Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on a Site Plan for Hunt Street Office Building, Located on the Southwest Corner of Hunt Street and Chestnut Street
Summary
MEETING DATE: April 28, 2015
DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT: Matt Robinson, AICP, Planning Manager
APPROVAL PROCESS: The action of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the proposed site plan may be appealed to the City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the proposed site plan with the following conditions:
1. The applicant satisfy the conditions as shown on the Standard Conditions for Site Plan Approval Checklist, attached.
2. The applicant receive approval of a Design Exception to allow for an additional driveway off of a Pedestrian Priority "B" Street (Chestnut Street).
3. The applicant receive approval of a Design Exception to reduce the required building frontage along a Pedestrian Priority "B" Street (Chestnut Street) from 50% to 0%.
However, the applicant has also requested approval of additional Design Exceptions to the "MTC" McKinney Town Center Zoning District Building Design and Material Standards:
· To not maintain the traditional façade rhythm of 20'-30' or multiples thereof along a Pedestrian Priority "B" Street (Hunt Street and Chestnut Street);
· To not meet the commercial ready building standards requiring a ground floor retail storefront that includes a transom, display window area, and bulkhead at the base along a Pedestrian Priority "B" Street (Hunt Street and Chestnut Street);
· To not meet the 65% transparent storefront window requirement on ground floor facades along a Pedestrian Priority "B" Street (Hunt Street and Chestnut Street);
· To reduce the required masonry percentage for the facades facing a Pedestrian Priority "B" Street (Hunt Street and Chestnut Street) from 80% to 75% to allow for an increase from 20% to 25% accent materials to be utilized on the facades.
· To not provide the required parapet around the roof;
· To allow for an alternate roofing material (asphalt shingle) to be utilized on a roof visible from a public street.
Staff has significant concerns with the requested Design Exceptions pertaining to the building's design and materials as these exceptions allow a suburban building character to be developed, which is in direct conflict with the prescribed vision approved by stakeholders, the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council as outlined within the McKinney Town Center Study Initiative Phase I Report and the MTC Zoning District. Recognizing the significantly detrimental precedent that approving these Design Exceptions would set, Staff recommends denial of all requested Design Exceptions related to building design and material standards.
APPLICATION SUBMITTAL DATE: March 30, 2015 (Original Application)
April 13, 2015 (Revised Submittal)
April 21, 2015 (Revised Submittal)
ITEM SUMMARY: The applicant is proposing to construct a 17,550 square foot office building (Hunt Street Office) on approximately 0.46 acres at the southwest corner of Hunt Street and Chestnut Street. Site plans within the "MTC" - McKinney Town Center Zoning District can be approved administratively by Staff; however, the applicant has requested Design Exceptions to the architectural design and site layout.