SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION

CONCEPT PLAN COMMENTS

Subject: 200 Finley Golf Course Road

Meeting Date: December 15, 2004

Recommendation: That the comments of the Commission are forwarded to the applicant.

Vote: Unanimous to forward comments by members present: Mark Broadwell, George Cianciolo (Chair), Chris Culbert, Thatcher Freund, Glenn Parks, Scott Radway, John Runkle, Amy Ryan, Jonathan Whitney

Site Design, Building Location

1. Several Commission Members expressed concern with the proposed placement of the building along Finley Golf Course Road. Commissioner’s noted that the proposed building did not align with other buildings along the street.

2. A Commissioner also stated that placement of the proposed building, approximately 50 feet closer to the road than other buildings along the street, will require the removal of several notable street trees.

3. Commissioners recommended that the applicant relocate the building back away from the street and attempt to align the building with other existing buildings on Finley Golf Course Road. If necessary, in order to accommodate this recommendation, several Commissioners suggested that the applicant delete several parking spaces and/or request an alternate buffer width along the property line adjacent to the golf course.

4. Some Commissioners, anticipating that this portion of Finley Golf Course Road would likely be redevelopment within the next few decades at a greater density than current conditions, wondered if the proposed building would be congruent with future growth.

5. One Commissioner Member stated that the applicant should try to maintain the quasi-suburban character of the streetscape or consider designing a project with more of an urban street form.

6. Noting that the proposed building was larger that the existing structure, two Commissioner Members suggested that the applicant consider a smaller building for the site.

Access and Circulation

7. Several Commissioner’s supported the applicant’s proposal to reduce the number of driveways from three (one on Finley Golf Course Road, two on Prestwick Place) to a single driveway on Prestwick Place. Another Commissioner suggested that the applicant relocate the entrance to the parking lot on the opposite side of the building.

8. Some Commissioners expressed concern with how the building may relate to a potential transit corridor along Prestwick Place. Another Commissioner stated that the proposed building does not relate to the future transit corridor.

9. A Commissioner suggested that the applicant construct a sidewalk along Finley Golf Course Road, between NC 54 and the front of the building.

Parking

10. As a transition between the golf course and the building, a Commissioner suggested that the applicant consider a gravel surface for the proposed parking lot behind the building.

11. One Commissioner suggested that the applicant consider a building design that accommodates parking underneath the building.

12. Several Commission Members recommended that the applicant consider alternate transportation options and reducing the number of spaces for the on-site parking. One Commissioner suggested that the applicant incorporate this project into the overall parking plan for the main campus.

Buffers

13. In an attempt to save the street trees and align the front of the proposed building with other buildings along Finley Golf Course Road, several Commissioner supported a smaller landscape buffer along the west property line (adjacent to the golf course).

14. Some Commissioner noted that the submitted plans show a 30 foot landscape buffer within the future 50 foot transit corridor.

Architecture

15. The Commission presented the applicant with comments on the proposed architecture.

Prepared for: George C Cianciolo, Chair

Prepared by: Gene Poveromo, Staff