02-26-2014 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC. 4800 Olson Memorial Highway, Suite 202, Golden Valley, MN 55422 Telephone: 763.231 .2555 Facsimile: 783. 231 .2581 planners(i.gnacplanning.corn MEMORANDUM TO: Little Canada Planning Commission FROM: Stephen Grittman /Michelle Barness DATE: February 7, 2014 RE: Little Canada — Thunder Bay Plaza Retail Center — Architectural Review FILE NO: 758.09 —14.03 BACKGROUND QT Commercial has applied for an architectural review for the Thunder Bay Plaza retail center located at 19 Little Canada Road East. Thunder Bay Plaza is an existing strip retail center, and both the east and west building of the center are proposed to be renovated. The center is located in the PUD Zoning District in the downtown area, and is subject to the City's Architectural Guidelines. ANALYSIS Building Materials and Facade Design. The applicants are proposing to renovate the existing columns and a covered walkway in the front of both the east and west buildings. Portions of the renovated canopy design are arched and portions are flat, which provides interest by breaking up the flow of the front building facade. Eight to twelve feet of clear space is provided between the sidewalk and the canopy above, which provides for free pedestrian movement. An exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) will be installed on the columns and walls along the front of the buildings, with a stone veneer running along the base. Existing block walls along the sides of the buildings will be maintained, but will be painted to match the new EIFS stucco. The top of the building facade on the sides of buildings will be EIFS stucco as well, to maintain consistency with improvements on the fronts of buildings. According to the Architectural Guidelines, durable finish materials such as brick, stone and terra cotta should be used. Thus, the proposed building is consistent with such guidelines. 1 12