Courthouse Area Design Review Board

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Courthouse Area Design Review Board convened on November 9, 2016, at 2:00 PM in the Council Chamber at the LFUCG Center, located at 200 East Main Street, with Luther Andal presiding as the meeting officer. The board reviewed five design cases during the session, all of which received approval. The meeting included eight motions and votes as the board deliberated on various downtown development projects, ranging from new businesses to ongoing construction initiatives. No public comments were heard during this session, allowing the board to focus entirely on the technical review of the submitted design proposals and architectural plans for properties located primarily along West Main Street and West Short Street in the courthouse area.

Attendance

The following members were present at the meeting on August 10, 2016:

• Luther Andal
• Graham Pohl
• Martin Summers
• Kevin Atkins
• Jordan Parker

No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting. All five members were in attendance.

Votes and Decisions

The board took eight votes during the August 10, 2016 meeting, all of which passed unanimously with four members voting in favor: Graham Pohl, Martin Summers, Kevin Atkins, and Jordan Parker.

Administrative Items • Meeting Minutes: Kevin Atkins motioned to approve the August 10, 2016 minutes, seconded by Graham Pohl. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).

• 2017 Meeting Schedule: Graham Pohl motioned to approve the 2017 CADRB meeting schedule, seconded by Martin Summers. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).

Authorization Permits • Case No. 4-2016 (Parlay Social): Graham Pohl motioned to approve the authorization permit for Parlay Social to change the existing vent hood exhaust fan, seconded by Kevin Atkins. The motion passed unanimously (4-0) with the condition that the owner develop an awning-like screening device.

• Case No. 5-2016 (Harvey's): Graham Pohl motioned to approve the authorization permit for Harvey's to replace existing windows, seconded by Martin Summers. The motion passed unanimously (4-0) with the condition that the client replace one-over-one units with six-over-six windows.

• Case No. 6-2016 (135 W. Main St.): Martin Summers motioned to approve the authorization permit for 135 W. Main St. for steel canopy, LED lighting, and storefront façade improvements, seconded by Graham Pohl. The motion passed unanimously (4-0) with no conditions.

• Case No. 7-2016 (275 W. Main St.): Graham Pohl motioned to approve the authorization permit for 275 W. Main St. for retail storefront addition, seconded by Martin Summers. The motion passed unanimously (4-0) with the condition to ensure transparent character of storefront glass.

• Case No. 4-2012 (CentrePointe): Graham Pohl motioned to approve the authorization permit for CentrePointe amendment and reissuance, seconded by Kevin Atkins. The motion passed unanimously (4-0) with the condition to submit new designs if building heights change.

• Adjournment: Kevin Atkins motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Graham Pohl. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).

Contested Items

The primary point of contention during the August 10, 2016 meeting centered on building height variability for the CentrePointe development project.

CentrePointe Building Height Variability

Board members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the proposed variable building heights within the CentrePointe development and their potential impact on the overall design and surrounding streetscape. The disagreement focused on concerns about how changes in building height could affect the visual coherence of the development and its integration with the existing urban environment.

The discussion revealed significant apprehension among board members about allowing flexibility in building heights without proper oversight. Members expressed worry that unrestricted height variations could compromise the architectural integrity of the project and negatively impact the streetscape character.

Following the contentious debate, the board reached a resolution by imposing a specific condition on the approval. Any proposed changes to building heights within the CentrePointe development would require the applicant to resubmit their plans for full board consideration and approval. This condition ensures that the board maintains oversight over height modifications and can evaluate their impact on the overall design scheme and surrounding area.

The outcome represents a compromise between allowing some development flexibility while maintaining board control over significant design changes that could affect the project's visual impact on the community.

Case No. 4-2016, 249 W. Short St., Parlay Social

The board reviewed Case No. 4-2016 concerning modifications to the ventilation system at Parlay Social, located at 249 W. Short St. The application requested approval to change the existing vent hood exhaust fan to accommodate fried food preparation at the establishment.

Key speakers during the discussion included Bob Estes and Kim Bragg, who presented details about the proposed ventilation system modifications. The change would allow the restaurant to expand its menu offerings to include fried foods, which requires enhanced exhaust capabilities to meet health and safety requirements.

The discussion focused on the technical specifications of the new vent hood system and its compliance with local building and health codes. The proposed modifications were designed to ensure proper ventilation and odor control for the expanded food preparation operations.

Following the presentation and discussion of the technical details, the board approved the application for Case No. 4-2016. The approval allows Parlay Social to proceed with installing the upgraded vent hood exhaust fan system to support their expanded food service operations including fried food preparation.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Case No. 5-2016, 200 W. Main St., Harvey's

The board reviewed Case No. 5-2016 for 200 W. Main St., Harvey's, which involved a proposal to replace existing windows with clad-wood double-hung SDL (simulated divided light) windows.

Avena Joyce served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the window replacement proposal to the board for consideration.

The discussion centered on the technical specifications and appropriateness of the proposed clad-wood double-hung SDL windows as replacements for the existing windows at the Harvey's location. The board evaluated whether the new windows would be suitable for the property and meet applicable standards.

Following the presentation and discussion, the board approved the window replacement proposal for 200 W. Main St., Harvey's.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Case No. 6-2016, 135 W. Main St.

The board reviewed Case No. 6-2016 for proposed modifications to 135 W. Main St. The application requested approval for several exterior improvements including the addition of a steel canopy, LED lighting installation, custom signage, and alterations to the existing storefront system.

The proposed changes were designed to modernize the building's appearance while maintaining compatibility with the surrounding area. The steel canopy would provide weather protection for pedestrians and enhance the building's street presence. The LED lighting system was planned to improve visibility and energy efficiency compared to existing lighting fixtures.

The custom signage component of the application included new business identification signage that would replace or supplement existing signage on the property. The storefront system alterations involved modifications to the building's front-facing commercial entrance and display areas.

During the review process, the board evaluated whether the proposed modifications would be appropriate for the location and consistent with applicable design standards. The steel canopy design, lighting specifications, signage dimensions and placement, and storefront modifications were all considered as part of the comprehensive review.

After discussion and consideration of the application materials, the board approved Case No. 6-2016. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with installing the exterior steel canopy, LED lighting system, custom signage, and storefront alterations as proposed in the application.

The approved modifications will update the building's exterior appearance and functionality while ensuring the changes align with the area's character and applicable regulations.

Case No. 7-2016, 275 W. Main St.

The board discussed Case No. 7-2016 regarding modifications to the property at 275 W. Main St. The proposal involved adding a retail storefront on the ground floor to accommodate new retail tenants.

Kim Bragg served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the details of the proposed changes to the existing structure. The discussion focused on the practical aspects of incorporating retail space into the building's ground level configuration.

The proposal was designed to enhance the commercial viability of the property by creating dedicated retail space that would allow for new tenant occupancy. This modification would represent a change to the current use or layout of the ground floor area.

Following the presentation and discussion, the board approved Case No. 7-2016. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the addition of the retail storefront as proposed, enabling the accommodation of new retail tenants in the ground floor space at 275 W. Main St.

Case No. 4-2012, 100 W. Main Street- CentrePointe

The board discussed an amendment to and reissuance of the Authorization Permit for the CentrePointe development project located at 100 W. Main Street under Case No. 4-2012.

Key speakers during the discussion included Michael Ades and Dana Rector, who presented information regarding the proposed amendments to the existing authorization permit for this development project.

The CentrePointe case has been an ongoing matter before the board, with this particular agenda item focusing on modifications to the previously issued permit authorization. The discussion centered on the specific amendments being requested and the rationale for reissuing the permit under the revised terms.

Following the presentation and discussion of the amendment details, the board voted to approve the amendment to and reissuance of the Authorization Permit for CentrePointe. This approval allows the project to proceed under the modified permit conditions as presented during the meeting.

The outcome represents a continuation of the board's oversight of this significant downtown development project, with the amended authorization permit providing updated guidance for the project's implementation at the 100 W. Main Street location.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*