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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.29.16 DESIGN REVIEW MINUTES - 16-00425 - Panda Express 1 Design Review Committee Meeting Panda Express - North 2nd East January 29, 2016 – 11:00 am Attendees Design Review Committee: Jedd Walker, Brad Wolfe, Johnny Watson Applicant: Michelle Soliman, Joseph Shealy, and Gary Wang, with supporting staff - representing Gary Wang and Associates - participating in this meeting by conference call City: Natalie Powell, Joel Gray, Elaine McFerrin Jedd Walker opened the meeting. The Design Review Committee is composed of a P&Z Commissioner (Jedd Walker), a City Council member (Brad Wolfe) or the Mayor, and a professional from the community (Johnny Watson). Several other individuals serve on the committee as necessary. Usually, the Committee meets if there is a development issue that is non-conforming or differs from the Design Standards requirements that are stated in the City of Rexburg Development Code Ordinance No. 1115. The purpose of the Design Review Committee meeting is often to reach an amicable compromise for the applicant and the community. Building drawings for Panda Express were viewed. Natalie Powell clarified the reason for today’s meeting. The subject property is located at North 2nd East and East 15th North, in the Regional Business Center (RBC) zone in front of the new Walmart Superstore. The issue is that the building has a long wall over 60’ in length, which needs to be broken up on the west elevation, in order to meet the design standards requirements, as per City of Rexburg Development Code Ordinance No. 1115, Section 4.13 (Commercial Design Standards).This wall faces North 2nd East. The Design Review Committee does not have an issue with the building form. Features just need to be present that break up the elevation, such as variation in materials or color, bump-outs or recesses, etc. – to break up the visual line of the building. Michelle Soliman explained that the finishes on the building are sand and fine sand, including variations in color; there are canopies around the building to help break up the walls. That is how they have addressed the 60’ rule. The building is 66’ by 45’. There are also 24” pop-outs in front of the building and near the patio where patrons could dine. There was Committee consensus that the building wall is satisfactory as presented. It is a beautiful building. The Committee did have some concerns with the site plan. It was determined that the side facing North 2nd East is a side yard. The front yard is on the north. Johnny Watson stated that 10 feet of landscaping is required for any drive in a commercial zone. 2 There was a question of how pedestrian access/connection would be provided. There should be a pedestrian- safe 5’ sidewalk, with landscaping to help buffer the north drive-through. It was suggested to address the human scale on the west and soften the structure to help screen the vehicles. The amount of landscape between the public right of way and pedestrian access is very important. Michelle Soliman stated that typically hedges are used in their landscaping plans. She will send an updated site plan to Natalie Powell before production begins, so that Committee members can give input. Parking and lighting will be addressed at a later date during the building permit process. The Committee members and staff thanked the applicants for their willingness to work with the City. They are excited to have a Panda Express coming to Rexburg.