HomeMy WebLinkAbout014_Departure Narrative Building D
311 third st san antonio tx 78205
p 210 227 3335 w lakeflato.com
Project #: 22156 Wallace Works SP-CCOA
Re: Block Frontage Departure Request on Aspen Street Dead-End
We are pleased to present this departure narrative for your consideration and hope you find
the proposed design alternative acceptable. As indicated on the Block Frontage map, the site has
three “Mixed” Block Frontages on Tamarack Street, Wallace Avenue, and Aspen Street. Additionally,
the project has several buildings with internal block frontages that have been carefully considered to
enhance the pedestrian experience internal to the project site.
This proposed departure request pertains to the Aspen St. block frontage. Aspen St. is a
dead-end street without a public right-of-way boundary. A primary constraint on the site is the sewer
main easement on Aspen St., as we are not allowed to place any structures (including walls and
fences) within 22 feet of our Aspen Street property line. Directly adjacent to the Aspen St. dead-end
is the south façade of proposed Rowhome Building ‘D'. Our proposal includes a walled trash bin
holding area serving the rowhomes and an electrical transformer against this south facing façade of
Building ‘D’. We have explored alternate locations for these services and believe this south façade to
be the most feasibly accessible and least visually obtrusive location. As such, Building ‘D’ is oriented
to provide a primary east-facing façade per Special residential Block Frontage (BMC 38.510.030.J)
that looks onto a semi-public landscaped residential court. The residential court opens south onto
Aspen St. to capture sunlight for all residents throughout the day.
Given the above information we are requesting a departure from BMC 38.510.020.F.1(d) and
F.2(5) in order to orient the primary façade of Building ‘D’ towards the landscaped residential court.
Per the departure requirement, the building orientation and the residential landscaped court
enhances the character of Aspen Street by creating building variety and openness and inviting
pedestrian exploration of the site from Aspen Street.
We are additionally requesting that the Aspen St. Façade of Building ‘D’ be allowed to depart
from the building entrance and façade transparency requirements of the Block Frontage Standards,
as shown in the drawings. As a design alternative, we propose to provide the following:
1. Provide for a larger planting area with taller plantings to the east of the transformer to shield
this area from views from the east.
2. Provide an appropriate art-wrap on the transformer.
3. Mitigate all “blank” walls where they occur with landscaping, windows, and material changes,
as shown.
We appreciate your consideration and look forward to your response,
Adam Martin, RA, LEED AP BD+C
Project Architect, Lake Flato
*Enclosed are additional images that speak to the utilitarian nature of sites in the NEHMU district