Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2021 06 24

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Planning Commission Staff Report June 24, 2021 Staff finds the new construction is differentiated from the existing, historic buildings in Downtown and appears as a product of its own time. G29. Maintain the existing range of exterior wall materials found in downtown. 1) Appropriate materials for primary structures include horizontal and vertical siding, shingles and brick. 2) The lap dimensions of siding should be similar to those found traditionally. Typically 4-6 inches exposed. 6) For larger buildings, consider a combination of appropriate materials as a means to reduce the apparent size of the project. Staff finds brick is an appropriate material for the primary facade of a Downtown building. The facade also include lap siding similar to traditional siding in Downtown. The use of materials that includes a heavier brick and dark grey siding on the bottom two stories and sue of a lighter grey stucco for the stepped -back third story provides an appropriate combination to reduce the apparent size of the building as viewed from Front Street. In addition, the use of stucco and painted metal on the rear additions to 950 Spruce match and complement the existing building materials. Staff finds that this policy is met with the proposed design. G30. Materials should be applied in a manner similar to that used traditionally. 1) A "hierarchy" of building materials should be used, with heavier coarser materials used as foundations and more refined materials used above. Staff finds the use of brick and a primary material at ground level and the use of dark grey siding and stucco provides a heavier coarser material as a foundation of the building with the light grey at the top providing a hierarchy of materials to deemphasize the third story. G31. New materials may be considered, if they appear similar in character and detailing to those used traditionally. 3) Details of hard board siding, and their joints, should match that of traditional wood siding. Staff finds the use of brick and horizontal siding matches traditional materials and form in Downtown. C3. Maintain the average scale of one-story buildings at the sidewalk. 1) Traditionally, most commercial storefronts in this area were one- or two -stories in height and, while each block contained a mix of these heights, an overall sense of unity in scale was established. 2) In larger projects, a mix of one- and two-story modules should be used to maintain variety in heights. 3) New construction should present a tall one-story or two-story facade at the front property line. This facade height should not exceed 30 feet. 12 14