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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Min 1995-11-21 ,~ I ~ l ". MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCILIPLANNING COMMISSION! DESIGN REVIEW BOARD PUBLIC PRESENTATION & HEARING ON THE NEW TOWN HALL PROPOSAL NOVEMBER 21, 1995 TIBURON LODGE CALL TO ORDER Mayor Wolf called the special joint meeting of the Tiburon Town Council, Planning Commission and Design Review Board to order at 7:40 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 1995, at the Tiburon Lodge, 1651 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, California. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Ginalski, Hennessy, Thayer, Thompson, Wolf Greenberg, Klairmont, Schrier, Siewert Heckmann Berger, LeRoux Parhomenko, Sadrieh, Shadan Planning Director Anderson, Town Engineer Mohammadi, Chief of Police Hertey, Town Manager Kleinert COUNCILMEMBERS: PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: DESIGN REVIEW BOARD: ABSENT: EX OFFICIO: It was noted that less than quorum of the Design Review Board was present. I. OPENING COMMENTS Mayor Wolf welcomed the attendees to the joint session for the preliminary review of the New Town Hall facilities, outlined the purpose of the public meeting and indicated the workshop was an opportunity for public input. She stated that emphasis should be primarily placed upon the preliminary site and building plans rather than the interior space plan. Wolf said the architects were continuing to meet with Town staff regarding the proposed office functions and layout. II. INTRODUCTION BY BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Building Advisory Committee Chair Wilson reviewed the downtown Town Hall design program to date and future scheduled goals. He recognized the architectural firm of Bull, Stockwell, Allen & Ripley as the architects for the downtown new Town Center, and introduced the project architects March Schatz and associate Will Adams, who were in attendance at this meeting. He acknowledged the benefit in having the same architect for both the proposed new library and Town Hall facilities. Town Council #J070/Planning Commission/Design Review Board 11/21/95 1 ,h l h L '. m. ARCHITECT'S PRESENTATION Mark Schatz proceeded with the architect's presentation of the preliminary site and building plans, the relationship with the new library building and the proposed parking and traffic circulation. Mayor Wolf then opened the public hearing for comments from the Town Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board and the public. IV. ~UESTIONS & COMMENTS Councilmember Thayer expressed concern about safety at the entrance to the site from Tiburon Boulevard. Mr. Schatz replied that all professionals who have reviewed the entrance design found it to be acceptable. Councilmember Ginalski was concerned about groundwater intrusion into the facility. Mr. Schatz replied that waterproof membranes are part of the design and would keep the facility dry. Councilmember Hennessy asked if the Library could be moved forward toward Tiburon Boulevard in order to create a vehicular exit onto Mar West Street. Mr. Schatz stated that such a design was explored early in the Town hall site design process and found to be unworkable with the Library's site design program. In any event, the second exit was found to be unnecessary. Councilmember Thompson asked if a public notice board could be put at the front of the building, similar to that found at San Anselmo Town Hall. He also suggested a rear public entrance to the building from the parking lot, and noted that the dormer appeared to be stubbed off to excess. Mayor Wolf was disheartened by the new site plan. She felt there were too many cars allowed in the Plaza area, and wanted it to be a better public space. She noted that this was the only opportunity which the Town would have to design a new town hall, and wanted to make the most of it. She suggested that the site plan be modestly reworked to create a public plaza area at the rear of the site, and not as a parking lot at the front of the site. Commissioner Greenberg expressed concern about the piece-mealing of the area, including the library, Town hall, and the open space area behind them. She wanted an integrated plan and environmental review. Commissioner Schrier said he shared the concerns of Mayor Wolf and Commissioner Greenberg. He liked the idea of the plaza at the rear and wanted an integrated CEQA review. He opposed adding any new street parking along Mar West Street. He favored reciprocal parking arrangements with Mr. Zelinsky's adjacent parking lot. He expressed a desire to see the lawsuit with the State settled before a final plan is completed. Town Council # 1 070/Planning Commission/Design Review Board 11/21/95 2 ~ l '-' L .., Commissioner Klairmont was concerned about pedestrian circulation and lighting for night-time use, and supported a logical integration of the Town Hall and library sites with the adjacent open space parcel. Mr. Schatz noted that articulated sidewalks and shielded parking lot lights would be part of the project. Commissioner Siewert had several floor plan and square footage questions. She noted that traffic impacts would need to be studied, and was concerned about piece-mealing of the CEQA analysis. The issue of flooding also needed to be addressed. She agreed with Mayor Wolf about a redesign of the parking flow, and noted that the loss of the trellis had hurt the project design. She believed that the buildings looked separate and felt separate, more than was appropriate, and that more consistency in the roof design between the two buildings could close this gap. She expressed concern about tall building blocking views of the hills behind. Boardmember .Berger saw no mass of view problems with the current plan. The separation of the buildings by a parking lot was unavoidable. He suggested elimination of parking from the plaza area and an emphasis on human use. He encouraged the architects to avoid cuteness in the style of the building, and to incorporate elements of the Donahue Building as an historical jumping-off point. The use of utilitarian and simple spaces was also encouraged. He asked that tourist-town images be avoided and no toy-like features be used. The building should have no residential qualities and should have more of a commercial appearance. Boardmember LaRue wanted the flavor of Old Tiburon reflected in the design. More landscaping along the back and plenty of bicycle parking for both buildings were suggested. He suggested that story poles be erected. Boardmember Berger stated that it was not necessary to tie the buildings together as an architectural statement on an overkill basis. Town Hall need not imitate the library design. Mayor Wolf then opened the meeting for public comment. Richard Rozen provided an overview of the long and complex effort to construct a library, and stated that he would not want to see any Council action that would break promises Qr legal obligations. Alan Littman stated that substantial private donations to the library cause were based upon the site plan and location shown on the display maps. He urged the Council not to slow down, delay, or cause extra expense tothe library at this point in time. Bruce Ross noted that in the real world, development happens on a piece-meal basis, and cited factory towns as one of the few exceptions to this rule. He noted that cumulative impacts of projects are primarily addressed in a Town's General Plan EIR, and that such analysis for small projects is limited in nature. Mr. Ross felt that the plaza shown on the site plan would never be used by people; it was simply a parking lot with special paving. He felt that the open space land behind the site should be connected to the Town HalI/Library complex at some point in time, and Town Council # 1 070/Planning Commission/Design Review Board 11/21/95 3 h l k L ... not be blocked by parking spaces. He urged that some parking spaces along the rear property line be eliminated, and that the Town Hall building could be "squared up" with Tiburon Boulevard. Karen Nygren expressed concern about glare problems within the Council Chambers from the large windows facing the south. She also was concerned about internal security of work spaces from the public lobby; the possibly draft, noisy, and open environment created inside the building; and about having double-doors as an entrance to the Council Chambers. She preferred a frontal location for the public plaza, with a generous setback from Tiburon Boulevard. Carol Forrell wanted to avoid any site plan changes which would cause delays and extra expense to the library project. Larry Smith stated that the Town must honor the library's demands, and wanted to see a public plaza area behind the parcels on the open space land. He urged the Council to make the project 1 happen. Hal Edelstein agreed with the comments of Larry Smith and Bruce Ross. He wanted some spaces at the rear property line eliminated to provide a more inviting transition to the open space parcel. Dave Allen reminded all concerned that this was a Belvedere project as well as a Tiburon project. Rita Fink believed that these projects were the most exciting thing to happen in Tiburon for many years, and supported the plan as set forth. VI. ESTABLISH ACCELERATED SCHEDULE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF SITE PLAN The Town Council posed questions concerning the project review process. Planning Director Anderson clarified that the Town's review process could be accelerated, but that the environmental review is governed by state laws and cannot be shortened, only expedited. Council asked about the possibility of streamlining its local review process. Anderson responded that the Council has great latitude in shortening its review process, and may wish to consider the same approach that was used for the Measure "M" new Town Hall plan at Ned's Way, and that is proposed for the new Belvedere- Tiburon Library project. VII. ESTABLISH SCHEDULE FOR DESIGN REVIEW OF BUILDING PLANS After general discussion, the Town Council directed that Staff prepare a "best case" processing schedule for the new Town Hall project for discussion at the December 6, 1995 Town Council meeting. Town Council # 1 070/Planning Commission/Design Review Board 11/21/95 4 ~ , k L · VllI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the joint meeting of the Tiburon Town Council, Planning Commission and Design Review Board, Mayor Wolfadjoumed the meeting at 10:30 P.M., sine die. ATTEST: ROB~ER :lkrLt~ SCOTT ANDERSON, SECRETARY h.~~ NICKY WOLF, MAYOR --- Town Council # 1 070/Planning Commission/Design Review Board 11/21/95 5