2016.02.01 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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LaValle Fields - Apartment Concept Plan Page 4 A portion of the concept plan shows a building and the gazebo on property that is not controlled by the applicant. Staff is not opposed to this area being added to the project, but it should be resolved with the first phase to ensure proper planning. The concept plan shows building A is planned around the uncontrolled property, but building B and the gazebo are included on the uncontrolled property. During the PUD General Plan approval process the City Council added conditions to the resolution regarding the apartment buildings. The first item required a "revised building orientation and footprint to reduce the appearance of the massing of the large buildings". The concept plan shows two larger buildings, and one in a generally linear design. It is in staff s opinion that the placement of the building to the west and the very long linear design does not meet this condition. It has been discussed with the applicant that the total square footage of the building is not the issue, it's the linear design. The same number of units, or even more units, could be included in the building if the massing of the building was reduced. This could be accomplished with a compact building design that wraps around itself or a non-linear foot print to break up the long expansions of the walls. There are many good examples of apartment buildings, the same size or larger, which have used a compact design or non-linear footprint to reduce the massing of a large building. There is one access into the site from Finale Avenue between Upper 146th Street and 147`h Street. In general this access will work, but the parking area does not have good circulation and includes a long dead end aisle. Staff recommends the plan be revised to allow circulation and eliminate the long dead parking aisle. The access into the underground parking area is located too close to the access into the site. This access will be busy during the morning and afternoon. It is a concern to staff that there will be a congestion issue at this location due to its proximity to the access into the site. Staff recommends that the access into the underground parking be relocated with the consideration of stacking of cars during busy times of the day. The PUD conditions require a trail connection to the existing trail on the senior housing property to Upper 146'h Street to access Lions Park. This has not been shown on the concept plan. There are sidewalks shown within the plan connecting the buildings to the openspace in the center of the site. There seems to be a lot of space within the concept plan that is not used efficiently. It is good that there is a common open space between the buildings, but the buildings could better be oriented to relate to each other and create a large common area with several amenities. Building Architecture The applicant has provided building elevations and renderings of the proposed apartment building A, but has not shown a concept for building B. The applicant has stated that the building materials for building A will be a combination of various types of stone with cement board siding or other comparable siding material. The plans show a pitched roof with dormers along the sides. There are gables periodically along the walls over entrances and in-between. The colors are generally good, but the number of different colors should be reduced and be comprised of compatible earth tones. The building could provide deeper overhangs and include a combination of horizontal and vertical siding design. There was not a calculation submitted for the amount of stone versus other building materials, but it appears more stone needs to be added