HomeMy WebLinkAboutDESIGN REVIEW MINUTES 2/27/2013 - 12-00016 - 555 S 3rd W - Lofts Apts - CUP for lowered number of parking spaces in PED
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Design Review Committee Meeting
Mountain Lofts Apartments – 555 South 3rd West
(Conditional Use Permit #12 00016)
February 27, 2013 – 10:00 am
Attendees
Design Review Committee: Thaine Robinson, Johnny Watson, Bruce Sutherland
Applicant: Logan Bingham, Headwaters Construction; Bob Dudick, Mixed-Use Real Estate Advisors c/o
Innovative Student Housing; Scott McLamore, Campus Acquisitions; Will Quintanilla and Rebekah
Broadfoot, Humphreys & Partners Architects; Chelsea Dora-Shibley, HPA Design Group
City: Val Christensen, Natalie Powell, Elaine McFerrin
Thaine Robinson welcomed everyone and explained that the Design Review Committee is composed of a
P&Z Commissioner, a City Council member, and a professional from the community. The Design Review
Committee meets if there is a development issue that may deviate from the design standards stated in the City
of Rexburg Development Code Ordinance No. 1026, or the Committee could meet because of the large size
of a project.
Val Christensen clarified that the 2 concerns before the Design Review Committee are the parking structure
and the length of the buildings.
The site plan and building elevations for the project were viewed and discussed.
Will Quintanilla stated the project has 3 buildings, shown on the site plan as building 1 for female residents,
building 2 for male residents, and building 3 as the parking structure.
The parking structure will have 5 tiers and will be an open parking garage.
The residential buildings will be 5 stories in height.
The bed count for the project is 1, 072 residents.
There is an area in the middle of the complex that may become an outdoor gathering area for the residents.
Scott McLamore said a landscape architect is working on the project. There is no pre-cast contractor for the
garage as yet.
The material for the parking structure will be concrete.
If the land to the south of the subject property is ever developed, the parking structure would be hidden.
Thaine Robinson stated this is setting a precedent for future projects. The Committee does not want to
dictate how the developer should build the project, but it is important to blend the parking structure into its
surroundings.
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Johnny Watson said he would not want to make too restrictive a precedent. Think about the future. What is
being done is very expensive.
The residential buildings will be stone, lighter and darker lap siding, and the 4th and 5th levels will be board
and batten. There are a number of awnings, which add to the visual interest of the buildings.
The side yard setback is 20 feet. It was discussed that there would be plenty of room for landscaping.
The roof line and roof length were reviewed. There are dormers and a tower feature that help break up the
visual length.
Will Quintanilla stated the street side elevation is 344 feet long, but there is never more than 34 feet before
there is an offset.
It was expressed this would meet design standards requirements.
Bruce Sutherland felt the project looks impressive.
Johnny Watson said from a pedestrian viewpoint, there are interesting visual variations as people walk down
the sidewalk.
Thaine Robinson said the overall project design is unique and well done.
Completion of the project is tentatively the fall of 2014.
There was consensus of the Design Review Committee that:
1. The Mountain Lofts Apartments elevations viewed at this meeting meet the Development
Code Design Standards requirements.
2. There shall be adequate landscape screening on the south side yard setback of the property and
against the parking structure. Elevation and landscape drawings submitted for the building permit process
should reflect this requirement.
The applicants were thanked for their willingness to work with the Design Review Committee. This project
will be an asset to this community.