DESIGN REVIEW BOARD

MINUTES OF MEETING

MARCH 14, 2007

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Dave Klug, John Cunningham, Scott Draughn, Larry George, George McVey.  Alan Seymour arrived at 6:40.  Ken Kraus was excused.

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Chris Fleming, Todd Harkins, Craig Eilers, Travis Evans, Ken Walters, Franco Manno, Jeff Baldanf, Tim Emery, Steve Williams, Ron Young, Secretary Barb McCoy

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  

 

Voice vote was unanimous to approve the minutes of February 28, 2007 as presented.

 

COMMENTS OF CITIZENS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS:  None

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Certificate of Appropriateness Historic Uptown – 2 signs in window for Union County Computers – 116 E. 5th Street

 

Mrs. McCoy read a letter from the applicant requesting this agenda item be tabled until the April meeting due to the applicant being unable to attend.

 

Mr. Klug made the motion to table this agenda item; the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Cunningham Yes  Mr. Draughn Yes  Mr. Klug Yes  Mr. McVey Yes  Mr. George Yes

 

Certificate of Appropriateness Historic Uptown – demolition of house at 212 E. 6th Street

 

Mr. Cunningham stated a letter was received from Bob Parrott of the historical society  stating this house is of no historical significance.  Owner Ron Young stated the fire destroyed the house completely inside. He will be making this property into a parking lot.  Mrs. McCoy stated if the lot is used for display of autos for sale, mounding would not be required; however if used for employee parking, shrubs or mounding would be required along E. 6th Street.

 

Mr. Klug made the motion to approve this agenda item; the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Draughn Yes  Mr. Klug Yes  Mr. McVey Yes  Mr. George Yes  Mr. Cunningham Yes  

 

White Castle Restaurant – 1090 Lydia Drive – City Gate Subdivision

 

Mrs. McCoy reviewed the memo from the City Planner stating that based on the submitted lighting plan, there is light spillover to over 50’ onto the adjacent properties.  May want to keep uniformity in parking lot lighting in the City Gate subdivision.  Bob Evans is planning on lights 28’ in height, bronze or black in color.  Also may want to use solid  gates for the trash enclosure. Bob Evans has agreed to no freestanding sign on Delaware Avenue.  Concerned about the building setbacks being so inconsistent.  Bob Evans is 140’ from Delaware Avenue, Boston’s Pizza is proposed 275’ and White Castle is approximately 50’.  An engineering issue is the storm water design having exposed detention basins – Bob Evans was approved with underground storm water storage only.

 

Craig Eilers stated a letter from the developer has been obtained.  They have presented a new architectural design for review.  The monument sign has been moved to Lydia Drive.  Mrs. McCoy noted it will be required to be at least 60’ from the side property lines.

 

The landscape plan was reviewed with it being noted the plan has been compared to the tree plan approved for Bob Evans on the west side to assure trees are spaced appropriately.    They are using the retention pond as green space.  The grade for the retention pond is mowable – no steep slopes. Said majority of the time it will be dry.  Mr. Eilers stated it is approximately 3 to 1 slope. 

 

Mr. Seymour stated in the past retention ponds have been nuisances.  Other projects are using oversized pipes using parking lot underground. He stated it would be unfortunate to have a row of detention ponds along Delaware Avenue.  He added, to set the stage for this subdivision is very important because it is important gateway into Marysville.  He is very concerned about the buildings along Delaware Avenue being constructed in an attractive manner – consistency is important.

 

Mr. Eilers stated the building has been moved forward 10’ – from business standpoint because there will be no monument sign along Delaware Avenue, all the trees required possibly may block the building and signs – this building with the signs on the building needs to be seen from Delaware Avenue.

 

Mr. Seymour stated the trees will not interfere.

 

Mr. Eilers stated they will be relying on the building signs.  Building is very unlike other White Castles – the tower features and signs are important part of attracting customers.  If push building back further, it may not be able to be seen.  Bob Evans has no drive thru, which is how their building got back so far.  Also, from operational standpoint, cars have to be stacked through the drive thru.  Perhaps can move additional 5’ more.

 

Mr. McVey discussed the importance of aligning perimeter trees appropriately.  Should have some way of delaying approval until you seen how adjacent properties are developed.  Consensus was  it may be hard to do in case adjacent property does not develop as quickly.

 

Discussion continued on the setback for the building.  Mr. Seymour suggested moving back an additional 25’ – that would still make the building closer to Delaware Avenue than Bob Evans  but it would be a compromise.  Mr. Draughn stated he would have to agree with the applicant with the importance of visibility.  Mr. Seymour suggested a compromise with the trees to allow better visibility.  Mr. Harkins asked if some of the perimeter trees could be moved to different areas on the lot.  Mr. McCoy stated in 1140.07(3), in areas where the Design Review Board has determined that strict application of the ordinance will interfere with function, the landscaping may be located to other areas approved by the Board.  Smaller trees can be used – diversity of trees is good.  Mr. McVey stated there are a number of smaller trees that range from 15’ to 20’ at maturity.

 

Mrs. McCoy reviewed the signs.  Because there are two frontages, they are permitted two ID and 4 business signs.  Will revised the calculations because of no monument sign on Delaware Avenue and using the widest width of the building because of the main entrance.  Will e-mail to applicant when finished.

 

Mr.  Eilers presented materials of stone and brick.  He stated they will also be using the Greenbriar manufactured lighting like Bob Evans; they will be no taller than 28’ and will be bronze or black.  Mrs. McCoy asked if there will be spillover.  Mr. Eilers stated this business is open 24 hours a day and they need the wattage.  He also stated they will use fiberglass gates on the trash enclosure.

 

Mr. Cunningham made the motion to approve White Castle Restaurant with the following conditions:

 

ุ     Move building back to be located 75’ from City right of way with additional space to be green space along Delaware Avenue

ุ     Move trees on east property line to other area of property – can be other variety of tree

ุ     Signs to be approved by zoning inspector

ุ     Lighting to be Greenbriar manufacturer, 28’ in height and bronze or black in color

ุ     There will be no monument sign on Delaware Avenue; monument sign on Lydia to be coordinated with zoning inspector

 

The question put, stood:

 

Mr. Seymour Yes  Mr. Klug Yes   Mr. McVey Yes  Mr. George Yes  Mr. Cunningham Yes  

Mr. Draughn Yes  

 

Plans to be resubmitted for final approval.

 

Boston Pizza Restaurant – 1099 Lydia Drive – City Gate Subdivision

 

Tim Emery stated he is part of the development group and also will be the owner/operator of this project.  It will be the first store in Ohio.  The company originated in Canada and had 46 stores currently in the US.  They will be opening 20-30 more this year.

 

Mr. Seymour stated there is sensitivity to Delaware Avenue.  Marysville is in a process in getting into commercial development side.  We want to be very protective of our image.  We want to take good care of the entrance along Delaware Avenue.  Building is radically different from others the Board has seen.  Applicant has witnessed White Castle as a challenge.  We made them comply more with our mission.

 

Discussion held concerning storm water.  Steve Williams stated he had talked with Brian Palmer earlier and stated there will be a dry basin in front of site that was 4’ deep but will now be 3’ deep – slope will be 8 to 1 .  It is usually dry and is very mowable.

 

Mr. Seymour stated he has a concern over the location of the building being set back so far.  Mr. Williams responded that the lot is strangely shaped and this is the only way they could configure the building and have sufficient parking.  He questioned why all the parking is toward Delaware Avenue.  Mr. Williams stated it had to be done this way to get sufficient parking.

 

Mr. Klug asked if there will be handicap buttons on the doors.  Mr. Williams stated if not, they can be added.

 

Mr. Williams stated they have the lighting plans to distribute tonight.  They will be box lights, 24’ in height and bronze in color.

 

Mrs. McCoy reviewed the landscape plan.  It was noted that 1,010 l.f. is the perimeter area of the lot which requires 14 trees based on one for each 75’.  The plan shows 6 trees; 8 more trees are required.  Also, shrubs are not required along the west property line; however, they are required to follow the curve for Lydia Drive and also along Delaware Avenue for the required 3’ mounding.  Two Hackberry trees are required for Delaware Avenue.  The landscape islands and trees are sufficient.  Discussion was held on moving the dumpster/enclosure to the back of the parking lot and moving the landscape area to the middle of that area.   They are also permitted to use some of their perimeter trees to help buffer the trash enclosure and to keep from blocking so much of their property from Delaware Avenue.

 

Mr. Klug requested the monument sign be moved to Lydia Drive.  Mr. Williams and Mr. Emery both agreed they wanted to remove the sign and add an identification sign on the building – not have a monument sign at all.

 

Building material was discussed.  Mr. Williams stated this is a prototype for Boston Restaurant.  No sides of the building are unfinished.  Back side is a little less finished but still has a pleasing look.  The building has a stone base, with stone on top of that with three different colors of EIFS, bronze finish on windows, corrugated metal panels that are spaced around perimeter of building.  Consistency around building.  The red lines are red boxed elements – not lights.

 

Mr. Seymour stated there is a lot of metal on this building.  This building has more of a casino look which is shocking.  According to ordinance 1144.10, there is to be a minimal use of metal.  This building has a lot of metal.  The intent of code is to assure materials and colors are visually harmonious on the planned site and with surrounding development.   We know what is being built next door and this is not harmonious.

 

Applicants stated Boston mandates on some things and on some things they will not budge.  This is a prototype building and they are very proud of the building.

 

Mr. Cunningham stated from what he has seen on line, this business has an upscale appearance to it.  It adds a lot of class to the area.  Honda, Lamborghini, the way the lights hits those buildings, lends a very different and unique look to the area.  This building will have the same.

 

Mr. Emery stated this building makes a strong statement.

 

Mr. Draughn stated this building pushes everything Marysville as a city thinks it is.  It pushes envelopes because it is very different and is something we do NOT have.  This is northing short of a cutting edge of art.  We may even see more different things in town because of this building.  However, we do not like the Pizza on the building.  Applicants all agreed – the pizza is out.  Mr. Draughn continued stating this is a very lineal building, very rectangular, very cutting edge.

 

Mr. McVey noted the exterior reflects what is inside.

 

Mr. Seymour stated he wants to make every assurance this is right because it is so important because of the location.

 

Mr. George stated he feels it is clean, refreshing, and very nice.

 

Mr. Alan iterated that he is uncomfortable with the metal siding.  Mr. Williams stated it is a softer galvanized metal.  Mr. Draughn stated in the overall scheme of the building, it is the right material.  Mr. Seymour stated there is a lot of opportunity for bird problems.  Mr. Williams stated that may not be incorrect; however that is a maintenance issue.  The building has natural colors, the stone blends well.  Mr. Seymour stated is he trying to assure this property has a visual interest consistent with community identity, character and scale.

 

Discussion held concerning patio enclosure and down lights on building.  Dumpster enclosure will be stone and EIFS. 

 

Mrs. McCoy reviewed signs with the applicants stating 6 signs are permitted on the building if they are not going to have a freestanding sign.  Signage permitted is the width of building (82’) times 2 – 164 sq. ft. plus 50% of that amount because of the secondary frontage – 82 sq. ft. additionally.  The main ID sign can be width of building times 1.2 =- 98 sq. ft.    Second ID sign can be 49 sq. ft.  Two business signs can be 33 sq. ft. and two business signs can be 16.5 sq. ft.  Based on signage presented, the main ID sign of 64 sq. ft is permitted; however second ID sign on

left elevation can only be 49 sq. ft.  After discussion and measurement, on the left elevation the “Salads  Pasta  Ribs” was measured at 32 sq. ft. “Salads Ribs” will be removed from the right elevation and the “Salads Pasta Ribs” on front elevation each counted as separate business signs would be permitted.  Official approval of signs to be approved by Mrs. McCoy at later date.

 

Mr. Cunningham made the motion to approve Boston Pizza Restaurant with the following conditions:

 

ุ     Push buttons for entrance doors will be installed per ADA

ุ     Lights will be 24’ bronze down-lit poles

ุ     8 trees to be added per perimeter trees requirement

ุ     The shrubs along east property line should go with curvature of Lydia Drive and along Delaware Avenue for proper mounding requirement

ุ     2 Hackberry trees required along Delaware Avenue

ุ     Pizza slice to be removed from sign

ุ     Dumpster will be moved to corner of parking lot and buffered by perimeter trees

ุ     Sign permit to be issued by zoning inspector – no monument sign, 2 wall ID signs and 4 business signs permitted

 

The question put, stood:

 

Mr. Klug Yes   Mr. McVey Yes  Mr. George Yes  Mr. Cunningham Yes   Mr. Draughn Yes   Mr. Seymour No 

 

Plans to be resubmitted for final approval.

 

Review of Parking Lot Landscape Island Tree List

 

This agenda item was tabled until next month’s meeting due to the City Planner being out of town.

 

COMMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS:

 

Discussion held on requiring approval of Phil Connolly on any lot in the City Gate Subdivision before the Design Review Board reviews the request that was approved at last month’s meeting.  Mr. Cunningham stated he was not present at that meeting but feels there’s nothing in the chapter that requires compliance with deed restrictions.  Developers can have their own; that is their business.  That is not the City’s business.  We can tell them that Mr. Connolly has requirements and if changes are made they would have to come back to us.  Mrs. McCoy stated that is done now.  Mr. Seymour stated he thinks Mr. Kraus thought we needed to do this; however there is no law that requires us to do this.  Mr. Draughn stated he wanted to go on record that he feels it is in conflict with the ordinance.

 

Mr. McVey stated on future landscape plans he would like to see quantities given.  Mr. McCoy stated she would require in future.

 

Mrs. McCoy stated she forgot to discuss the exit drive for White Castle.  Coming out is one way and the drive should veer to the right.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.