04/13/2016 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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16-5356; Millennium Place; 25225-25249 Country Club Blvd Representatives: Jeff Gibbon, Vocon; Ken Lepine, Tech Park Associates; Jayme Schwartzberg, landscape architect Ms. Wenger stated that this proposal consists of site, landscaping, building and signage changes. The property is zoned Mixed Use A. Now known as Great Northern Technology Park, this project would rebrand the property as Millennium Place. Currently, the property is entirely office use. The applicant proposes the possible addition of first floor retail to Building 1. The primary purpose of any retail use would be to attract, serve and support onsite office tenants, but would draw users from offsite, as well. The applicant proposes allowing up to 20% of the gross floor area of the buildings to be used for retail. Staff supports a 20% limit on retail to preserve the primary office character of this development. Proposed parking is 621 spaces, which adequately meets the needs of the existing office space and proposed retail space. Site changes include adding a landbanked parking area for potential future parking expansion, removing existing brick piers throughout the property, and installation of a flagpole. The parking lot will be resealed and restriped. Small existing landscaped areas south of the two trash enclosures will be removed for better fire and emergency access. A significant amount of landscape and hardscape improvements are proposed. The applicant has classified them into two general categories: overall site improvements and tenant specific improvements. Overall site improvements include frontage enhancements along Country Club Boulevard, landscaping at the central entry and western drive, improvements to screening of utility areas, and general maintenance, repair and replacement of plant materials as necessary throughout the property. Tenant specific improvements include patios with fencing, enhanced landscaping adjacent to the buildings, terraces, and ornamental pavement. While tenant specific improvements are shown as part of the submission, it is expected that small deviations from the proposal may occur as tenants are identified and their specific needs are met. So long as the changes are small in nature, staff recommends handling these future tenant updates through the minor change process. Changes to the buildings include the addition of blue canopies and black metal panels along portions of the north elevations. Where retail tenants are proposed, the black panel will act as the backdrop for signage. Signage is a key component of the rebranding effort. Four Millennium Place logos are proposed in the gables on each building. Additionally, the main office tenant will have a wall sign on each building. Retail tenants would have one sign per building unit. Variances are requested for number of wall signs and number of ground signs. No single wall sign would exceed the height or area permitted. Some signage is facing the rear parking lot for the purpose of wayfinding, which will not be visible from the right-of-way. The amount of signage proposed is about half that which would be allowed for the property in total. The existing off-premise LaQuinta ground sign will remain in the short term. In the longer term, it is planned that the sign would relocate onto LaQuinta property at the eastern curb cut, should a break in the median on Country Club Boulevard occur to make it a full access point. Ms. Wenger stated that the applicant will be altering the main entrance sign to eliminate the need for a height variance. A more detailed site plan was requested to be included with their submission for BZBA. Mr. Gibbon stated that the goal of the master plan is to attract tenants and have signage requirements set up to allow for negotiations with future tenants. Mr. Gibbon stated that the metal canopies