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<br />4 Oneka Commons Sketch Plan 2023 <br />Architecture and Building Orientation <br /> <br />The applicant has indicated that the design of the buildings in this area would be consistent with <br />the downtown design guidelines. They have stated the architectural theme would be required for <br />all buildings in the proposed sketch plan. The applicant did not provide a narrative on how the <br />buildings would meet the design guidelines or what materials would be use on the buildings. <br />Although it seems the buildings will be designed to be cohesive, the developer shall provide a <br />design palette, including elevations, colors, and materials for the buildings, to ensure they are <br />compatible and meet the guidelines. <br /> <br />Commercial Buildings <br /> <br />All commercial buildings are required to meet the Commercial and Industrial Design Guidelines <br />and if the downtown area, the Downtown Design Guidelines. The applicant has shown a general <br />building rendering examples for the commercial uses. All of the buildings within the project <br />shall have four sided architecture, with equal treatment and visual qualities, and shall meet the <br />requirements of the guidelines. The buildings seem to relate mostly to the traditional main street <br />or Prairie style architecture encouraged in the downtown design guidelines. Prairie style <br />architecture includes, hipped roofs, low and spreading with deep overhangs and eaves. With <br />modifications to the elevations and using quality materials, it seems like the buildings could meet <br />the intent of the design guidelines. <br /> <br />The commercial buildings are oriented towards the streets as encouraged in the design <br />guidelines. The commercial areas have pedestrian gathering spaces with connections to <br />Hardwood Creek Trail. <br /> <br />Multi-Family Residential/Apartments <br /> <br />The applicant has provided building renderings for the two-story/three-story apartment building. <br />All of the buildings within the project shall have four sided architecture, with equal treatment <br />and visual qualities, and shall meet the requirements of the Multifamily Design Guidelines. The <br />building rendering shows the building design with horizontal and vertical projections. Although <br />the applicant did not provide information on the building material, it looks like there would be <br />varying materials and colors. The guidelines encourage using a mix of materials and the <br />ordinance states that the exterior of three-story structures shall have a high percent of brick, <br />stone, or comparable material. With modifications to the elevations and using quality materials, <br />it seems like the buildings could meet the intent of the design guidelines. The apartment includes <br />underground parking. <br />The building orientation has a large wall massing towards the residential development to the <br />south. From the renderings it looks like in that area the first floor would be parking, making it a <br />three/four story building on the south side. The applicant should work on reducing the large <br />massing on that side. From the site plan it looks like there is a breezeway between two buildings. <br />It would help to have truly two buildings with open space between to break up the long walls. <br />The applicant is showing the access to the underground parking on the south side of the buildings <br />and is likely to impact the residential development with noise and lights from the vehicles. Staff <br />recommends the access to the underground parking be further evaluated for a new location.