HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-24-19 DRB Minutes Design Review Board
Wednesday, July 24th, 2019 at 5:30 pm
City Hall, Madison Room | 121 N. Rouse Ave.
A. 05:31:50 PM (00:01:34) Call meeting to order and Roll Call
Present Were:
• Mark Hufstetler (Chairman)
• Christopher Keil
• Peter Costanti
• Troy Scherer
• Scott Freimuth
• Brady Ernst
• Brian Krueger (Staff Liaison)
• Sarah Rosenberg (Staff Planner)
• Danielle Garber (Staff Planner)
• Martin Matsen (Director, Community Development)
B. 05:32:16 PM (00:01:58) Changes to the Agenda
Staff Liaison Brian Krueger requested a change to the agenda and requested that Action Item 18499
Bozeman Residence Inn Hotel Site Plan presented first.
C. Minutes
• 6.26.19 Minutes (PDF)
6.26.19 Video Link
05:32:46 PM (00:02:28) MOTION to approve minute
05:33:05 PM (00:02:47) MOTION SECONDED
05:33:06 PM (00:02:48) VOTE: All in Favor – Motion Carried Unanimously
D. 05:33:11 PM (00:02:53) Public Comment
Please state your name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record. This is the time for
individuals to comment on matters falling within the purview of the Committee. There will also be an
opportunity in conjunction with each action item for comments pertaining to that item. Please limit your
comments to three minutes.
E. Action Items
1. 05:33:59 PM (00:03:41) 18499 Bozeman Residence Inn Hotel Site Plan (Krueger)
A Site Plan application for a 104-room, 4-story hotel with a conditional use permit for an additional 30%
increase in allowable maximum building height and a special use request for retail sales and on premises
consumption of alcohol.
• 18499 Staff Report
• 18499 Architectural Plans
• 18499 Civil & Landscape Plans
05:34:13 PM (00:03:55) Planner Krueger described the Site Plan Application, Conditional Use Permit, and
Special Use Permit. The application is for a 104-room hotel planned in a four-story building, on Main Street
across from Lindley Park in Zoning B-2. The site has an elevation change from the west side to the east side
of the property. The Conditional Use Permit requested is for increase in height due to the slope of the
property. The shared site location access is under the East Main Street Master Plan for shared parking and
access. Special Use Permit is a request for an Alcohol serving permit.
Staff determined that the project meets all standard for the zoning codes. No public comments came in
during the notification period. Staff is recommending approval of the project and stating there is nothing
preventing approval of the project.
05:44:53 PM (00:14:35) Applicant Will Ralph, with the ownership group for this project, added additional
details of the proposed project. Mr. Ralph provided more detail about the layout of the building and the
size and intention of the restaurant/bar planned. Mr. Ralph talked about the building materials planned for
the outside of the building so it is similar to the adjacent buildings in the area.
05:53:11 PM (00:22:53) Chairman Hufstetler open the meeting to questions to staff or applicants.
05:53:27 PM (00:23:09) Board Members questioned Applicant Ralph concerning snow storage areas and the
resulting drainage requirement. Mr. Ralph responded that the landscaping plan did allow for snow storage
and talked about drainage resulting from snowmelt and rainfall.
Board Members expressed concern about the particular plant species in the landscaping plan and ability of
the planned plant species to survive snow storage on the plants thus not meeting the required screening
required of walls and parking areas next to residential areas.
05:56:51 PM (00:26:33) Board Members questioned staff about setbacks of the proposed building from the
sidewalk on Main Street and any development plans for the Jackpot site. Mr. Krueger answered that the
setback is similar to other buildings in the area and did not know of any plans for the Jackpot site.
Board Members questioned the design team on the landscaping. Mr. Ralph answered that bushes and not
trees will be in the west-side setback. Questions about the detailing in the brick and Applicant Ralph
responded that the detailing is to appear as windows.
05:59:40 PM (00:29:22) Board Member Freimuth asked for clarification from Mr. Krueger on blank wall
requirements for this project and primary building materials.
06:01:12 PM (00:30:54) Board Members requested further clarification on the height of the proposed
building and signage on the building. Mr. Krueger clarified that the signage is within the allowable height.
06:07:01 PM (00:36:43) Public comment:
Paul House, Vice President of the Northeast Neighborhood Association supported the pedestrian and bike
friendly plans on this proposal. Mr. House encouraged and inquired about energy efficiency with the
project. Mr. Ralph addressed the energy and noise questions.
06:09:50 PM (00:39:50) MOTION: Having reviewed and considered the application materials, public
comment, and all the information presented, I hereby adopt the findings presented in the staff report for
application 18499 and move to recommend approval of the Residence Inn site plan, conditional use permit
and special use permit application subject to conditions and all applicable code provisions.
06:10:29 PM (00:40:11) MOTION SECONDED
06:10:33 PM (00:40:15) Discussion: Board members expressed concerns with the landscaping, the height of
the west wall, materials used on the upper portion of the west wall and signage.
06:21:28 PM (00:51:10) VOTE: Motion Failed: 1 for; 5 against
06:23:31 PM (00:53:13) Board Member Scherer recused himself from the last two projects discussed in this meeting.
2. 06:23:51 PM (00:53:33) 19215 The Merin Site Plan (Rosenberg)
A Site Plan application to allow the demolition of an existing residence and the construction of a five story
mixed use building with a departure.
• 19215 Staff Report
• 19215 Application Materials
• 19215 Plans
• 19215 Historic Designation
06:24:01 PM (00:53:43) Staff Planner Rosenberg described the applicant’s Site Plan, Certificate of
Appropriateness, Demolition and Departure application for the Merin site. The project came to the Board in
December as a conceptual review. The existing structures are eligible for demolition, having been deemed
unsafe and not considered historical. Departure request is for landscaping requirements.
06:34:28 PM (01:04:10) Applicant representative Charlie Franklin from SMA Architects described some of
the changes made after the DRB review. Mr. Franklin talked about the changes to provide an improved
transition from B-3 to R-2 zoning districts. He described exterior building materials and variations in the
walls/windows to provide wall visual variety and moved primary access to the alley instead of Lamme St.
The fifth floor now has a 14-foot setback from the fourth floor to ease the transition to the residential
zoning area. Mr. Franklin described the entry plazas under the open space requirements and the east wall
design/graphic on the concrete wall on the east property line.
06:48:03 PM (01:17:45) Board Members asked the design team for more clarification on the east-side wall in
regards to the property line and the residential courtyard as well as clarification on the lift system in the
garage area.
06:56:27 PM (01:26:09) Board Members asked for clarification of the historical status of the two buildings
that are to be demolished to complete the project. Director Matsen stated that SHPO declined to do an
inventory and SHPO did not make an official historical determination on the structures without a formal
nomination for Historical Site designation. There is no current or proposed historic district in the area.
06:59:44 PM (01:29:26) Public Comment:
Becky Lutey, 204 N. Bozeman: Lives directly north of project. Has concerns about a five- story building in an
area of two or three story buildings. Expressed concerns for the future of the city owned property that is
directly to the east of the proposed project. Expressed concerns on how much shadowing the five-story
building will throw on the properties to the north and would like to see a study done in the winter to
determine what kind of ice field will occur with that tall of a building. Ms. Lutey expressed concerns on the
plans not showing public restroom in the business area of the building. She addressed the pricing of the
condominiums offered and how it will not be affordable housing opportunities.
07:04:30 PM (01:34:12) Paul Kraus, 510 N. Church: Mr. Kraus expressed concerns about the courtyard as it
appears to be cumbrous and in this latitude, a west aspect is better than an east aspect. He also voiced
concerns regarding height and encouraged design changes that would soften the transition between B-3 and
R-2 zoning. The smaller condominiums are good as they will be more affordable.
07:06:51 PM (01:36:33) MOTION: Having reviewed and considered the application materials, public
comment, and all the information presented, I hereby adopt the findings presented in the staff report for
application 19125 and move to recommend approval of the site plan application subject to conditions and
all applicable code provisions.
07:07:17 PM (01:36:59) MOTION SECONDED
07:07:21 PM (01:37:03) Discussion:
Board members discussed the landscaping departure and concerns about the east exposure of the
courtyard. Building materials are an improvement to the original proposal, but there are also concerns
about the mass and scale of the building to the R-2 zoning properties to the north. A board member
requested additional study on the shadow that the building will project to the north. Board members also
discussed the current historical designation of this area of the city.
07:22:20 PM (01:52:02) VOTE: Motion Carried 4-1
3. 07:25:07 PM (01:54:49) 19078 AC Hotel Bozeman Site Plan (Garber)
A Site Plan application to allow the demolition of an existing auto repair shop and adjacent residences and
the construction of a 6 story, 88,000 SF, 143 guestroom hotel with two bars, including one with a rooftop
deck, meeting rooms, and associated site improvements on the corner of East Mendenhall and North Tracy
Avenue.
• 19078 Staff Report
• 19078 Application Materials
• 19078 Architectural Plans
• 19078 Civil Plans
• 19078 Landscape, Irrigation & Lighting Plans
07:25:18 PM (01:55:00) City Planner Garber presented an overview of the proposed project, which is zoned
B-3. Staff has not had a chance to analyze the demolition proposal. The proposal is requesting a 70-foot
high building with six levels. Ms. Garber described the various levels and floor plans. The 6th level is
recessed with a roof top bar and restaurant.
07:35:23 PM (02:05:05) Charlie Franklin from SMA Architects is acting local liaison with partners DLR Group
who is working with AC Marriott on this proposal. Josh Doss from DLR Group further described the
proposed project in regards to working with AC Marriott for a unique proposal.
07:45:02 PM (02:14:44) Questions:
Board Members asked if there was parking on site and Planner Garber explained the applicant is exploring
off-site parking. When the off-site parking arrangement is settled proof of a long-term lease agreement will
be required. Board members requested more detail of the proposed aluminum building material and Mr.
Doss provided. Planner Garber explained changes to the entrances and mechanical equipment screening.
Clarification that the roof top restaurant/bar will be for the public.
07:50:58 PM (02:20:40) MOTION: To adopt the staff findings for application 19078 and move to recommend
approval of the site plan application subject to conditions and all applicable code provisions.
07:51:27 PM (02:21:09) MOTION SECONDED
07:51:31 PM (02:21:13) Discussion:
Board members considered this a well thought out project and was well received. They liked the boutique
style design, but did express some concern about the exterior building materials.
07:58:25 PM (02:28:07) VOTE: All in Favor – Motion Carried Unanimously
F. 07:58:36 PM (02:28:18) FYI/Discussion
1. Future Agenda Items
G. 07:58:41 PM (02:28:23) Adjournment
For more information please contact Brian Krueger at bkrueger@bozeman.net
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