Design Review Board

Staff Comments for the DESIGN REVIEW BOARD February 26, 2015 Folly Road Staff Comments: General: 1. The required pre-submittal conference for the project did not take place, so staff has had no input on the project. Site: 2. Positioning the clubhouse at the terminus of the entry drive is a good move, however moving it to the north would be preferable to be on direct access with the entry drive. This would also allow for a more generous plaza area in front of the building. The plaza area could be comprised of specialty pavement. 3. The generous amount of space left around the 51 inch Oak has the potential to become a site amenity such as a small pocket park. Staff would like to see this developed further. 4. Further development is needed in tying the pedestrian site circulation together including the use of specialty pavement crosswalks. Also, relocate the sidewalk on the north side of the entry drive to the south side to prevent a pedestrian crossing mid-block. 5. Building type 1 is considerably out of scale with the other two buildings on site. Also, with its size, very little room is left for landscaping to help bring down the scale of the building. Staff would prefer two smaller buildings take its place. 6. Overall, the landscaping needs to be increased substantially. 7. A Landscape Architect should be involved in the project. Buildings: 8. A more suitable solution is need for the rooftop HVAC units on building type 1. 9. On both apartment building types, raise the brick to the bottom of the third floor. And, lower the brick above the entrances. 10. Eliminate all faux window shutters. 11. A calmer building color pallet could be used. 12. As a way of simplifying the material palette, the shakes in the gables could be eliminated. 13. Eliminate the two gables on the front of the clubhouse. 14. The fenestration on the north elevation of building type 1 needs work. This will be a highly visible elevation. 15. Lower the light fixtures at the building entrances to a pedestrian level. 16. The window and door heads in the Hardi sections of the buildings appear heavy. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends “Deferral” with the conditions noted. Theresa Drive (Meritage Apartments) Deferred by Staff due to an incomplete submittal. Island Park Drive @ Fairchild Street Staff Comments: General: 1. Projects such as this one are difficult to pull off in a more urban environment. The overall site layout works well and the architectural coordination between the three structures is generally successful. Site: 2. Currently, the landscape plan is difficult to read at its half scale. Enlargements of the site would be helpful. Staff would like to withhold judgment on the amount of  landscaping and overall design pending the enlargements. 3. Substitute palmettos at the ends of the ends of the pump islands where the Knock Out Roses are currently proposed. 4. Provide a site and canopy lighting plan. Building: 5. The overall form of the building has greatly improved. 6. The elimination of the arched openings was a good move in simplifying the design. 7. Consider using wood in lieu of the recessed metal wall panels. This comment is primarily driven by the number of blank panels on the Island Park Drive elevation. 8. Staff feels the design of both end elevations would be more successful if the curved parapet weren’t broken by the dormer. 9. What will the paving material be beneath the covered areas? Stained concrete or pavers would be preferable to plain concrete. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends “Preliminary approval” with the conditions noted. MEMBERS PRESENT: BILL MARSHALL, DAVID THOMPSON, JOHN TARKANY, MICHELLE SMYTH, JEFF JOHNSTON STAFF PRESENT: BILL TURNER, STEPHEN RISSE CLERK: PEGGY JORDAN AGENDA DESIGN REVIEW BOARD FEBRUARY 26, 2015 5:00 P.M. 75 CALHOUN STREET 1. 1559 Folly Road – TMS# 334-12-00-001, 030, 031 App. No. 152-26-1 Request Conceptual approval for new construction of a multi-family development as per documentation submitted. Owner: 1559 Acquisition Company, LLC Applicant: Anchor Consulting Engineers, LLC Neighborhood: Grimball Shores MOTION: Deferral – address Board and staff comments. MADE BY: D.Thompson SECOND: J.Johnston VOTE: FOR 4 AGAINST 0 *B.Marshall abstains 2. Theresa Drive – TMS# 421-10-00-081 App. No. 152-26-2 Request Preliminary approval for new construction of a multi-family development as per documentation submitted. Owner: Theresa Drive Development, LLC Applicant: KRA Architecture and Design Neighborhood: Bel Air MOTION: Deferred by staff. MADE BY: SECOND: VOTE: FOR AGAINST 3. Island Park Drive @ Fairchild Street App. No. 152-26-3 TMS# 275-00-00-157 (a portion of) Request Preliminary approval for new construction of a convenience store, gas canopy and carwash as per documentation submitted. Owner: Mark Jordan, Refuel, Inc. Applicant: Coast Architects, Inc. Neighborhood: Daniel Island Town Center MOTION: Preliminary approval – address staff comments 3,4,7,8 and 9; make landscape adjustments for additional screening until Phase 2 is built; correct sidewalk alignments around Island Park Drive. MADE BY: D.Thompson SECOND: J.Tarkany VOTE: FOR 4 AGAINST 0 *B.Marshall abstains In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, people who need alternative formats, ASL (American Sign Language) Interpretation or other accommodation please contact Janet Schumacher at (843) 577-1389 or email to schumacherj@charleston-sc.gov three business days prior to the meeting. QW