Board of Architectural Review

Town of Vienna 127 Center Street South Vienna, Virginia 22180 p: 703.255.6341 TTY 7111 Meeting Minutes Board of Architectural Review Thursday, July 15, 2021 7:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS-VIENNA TOWN HALL The Board of Architectural Review met Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 7:30 pm in the Vienna Town Hall at 127 Center St S. and Via Zoom Webinar. Chairman Roy Baldwin, Michael Cheselka, Patty Hanley, Paul Layer, and Linda van Doorn were present participating via Zoom. Planner Andrea West and Board Clerk Jennifer Murphy were present in Town Hall. Roll Call Ms. van Doorn, Mr. Layer, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Cheselka and Ms. Hanley were present. Board of Architectural Review - July 15, 2021 Continuity of Government Resolution for Continuity of Government Second: Mr. Layer Ayes: Ms. van Doorn, Mr. Layer, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Cheselka, and Ms. Hanley Approval of the Minutes: No meeting minutes were available for approval. Public Hearings Old Business 211 Mill St NE - Dulles Kitchen and Bath - Sign Item No. 1: Request for approval of a sign for Dulles Kitchen and Bath, located at 211 Mill St NE, Docket No. PF- 555101-BAR, in the CM Limited Industrial zoning district, filed by Mustafa Ozdemir of Dulles Kitchen & Bath. The applicant was not present at the beginning of the meeting. This agenda item was moved to the end of the agenda New Business 435 Maple Ave W - Chahel Automotive - Sign Item No. 2: Request for approval of a new sign, for the Chahel Automotive, located at 435 Maple Avenue W, Docket No. PF-563525-BAR, in the C-1 Commercial zoning district, filled by John Martel, CompleteSign, Inc. Mr. John Martel was present to represent the application. Mr. Martel gave a brief history Town of Vienna Page 1 Printed on 8/30/2021 Board of Architectural Review Meeting Minutes July 15, 2021 of the company and then stated Chahel would be their logo and its colors in channel letter mounted to an enclosed background on the second floor façade of the building. The channel letters would be front and back lit and mounted to the cabinet. The cabinet will be painted to match the Hawk & Griffin restaurants paneling. Ms. van Doorn commented that they would be using almost all of the allowable sign space and then asked if the tenant below had any intentions of putting a sign on the side of the building. Mr. Martel stated there were no other plans for additional signage on the building. Ms. van Doorn asked about the 7000 kelvins, and Mr. Martel stated it was their standard for lighted signage. Ms. van Doorn asked if he could address his reasons for that lighting level. Mr. Martel asked if the Board does prefer to see 3500 and Ms. van Doorn stated that had been the practice. Mr. Martel stated 3500 is more yellow than white and felt that level would not do justice for the owners sign. The client is located on Maple Ave, which is non-residential, so they wanted the brightest sign possible, within reason, with front and back lit letters. Ms. van Doorn asked if it was possible to go with lower kelvins and Mr. Martel stated it was, but would prefer a comprise between the 3500 and 7000. Mr. Cheselka agreed with Ms. van Doorn and stated the highest compromise he would be willing to go would be 4000 kelvins. Ms. Hanley agreed with her fellow Board members and stated she would be willing to go up to 4000, but that all signs the Board had approved in the past has been between the 3000 and 3500. For compatibility with signs around, the Wawa had the 3000-3500 kelvins and the brightness of the sign may cause an issue for the patrons of the Hawk and Griffin sitting on the patio. Ms. Hanley stated only people within 200 feet of the sign would be able to see it so there was really no reason for the extra intensity. Mr. Layer asked about Hawk & Griffins sign. Mr. Cheselka commented that they were not lit other than the goose neck lighting so those signs would not be competing, Mr. Martel agreed that Hawk and Griffin’s sign was not internally or externally lit. Mr. Baldwin asked where the entrance to Chahel was located in the building. Mr. Martel stated it was around the right side and the door to enter to go to the second floor was around one third of the way down the building on the right. Mr. Baldwin asked if the sign could go over that entrance. Mr. Martel stated it would be useless as they want visibility on Maple Avenue. Ms. West stated the code, at this time, would not allow for a sign on the side of the building as it is not a corner property. Mr. Layer asked if the Hawk and Griffin sign was an applied channel letter lit from above. Mr. Martel stated that was correct. Mr. Layer stated the Board typically likes to see signs that were harmonious with the surroundings. The proposed sign had very little in common with the buildings architectural style. Mr. Layer stated, from his understanding of kelvins, that 3000 was a white light, 2700 was an incandescent (warmer) color, an above 3000 or to 4000 the light will begin to burn blue. 3000 gives the most natural light between the upper and lower spectrum. Mr. Layer commented that there was no lighting on the pylon sign for Hawk & Griffin as well and that he felt there was little compatibility with the signs. Mr. Martel stated he was trying get the effect that his clients desired, but if the Board wanted the same sign as the Hawk & Griffin he would need to go back to his client. Mr. Layer stated the same sign is not what was asked for, but a compatible sign. Mr. Layer stated there other alternatives such as halo letters. Mr. Martel stated his understanding of compatible would be to doing the same as Hawk & Griffin, or to take away front lit letters for back lit or halo lit letters only at night. Mr. Layer stated those were good suggestions. Mr. Martel stated he felt going with halo lit letters would be better than trying to add gooseneck lighting. Mr. Layer stated keeping the black panel would be Town of Vienna Page 2 Printed on 8/30/2021 Board of Architectural Review Meeting Minutes July 15, 2021 in keeping with the panel Hawk & Griffin has used. Ms. Hanley and Mr. Baldwin both agreed that the halo lit sign would be a better option. Mr. Baldwin inquired about a deferral. Mr. Martel asked if the approval could be stipulated and just re-do the drawings. Mr. Baldwin stated new renderings would need to be submitted. Ms. West agreed. Mr. Layer made a motion to defer the application for an alternate sign featuring halo letters with a black panel to the back Motion: Mr. Layer Second: Mr. Hanley Ayes: Ms. van Doorn, Mr. Layer, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Cheselka, and Ms. Hanley 5 Ayes, 0 Nays Mr. Cheselka asked if the Board would get the materials weeks before the meeting, Ms. West stated they would be presented to the Board at the same time as the other agenda items 300 Mill St NE - CubeSmart - Signs Item No. 3: Request for approval of a new sign, for Cube Smart Self Storage, located at 300 Mill Street NE, Docket No. PF-547504-BAR, in the CM Industrial zoning district, filled by C.P. Leopold, SignGraphx. Mr. Riley Leopold was present to represent the application. Mr. Leopold stated the new sign would be a smaller version of the existing sign. Ms. van Doorn asked if the sign was 6500 kelvins, and Mr. Leopold stated that had previously been addressed to them and they had reduced the kelvins to the 3000, 3500 range. Ms. van Doorn asked if that was reflected in their application. Ms. West stated it was reflected in their new drawings. Mr. Baldwin asked why it wasn’t called CubeSmart Self Storage. Mr. Leopold stated he did not know. Mr. Cheselka made a motion to approved the application as submitted. Motion: Mr. Cheselka Second: Ms. Hanley Ayes: Ms. van Doorn, Mr. Layer, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Cheselka, and Ms. Hanley 5 Ayes, 0 Nays 444 Maple Ave W - Exterior Modification Item No. 4: Request for approval of a new mix-use building located at 444 Maple Avenue W, Docket No. PF-570706-BAR, in the MAC Maple Avenue Commercial zoning district, filed by Lindsey Minkoff, of KTGY Group. Chris Bell was present to represent the application. Mr. Bell asked if they could have a deferral of the item and would like to take more time to be able to get more detailed materials. Mr. Bell stated he had already received comments regarding the drawings submitted and felt they did not have a good comparison of the materials side and their intention. Mr. Bell stated he wants to get all these items on Boards for the Board members to see along with being able to feel the materials. Town of Vienna Page 3 Printed on 8/30/2021 Board of Architectural Review Meeting Minutes July 15, 2021 Mr. Layer, stated he noticed the rendering may have been from a different software and the lights on the concept rendering are now gone. The colors were significantly different than the concept drawings and with the absence of materials it’s difficult to know what they truly are. Mr. Layer agreed that the digital submittal was not as easy to use as the Boards that can be touched with the materials. Mr. Layer asked about having a work session so the Board could look together and strip away any possible contradictions. Ms. Hanley stated having the work session would be beneficial as there were different iterations prior to town councils approval and the Board would like to take their time to get a good feel for what is proposed. Ms. van Doorn gave a few examples of differences that would need clarification with the roof and what appear to be vacant areas. Ms. van Doorn asked for the structural changes (configuration of the components seen – such as window changes) as well as the material changes. Mr. Cheselka stated he would be amendable to the work session as well. Mr. Baldwin stated he would encourage the making of the boards for their presentation. He also encouraged a work session stating that Vienna Market went through three work sessions after their approval for rezoning. Ms. West stated the Vienna Market work sessions were in part due to the proffers requiring consolidations of the versions of the drawings. She then asked if the Board would like to schedule an evening work session on August 3rd. Mr. Bell stated August 3rd would not be possible with what he is asking from his design team. He did state he was amenable to the work session. Mr. Bell commented on the issues stated by the Board members showing that the items that changed had been highlighted showing anything different from the proffered drawings. Ms. Jaime Huelett, 413 Roland St SW, stated that the bottom of each drawing shows a floorplan and she stated it didn’t match the building any longer and thought it was the old plan as there were two openings on each side of the corner. It also doesn’t reflect the open area. Mr. Bell stated Ms. Huelett was correct. Mr. Jay Crestwell, 404 Millwood Ct SW, stated it appeared the occupied space increased. Ms. Sheila McLean, 416 Millwood Ct SW, Ms. McLean asked about the landscaping around the building and if it could be presented at the work session. Mr. Bell stated a landscape plan would be presented as well. Ms. Hanley asked that the email received in regards to this application be forwarded to Mr. Bell Mr. Cheselka made a motion to defer the application for new drawings and materials to be submitted. Mr. Layer requested the amendment for the request of a work session. Mr. Cheselka accepted the amendment Town of Vienna Page 4 Printed on 8/30/2021 Board of Architectural Review Meeting Minutes July 15, 2021 Motion: Mr. Cheselka Second: Ms. Hanley Ayes: Ms. van Doorn, Mr. Layer, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Cheselka, and Ms. Hanley 5 Ayes, 0 Nays Item No. 1: Request for approval of a sign for Dulles Kitchen and Bath, located at 211 Mill St NE, Docket No. PF- 555101-BAR, in the CM Limited Industrial zoning district, filed by Mustafa Ozdemir of Dulles Kitchen & Bath. There was still no one present to represent the application. Ms. Hanley made a motion to defer the application Motion: Ms. Hanley Second: Mr. Layer Ayes: Ms. van Doorn, Mr. Layer, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Cheselka, and Ms. Hanley 5 Ayes, 0 Nays Meeting Adjournment The Board discussed meeting in person for the upcoming meetings. Motion to adjourn: Mr. Cheselka Second: Ms. Hanley With no objections the meeting adjourned at 8:41 Respectfully Submitted, Sharmaine Abaied Board Clerk THE TOWN OF VIENNA IS COMMITTED TO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STANDARDS. TRANSLATION SERVICES, ASSISTANCE OR ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS FROM PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE TO BE REQUESTED NOT LESS THAN 3 WORKING DAYS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE EVENT. PLEASE CALL (703) 255-6304, OR 711 VIRGINIA RELAY SERVICE FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED. Town of Vienna Page 5 Printed on 8/30/2021