Title
Marina Cove II ("Marina Shores") Building "B" Design Review - PLN13-0380. Hold a public hearing to consider revised elevations for Building B, a multifamily townhome structure at the corner of Buena Vista Avenue and Entrance Way.
Body
CITY OF ALAMEDA
Memorandum
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Andrew Thomas
City Planner
Date: September 8, 2014
Re: Marina Cove II ("Marina Shores") Building "B" Design Review - PLN13-0380. Hold a public hearing to consider revised elevations for Building B, a multifamily townhome structure at the corner of Buena Vista Avenue and Entrance Way.
BACKROUND
On January 2, 2013, the City Council re-approved the Tentative Map and environmental documents for 52 single-family homes and 37 multi-family condominium units on the property at 1551 Buena Vista. The City Council final action was informed by a series of Planning Board public hearings on the project held in 2012.
On May 27, 2014, the Planning Board held a public hearing on the Design Review application for the new homes at the request of the project applicant, Lennar Homes. At the meeting, the Board provided direction for a number of revisions to the architectural design of the project.
On July 28, 2014, the Planning Board held a second public hearing and approved the revised Design Review application for the new homes subject to a number of conditions. One of the conditions required that the applicant further improve the design of one of the buildings (Building B), and return to the Planning Board with the revised elevations for final review and approval. The Planning Board's approved resolution with the requested revisions is included as Exhibit 1. The resolution is attached for information purposes only. It is not necessary for the Planning Board to re-approve the resolution. This report also includes a short status report on some of the Board's additional requested changes to the project.
In August, the architectural design team prepared revised drawings with input from the City. Staff is recommending that the Planning Board approve the revised design for Building B. The revised Building B elevations are included as Exhibit 2: Revised Design Review Plans for Building B, August, 2014
ANALYSIS
Architectural Design for Building B: Building B will occupy the important corner of Entrance Road and Buena Vista Avenue (across from the Del Monte Building). In response to comments from the City and Planning Board President Burton, the project architect revised the plans for this building. The revisions include changes to the roof design, elevations, and colors and materials to create a design that staff believes will provide a strong architectural statement at this key corner of the project site and Northern Waterfront neighborhood.
As shown in Exhibit 1, the major revisions include:
· The overall composition and the form of the building has been simplified and clarified. The simpler form is compatible with the simple architectural forms of the existing buildings in the area, including the adjacent Del Monte Building.
· The new design replaces the prior design's multiple roof plan's and angles with a simple flat roof, and the elevations are similarly simplified to create a cleaner, more logical facade with repeating elements. Although very different in size and design, the beauty of the adjacent Del Monte Building is accentuated by its simple form and rhythmic facade created by repeating, but simple, column elements and consistent exterior material.
· The previously proposed brick exterior materials have been replaced with stucco and fiber cement siding with wood trim, metal awnings and railings. The new siding material provides a pleasing contrast to the adjacent Building D, and the metal details and elongated entry canopies complement the similar canopy on the adjacent Del Monte Warehouse.
Overall, staff believes that this revised design is an improvement over the prior design and satisfies the concerns expressed by the Planning Board.
Status of Project and Other Planning Board Conditions of Approval: At the Planning Board meeting of July 28, 2014, the Planning Board approved several important conditions to guide the next steps of the project including:
1. Universal Design. Staff is working with the applicant to ensure that the interior spaces and bathrooms meet the Planning Board and community's expectations regarding universal design and accessibility features. These revisions are being developed as part of the Building Permit review process.
2. Clement Avenue Crosswalks. Staff is working with the applicant and the Public Works Department to increase the number of marked pedestrian crossings between the project and the waterfront park. The objective of this work is to have crosswalks at each Clement Avenue intersection for pedestrians walking from the Northern Waterfront neighborhoods, through the project, to the waterfront park and Bay Trail.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
On January 2, 2013, the City Council adopted the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Tentative Map. This Design Review application is consistent with the approved Tentative Map and the approved Mitigated Negative Declaration.
PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENTS
Property owners and residents within 300 feet of the project's boundaries were notified of the public hearing and given the opportunity to review and comment on the proposal. As of August 28, 2014, staff has not received any public comments on the revised architectural design for Building B.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public hearing and approve by motion the revised elevations for Building B as shown in Exhibit 2.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas
City Planner
Exhibit:
1. July 28, 2014 Planning Board Resolution
2. Marina Cove II Revised Design Review Plans for Building B, August, 2014