HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-03 Design Review Board Minutes.docDESIGN REVIEW BOARD
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2003
MINUTES
ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE
Chairperson Dawn Smith called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m. and directed the secretary to record the attendance.
Members Present Staff Present
Bill Hanson David Skelton, Senior Planner
Mel Howe Tara Hastie, Recording Secretary
Jim Raznoff
Carol Asleson
Dawn Smith
Joanne Mannell-Noel
Visitors Present
Mark Hedley
Alice Meister
Lee Hietala
J.B. Bancroft
ITEM 2. MINUTES OF APRIL 22, 2003
Chairperson Smith called for corrections or additions to the minutes of April 22, 2003. MOTION: Mr. Howe moved, Mr. Hanson seconded, to approve the minutes as presented. The motion
carried 4-0.
ITEM 3. INFORMAL REVIEW
A. Bozeman Public Library Informal #I-03004 (Skelton)
* An Informal Application for advice and comment on the construction of a 53,522+ square foot two-story library building and related site improvements.
Mark Hedley, Alice Meister, and Jerry Bancroft joined the DRB. Senior Planner David Skelton presented the staff report, noting the proposal had gone before the DRC that morning and
the proposal would go before the City Commission on May 27, 2003 as part of an informal review.
Mr. Hedley stated the design team had tried to grasp the importance and significance of the Lindley Park area in relation to the project’s location by creating an assembly space. He
stated the urban civic space proposed for the library would add a great deal to the “presence” of Main Street. He stated the applicant had gathered public comment from three public
meetings held before the DRC and DRB review. He stated the proposed library would be two levels to preserve ground space. He stated Library Staff wanted the great hall to have a backdrop
of nature, therefore, the design team attempted to create a plaza on the front lawn with a possibility
of using the area as an ice skating rink. He stated there would be paved and platform areas for events. He stated the proposal tried to maintain the “Main Street to the Mountains”
trail system. He stated the program for interior lighting had been funded by the Daylight Laboratory and the proposal had been tested using many ranges of sunlit and overcast lighting
scenarios. He stated the Lab recommended the overhanging edge be constructed of transparent material and the addition of skylights. He added the Lab recommended using a night-flushing
system, to lessen the cost of air conditioning, and the proposed towers were a crucial part of that system. He stated the proposal incorporated the towers, the arcade of trees along
the east side, and the broken facades to stay in keeping with the historical nature of the area. He stated the signage of the building was meant to be seen only from the outside, day
or night. He stated the proposal contained an irrigated landscape.
Planner Hillary Hertler stated the Historic Preservation Board would prefer the depot not be demolished, and could offer assistance in applying for grants and funds which are available
for Historic Preservation purposes. She stated C.T.E.P. grants may be available to assist in re-creating the depot.
Mr. Howe asked if the Building department had attended the DRC meeting. Mr. Hedley stated a representative had attended the meeting and had indicated the Universal Building Code would
be instituted for the project.
Ms. Noel stated she had a stronger opinion than the Historic Preservation Officer with regard to the depot. She stated she was sad to see a sense of place as important as the depot
would be removed. She stated the depicted entrances to the proposed library seemed difficult to distinguish from the rest of the structure.
Mr. Raznoff asked how the grid electrical system would work, which Mr. Hedley explained would only decrease their electrical usage by 12 kilowatt hours. Mr. Raznoff asked if shared
parking was proposed. Mr. Hedley stated shared parking was not proposed, but some of the Nash Finch Building parking encroached onto library property. Mr. Raznoff asked what material
was proposed for the roof.
Mr. Hedley stated the proposal is for a metal roof. Mr. Raznoff stated the design was stunning and he did not share Ms. Noel’s concerns regarding the entrances. He stated the curving
arc would lead people to the front door.
Mr. Hanson stated there was a good balance between the building and Main Street, and he liked the towers added to the proposal. He stated his concern was with the handicapped parking
location and added the pedestrian circulation area on the west side of the building was too narrow. He stated he would like to see some defining architecture along the street to tie
the open space to the structure (i.e. column bases, bollard lights). Mr. Hanson stated the contractors would need to carefully place the penetrations for the roof mounted mechanical
equipment.
Chairperson Smith stated the proposal was a bit more contemporary than she had expected. She asked if the project was set up for expansion. Mr. Hedley stated the columns would be designed
to withstand floor loads and areas were reserved for expansion of the structure to the east and
south. Chairperson Smith asked if an element was proposed as a tribute to Bozeman history. Mr. Hedley stated the Montana Room would be the best place for that type of element and historical
exhibits could be located throughout the library. Chairperson Smith stated the handicapped spaces should be split so that some of the spaces were in front and some were in the rear
of the structure.
Mr. Raznoff stated he did not understand how an encroachment into the floodplain could be allowed with this proposal. Planner Skelton stated the difference was that the watercourse
was a ditch and not a stream or stream/ditch, and that the project was in the 500 year floodplain and outside of the 100 year floodplain, which is more limited. Mr. Raznoff asked if
the function of the basement would be strictly to house mechanical equipment. Mr. Hedley responded there would be mechanical equipment and one small storage area with the rest of the
space unfinished and constructed of plain concrete.
Ms. Asleson suggested lighting the plaza area so that it could be used during hours of darkness.
Planner Hertler asked how snow would affect the transparent materials on the roof. Mr. Hedley stated the materials proposed would be the most durable of their type available. Planner
Hertler stated the Beautification Advisory Board was firmly against the re-use of the depot bricks as a monument within the proposed library.
ITEM 4. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: There being no further business to come before the DRB, the meeting was adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
_____________________________________________
Dawn Smith, Chairperson
City of Bozeman Design Review Board