Architectural Commission & Historic Preservation Commission

City of Oconomowoc Architectural Commission Meeting Minutes March 8, 2023 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Flint at 4:30 pm. Members Present: Krogstad, Schultz, Schrang, Johnson and Flint Staff Present: Gallo, Weber, Mayor Magnus and Dehnert 2. Approve the February 8, 2023 Minutes: Motion by Schultz to approve the February 8, 2023 minutes; second by Schrang. Motion carried 4-0-1 (Johnson abstained). 3. Winnesota – Consider/approve building plans for the lot on the northeast corner of Blue Ribbon Circle North and Delafield Road: Weber explained this item was discussed at the February 8, 2023 AC meeting, and the applicant updated their plans to include a revised color scheme and materials. Pabst Farms provided a letter of approval, and there is no signage approval at this time. Weber recommended approval with considerations listed in the background. Nick Olsen of Winnesota and Caitlin LaJoie of Briohn Building Corp added the pump/electrical room will be the same insulated metal panel (IMP) material as the building, and they will add the gray base as requested. The building will consist of white and gray prefinished IMP panels and the blue color will be an accent panel which is attached to the IMP. Stone CMU will be added to the base, and a spandrel window has been added above each window on the first floor. They showed samples of the retaining wall and CMU base materials. The railing will be 12 gauge stainless steel along the parking area which includes a curb on the south elevation. Gallo added trucks will now be coming in the north access point instead of where they had planned it before. Members asked if the guardrail was necessary or required as it is a lot of metal in the front of the building; since there will be a curb and if it isn’t a corporate requirement, then they recommend the guardrail be removed; questioned the spandrel window panels above the windows and suggested adding muttons to them; and overall did a very good job with the building and appreciate them coming in last month to discuss their building plans. Motion by Johnson to approve the building plans for Winnesota as submitted and eliminate / modify the guardrail detail; second by Schultz. Motion amended to include add muttons to the upper spandrel glass windows and add base to the pump/electrical rooms to match the building; second by Schultz. Motion carried 5-0. 4. Lake Area Insurance – Consider/approve a special exception for a ground sign design at 606 Summit Avenue: Weber explained the applicant is requesting a special exception for signage for her new building. The design of the sign will be similar to other businesses in the area and consists of a 55” x 30” sign supported by (2) 4’ tall black posts and no illumination. Weber said the zoning code requires signs along Summit Avenue to have a base; however, most signs predate when the zoning code was updated in 2012 and are considered legal non-conforming including this sign which requires a special exception. The applicant, Lauren Vertz, appreciates the design of the smaller sign and said adding a pedestal to the sign would be a hardship. Gallo suggested adding a hardier plant around the sign could make it appear like it had a base. Members felt the area is mostly residential and the sign is appropriate for the area. Motion by Johnson to approve a special exception for a ground sign at Lake Area Insurance, 606 Summit Avenue, and the applicant should add landscaping around the bottom of the sign; second by Krogstad. Motion carried 5-0. 5. Lake Area Insurance – Consider/approve a special exception for ground sign setback at 606 Summit Avenue: Weber explained the applicant is requesting a special exception for placement of her business sign 5’ into the property line setback. Most property lines start behind the sidewalk; however, the applicant’s property line starts 5’ into the property. Based upon this, the sign would have to be 10’ back from the sidewalk for it to meet setback requirements. Weber said the applicant’s request is reasonable and recommends approval for placement of the sign 10’ from the edge of the sidewalk. Vertz added the sign would be placed near a sidewalk which is rarely used. Members agreed with the request, noting the sign should not block the line of sight for pedestrians or vehicles. Motion by Krogstad to approve a special exception for Lake Area Insurance at 606 Summit Avenue with clarification that the property sign can be on or adjacent to the south property line; second by Schrang. Motion carried 5-0. 6. Market Place at Pabst Farms / Pabst Station – Consider/approve a Master Sign Plan for the property at 1300 Pabst Farms Circle: Weber explained there was no master sign plan previously on this property, and the applicant S:Clerk\Committees-Commissions\Architectural\2023\ACMin 3-8-23 provided a cohesive, complete, and well written plan with visuals. The MSP will apply to all applications that come forward and grandfathers in the current tenant’s signage. Weber requested the following change in the plan as there were 2 items (the 5th & 7th) that were similar and the 7th is more detailed: Under Signage General Requirements, remove the 5th note down in the list “All sign faces, excluding the tenant logo, shall be consistent in color throughout the Market Place at Pabst Farms and shall be determined by Landlord. Contact Landlord proper to preparation of shop drawings to confirm.” Members noted some square footage in the MSP is in excess of the square footage allowed per code and asked if staff will be reviewing each sign internally. Gallo explained the purpose of the MSP is to allow signage to fit a proposed building. Weber explained how each space holder is set, noting the most signage allowed would be the square footage, not the whole box. Members understood the concept that every sign has to be within a proposed box. Motion by Krogstad to approve the Master Sign Plan for Market Place at Pabst Farms, 1300 Pabst Farms Circle, subject to removing the 5th note down under Signage General Requirements; second by Johnson. Motion carried 5-0. 7. Momentum Early Learning / Multi-Tenant Building – Consider/approve building plans for a daycare multi- tenant building located at the southwest corner of Blue Ribbon Drive and Summit Avenue / WIS 67: Weber explained the applicants are proposing to construct a 32,220 sf multi-tenant building which will include a daycare and other unknown uses at this time. The building will be located on a unique site with a retention pond and WIS 67 to the east, I94 to the north, a hotel directly to the west and the Harley dealership across the road to the north. The building will consist of precast concrete, wood panels and storefront windows. Weber questioned the architectural design of the building and if it should have 4-sided architecture based on its location with multiple large trees on the property to the east. Weber noted a portion of the building will be used as a daycare; fencing will be required around the playground as it will be located next to a retaining pond; and any HVAC units will need to be screened and roof venting painted to match surrounding material. Weber recommended approval with considerations listed in the background. The applicants, Jennifer and Brandon Miller explained they currently own 3 other locations, and they plan to have a 5’9” white vinyl fence around the playground. Their architect, Stephen Perry Smith, explained the building façade will consist of precast panels with a sandblasted and acid etched finish; raised corners; assimilated wood panels; step backs; increased glass and square caps on the corner; and prefinished black metal screening for the roof units, though he is considering putting the AC units in a corner on the roof. Members questioned if the intent of the building is to be industrial; think the building should look fun because it will be a daycare; the building elevation facing WIS 67 should be treated like the front; don’t like the proposed corners and should fix them by returning them; the east and south elevations look like they are the back of the building; there are no sun shades over the windows; the building looks like a square box and is too plain; and the design has to be improved before giving approval. Miller noted they don’t want to limit the future potential of the building by making it look like a daycare; shouldn’t be able to see the east and south sides of the building because of the trees; and questioned what the members are missing with the building design. Gallo and Dehnert left at 5:55 PM to attend the Plan Commission meeting. Members said they weren’t going to push the timeframe if the building design isn’t complete; the south elevation and southeast corner need a tower; should include continuous elevations, corner elements, address the main entry and show the building in context; and to save costs, consider windows that don’t go to the ground and swap building materials for others that are less expensive but still look good. Motion by Schultz to postpone action on the building plans for Momentum Early Learning / Multi-Tenant Building to allow the applicant the opportunity to address the following items as discussed: corner tower elements, wrapping the tower around the corner, show all elevations in their entirety, and windows above the landscaping; second by Johnson. The applicant requested approval of their plans with administrative review of the changes. Members said there are too many items outstanding, and the applicant should return with their changes. Motion carried 5-0. 8. Reports and comments from the City Planning Department: None. 9. Reports and comments from the Architectural Commissioners: None. 10. Adjourn: Motion by Johnson to adjourn at 6:22 pm; second by Schrang. Motion carried 5-0. Chris Dehnert, Deputy City Clerk S:Clerk\Committees-Commissions\Architectural\2023\ACMin 3-8-23