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2008-02-11 Meeting Report (Nolen Center)SPIN MEETING REPORT CASE NO. ZA08 -002 PROJECT NAME: Nolen Center SPIN DISTRICT: 7 MEETING DATE: Monday, February 11, 2007 at 7:30PM MEETING LOCATION: 1400 MAIN STREET, SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS MEETING ROOMS 3A 3B TOTAL ATTENDANCE: Approximately nine (9) SPIN REPRESENTATIVE(S) PRESENT: Eric Wang (7), Michael Terry (13) APPLICANT(S) PRESENTING: Dusty Renfro, Kevin Patel STAFF PRESENT: Planner Richard Schell STAFF CONTACT: Richard Schell, (817) 748 -8602; rschell@ci.southlake.tx.us EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Property Location Southwest corner of Southlake Blvd (F.M. 1709) and Nolen Drive. Adjacent to Georgetown Park (west) and Shafer Plaza (east) across Nolen Drive. Development Details Proposing S -P -1 zoning with "C -2" Local Retail Commercial District uses One 11,876 square -foot single -story spec retail building on 1.648 acres This is the third submittal of the project. The first submittal included a bank with a drive through. The second submittal included an Arby's and a Starbucks. Those submittals were after scrapped after receiving input from City Council and Planning and Zoning members discouraging those uses. The developers are currently in talks with a coffee shop and a non -fast food restaurant. There will be one drive through lane for the coffee shop if they end up leasing space. Extra parking islands are provided along the spaces closest to Southlake Blvd. to save as many trees as possible. The mature trees are important to the look and feel of the development. There will be underground detention of storm water. QUESTIONS DISCUSSION QUESTION: Why not bring the building forward to the street and move the parking to the rear? RESPONSE: There is an easement already on the plat that allows the drive to match up with the Georgetown Park Drive. In order to maintain the SO' building setback and the required fire lane in front of the building, the size of the bufferyard containing the mature trees would have to be reduced. More trees would have to be removed. The proposed setback is in line with the setback of the nearest Georgetown Park building to the west. COMMENT: A pitched roof would look good. It would be good to match the look of the Georgetown Park buildings. DISCUSSION: The best looking Georgetown Park buildings are not the ones along Southlake Boulevard. RESPONSE: A pitched roofgoes against design ideas. The design was chosen to match the Central Market center (The Shops at Southlake) and Southlake Town Square. COMMENT: There should also be vertical articulation on the rear (south side) of the project since it will be visible to the street (Village Center) proposed to be extended to Nolen. RESPONSE: Articulation would be a good idea. COMMENT: Awnings help the appearance on buildings like these. RESPONSE: Some are already included. QUESTION: How tall is it? RESPONSE: Twenty feet. The highest point is thirty -three feet. QUESTION: Is it all brick? RESPONSE: Yes, with some capstone and other trim. COMMENT: Invitation Park is a good project to look at for design ideas. RESPONSE: It will be hidden by trees similar to The Woodlands north ofHouston. QUESTION: How high is it compared to Georgetown Park? RESPONSE: It is higher than Georgetown Park. COMMENT: It could use more drastic height differential (articulation) in the front. RESPONSE: It can't be sticking above the trees along the street. QUESTION: Will parking hurt the trees? RESPONSE: Grasscrete will be used to protect marginal trees in parking islands along Southlake Boulevard. COMMENT: CVS at White Chapel has a permeable surface and it looks unkept. RESPONSE: We can use articulating blocks. The trees are important to the feel of the project and every effort will be taken to save them. QUESTION: Are you overparked? If so, you can get rid of the row of parking spaces closest to Southlake Boulevard. RESPONSE: The required parking is 61 spaces and we are providing 79 spaces. However, if a restaurant leases space, they will need all 79 spaces. QUESTION: Have you received input from City staff? RESPONSE: We have asked Planning and Zoning and City Council members for input. QUESTION: Is it Starbucks you are talking to? RESPONSE: Yes, and other similar coffee shops. COMMENT: The coffee shop is on the right side of the road. People are driving in that direction on the way to work. COMMENT: Invitation Park is articulated front and rear. Two new developments are Italian like. SPIN Meeting Reports are general observations of SPIN Meetings by City staff and SPIN Representatives. The report is neither verbatim nor official meeting minutes, rather it serves to inform elected and appointed officials, City staff, and the public of the issues and questions raised by residents and the general responses made. Responses as summarized in this report should not be taken as guarantees by the applicant. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to follow the case through the Planning and Zoning Commission and final action by City Council.