07/22/2003 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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' 2. Westfield Shoquing Center (Great Northern Mall); PP# 236-09-002 Proposal is to expand the north side of the center to include Galyan's. The Planning Commission addressed the proposal 06/24/03 and 7/8/03. Board of Zoning Appeals granted variance request 7/9/03. The Architectural Review Board tabled this proposal on 7/16/03. Applicant Presentation Mr. Farrell of Westfield, and Mr. McIntosh, the general manager of the mall, came forward. Mr. Farrell thanked the board for the opportunity to meet and indicated he would like to cover the issues that were left open from last week. He said the first issue was landscaping and their landscaper met with Mr. Zergott to address that. Mr. Farrell said the correct plan is included in the booklets the board members received. Mr. Zergott pointed out that when he met the landscaper, he was told a couple of changes would be made. 1VIr. . Farrell said he was assured the changes would be on the plan. Mr. Zergott said he accepted the plan. Mr. Farrell said they need to check on the right of way because he does not believe they have the amount of room that the college has. Mr. Zergott said the only thing he did not mention to the landscaper was trying to add some groupings of annuals, areas to cut into the perennials. Mr. Farrell said they can add that. He said another issue that was raised was having gates from the screen wall to the corner. He indicated the loading docks will have metal gates. He added that they spent a lot of time going over the building and he presented a correct rendering and material board. Board Questions and Comments Mr. Zergott asked if they have a material list as well. Mr. Farrell indicated they have provided it in the booklet. He showed the board members the actual brick they will use. It is, in fact, redder, as was stated at the last meeting. There is accent brick in the design. Mr. Yager said it will be a good match there. Mrs. Nader asked where the accent will go. Mr. Yager pointed out it will go right above the limestone base and where the canopy edge is. He then asked what the material above the canopy will be. Mr. Farrell said it is accent E.F.I. S. Mrs. Nader asked for clarification on the dark brown color on the rendering. She asked if it is the coping. Mr. McIntosh said it is a shadow. Mrs. Nader said it is shown.on the elevation as being brick. Mr. Farrell said it is definitely not a shadow. Mrs. Nader said she thought it might be the coping, which will tie into the supports for the fabric. Mr. Yager said the fagade is very elegant. He is a big proponent of the artist boards because in looking at the previous rendering and the new one, there is a big difference. They are both very professional but the new one is not as lively or fun. It seems as though they quieted down the rendering. Mr. Farrell indicated they showed Councilmen Nasher and McKay a rendering of the building. He said Mr. Nasher expressed concern about the look of the building. Ms. Schulz mentioned that the gentleman from Galyan's had said at the last meeting that the murals are incorrect in the rendering. She said she also thought he indicated it would not be covered with E.F.I.S.; it would be open. Mr. Farrell said the rock climbing walls will be visible. Mrs. Nader said the representative from Galyan's did say there would be E.F.I.S. in the windows. Mr. Yager said the board needs to consider how they look upon these sign panels because if Mr. Nasher has an opinion, it will come forth again at some point in time. He said the board is to recommend to the Planning Commission what it thinks is the most appropriate look. Mr. Zergott said that years ago when Ponderoza and Nuevo Acapulco came through with murals on their walls, the board was having trouble trying to decide what good art is. He said it is art. He said one person's idea of what is nice and another person's idea can be entirely different. Mr. Yager said their job is to deterinine what is nice. He said he looks at this and aesthetically it achieves what they are hoping to achieve. Ms. Schulz said the panels could be a variety of things. They would have to be looked at separately if the city were starting to accept this as art. 1VIr. Yager mentioned the banners that he sees downtown that are up on the street. He does not view that as obtrusive or uncomplimentary with action and activity. He said he sees these as action panels more than anything else. He understands the risk of allowing it, because the board has, in the past, asked to eliminate them, but they do not have sign issues before them any longer. This is about a building design and not about a sign. Ms. Schulz said she is happy with the design they are proposing. It fits the mall and the flavor of the city as it exists today. She suggested it is would be something that needs to be revisited because incorporating art in any design can be extremely powerful and beneficial to the design. But it is something the city needs to 3