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Home My Public Portal About15) 10C Design Direction for a New Public Parking LotAGENDA ITEM 10.C. MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM DATE: August 16, 2016 TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Bryan Cook, City Manager By: Brian Haworth, Assistant to the City Manager Michael Forbes, Community Development Director SUBJECT: DESIGN DIRECTION FOR A NEW PUBLIC PARKING LOT RECOMMENDATION: The City Council is requested to provide design direction for a new public parking lot at the northeast corner of Workman Avenue and Temple City Boulevard . BACKGROUND: 1. On December 15, 2015, Council was presented with four redevelopment scenarios for the City-owned property at Workman Avenue and Temple City Boulevard (commonly known as the "former mortuary site" or "5800 Temple City Boulevard"). Three of the scenarios incorporated commercial development prototypes, all which concluded a low return on investment. The remaining scenario-public parking-was deemed feasible, as it would provide additional parking for downtown employees and patrons. 2. On March 23, 201 6, the Future Development of City Properties Standing Committee (comprised of Mayor Yu and Councilmember Man) reviewed a first set of preliminary concepts for a new parking lot (Attachment A). Incorporated elements included: • Nine-foot-wide parking stalls for added space and vehicular maneuverability. • A maximization of parking spaces and limited number of driveway approaches. • Areas for future electric vehicle charging stations. • Preservation of the three existing sycamore trees along Workman Avenue. • Gateway design treatments to promote downtown placemaking. • Drought-tolerant landscaping with stormwater collection facilities. • Energy-efficient lighting fixtures. Staff suggested further exploration of a concept inspired by th e mid-century City Council August 16, 2016 Page 2 of 4 architectural features of City Hall, which would also complement the scale and look of adjacent downtown uses (Attachment B). The Committee concurred with staffs recommendation and requested the following modifications for subsequent review: • The incorporation of public seating nodes. • Suggested locations and context for a future public art installation. • Vehicle access from Temple City Boulevard . 3. On July 15, 2016, staff presented the Committee a final recommended design concept with refined architecture and signage elements, public seating areas, and context for a future artwork installation (Attachment C). The Committee also reviewed an alternate design that incl uded additional vehicle access from Temple City Boulevard (Attachment D). The Committee directed staff to present both options for Council review and final direction. ANALYSIS: The recommended design concept was developed in collaboration with an architect and landscape architect. The design process was guided by the following four objectives: • • • • Create visual interest. The site presents a rare opportunity to create a visual gateway for downtown. The use of vertical elements, unique architectural features and specimen trees can provide a sense of place and arrival. Furthermore, the future installation of dynamic public art would creatively announce entry to the downtown area while enlivening the surrounding streetscape. Ensure buffering and continuity. Ample plantings should provide much needed sound buffering and greening, both on-site and with the adjacent neighborhood. Design elements-e.g., low perimeter walls and a horizontal trellis-must complement nearby architectural styles and scales, while furthering an uninterrupted storefront streetscape along Temple City Boulevard. Limit vehicle conflicts. Positioning the driveway off the alley serves to significantly reduce interactions between vehicles and pedestrians. It also directs vehicle access via Workman Avenue, reducing any potential vehicle conflicts on Temple City Boulevard. Conform to current desi n standards. Pursuant to the Downtown Specific Plan, development standards require parking to be placed behind buildings. The concept's perimeter treatments should do the same by minimizing the street view of parked vehicles, while preventing the lot from being unsightly and strictly utilitarian. Staff also presented an alternate design that includes vehicle access from Temple City City Council August16,2016 Page 3 of 4 Boulevard (in addition to the alley). The Committee noted that the additional driveway would make it easier for motorists to find and access the site. However, this design does pose considerations. • • • • A driveway on Temple City Boulevard would increase occurrences between vehicles and pedestrians on the sidewalk, as well as pedestrians entering and exiting the parking lot. A primary goal of the Downtown Specific Plan is to create a pedestrian- oriented downtown area, as supported by the Plan's policy "to encourage more efficient use of alleyways and rear building entrances to minimize the necessity for access off primary, secondary or residential streets." The alternate design counters this directive. The site does not benefit from a center turn lane on Temple City Boulevard; however, there is an adjacent marked crosswalk across Temple City Boulevard at Workman Avenue. The City Engineer has recommended that any driveway access from Temple City Boulevard be right turn in, right turn out only to minimize conflicts with: (1) through traffic on Temple City Boulevard; and (2) pedestrians using the crosswalk. If motorists do not observe this restriction and attempt to turn left into or out of the parking lot, problems may occur with oncoming traffic. The alternate design visually breaks the landscaping and architectural features that are a key component of the recommended design. The driveway reduces the amount of landscaped area , and requires partial removal of the architectural trellis and perimeter wall. This design revision interrupts the desired building continuity along Temple City Boulevard, and detracts from the pedestrian experience. Due to a visual gap resulting from the driveway, staff recommends removal of the trellis, its vertical posts and signage. While the design alternate reduces project costs, it also diminishes the project's original intent. NEXT STEPS: The Downtown Specific Plan requires a conditional use permit for all parking lots in the downtown area. Should Council move ahead with the recommended concept, staff will ask the Planning Commission to grant a Conditional Use Permit allowing for the site's future use as a public parking lot. A bid document will then be prepared and solicited. This process should take three months to complete, at which time, Council will award a construction contract. Should the alternate design be pursued, staff will further refine the site's layout and architectural features. Furthermore, the City Engineer will conduct a traffic study to assess any potential traffic impacts associated with a driveway on Temple City Boulevard. Those analyses would be presented at the September 20, 2016 Council meeting. L City Council August 16, 2016 Page 4 of 4 FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended action presents no fiscal impact to the FY 2016-17 City Budget. Funding in the amount of $550,000 is available for project construction. Estimated figures for the recommended concept are in line with the allocation ; however, total costs will be determined by an approved contractor bid. ATTACHMENTS: A. Preliminary Concepts B. Refinement Concept C. Recommended Concept D. Altern ate Concept Preliminary Concept: February 2016 Preliminary Concept: February 2016 Preliminary Concept: February 2016 Refinement Concept: March 2016 •• Intermediate Walls • 30"-:ur H1gh Wallln-8etween Bnck Columna • Smgle·Scored Concrete Block by Angelus Block • Color • Warm Grlly, Texture • Shotblut Brick Columns and Trelllis • Bridt Columna. SUcked Bond, Style to Match Oty tUII • Trellis ·Steel Polu, Be&ms and Ctou Memben, White Powder-coat Finish • Smd Sc.ae Flowering VInes on Trelia ••• Walls and Monumentation )> • Bndt W.Da. sc.dted Bond, Style to Match City Hall :::t • LDw Growutg Grounclcower In Front of Signage Wall • "Temple City Downtown' RAiled from Wall surW:e )> with SUinlesa Steeii.IUen O • Font Style to Match City Hall .__----~----~-------------~----------------------•;_IDull'linationonWilllwldiSi nage :C m z -1 {JJ Recommended Concept: July 2016 I s: m z --t (") Recommended Concept: July 2016 Design Exploration for Gateway Public Art Recommended Concept: July 2016 Design Exploration for Gateway Public Art ~ > ..J Xl >- :.> .1J ..J l. ~ .1J Recommended Concept: July 2016 (3)~indlea (Crape Myt11e) W 0 R K M A N A' V E . ' Existing Street Trees -Sycamores ,' ,, ________ .... " ,' _______ , Granite Boulder Groupings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... Brick • Bock Columns .tl TrelliS Ends, .tnd .tt Trellis Column B.uu • Stvlt to ~tch Citv H.lll • TVPt • P,lCifiC Cl.ty Brie k. Norm.tn • Color • ImperiAl Puch Recommended Concept: July 2016 Signage • R.llstd SU1nltu StuiLttttB • Font St'flt to MUch City H.tll • Up Light from Ground Single-Scored Concrete Block • Slnglt-Scortd Concrttt Block bv Angtlus Block • Color • Wum Crav. Texture • Shotb~u Boulders, River Rock and Runoff • Granitt Bouldtr Groupings • Granitt Rlwr Rock StrtAm Btds • Puking Lot Onlns into Strum Beds Incorporating Sto.,_ttr ltKh.trgt With NOS flo.Wtlls Site Ughtlng •••••••••••••••••• .. ••• .. •·• • 'Element' l£0 light SUndArdS ~ Specba lighting • 'Element' l£0 Boll..-ds ~Spectra Ughung • Finish • Light Crav PaMer Colt Parking Lot Improvements -Temple City Blvd. and Workman Ave. LOSTWESI' ~nchape Aldllllaurt LDI Angelts (J2J) ZSI-G 14 Clrtsbld (760) 4S4-5 710 Materials Recommended Concept: July 2016 L.agerstroemla 'MJSkogee' Parking Lot Improvements -Temple City Blvd. and Workman Ave. Plant Palette-Trees A~llll g Shenvoodh Col~~m• ·sunstt Gold' ; . / I _z.;~ / a-~.> .. . . . r.F/1:· :; ~ ' Coprosmll 'Marble Qu«n' HtmerC<lllls ~v.,dtr Dew' Rhaphlolepts u ' llllnor' Recommended Concept: July 2016. t fassia nemophila Ct.,Olhus 'Dlll'k St.v' Clstus 'Sunset' Guv<~ I 'Stskyou Pink' Grevallu nodhl Phlonn fruucou l'hormlum 'JICk Spmt' Parking Lot Improvements -Temple City Blvd. and Workman Ave. LOST WEST LMiclsape ArcNtlcluN 1M Angejes (32J) 2SI-I214 7 .. 7tO Plant Palette -Shrubs ' Bulblnt'lla 'HaUmari.. Cotonusttr · LCMfut' Rosmarlnus 'Huntington Carpt>t' C:.rlna m. 'Cr«n C.rpt>l" Trtllos Vont-Pandoru jASminoides Lantana montevldt'nsls Whott' Parking Lot Improvements -Temple City Blvd. and Workman Ave. Plant Palette-Ground Cover Design Alternate Exploration Sketch ., .. ' ' )> -; ~ 0 I s: m z -; 0