Rosslyn Plaza - Arlingtonva
SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING SUMMARY Page 1
SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING SUMMARY Item 1 (7 pm – 9:00 pm) Rosslyn Plaza (SP #422) SPRC Meeting #15 October 26, 2015 Planning Commissioners in Attendance: Cole, Gutshall, Schroll, Siegel, Forinash, Iacomini, and Ciotti SPRC AGENDA: The agenda for the meeting was as follows: 1) Staff presentation a) Review of the Adopted Rosslyn Sector Plan 2) Applicant presentation a) Site design and open space 3) SPRC discussion 4) Wrap-up and next steps SPRC Discussion: Discussion amongst the Committee members included the following: Rosslyn Plaza Park
Support for both locations of the Rosslyn Plaza Park recommended by the Rosslyn Sector Plan was expressed o Committee members that supported the location of the Rosslyn Plaza Park adjacent to N. Kent St. stated their preference due to the park’s relationship and presentation to Rosslyn’s core With this location, Committee members expressed their desire for more green elements (grass, plants, trees, etc.) and less hardscape elements (plazas, walkways, etc.) Committee members expressed concern with shadow impacts on this location o Committee members that supported the location of the Rosslyn Plaza Park adjacent to Arlington Ridge Rd. stated their preference due to the park’s relationship and presentation to the Potomac River With this location, Committee members expressed their desire for greater recreational opportunities due to lessened shadow impacts Committee members expressed their support for this location because of its relationship and connections to the Esplanade and potential connection to the Mt. Vernon Trail and Roosevelt Island Committee members requested shadow studies depicting the impacts on locating the park adjacent to Arlington Ridge Rd
SP # 422 Aaron Shriber
SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING SUMMARY Page 2
Committee members expressed concern that the proposed size of the Rosslyn Plaza Park (.85 acre) was not large enough to satisfy the recommendation of the Rosslyn Sector Plan (approximately 1 acre) o Discussion ensued about how the Rosslyn Plaza Park could be increased in size for large events by closing adjacent streets Committee members expressed support for 17th and 18th Streets being designed with a pedestrian focus to support such large events Committee members questioned whether the current PDSP layout provides more open space than previous concepts Committee members requested that more relevant open space and park images (i.e. regional examples such as Long Bridge Park Esplanade) be used in the Design Guidelines Committee members questioned whether the Esplanade section would be sufficient to support the level of anticipated use Committee members expressed their desire that open spaces provide active rather than passive uses
Site Design
Committee members generally expressed support for the proposed block structure, as it complies with the recommendations of the Rosslyn Sector Plan Committee members generally expressed support for the proposed building locations o Questions were raised about what the buildable areas would be o Questions were raised about the impact of the buildable areas would have on the open spaces Committee members questioned whether garage access could be coordinated with the loading access underneath Arlington Ridge Rd and the Esplanade Committee members requested additional information about construction phasing and the delivery of road and site improvements (i.e. Esplanade)
Other Committee members wanted to know what the binding elements of the PDSP Plan would be, as well as the what role the Design Guidelines would serve Committee members questioned whether other County plans advocated for the protection of view corridors Committee members suggested that buildings should maintain flexibility regarding their use so that they can respond to market demands Next Steps: The next SPRC meeting (#16) will be conducted on November 16, 2015. The agenda for this meeting will be focused on building architecture and height.
SP # 422 Aaron Shriber
SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING SUMMARY Item 1 (7 pm – 9:00 pm) Rosslyn Plaza (SP #422) SPRC Meeting #15 October 26, 2015 Planning Commissioners in Attendance: Cole, Gutshall, Schroll, Siegel, Forinash, Iacomini, and Ciotti SPRC AGENDA: The agenda for the meeting was as follows: 1) Staff presentation a) Review of the Adopted Rosslyn Sector Plan 2) Applicant presentation a) Site design and open space 3) SPRC discussion 4) Wrap-up and next steps SPRC Discussion: Discussion amongst the Committee members included the following: Rosslyn Plaza Park
Support for both locations of the Rosslyn Plaza Park recommended by the Rosslyn Sector Plan was expressed o Committee members that supported the location of the Rosslyn Plaza Park adjacent to N. Kent St. stated their preference due to the park’s relationship and presentation to Rosslyn’s core With this location, Committee members expressed their desire for more green elements (grass, plants, trees, etc.) and less hardscape elements (plazas, walkways, etc.) Committee members expressed concern with shadow impacts on this location o Committee members that supported the location of the Rosslyn Plaza Park adjacent to Arlington Ridge Rd. stated their preference due to the park’s relationship and presentation to the Potomac River With this location, Committee members expressed their desire for greater recreational opportunities due to lessened shadow impacts Committee members expressed their support for this location because of its relationship and connections to the Esplanade and potential connection to the Mt. Vernon Trail and Roosevelt Island Committee members requested shadow studies depicting the impacts on locating the park adjacent to Arlington Ridge Rd
SP # 422 Aaron Shriber
SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING SUMMARY Page 2
Committee members expressed concern that the proposed size of the Rosslyn Plaza Park (.85 acre) was not large enough to satisfy the recommendation of the Rosslyn Sector Plan (approximately 1 acre) o Discussion ensued about how the Rosslyn Plaza Park could be increased in size for large events by closing adjacent streets Committee members expressed support for 17th and 18th Streets being designed with a pedestrian focus to support such large events Committee members questioned whether the current PDSP layout provides more open space than previous concepts Committee members requested that more relevant open space and park images (i.e. regional examples such as Long Bridge Park Esplanade) be used in the Design Guidelines Committee members questioned whether the Esplanade section would be sufficient to support the level of anticipated use Committee members expressed their desire that open spaces provide active rather than passive uses
Site Design
Committee members generally expressed support for the proposed block structure, as it complies with the recommendations of the Rosslyn Sector Plan Committee members generally expressed support for the proposed building locations o Questions were raised about what the buildable areas would be o Questions were raised about the impact of the buildable areas would have on the open spaces Committee members questioned whether garage access could be coordinated with the loading access underneath Arlington Ridge Rd and the Esplanade Committee members requested additional information about construction phasing and the delivery of road and site improvements (i.e. Esplanade)
Other Committee members wanted to know what the binding elements of the PDSP Plan would be, as well as the what role the Design Guidelines would serve Committee members questioned whether other County plans advocated for the protection of view corridors Committee members suggested that buildings should maintain flexibility regarding their use so that they can respond to market demands Next Steps: The next SPRC meeting (#16) will be conducted on November 16, 2015. The agenda for this meeting will be focused on building architecture and height.
SP # 422 Aaron Shriber
