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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDesign Review CommentsI T Y 0 F M I A M I • • PLANNING PRE -APPLICATION DESIGN REVIEW COMMENTS MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMIT PORTICO 1837 NE 4TH AVE, 3-8-05 UDRB SUBMITTAL The following comments represent the unified vision of the Pre --Application Design Review Committee, which consist of all staff members in the Urban Design and Land Development Divisions. COMMENTS: The following comments are being made in an effort to develop projects to their highest potential and make a significant contribution to improving the quality of our built environment with great architecture and urban design. Context • The committee appreciates the submittal of the site photographs, context plan and aerial photograph, in order to understand the project's relationship to its surroundings. • Thank you for providing the 3-D images of the Quantum, 1800 club, and Opera projects in order to gain a further understanding of the projects' relationship to each other and the overall effect on the area. Confirmations • Confirm with the Office of Zoning if the proposed plaza within the streets satisfies the urban plaza requirement in the SD-6 Zoning District • Indicate the proposed street paving material and confirm with the Public Works Department regarding the proposed right of way improvements and the valet parking location. • Confirm the project's ground floor height requirements based on FEMA elevation levels, and propose a design which connects the sidewalk level elevation to the ground floor lobby and townhouses height. This shall be accomplished by providing steps leading directly from the first habitable floor level to the street level. Any portion of the street frontage which does not have steps shall be provided with terracing or another design feature, such that the sidewalk is not provided with blank walls. Urban Design • The committee would like to commend the applicant on the project's ground floor site plan design. The building's placement appropriately addresses the site's comer condition; there is only one minimal -width access point for vehicular access into the garage; and all service and loading functions are provided access from within the garage and from the alley. • It is important to provide more lining of active residential use on the southwest side of the building. Because of the open space (area labeled plaza on the plan) to the west of the site, the west elevation will always have a very prominent frontage. Consider extending the townhouse liner and the residential units above to entirely conceal the garage frontage at least up to level three. It is our intention with these comments to aid in expediting Special Permit applications with your voluntary efforts in making the necessary changes; thereby, avoiding any preventable delays particularly prior to a project's submission to the Large Scale Development Committee or the Urban Development Review Board. 1 • • • Architecture • The generous use of glass, balconies and terraces within the design of the building is appropriate for the tropical Miami climate. Consider providing more variety within the tower elevation through the use of massing, window and balcony placement, materials, etc. • The committee appreciates the attempt to provide an artistic design treatment to the project's garage elevations. However, consider providing more vertical elements in the garage facades, in order to break up the horizontal appearance of these elevations. • This garage shall be articulated so that vehicles are completely hidden from public view. Provide details of the materials proposed to cover the garage openings, and indicate how all vehicles and mechanical systems within the garage will be concealed from public view. It is our intention with these comments to aid in expediting Special Permit applications with your voluntary efforts in making the necessary changes; thereby, avoiding any preventable delays particularly prior to a project's submission to the Large Scale Development Committee or the Urban Development Review Board.