HomeMy WebLinkAboutBlake Hunt Ventures Retail Project - Design Review
AGENDA STATEMENT
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE: February 27, 2007
SUBJECT:
Study Session - Design Review discussion for the future Blake
Hunt Ventures Retail Project
Report prepared by Kristi Bascom, Consulting Planner
ATTACHMENTS:
None
RECOMMENDATION:
~
1) Receive Staff presentation; and
2) Engage in a discussion on the Planning Commission Design
Review Field Trip held on February 12, 2007, and provide
design direction to Staff and the Applicant on design
preferences for Blake Hunt Ventures' future retail project.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
On February 12, 2007, members of the Planning Commission, Staff, Consultants, and representatives
from Blake Hunt Ventures attended a field trip to visit several retail commercial shopping centers in other
communities. The intent of the field trip was to share with the Planning Commission examples of site
design, architecture, building materials, etc., from other retail centers in the greater Bay Area so that the
Commission could then offer direction to the Blake Hunt Ventures team as they prepare their application
for a new 305,000 square foot "lifestyle" retail center in Dublin.
Background
In 2004, the City Council approved the development of a 317,000 square foot IKEA retail store and a
137,000 square foot "lifestyle center" on approximately 27 acres at the northwest comer of Interstate 580
and Hacienda Drive. Blake Hunt Ventures acquired the parcel ofland where the lifestyle center was to be
built, and they received Site Development Review approval for the construction of the center on 13 acres.
In late 2006, IKEA withdrew their plans to build a store in Dublin, and Blake Hunt Ventures decided to
acquire the IKEA parcel and to enlarge and redesign their lifestyle center on the entire 27 acres.
The Blake Hunt Ventures team is currently preparing a conceptual site plan and will soon begin work on
the architectural drawings for the center. In an effort to deliver a project that the community is excited
about, Blake Hunt Ventures is committed to working closely with the City of Dublin on the design of the
new, expanded center, and is seeking early input on the overall design of the center from Staff and the
Planning Commission.
In an effort to engage this design discussion with the Planning Commission and in an effort to provide a
basis for the discussion of the various design possibilities of the center, City Staff and Consultants
organized a field trip to four different shopping areas in the Bay Area.
COPIES TO: Applicant
Property Owner
File
ITEM NO. 9.2
Page 1 of2
G:IPA#12005\05-043 Emerald Place Lifestyle Retail Center\New 300 KSF BH projectIPCSR PC Study Session 2.27.07.doc
On February 12,2007, the Planning Commission visited the following locations:
1. Bay Street in Emeryville;
2. 4th Street Shopping District in Berkeley;
3. Town Center in Corte Madera; and
4. The Villages at Corte Madera.
At each of these locations, the City's Consulting Architect, Larry Cannon, asked the Commission to
consider design elements such as building/tenant entries and doors; tenant signage; window styles and
materials (aluminum, vinyl, wood); building base treatments; outdoor lighting/fixtures; pavement and
walkway design (pavers, scored or colored concrete, etc); pedestrian amenities such as benches, chairs,
water fountains, outdoor seating areas as part of restaurants or common areas; landscape and hardscape;
building materials such as stucco, metal, wood, tiles, brick, stone, glass and their application; project entry
treatments; parking areas; and kiosks and other outdoor displays of merchandise.
Additionally, Staff and Consultants asked the Commissioners to consider the following "big picture"
issues at each location:
1. Their opinion of a pedestrian-oriented mall with cars on the outside vs. "Main Street" design with
vehicular traffic through the project;
2. "Organic" look of individual buildings vs. Uniform appearance of overall project architecture with
variation in storefront and signage; and
3. Overall "look and feel" of each project - what feels good and why - what works and what doesn't
from a design perspective and how that translates into the success of a project.
After the field trip, Staff proposed to meet with the Planning Commission in a study session format to
discuss what was seen on the trip and to have a guided discussion on feedback the Commission can
provide the Blake Hunt Ventures team as they prepare their design drawings for the future lifestyle retail
center.
At this study session, Staff and Consultants will provide a presentation with photos of the sites visited on
the field trip as well as examples taken from other retail centers and will engage the Commission in a
discussion of design preferences and desires for this future development project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1) Receive Staff presentation; and 2) Engage in a
discussion on the Planning Commission Design Field Trip from February 12, 2007 and provide design
direction to Staff and the Applicant on design preferences for Blake Hunt Ventures' future retail project.
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