Saratoga News
News
3-Story addition at Sam Cloud goes back to drawing board once again
By Shannon Burkey
The proposed three-story addition to the newly renovated 127-year-old Sam Cloud Hay and Feed Warehouse was sent back to the drawing board for a second time by planning commissioners who were not completely satisfied.
At a July 11 study session, the Saratoga Planning Commission reviewed the design of the 7,506-square-foot project, which would be used for commercial and retail space in the Village. Some of the commissioners, though, had reservations about the size of the building.
"In order to build on the property you would need a variance, and we don't grant many variances," Commissioner Susie Nagpal said.
Because the property developers, Craig Awbrey and Bob Hausmann, are looking to construct the building on a lot with a 38-degree slope, which is outside what is normally allowed under the city code, the project would require a variance to move forward. However, since the lot is a legal lot of record, the city, by law, is required to allow the developers to build something on it, which would mean granting a variance.
One issue the commission would have to take under consideration when deciding on the variance is the fact that other people have been allowed to build similar projects in similar situations.
"If you look at their immediate neighbors, they were on similar lots and allowed to build things," Commission Chairwoman Joyce Hlava said.
Commissioner Manny Cappello said he wished the commission did not have to grant the variance, but he does realize the importance of allowing it.
"I'd rather see something built here than to uphold the code and deny the variance," he said.
Several of the commissioners were also still struggling with the size of the building. At a previous study session, commissioners said they felt the building was too massive and bulky and wanted to see its size reduced.
Awbrey, Hausmann and their architect, Warren Heid, took the commission's reservations into consideration and returned with an altered design.
To break up the bulkiness of the building, Heid added six balconies and extra windows.
"I think we really did a lot to increase the aesthetics of the building," Heid said. "The balconies really give a break in the elevation."
Heid said he also tried to make a clear distinction between the existing warehouse and the new addition to further reduce the bulkiness.
"In spite of the changes, I still think it's just too big," Hlava said. "For the slope there and size of that parcel, it sure looks like a really big building on a small lot."
Hlava said she also has a problem with the three stories, which are visible only from the back parking lot, and would prefer to see only a single- story addition. From Big Basin Way, only one story of the structure is visible.
Because the building is being built down a hillside, Heid said a single story on stilts would not work. City zoning codes also allow for three-story structures on that side of the Village.
"Structurally we can't do it any other way," Heid said. "If we put it on stilts, the retaining wall wouldn't hold it. We could reduce the square footage, but that wouldn't reduce the height."
Another concern Nagpal had was the building housing commercial businesses instead of all retail.
"I'm just not excited about having office space there," she said.
But when talking to Village merchants, Awbrey said they all supported the idea of commercial business moving into the area.
"They want more people down there walking around--retail would not do that for them," he said. "What they want is people working down there."
Commissioner Robert Kundtz said he didn't see any problems with the design and felt the applicants had made significant inroads to soften the design.
"My perspective is it's an absolute perfect place to add the density we need to increase the foot traffic in town for its long-term survival and growth," he said.
