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Home My WebLink AboutDRB 2017-01-18 #2clFY RFAll _;�Vou_� ti Community Development Department— Planning Division Meeting Date: January 18. 2017 Casa Numbers: E1)16-116 Project Planner: Caron Parker (415) 485-3094 REPORT TO DESIGN REVIEW BOARD SUBJECT: 4000 Civic Center Drive — Amendment to the previously approved Environmental and Design Review Permit (ED15-040) which proposed a complete exterior fagade renovation, including removal of the existing mansard copper roofing. The amended project proposes to retain the mansard roof element and repaint the roof and the building; APN: 180-124-13; Office (0) Zoning District; Martin Ward, PSAI Realty partners, owner; Joel Karr, WK Design Group, applicant. PROPERTY FACTS SUMMARY The project site consists of a 4 -story, V-shaped office building on the hillside east of Civic Center Drive and Scettrini Drive (see Exhibit 1 -Vicinity Map). On October 6, 2015, the Design Review Board (Board) voted (3-0-2) to recommended approval of the proposal to remove the mansard roof and vertical columns to completely update the building exterior. The project was subsequently administratively approved at staff level on November 24, 2015- However, due to excessive cost to replace the mansard roof, the applicant is now requesting to only paint the building columns and the mansard roof element. All other site changes previously approved per ED 15-040 (upgrades to landscaping on site and parking lot and upgrades to building entryway) will be implemented as previously approved. The project architect, WK Design Group, has submitted a narrative description (See Exhibit 2) summarizing the changes and the thought process behind the color choice. The proposed paint colors are already painted on a portion of the mansard roof. As part of the Board's packet, a staff memo was included with an aerial photo showing the location of the paint out, as well as contact information for the architect. Staff is supportive of the proposed change, but is seeking the Board's recommendations on the proposed two color choices. It is important to point out that the copper mansard roof originally approved by the Planning Commission in 1983 (ED82-46) was concealed years ago by a second layer of galvanized sheet metal, which was then painted. As such, there is no existing copper patina on the mansard roof, Site Characteristics General Pian Designation Zoning D si nation Existing Land -Use Pra ect Site: Office O Office O Office and Residential North Office Office Office and parking South' Office Office Office East: Oen Space, Hillside Residential PD 1712 -WO-H Residential West: NIA NIA Hw 101 SUMMARY The project site consists of a 4 -story, V-shaped office building on the hillside east of Civic Center Drive and Scettrini Drive (see Exhibit 1 -Vicinity Map). On October 6, 2015, the Design Review Board (Board) voted (3-0-2) to recommended approval of the proposal to remove the mansard roof and vertical columns to completely update the building exterior. The project was subsequently administratively approved at staff level on November 24, 2015- However, due to excessive cost to replace the mansard roof, the applicant is now requesting to only paint the building columns and the mansard roof element. All other site changes previously approved per ED 15-040 (upgrades to landscaping on site and parking lot and upgrades to building entryway) will be implemented as previously approved. The project architect, WK Design Group, has submitted a narrative description (See Exhibit 2) summarizing the changes and the thought process behind the color choice. The proposed paint colors are already painted on a portion of the mansard roof. As part of the Board's packet, a staff memo was included with an aerial photo showing the location of the paint out, as well as contact information for the architect. Staff is supportive of the proposed change, but is seeking the Board's recommendations on the proposed two color choices. It is important to point out that the copper mansard roof originally approved by the Planning Commission in 1983 (ED82-46) was concealed years ago by a second layer of galvanized sheet metal, which was then painted. As such, there is no existing copper patina on the mansard roof, NEIGHBORHOOD CORRESPONDENCE Staff received no phone calls or comments in response to the Notice of Public hearing mailed to owners and occupants on December 30, 2016, EXHIBITS 1, Vicinity Map 2. Architect's Design Statement Color renderings provided to the DRB members only. cc: Joel Karr, Architect, WK Design Group, 351 California Street, Suite 350, San Francisco, CA 94104 Markin Ward, PSAI Realty Partners, 155 Montgomery Street, Suite 1600, San Francisco, CA 94104 2 Project Vicir,'ty Map - 4000 civic Center 4000 3900 EXHIBIT 1 XXV( d waske Kd,r Ms. Caron Parker City of San Rafael, Associate Planner Via: email January 511, 2017 Re: 4000 Civic Center Drive repainting Dear Ms. Parker: Thank you for taking the time to meet with us last month to discuss our current plans for the exterior of 4000 Civic Center Drive "Coppertop As you know, with market forces being what they are, we have pulled back from the originally approved DRB re -design of the building exterior at this time. Nevertheless, there is a strong desire to make the building feel "new" and "refreshed". To that end, we are undertaking a re -painting scheme for the exterior of the building. We realize that in other cases, repainting is not under the purview of Planning Review. But since we have a DRB permit approval, we believe we should convey the thinking about the painting scheme. Since the entirely new shell has been temporarily put on hold, the previously approved color scheme no longer really makes sense. We hope to achieve a look that is respectful of both the mid-century feet of the building, as well as its context. The original color was two tones of "champagne" colored Alucobond panels. As a reminder, here is the image of what was presented and approved. As you can see, the total overall "feel" of the building is very different from the existing architecture. The base building appearance is this; Exhibit 2 Our feeling is that, since the existing Building is expressed in two tones, with the mansard roofs being a very strong statement, the subtle coloration of the "champagne" scheme no longer applies. We have done several, extensive mockups on the building studying and addressing a broad range of considerations including, but not limited to; Color that respects the original architectural intent, concerns about "reflectivity" of the surfaces to cars on the freeway, reference to context, etc. After extensive testing of various options, there is consensus on a scheme that changesthe tone and saturation of the existing building as minimally as possible, while still giving it a more contemporary feel. Our goal was to make the change as un- dramatic as possible. In the photos below, you can see the original coloration together with our proposed. We have combined two shades of grays to create a fresher feel, that still respects the base architecture. The darker gray of the mansard is contrasted with a very light gray on the columns (actually comes across as almost white, but keeping it slightly gray reduces glare). 9999991910 rr�rNNr�r .rrll111 0,011111 7, Ilk _ i S • yi ndu `+i�, • .� .c�.'• .. -�" - - .�.; �- '' . ti's - : ,� 1 We hope that this approach happy to accompany board of you may have. Thank you. WK DESIGN GROUP will be acceptable to the board, and of course, would be members for a site visit, or answer whatever questions any r 415.537MD0 r 415.863.4269 e Info@wkdesigngroup,com 351 California Street, Suite 350 San franclsco, CA 94104 www-wb.deslgngroup.com W r. design group