Design Review Board

Staff Comments for the DESIGN REVIEW BOARD March 9, 2015 Proximity Drive Staff Comments: Site: 1. The site layout has greatly improved with the relocation of building 4. 2. The language of the main drive has improved with the use of street lights, closer spaced street trees and specialty pavement at the intersections and crosswalks. 3. The main entry to the project could be reinforced with the same use of specialty pavement as used elsewhere. Provide the specialty pavement from the edge of Proximity Drive to the first intersection or at least to the first parallel parking space. 4. Increase the caliper of the trees along the main drive to 4” and use a single species for a more uniform and immediate effect. 5. Identify which boardwalks will have handrails. 6. Provide a site photometric plan. 7. Eliminate the secondary site light fixture, due to its aesthetics, and find a substitute or use the Sheppard’s Crook fixture throughout. 8. The Proximity Drive sides of buildings 6, 7 and 8 have open breezeways but no sidewalk connections to the street. Provide sidewalk connections. Buildings: 9. The doors at the clipped corner of building 1 are no longer the main entrance. Either create a lobby space for the doors to lead into, or replace them with windows and eliminate the covered roof. 10. On building 1, either incorporate the one story appendage into the mass of the building or separate it. 11. Indicate that the building stem walls will have brick which extends completely to grade. 12. Use a consistent brick height on each of the buildings. 13. More attention is needed at the breezeway entrance so that they read as inviting entrances. Could the breezeways be enclosed with doors? 14. Use 5/8” cementitious lap siding. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends “Preliminary approval” for the site and all buildings with the exception of building 1 and “Deferral” for building 1 with the conditions noted. 725 Savage Road Staff Comments: General: 1. Although the issue has already been decided with the Conceptual approval, staff along with Mayor Riley feels that the building is ill sited setback from the street. Siting a building with parking between it and the street goes against every standard the City and this board has advocated for the last 16 years. Site: 2. The site is now 28 parking spaces over the City’s requirements. In order to provide a deeper buffer along Savage Road to screen the parking field, the front bay of parking should be eliminated and this area heavily landscaped. 3. Relocate the 10 parking spaces against the east side of the building to the west side of the building and slide the building forward. 4. Provide more plantable space between the sidewalk and the building. 5. Will there be a dumpster located on the property? 6. Relocate the parking lot fixtures from the tree islands so that the trees do not obscure them over time. 7. Is the covered area at the building entrance to act as a porte-cochere? If so, it does not seem maneuverable due to the close proximity of the handicap spaces. 8. Provide a planted island adjacent to the end of the porte-cochere to provide separation between the benches and the drive aisle.  9. Provide curbing around the tree islands for their protection. 10. Provide a connection and crosswalk between the entry drive sidewalk and the sidewalk adjacent to the building or eliminate the entry drive sidewalk. 11. Continue to work with staff on refinements to the landscape plan. 12. Provide a site photometric plan and parking lot light fixture cut sheets. 13. Provide a grading plan as required by the Conceptual approval. Buildings: 14. The offsets in the building seem minor. The building would benefit if the offsets could be increased. 15. The previous submittal called for vinyl clad wood windows. The current submittal calls for both vinyl clad and vinyl windows; please clarify. Staff would prefer a vinyl clad window over a solid vinyl window. 16. Provide a sample of the proposed windows. 17. Provide additional information on the proposed roof system. 18. Reintroduce the brackets from the Conceptual design. 19. Return to the previous eave detail in lieu of the proposed boxed eaves (CD5 and CD6). 20. Consider using an open end gable for the porte-cochere. A flat roof could also be an option. 21. Provide visual support for the porte-cochere where it meets the building with the introduction of brick pilasters. 22. Refine the bracket detail for the canopies above the doors. 23. Is the number of downspouts shown necessary? 24. The proportions of the gable vents should mimic the proportions of the vertical windows. 25. Show building light fixtures and any penetrations in the building envelope. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends “Deferral” with the conditions noted. 3130 Maybank Highway Staff Comments: General: 1. The building is of quality materials and utilizes nice simple detailing. 2. The overall proportions of the building work well. 3. The siting of the building works well and conforms to the Town and Country concept of the Johns Island Plan. Site: 4. Continue to refine the landscape plan. 5. The proposed freestanding sign is overdone and should be simplified. 6. Provide a dumpster enclosure detail. 7. Provide a site photometric plan and parking lot fixture cut sheets. 8. Provide a sidewalk along Maybank Highway. Building: 9. The sunscreens seem to be under scaled and should be lowered and widened so the brackets hit at the side of the windows. The windows could be raised instead to sit on top of the brick band. 10. The color of the cornice and sunscreens should match the storefront. 11. The cornice of the front bump-out intersects awkwardly with the cornice on the main body of the building. Staff recommends raising the height of the bump-out. 12. The view and design of the back side of the bump-out needs to be considered. 13. Show all penetrations to the building envelope and all building light fixtures. 14. Additional notes are needed on the drawings identifying materials. 15. The site plan shows the hvac on the ground but the renderings show them on the roof. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends “Conceptual approval” with the conditions noted. MEMBERS PRESENT: BILL MARSHALL, KRISTEN KRAUSE, ERICA CHASE, DAVID THOMPSON, JEFF JOHNSTON STAFF PRESENT: BILL TURNER, STEPHEN RISSE CLERK: PEGGY JORDAN AGENDA DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APRIL 9, 2015 5:00 P.M. 75 CALHOUN STREET 1. Proximity Drive – TMS# 301-00-00-388 App. No. 154-09-1 Request Preliminary approval for new construction of a multi-family development as per documentation submitted. Owner: R K Investors Applicant: Studio Fusion Architects Neighborhood: None *B.Marshall abstains MOTION: Preliminary approval with the exception of Building1; deferral for Building 1; address staff comments 3-6 and 8-14; address downspout locations; restudy the knee walls at the porches; refine the design of the entry sign; use a single brick color; use smooth siding; provide site details and coordinate then and integrate them with the architectural details. MADE BY: D.Thompson SECOND: E.Chase VOTE: FOR 4 AGAINST 0 2. 725 Savage Road – TMS# 310-03-00-080 App. No. 154-09-2 Request Preliminary approval for new construction of a Church as per documentation submitted. Owner: Macedonia AME Church Applicant: Locklair Consulting / Karpus Design Neighborhood: None MOTION: Preliminary approval – address staff comments 4 and 6-13, 14 (as a suggestion), 16- 18 and 21-25; provide a large scale plan for the porte-cochere to further study details. *B.Marshall abstains MADE BY: J.Johnston SECOND: D.Thompson VOTE: FOR 4 AGAINST 0 3. 3130 Maybank Highway – TMS# 313-00-00-002 and 325 App. No. 154-09-3 Request Conceptual approval for new construction of a retail building as per documentation submitted. Owner: Carolina Resort Properties, LLC Applicant: David A. Glover Neighborhood: None MOTION: Conceptual approval – address staff comments 4-8 and 10-15; staff to confirm approval is in accordance with the Johns Island Plan and Road Wise plans for Maybank Highway. *B.Marshall abstains MADE BY: E.Chase SECOND: D.Thompson VOTE: FOR 4 AGAINST 0 Files containing information pertinent to the above applications are available for public review at the Department of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability, 75 Calhoun Street, (Charleston County School District Building), Third Floor, during regular working hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily except Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. 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.