6.9.C. SR 05-16-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item #6.9 .c. MEMORANDUM TO: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development FROM: Chris Leeseberg, Planner Ck- DATE: May 16, 2005 SUBJECT: Design Review of Jackson Place and The Bluffs of Elk River Overview Staff met with the applicant on April 18, 2005 to give feedback on the proposed designs for both Jackson Place and The Bluffs of Elk River. Putpose The intent of the Downtown district is to preserve this distinctive character with the appearance that there are multiple buildings that are distinctly different from one another yet allow a uniform mass of building with the appearance of vertical separation. Jackson Place Staff felt the "end units" of this building facing Jackson Avenue and Main Street are done exceptionally well and interact with the existing architecture across the street and meet the District's intent. They look like buildings in a small town downtown. The biggest concern raised with this building is the overall mass of it. The entire roof line has no change in height and about half of the cornice does not have an articulated design. Design applications are implemented in the building between the "end units" (mid section) that tries to create the feel of different height buildings with a change in material, but that alone is not enough. The guidelines indicate that "Cornice heights.. .vary in height from unit to unit by at least 24 inches." Staff recommended that both "end units" have the cornice height raised by at least 24 inches to help create the appearance of different buildings. This recommendation should not affect any of the interior space or structural integrity of the building. The repetitive "mid section" should try to create some variation to meet the intent. This could be accomplished with color/material changes and/or changes in cornice design and Planning Department Mission: the orderly development of a livable and sustainable Elk River community.