11-01-95 Planning Comm. Workshop Minutes

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Architectural Elements The workshop participants began the discussion of architectural elements by reviewing an extensive lisf of possible elements to consider regulating. Issues to be resolved about each of the issues include (1) whether the element should be included in the guidelines, (2) what aspects of each element participants liked or disliked, and (3) whether the extent of the City's review would be at the policy level or actual regulation of the element itself. It was also agreed that the City should view the architectural needs from along-term perspective, and that a design which would be "timeless" is the ultimate objective of these guidelines. The committee made the following recommendations regarding the potential architectural elements: • Building massing should present varied levels and mass to the street. • There should be breaks in the building massing, both through the block to the parking in back, and by varying the setback of building facades from the curb. • There should be a variation in building heights and number of stories. • Corner buildings should express an "anchor" massing by being larger and/or higher. • Buildings should identify a visual focal point as entries to the development as a whole. • The "bays" of the buildings should present a varied width along the street, but should complement each other. • The bays should accommodate future expansion, and possible changes in tenants. • The width of the bay of a building should exceed the height of the base to create a mare solid look to the individual bays. • Height of the building base should be complementary from bay to bay. • There should be more window than wall space at street level. • Entrances to buildings should vary from the building line, and could include flush entrances as well as recessed entrances. • Canopies and awnings will need further discussion. • The shaft, or upper floors above the base, of the building should accommodate varied uses, including both office and residential spaces. • Window area in the upper stories should be consistent from building to building. • Crowns of buildings should be decorative and distinctive. • Materials should be natural and complementary to the other building materials. • Roof form: Mostly flat, although the committee wanted to see examples which would illustrate sloping roofs or a combination of flat and sloping rooflines. Streetscape Elements The committee discussed the need to create an environment which accommodates vehicles easily and efficiently, but made pedestrians feel comfortable walking in and through the project. A character reflecting charm and non-contemporary environments was desired, with a significant amount of vegetation and open space.