11/09/2005 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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YMCA, page 3 amenities of the site. The main entrance is connected to both Town Center Drive and Village Drive via pedestrian walkways through the parking areas. Staff feels that the overhang element proposed for the building entry needs to be strengthened to properly accentuate the main public entrances for the facility. The Lino Lakes Town Center Design and Development Guidelines (LLTCDDG) typically require a base, middle, and top approach to the architecture within the Legacy at Woods Edge project. Staff has a very difficult time seeing the definition of a base, middle, and top for the current proposal. However, the LLTCDDG does include an allowance that if a building demonstrates `exceptional quality of design and materials' it does not need to specifically address the three recognizable elements. The building materials proposed for the site include tilt -up concrete panels; metal panels and brick veneer. The LLTCDDG requires materials to support regional traditions and to maintain a level of craft. It is very difficult to consider tilt -up concrete panels as meeting these requirements or that they be `exceptional' materials for construction. While they are technically a `masonry' material, they do not meet the intent of the guidelines which is to require materials that are aesthetically pleasing and architecturally significant. Staff has recommended some minimum changes to the concrete panels to make them more acceptable, but still does not support the use of this type of material anywhere within the Legacy at Woods Edge project. Staff understands that the recreational function of this building makes tilt -up concrete panels a preferred material of the applicant. This being said staff is recommending that the actual panels themselves demonstrate some additional design elements such as the corduroying that is depicted only on the far north and south corners of the west side of the elevation. Staff also recommends that the panels be made of a darker material so that the visual impact of the expansive wall is minimized. •urthermore, staff does not see anyway of recommending approval of the structure unless changes are made to clearly define the base, middle and top of the structure. Staff is recommending that a brick veneer be added to the concrete panels, at a height roughly equivalent to approximately one story to provide the proper scale. Some sort of an architectural element should also be added to the `top' of the structure that is appropriately scaled and complimentary to the design of the rest of the structure. The metal paneled portions of the site do not necessarily need a `base' element, though staff would encourage the use of a flat, lightly textured metal panel that will provide a contrast to the scalloped effect of the proposed metal paneling. Staff also has concerns with the corner and joint treatment of the proposed metal paneling and will need to see further detail from the applicant before completely supporting the use of the metal paneling. Throughout the portion of the structure that uses the brick veneer and metal paneling a cornice element must be added to clearly define the top of those portions of the building. The windows provided in the concrete panel portion of the building are inadequate to break up the monotonous wall face. Larger windows placed in either a horizontal or vertical pattern should be added. Though the small square windows are a positive secondary element to provide both a less institutional look and additional daylighting to the structure, they should not be the only interruptions to the rather blank, repetitive facade of the concrete panels. The design standards require a reveal of at least 2 inches from the exterior trim to create shadow for visual interest rather than windows and trim flush with the building. A condition is included with staff s •