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ATTACHMENT 9 PHASE 2 Public CommentsThe proposed project at 611 Main Street has problems that need to be addressed. As a citizen and builder in Edmonds I'm not against development. I am, however, vehemently opposed to bad development in our quaint downtown core. This building doesn't check all the boxes, and I implore the ADB to suggest specific changes to this building. It's a plain, big, ugly box that doesn't fit in and if allowed to be built will be an eyesore for the foreseeable future. I don't subscribe to the thought that this year's ugly building will be the gem of the future. Or that we can't require the developer to do anything that isn't spelled out in the code. We can and we have in the past. This building's lack of design features has stirred the criticism of many citizens. The developer doesn't seem to care that he is about to drop two big, featureless, boxy buildings into our quaint downtown core. This building doesn't even seem to meet the bare minimum design standards. Much of the building's design goal appears to be to yield the cheapest possible structure for the highest profit. If that was the design team's goal then a great job. Mission accomplished. Again, I implore the ADB to dig deep and suggest meaningful changes to the developer to help improve the look and function of this mundane addition to our downtown core. The following items need work: -The public and private amenity space is extremely small for such a large building. -Glazing on the street side is not even close to being in compliance. - The Main Street front entrance is small and will limit future commercial use of the building. It does nothing for the interplay between pedestrians and visitors to the building. - ADA access is horrible. There is no elevator connecting the 1 st and 2nd floors. One elevator going to all floors is the right thing to do. -The dumpster's space appears to have two large doors opening out 5' into a 15' alley. This design shows a complete lack of respect for the neighbors' access to alley use. The 15' alley with the building built on the line is too tight for increased traffic flow and will hamper other residents' use of the alley. Edmonds deserves better. This project needs specific changes brought forth by the ADB to address its shortcomings. I have ideas about the front and plaza side of this building that I would like to share later in the hearing if allowed by Chairman Bayer. I applaud Chairman Bayer for allowing additional public comments at the Dayton project last month and hope she will see fit to allow it again tonight. Thankyou Received by Greg Brewer on 6-15-2023 Kathy Brewer, Edmonds resident I am dismayed at what is about to happen to our historic, quaint downtown with two proposed buildings by one developer that may meet building code but definitely do not meet the design standards that Edmonds residents expect and desire in our special city. Both of the buildings require the removal of historic buildings that add charm to our town while replacing them with bland, oversized, boxy, cheap looking structures that will negatively impact our downtown. The designs lack the qualities that would add to livability for their future residents and will mar the neighborhoods and impact the neighbors negatively. I am hoping that the ADB members and the planners will take this to heart and act appropriately to request the improvement of these buildings' design so they won't be regretful structures that we will all have to live with. Better design is of the utmost importance for both of these buildings. Here are some of my criticisms for the proposed development at 611 Main Street: As I described previously, the building is unattractive, oversized and unfit for our quaint downtown. At the gateway, it will be an out -of -scale eye sore compared to the moderate sized, historic buildings surrounding the charming fountain nearby. The street appeal from Main is totally uninviting. The entry is smaller than what most houses have. The building spans from sidewalk to alley with no open space which is conducive to livability and pedestrian access. The continuous planter box along the front is a barrier for pedestrian traffic. The glazing requirements are meant to connect business and pedestrian traffic. The smaller windows do not and do not meet BD2 standards. The public amenity space is spartan at best. There are no outside private amenity spaces of any kind. Plazas, patios and decks are welcoming and promote livability. These are lacking or non-existent. The ADA access is the bare minimum. The ADA ramp takes up 40% of the plaza and would be better located at the front where the planter box is. There is no elevator to the second story units. This is not inclusive and the result will be to deny certain people from living there or visiting. This does not fit our welcoming Edmonds nature. These are just some of the many faults of this design. This development needs to go back to the drawing board and some major thought and consideration should be put into it before the planners should even consider it. Please ... I ask the ADB members and planners to acknowledge our concerns and help this developer achieve a better design. The bare minimum is not acceptable for our precious downtown. 6th and Main is the gateway and this development will mar it forever. This location deserves a quality building, not this one that could be located anywhere. The future of our downtown is in your hands. Please do the right thing for Edmonds and our residents and request positive changes for this development. Thank you From: Levitan, David To: Citizens Arch Design Board Cc: Szafran, Michele; Clugston, Michael Subject: Fwd: Comments for tonight"s hearings for the Main and Dayton Street Projects. Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023 5:55:20 PM One additional public comment. Get Outlook for 10S From: Kathy Brewer <brewerkathyk@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2023 5:47 PM To: Planning <planning@edmondswa.gov>; Council <Council@edmondswa.gov> Subject: Comments for tonight's hearings for the Main and Dayton Street Projects. To ADB, Planning Board and City Council, Here are my comments for tonight's hearings for the Main and Dayton Street Projects. simply want to say that both of them are ugly, unimaginative, and unfit for our charming, historical downtown. The developer, architect and planners have no respect for Edmonds nor the wishes of our citizens, boards and council. These should never be approved. Once built, they will be a permanent eyesore and change the appearance and feel of our downtown and open the door to more inappropriate, unattractive buildings. We can do better than this. Sincerely, Kathy Brewer To: The Architectural Design Board Special Meeting regarding 611 on Main From: Lynda Fireman, Resident 600 Bell Street, #201 Edmonds, WA 98020 My comments are on the impact this development will have on those of us who live across from and on the alley. The impact on the alley is never addressed. I'm only addressing some of the items in the provided materials with some additiona comments and questions. Packet Pg.6 Comments from the Planning Department: 1. "The site is relatively level with a "gentle" downward slope from east to west with an elevation change of about 5 feet across the 90-foot -wide site". HE This is only on Main Street. On the alley, there is change of about 10 feet from the SE elevation on Main to the NW corner of the lot. It will be a flat 4-Story wall on the alley. The 11t floor of the present building is higher than my 2"d floor condo. 2. "When HVAC equipment is at ground level, it shall be integrated into building design and/or use screening techniques to avoid both visual and noise impacts on adjoining properties" ...and again, on the alley? It's already visual pollution, please no noise pollution! 3. "Breakup the approx. 66-foot wide largely blank wall along the north facade" I'd like to propose a mural, on the entire blank wall, commemorating and including the historic cottage, that is being torn down, with many trees and shrubs showing in the background. The Comprehensive Plan "encourages the use of alley entrances and courtyards to beautify the back alleys in the commercial and mixed -use areas in the downtown areas. Since there is no "space", please beautify the wall. 0 Packet Pg. 29 Comments from the Architect: "Even though the property is well below the threshold requiring outdoor open space, a plaza is provided as a gathering space along the east side of the building accessed directly from the sidewalk and providing access to the apartment entrance." In an 18-unit building, is space for one bench considered a gathering space? Please address this. Packet Pg. 72 Fire Comments: "South Elevation measures over 33' height" "Requires fire lape hat is 26' wide and will need to be'between 15' and 30' away from the building ogin Street" Maxi m height is suppose Pleaftb explain "fire lane", Aat it Packet Pg. 74 Architect Corrections: . unless he means the No elevation. ils and where it will be 1. "The north elevation now has a base of masonry veneer. " Again, I propose/suggest a mural, on the entire blank wall, honoring the historic cottage that is being torn down, including both shrubs and trees above the veneer. This provides visual interest and is in keeping with the murals that are on many buildings in downtown Edmonds, even in the alleys. 2. "No HVAC equipment is going to be installed on the roof." Does this mean that the building will not have air conditioning? Is there enough air flow in the building. There is also climate change and temperatures are rising. There are no measurements given. Can the height of the lofts be reduced to allow HVAC on the roof? If equipment is installed, other than on the roof, I respectfully ask that it not be installed where it will cause noise pollution in the alley as well as on the adjacent properties. The alley will already have visual pollution, please don't add noise pollution. Packet Pg. 82 Architect Response "The transformer is now on the NW corner" Question: What is the noise level of the transformer as it is now in the alley? 0 Packet pg. 101 Applying the Design Guidelines & Considering the Site My request of the Architectural Design Board is to please consider the impact the building is having on the North side/alley. For some reason we are not considered adjacent nor is the impact considered for anyone else that lives on this alley. Please consider: 1. Visual Pollution on the alley: My view of this building, from 13 of my 27 windows, will be of a 4-story flat wall. It will eliminate direct sunlight and openness to my environment. We're all going to feel hemmed in. Again, my request/suggestion is a mural honoring the historic cottage, that is being torn down with many shrubs and trees. This will provide a reprieve from looking at a "4-story flat wall" and will add visual interest and relief. It is in keeping with the murals that are on many buildings in downtown Edmonds, even in the alleys. 2. Possible Noise Pollution on the alley: Please don't allow any noise producing equipment around the perimeter of the building. We need to sleep. 3. Vehicle Safety on the alley: Our 3 garages are at a lower level than the alley and our garbage enclosure is also raised up to alley level making it hard to see and be seen when exiting. Please make sure that the sight lines from the 611 Main garage are addressed. Convex mirrors are not approved. Both entrances/exits to the alley on 6th & 7th are narrow and sight lines are obscured by parking on 6th and 71h too close to the alley openings. It would be good to have the yellow lines extended on both sides on 61h and 7th to prevent accidents. Please make sure we are safe. 4. Pedestrian/Personal Safety on the alley: There is, at times, a lot of pedestrian use of this alley. School children walk to and then back from the school bus every school day. Families with small children and visitors to Edmonds frequently walk up and down the alley, particularly in good weather and when there are special events. This narrow alley fluctuates in size, at the most 15 ft and often as narrow as 12 feet. Please make sure we are safe. Thank you for your consideration and help with this difficult situation.