Architectural Commission & Historic Preservation Commission

City of Oconomowoc Architectural Commission Meeting Minutes June 7, 2023 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Flint at 4:30 pm. Members Present: Johnson, Flint, Krogstad, Schulz and Schrang Staff Present: Gallo, Weber, Magnus, Oelsner and Dehnert 2. Minutes of May 3, 2023: Minutes not available. 3. 150 E. Wisconsin Avenue – Consider/approve a Master Sign Plan at 150 E. Wisconsin Avenue: Weber explained this is for approval of a multi-tenant building which is double-facing and requires a Master Sign Plan. The proposal for the E Wisconsin Avenue side includes a projection sign, but Weber noted there may be an issue with clearance and suggested the projection sign be changed to a blade sign on the second floor. Weber said on the Fowler Lake parking lot side there is approximately 10’ 6’’ of vertical space for signage, and code requires a minimum of 8’ must be kept clear of projection and blade signs. Weber recommends approval with conditions listed in the background. Motion by Flint to approve the Master Sign Plan for 150 E. Wisconsin Avenue subject to the south elevation projection sign being changed to a blade sign and being relocated to the second story above the awning; second by Johnson. Motion carried 5-0. 4. Stor-It Right, Oconomowoc – Consider/approve building plans for the lot on the northwest corner of Blue Ribbon Circle North and Delafield Road: Weber explained Stor-It Right has already been to the Architectural Commission in June 2022 and January 2023 and that significant updates have been made to the building plan since the last time the Commission reviewed it. She pointed out that the new proposal breaks apart the massing into several smaller buildings and raised the height of the metal at the front of the building for maintenance purposes. Weber asked that the CMU block on the dumpster enclosure match the building and a man door be added. Weber recommended approval with considerations listed in the background and added that the applicant agreed to staff’s recommendations prior to the meeting, and their plans with these updates is what is now being requested for approval. Members questioned about people stacking and abandoning items along the walls of the dumpster enclosure, and the applicant explained they included 8’ tall walls around the building to discourage this from happening. Motion by Johnson to approve the building plans for Stor-It Right subject to the applicant adding a man door to the dumpster and changing the CMU block to match the building; and approving the updates to include metal panels on the front elevation, gray panel bump outs on the east elevation, and breaking up the massing on buildings 7 and 8 with landscaping as submitted by staff; second by Schultz. Motion carried 5-0. 5. Olympia Fields: Clinical Building – Consider/approve a Master Sign Plan at 1287 Olympia Fields Drive: Weber explained the visuals of the proposed building are similar to the visuals of the 8k building. She added although the Clinical Building has space for more signage on the north and south elevations, the applicant is requesting only signage on the east and west elevations, noting that a maximum of 3 tenants will occupy the building at one time. Weber explained the proposed Master Sign Plan for the Clinical Building matches the approved Master Sign Plan for the overall Olympia Fields development. Members asked what material was being used on the shorter black sections of the Clinical building; was concerned if signage is placed on this material, it may not be able to be removed without damaging the building’s façade; and suggested placing a condition on any motion that would require the building’s façade to be repaired immediately after signage is removed. Weber clarified that the material is corrugated metal. The applicant, Mark Lake of Wangard Partners explained there likely won’t be signage placed on the corrugated material on the south end of the building because that space will be occupied by a single tenant. Motion by Krogstad to approve the Master Sign Plan for the Clinical Building at 1287 Olympia Fields Drive with the condition that if a sign is placed on the corrugated metal section of the façade, then when the sign is removed, the façade will be repaired immediately; second by Johnson. Motion carried 5-0. 6. Olympia Fields: Unisource Center – Consider/approve a Façade Update at 1408-1424 Olympia Fields Drive: Weber explained the façade of the north half of the Olympia Fields Shopping Center should be updated to integrate better with the south half of the development; much of what is proposed for the façade update involves painting existing features; is not convinced the proposal is enough to truly reconcile the two halves of the development; and liked the wave design proposed on the north elevation because the feature complements the proposed Sendik’s mural on the south end of the building. The applicant, Mark Lake of Wangard Partners explained that even though this type of façade update does not add value to the development, they want to promote cohesion within Olympia Fields by mimicking the color scheme and vertical features of nearby development. He said most of the proposed update involves materials like Hardie plank, thin brick, and cultured stone and some of the existing canopies are unable to be removed because they have drains running through them which are integral to the building’s structure. The canopy in front of Verizon is able to be removed, allowing for the addition of a picture frame element. Members were concerned the proposal is not very different from what is existing; the floating brick feature below the Dollar Tree signage should be a different material; the same material from the Goodwill façade should be used on the Dollar Tree façade or lighter colors be used; the façade should be extended to the ground in two places behind the columns in the Dollar Tree façade; and discussed different color palettes. Lake explained significant sections of Nichiha and the angled roof overhang will be removed. Megan Michuda from Wangard Partners added they likely won’t be able to eliminate windows to make space for the vertical features. Weber said Wangard has an agreement with the city in the developer’s agreement which requires the building façade to be updated. Motion by Johnson to approve the façade update for the Unisource Center at 1408-1424 Olympia Fields Drive subject to making the columns by the Dollar Tree wider, banding that façade to be similar to the proposed Goodwill façade, and the applicant submitting a revised version to staff to be submitted to the chairman; second by Schrang. Motion carried 5-0. 7. Olympia Fields: Signage – Consider/approve an update on signage for the Olympia Fields Development bounded by Regent Road to the north, WIS 67 / Summit Avenue to the east and Oconomowoc Parkway to the south: Weber explained any signage that requires adding a delta or is over 8’ tall must come through Architectural Commission. She noted the ‘Olympia Fields’ text on the proposed monument sign does not match the text on the existing monument sign (Sendik’s); staff is requesting administrative power to approve location changes to the Locklyn Apartments ground sign; and the blade sign in the Master Sign Plan is illustrated incorrectly and will need to be corrected. Members agreed with staff to administratively approve the Locklyn ground sign location and liked the updated blade sign. Mark Lake of Wangard Partners said Sendik’s monument sign used the incorrect text and will have to be updated to match. Members discussed the possibility of adding a swoosh to the Sendik’s monument sign instead of replacing the whole text. Motion by Krogstad to approve the updated signage for the Olympia Fields development subject to the text on the Sendik’s monument sign being updated to match; second by Schultz. A member suggested adding to the motion that the proposed monument sign cannot be constructed until the Sendik’s sign is updated. Gallo explained the city cannot require Sendik’s to change the sign if it was constructed according to plans approved by the Architectural Commission. Motion carried 5-0. 8. Olympia Fields: Wayfinding – Consider/approve a Special Exception for wayfinding signage located within the Olympia Fields Development bounded by Regent Road to the north, WIS 67 / Summit Avenue to the east and Oconomowoc Parkway to the south: Weber explained the applicant is requesting a special exception for (3) wayfinding signs to be located off-premises. Sign A is to be located on the corner of Commerce Street and Olympia Fields Drive which is undeveloped. Staff is okay with placement of an off-premises sign at this location until the property becomes developed and then the sign must be removed. Sign B is located by a secondary drive access for the Locklyn Apartments which is primarily an emergency access. Staff does not support this request. Sign C replaces a previous wayfinding sign for the Lake Country Village and Vacation Owners Assn that was removed during work on the site and adds The Locklyn to that sign. Staff supports replacement of this sign. Weber recommended approval of a special exception for Signs A and C with considerations listed in the background. Weber does not support a special exception for Sign B as she doesn’t think it is necessary; draws attention to the secondary access to the development; and is concerned with having excessive signage in the development. Members didn’t feel there was an issue with any of these requests. Lake noted they own all the property where the signs will be placed. Motion by Krogstad to grant a special exception for the wayfinding signage as presented for the Olympia Fields Development; second by Schultz. Motion carried 5-0. 9. 503 N. Lake Road – Discuss a multi-family condominium located at 503 N. Lake Road: Weber explained this property is located in the Isthmus zoning district which requires approval by the Architectural Commission. She noted the City’s design standards require architecture to reflect 1870-1930 practices in order to preserve the historic character of the isthmus. The site allows up to 5 units, the proposal utilizes the existing grade, and incorporates 4-sided architecture. Staff will be requesting more information on the building materials, HVAC locations, exposed concrete, elevator screening, and vinyl fencing in addition to a roof plan. Ben Otten, project manager from Johnson Design, explained the building will have 2 units on the first floor, 2 units on the second floor, 1 penthouse unit, and underground parking (3 stalls per resident). Otten compared the Queen Anne style and Italianate accents to the architecture found on other isthmus properties; the north side grade will be flush with Rockwell Park; the property will work in conjunction with the Brisk property to bookend the isthmus; they want to incorporate stone as a skirt to wrap the entire building and to complement the remaining historic wall on the property; the previous house was in the same orientation; and the proposed driveway will be placed to match the existing curb cut and to minimally impact the existing stone wall. Otten presented a roof plan; confirmed that the elevator won’t be visible from street level; no mechanical units will be located on the roof; and venting will be pushed as close to the center of the roof as possible. Members questioned placement of a safety hatch and rail on the roof and the possibility of using prefabricated black aluminum fencing instead of the proposed vinyl; said the proposed recessed lighting will not look historic; the central tower will likely be raised 18 – 24 inches because it is currently lower than the eaves on the rest of the building; and one room is labeled as a bedroom, includes a closet, but has no windows. Members suggested flush mount lighting; the stone feature under the porch is not historic and suggested using wood composite until the elevation drops on the south side; when the tower is raised, Japanese-style flaring should be incorporated; and the main doors are understated and suggested they should be larger. Otten said these items will be addressed in the next submittal. Members also discussed the DNR’s 50’ setback; said the labeled ordinary high water mark is quite close to the proposed garage and could cause problems; and suggested the applicant check into this soon. Weber said all side venting should be white and lined up. Otten added the applicant is working to address this. No action was taken. 10. Reports and comments from the City Planning Department: Weber said staff has recently followed up on several non-compliance issues as requested by the Commission, including the condition of the roof at Pizza Hut. They have been given until June 21st to repaint the roof. 11. Reports and comments from the Architectural Commissioners: None. 12. Adjourn: Motion by Schrang to adjourn at 6:34 pm; second by Krogstad. Motion carried 5-0. Rachel Oelsner, Planning Dept Intern