Architectural Commission & Historic Preservation Commission

City of Oconomowoc Architectural Commission Meeting Minutes November 8, 2017 Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm. Members Present: Jeremy Flint, Anne Krogstad, Paul Schultz, Kurt Schrang and Kent Johnson Staff Present: Kristi Weber, Jason Gallo, Ald. Shaw, Ald. Kowieski, Bob Duffy and Chris Dehnert 2. Approve the October 11, 2017 Minutes: Motion by Schultz to approve the October 11, 2017 minutes; second by Schrang. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Flint abstained). 3. Waukesha State Bank - Consider/approve a special exception for signage at 1227 Corporate Center Drive: Weber explained the applicant is requesting a special exception for an increase in overall size and height of an existing ground sign. The proposed sign would be 55.5 sf, 12’ tall and includes a 13.5 sf reader board. When the Hwy 67 reconstruction project was done, the height of the road was raised which caused decreased visibility of the sign. This request for an increase in height is the first in this corridor. Weber said the background will be opaque and lettering will be red. Staff agrees with the increased height and proposed digital reader board. Mike Johnson of Graphic House explained they are proposing to update the ground sign in the same location but want to make it larger so it is visible from the road. Currently you can’t see the sign when traveling north due to its height and distance from the road. It’s a modest increase in size and they intend to re-use the existing digital reader board. Members questioned the amount of the grade change as they would want an equal adjustment from the road to the proposed sign. Gallo noted he does not have that specific information and agreed the sign is lower and difficult to read. Mike Johnson was unable to get any information from the State DOT on how much the road grade changed so he did a rough calculation which amounted to a grade increase of 8’. Members said it made sense to have an increase based on the difference in the road elevation but said they need to be careful how to word the approval without civil documentation. They noted the design of the sign is acceptable but didn’t want to set precedence to allow all signs to go up to 12’. Gallo suggested they could approve the sign subject to documentation being presented to staff showing that the sign is no greater than 4’ over road elevation. He added other communities did the same thing with signage by I-94 by shooting the road elevation. Motion by Flint to approve signage color and materials for Waukesha State Bank at 1227 Corporate Center Drive and approve a special exception for height allowance with the maximum height being 8’ plus the difference (delta) between the elevation of the base of the sign and the highest point of the highway perpendicular to the sign which grade must be submitted by a civil engineer to City staff for administrative approval; second by Schultz. Motion carried 5-0. 4. Associated Bank - Consider/approve a special exception for signage at 1456 E. Summit Avenue: Weber explained this applicant is also requesting a special exception for an increase in height of an existing ground sign due to decreased visibility of their sign. They plan to take the existing sign and increase it to 14’ tall by adding an extension to the base. Weber has concerns that it will look like a pole sign. Staff recommends if the sign is internally lit that the background should be opaque instead of white; the base of the sign should be landscaped; and the sign decreased to 12’ tall. Mike Johnson of Graphic House explained they plan to raise the existing sign and add skirting at the bottom. The grade change is similar but the sign is actually farther off the road than the last sign. However it is the same visual effect and they will follow the same direction as the previous sign. Members said to consider bringing down the height. Motion by Schultz to approve a special exception for Associated Bank at 1456 E. Summit Avenue for a height allowance with the maximum height being 8’ plus the difference (delta) between the elevation of the base of the sign and the highest point of the highway perpendicular to the sign which grade must be submitted by a civil engineer to City staff for administrative approval; second by Schrang. Motion carried 5-0. 5. Roots Coffeebar & Café – Consider/approve façade plans at 124 E. Wisconsin Avenue: Weber explained this is for approval of an after-the-fact building façade improvement. The owners of the Roots Coffeebar & Café want to separate their business identity from the adjacent business next door due to being owned by separate entities. They already painted the front of their building gray (“Stone Age”) with white trim (“White Fence”) and plan to replace the fabric awnings with corrugated steel and add 3 new gooseneck lights centered over the storefront. In addition, staff is working with the applicant on suggestions for updated signage. Staff recommends approval of the after-the-fact façade improvements. Heidi Laatsch and Hilary DeVries, owners of The Roots, explained they bought the business 6 years ago and wanted to give the business a fresh look with their own personal style. They confirmed the awning height would be 8’ above the sidewalk as required by City Code. Laatsch said they plan to add a metal sign to fit in with the style of the façade in the same location as the current signage. Members approved the applicants’ choices but were concerned over how the awnings will mount and thought they will be more flat then S:\Committees - Commissions\Architectural\Minutes\2017\ACmin 11-8-17.doc Architectural Commission Meeting 2 November 8, 2017 shown. Motion by Krogstad to approve the facade plans for the Roots Coffeebar & Café at 124 E. Wisconsin Avenue as presented with the colors and future awnings as shown in the drawing providing that they meet the 8’ minimum clearance height; second by Schultz. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Schrang abstained). 6. Oconomowoc High School East Campus – Consider/approve building plans at 915 E. Summit Avenue: Weber explained the building plans for this location were initially reviewed in October and the applicant is now requesting approval of the final plans. They plan to reconfigure the parking lot, remove the EIFS, remodel the interior and update the exterior of the building. Staff approves all the new changes to the building but noted the ground and rooftop units are being reconfigured. They also will be coming back with signage which staff will review to determine if it needs to go to the Architectural Commission. Weber recommends approval conditioned on the applicant providing their plan for screening and noise control. Robert Morris of Eppstein Uhen Architects said there will be two different profiles of metal panels (6” and 12”). The upper panels will be darker (“Colonial Gray”) and the lower panels will be lighter (“Light Gray”). They are attempting to create an updated exterior with increased windows and a light well in the interior of the building to bring in natural light. They will have a unique heating / cooling system to minimize the duct height with the ceilings. The rooftop units will bring in air and the ground units will chill it. They are planning on a chain link fence with slats along with heavy landscaping to hide the ground units. The roof will be black and they are planning to screen the rooftop units in a color that compliments the metal on the building. The members were pleased with the color and material choices on the building. Motion by Schrang to approve the building plans for Oconomowoc High School East Campus at 915 E. Summit Avenue as presented subject to the applicant providing a plan to staff for screening and noting there is no issue with noise control; second by Krogstad. Motion carried 5-0. 7. Meadow View Elementary School – Consider/approve building plans located to the west of Brown Street and North of Whalen Drive: Weber explained the building plans for this location were initially reviewed in August and the applicant is now requesting approval of the final plans. The building will be 117,000 sf and includes a couple blank walls and additional areas for future expansion. School representatives will be coming back with signage which staff will review as it may be administratively approved. Weber recommends approval of the building plans and requested a copy of the final plan set with detailed material specs. Dr. Roger Rindo, Superintendent of Schools, said he’s excited about this new modern building which reflects the current architecture in the community, and added they may end up breaking up the blank walls in some way. Maclain Schramm of Eppstein Uhen Architects said materials include a 4” lannon stone base, vertical dark gray corrugated metal panels, lighter gray panels and metal fascia, red and buff colored brick, an aluminum canopy (looks like wood but has durability of metal), gray steel whimsical style columns supporting a covered walkway, and lots of glass throughout the entire building. The trash enclosure consisting of buff brick with metal gates and the electrical transformer will be located at the back of the building. The rooftop chiller unit and generator will be screened with a galvanized metal louver system which will match the dark metal panels and located at the back of the building. All other mechanicals will be located inside the building. Schramm added they are considering creating patterns or adding some depth of reveal along some lines of brick to add interest. Members questioned the location of low metal panels on a school building with the potential of them being dented or scratched; concern with potential rust issues on the metal columns and suggested using a high performance coating; and it’s a beautiful building and they did a great job with its design and materials. Robert Morris of Eppstein Uhen Architects said the lower metal panels are on the kindergarten wing and by the entrance in a very limited area with a stone band. Motion by Flint to approve the building plans for Meadow View Elementary School to be located to the west of Brown Street and North of Whalen Drive as presented with the applicant to provide final material sheets to staff; second by Schrang. Motion carried 5-0. 8. Mann Block Building – Consider/approve building plans at 102 N. Main Street: Weber explained this applicant is requesting approval of a façade improvement to their building at the four corners in the downtown. Improvements include removal of the windows, stone and mansard roof on the 1st floor and replace with new storefront window and door system; remove and replace the cornice on the top of the building; add mullions to the 2nd floor windows; replace the windows on the 3rd floor; and add new composite siding and trim board around windows and doors on the east and south elevations. Weber recommended using gooseneck lighting; projecting signs; felt the chimneys add character; and said any rooftop units should be screened. Overall the building plans are a big improvement, and staff recommends approval. The owner of the building, Nicholas Droessler of Caliber Property Investments said he is working with Schultz on the remodeling. Colors will be Parador Stone, True Taupewood and Fossil Grey. Existing brackets on the building will be replaced with maintenance free materials. Members recommended the addition of a fish scale glass canopy over the front entry; loved the design and thought they did a beautiful job on the building plans. Schultz thinks they will take the chimneys all the way down as there are problems with the roof around them. Droessler added the replication of the cornice is going to be as accurate as possible; there are no plans to add rooftop units; they plan to add up lighting to the columns at the top of the panels boards and gooseneck lights at the street S:\Committees - Commissions\Architectural\Minutes\2017\ACmin 11-8-17.doc Architectural Commission Meeting 3 November 8, 2017 level; and he is considering projecting signs. Weber said if this is a multi-tenant building, they will need to prepare a master sign plan for approval by the Architectural Commission. Gallo and Dehnert left at 6:29 pm to attend the Plan Commission meeting. Motion by Schrang to approve the building plans for the Mann Block Building at 102 N. Main Street as presented with the chimneys brought down to the roof height; second by Krogstad. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Schultz abstained). 9. East Wisconsin Avenue Design District – Consider/recommend Ordinance for Downtown Planning: Weber explained planning staff met with the Committee-of-the-Whole for the purpose of updating the Downtown Design Overlay District to include the East Wisconsin Avenue area and specifically, the Roundabout Area and Gateway Area. This new district consists of a total of 67 parcels and is Wisconsin Avenue from the roundabout east to WIS 67 / HWY 16. Building heights will be 20 – 50 ft. from the roundabout to the Sentry site and 20 – 35 ft. from the Sentry site to the by-pass with a setback of 45 ft. from the water. Weber also noted COTW made changes to building heights, parking, vision corners, architectural features and setbacks, and requested the Architectural Commission review the proposed document and provide input. Krogstad left at 6:40 pm. Members comments included in the Roundabout Area a 10’ setback along Wisconsin Avenue is too great and should be no greater than 5’; Wisconsin Avenue should be treated differently; should eliminate “Type of Roof” standard; setbacks on the side streets should be decreased to 7’; and we need to anticipate bigger developments than what is occurring now. Motion by Flint to recommend the East Wisconsin Avenue Design District Ordinance for downtown planning subject to the setback minimum requirement being decreased to 5’ in the Roundabout Area; the minimum setback requirement being decreased to 7’ on side streets; and eliminate “Type of Roof” standard for buildings in the Roundabout Area and Gateway Area; second by Schrang. Motion carried 4-0. 10. Reports and comments from the City Planner: None. 11. Reports and comments from the Architectural Commissioners: None. 12. Adjourn: Motion by Schultz to adjourn at 6:52 pm; second by Johnson. Motion carried 4-0. Chris Dehnert, Deputy City Clerk S:\Committees - Commissions\Architectural\Minutes\2017\ACmin 11-8-17.doc