Architectural Advisory Board

MINUTES OF ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY BOARD PURPOSE OF MEETING: The Advisory Board (AAB) advises the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Zoning Administrator; reviews building permits and site plans; and makes recommendations to the Zoning Administrator and/or Planning Commission. The Board reviews architectural design, texture, color and construction materials, scale of development, aesthetic and spatial relationship of development, landscaping configuration, location of signs, exterior lighting and sign applications, as well as requests for sign variances. DATE OF MEETING: November 4, 2020 PLACE OF MEETING: Virtual Meeting (Microsoft Teams) MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: _Jim Way_____________ AT ___7:36pm_____(time) THOSE PRESENT: BODY NAME Staff Member: __Jim Way______X__ Name: _Jeff Hollern_______X_______ Member: __Sharon Friedlander__X______ Name: _______________ Member: __Philip Osburn______X__ Youth Representatives Member: __Albert Bitici________ Name: __Daniel Ng_____X________ Member: __Victor Wong________ Name: __Evan Lankford_____________ OTHERS PRESENT: __Joe Muffler, Mill Creek TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: 1. Feedback and Recommendation to the Planning Commission requested on the Founders Row Mural, located at 100 Founders Row RPC #51-222-001 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned B-3, Central Business. Includes presentation from the Applicant. The board appreciated the changes made to the mural since the previous meeting. Several comments made to refine certain details of mural, specifically ones that reference physical “monuments” in mural (Tinner Hill Arch, etc.). Pleased that neighboring St. James Church is happy with mural’s development. Suggestion made to provide information on mural’s references to those viewing from ground level. VOTE TO RECOMMEND ITEM TO PLANNING COMMISSION Member: __Jim Way______YEA__ Member: __Sharon Friedlander__YEA______ Member: __Philip Osburn______YEA__ Member: __Albert Bitici______YEA__ Member: __Victor Wong______NP__ The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711).  2. Feedback and Recommendation to the Planning Commission requested on the Broad and Washington Project Special Exception and Land Use Map Amendment. Located at 100 N Washington Street and 127-131 E Broad Street, and Park Place. RPC #53-104-051, 53-104-036, 53-104-050, AND 53- 104-015), zoned Mixed Use The Architectural Advisory Board joined the Planning Commission for a work session on this item. General Notes: 1. + Good mix of proposed materials & textures to give an idea of different functions within the buildings. 2. + AAB appreciates the additional perspectives provided, including the topography in them 3. Rooftop Equipment/Elevator Penthouses – Placement is key so they are not visible from N. Washington or West Broad Approaches 4. + Design team attention to architectural lighting concepts at this stage and protection of night sky. Continue to develop lighting concepts maintain a balance of site and architectural lighting around the project, to enhance the pedestrian experience in the north side linear park and for safety of occupants, but not overpower the existing neighbors. 5. No back-of-house storage or storage shelving should be visible at Retail storefront – Although interior programming/layout may not be possible to review under the purview of the AAB, it is important that no visible storage shelving be viewed from exterior of building. As it would cheapen the prime sidewalk level real estate of this development and degrade the pedestrian appeal/experience. (Ref. not to repeat the mistakes at Tinner Hill development: Hot Sauce retail storage [across from Pearson Sq apts] with back-of- house storage on full display at pedestrian level of wheeled carts stacked on top of boxes on the metal shelving.) Broad & Washington Plaza View:  + Paver Patterns & textures in landscaping elements to create a pedestrian level experience.  Would like to see variation of landscape/plantings to further complement this experience.  Concerns expressed about acoustics in this sunken plaza. Traffic noise from this busy intersection may make this space unusable as a ‘break-out’ performance area for Creative Cauldron.  Good use of architectural features and landscaping elements along the north end to allow for visual interest, pedestrian appeal and sound to be absorbed.  Evaluate if solid storefront along east side of sunken plaza will contribute to a noise reverberation/amplification from the traffic in this sunken area and provide mitigating measures (consider slight undulation of storefront or other softer features in intervals along this wall). Washington Street Views: The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711).   Elevation/Façade of residential portion facing Washington is too rigid. Consider more positive/negative space in openings (or punch-outs) to break up militant rhythm of residential unit windows.  At upper level residential, ‘contemporary mansard’ seems out of proportion and not reading from this view, investigate pulling the ‘contemporary mansard’ back a slight angle to give it more of a mansard feel from this view.  Confirm that ‘louvers’ at mezzanine garage level are deep enough to hide the view of all underslab utilities (waste lines, mechanical system, fire sprinkler lines, etc.) that could be seen from sidewalk/plaza level. Broad Street Views:  More undulation of the façade along Broad Street Elevations to break apart the massing and better activate the sidewalk.  ‘Parking slips’ narrow sidewalk area at each building entry point. Evaluate width of sidewalk at the main building entry locations (for Whole Foods, Residential and Creative Cauldron) to accommodate the tendency of people to congregate in front of / adjacent to main entries - relocate the ‘parking slips’ as needed to allow for natural congregating around building entries.  Keep a ‘screen’ type mechanism at mezzanine parking level to hide the underside of slab utilities (waste lines, mechanical, sprinkler equipment, etc.) from the sidewalk/pedestrian experience.  Upper Portion of Residential ‘contemporary mansard’ level – Re-evaluate proportions of this level, maybe cant the ‘contemporary mansard’ back with a slight angle to play with that proportion both in elevation and perspective and may lend to breaking down of the mass along that façade. Lawton Street View:  At upper level residential, ‘contemporary mansard’ not reading from this view, investigate pulling the ‘contemporary mansard’ back a slight angle to give it more of a mansard feel from this view.  + Stepping back of the massing to aid in the perceived height to “back-off” of pedestrian walkway park behind property. NW Corner View (from North Washington into Park Place):  Residential volumes and voids (positive and negative) is much more successful than that shown at the Washington St. facing elevation that is closer to the Broad St intersection. Park Place View:  Nice contrast in architectural style to that of the main development to indicate a different function, but it’s too monochromatic and flat. Too much fiber cement board used at these elevations which look very flat even if a variety of colors are used.  Investigate additional glazing at North to allow for more north light into the ‘work from home’ units and activate this mass to appear to be more than a ‘box’.  Consider placement of rooftop mechanical units and elevator penthouse as they are visible to the entire development above. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711).   Consider ‘green’ roof that is occupiable as an added ‘feature’ for tenants. Other comments not discussed in meeting:  Consider ‘green’ roof features to mitigate ‘heat island’ effect.  What and where will the vents required for each unit be? Vents (type and locations) need to be integrated into façade design (i.e. No cheap residential vents tacked anywhere to the side of residential building as an afterthought).  Re-Evaluate the need for multiple Whole Foods signs at each elevation. Appears to be excessive. VOTE TO RECOMMEND ITEM TO PLANNING COMMISSION Member: __Jim Way______YEA__ Member: __Sharon Friedlander__YEA______ Member: __Philip Osburn______YEA__ Member: __Albert Bitici______YEA__ Member: __Victor Wong______NP__ MEETING ADJOURNED AT: _________10:35 PM_______________________________ SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: ________Jeff Hollern______________________________ The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711).