Board of Architectural Review

127 Center Street South Town of Vienna Vienna, Virginia 22180 p: 703.255.6341 TTY 7111 Meeting Minutes Board of Architectural Review Thursday, November 17, 2022 7:30 PM Community Center - Board Room Roll Call The Board of Architectural Review met in a regular session on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 7:30 pm in the Vienna Community Center Board Room. Chair Mr. Baldwin called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. Roll Call: Mr. Layer, Ms. Hanley, Ms. van Doorn, Mr. Cheselka, and Mr. Baldwin were all present. Staff present: Director David Levy, Planner Sharmaine Abaied, and Board Clerk Yaska Camacho Castillo. Approval of the Minutes The meeting minutes for October 20, 2022, were accepted into the record with an amendment. Compass Real Estate - 245 Maple Ave W- Signs Item No. 1: Request for approval of signs for Compass Real Estate, located at 245 Maple Ave W., Docket No. PF- 869039-BAR, in the MAC Maple Avenue Commercial zoning district; filed by Tony Rogers of Ark Signs, Project Contact. Applicant: Stephanie White – 6849 Old Dominion Dr. Mclean, VA – was present for the application. Ms. White stated they are requesting approval for a sign on the facade of the building that will be lit and window and door signs along the facade. Mr. Layer commented that the drawing provided to the board is not accurate with what is currently there. The awnings are at least 4 ft higher than what is shown on the drawing. He stated that the sign would not be visible from the sidewalk. He said he wasn’t sure if the sign would be appropriate and commented that he was uncertain if the code allows bracketing signs from the face up a wall. He continued to discuss his concern about the sign clamped to the canopy/roof structure. Ms. van Doorn noted that according to the code, there shouldn't be any website information on the window signs. Ms. Abaied confirmed that staff had already addressed this concern with the applicant, and the applicant agreed to have the information removed from the signs. Ms. Abaied further explained that this type of information is not allowed on the signs to avoid traffic accidents. Mr. Baldwin asked the applicant if she would consider placing a permanent sign on the side of the building where the temporary banner is currently placed. The board discussed the possibility of that option and different design ideas for the sign Town of Vienna Page 1 Printed on 12/16/2022 Board of Architectural Review Meeting Minutes November 17, 2022 underneath the canopy to be more visible. Mr. Layer made a motion to approve the door/window signs for Compass Real Estate, located at 245 Maple Ave W., Docket No. PF- 869039-BAR, in the MAC Maple Avenue Commercial zoning district, with the following condition: • To exclude the website information and phone numbers from the signs. Motion: Mr. Layer Second: Ms. Hanley Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion Carried Mr. Layer made a motion to defer the request for approval of signs for Compass Real Estate, located at 245 Maple Ave W., Docket No. PF- 869039-BAR, in the MAC Maple Avenue Commercial zoning district, to allow the applicant to reconsider the sign to gain more visibility. Motion: Mr. Layer Second: Ms. Hanley Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion Carried Vienna Market (Revision) - 245 Maple Ave W - Exterior Modification Item No. 2: Request for revisions to the previously approved plans for Vienna Market located at 245 Maple Avenue W., Docket No. 21-19-BAR, in the MAC Maple Avenue Commercial Zone zoning district; filed by Gregory O'Neill of Northfield Construction and Development. Applicants: Gregory O’Neill & Nathan Hamman - 5101 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC – were present for the application. Mr. Gregory stated he wanted the board to consider the steel rails on Maple Ave in front of the retail building. He noted that the approved plans showed powder-coated aluminum rails and that they ended up installing steel rails that were painted. He understands the concern about the maintenance of a painted material. He mentioned that the HOA and Commercial Space owner would handle any maintenance of the rails. Mr. Gregory asked the board to allow the rails to stay as is. Additionally, The applicant noted the difference in the color of the brick located in the retail space. He said they installed the original brick color presented to the board in 2019. Mr. Gregory asked the board if the bricks could also stay as is. Lastly, the last item the applicants wanted the board to consider was the awnings. Mr. Gregory stated that they would proceed with the board's recommendation to use a metal roof and wrap the awnings with a metal soffit underneath to keep it maintenance-free. He also mentioned that they are working with an architect to develop a new park design. Once they have some progress, they will request a work session to present the new design to the board. Mr. Layer stated that the Plaza was presented as a destination retail in the initial request. The board reviewed the noticeable changes in the Plaza and the project since they last saw it. Those changes included the planter boxes, transformer, railings, brick Town of Vienna Page 2 Printed on 12/16/2022 Board of Architectural Review Meeting Minutes November 17, 2022 color, and circle on the concrete. The board discussed the discrepancies with the applicants. Mr. Hamman clarified that one of the problems that led to the discrepancies was that a few individuals involved in the project took different paths. He provided the board with a brief explanation of how the brick color came about and stated they weren’t aware of the color change until recently. They continued to discuss the matter to understand how it all happened. Ms. van Doorn asked about the steel railings, and the applicants replied that they believed they had that area of the project correct. Mr. Cheselka voiced his concerns about the railings. He noted that powder coating and hand coating are two different things. Powder coating last longer. He explained the difference between the two options. He stated that if the person who painted the railings did not use the proper materials or did it insufficiently, they should expect to start seeing damage to the railings by the summer. Lastly, he commented on the Plaza, stating that on the first initial request, the applicants had ideas for the corner Plaza, including having a fountain, murals, or a statue in the middle of the circle. He wondered how and why these changes occurred. Mr. O’Neill responded that the mural had not changed. He said that what was installed in the corner plaza, besides the missing planter boxes, was on the approved site plan. Ms. Hanley pointed out that the transformer wasn’t supposed to be there. Mr. Hamman responded the power company detects where that can be placed. The board continued to discuss the changes that were made to the Plaza. Ms. van Doorn made a motion to approve the previously approved plans for Vienna Market, located at 245 Maple Avenue W., Docket No. 21-19-BAR, in the MAC Maple Avenue Commercial Zone zoning district, as it relates to the change of the brick color only. Motion: Ms. van Doorn Second: Ms. Hanley Ayes: Ms. van Doorn, Ms.Hanley & Mr. Baldwin Nays: Mr. Layer & Mr. Cheselka Motion Carried Ms. Hanley made a motion to defer the request for revisions to the previously approved plans for Vienna Market, located at 245 Maple Avenue W., Docket No. 21-19-BAR, in the MAC Maple Avenue Commercial Zone zoning district, in regards to the canopies and the railings. Motion: Ms. Hanley Second: Ms. van Doorn Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion Carried Regular Business BAR Secretary Memo The board discussed the following: • Election of a Board Secretary Mr. Cheselka made a motion to recommend Ms. Hanley as Secretary for the Board of Town of Vienna Page 3 Printed on 12/16/2022 Board of Architectural Review Meeting Minutes November 17, 2022 Architectural Review. Mr. Layer seconded the motion. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Motion Carried Meeting Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:04 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Yaska Camacho Castillo 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 4 Printed on 12/16/2022