HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.11.20 - Planning and Zoning Agenda (2)City of
Waukee
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STAFF REPORT
TO: Planning and Zoning Commission
RE: New Community Center [355 7th Street] - Site Plan
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Applicant:
Requested Action
Location and Size:
LAND USES AND ZONING:
PREPARED BY: Ben Landhauser
DATE:
City of Waukee
Site Plan Approval
December 14, 2011
Property is generally located in the northeast
corner of the 7th Street/ Walnut Street
intersection, containing approximately 0.24
acres more or less.
Location
Existing Land Use
Comprehensive Plan
Current
Zoning
Property in Question
Civic [Vacant - former
Downtown
C-1 A
Fire Station, City Storage]
North
Waukee United Methodist
Downtown
C-1 A
Church
South
Small Apartment Buidling
Downtown
R-3
[4-plex]
East
CenturyLink
Downtown
C-1 A
West
Single Family Residential
Downtown
R-2
BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The subject property is currently owned by the City of Waukee and has held previous capacities as a Fire
Station, Water Treatment House, and storage for various departments within the City. The building was
originally constructed in the 1950's to serve as the City's Fire Station. More recently the building had been
used by Public Works and the Parks and Recreation departments for the storage of various equipment and
materials. The City has targeted this property for reuse as a new community center due to current
ownership and a desire to expand upon the public investment in the downtown area. The City currently
leases space at 445 Maple Street. The lease on the current facility will terminate July I, 2012; and the intent
would be to remodel this building so that it could be completed prior to July I5`. The City Council has
indicated as desire to keep the project budget around $400,000 and to align improvements to the site and
building with LEED Standards in a similar fashion as the new Public Works Building.
December 9, 2011
The proposed building reconfiguration identifies the creation of a primary entrance on the south side of the
building by eliminating 3 existing trees and constructing a front porch style covered entrance. The location of
the primary entrance is intended to facilitate better utilization of the GE Davis Park immediately adjacent to
the building. The existing entrance into the building on the west side of the building will remain in use as a
secondary entrance. The internal breakdown of the building will include a vestibule off of the main entrance,
with access into a large meeting room, small meeting room, and public restrooms. The larger meeting room
is capable of holding approximately 100 persons. The smaller room will accommodate approximatley 24
persons. The intent of the floor plan design is to maximize the ability for the City to have at least two user
groups in the facility at one time.
The exterior of the structure will largely remain in tact as a brick building. New mullioned glass windows will
replace the existing overhead doors on the west side of the building, with screen walls used to make the
larger meeting space feel more private while still allowing natural light to enter the space. A linear masonry
product will be used to create the screen walls and to infill other portions of the building needing additional
wall space. The new entrance feature on the south side of the building will be finished with a bleached cedar
product which will aid in softening the commercial appearance of the building to better mesh with the adjacent
residential neighborhood. The covered entrance may also provide opportunity as a small stage for gatherings
in the summer allowing people to sit in the park and view a performance, wedding, etc.
Additional parking stalls are being provided as a part of the project as well. Currently, there are 4 parallel
parking stalls extending from the 7' Street/ Walnut Street intersection up to the building. The proposed
improvements to the street include the creation of a large island/planter area on 7' Street adjacent to the
large gathering space in the building as a means of lessening the impact of vehicles parking and/or traveling on
7' Street. 4 new diagonal parking stalls will be provided on 7' Street near the Walnut Street intersection.
Additionally, 13 diagonal parking stalls will be provided along Walnut Street from the GE Davis Park to the
east adjacent to the entrance into the Waukee United Methodist Church's parking lot. Included in the site
plan drawings is a conceptual layout of some potential parking stalls adjacent to the Methodist Church
property on 7' Street that may also be created as a part of this project depending upon bids received for
those improvements. Various other landscaped islands, sidewalk pavers, and period lighting will be
incorporated into the streetscape with these improvements to tie the new community center property in with
the rest of the downtown businesses surrouding the Triangle.
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Aerial of Existing Project Conditions
Aerial of Proposed Build -out of the Site
December 9, 2011
STREETS
The current seal -coat streets in this area do not have curb and gutter. As a part of this project, the City will
be installing concrete curb and gutter adjacent to the project area and paving the various parking stalls with
asphalt.
UTILITIES
All necessary utility infrastructure is available to the building today. Due to some of the paving along Walnut
Street, a fire hydrant will be relocated to accommodate the parking stalls. Storm water, currently sent into
the sanitary sewer, will be routed from the building to the east side of the site where a new detention facility
will be created. The detention facility will be designed as a bioswale and discharge into the public storm sewer
that will be extended from Walnut Street to the detention area.
MISCELLANEOUS
As a part of this project, a trash enclosure will be constructed in the northeast corner of the site.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
At this time Staff would recommend approval of the site plan for the new Waukee Community Center at 355
7`' Street subject to all remaining staff comments.
CITY OF WAUKEE
Ben Landhauser
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City Planner
December 9, 2011
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