper large trees a. Large trees should be planted parallel to all and on a portion of the west side of planted along the east side of interior roads. Such trees should be at least 21/2 Swanson Drive, but none are shown along Inglewood Drive at 40' on center. inches caliper (measured six inches above the Inglewood Drive. Planting size cannot be round) and should be of a plant species determined because the species are not common to the area. Such trees should be located identified on the plan. at least every 40 feet on center. 35 Landscaping of parking areas: a. Large trees should align the perimeter of parking areas, located 40 feet on center. Trees should be planted in the interior of parking areas at the rate of one tree for every 10 parking spaces provided and should be evenly distributed throughout the interior of the parking area. b. Trees required by the preceding paragraph should measure 21/2 inches caliper (measured six inches above the ground); should be evenly spaced; and should be of a species common to the area. Such trees should be planted in planters or medians sufficiently large to maintain the health of the tree and shall be protected by curbing. c. Shrubs should be provided as necessary to minimize the parking area's impact on Entrance Corridor streets. Shrubs should measure 24 inches in height. 36 Landscaping of buildings and other structures: a. Trees or other vegetation should be planted along the front of long buildings as necessary to soften the appearance of exterior walls. The spacing, size, and type of such trees or vegetation should be determined by the length, height, and blankness of such walls. b. Shrubs should be used to integrate the site, buildings, and other structures; dumpsters, accessory buildings and structures; "drive thru" windows; service areas; and signs. Shrubs should measure at least 24 inches in height. The landscape plan isn't coordinated with the site plan and lighting plan. The landscape plan doesn't show the parking lot on the east side of the cinema. Trees provided on the east and south sides of the parking lot are acting as both perimeter parking lot trees and as street trees. No perimeter parking lot trees are provided on the west side of the lot. The size and blankness of the building suggests that a significant amount of landscaping is required to integrate the building into the corridor. Seven trees and a row of shrubs are proposed along the Hydraulic face of the building. Additional/alternate planting should be considered. Although EC tree spacing is 35' oc, irregular spacing and grouping of plants might be considered in conjunction with architectural changes to mitigate the size and scale of the building. A single species of shrub is proposed throughout the cinema project. The number of species should be expanded. Limiting the number of proposed plants for one species Revise the landscape plan to show the parking lot on the east side of the cinema and all of the corresponding landscaping. Provide perimeter parking lot trees on the west side of the parking lot located west of the cinema. Clearly show the location of the trellis on the site plan. Clearly show on a plan the relationship between the building, the trellis, the railing, the sidewalk, the landscaping and the EC. Provide landscaping beyond the standard EC minimums to offset the impacts of the scale of the building. Revise the landscape proposal by limiting the number of proposed plants for any one species to 25% of the total proposed for that plant type (tree, shrub). T17 to 25% of the total proposed for that plant type (tree, shrub) will result in a landscape that is less susceptible to the impact of disease while also meeting the intent of the Entrance Corridor Guidelines for variety in the design. The plans do not clearly show the location of the trellis. 38 Plant health: The following note should be added The note does not appear on the plan. Add the following note to the plan: to the landscape plan: "All site plantings of trees "All site plantings of trees and and shrubs shall be allowed to reach, and be shrubs shall be allowed to reach, maintained at, mature height; the topping of trees and be maintained at, mature is prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall be pruned height; the topping of trees is minimally and only to support the overall health prohibited. Shrubs and trees shall of the plant." be pruned minimally and only to support the overall health of the plant." Site Development and layout Development pattern 39 The relationship of buildings and other structures There is a railing on the retaining wall at the Clarify railing locations throughout to the Entrance Corridor street and to other parking lot. Two guardrail details are the site. Revise the color of the development within the corridor should be as provided. "Delicate White" is the color railing on the retaining wall to a follows: proposed for the metal handrails. A darker much darker color. Coordinate the e. If significant natural features exist on the site color would be more appropriate for the railing color near the cinema with (including creek valleys, steep slopes, significant railing on the retaining wall at the parking the final building colors. trees or rock outcroppings), to the extent lot. An alternate color for the railings near practical, then such natural features should be the cinema may be appropriate if building reflected in the site layout. If the provisions of colors are revised. Section 32.5.6.n of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance apply, then improvements required by that section should be located so as to maximize the use of existing features in screening such improvements from Entrance Corridor streets. f. The placement of structures on the site should respect existing views and vistas on and around the site. 44 Natural drainage patterns (or to the extent A temporary sediment basin is proposed at Revise the plan to show how the T17 11 required, new drainage patterns) should be the southeast corner of the Sperry Marine appearance of the temporary incorporated into the finished site to the extent site. An interim stormwater facility is sediment basin and interim possible. proposed at the northeast corner of the stormwater facility along Rt. 29 will Sperry Marine site. Both facilities are be made appropriate for the EC. situated close to the road and will be visible from the Rt. 29 EC. SIGNS Some of the cinema elevations have shown Provide complete information on wall signs, but complete details have not the wall signs proposed for the been provided. Due to the size and character cinema. (Use the sign checklist for of the proposed building, there is a potential submittal requirements.) Note that for the building to appear as a billboard if current maximum wall sign height wall signs are over - scaled. Submittal of sign is 30'. details with the building elevations will allow for better coordination. The applicant should note that current maximum wall sign height is 30'. 11 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. Connection to historic architecture 2. Blankness 3. White and light colors 4. Overuse of synthetic stucco 5. The cinema design as a cohesive whole 6. Rooftop equipment, rooftop mechanical screen 7. Height of parking lot pole lights 8. Amount of external building illumination 9. Railing color(s) 10. Planting along the corridor, along the cinema and at the parking lots Staff offers the following comments on the preliminary submittal: Regarding the architectural design: 1. Revise the cinema to achieve a design that reflects the historic architecture of Albemarle County. 2. Revise the cinema design to relieve the blankness of the walls. 3. Incorporate architectural features into the building that are compatible with the significant historic buildings in the area and that help reduce the scale and blankness of the design. 4. Revise the cinema design to provide a greater unity of parts. 5. Revise the white, light tan, and light grey colors of the proposed cinema so that a significant portion of the building's surfaces are faced with the darker, warmer colors of the town center's material /color palette. 6. Revise the building materials to use no more than 50% synthetic stucco. 7. If wood siding is used, indicate how it will be treated to maintain an appropriate appearance over time. 8. Provide a detail on the plans to clarify the width and depth of the channel screed lines. 9. Provide a roof plan; include the mechanical screen on the plan. Provide drawings to clarify the visibility of the roof screen/equipment from the ECs. If the screen is visible, revise it to an architectural element that is fully integrated with the architecture of the building. 10. Add the following note to the site and architectural plans: "Visibility of all mechanical equipment from the Entrance Corridor shall be eliminated." 12 Re ag rding lightina: 11. Revise the lighting plan to eliminate spillover beyond .5 fc, and to use an LLF of 1.0 12. Provide one complete light schedule in the site plan. Provide complete information for all site and wall fixtures. Identify the color for each fixture /pole. Include the quantity of each fixture. Include catalog numbers for all fixtures; ensure that catalog numbers match the cut sheets. Include the cut sheets on a sheet of the site plan. 13. Limit the parking lot pole lights to 20' high, including bases. 14. Include the following note on the plan: "Each outdoor luminaire equipped with a lamp that emits 3,000 or more initial lumens shall be a full cutoff luminaire. The spillover of lighting from luminaires onto public roads and property in residential or rural areas zoning districts shall not exceed one half footcandle." 15. Reduce the amount of illumination on and around the cinema building. 16. Add the following notes to the plan: "Automatic timing devices shall be used to extinguish exterior building illumination between 11:00 p.m. and dawn. Building lighting shall not be modified to reflect seasonal colors." Regarding landscaping_ 17. Revise the landscape plan so that large shade trees at 31 /z" caliper are spaced 35' on center, parallel to the EC. Intersperse ornamental trees among the shade trees. Identify the trees on the plan by species. 18. Show 21/2" caliper large trees planted along the east side of Inglewood Drive at 40' on center. 19. Revise the landscape plan to show the parking lot on the east side of the cinema and all of the corresponding landscaping. 20. Provide perimeter parking lot trees on the west side of the parking lot located west of the cinema. 21. Provide landscaping beyond the standard EC minimums to offset the impacts of the scale of the building. 22. Revise the landscape proposal by limiting the number of proposed plants for any one species to 25% of the total proposed for that plant type (tree, shrub). 23. Add the following note to 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." Regarding the site: 24. Clearly show the location of the trellis on the site plan. Clearly show on a plan the relationship between the building, the trellis, the railing, the sidewalk, the landscaping and the EC. 25. Clarify railing locations throughout the site. Revise the color of the railing on the retaining wall to a much darker color. Coordinate the railing color near the cinema with the final building colors. 26. Revise the plan to show how the appearance of the temporary sediment basin and interim stormwater facility along Rt. 29 will be made appropriate for the EC. Regarding signage: 27. Provide complete information on the wall signs proposed for the cinema. (Use the sign checklist for submittal requirements.) Note that current maximum wall sign height is 30'. 13 APPENDIX A This report is based on the following submittal items: Sheet # Drawing Name Drawing Date/Revision Date C1 Site Plan 5/17/11 LS 1 Landscape Plan 5/27/11 LT1 Site Lighting Plan 5/23/11 LT2 Floor Plan - Level 1 - Lighting May 23, 2011 LT3 Building Elevations - Lighting May 23, 2011 LT4 Building Elevations — Lighting May 23, 2011 LT5 Photometric Plan 5/23/11 Fixture Detail Sheets 23 May 2011 Perspective Sketches (3) View from SE, View from SW, View from Route 29 23 May 2011 Site Sections A, B, C 23 May 2011 A201 Floor Plan Level 1 May 23, 2011 A202 Main Level May 23, 2011 West Elevation 23 May 2011 East Elevation 23 May 2011 South Elevation 23 May 2011 E &S Plan sheets 1, -4, 6 -7, 10 -13, 16 -18, and 21 -23 of 35 3/18/11 Material/color boards (2) May 23, 2011 Site photographs May 23, 2011 14 ATTACHMENT A STONEFIELD 2011 WORK SESSION COMMENTS 1/3/2011 Regarding the Albemarle Place work session, the ARB made the following comments: 1. The building at the corner of Hydraulic and Route 29 presents a challenge due to its size, its orientation, the surrounding parking lots, the loading area, and the general appearance of the area as a "void." The building should be anchored in some way. How does it address the open space? It is one of the center's main buildings and is located at this major corner and it presents its back to the ECs. 2. Two foot (2') shrubs won't successfully mitigate the impact of a large parking area immediately adjacent to the EC (between Hydraulic and the hotel, on Hydraulic and Rt. 29 around the grocery store, and at the northeast corner of Phase 1). More relief will be required on the edges. Consider walls and grade changes. Consider "temporary" treatments that might be removed when future construction is ready to proceed. 3. Consider historic building size, particularly regarding the movie theater. A Regal 13 movie theater is not the scale of this community. The Hydraulic elevation of the theater will require careful attention to detail. 4. It was noted that real stucco, not EIFS, would be used in this project. 5. In general, the material palette appeared appropriate, but how the materials are implemented throughout the project is the key. When brick is used, it should be rooted in Charlottesville /Albemarle tradition, but red brick is not required. 6. The rendering of the hotel doesn't convey the richness of the proposed materials. Additional drawings that clarify the relationships among the various volumes (how far do they project forward/back ?) should be provided — 3D drawings, a better rendering, and additional detail on materials. 7. The way the hotel building meets the ground is inconsistent — strong in some areas, weak in others. The wainscoting may be too short. 8. A highly reflective copper surface will not be appropriate in the Entrance Corridor. 9. This project will be establishing the context for future buildings to be constructed in this area. The buildings should be designed while asking, "What does someone do next to this ?" 10. The applicant will be establishing architectural guidelines that the center will follow, in addition to meeting the EC Guidelines. The center's guidelines may be submitted with the ARB application to assist in coordination. 11. The applicant will be requesting meetings with individual ARB members to further discuss the hotel design. The applicant will aim for a January 24`h submittal and March 7 preliminary ARB review of the hotel design. 4/18/2011 The ARB held a work session on the Stonefield (previously Albemarle Place) development. The applicant discussed the development's design guidelines with the ARB and presented a revised Hyatt Place elevation for discussion. It was the general consensus of the ARB that the design guidelines and the Hyatt Place elevation were moving in the right direction. The following comments were made: 1. There continues to be concern about the appearance of the corner building. 2. Viewing the landscaping together with the buildings is important. 3. Focus on what is visible from the EC. 4. Red brick and cast stone are missing from the proposed materials palette. Though these materials are not required, the applicant may wish to consider opening the palette further for added interest and flexibility later. 5. A planting plan will be required for "temporary" stormwater facilities that will be in place for more than 18 months. 15 6. Additional clarification on the phasing of the project was requested. 7. The timing of building construction can impact the level of ARB review required on a particular building. 5/16/2011 The ARB held a work session on the Stonefield (previously Albemarle Place) development. The applicant discussed the concept elevations for the Regal Cinema and Trader Joe's with the ARB. The ARB provided the following comments. 1. Building transparency enlivens the street edge. The Trader Joe's should incorporate transparency along the EC. 2. The grocery store columns aren't supporting enough. They feel thin and applied. 3. Stepping out the corner of the grocery store may be appropriate. 4. It is difficult to see the connection to local architecture in the grocery store design. 5. There was continued discussion about the appearance of the corner building, with board members noting that the Hydraulic /29 corner is potentially the most important in the County. 6. There was much discussion about the material and overall color palette and how it relates to local architecture. 7. There is concern about how the large expanses of a single material will appear. 8. What material are pedestrians walking next to? 9. Stucco and synthetic stucco were discussed. Long -term durability and permanence are issues. 10. Consider a more civic - character material for the infill panels between the cinema's pilasters. Hardipanel doesn't seem appropriate. 11. The horizontal lattice piece along the cinema was considered an appropriate feature. Extending it further may be appropriate. 6/6/2011 The ARB held a work session on The Shops at Stonefield, discussing the town center buildings and the Regal Cinema design. In summary, ARB members provided the following comments: 1. The cinema design really can't be compared to the Rotunda or Monticello. The cinema design has no obvious connection to Albemarle's historic architecture. 2. Important issues are: a. materials /quality of materials, b. relief of the wall planes, c. interest in the walls and materials, d. scale and the breaking up of the building mass. 3. The earlier sketches showed some features that weren't carried through in the current drawings but should be reintroduced: a. the trellis had a stronger presence, b. the tower at the west end added vertical interest, c. there was more significant depth/relief between building parts, d. there was a greater break -up of the sections of the building, e. there was more visual interest in the materials, f. there was more significant contrast between colors, which helped break up the mass. 4. The design uses too much stucco. This massive use of stucco is unprecedented. 5. The design is too light - colored. T'7 6. The trellis element could help make the design more palatable along the street edge. The "meatier" trellis elements previously shown were more successful than the "airier" elements in the current submittal. 7. A depth of 1'4" for the recessed panels at the west end of the south elevation is not an appropriate proportion for that size panel. 8. The depth of the recesses wasn't evident in the plan. 9. The east fagade also has significant scale issues. 10. The building doesn't "meet the ground" 11. There is concern that the screed lines won't read sufficiently to break up the stucco surface. 12. There is concern about the roof screen and mechanical equipment. 13. There is concern about the precedent- setting aspect of this review /approval. 6/20/2011 The ARB held a work session on the elevations for the Regal Cinema and Trader Joe's in the Stoneiield development. During the discussion with the applicant, ARB members made the following comments. Regarding the cinema: 1. The accuracy of the landscape depicted in the perspectives was questioned. 2. Substantial shrubbery at the base of the building is needed. 3. The top halves of the two eastern blocks are still very blank. 4. The revisions to the western block are good. The color contrast is good. 5. The eastern two blocks still need work. It is still a big, white, blank building that doesn't respond to local historic architecture. 6. The need for the channel screed "lines" to be substantial was repeated and emphasized. 7. It will be important to find a product that will allow the wood to retain its rich wood color. 8. Setting a precedent by approving a building of this size finished almost completely in simulated stucco is an important consideration. A change in material is warranted. Contrasting material between the two EIFS ends makes sense. Limit simulated stucco to less than 50% of the fagade materials. 9. The massing is acceptable. Material is the #1 concern. 10. The ARB asked to see the view from the left turn lane from Hydraulic /29. In addition, a view coming down the hill on Hydraulic Road would be helpful. Regarding Trader Joe's: 11. There are a lot of similarities to the cinema design, at a different scale. 12. Consider alternate materials for the recesses of the corner element. 13. A quiet wall is a blank wall. 14. This is not a background building. It is one of the most prominent corners in the County. It must be designed and detailed accordingly. 17