Architectural Commission & Historic Preservation Commission

City of Oconomowoc Architectural Commission Meeting Minutes February 3, 2021 Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:32 pm. Members Present: Anne Krogstad, Paul Schultz, Kurt Schrang, Kent Johnson and Jeremy Flint Staff Present: Kristi Weber, Jason Gallo, Bob Duffy and Chris Dehnert 2. Consider/appoint a Chairman of the Architectural Commission: Johnson explained his desire to step down as Chairman and thanked Planning staff for their support and hard work. Motion by Schrang to nominate Flint as Chairman; second by Krogstad. Motion carried 4 – 1 (Flint abstained). 3. Approve the October 14 and November 11, 2020 Minutes: Motion by Schultz to approve the November 11 and December 9, 2020 minutes; second by Johnson. Motion carried 5-0. 4. TownePlace Suites by Marriot – Consider/approve Building Plans to be located on the north side of the west property at the intersection of Corporate Center Drive and Oconomowoc Drive (Tax Key OCOC 0634999051): Weber explained this request is to approve building plans for a 4-story hotel to be located in the Corporate Park. Building materials include stone, dark HardiePanel and EIFS, and storefront white windows. The building will have 4 towers with shed roofs, and the plans show the towers with both gray and white walls. Weber questioned the white color on the towers and suggested using brick instead of EIFS or stone on the building. The middle tower measures 52’ which exceeds the maximum building height allowed per the zoning code by 2’. Staff has no issue with the height on this tower since it is not the entire roof line but the Architectural Commission will need to make a recommendation on the height exception for the middle tower to the Plan Commission for their meeting tonight. The trash enclosure will match proposed building materials, and staff recommends the addition of a man door to the enclosure. Signage will not be acted on tonight pending submittal of their sign plan and review by staff. Weber recommended approval of the plans with the conditions listed in the background. Scott Kintopf of American Architectural Group Inc handed out material samples and said the towers are all supposed to be all gray but the white was acceptable to him though he would still need to have approval by the Marriott. Gallo noted a letter was included from the Corporate Center board which indicated approval of the gray towers, and the applicant provided a revised submittal today showing all gray towers. Kintopf said there will be a blue tint in some of the stone sections. Members comments included they like the proposed colors; have no issue with the height exception of the middle tower; questioned the location of mechanicals on the roof; and were okay with making all towers to be gray. Kintopf said they don’t expect to put the mechanicals on the roof but if they do they will hide them behind the tower sections. Motion by Krogstad to approve the building plans for the TownePlace Suites by Marriott as submitted with the following changes: include a man door on the trash enclosure; approve the height of the middle tower as submitted; and the building should have gray EIFS all the way up the towers on all 4 sides per the Corporate Center board’s response; second by Schultz. Motion carried 5-0. 5. Dairy Queen – Consider/approve Building Plans on the south side of the west property at the intersection of Corporate Center Drive and Oconomowoc Drive (Tax Key OCOC 0634999051): Weber explained this request is to approve building plans for the proposed Dairy Queen to be located next to the hotel. Staff reviewed the building plans and made the following recommendations: use brick or stone veneer on the building because other nearby buildings are all brick; trash enclosure should match the building materials; screen the freezer unit; and provide the location of all proposed HVAC units and venting on the roof. Due to these outstanding issues, Weber recommended that action on the building plans be postponed. Janet Smith of Dairy Queen explained this location will be a new prototype building design, and the building plans have been revised to include stone veneer around the bottom half up to the windows around the whole building per direction of the S:Clerk\Committees-Commissions\Architectural\2021\ACMin 2-3-21 Corporate Park board. She provided material samples and said there would be 5 different colored EIFS or metal sections on the building. Smith concluded because this is a new prototype, there is not a lot of flexibility on the building design. Members questioned the material of the red spoon which Smith said will be a hard plastic. Other comments included: liked most of the colors but concerned with the use of EIFS by the drive thru; suggested using a more durable material from 6’ and below; and thinks the original building design looks better without stone but consider a different product other than EIFS that is more durable. Members discussed options for a more durable product and suggested Nichiha wall panels which are available in multiple colors. Smith thought Dairy Queen may be acceptable to this suggestion if they can keep their colors. Members questioned the location of the rooftop mechanicals, proposed freezer panel and materials of the trash enclosure. They requested the applicant provide them with updated plans to include a more durable material than EIFS; provide a more detailed roof plan and clearly mark where all venting or rooftop units will be located along with screening plans if necessary; provide material type and color of the freezer panel; and include a durable material (not EIFS) and a man door for the trash enclosure. Members also discussed where the more durable material should be located on the building; agreed it should be around the base, drive thru and entrance doors; and suggested based on the plan in the packet that the Nichiha panels should replace the EIFS on the burgundy, dark and light gray areas. Motion by Johnson to postpone action on the building plans to next month’s meeting for the Dairy Queen based on comments of staff and members with a new submittal to be supplied by the applicant; second by Schultz. Motion carried 5-0. 6. Dairy Queen – Consider/approve a Special Exception for Signage on the south side of the west property at the intersection of Corporate Center Drive and Oconomowoc Drive (Tax Key OCOC 0634999051): Weber explained the applicant has requested a special exception due to the number of signs they are requesting and asked the members if they want to act on this item tonight. Members agreed to postpone action on the sign plan so they can address both items at the same time next month. Motion by Johnson to postpone action on the signage for the Dairy Queen to next month’s meeting and ask that the applicant be consistent with showing elevations for the signage; second by Schultz. Motion carried 5-0. 7. Fowler Lake Village – Consider/approve an Update to the Master Sign Plan at 215 E. Pleasant Street: Weber explained the master sign plan at this location was approved in 2019. The applicant (was not present) would like to add an additional wall sign on the south elevation for increased visibility of the businesses located there. The proposed sign includes 6 sections: a “roof” section at the top of the sign; a section identifying the Fowler Lake Village; a separate light bar; and 3 tenant sign panels. All signs will consist of the same materials listed in the original master sign plan. Weber agrees with the proposed sign and noted it provides visibility along Wisconsin Avenue to the tenants located on St. Paul Street. Weber added the building owner understands the site to the south of the building may be developed some day. Staff recommends approval of the sign and that each individual tenant sign should match the branding on their projecting sign. Members didn’t like the gable at the top of the sign and suggested removing it completely and moving the light bar above the building identifier with the tenants sign below it. They questioned if more tenants will be added to the sign, and staff said no. Motion by Krogstad to approve the update to the Master Sign Plan for the Fowler Lake Village as submitted with the following changes: eliminate the gable detail and replace with the horizontal light bar instead; second by Johnson. Motion carried 5-0. 8. 1341 W. Wisconsin Avenue – Consider/approve a Master Sign Plan for 1341 W. Wisconsin Avenue: Weber explained this request is for approval of a master sign plan on a multi-tenant building. There will be a maximum of 9 tenants under the plan but the ideal number is 6. The main focus for signage is on the north elevation as it is the most visible. The applicant is addressing all the non-conforming signs currently in place, and staff won’t approve any new signs until all non-conforming signs are removed. Motion by Schultz to approve the Master Sign Plan for 1341 W. Wisconsin Avenue as proposed; second by Johnson. Motion carried 5-0. S:Clerk\Committees-Commissions\Architectural\2021\ACMin 2-3-21 9. Reports and comments from the City Planner: Staff thanked the members for their willingness to adjust their schedules to the 4:30 pm timeframe for meetings. 10. Reports and comments from the Architectural Commissioners: None. 11. Adjourn: Motion by Schrang to adjourn at 6:00 pm; second by Krogstad. Motion carried 5-0. Chris Dehnert, Deputy City Clerk S:Clerk\Committees-Commissions\Architectural\2021\ACMin 2-3-21