Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-03 Design Review Board Minutes.docDESIGN REVIEW BOARD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2003 MINUTES ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE Vice Chairperson Bill Hanson called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m. and directed the secretary to record the attendance. Members Present Staff Present Joseph Thomas Dara MacDonald, Assistant Planner Christopher Livingston Tara Hastie, Recording Secretary Mel Howe Bill Hanson Visitors Present Bill Coffee Michael Tuss Bill Bickle Jim Drummond Candace Mastel ITEM 2. MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2003 Vice Chairperson Hanson called for corrections or additions to the minutes of September 23, 2003. MOTION: Mr. Howe moved, Mr. Livingston seconded, to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried 4-0. ITEM 3. INFORMAL REVIEW A. Stockman Bank Informal #I-03037 (MacDonald) Corner of Remington Way and South 19th Avenue * An Informal Application for advice and comment on the construction of an 11,200 square foot bank with related site improvements. The Applicant is requesting a deviation to allow more than the maximum amount of parking. Bill Coffee, Michael Tuss, Bill Bickle, Jim Drummond, and Candace Mastel joined the DRB. Planner MacDonald dispersed copies of comments from Chairperson Dawn Smith received, via e-mail, expressing her concern for the requested increase in parking. Planner MacDonald presented the Staff Report, noting Staff was concerned about the requested increase in parking and the visibility of parking from the entryway corridor. Vice Chairperson Hanson noted the project was shown on two different sites, one adjacent to the other. Mr. Tuss, CTA Architects, stated the Stockman Bank did not own the lot on the corner of Kagy and South 19th Avenue when the initial site plan was submitted, and the reason two sites were proposed was the bank had purchased the corner lot and preferred that location. He added the Stockman Bank was a large agricultural bank and for that reason he wanted a friendly and familiar design for folks driving in from farms and ranches, but was also progressive in design. He stated the proposed attached drive-through was ideal for vehicular circulation, and saved space. He circulated photos of the Stockman Bank site located in Billings. Mr. Livingston questioned the deviation for additional parking by asking why this particular bank required more parking than other banks. Mr. Bickle responded the employee headcount, fully staffed, would be 30-35 people, which would require 30-35 spaces and that left 10-15 spaces for customer parking. He stated they traditionally have a high volume of lobby traffic which would require more customer parking spaces. Mr. Drummond added elderly customers appreciate the extra space to maneuver and exit their vehicles. Mr. Livingston asked if the commercial aspect of the bank would attract a different customer base than the aforementioned agricultural customer base. Mr. Craig responded it would depend on which customers were more prevalent at that specific time. Vice Chairperson Hanson asked how they perceived vehicle circulation through the proposed drive-through. Mr. Tuss responded that the entrance to the drive-through was two way. Vice Chairperson Hanson stated that proposals containing a drive-through typically had staggered lanes and asked if the proposed drive through was in line as it seemed to be depicted. Mr. Tuss responded that it was arranged in a straight line with the bank tellers located off-center to the south so they would be visible from all the drive-through lanes. Vice Chairperson Hanson stated the site plan showed a stacking ability of 4-5 cars which would cause a proverbial log jam at the exit. He added the philosophy of the City Commission was to have the least amount of parking and pavement necessary. He stated the crux of the proposal would be the fact that parking was very near South 19th Avenue and there was an excess of pavement proposed. Mr. Tuss stated there would be a conflict with the drive up aisle and customer parking if the parking were relocated behind the building. Mr. Bickle noted the pedestrians would then exit the bank directly into a driving lane if the parking were relocated to the rear of the building. Vice Chairperson Hanson asked if the city would require pedestrian ways with regard to the parking being so near the street and no buffer area for sidewalks. Planner MacDonald responded the street in question was a private street with no pedestrian ways required. Vice Chairperson Hanson stated the number of drive-through lanes seemed excessive. Mr. Bickle responded they had proposed that number to ensure cars were not queuing unnecessarily in the drive-through, which is part of the service standard of their institution. Vice Chairperson Hanson asked where the handicap stalls were located; Planner MacDonald illustrated their locations. Vice Chairperson Hanson suggested moving them closer to the entrance. Mr. Livingston stated a potential problem could be in the approach to the ATM aisle and suggested possible corrections for the inefficiency of the single loaded drive aisle. He added he did not think the applicant should design for the worst possible driver with the biggest possible vehicle. He stated if the drive were reduced, the building could be shifted to provide a more easily accessible entrance. Mr. Tuss responded that the north side of the site would be used for staff parking and the staff entrance. He noted a big concern was with customers pulling trailers which lent to the design of the accesses and drive-through. Mr. Howe asked if the images of materials and colors for the existing Stockman Bank would be used exactly for this proposal. Mr. Tuss stated the images seen would be very similar to the proposal when it was completed. Mr. Howe asked if the rule of linear distance applied on this site. Planner MacDonald responded it was a private street and the linear distance rule did not apply. Mr. Thomas asked if it would be a logistic nightmare to “mirror” the parking and drive-through arrangement. Mr. Bickle responded the proposed arrangement of parking and drive-through aisles insured the most efficient and timely transactions, and added there was not a vacuum tube system strong enough to carry commercial transactions. Mr. Thomas stated he liked the elevations and curb to curb facades. Vice Chairperson Hanson stated the applicant would have to prove they had gone “above and beyond” somewhere else in the site plan to get the requested parking deviation and suggested additional landscaping, working on pedestrian circulation, and making a “firm gesture” with the architecture. He suggested a plaza and some paving to create a pedestrian friendly area. Mr. Tuss stated he agreed with Vice Chairperson Hanson, and he could integrate the access from the corner to create pedestrian traffic areas. Vice Chairperson Hanson stated he envisioned the exit from the site was a little narrow. He added the size of the signs on the side of the building seemed large and recommended the bank not request a signage deviation. Ms. Mastel stated the applicant would consult Vicki Hasler in the Planning Department prior to any kind of formal submittal for signage. Mr . Bickle asked what the DRB’s view would be if the building were moved closer to South 19th Avenue and Kagy Boulevard. Vice Chairperson Hanson stated he thought the proposed location of the building was appropriate and noted that the DRB and City Commission did not typically support a deviation for parking. Mr. Livingston asked if applicant would consider rearranging and crossing the employee parking with the drive through traffic. Mr. Bickle responded that the Billings site had crossed the employee parking with drive-through traffic due to site conditions and accesses, but the arrangement would not work on this proposed site. Mr. Livingston stated the parking arrangement seemed odd due to the requested increase. Mr. Bickle responded the request was due to the employee headcount and a customer service strategy used by the bank and added that the capital commitment for the drive-through was astounding. Mr. Drummond added that sites where there were reduced numbers of drive aisles had problems with inefficiency and congestion from waiting vehicles. Mr. Howe asked why it was called a deviation if the ordinance allowed 125% parking and was defined as a deviation. Planner MacDonald responded the requested deviation was above and beyond the 125% allowed by the ordinance, and a deviation request was allowed for up to 20% above the allowed 125% of required parking. Mr. Livingston asked for the expected time frame for the maximum number of employees to be implemented. Mr. Tuss responded the Billings site was at full complement within two years. Mr. Coffee stated 3-5 years was the projected amount of time in which the bank would be fully staffed. Mr. Coffee stated the DRB would have to keep in mind, with regard to parking, what would be developed on the adjacent site. Mr. Drummond stated that in the next few years there would be city expansion and a hopeful decrease in vehicular traffic through the proposed bank drive aisles. Vice Chairperson Hanson asked when the project would be submitted. Mr. Tuss stated they plan to break ground in the spring. ITEM 4. PUBLIC COMMENT – (15 – 20 minutes) {Limited to any public matter, within the jurisdiction of the Design Review Board, not on this agenda. Three-minute time limit per speaker.} There was no public available for comment at this time. ITEM 5. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: There being no further business to come before the DRB, the meeting was adjourned at 4:27 p.m. _____________________________________________ Bill Hanson, Vice Chairperson City of Bozeman Design Review Board