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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes SpecStdy 03-05-021,1`I y G`'`y of Cq,9y C ity CARMEL /CLAY PLAN COMMISSION SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEE MARCH 5, 2002 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Special Study Committee met on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 at 7:00 PM in the Caucus Rooms of City Hall. Members present were: Leo Dierckman, Chairperson; Jerry Chomanczuk; Nick Kestner; Dianna Knoll; Paul Spranger; Wayne Wilson. 1. Docket No. 144 -01 Z; Gray Road and 96 Street (Rezone) The site is located at the northeast corner of Gray Road and 96 Street. The petitioner is requesting a rezone a 4.53 acre site from S -1 (Residential) to B -8 (Business). Filed by E. Davis Coots of Coots Henke Wheeler for Glendale Partners /Gray Road LLC. TABLED TO APRIL 2. Docket No. 147 -01 DP /ADLS CMC Carmel Office Center Petitioner seeks Development Plan and Architectural Design, Lighting, Landscaping Signage approval for an office center. The petitioner proposes to construct an office park on 9.42± acres. The site is located at the northwest corner of U.S. 31 and Main Street (131S Street). The site is zoned B -5 /Business within the US 31/Meridian Street Overlay Zone. Filed by E. Davis Coots of Coots Henke Wheeler for CMC Properties, Inc. Dave Coots, Coots Henke Wheeler appeared before the Committee representing CMC Properties. This item as well as Docket No. 145 -01 PP, CMC Properties Subdivision (Primary Plat) will be combined at Public Hearing on March 19, 2002. At the last committee meeting, the following changes were requested: Staircases at the end of each building will be enclosed incorporating the archway that is the focal point of the east and west elevation. The restrictive use covenant reflects that the use will be none other than an office facility. The architectural renderings also remove the darker brick inserts so that the appearance of the straight brick accents the glass colors; the windows do not open or slide. Under the freeway portion of the Sign Ordinance, the signage allowable is 120 square feet on two elevations because of the two S:P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar frontages —the proposed signage is 50 square feet—considerably understated in terms of what is permitted. Greg Land said they had tried to repeat the window features on the front of the building and the enclosed staircases on the side. The signage is a solid face, back -lit, individual channel cut letters. The petitioner would like to use white letters rather than red because of contrast. Up- lighting is proposed and is photo metrically consistent with everything else in the corridor. There would be landscaping around the sign would be consistent with the corridor. Laurence Lillig reported the Department is recommending this item be forwarded to the full Commission with a favorable recommendation after concerns of the Committee have been addressed. Greg Land said there is no mechanical equipment on the rooftop. Each of the suites is serviced behind the grill of the windows. Regarding the lighting, there will be no wall packs. There will be a ground sign and parking lot lights. The photometric plan has been approved. Dianna Knoll asked that other designs be utilized for open space besides a pond that will end up with geese and will be a deterrent to wildlife. Pat Rice agreed with Dianna and said the ponds would also breed mosquitos. Jerry Chomanczuk moved to recommend approval to the Commission of Docket No. 147 -01 DP /ADLS, CMC Carmel Office Center. The motion was seconded by Dianna Knoll and APPROVED 7 -0. 3. Docket No. 165 -01 ADLS Amend; Lanter Eye Care Laser Surgery Signage ADLS Amendment Petitioner seeks Architectural Design, Lighting Signage approval for a new sign. The site is located at 10610 North Pennsylvania Street. The site is zoned B -5 /Business and is within the US 31 Meridian Street Overlay Zone. Filed by Lisa Bohn of Premier Sign Group. No Show 4. Docket No. 154 -01 ADLS Amend; Carmel McDonald's Ground Sign Petitioner seeks Architectural Design, Lighting Signage approval to replace an existing sign. The site is located at 750 East Carmel Drive. The site is zoned B -8 /Business. Filed by Chris Golden of GSW Lighting for McDonald's. TABLED TO APRIL 5. Docket No. 163 -01 ADLS Lot 1 of Merchants' Pointe, Forum Credit Union Petitioner seeks Architectural Design, Lighting, Landscaping Signage for a Financial Institution. The site is located at 2359 East 116 Street. The site is zoned B -8 /Business. Filed by James J. Nelson of Nelson Frankenberger for Forum Credit Union. Jim Shinaver, attorney, Nelson Frankenberger, appeared before the Committee representing the applicant. Also in attendance were Florence Brown and Brian Crum of Forum Credit Union; S:P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar 2 Corey Sharpe of Weihe Engineers; Buddy Hennessee, The Linder Companies; Tom Martin of Martin Construction; and Steve Robinson of Browning Day, Architects. Steve Robinson of Browning Day Mullens Dierdorf, Architects, 334 North Senate, Indianapolis, displayed an overall site plan of Merchants' Pointe and pinpointed the subject property. The site has 17 parking spaces, the drive through is located on the backside away from 116 Street. The landscape plan has perimeter trees and landscaping on the interior lot around the base of the building. There are two signs off 116 Street. The building will have brick identical to Borders Bookstore and the gentle arches seen on the building as well as the cornices. The sign color on Borders is very similar to the blue that Forum has as a logo color on its sign. Also, the metal framing in the glass is a champagne color, and that same color will be used on the Forum building. Mr. Robinson offered color and materials samples. Mr. Robinson displayed a computer model of the proposed building. The blue of the sign with the white lettering is picked up with an accent brick that creates a stripe both at the bottom for a base and along the top. The cornice element is consistent with the other properties on the overall site, a cast stone product has been used other than the dryvit. Department Report, Laurence Lillig. There are three things the Commission requested. First, the up- graded building elevations to replace those provided at the meeting; elevations of other buildings in the center; and detail to be added on the crosswalk within the project. The petitioner will submit building elevations along with new informational brochures. The striping will be added, pursuant to Jon Dobosiewicz's request. Laurence Lillig said the Department's recommendation is favorable, assuming all of the Committee's comments have been satisfactorily addressed. Paul Spranger said it is important for Merchants' Pointe to have an architectural tie -in with Merchants' Square. This particular building has an opportunity to tie -in with some of the architectural elements of the main block of product to the north, i.e. the contour and design of the cornice. The other is the blue awning that also ties in. Borders only captures some of those things. Mr. Spranger was in favor of picking up the arch feature of the Borders building but not necessarily replicating the arch throughout the building. Also, blue awnings would give the building a little more up -scale character. The building could be a lot more interesting. The blue stripe is probably a little over worked feature. Leo Dierckman thought the rendering was not a good representation of the brick selection. Dryvit is less expensive and the Borders concept could be introduced more into the building. The building could be softened architecturally. The more the building themes in, (with Merchants Square to the north) the less "jarring" it will be visually. In response to questions from Wayne Wilson, the petitioner said the curbing will not be painted white, but it does appear that way on the renderings. The top of the building also looks white and this is not the case. S:P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar 3 Nick Kestner asked about the west elevation that looked like a "box." Nick suggested putting blue awnings on the windows to soften the look. Nick Kestner said he had trouble with the glazed brick. There was discussion regarding cornices with architectural detail scaled to the size of the Forum Building, and blue awnings. Steve Robinson offered to return to the Commission with more of an awning and articulated cornice. Wayne Wilson said he had a problem with the stripe and did not think it added to the building. Paul Spranger asked the architect to spend some time with the buildings to the north and tie them in to the current proposal. Elevation of the building at a total of 24 to 30 inches would also provide the additional mass for this corner that is a really terrific site. Pat Rice would like to see the white background on the sign changed. Brian Crum, operations manager with Forum, said the sign displayed is at a current location. Paul Spranger said the "Streetscape" on 116 Street is also missing from the renderings. Mr. Crum said he would put together additional renderings and would return to the Special Study Committee on April 9, 2002 at 7:00 PM. 6. Docket No. #13 -02 ADLS Amend; Pier 1 Imports Petitioner seeks Architectural Design, Lighting, Landscaping Signage Amendment approval in order to alter the architectural design approved as part of Docket No. 111 -87 ADLS. The site is located at 715 East Carmel Drive. The site is zoned B- 8/business and is located within the SR 431/Keystone Avenue Overlay Zone. Filed by Glenn Golson, Jr., of Architecture for Pier 1 Imports. Glenn Golson, 470 Donaldson, Calhoun, Louisiana, and Jim Nowak, Pier 1 Imports, appeared before the Committee. Mr. Golson displayed the site plan shown to the Technical Advisory Committee one year ago. Comments at that time pertained to landscaping, adding sidewalks on Keystone Way with a walk across and a curb cut for accessibility from the sidewalk to the front of the building. Renderings were shown with the new sidewalk on Keystone Way, and the walk to the building. Landscape comments have been received from Scott Brewer. Laurence Lillig said he had spoken with Scott Brewer. Scott is willing to accept the plan but would like to work with the designer on some of the planting detail. There is existing landscaping in the islands to the front of the building and some very large trees along Keystone Avenue. Additional landscape buffering was requested along Keystone Way. The existing building has exposed, steel beams expressed through the brick wall with a steel beam at the top; glass atrium on the front; and the Pier 1 signage worked into the brick on two elevations. The new elevations remove the glass atrium and replace with a blue awning, still at a S:P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar 4 45- degree angle "interstate blue and blue panels behind the Pier 1 sign, proto typical of Pier 1. A cornice is being added to the building and the beams and columns have been covered with EFIS. Currently, the "P' beams are flush with the building. Paul Spranger asked about tieing in architectural features in terms of the awning to match color and materials to those being used in Merchants Square so that from Keystone Avenue, the building has continuity; it would also integrate the building with the up -scale nature of the Merchants Square development. Mr. Golson commented that he would prefer to see the awnings match and constructed of the same type of material. If fabric is used for the awnings, it becomes "bleached out" over the years and becomes a maintenance problem. Mr. Spranger referred to the color on the Borders Bookstore signage and said they matched the color to tie in with Merchants Square. The petitioner expressed a willingness to work with the Committee. Wayne Wilson said that every time Pier 1 gets deliveries, the merchandise is stacked up on the west side of the building until those boxes can be emptied and merchandise taken into the store. This situation would indicate a storage problem and needs to be addressed. Any remodeling done to this store should include a plan to alleviate this situation. Pat Rice asked if the unloading could be done on the south side of the building rather than the west side. Mr. Golson said the delivery doors are on the west side of the building. The fact that the dumpster is being moved will help the situation somewhat. Paul Spranger pointed out that this building has terrific exposure but at the same time, there is a responsibility to integrate the architecture and design with the surrounding Merchants Plaza. Pat Rice commented that the current landscaping is not maintained—it is unkempt and tangled with weeds in it and looks "ratty." Leo Dierckman asked the petitioner to explore the possibility of closing the loading /unloading doors on the west side and re- locating to the south side of the building. Mr. Golson said he would look into the possibility. Dianna Knoll said from a customer standpoint, the curb cut to the north of the building onto Keystone Way is not workable because traffic is usually stacked on Keystone Way to turn right onto Carmel Drive. Those times a truck is parked on the west side of the building to load or unload, it is like an obstacle course to get in and out of the site. The second curb cut to the south into Pier 1 from Keystone Way is easier. Mr. Golson said the west side of the building is the loading area as originally approved. The truck can pull in, unload, and exit the other curb cut. The truck would have difficulty maneuvering the turn radius entering from the south curb cut. There is a possibility of relocating the loading /unloading doors to the southwest corner of the building and Mr. Golson was willing to accommodate this request. S:P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar 5 Leo Dierckman said the landscaping issue could be resolved between now and the next Committee meeting. The cornice, awning, and relocating the loading /unloading doors should be resolved when the petitioner returns to the Committee in April. This may involve changing the color of the awning slightly to match Merchants Square. Nick Kestner asked if the storage containers currently to the rear of the store would be removed. Mr. Golson said the dumpster could be relocated and storage containers removed prior to the next Committee meeting. The petitioner will return to the Committee April 9th 7. Docket No. 22 -02 ADLS Amend Merchants' Pointe Center Sign Petitioner seeks approval to amend their Architectural Design, Lighting, Landscaping Signage for a center identification ground sign. The site is located at the southeast corner of Point Parkway and 116 Street. The site is zoned B -8 /Business. Filed by Richard Hennessey for Merchants' Pointe Associates, LLC. Richard (Buddy) Hennessey with the Linder Company appeared before the Committee to address the monument sign at 116 Street and AAA Way. At the time Lots 5, 6, and 7 had ADLS review, Gary Linder was very sensitive about Borders being the anchor tenant. The Plan Commission approved the current sign as well as the BZA. When Borders went through the ADLS approval, Borders was to provide their sign and Linder was to provide Merchants' Pointe. Until the sign permit was applied for, it was not known that the sign had not been approved. The petitioner is appearing before the Committee to request approval for the Borders sign with a blue background. Paul Spranger commented the sign is installed and is back lit. The blue background is a lighter blue than the sign. Laurence Lillig reported for the Department. At the time the sign went through approval by Plan Commission and BZA, it was taupe and burgundy —when the sign permit was applied for, it specified signage as taupe and burgundy. After the sign was placed, it was found to be in violation of the permit and ADLS approval. The process of approval was then applied for. The issue is to be resolved and the existing violation resolved. Nick Kestner said the signage lists "everything under the sun" and normally, this type of advertising has not been allowed. The signage should be limited. Pat Rice commented that she definitely agrees with the Department on this issue. Borders was allowed as an addition onto the sign. The petitioner should construct the sign as initially approved. Mr. Hennessey said they were willing to change the sign. However, Borders has no ground sign. Wayne Wilson said he was drawn to the site recently by "Cafe" signage and that Channel 8 was S:P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar 6 there doing a remote and cut -ins and even with that, people were not being drawn into the store. The argument that Borders has no ground sign may have some validity. Dianna Knoll thought a classier look on the sign would be for the lettering to be consistent in style and color. Paul Spranger asked about up- lighting to illuminate the Borders building— perhaps it would dramatize the building —and with added landscaping, it would give the appearance of an open building and highlight the mass and give it a foreground appearance. Mr. Hennessey said the median was installed as a part of TIF, and the cost was over the TIF amount ($14,000). The petitioner offered to provide electricity within the median to perhaps do Christmas lights, etc, and the City declined. The sign is internally illuminated, and matches the other signage. The blue is a question. Paul Spranger said the blue should match the existing. It is not a back -lit blue but would be more opaque. Paul Spranger moved for approval of Docket No. 22 -02 ADLS Amend, Merchants' Pointe Center Sign, as presented in the revised form (Exhibit A) with the following conditions. The blue background for the Borders elements of the Merchants' Pointe ground sign is to be dark blue, almost opaque blue; the internal illumination, standard with Carmel's internally illuminated signs, is not be excessive or provide excessive glare, subject to the Department's discretion. If the illumination is determined to be excessive, the Department will ask for remediation of the illumination through a panel or ballast. The motion was seconded by Jerry Chomanczuk and APPROVED 6 -0. There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM. Leo Dierckman, Chairperson Ramona. Hancock, Secretary S:P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar 7 S :P1anCommission\ Minutes \SpecialStudyCommittee \2002mar