Day 1988.10.28DR

The regular meeting of the Vacaville Design Review Committee was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chairman Whalen.

ALSO PRESENT: Associate Planner Buderi, Senior Planner Moore, City Planner Sexton, Robert Sylvester, George Corrigan, Tom Engberg, and representatives of Yardbirds and of K-Mart.

Vice-Chairman Dykwell moved, Committee Member Clark seconded, to approve the following minutes. Motion approved 4-0.

Associate Planner Buderi reviewed the proposal, introduced the staff report into the record and recommended approval per conditions A through M listed in the staff report.

Mr. Buderi discussed the staff comments on the site plan and focused on the building design. He discussed the specific design issues including use of multi-scored block as a substitution for proposed single score block accent band; the use of the trellis at the far corners of the shopping center; and the treatment of the K-Mart building expansion front elevation. Mr. Buderi discussed the problem of screening roof mounted equipment particularly from planned Allison Drive to the west of the shopping center.

Chairman Whalen requested clarification on future land uses to the west and discussed his desire to see a varying height of 3 to 4 feet for landscaped berms.

Committee Member Clark agreed a varying height for mounds is appropriate if in relation to width of the planter area.

Robert Sylvester and George Corrigan, project architects, presented the project. Mr. Corrigan stated a varying berm height is acceptable if a 2 1/2 - 3 1/2' to 1' slope is maintained and a wall appearance is avoided. He discussed use of block material with the single block painted a lighter color than the split face block.

Mr. Corrigan discussed the variation in fascia width and material in the new proposal compared to the existing K-Mart fascia. He stated the applicants had no objection to refacing the K-Mart fascia. Mr. Corrigan had no objection to proposed condition F.

A sketch depicting the open block wall on the east elevation was submitted in response to proposed condition G.

B.3. Regarding tree wells. He stated the tree wells would be added where parking area is reoriented and where existing trees have died with details to be worked out with staff.

Michael McDaniel, K-Mart representative, opposed condition E to set the building back 10' from the front of the existing building. He opposed the loss of 900 sq. ft., discussed merchandising concerns, and discussed added costs due to revising the standard floor plan.

Tom Engberg, representing the property owners, suggested using evergreen trees and other landscaping to screen the K-Mart addition.

City Planner Sexton discussed staff's preference was for a canopy across the entire center and stated that provision of the 10' setback represents staff's compromise position. He expressed concern about the adequacy of space for dense landscaping.

Committee Member Clark proposed intensifying the landscaping by pushing the planter area out approximately 5' into the driveway area at both ends or using the trellis system subject to staff approval, but the building may stay as proposed.

Mr. McDaniel stated that between reducing the driveway width and adding the tile canopy, K-Mart would prefer the canopy. The Committee discussed deleting the increased building setback if dense landscaping were provided in front of the wall. The consensus was to delete Condition E.1 and require intensified landscaping by either dense planting within the existing width of the sidewalk or by extending the curb 5 feet out toward the parking lot. The final plan should be approved by the City Planner.

Mr. McDaniel of K-Mart stated K-Mart requires a 35' wide driveway in front of their building and opposed allowing landscaping to encroach within the driveway area.

With regard to condition K dealing with roof screening, the architect requested placement of screening on roof decking of the shops buildings and not at parapet.

In response, Mr. Buderi stated the intent is to completely screen the equipment from Allison Drive with a limited placement (no more than 10') back from the parapet being acceptable. With regard to condition L, Mr. Buderi clarified the parapet would need to be increased over the 15 inches proposed or low profile units would need to be used. More individual wood screens would not be acceptable.

Mr. Sylvester stated site line drawings can be submitted from Browns Valley Parkway and Allison Drive showing how the equipment would be screened.

The Committee agreed to allow individual screens on the K-Mart expansion provided the screens matched in materials the screen used on the shop building and new screens were provided around the existing roof mounted equipment.

Committee Member Neal moved, Dykwell seconded, to approve design aspects of Conditional Use Permit (CUP-10-88) subject to conditions A-M with amendments to conditions E, K, L & M as follows:

Delete 1. The front wall of the K-Mart expansion shall be set back to align with the front wall of the Shops building where the two buildings meet.

K. Roof screens for all new buildings shall be designed to screen roof equipment from the planned Allison Parkway extension. Screening at the rear of the Shops Building shall be placed behind the parapet no more than 10 feet and constructed of a metal or concrete block material. Final designs shall be submitted for approval by the City Planner.

L. New and existing roof equipment on the K-Mart store shall be screened individually by the same material used to screen equipment on the Shops building.

3. Landscaping in front of the K-Mart store shall be intensified to buffer the view of the front wall of the structure by dense planting within the existing sidewalk area or by extending the curb 5 feet out toward the parking area to provide greater planting space. The final design shall be subject to approval by the City Planner.