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Minutes
BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
MINUTES
October 18, 2007
The Board of Architectural Review met in regular session in the Council Room of the Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center Street, South, Vienna, Virginia, with Shirley Damon presiding as Chair. The following members were present: Laine Hyde, David Lanphear, and Paul Layer. Also present were Linnea E. Fechter, Senior Planner, and Jennifer M. Murphy, Board Clerk. Roy Baldwin is absent.
ROLL CALL:
Ms. Murphy called roll. Mr. Baldwin is absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Ms. Hyde made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 20, 2007, meeting as submitted. Mr. Lanphear seconded the motion.
Motion: Hyde
Second: Lanphear
Carried: 4-0
ITEM NO. 1:
Request for approval for new building elevations located at 249 Nutley Street, NW, (Docket No. BAR-88-07), in the RS-12.5 Single Family zoning district; filed by Cathy Salgado, Director of Parks and Recreation.
Ms. Cathy Salgado, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Vienna, came forward to present. Ms. Salgado stated that the Town is proposing to build a record storage facility to be located at the Nutley Street Park maintenance yard. The building will be a 30x60 foot building located on the corner of the site, next to the existing park maintenance building, which houses Department offices and garage space. The Town has received all other required approvals for a storage building and is before the Board to seek approval for the aesthetics of the building. The Town currently houses its records at an offsite facility Self Storage, located on Mill Street, NE. She explained that the Town is trying to consolidate everything at one location for ease of access purposes, to limit costs, and to keep records within the locked maintenance yard.
Samples of colors and materials were passed around for the Board to review.
Ms. Salgado, referring to the rendering explained that the records storage building will be a one story building with a garage entrance. There will be two doors located on either end for ingress/egress purposes and per Fairfax County Fire Code requirement. Attempts to dress up the front of the building have been made with a split faced block design. Samples of the proposed blocks were passed around. Ms. Salgado explained that the rough rock, as submitted in the sample, will be located along the bottom followed by the smooth faced rock for the middle creating a pattern effect for the front of the building. The roof will have an architectural shingle of weathered wood. She explained that attempts had been made to match some of the newer materials to the existing red brick buildings at the site. Other surrounding architecture includes the residential neighbors on the street who have shingled roofs. Foliage from the evergreens located between the properties does shield most of the neighbors from view.
Chairwoman Damon noted that the site is fenced and asked how much of the building will be seen beyond the fence line. Ms. Salgado answered that the building itself will be seen approximately one foot above the fence line. The roof will be predominantly seen from the street. She explained the layout of the neighboring property in comparison to the subject property. Chairwoman Damon noted that there will be a very small aisle between the proposed building and the existing building next to it. She asked if there is a door located there. Ms. Salgado answered yes, explaining that it will be for emergency ingress/egress only. The designated entrance will be accessible through the garage door. The distance between the two buildings is 6 feet, which has been approved through the Fairfax County Fire Marshall’s Office. Chairwoman Damon asked if there is an ingress/egress door located on the other side of the building. Ms. Salgado answered yes. Chairwoman Damon asked if there will be a clear passageway through the building to that door. Ms. Salgado answered yes per Fire Marshall Code requirement.
Mr. Layer asked if all of the other buildings onsite are red brick. Ms. Salgado answered yes, explaining that they are different types of red brick. The building maintenance facility is painted over except for the front of the building. Additional discuss followed regarding the layout of the property in comparison to the gate at the entrance of the property. Mr. Layer asked why they have decided to add more buildings to the site when it had been his understanding that the Town was trying to move their facilities to the North Side Property Yard. Ms. Salgado explained that, originally, the basement of the Town Hall was used for storage. That space has since been renovated over that past year for the Police Department to use. As a result the different departments at Town Hall have had to take their storage offsite, which has become an additional expense to the tax payers. The Town decided that they would house its storage at the offsite storage facility until which time a Town owned storage facility could be built. The proposed storage building is the result of those discussions.
Mr. Layer asked if they considered altering the gate at the entrance to better screen view from the road. Ms. Salgado agreed that there are ways to add screening panels to the gate. Additional discussion followed and was determined that the Town would be willing to create additional screening at the gates for the property.
Mr. Lanphear commented that that the plans looked fine and agreed that it would be good to paint the existing buildings to match the proposed building. He asked how long they plan on utilizing the storage space. Ms. Salgado explained that the Town is required by law to keep and maintain certain documents. They are also looking into converting plans and files to digital format. They are proposing an 1,800 square foot facility and they currently rent out 3,000 square feet of storage. They plan on utilizing the space more efficiently to store Town records.
There being no further questions a motion was in order.
Mr. Layer made a motion that the request for approval for new building elevations located at 249 Nutley Street, NW, (Docket No. BAR-88-07), be approved with the stipulation that there will be additional screening added to the gate entrance to the facility. It is recommended that the screening be gray and vertical, similar to the adjacent fence.
Motion: Layer
Second: Lanphear
Carried: 4-0
ITEM NO. 2:
Request for approval of a canopy located at 1007 Electric Avenue, SE, (Docket No. BAR-86-07), in the CMP Industrial Park zoning district; filed by Jon Gissendanner, of J3 Design Collective Inc.
Mr. Jon Gissendanner, Architect of the project was present to speak. Mr. Gissendanner stated that they are proposing to install a year round awning at the annex facility located across the street from the Navy Federal headquarters building. A parking lot was recently installed at the site. The awning will serve as a convenience entrance for the employees. Photographs and samples of colors and materials were passed around for review by the Board.
There being no further questions a motion was in order.
Ms. Hyde made a motion that the request for approval of a canopy located at 1007 Electric Avenue, SE, (Docket No. BAR-86-07), be approved as submitted.
Motion: Hyde
Second: Lanphear
Carried: 4-0
ITEM NO. 3:
Request for approval of signage for Commonwealth Home Remodelers, Inc located at 208 Dominion Road, NE, (Docket No. BAR-87-07), in the CM Limited zoning district; filed by Bhavesh Mittal, of Commonwealth Home Remodelers, Inc.
Mr. Bhavesh Mittal representing Commonwealth Home Remodelers, Inc. was present to speak. Mr. Mittal stated that they received approval from the Board a couple of month prior for a glass canopy and some exterior improvements. They have since changed their logo and the colors and are back seeking approval to those changes.
Mr. Mittal explained that there will be two signs. One sign will be located facing the street and the other will be located above the entrance door also facing the street. Photographs and samples of colors and materials were passed around for review.
Chairwoman Damon stated concern that the application will introduce two new colors on Dominion Road. Mr. Mittal answered yes, explaining that they are proposing for two signs; one to introduce the building and one at the entrance to the business. Chairwoman Damon asked staff if the request is allowable per Town Code. Ms. Fechter answered yes, explaining that the applicant will not exceed the allowable sign square footage for the front of a building and both sign locations face the principle street. What is being proposed does meet Town Code and ready for the Board to review the aesthetics.
Chairwoman Damon stated that she does not have any issue with respect to the proposed letter style for the sign but has concern for the two colors proposed for that building.
Ms. Hyde stated that the glass canopy does look nice on the building. She thought that the proposed signage is well designed and does not have any issue with the proposed colors.
Mr. Layer asked to see a photograph of the building. A photograph was passed to Mr. Layer. Mr. Mittal noted that they changed the colors to keep up with current market trends. The company has been “going green,” with respect that their company has been involved in a lot of projects that are sensitive to environmental issues. They are in the process of getting their building Energy Star rated. They want that mentality to be reflected in their logo and design. Mr. Layer asked what colors are utilized at the Vienna Floors location. Mr. Mittal answered that they have white trim with black letters on vinyl. Mr. Layer asked if the application calls for the letters to be mounted to the façade material. Mr. Mittal answered yes.
Chairwoman Damon asked if the proposed green is located any where else on the building. Mr. Mittal answered no, explaining that the green will be slightly darker than the green that is currently on the building. Mr. Layer thought that the colors were close enough to being within the same color family.
Mr. Lanphear asked if they are proposing new illumination. Mr. Mittal answered no, stating that the lighting was approved the last time they were before the Board.
There being no further questions a motion was in order.
Mr. Lanphear made a motion that the request for approval of signage for Commonwealth Home Remodelers, Inc located at 208 Dominion Road, NE, (Docket No. BAR-87-07), be approved as submitted.
Motion: Lanphear
Second: Hyde
Carried: 4-0
ITEM NO. 4:
Request for approval of exterior modifications to Liberty Park at Tysons located at 801 Follin Lane, SE, (Docket No. BAR-89-07), in the CMP Industrial Park zoning district; filed by Marc Schlesinger, of Transwestern Goldstar, LLC.
Mr. John Murray, Senior Associate with Hickok Cole Architects and Project Manager was present to speak. Mr. Murray stated that they are requesting approval to make modifications to the previously approved design. The changes are a result of tenant request and the receipt of some additional information from Dominion Virginia Power requiring that they make changes to some items.
Mr. Murray explained that they are requesting to install six additional cooling units on the roof, which will require them to extend the screen wall in order to hide them. He noted on the rending the location of the proposed screen wall extension. They will use the same metal panel system as was previously approved. They have since visited with Miller, Beam, and Paganelli Acoustical Engineers, who serve as consultants to the Town, in order to re-analyze noise concerns, meeting the Town’s acoustic requirements and the requirements of the tenant. The tenant has also requested that they shift over one of the transformers in order to make room for some amenities. He noted on the rendering the location of the transformer and the new location.
Mr. Murray stated that the specifications that Dominion Virginia Power has given them are larger than originally planned for. This has required a slight reconfiguration of some of the layout along with an extension of the screen wall. They are proposing to move a set of doors on the site to meet access requirements and to install a handicap ramp and railing per request of the tenants. Three additional bollards will be installed at the loading dock for safety purposes. Additional discussion followed where the Board noted that the project is progressing along quickly. Mr. Murray indicated that their target completion date is for June of 2008.
There being no further questions a motion was in order.
Ms. Hyde made a motion that the request for approval of exterior modifications to Liberty Park at Tysons located at 801 Follin Lane, SE, (Docket No. BAR-89-07), be approved as submitted.
Motion: Hyde
Second: Layer
Carried: 4-0
NEW BUSINESS:
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:49.
Respectfully submitted by,
Jennifer M. Murphy
Board Clerk