2014.01.09 PC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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O'Reilly's Auto Parts - Sketch Plan In general the applicant has provided connections to the existing and proposed sidewalks, however not in same way one would think of a traditional downtown with an entrance located along the road. An auto parts store is not necessarily pedestrian oriented, but rather automobile oriented. Although the plan shows a monument sign and some landscaping, it does not do a good job of designing a space with gateway elements to showcase the area as a key entry point into downtown. There is sufficient space located at the southwest corner of the site to provide a gateway element that is encouraged in the guidelines. The guidelines also encourage landscaping along the roads and sidewalks. Architecture and Building Material The downtown design guidelines encourage new buildings to be designed with elements of traditional main street design, Hugo's French trading post roots, or mid -western prairie style architecture. Traditional main street style buildings usually have flat roofs with well defined roof lines. The French trading post architectural elements include steeper or mansard roofs, open storefronts, and exterior plaster with stone and brick. Prairie style architecture has hipped roofs with low spreading deep overhangs. All of these styles are presented with more detail in the guidelines. The sketch plan elevation shows a building that includes colored rock face block and brick. The applicant did not include building material samples. There are windows on all sides of the building with metal awning above them. The building has small horizontal and vertical. projections with a cornice along the roof line. The building design relates closest to the traditional main street design that is encouraged by the guidelines. The building has the brick columns as accents that could be raised to the roof line to create a visual appearance of the columns holding up the roof. At a minimum, the brick within columns along the windows should be raised. The entrance could use more design to define it from the rest of the building. There could be design to the building to give it more of a traditional main street feel. With some design work, in general the building would meet the downtown design guidelines as well as the commercial and industrial design guidelines. The applicant has not provided elevations for the trash enclosure but it would be constructed of the some materials as the building. The applicant has not shown the location or proposed screening for the roof or ground mechanical equipment. All mechanical equipment shall be screened from view in a way that is integral to the architecture of the building with similar materials. This could include the raising of the parapets to screen roof top mechanical equipment. Parking and Service Areas The guidelines discourage parking lots to be located between the street and the building. The guidelines encourage parking adjacent to the street to be minimized by a combination of landscaping, architectural fencing, or wall plantings. Ke