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City Council Meeting Minutes June 25, 2020 <br />Commissioner Gleason is not a fan of the long windows and we should have <br />some type of textured siding on the building. <br />Commissioner Kelsey supports street level design. He notes the bottom floor of <br />the former CVS building has the look of windows with some art. It is a good <br />solution for an existing blank wall. This is exactly what we are stated we want. <br />Commissioner Gleason inquired that blank walls do allow some flexibility and <br />sometimes there is some purpose for these such as utilities or air conditioning <br />units so we need to ensure they are attractive. <br />Council and Commission provided consensus that we do not want blank walls <br />if possible. Solutions when a blank wall is needed by the business (or already <br />exists) that includes options of display windows, display cases, canopies and <br />awnings, wall art, planters and landscaping. Also, consensus to not have any <br />blank walks but also not full glass across the entire front. When glass is <br />present, have a base. Awnings are desired as long as they are deep enough to <br />provide shade, not just decorative <br />Transitions - Mr. Winter noted that the existing guidelines state where a <br />neighborhood transition is needed, it is just stepping down the height of the <br />building and we need more. Updated design guidelines and standards will <br />expand on the current design guidelines information to explain how to <br />effectively transition along sensitive edges and sensitive properties such as <br />historic landmarks. <br />Council Member Derrick noted that The Vistas apartments is the best example <br />of making their building fit into the edge of the historic area. While the height <br />is large and massing is border line excessive, the breakup of the front wall with <br />multiple recesses, the color scheme, the visible hipped roof and towers recall <br />historic design of the 19th and 20th century structures surrounding it. <br />Council Member Baker noted that transition and height can give neighbors the <br />sense that they are being spied upon so we need privacy/visual barriers in some <br />cases such as trees. Mr. Winter noted some variables we can consider. One is <br />stepping down the height and the distance from the sensitive edge. <br />Landscaping can be helpful as a buffer. Regarding privacy, perhaps <br />balconies/decks should not be allowed on some sides of tall buildings. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Mihalkanin inquired about transitional areas and how zoning <br />can help identify what uses are appropriate for a transition area. Mayor <br />City of San Marcos Page 9 <br />