Architectural Commission & Historic Preservation Commission

City of Oconomowoc Architectural Commission Meeting Minutes August 9, 2017 Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Members Present: Paul Schultz, Kurt Schrang and Kent Johnson Members Excused: Jeremy Flint and Anne Krogstad Staff Present: Jason Gallo, Kristi Weber, Sarah Kitsembel, Mayor Nold, Ald. Shaw and Chris Dehnert 2. Approve the July 12, 2017 Minutes: Motion by Schrang to approve the July 12, 2017 minutes; second by Schultz. Motion carried 3-0. 3. Kwik Trip – Consider/approve digital sign at 1301 Oconomowoc Parkway: 4. Kwik Trip – Consider/approve digital sign at 1292 Oconomowoc Parkway: Kwik Trip is adding a new type of gasoline which will be included on the monument sign in place of diesel. These requests are for approval of digital wall signs showing diesel gasoline and pricing on the gas canopy at each location. Weber explained the sign for 1301 Oconomowoc Parkway would be located on the NE corner of the gas canopy and at 1292 Oconomowoc Parkway the sign would be located on the SE corner support column due to the type of roof on its gas canopy. Initially staff was concerned about the clearance height on this sign but after a site visit, noted this will not an issue. Each sign will be 11.67 sf and face Oconomowoc Parkway. Weber recommended approval as proposed. Members were concerned about future signage being added to/around the canopies; other gas stations don’t have gas pricing signage on their canopies; concern over temporary signage; and consider setting a timeframe for temporary signage. Caleb from the La Crosse Sign Group thought the proposed signage is temporary. Motion by Schultz to approve the digital sign for Kwik Trip at 1301 Oconomowoc Parkway as presented except the digital signage is to be placed on a column of the gas canopy on a temporary basis for up to six months; second by Schrang. Motion carried 3-0. Motion by Schultz to approve the digital sign for Kwik Trip at 1292 Oconomowoc Parkway as presented except the digital signage is to be placed on the column of the gas canopy on a temporary basis for up to six months; second by Schrang. Motion carried 3-0. 5. Crafty Cow – Consider/approve special exception for signage for 153 E. Wisconsin Avenue: Weber explained this request is for a special exception for unapproved signage on the back of the building, including off-premises signage that was painted on the building next door. Staff contacted the building owner and tenant to inform them that the signage is in noncompliance after this issue was brought up at last month’s Architectural meeting. Code allows for a secondary wall sign on a different elevation with an entrance to the building. The sign is 11.67 sf, located above the rear entrance and complies with code. The second sign is located off-premises, is 90.67 sf (exceeds code by 40.67 sf), and includes the business name, large logo, the year they opened and small State of Wisconsin. Weber said the sign looks good and is in proportion to the space. However, the sign is located on the building for 155 E Wisconsin Avenue, and though both buildings currently have the same owner there could be an issue if the buildings are owned by different people. Lastly there are no trash enclosures and temporary signage on the front of the building. Weber said the south Municipal Lot will have maintenance and a redesign in 2018, and a dumpster consolidation program is being considered. She said the applicant doesn’t need to do anything with the dumpsters at this time but an enclosure may be required in the future. Temporary signage can be displayed for up to 30 days only and their signage must be removed by October 10, 2017. Weber recommends approval conditioned upon the commissioners decision on the off-premises sign and applicant must pull a sign permit within one week from the building inspector. David Eichler apologized for not getting a sign permit for the signs on the rear of the building and will remove the temporary signage. While cleaning up the rear of the building, he thought it was a good location for signage. He also intended to clean up the wall of the building next door so after getting the owner’s approval, he painted it and added the artwork. Eichler will make sure he gets proper approvals before doing any other maintenance. The members said it was best to look at each off-premise sign individually and questioned if the tenant next door had any issue with the sign. Eichler said they have no issue with the signage, and if there are ever separate owners of the buildings he will comply with whatever they request. He would like a centralized location for the dumpsters. The members were in agreement with the signage on the back of the building and off-premises. Motion by Schultz to approve the special exception for signage for Crafty Cow at 153 E. Wisconsin Avenue as presented; second by Schrang. Weber requested the timeframe be included in the motion for getting a sign permit. Schultz amended his motion to include that within one week the applicant is to get sign permits; second by Schrang. Motion carried 3-0. S:\Committees - Commissions\Architectural\Minutes\2017\ACmin 8-9-17.doc Architectural Commission Meeting 2 August 9, 2017 6. Fowler Lake Village – Consider/approve building plans for project to be located at the SE Corner of E. Pleasant and St. Paul Street: Weber explained this project has been reviewed by the Architectural members at two previous meetings. The building will be located in the Downtown Design Overlay District and staff reviewed the project using the checklist included in the background. Staff had two concerns with the latest plans: 1) clearance height of the ground floor canopies; and 2) verify location of mechanical systems. Weber also asked for clarification of patio dividers; building materials and color samples; elevation venting be minimized and painted to match; service doors should match adjacent color; questioned the different railing types; and asked that the applicant provide her a material and color list. Lastly, a master sign plan will be required. Chris John of Korb Associates Architects handed out updated sheets to address changes to the plans: showing the height of the awnings on Pleasant and St. Paul Street and proximity to property lines; a drawing of one of the awnings; the updated handrail system with mesh panels; and how the patios have changed to reflect larger areas for some of the units. John explained the awnings will consist of standing seam metal and the mechanicals may be visible from a distance from the building which he will address if necessary. Jason Korb of Korb Associates Architects said most of the mechanicals will be screened by the pop ups on the roof and added if they install a hood exhaust for the restaurant, they will completely screen it so it is not visible from the rooftop deck. He said the biggest change in the building since the last meeting was that they rotated the units so that the frontage on the lakeside is doubled. Currently they are planning on 35 to 36 total units which may change based on pre-sales. They are working with a subdued color pallet with cool gray stone panels, subtle base brick, cement siding panels in a rich dark color, aluminum storefront and fiber composite windows and dark bronze metal frames. Railings will be aluminum mesh (2”x2”) with a top round rail and the top roof railing which faces E. Wisconsin Avenue will be a standard metal pipe, painted to match, which is required per code to be used as a guide rail for egress from the roof deck. They want the building to appear timeless and intend to get pops of color through signage and with street furniture. Korb agreed there is no signage this evening and they will come back when ready. The members agreed the building looks more cohesive; liked the color choices; and said it has come a long way. Motion by Schrang to approve the building plans for the Fowler Lake Village project as presented subject to staff recommendations; second by Schultz. Motion carried 3-0. 7. Meadow View Elementary School – Discuss building and signage plans for project to be located west of Brown Street and north of Whalen Drive: Weber explained this item is for discussion only as the applicant is requesting feedback on their proposed plans for a new 117,000 sf elementary school containing kindergarten and 1st-4th grades, along with a gym, cafeteria, media center and library. Roger Rindo, Oconomowoc Area School District, said they designed the building based on local architecture and want it to appear timeless and future thinking. Bob Morris, along with Maclain Schramm of Eppstein Ehen Architects, explained they wanted the school to look welcoming and incorporate the surrounding prairie setting. The building will consist of one large area with a gym, cafeteria and offices, and two separate “wings”, one for classrooms and one for the kindergarten, which includes a separate entrance. The front entry will have a covered walkway with “tilted” supports and glass main entrance. Materials include stone base, red and blonde colored brick, gray metal panels and fascia, wood soffits and entrance structure, and glass curtain wall. The glass in the building will be clear or tinted light gray. The trash enclosure, electrical panel, air handler and chiller will be located in the back corner by the kitchen area and electrical fixtures will mostly be ballard and pole lighting. Morris said rooftop HVAC units will be screened. The landscaping plan is not complete yet, and Morris asked for feedback from the members. They intended on having mostly deciduous trees, evergreens by the dumpsters, and a natural prairie setting on the inside of the front parking area. The rear parking area will serve a dual purpose between the school and the new City park. Gallo cautioned they should be careful in their tree selections to make sure there is good visibility with this being school grounds. Rindo asked for clarification of light levels in the back parking lots. Schultz suggested using landscaping to shield the parking lot from Brown Street. Member’s comments included great 4-sided architecture; the prairie idea is good; great light in the building from all the windows; and use of colors and materials is acceptable. Rindo said they will come back in September for final approval of the building plans along with signage. Weber noted if they have any digital reader boards, they must be approved by the Architectural Commission. Morris added they will have a flag pole on the property and are currently considering locations for it. No action was taken. 8. Reports and comments from the City Planner: None. 9. Reports and comments from the Architectural Commissioners: None. 10. Adjourn: Motion by Schultz to adjourn at 6:39 pm; second by Johnson. Motion carried 3-0. Chris Dehnert, Deputy City Clerk S:\Committees - Commissions\Architectural\Minutes\2017\ACmin 8-9-17.doc