10/12/2005 P&Z Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning & Zoning Board October 12, 2005 Page 6 APPROVED MINUTES Mr. Root stated his question was for the Boar d and clearly there was a concern from the Board that this was not as strong of a feature as what was facing the freeway. Mr. Tralle stated he would lik e to see some brick to the ri ght to “dress” it up a bit more and maybe add some brick detail in other areas a well. He noted this was going to face the downtown and just the center brick face wa sn’t enough. He stated if they could put some brick on the other end this would help. He noted he was not impressed with the porches either and suggested th ey put more brick on the build ing. He indicated he would not support this as it was being proposed. Chair Rafferty asked if the surfaces were all on the same plane. Mr. Sarver responded that they were not. He indicated there wa s a tremendous amount of articulation in the building. He agreed that the idea of adding brick to the other side was a good one to put some depth into the building. Chair Rafferty asked if there was benefit to us ing a darker band at the top to make it look like there was a cap. He asked if this woul d be too much. Mr. Hyden responded in his option, this would give the bu ilding more of a sport look. Mr. Root noted there was clear definition in the other buildings and he liked Mr. Tralle’s suggestion. Mr. Sarver noted when they had an opportunity to create a focal point, they did their best to create the focal point and if they added additional featur es, it would pull away from the focal point. Chair Rafferty i ndicated he understood their con cern, but he did not believe Mr. Tralle’s suggestion would take away from the focal point. He stated they were not only looking at the focal points, but also at the strength the building had to offer and they wanted a strong statement into the entrance of the complex. He stated they were looking for avenues that would allow them to live with a good development. Mr. Sarver stated that on the street side of the building by adding the brick to the gabled end the building, the gables would not be balanced and by having the brick element centered, this was an asymmetrical form. Wanda Kraemer, representative of GCI Build ers and the ownership group of the hotel, presented the background of the hotel proposal . She noted porches were a part of the Country Inn and Suites attempt to have two fronts to the building and yet work with the streetscape also. She stated they believed this looked good and was what they wanted and she was surprised that they did not want the building positioned this way. She stated they believed they were trying to work with the City and staff to have a development that was what the City wanted. She indicated th ey were open to ideas, but they have been trying to work within the City’s guidelines. Mr. Laden asked if Country Inn & Suites had ev er had a commercial development in their hotels. Ms. Kraemer responded they partne r with TGI Fridays, but the building was attached and it was not a part of the hotel specifically.