HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes PC 01-17-23 materials,elevations,and landscape plan
• Variances will be needed due to the small size of this site,and we are in support of their requests
• The building materials have changed to 100%brick,with three colors of brick
• We will continue to work with the Petitioner through the ProjectDox review process
• Staff recommends approval contingent to the Petitioner continuing to work with Staff on the final approvals
Committee Comments:
Christine: This is much improved. Thank you for all your work on this.
Sue: Is the Engineering Dept. in an agreement with the in and out off of Rangeline and being that close to the roundabout?
Rachel Keesling: Yes.They have worked with the Engineering Dept.on the design and access. Sue: I would propose to
only have a right out onto Rangeline.It would be dangerous making a left-hand turn. Dubbie: I also agree with Sue.
Brad: Is there a median on Rangeline?Rachel Keesling:No median on Rangeline,but there's a median on 116th Street.
Adam Aasen: I know this is a difficult site,but it is an important site,and it's important we get this right. What does the
pedestrian crossing look like at this site?Rachel Keesling: There are raised crosswalks at all four corners at the 116th&
Rangeline roundabout,with a refuge in the middle of the roundabout.
Brad: This is one of those cases where the site is very unique and has multiple challenges,and that we let this be worked
out by City Staff and the Petitioner. I'm comfortable with moving this item forward.
Sue: I think this can go back to the Committee, so they have an opportunity to present any updates. Leo: I agree with that.
Since I'm a new member and I haven't seen or been involved with this;I'm going to abstain from tonight's vote.Adam
Campagna: I will also abstain from this vote.
Rachel: I don't know how much more can be done with the DP/ADLS at the Committee to make this project more
complete. We have been living and breathing this project with the Petitioner for the past few weeks. We have made the
Inecessary changes. The variances they need,are due to the site restrictions and true hardships. They didn't make public
notice for the January BZA meeting.Brad: The variance requests couldn't be granted until the 4th week of February.Is
there an effective delay in this process if we were to send this back to Committee?Warren Johnson: Financing costs
have skyrocketed,and I was able to secure a financing commitment several months ago,only if I receive DP/ADLS
approval by January 31st. I'm not getting any assistance from the City for this project,so I'm at a dead end.I believe we
can resolve these issues;I just need to get my financing tied down.
A Motion made by Buckler and seconded by Aasen to approve Docket.No.PZ-2022-00154 DP/ADLS contingent
upon final approvals from DOCS staff,and the Engineering approval of in and out access to Rangeline Road.
Approved 5-0,abstained Campagna,Dierckman,absent Hill,Kirsh.
New Business
4. Docket No.PZ-2022-00238 ADLS: Tru Hotel Cannel.
The applicant seeks design approval for a new,five story, 126 room hotel on 1.13 acres. Development plan
approval was granted under Docket No. 19060018 DP and Use Variance approval was granted under 18050007
UV. The site is located at 12164 N. Meridian Street,immediately north of the Ritz Charles.It is zoned
MC/Meridian Corridor and is not within any overlay district. Filed by Nathan Winslow of American
Structurepoint on behalf of the owner,Dora Hotel Group.
Petitioner: Nathan Winslow,American Structurepoint—Project Manager:
• Presented site plan& elevations, we did receive some comments from the neighbors regarding the elevations
John Hafner,Cities Edge-Architect:
• We specialize in the design of hotels and resorts
• We received input from TAC, Staff,and the neighbors
• Presented renderings, the design itself is supposed to be asymmetrical in nature
• The brand is economical to develop and is suited for business travel
• The building materials consist of EIFS,metal panels,mixture of limestone and stacked stone
• We are choosing to keep some of the bold colors and asymmetry of the Tru Hotel brand
5
Plan Commission Minutes 01-17-23
• We want to hear the Commissioner's comments and will be prepared to make any changes
Department Report: Rachel Keesling
• The DP for this site was approved in 2019,and we are here now for the ADLS
• The BZA approved the UV for hotel use on the main floor(all floors)in 2018
• Other variances were approved in 2019 for sideyard,building width percentage,and parking lot
setbacks/bufferyard along future shared property line between buildings
• Building design is mostly of EIFS on the 2nd to 5th floors,brick, and stone on 1'floor. We are working with the
Petitioner so that more brick and stone are used instead of EIFS.
• We don't believe the building design meets the requirements per the MC zoning district.4-sided architecture is
lacking.
• We have concerns for the signage facing the west,lighting levels,and building elevations
• Staff recommends this continued to the Feb. 7 Commercial Committee with final approval
Committee Comments:
Leo: It looks cheap looking to me.This whole thing is a billboard for the hotel chain. This is not in any way shape or form
acceptable in Cannel.It's tacky looking to me.
Adam Aasen: We need to get the design up to par with the other hotels in the area.I want to hear more about the signage
and approvals needed from the BZA. Is there a shared parking agreement with the Ritz?How did the parking spaces get
decreased?I know the Ritz is completely full at times when events are hosted there.Rachel Keesling: The parking garage
proposal on the back half of the Ritz property fell through. The Hyatt on the southern end has 10 shared parking spaces.
The Ritz agreed to have shared parking with the office building and hotel. The initial site plan that was approved,reduced
10 spaces to the overall parking plan. There are a lot of unknown questions about the parking. Do we need a new shared
parking plan with the Ritz?Adam Aasen: I ask the Petitioner to work with your future business neighbors about the
shared parking plan.
Dubbie: I've been to events at the Ritz and parking is an issue. I had to park at the Hyatt Hotel. Parking is going to be a
problem if the Hyatt is at capacity and the Ritz has a large event. I'm curious why the entrance is on the west side of this
proposed hotel?I don't find this attractive at all.
Sue: I remember this coming through for DP approval and it was so vague. I wasn't comfortable approving it. Was this
approved for 5 stories?Rachel Keesling: Yes. Sue: I would like to see this as a 4-story building so we would need less
parking.
Leo: What was the approval for parking variance?Rachel Keesling: They were approved for shared parking with the
Ritz.Joint parking within 300 feet of your site,you can have shared parking agreement per the UDO. With the changes of
the site plan,we lost 10 parking spaces. I want them to relook at the parking plan with the Ritz.Leo: They should have a
requirement amount of parking spaces and should be required to build the amount of parking spaces.Rachel Keesling:
They are asking to change the amount of parking,with a new site plan.Leo: If there's an event at the Ritz,the parking is
going to be a problem. Be prepared to talk about parking at the Committee.
Brad: As you drive up and down the Meridian Corridor,you see a variety of elevations. You have the opportunity to
design something that stands out without being overly commercial. I would encourage you and the Department to help us
move forward architecturally that tells visitors we are an innovative City without looking cheap. We need a balancing act
in terms of the parking sufficiency.John Hafner: Thank you for all of your comments.We needed to hear this.
A Motion made by Zoccola and seconded by Westermeier to send to PZ-2022-00238 ADLS to the Feb.7
Commercial Committee with final approval granted to the full Plan Commission.
Meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.
oe Shestak PC Secretary rad rabow President
6
Plan Commission Minutes 01-17-23