09-25-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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With regard to the building materials, the applicant proposes a primary wall design of precast concrete panels with banded texturing and decorative metal "medallions ". The flat roof design includes a metal coping along the top line of the wall. The front entrance is set off from the main building through the use of a gabled metal roof over a wood and stone sided extension. The following issues should be reviewed by the Planning Commission with regard to the application of the Architectural Guidelines to this building. First, except for the main entrance, the building has no glass exposure, The applicants have indicated to staff that because the facility sells firearms, they do not wish to have any more window exposure than necessary. The Architectural Guidelines encourage the use of glass as the predominant building material exposed to the street. The City should determine whether it is appropriate to vary this standard for this building and its location. It should be noted that in some instances, buildings can utilize "false" window panels that do not permit views into the building, but reflect the appearance of a glass facade. Related to the window exposure is the wall exposure to the public. Along Highway 36, a single continuous wall provides the only exposure to the passing public. The Planning Commission should discuss whether the City will require more articulation in the wall along this frontage. It should be noted that the building's exposure to the south (the primary local street frontage) presents a varied wall design, including the front entrance extension. The second item would be the roof line of the building. The City has typically required additional detailing in this area as a simple, but effective, method of increasing the architectural impact of the building. Some form of decorative cornice or other treatment would be recommended. In connection with this item, the City has also often recommended a varied roof line, rather than a continuous linear wall. While the front entrance area varies the building fagade, the remainder of the building in unvaried. The Planning Commission should consider whether the building would benefit from additional roof line variation, in accordance with the Guidelines. Finally, the building plans include wall sign graphics. It is not clear from the plans as to how this signage will be lighted. The applicants should identify this at the meeting. The site plan also shows a freestanding sign, but no details have been provided as to its design. Planning staff would recommend a monument -style sign if possible, and we would note that the City prefers that such signs have individually lighted lettering "reversed out" of a dark field, rather than a white -lit background "panel ". pc: Kathy Glanzer Steve Westerhaus Lee Elfering Greg Schroeder Ward Sessing, Sessing Architects, 190 Northbrook Corp. Center, 6 Pine Tree Dr., St. Paul, MN 55112 Joe and Jim Rauscher, 935 North Dale Street, St. Paul, MN 55103