1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE. D E S I G N R E V I E W C O M M I T T E E S t a f f R e p o r t. Continued Preliminary Design Review

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1 D E S I G N R E V I E W C O M M I T T E E S t a f f R e p o r t 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE For Discussion / Majority Recommendations MARCH 21, 2019 Continued Preliminary Design Review Design Review #DRCP Preliminary Design Review to redevelop an approximately 17,424 square-foot parcel, including the demolition of two existing commercial buildings and the construction of a 120-foot tall, 12-story, mixed-use building with approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, 156 residential units, and a 100-space subterranean parking garage. I. Introduction This project is located on the Southeast corner of Shattuck Avenue and Berkeley Way. The parcel is located in the Outer Core Sub-Area of the C-DMU Downtown Mixed Use zoning district. The demolition required for the project was before the Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) on May 1, 2014 where they took no action, but the LPC did forward recommendations to the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) on documentation and salvage of the existing structure. This project was reviewed by this Committee last month for Preliminary Design Review on February 21, 2019 where it received favorable review but was continued with some further design recommendations. A summary from that meeting is further below in this report for your reference. It is now returning to the Design Review Committee (DRC) for Continued Preliminary Design Review with modifications to the design in response to the Committee s recommendations last month. II. Background The proposed project would involve demolition of the existing buildings on the project site and construction of a new mixed-use building. The new building would have the following main components: A 100-space subterranean parking lot 1947 Center Street, Berkeley, CA Tel: TDD: Fax:

2 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE Page 2 of 8 March 21, ,000 square feet of ground-floor retail A total of 156 dwelling units including 22 studios, 70 one-bedroom units, 59 twobedroom units, and 5 three-bedroom units located on floors Two through Twelve A ground-floor lobby, back-of-house space, a leasing office, and 120-space indoor bike storage area; and 12,480 square feet of usable open space to be located on the 2 nd floor and on the roof. III. Project Setting This site is located in the Outer Core Sub-Area of the C-DMU Downtown Mixed Use zoning district, at the southeast corner of Berkeley Way and Shattuck Avenue. The area is characterized by a mixture of commercial and mixed-use buildings and is currently a transition area between the more dense development of the Downtown Core to the south and the University to the east. While the buildings across (west) Shattuck are one- and two-story buildings, the site is adjacent to the City approved six-story, mixed-use Acheson Commons project that includes 205 dwelling units, and across Berkeley Way from the eight-story, 110-foot tall UC Berkeley School of Public Health building. A. Site Conditions: The project site is almost a square, 17,424-square-foot lot with frontage on Berkeley Way (front) and Shattuck Avenue (street side). The lot is currently developed with an approximately 14,900-square-foot, single-story masonry building occupying the majority of the lot and a two-story, approximately 2,600 square-foot masonry building located at the southeast corner of the lot. The former building is divided into eight tenant spaces ( Berkeley Way and Shattuck Avenue) while the two-story building has one tenant space per floor ( Berkeley Way) and is accessed by a walkway from Berkeley Way running along the eastern property line.

3 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE March 21, 2019 Page 3 of 8 Figure 1: Vicinity Map 1951 Shattuck Ave Table 1: Land Use Information Location Existing Uses Zoning District Subject Property Surrounding Properties North South East West Mixed Commercial UC Berkeley School of Public Health Department Mixed-Commercial (Approved 6- Story Mixed Use: Acheson Commons) UC Press Building (approved 3- story addition) Mixed Commercial C-DMU (Outer Core-Area) C-DMU (Outer Core-Area) General Plan Designation Downtown Downtown

4 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE Page 4 of 8 March 21, 2019 Table 2: Development Standards Standard BMC Sections 23E Building Height Building Setbacks (ft.) (1) Existing Proposed Permitted/ Required Lot Area (sq. ft.) 17,424 No change --- Gross Floor Area (sq. ft.) 18, , Floor Area Ratio Dwelling Units Average (ft.) Maximum (ft.) 18 0 & & (40 min.) 120 (with Use Permit) Stories 1 & Front (Berkeley Way) 0 Rear 0 Street/Right Side (Shattuck) 0 Interior/Left Side (distance from lot frontage) > (at 20 high) 0 (at high) 5 (at >75 -high) 0 (at 20 high) 0 (at high) 0-5 (at >75 -high) 0 (at 75 high) 5 (at >75 -high) 0 (at 75 high) 0-5 (at >75 -high) 0 (at 20 high) 0 (at high) 0-5 (at >75 -high) Building height 20 : 0 Building height >20 75 : 0 Building height >75 : 15 Building height 20 : 0 Building height >20 75 : 0 Building height >75 : Building height 75 : 0 Building height >75 : 5 Building height 20 : 0 Building height >20 75 : 5 Building height >75 : 15 Lot Coverage (%) Usable Open Space (sq. ft.) 0 12,480 Privately Owned Public Open Space Parking Automobile per unit 12,480 total 1 per 50 sq.ft. nonresidential use 100 total 96 for DUs: 1:3 units 4 for commercial: 1.5:1K sq. ft. Vehicle Sharing of the 100 Bicycle for commercial: 1:2K sq. ft. IV. Project Description A. Zoning Permits Required: Use Permit for demolition of non-residential buildings, under BMC Section 23C A; Use Permit for construction of a new main building with mixed-use development, under BMC Section 23E ; Use Permit for construction of >10,000 sq. ft. gross floor area, under BMC Section 23E ; and Use Permit to allow one of two buildings of over 75 feet but not more than 120 feet in the combined Core and Outer Core areas, under BMC Section 23E B.1.

5 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE March 21, 2019 Page 5 of 8 Use Permit to allow a reduction in the required 15 foot rear yard setback for the portion of the building between 21 and 75 feet in height, under BMC 23E C Use Permit to allow a reduction in the required 15 foot rear yard setback for the portion of the building above 75 feet in height, under BMC 23E C Use Permit to allow a reduction in the required 15 foot front yard setback for the portion of the building above 75 feet in height, under BMC 23E C B. CEQA Determination The project is being reviewed under Section of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines ( Streamlining for Infill Projects ). V. DRC Summary February 21, 2019 Preliminary Design Review was continued with the following recommendations: MOTION (Edwards, Finacom) VOTE ( ) Passmore absent; Pink recused herself. Recommendations: General Building Design Show how the horizontal and vertical base elements at the corner, and the building design overall, will work with nearby birds. Spandrels in the base look too heavy. Show concept for window coverings; provide a rendering with the curtains closed. Show drop off / delivery space in site plan. Provide complete preliminary design review drawings. Building Parapet / Roof Form Provide alternatives for the roof line as seen from Downtown. Elevator penthouse should be attractive and add more character to the design. Landscape Plan / Open Space Design Provide wind protection at roof top open space. Demonstrate functionality of podium open space. Provide sections and shadow studies of the courtyard space. Show the actual sun in the space, the quality of the sun areas, and the quality of the space overall, especially since this is part of the required open space for the residents. Colors and Materials Color palette is too sober and dark; add color and life to the design. This can be in select details and pieces of the design. Color and warmth should be better integrated into the design. Some thought the dark color palette could be appropriate along with some color accents, but the danger is that detail may get lost with such a dark color. Keeping such a subdued color palette may prevent you from highlighting the parts of the design that you want. Base color is too dark, but the texture is nice.

6 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE Page 6 of 8 March 21, 2019 Provide more pictures of proposed materials and building elements, including the metal base at the corner. ZAB Issues Recommend helping to relocate the Berkeley Vacuum business. VI. Downtown Design Guidelines Following are several key guidelines in the Downtown Design Guidelines which relate closely to this project. General Building Facade Design Reflect and reinforce the scale, massing, proportions, rhythm and attention to detailing established by Landmarks and Significant buildings. Incorporate elements which break up façade planes and create a visual play of light and shadow. Vertical divisions of ground and upper floors should be consistent. Architecturally distinguish the ground floor from the upper façade, to form a visual base for the building. Use high quality detailing for new buildings and replacement elements. Window should comprise 25-50% of upper facades visible from public areas, and should reflect the rhythm, scale, proportions, and detailing of upper windows of Landmark and Significant buildings. Roof Forms Provide a termination to the top of the building in a way that complements and enhances the character of the building and the Downtown. On sites which include corners, the roof design should emphasize the corner. Materials Use high quality, durable materials which enhance the building and convey a sense of permanence. Frontage, Setbacks, and Heights Maintain a continuous zero-setback build-to-line at the ground floor at the edge of all Downtown streets where commercial and higher levels of activity is anticipated. Design recessed storefront entrances so they do not exceed 50% of the width of the storefront, nor ten feet in depth. Consider massing alternatives that would reduce shadow impacts on streets and relate new construction to the scale of nearby buildings. For new construction projects located on narrow east-to-west streets and over 75 feet in height, prepare an analysis of shade impacts on public open spaces and pedestrian sidewalks across the street. Place entrances to storefronts and other ground floor uses so that they are accessible directly from the public sidewalk, not internal lobbies. Design entrances of individual buildings to contribute positively to the street. Maintain and reinforce Downtown s historic street wall at the property line. Upper floor setbacks are desirable above 60 feet, and should be used above 75 feet.

7 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE March 21, 2019 Page 7 of 8 For buildings over 85 feet in height, prepare an analysis of potential wind impacts. Protect sidewalks and public open spaces by deflection downward wind drafts by using building setbacks, recesses, projections and other devices. Heights Respect the height of neighboring buildings, and provide a sense of continuity and enclose which avoids abrupt changes in height. On the corner sites, locate the tallest elements at the corners, particularly at major intersections, except where ridgeline views may be obstructed. Open Spaces Provide new open space which are deliberately planned, designed, and located to be usable. Relate the size, volume, and design of open spaces to the scale of surrounding buildings and streets, and to the numbers of people and types of activities which are encouraged there. Corner Sites Accentuate the corner as the focal point of the site. Shattuck Side is designated as required public serving frontage (refer to figure 43 in the 2012 Downtown Guidelines) At least one publicly-accessible street-level entrance to be provided for every 40 feet along a street facing frontage. Any remainder exceeding 30 feet shall also have a publicly-accessible street-level entrance. No two entrances shall be separated by more than 50 feet. Clear Glass shall comprise at least 60% of the street facing façade where it is between 3 feet and 8 feet above elevation of adjacent sidewalk The design of the ground floor shall be visually open to pedestrians such that the design should enable the main activities of the proposed use to be carried out towards the front of the space. A complete set of the downtown design guidelines can be found online at: VII. Issues and Analysis A. Changes Since the Last Submittal Complete Drawings Applicant has submitted complete drawings for your review. Unit Plans Detailed unit plans are included in this submittal. Open Space More detailed studies have been developed and are included in this submittal. Colors and Materials Updates to the proposed color and material palette will be presented at the meeting.

8 1951 SHATTUCK AVENUE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE Page 8 of 8 March 21, 2019 B. Issues for Discussion Façade Design Ground Floor Design Open Space Building Materials VIII. Recommendation Staff recommends that the Committee discuss the issues outlined above and forward a favorable recommendation to ZAB with specific direction for Final Design Review. Attachments: 1. Plans, received March 13, 2019 Staff Planners: Anne Burns, aburns@cityofberkeley.info, (510) ,