Loading...
Item 6A and 6B (2)SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE SITE PLAN AND S.U.P. BLOCK 5R, LOT 4 TRADER JOE’S City Council Meeting, October 1, 2013 BLOCK 5R, LOT 4 - SITE PLAN • Cooper & Stebbins is filing this application for approval of a Site Plan in support of a new 2-story building for Trader Joe’s in Block 5R, Lot 4 of Southlake Town Square. • The application is consistent with the approved Town Square Development Plan for this Block. • The 2-story approximately 13,800 sq. ft. building is proposed to be developed on a pad at the NW corner of FM 1709 and Central Ave. - Site grades allow for development of the retail store (approx. 10,800 sq. ft.) and new parking field one story above the existing parking lot, with direct access off of Central Ave. - The building entry will be at the NW corner of the building, facing north. - The bottom level (approx. 3,000 sq. ft.) would be at grade to the existing parking field, and would contain back-of-house functions for the retail store above. Adjacent loading dock, utilities and dumpster will be screened from FM 1709 and Central Ave. - Upper level parking will add 70 new parking spaces, 8 more than required by Code. 33 spaces will be lost on the lower level, which is offset by the existing parking surplus in Town Square. An updated Town Square parking tabulation is included with this application. • The sidewalk and streetscape along the western side of Central Ave. will be extended and completed from FM 1709 to Main St. • Landscaping will be consistent with street and parking lot landscaping for this Block, with a hedge row added along Central Ave. to help screen the elevated parking structure. 1997 DEVELOPMENT PLAN SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE Block 5R, Lot 4 Precedent Image BLOCK 5R, LOT 4 - ARCHITECTURE • The architect for this building is David M. Schwarz Architects (Washington D.C.). Schwarz is Town Square’s master plan architect, the design architect for Town Square’s first phase (opened in March, 1999), and for many of the prominent buildings built since that time, including Town Hall and more recently the new Del Frisco’s Grille (under construction). Many of you may also know DMSA from their work on Bass Hall, the Ballpark at Arlington and the American Airlines Center. • The architectural style is inspired by buildings in the historic Charleston City Market, and borrows from Italianate, Victorian, and Romanesque revival styles as they were interpreted in commercial architecture around the turn of the 20th Century. • The proposed building meets the intent of the Downtown District Guidelines. - Design adds a new point of interest, and is compatible with neighboring buildings. - Building placement is on the street, enhancing the pedestrian environment. - Completion of the sidewalk along the western side of Central Ave. and the connection to the FM 1709 trail system will enhance walkability throughout Town Square, and Southlake. BUILDING ART OPPORTUNITIES • “Art niches” have been provided in the building arches on the east façade of the building. We are talking with Trader Joe’s about the possibility of painting these areas with murals that would reflect the historic character of the building. - Each niche is approximately 13’0” X 10’8”, for a total area of approximately 400 sq. ft. • An additional mural opportunity is provided on the west façade of the building, in an area measuring approximately 47’ X 17’, or approx. 800 sq. ft. Trader Joe’s is also considering a mural on this façade. • Any proposed mural(s) will be included in a separate application for approval. LANDSCAPING • A new 6’ sidewalk will be constructed along the west side of Central Avenue, between FM 1709 and Main Street. • A 4’ tree zone will run along the western edge of the sidewalk, completing the streetscape along Central Avenue. A 4’ to 5’ hedge is added along the sidewalk, to provide a landscape screen to the parking structure from Central. • Existing trees displaced by the construction will be removed and transplanted. • Landscaping in the upper parking lot islands will be low ground cover and shrubs; we are also considering the use of seasonal color in these areas. • In the lower parking lot, landscaping is provided in front of large islands in front of sheer walls on the north and northwest corners of the parking deck. Additional 2’ triangular planting areas are provided in front of exterior columns on the west to allow for planting of vertical landscape elements (e.g., Italian Cypress) to soften views from the west looking into the deck. Block 5R Lot 4 Structured Parking BLOCK 5R, LOT 4 – S.U.P. for Structured Parking • The approved Development Plan for Block 5R shows a centralized parking structure extending north to Main Street, above mid-block street level commercial space. • This mid-block building was previously approved and built as a single level retail building, without the need for structured parking. New buildings in Block 5R will require structured parking. • DT Downtown District Zoning allows for parking structures to be approved by S.U.P., such as the application made here. • The 2-level parking structure proposed provides necessary parking to the new building, while preserving flexibility for the long-term development of other buildings and expanding structured parking within the Block consistent with the Development Plan. - Site grades allow for the development of 70 new parking spaces in the elevated level of the parking structure, with direct access to Central Avenue. - Truck and fire access is provided in the existing parking field below. - Parking and vehicular circulation is preserved underneath the parking structure. • DT Downtown District requires a parapet wall of not less than 46”. The spandrel panel for the parking deck is 6’6” wide; the portion of the panel lying above the parking surface is currently 44”. Of the 6’6” total width, 5’2” is currently proposed to consist of painted pre-cast with a stamped brick pattern in between an unstamped band at the top and bottom. TRADER JOE’S • Trader Joe's is a California-based, specialty grocer with 400 stores nationwide. • Their foods and beverages range from the exotic to the basic. • Trader Joe’s carries an extensive array of domestic and imported foods and beverages including fresh baked artisan breads, Arabica bean coffees, international frozen entrées, 100% juices, fresh crop nuts, deli items, and vitamins and supplements, as well as the basics, like milk and eggs. • They offer value wines from as low as $2.99. • Trader Joe’s offers approximately 3,000 items under the Trader Joe’s private label, which includes Trader José’s salsas, Trader Ming’s fried rice and Trader Giotto’s marinara sauces, in addition to specially purchased items.