[RP TownTalk] M-UTC Report from Jun 7

[Andrew Farrington]

I would strongly urge the council to hew to the MUTC standards.  We can 
weather what comes in waiting for the right proposals.  We (you, our town 
leadership) made the right decision on the corner of One and East-West. 
Please do the same again.  Our rules are wise and fair.  Stand by them.

  - Andrew Farrington
     4605 Queensbury

On Thu, 8 Jun 2006, Alice Ewen Walker wrote:

> M-UTC Update from Last Night
>
> Last night the Mixed Use Zoning Committee met to review changes to the
> Patriot Group proposal for development at Riverdale Rd. / Queensbury Rd/ and
> Lafayette.  Patriot Group presented their changes since the last meeting,
> which were fairly minor but did help address comments from the committee
> provided at the last meeting.
>
> Changes:
>
> - greater articulation of building facades to scan as multiple buildings.
> variation of the roofline across the top so that the buildings scan
> individually, rather than as one monolith
> - greater detailing of the rear facade through variation in the color of
> materials
>
> As was noted earlier, the Patriot Group planned on last night's presentation
> as its final design iteration before M-UTC. The applicant plans to pursue a
> special exception process because the project varies from M-UTC mandatory
> requirements in four ways. Those are: height, distance from the train track,
> loading location for retail spaces, and elevation of the first story
> residences.
>
> The M-UTC heard public comments on the matter.  There were no new concerns
> aired that have not already been noted on this list.
>
> The M-UTC committe voted to approve the project with conditions -- those
> conditions being that:
> - the height be three stories
> - the distance from the rail line be 100 feet
> - the first floor units be elevated 3' from ground level
> - the loading location be located in the rear
>
> These are the four "mandatory" requirements of the zoning, so from the
> committee's technical standpoint, this is the most positive endorsement of
> the project that the committee could make.  Variance from these four
> mandatory requirements will be a matter for the council to decide.
>
> I want to thank the members of the zoning committee and the developers from
> the Patriot Group for taking advantage of the M-UTC process, which affords a
> good deal of collaboration.  I think the project that is coming before the
> council for review in the coming months is several tiers better than the
> proposal that we started with six months ago.  In that regard, I think the
> M-UTC zoning is already proving itself to be a valuable tool.  The developer
> upgraded the quality of materials used on the exterior of the building in
> response to this dialogue and also improved the design. You can view the
> drawings at town hall.
>
> Now, it is up to the town council whether to approve the variance request
> from these four standards.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alice Ewen Walker
> M-UTC Committee Chair
>