CITY OF ANDOVER

SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE

April 3, 2001

The Site Plan Review Committee met for a regular meeting on April 3, 2001, at 6:00 p.m.  Members in attendance were Joe Freeman, Don Kimble, Charles Malcom, Doug Allison, Shawn King and Gary Israel.  Larry Crouse was absent.  Also in attendance were Les Mangus, Zoning Administrator, Jeff Bridges, City Clerk/Administrator and Pam Johnson, Administrative Secretary.

The meeting was called to order by Joe Freeman at 6:03 p.m.

Call to order

Review of the minutes of February 6, 2001.

Motion by Gary Israel to approve the minutes as written.  Charles Malcom seconded the motion.   Motion carried 6-0.

Review of the minutes of February 6, 2001

Communications and staff reports:  None.

Communications and staff reports

SP-2000-1 Review of the Site Plan for Andover Office Center located at 105 S. Andover Road.  Jack Morris of Boggs/Dunn Sign Company presented information on behalf of the owners, Aaron Huslig and Michael J. Lies.  Mr. Morris stated that they currently have a small monument sign.  They want to keep this monument sign.  They want to add signage to the front center fascia of the building with 4’ overall height and 18’ 4” length.  There would be two rows of letters, 2 rows of 2’ each.  The wording will be “Andover Office Center.”  The applicant is also asking to put a wall-mounted sign near each tenant suite, which will be 1’ tall, 3’ in length which will contain the name of the tenant and the suite number.  The applicant is also asking to change the existing monument sign by taking off the box top and replacing it with a peak similar to the building design.  They also want to change all the vinyl copy to the same font to make the sign uniform.

Chairman Freeman asked if the signage on the building would be back lit or lighted in any way.  Mr. Morris stated that this has not been decided yet.  Doug Allison asked what the material was on the existing sign and if that would be used on the change to the existing monument sign.   Mr. Morris stated that they would use the same material as is there, which is aluminum. He also stated that the sign would stay approximately the same height and width.  The change would be at the top of the sign, instead of a box, there would be a triangle, which would be more in keeping with the shape of the building.

Mr. Allison asked what the color of the background of the sign would be.  Mr. Morris stated it will not change, it will be repainted the same color, beige.  Gary Israel asked how far the signage on the building is from the center of Andover Road. 

After discussion it was determined to be at least 140’.  Mr. Israel stated that he wanted to confirm that the signage on the fascia would be sufficient in height to be seen well from the street.  Mr. Israel stated he would have liked to see a sketch plan of the finished sign.  Mr. Morris stated that the only changes would be the top of the sign and the copy on the sign, all other aspects of the sign remain the same.

Motion was made by Don Kimble to approve the signage as presented.  Charles Malcom seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

SP-2000-1 Review of the Site Plan for Andover Office Center located at 105 S. Andover Road. 

SP-2001-02   Review of the Site Plan for the Tony Durano office building at 825 W. Central Avenue.  Doug Allison stepped down from the Site Plan Review Committee and stated he is presenting the information on behalf of Mr. Durano.  Mr. Allison stated he is with the firm of Wilson, Darnel and Mann, Architects.  Mr. Allison stated that the building would be an office for State Farm Insurance.  This would be located near the corner of Lakeside and Central Avenue.  Mr. Allison stated that the west 100’ of the property is given for a drainage easement.  The building will be placed tight along the drainage easement line and will be placed south on the property to accommodate parking in front.  Mr. Allison stated the owner is interested in the future expansion at some point and that is reasoning for the placement of this current building. 

Mr. Allison stated that the landscaping has been provided as recommended per the City’s Streetscapes guidelines.  He stated there are Autumn Purple Ash and Austrian Pines on the west side of the building, 2 shade trees in the island areas, and 2 Austrian Pines east of the drainage area.  Mr. Allison stated that the owners would like to trade the trees on the west side with the tall trees being in the rear because of visibility concerns of the northwest corner of the building. 

Mr. Allison stated that the building would be a masonry veneer, with a split face block, with a burnished block trim and red brick veneer.  He stated that the south side of the building would be lap siding. 

Mr. Allison stated that the signage proposed is a monument sign at then northeast corner of the property, a 2’ square, back lit State Farm logo sign on the column of the building. He is also proposing a non-lit aluminum all weather sign on the porch.

Chairman Freeman asked about the grading plan.  He asked if the design water surface is adequate for the 100-year storm.  Mr. Mangus and Mr. Allison stated that it is.

Shawn King stated that he had a comment on the choice of the lilac on the corner of the building.  He stated this would be bare and leafless in the winter and suggested the owner should consider a Japanese Barberry or Juniper.  He also stated that if the large oak tree’s purpose is to provide shade he would suggest the Burr Oak, which is more drought resistant.

Gary Israel asked if the monument sign was to be done now or in the future.  Mr. Allison stated Mr. Durano is not sure but will probably be in the future.  Mr. Israel asked if the area for the sign would be grass.  Mr. Allison stated that it would be grass in the interim. 

Gary Israel asked the other Committee members if the Committee had been requiring planting sizes larger than 1 gallon.   Mr. Mangus stated he had the same concerns as Mr. Israel regarding the planting sizes and the monument sign.

Gary Israel asked about the house to the east and what screening was proposed for the property line.  Mr. Allison stated that owner has proposed a cedar fence for screening.  Mr. Mangus stated that the screening fence is on page SA-2 in the plans.

Don Kimble asked if this is a future monument sign and if it is, why it isn’t being done now.  Mr. Allison stated that the applicant is not sure what sign he is wanting at this point.  The size is determined but not other aspects.  Don Kimble stated the landscaping should be done whether the sign is put in now or later.

Motion was made by Don Kimble to approve the site plan as presented with the following conditions:

1.  Any monument sign placed in the future, if different than the one presented at this time, will be brought for review before the Site Plan Review Committee and if the presented monument sign is not installed now, landscaping will be done now.

2.  The one-gallon size planting will be increased to two-gallon size.

Les Mangus made the comment that the plantings were on 12” centers, and the larger sized plantings will cause the plantings to be too close.  He feels the two-gallon plantings at 24” centers will be fine.

The motion was amended by Joe Freeman as follows:

Motion was made by Don Kimble to approve the site plan as presented with the following conditions:

1.  Any monument sign placed in the future, if different than the one presented at this time, will be brought for review before the Site Plan Review Committee and if the presented monument sign is not installed now, landscaping will be done now.

2.  The one-gallon size planting will be increased to two-gallon size and the two-gallon spacing will be placed at 24” centers, not 12” centers.

3.  The placement of the two Austrian Pine and two Oak trees on the west side of the proposed site may be rearranged.

Gary Israel seconded the motion.  The motion carried 5-0.

SP-2001-02   Review of the Site Plan for the Tony Durano office building at 825 W. Central Avenue.

Doug Allison rejoined the Site Plan Review Committee

Gary Israel made the comment that he hopes the sign will be lighted as opposed to a wooden sign.

SP-2001-03:  Review of the signage plans for the Bailey Total Health Clinic at 311 W. Central Avenue.   Larry Boggs of Boggs/Dunn Sign Company presented information on behalf of the applicant, Dr. Steven Bailey.  Mr. Boggs stated that the letters on the building are within the square footage allowance as is the pylon sign in the front, which they have shortened.  Mr. Boggs stated that his client is allowed 1 square foot per foot of frontage and they are 2 square feet under that. 

Chairman Freeman asked what the color of the monument sign was.  Mr. Boggs stated that the background color is maroon with white letters in a green cabinet.  Mr. Boggs stated he takes exception to the height requirements of the sign.  Don Kimble stated that the signs of the banks in the area are 20’ to 25’ in height, and asked why this is so different.  Mr. Mangus stated that the ordinance was changed that addresses signage.  Mr. Boggs asked if the Committee could change this Ordinance.  Chairman Freeman stated that the Committee cannot change the Ordinance. 

Gary Israel asked if the sign on the building was to be lit.  Mr. Boggs stated these are non-lighted vacuum formed letters.  Mr. Allison asked what the color the letters was going to be.  Mr. Boggs stated they are to be black.  Mr. Israel asked why not maroon to match the monument sign.  Mr. Boggs stated Dr. Bailey wants black for a good contrast to the building and he asked what color the building was.  Dr. Bailey stated that the building is almost white.  Les Mangus asked if the trim was burgundy.  Dr. Bailey stated it is called “fire brick”, which is a dark burnt brick color.  He also stated that the walls were sort of a light wine color. 

Charles Malcom asked Mr. Boggs if he could put the places for the letters above the sign, not underneath the sign.  Mr. Boggs stated the sign is already done.  Gary Israel asked the reason for 4 rows in the sign.  Dr. Bailey stated there would be more variety with 4 rows available for use.

Motion was made by Don Kimble to approve the signage and graphics as presented. Shawn King seconded the motion.

Les Mangus asked the Committee if this would approve the colors of the building also.  Chairman Freeman stated that Committee was not asked to look at the colors in this application. 

Motion carried 6-0.

SP-2001-03  Review of the signage plans for the Bailey Total Health Clinic at 311 W. Central Avenue.  

Member Items.   Chairman Freeman asked if there was any response to the letter sent to Mr. Presta about completion of the Presto project.  Mr. Mangus stated that there has been no response as of yet.

Gary Israel wanted to comment that at the Community Forum on March 29, 2001, a person who had been before the Site Plan Review Committee commented that this Committee is spun out of control, or words to that effect.  Mr. Israel does not feel that this is true.  He feels that it is the duty of the Committee to work on aesthetics of projects and to give things a good look over.  He stated he was glad to be a member of this Committee and to add to the aesthetic value of the community.  Mr. Israel stated that two people came up to him after the meeting and stated they were glad that there was a Site Plan Review Committee in the City.

Member Items

Chairman Freeman adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.

Adjourn