12/13/2005 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Wenger reported that the proposal consisted of re-facing the existing Michaels store in Olmsted Plaza along with other minor storefront improvements. hhgregg representatives attended a pre-submission conference with City staff on November 22°d. At that meeting the following changes were requested: • Remove bollards from in front of the store • Add landscaping planters around the storefront • Replace the EIFS behind the entry element with metal panel • Provide detail on the decorative lighting fixtures • Reduce the size of the wall sign, consider reducing the proportion of the canopy element if necessary • Provide photos of other hhgregg stores • Provide a site plan Plans submitted include the requested site plan and photos and show the additional landscaping areas and somewhat of a reduction in the wall sign size. However, the bollards in front of the store and the EIFS over the entry canopy remain as first submitted. She reviewed that Olmsted Plaza was previously discussed during the review process for Value City Furniture. Since then, Olmsted Plaza representatives met with the City on several occasions and have submitted preliminary plans for plaza improvements. That proposal will be introduced to the Commission in January. The applicant's signage will require variances and as hhgregg would be part of the master sign plan for Olmsted Plaza they are not requesting an individual ground sign at this time. She recommended the proposal be forwarded to the ARB for their recommendations and to the Board of Zoning Appeals to address sign variances. Mr. Rymarczyk reviewed that there would be three variances required for the wall sign. The new plans also show wall mount lighting, which if the commission believes is decorative can approve as submitted or require the applicant to seek a variance. Ms. Becker reported that if the applicants plan to relocate existing overhead utilities such as telephone or electric services, then the relocated lines would need to be underground if the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 % of the current building value. Mr. Nagy the architect reviewed that there would be alterations to the existing fagade. The owners advised that due to insurance requirements the bollards could not be removed. Ms. Wenger advised that other materials such as brick, or landscape planters could be used which would meet insurance requirements. Commissioners requested landscape planters be used in lieu of bollards. Mr. Nagy advised that there would be more than 50% of the building cost in utility upgrades therefore all utilities being replaced would be ran underground. The three wall mounted lights are used for shadowing effects on the building and are strictly low level decorative lights. Due to city codes boxing in the letters of the sign to calculate total square footage, their sign requires variances. City codes only allow 141 square feet for their wall sign and their sign calculated by city codes is 264 square feet. The chain link fence along the rear loading dock would be replaced with a new fence. The brick and EIFS colors to be used would match those used for Value City Furniture. Mr. Lasko believed that the two new stores would enhance the plaza corner and the blending of the two store fronts was very well done, but the sign did not look proportionate to the Value City sign. Although he recalled that Value City was granted variances, the applicant's sign was too 10