Architectural Commission & Historic Preservation Commission

City of Oconomowoc Architectural Commission Meeting Minutes September 13, 2017 Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm. Members Present: Jeremy Flint, Kent Johnson, Anne Krogstad and Paul Schultz Members Excused: Kurt Schrang Staff Present: Jason Gallo, Kristi Weber, Sarah Kitsembel, Mayor Nold, Alds. Shaw, Kowieski and Strey, Bob Duffy and Chris Dehnert 2. Approve the August 9, 2017 Minutes: Motion by Schultz to approve the August 9, 2017 minutes; second by Johnson. Motion carried 2 – 0 – 2 (Flint and Krogstad abstained). 3. Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital – Consider/approve building plans at 791 Summit Avenue: Weber explained the applicant is requesting approval of a 21,168 sf building addition which will be located in a vacant notch at the back of the hospital. The addition will consist of 3 floors: the first floor (below grade) will be 6,356 sf and used as a surgical recovery area; the 2nd floor (at grade) will be 7,413 sf and consist of a loading dock and warehouse space; and the 3rd floor (above grade) will be for mechanicals which will be screened. Materials of the addition will match the existing building. Staff went to the site and noted the addition should be blocked by trees with limited visibility from Summit Avenue. Weber noted an existing chiller unit is located where the new mechanicals will be placed. The unit is partially screened with landscaping, and Weber said this should be sufficient for the additional unscreened chiller unit. Staff recommends approval of the proposed building plans. Motion by Schultz to approve the building plans for Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital at 791 Summit Avenue as presented; second by Flint. Motion carried 4-0. 4. Parc on Lac La Belle – Consider/approve building plans at 200 & 204 W. Wisconsin Avenue: Johnson excused himself in order to present the proposed project. Weber explained this project was approved in 2015 and is being brought back due to changes to the proposed building which include: the brick on the side elevations is being replaced with composite siding; the brick on the side stair towers is being replaced with composite siding and shingles; and the street side decks on the penthouse level are being replaced with interior living space. Weber noted the building will be located in the Downtown Design Overlay District and must comply with requirements. She questioned the use of transparent glass on the 1st floor garage doors; the rooftop units may be visible and if so, will need to be screened or moved back; all venting located on the side of the building is to be minimized and match surrounding materials; and there is no signage for approval this evening. Pete Davis of Johnson Design explained due to the sideyard setback being very close they changed the brick to a quality composite siding in two offsetting colors. They also eliminated the penthouse decks on the street side and changed them to interior space. Davis noted the garage doors will be a frosted glass, and Gallo added that glass in the first floor of buildings in the Downtown District are intended to be transparent and frosted glass is discouraged. The members agreed with the use of frosted glass for the garage doors, noting with clear glass you could see too much and a solid door would look unfriendly. Davis will put together a clarification page with all materials, and Weber requested a copy of the renderings, materials list, colors and samples for the file. Members cautioned staying within the setback from the water, the stair columns are fun, and agree with the proposed changes. Motion by Flint to approve the building plans with the changes as submitted for Parc on Lac La Belle at 200 & 204 W. Wisconsin Avenue; second by Schultz. Motion carried 3-0-1 (Johnson abstained). 5. WaterView Condominiums – Discuss building plans at 517 & 525 N. Lake Road: Weber explained this item is to discuss the proposed building plans on property located on North Lake Road south of the dam in the Isthmus District. The site consists of 2 lots which have been sold to a developer who intends to raze the home, combine the lots into 1, and build a single-family home and a 12 unit condominium on the property. Weber noted the buildings must comply to design standards in the Isthmus zoning district. Peter Renner and Jeff Natrop of Renner Architects shared photos of other developments they designed and built in Milwaukee’s Third Ward and other areas. Renner said the condo complex will have concrete floors, high end finishes, lots of glass and lower level private garages. The single-family residence will help soften the building complex and consists of cedar shake siding, white accents, lots of glass, and a standing seam metal roof. Member’s comments included the building looks like a warehouse; the building doesn’t resemble the single-family home; the condo complex needs a roof or dormers added to it; the building lacks character; bay windows are an odd choice; Third Ward concepts do not fit in with this context; and the architecture of the building is not common to the Isthmus District. Gallo explained the purpose and authority of the Architectural Commission and how he S:\Committees - Commissions\Architectural\Minutes\2017\ACmin 9-13-17.doc Architectural Commission Meeting 2 September 13, 2017 researched 3-story buildings in the area in order to provide guidance to the developer. He distributed pictures of homes that resemble the character of homes from the Isthmus time period and suggested they review the elements and consider incorporating them into the buildings. The members thought the pictures were an excellent guideline for the applicant noting the proposed condominium building has no articulation. Chairman Johnson requested the design guidelines for the Isthmus District be provided to the applicant, noting the condominium building should look more historical. He also read two letters into the record which had been provided prior to the meeting. Johnson permitted the following members in the audience to speak: 1) David Cullinane, 434 N. Lake Road, said the proposed building looks like one in the Third Ward. He is against developers buying the old homes on North Lake Road and knocking them down. 2) Bill Minnett on behalf of Jon Leverance, 517 N. Lake Road, likes the materials and design of the single-family home. 3) Dave Byczek, owns the property (238 N. Lake Road) which Renner used as a guide when designing the single-family home. He doesn’t like the industrial style in this neighborhood and though he’s not against a condominium, it should conform to the standards of the Isthmus District. 4) Chuck Holsen, 246 N. Lake Road, doesn’t like the flat roof. He said people on N. Lake Road have put time and money to make their properties look nice. 5) Janet Phillips, 310 N. Lake Road, encouraged the developer to make the proposed building into something the community can embrace. Renner agreed to review the guidelines and redesign the condominium building. No other comments were received and no action was taken. 6. Reports and comments from the City Planner: - St. Matthew’s Church and School. Weber explained though St. Matthew’s project was approved two months ago, staff has been working with them on several changes to the building which were administratively approved. The architect on the project put together a summary of all the requests with before / after drawings, and Weber wanted to share it with the members so they could see all the changes that have been made. Approved changes included reducing the gym height from 35 to 30 ft; increasing the stage height and depth; changing the pitch of the roof of the cold storage area; adding egress doors on the short section of blank wall to the north; the addition of (2) more RTU’s on the roof which will be screened; reduction in the height of the base band from 10” to 6”; a variety of updates to the entryway and the addition of landscaping on the plans to help soften the building’s appearance. The members agreed these were all nice improvements to the building plans. 7. Reports and comments from the Architectural Commissioners: The roof venting on the View at Pine Ridge is not painted to match nearby materials. Staff will review. 8. Adjourn: Motion by Krogstad to adjourn at 6:15 pm; second by Schultz. Motion carried 4-0. Chris Dehnert, Deputy City Clerk S:\Committees - Commissions\Architectural\Minutes\2017\ACmin 9-13-17.doc