Design Review Board

JOINT BOARD MEETING PLANNING BOARD DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY MARCH 14, 2012 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL ROOM PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman; Tom L Lewis, Vice Chairman; Amy Durland, Philip Klein, Dan Gaba, Howard Pinsley, Mariesa Coppola DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION: Steven Rowland, Chairman; Robert West, Staci Mannion, Karen Cavotta ABSENT: Tamie Ehinger, Vice Chairman, Richard Martin; Rob DeMarco; Design Review Commission STAFF: Tim Wales, City Engineer, City of Saratoga Springs Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development, City of Saratoga Springs Kate Maynard, Principal Planner, City of Saratoga Springs CALL TO ORDER: Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman; Planning Board called the meeting to order at 6:05 P.M. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman Planning Board stated, this meeting has been called at the request of the City Council for the Planning Board and the DRC to review the Woodlawn Avenue Parking Garage project. We are being asked to issue an advisory opinion to the City Council. We have both the Design Review Commission and Planning Board Members with us this evening. The parking garage has been studied by City Council. They have reviewed it and have declared Lead Agency Status and have performed the SEQRA analysis and issued a SEQRA Negative Declaration. Our City Engineer, Tim Wales as well as Mark Benaquista from the Department of Public Safety have been involved with the Committee as well as Kate Maynard, Principal Planner. Although the Boards have not looked at this to date, the staff and the City have had the opportunity to comment to the Committee and we will hear from the Committee Members tonight. APPLICATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION: 1. 12.009 WOODLAWN AVENUE PARKING GARAGE, Woodlawn Avenue (between Division and Church), Planning Board advisory opinion to the City Council in the Transect-6 District. 2. 2012.014 WOODLAWN AVENUE PARKING GARAGE, Woodlawn Avenue (between Division and Church), Design Review Commission advisory opinion to the City Council in the Transect-6 District. Agent: Mike Ingersoll, LA Group Mr. Ingersoll introduced the project to the Board and introduced Mr. Tom Roohan, Committee chairman. Tom Roohan, Chairman introduced his committee Jim Grande, Bill McTygue, Mark Benaquista, Tim Maybee, Rod Sutton, Jeff Clark, Terry Lundgren. The Fire Chief, Police Chief, Bradley Birge and Kate Maynard have also attended several meetings, as well. We have had many working meetings every Wednesday since the process started and appreciate the Boards convening a special meeting to see the presentation. A visual presentation was provided to the Boards. Mr. Ingersoll stated this is a public project, the City's project. This project was started in November when the RFP went out for the site. BCI Construction won the bid. Mike Ingersoll stated this parking garage is located at a previous parking lot site. Approximately 1.5 acres. The existing parking lot houses 160 parking spaces. A review of the site survey was presented. It is a pre cast structure. The structure will be three stories approximately 38 feet in height. The deck will only take up two thirds of the current lot, but it could be expanded to fill the remainder of the lot in the future. The façade will be brick with concrete accents and the bottom floor will be surrounded by a black steel decorative fence. There will be two towers an elevator tower and a stairwell tower which will be partially enclosed and there will be a pedestrian walk through that connects to the stairwell between the lot and Broadway. Special Features Include: Enclosed stairways; Pedestrian linkages; Elevator bank; Bike racks; Storm Water Treatment Units; 6 car charging stations; Wash down station; Handicapped spaces on each level; Height detection system; Security cameras; Expansion potential; LED lighting; Sprinkler system – dry system; Snow gates; 444 parking spaces; Completed by August 1st; Some permeable pavers; increased parking on Woodlawn Avenue; National Grid updates Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman stated there was concern voiced regarding the area by Suttons and the credit union, regarding the 20 ft wide area for lighting for safety purposes. Mike Ingersoll stated there are three security lights on the garage. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked the money and labor that you are going to spend for snow gates and snow removal off the top deck was there any consideration given to heating the top deck so snow never accumulates, so there is no worry about snow removal. Mike Ingersoll stated you cannot heat just one level, the entire garage would need to be enclosed and the cost is prohibitive. There will be a fence on the ground level with landscaping. Lighting on the outside of the garage. Victorian LED lighting hung on the garage panels. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked if there were any further questions from the Planning Board. Howard Pinsley questioned if the materials were ordered so the construction deadline could be met. Mike Ingersoll stated yes. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman stated if there are no further questions or comments from the Planning Board we will turn it over to the DRC. Steven Rowland, Chairman, DRC stated there were two items which came up in the workshop. The key element for most people will be the stair tower. There are a few items we were concerned about. The City of Saratoga Springs Joint Meeting Planning Board & Design Review Commission – March 14, 2012 2 use of EFIS up in the gable end. I am sure Mike is aware our Board is a strong opponent of EFIS with almost everything that has come before us. Just because of the longevity and to the wear ability of that product. Is there any consideration given to alternative materials or perhaps how you intend to apply it. When we have allowed it we have allowed in what we would refer to as a direct apply method. We certainly have seen it perform better and have better success when it is done that way. The over foam method has been a disaster. Also, concerning the roof on the smaller tower was any consideration given to eliminate the gable end you would not have and EFIS issue. Mike Ingersoll stated snow guards will be on the roof, and the roof will match the pitch on the other roofs. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked what would the intended lamp source be on the outside of the building. Mike Ingersoll stated they are Sternberg Victorian LED lights. All the lights will be of the same intensity and color. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked in terms of the pre cast and the other materials do we have the ability for the Board to review these. Examples were provided of the brick chosen, paneling to be used as well as window choices for the Board's review. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked if there were any further questions from staff. Tim Wales, City Engineer has spent an inordinate amount of time on this as well as Brad and Kate. Tim Wales, City Engineer stated many items have been talked through and talked about in multiple meetings. A lot of consideration has gone into this concerning architectural and aesthetic value. We have been meeting for many months and this is a fast track process and it has gone surprisingly well and there were many discussions about every little detail. As the City Engineer I feel there should be few surprises. Bradley Birge, Administrator, Planning and Economic Development stated we are pleased to have had the opportunity to be part of the process and move forward. Our roles as staff, is really to channel the information that we have heard you say many times. Kate on behalf of the Planning Board and myself on behalf of the Design Review Commission, both Boards have been very consistent in the level of quality that you have expected, the level of detail that you anticipate and require and the success that you expect as well. Our job is to try to bring that forward throughout the process. It has been a compressed time frame certainly and the Mayor's advisory opinion statement indicated that he is very cognizant of the fact and hope that they would not delay the project and so our job is to try to give the Committee the information that we hoped you normally would, to see it and act upon it if you feel comfortable. Kate Maynard, Principal Planner stated she would like to bring forth a few items which were discussed. A public safety question for example, lighting affixed to the structure on all four sides as well as access points of the building to make sure that was in place. Another element was in terms of green space, in the urban environment, along Woodlawn Avenue in particular to perhaps see potentially a future service road type frontage and characteristics but within that we could integrate vertical landscaping into the plans in terms of that first floor. You did provide information regarding the low grade level of decorative fencing and intermittent planters and the ability to add more intense landscaping at some point. In regard to safety issues, to give consideration in maintaining pedestrian connection through the sight, especially the western access point of the garage. Changing this from a two way access point ingress and egress to ingress only which narrows down to 15 feet, will need some additional amenity in terms of landscaping perhaps additional screening. Another issue is the signage. City of Saratoga Springs Joint Meeting Planning Board & Design Review Commission – March 14, 2012 3 Mike Ingersoll stated nothing definite has been determined yet regarding the signage. There are many opportunities, perhaps in the elevators, etc., it just has not been determined yet. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman stated that I would like commend Mr. Roohan and his all volunteer committee. This is a huge project and everybody is busy and to get this committee to devote every Wednesday for the last two or three months for this is impressive and a great cost saving to the City. That is impressive and that is what makes Saratoga tick. Does anyone in the audience wish to comment on this application. Matthew J. Jones, 2 Victoria Lane, Saratoga Springs. I am a member of the Chamber Executive Committee and also a member of the task force the Chamber formed. To look at the issue and the result we are here to speak about tonight, the parking deck. The task force formed approximately one year ago and out of it arose the public private partnership which is part of the genius that will make this project a success. We are very pleased at the Chamber at the product that Tom and his committee have delivered and how indebted we are to him and his committee for all the volunteer hours they have given to bring this to the point where it is at the Advisory Committee level. This is a total win for the community. Jamin Totino, 23 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs. I have been keeping a close eye on this project between Market Center Square. As a former member of the Planning Board I am particularly interested in how this was going to play out in relation to how the gap of property between this property and Market Center Square because I think this is becoming a ripe place for redevelopment. I have been particularly concerned regarding the pedestrian access and as an Advisory Opinion to the City Council I would encourage you to ask the City Council to pay particularly close attention to the pedestrian access. Although I think the plan is very good and very strong and I agree with all the comments that the City has a real need for this parking I think that as we consider the pedestrian access through this parcel up to Market Square and whatever happens between Woodlawn and Franklin has to be considered carefully because it will just increase the amount of pedestrian traffic through there so safety and design and the aesthetic nature of the walkway is extraordinarily important. I would have wished for something that was more open air through that area that might be akin to something in Burlington Vermont where you have the ability to have trees along both sides and planters and a wider pedestrian access that helps to connect those parts of the City. I think it is unfortunate that it has been this late in the process that the Planning Board has had a stab at this. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked if there were any further questions from the Boards. Amy Durland stated she also had some questions regarding pedestrian access and accessibility. Mr. Ingersoll visually reviewed the pedestrian access. Amy Durland questioned the two bike racks and how many spaces they provide. Mr. Ingersoll stated approximately 16 spaces. Amy Durland stated the only thing we have to go by is the ordinance which does require one space per 15 parking spaces which would bring it to more like 30. Any chance of increasing the amount of bike racks. Mr. Ingersoll stated there are plenty of spaces to put bike racks if the City chooses to purchases additional bike racks. Amy Durland questioned the area where the transformer is located does the transformer emit any noise which would require mitigation. Mr. Ingersoll yes there is a little hum. There is a set of transformers there now in the parking lot which are being moved to another location. City of Saratoga Springs Joint Meeting Planning Board & Design Review Commission – March 14, 2012 4 Amy Durland questioned if the transformer is at the end of the service alley. Mike Ingersoll stated National Grid held the cards regarding where they are located. Amy Durland stated she is thinking of that space and alternatives to be used for that space. You are saying that service trucks need to have access. Why can't the service trucks access this area on Long Alley. Mike Ingersoll stated they cannot position the trucks to be able to service it. They actually need to be able to pick up and remove the transformer. It is their transformer and they control access to it. It is not a great solution. Amy Durland questioned the position of the transformer and is it in such a position that pedestrians can access that. Mike Ingersoll stated there is no pedestrian access. We will be having discussion with Mr. Sutton and the Credit Union and how they remove trash and deliveries. They are very concerned about people being back there. Amy Durland stated that she understands they are dealing with constraints but it is such a shame that an area approximately 20 feet wide and 120 or 130 feet long dead space when space is such a constraint here and it would be nice to be able to have that space to be able to put in a city right of way, to put in street trees, street lights none of which can be included. It is such a shame. Mike Ingersoll stated this is built on the property line and the other property owners doors do open into the space. They do have a right to this access. The City owns the strip. Amy Durland questioned if the parking structure is visible from Broadway. Mike Ingersoll stated yes depending on where you are you will see a portion of the upper level. Amy Durland stated just a question regarding landscaping and vegetation. Because you are using the surface parking area as the staging area, the trees that you have are those existing trees to be planted. Mike Ingersoll stated several are new and those that are currently there will be used. Amy Durland questioned if there was a planting strip. Mike Ingersoll stated right now there is but the width of the parking bay encroaches on the strip and makes it a non compliant strip. Amy Durland stated when all is said and done your surface parking area will have planting strips. Mike Ingersoll stated on the corners. Amy Durland stated I am wondering if there is a possibility of adding another tree to each of those. It seems they are long enough to do that. Since there is such a terse of vegetation along the parking structure itself that might be a useful amenity. Matt Brobston stated they will look at that but there are some electrical lines which come through this area and eliminates the possibility of adding a second tree in this location and also in this location we need an area to put in the overhead sensors and that needs to be in that location preventing the addition of trees. City of Saratoga Springs Joint Meeting Planning Board & Design Review Commission – March 14, 2012 5 Amy Durland stated with no liner building along Woodlawn Avenue it would be particularly helpful to have something to address the visibility issue and in fact, the ordinance does call for dense plantings to obscure that first level of parking structure, but there is no space to do it. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked if there were any other questions or comments. Steven Rowland, Chairman, DRC questioned if the pre cast panels in use along the walls, will they generally be high enough to block the view of the car lights at night. Mike Ingersoll stated yes the panels will control nighttime car lights. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman stated what we currently have is a 1.5 acre spot that currently has 160 parking spaces. We have a proposal to utilize two thirds of that acreage for a four level parking deck with 444 spaces. The City Engineer and staff have been the eyes and ears of the Planning Board and DRC throughout this project. I will ask the Planning Board members if there is a motion. Tom L Lewis made a motion for a positive advisory opinion to the City Council for the Construction of the Woodlawn Avenue Parking Garage between Division and Church. Seconded by Dan Gaba. Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion. None heard. PLANNING BOARD VOTE: Tom L Lewis, Vice Chairman, in favor; Amy Durland, opposed, Philip Klein, in favor; Dan Gaba, in favor; Howard Pinsley, in favor; Mariesa Coppola, Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman, in favor MOTION PASSES 6-1 Steven Rowland, Chairman of the DRC asked if there was a motion. Robert West made a motion for a positive advisory opinion to the City Council for the Construction of the Woodlawn Avenue Parking Garage between Division and Church. Seconded by Staci Mannion. Steven Rowland, Chairman asked if there was any further discussion None heard. DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION VOTE: Steven Rowland, Chairman, in favor; Staci Mannion, in favor; Robert West, in favor; Karen Cavotta, in favor MOTION PASSES 4-0 City of Saratoga Springs Joint Meeting Planning Board & Design Review Commission – March 14, 2012 6 Clifford Van Wagner, Chairman, Planning Board thanked the DRC for meeting with the Planning Board. Thank you to all the volunteers for all their time and effort and as Mr. Jones stated this was nothing less than a Herculean effort and we wish you good luck. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 P.M. Respectfully submitted Diane M. Buzanowski Recording Secretary Approved: 1/3/13 City of Saratoga Springs Joint Meeting Planning Board & Design Review Commission – March 14, 2012 7