12/04/2003 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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along, different elements are picked up into the plans, such as the Architectural Review Board making the suggestion that a sidewalk be brought over to the Target. The next generation of plans will show that sidewalk. He mentioned they will create a T-intersection to provide movement east and west. They will have one consistent plan that will be approved by the Planning Commission, approved by the Architectural Review Board and approved by Council and finally a building permit. There will be one set of plans. Mr. O'Maliey said to help Mr. Berryhill prove his point, he said Mr. Berryhill has a foam board rendering with him but as he continues to develop this, the next generation will develop as he is molding and shaping and toying with some • of these ideas. He said Carnegie previously had an undulating brick-scape along the front. There were comments that maybe they need mounding while maintaining the site lines. The Planning Commission process involves a lot of the tinkering with some of these elements and working out some of the kinks and design standards. Mr. Berryhill said they heard the Planning Commission very clearly. They heard the residents very clearly. He said they understand they want to maintain that type of look there. There were other plans shown as part of the evolution process. They have made the commitment in writing that they will maintain the look that the Planning Commission and residents accepted. Mr. Kremzar asked about security for the site. Mr. Berryhill said they have an existing traffic light in front of Wal-Mart so that is the only way he can have a curb cut. They are playing around with the idea of having an underground passage way, which will provide security. 1dIrs. Sergi asked if anything else will go in the larger building along with Target. Mr. Berryhill indicated it will just be Target. He said Target does not like the center element that was presented because it creates an artificial storefront and looks like another means of ingress/egress. They are looking at de-emphasizing the columns and they may use different elements there. That will be addressed with the Planning Commission. The spirit and intent of the Western Reserve styling and the spirit and intent of breaking up the building massing by these moldable storefronts all the way down will be preserved. The elements of the towers, the elements of the mansard roof and the elements of the different heights will be preserved and incorporated. Mr. O'Malley said that Target might come around to see the wisdom of continuing with that architectural feature. Mr. Berryhill agreed. Audienee Questions and Comments Mr. Skoulis came forward and said his group is glad to see the applicant has returned to the original concept because as the board should know from his letter, they had a meeting with the developer, the Mayor, and council members. He said the developer agreed to do the project exactly as it was presented. 1VIr. Berryhill inquired about the letter and said he did not get a copy. Mr. Skoulis indicated he will send Mr. Berryhill a copy. Mr. Skoulis said the letter explained that a meeting did take place and it spelled out how they voted and why they voted the way they did. He said they, the residents, agreed to go along with the variances that are necessary even though they don't like them, providing that the developer build it exactly as he presented it to the residents. Mr. Skoulis said that Mr. Berryhill agreed to do that. Mr. O'IVIalley said he would remind the board that the planning process necessarily includes the participation of residents, as does this meeting. The developer has been more than willing to meet with the residents in private meetings and have discussions with them, walk in their neighborhood, and take a look at the site from their backyards, however, the use of the term agreement is too strong a term. The city, through its boards and commissions and administrative process, exercising governmental authority in a reasonable way, makes approval on plans. The residents, through their association, do not reach agreements with developers or extract concessions from developers. Mr. Maloney said he appreciates that the developer has met with the residents to have an understanding so they can move forward to go to Planning to get the project approved. Mrs. Diver mentioned the association has always said they appreciate what the developer has done and appreciate the input. She pointed out the developer was also in on the zoning code being written for the land. She does not believe the exact square footage of the Target was brought up early on but right now, that variance is quite large. They are asking to exceed code by at least 50,000 square feet and that is equal to another building. According to the code, the footprint only allows 73,000 square feet. She said no resident objected to any of the buildings in the way they looked and they know it's time for the land to be done, but right now the amount of massing and the Target store itself is so large. Although, as Mr. 9