02/23/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

BUSINESS CALENDAR C. COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATION DISCLOSURE (REGARDING AGENDIZED PROJECTS) Commissioner Turner disclosed that he was contacted by and spoke with Steve Sheldon, consultant representing Integral. WORK STUDY SESSION D. DISCUSSION ON MARRIOTT COURTYARD AT MAC ARTHUR PLACE SOUTH Principal Planner Vince Fregoso provided background on the MacArthur Place South project that was approved in 2005 for the Integral Site (mid-rise condominiums), Cinema Site (condominium tower, loft building, restaurant, retail, office) and Lake Towers (high rise condominiums). Assistant Planner Matt Foulkes provided a presentation regarding the proposed alterations to the current project that, if approved, would include a Marriott Courtyard (185-room, four-story hotel) located on the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and MacArthur Place, in place of the previously approved Cinema Lofts and restaurant/retail building. The proposed plan would also relocate the condominium tower to the south. In order to amend the previously approved project, the applicant is requesting the following Planning Commission actions: • Amendment of SD-76 to allow hotels with a conditional use permit. • Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Review for hotel. • Variance to allow a reduction in required parking. o Spaces provided --- 133 in a surface parking lot and an additional 500 in parking structure (shared) o Spaces required - 204 • Addendum to EIR 2004-02 (traffic impacts). • Amendment to Development Agreement 2005-02. Nexus President, Corey Alder, reviewed the project site with regards to the towers, interior/exterior upgrades and amenities, public art, retaining the urban village with the hotel, review of the architecture elements, and maintained doing the tower in the future. The Planning Commission specifically commented on the following items: • Ensuring that adequate parking is provided for both the hotel and the Cinema Tower project. • The need for architectural enhancements to the design of the front elevations that better matches the high quality design and finishes on the recently completed Skyline project. In particular, better screening of the air conditioning vents and better pedestrian design along MacArthur Place. • Concern about the elimination of open space that was designated on original plan. • Concern over the selection of the Marriott Courtyard hotel as the hotel operator. Executive Director Jay Trevino summarized the project and acknowledged the Commission's concerns. He stressed that the most important consideration is to ensure that the building's architecture, site plan and amenities were of a very high quality in order to preserve the long-term performance of the project regardless of the individual hotel operator. The item will return to the Planning Commission for consideration. Planning Commission Minutes 2 February 23, 2009