The design for the
Hyatt Place has been tweaked a bit and the height has come down. Here's the rendering:
And here's the site plan:
The new rendering is more akin to that of the previously planned Center Vista project in terms of architecture.
The parking is more of a challenge with this project because the hotel will be built mid-block. Here are the DDRC recommendations regarding parking:
Quote
Site plan review will be conducted by the Planning Commission as the project will be going to them
anyway for a traffic study review (comments from the City’s land development planner regarding
the landscape ordinance will be given at this time). However, comments from the DDRC will be
shared with the Planning Commission. Previous comments from the DDRC on the site centered
around making the Lady Street parking lot look less like a parking lot (since the -DD guidelines
require parking lots to be mid-block rather than on the street edge) as well as ushering pedestrians
more clearly and safely through the parking lot. Comments from staff for landscaping and site
issues are from the –DD guidelines.
The parking lot has 62 spaces; overflow parking for the hotel will be handled across the street in the
Lincoln Street garage. The parking lot has accordingly been reconfigured with a walkway leading
from the sidewalk to the hotel. The walkway is bordered on both sides by parking spaces.
Trees/tree wells have also been placed somewhat randomly along the walkway to the hotel
entrance. Staff would recommend adding a more trees for uniformity for more of an allee look to
the hotel here as well as widening the central walkway. It appears too narrow for comfortable
walking and would prohibit two people walking side by side or perhaps a wheelchair; 6-7’ would be
advisable. Details on this will be needed as it progresses. Installing bollards here would protect
pedestrians. General lighting of the parking lot has not been discussed, but uplighting of the trees
along the walkway would be attractive and would guide the pedestrian. Generally, planting islands
appear to be smaller than the required size and it appears that more trees may be needed to meet
the landscape ordinance, something the City’s land development planner will determine.
In response to comments from staff, a walkway has been added from the back entry of the hotel
down to the extant alley to better accommodate foot traffic to the businesses there. A lattice with
climbing plants or a low wall would be advisable between the parking lot and the alley—with the
grade change, it is likely that car headlights will shine at eye level or close to it on anyone sitting at
the tables set up in the alley way; some sort of structure might help a bit with car noise as well.
Landscaping requirements in the –DD guidelines would recommend the following:
The parking buffer along the property line needs to be 5 feet to the back of curb. (DD
requirement)
A minimum of three street trees will need to be located along the Lady Street Parking lot area
(DD requirement)
A continuous hedge or brick screen wall will need to be provided within this buffer area. This
will need to be detailed on the landscaping plan.
An additional 2’ on the south property line near Lady Street should be provided to allow for the
existing walkway area to accommodate pedestrians.
Also, grading issues were raised by the DDRC during the preliminary review, specifically how the
parking lot and the back of the hotel would be treated and what the side elevations would look like
when graded. Staff has not received any elevations as yet which reflect a grading plan aside from the
south elevation (Gervais Street); presumably the applicants are still working on this.
The DDRC also wants the developers to significantly reduce the amount of EIFS planned for the Lady Street facade.
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krazeeboi, on 10 June 2011 - 10:23 PM, said:
