 Well, welcome to DDRC members staff and guests Multiple staff members are present to make sure the meeting runs smoothly and all applicants citizens are able to communicate with the Commission at the appropriate time I will call the roll. Ms. Brannum Mr.. Brune here mr. Greenberg here miss jaco here mr. McGuire here mr. Salibi here we have quorum in order to avoid ex parte communications DDRC members are under strict instructions not to discuss cases under consideration with the public or with each other outside of the public form The meeting typically starts with staff calling the case giving a summary of the project and then calling on the applicant to present if they wish Decisions are typically made in one evening Decisions may be appealed within 30 days to a court of competent jurisdiction Oaks will be administered individually as we hear you either from applicants or from live speakers Applicants with requests before the DDRC are lauded at presentation time of 10 minutes This time should include but is not limited to an overview of the project case history and any pertinent meetings held regarding the request This time also includes all persons presenting information on behalf of the applicant such as attorneys engineers and architects This time limit does not include any questions asked by the DDRC or staff regarding the request Members of the general public are given the opportunity to address their concerns and intervals of two minutes Applicants may have five minutes to respond Staff have a timer and will make presenters aware of when their time has expired. Are there any changes to the agenda? There are no changes to the agenda The DDRC uses the consent agenda to approve non controversial or routine matters by a single motion and vote If a member of the DDRC or the general public wants to discuss an item on the consent agenda Then the item is removed from that agenda and considered during the meeting The DDRC then improves the remaining consent agenda items. Will staff please read the consent agenda. I Will read the consent agenda understand We have one member who needs to recuse from from the consent agenda So I'll give mr. Greenberg a moment to step away The consent agenda reads 1107 Maple Street a request for preliminary certification for the Bailey bill in Melrose Heights, Oakland architectural conservation district 1613 to 1615 Ennery Avenue requests for a preliminary certification for the Bailey bill Wales Garden architectural conservation district 1718 Hampton Street requests for a preliminary certification for the Bailey bill for an individual landmark This is the Chestnut Cottage 2918 Gray Street requests for preliminary certification for the Bailey bill in the Cottontown Bellevue architectural conservation district 2226 Senate Street requests for a preliminary certification for the Bailey bill in the Old Shandon lower Waverley protection area 2006 Jervais Street requests for a certificate of design approval for new construction in the five points design overly overlay district And I did want to note that we received comments for this project which were passed on to y'all earlier in the week 2403 Santy Avenue a request for a certificate of design approval for new construction in the Old Shandon lower Waverley protection area and Last 200 Mulberry Lane a request for a certificate of design approval for new construction in the Wailey Street protection area Is there anyone from the DDRC that would like to remove any item from the consent agenda? Is there anyone from the public that would like to have an item removed from the consent agenda? Do I have a motion and a second to accept the consent agenda also the the minutes From October motion to accept the consent agenda and October second Miss jaco. Yes, mr. Broom. Yeah, miss Branham. Yes Mr. McGuire. Yes, mr. Salibi. Yes motion passes All right, we'll move to the regular agenda first item So the first and only case on the regular agenda this evening is 930 Laurel Street. This is Finley Park The Finley Park project includes revitalization of the existing park with a number of new features and three new buildings While each of the new buildings meets the financial threshold for DDRC review The city center design guidelines are geared towards Urban development in the downtown street grid and do not address buildings within a park setting in the past when we've had an Anomaly project that does not fall within the review categories of the chapter 5 guidelines We've relied on the principles outlined in the introductory chapter of the city center design guidelines to provide a high level and broad review Of the project as a whole those are all in your packet. I'm not going to read through them Staff does find the proposal for Finley Park and the associated buildings meet the Applicable city center design guidelines and recommend approval of the request We do have several people from the design team here to talk and mr. Henry Simons I'm our assistant city manager over in parks of recreation is going to introduce the project and then we'll have some other folks Talk about some of the details of the project Thank you, Lucinda. Good afternoon to everyone madam chair and the entire ddrc team Of course, my name is Henry Simons. I'm the assistant city manager of operations of course for the city of Columbia and We are of course here to provide a overview of the design for Finley Park We are very very excited About where we are today regarding Finley Park and people in this room We have worked very hard to get us to this point We believe that Stantec and the entire design team Has done an amazing job in bringing our vision for Finley Park to life And our goal today is to share what we believe to be the future design of Finley Park Which demonstrates a few things that I want to share Hold on. I just want to make sure can I still me swear you in real quick? I think you stated your name. Yes, and do you swear to tell the truth in these proceedings? So I'm sorry, so you swear to tell the truth in this proceeding. Yes. Thank you I'll get chastised later by stows. Okay All right As I indicated it enhances the quality of life for our citizens Tracks new business Investors to downtown Columbia as well as the state of South Carolina Feels a connectivity gap Within a within our downtown corridor. We've seen lots of vibrancy on Main Street our Vista Bull Street in other areas of the city and filling this gap in Finley Park will enhance The connectivity that we haven't seen in over a decade also With the growth of our Vista Greenway This is just a lot of connectivity to this project, which will make downtown, Columbia Absolutely amazing and it provides sustainability. Of course building it is one thing But sustainability and maintaining it is another so our focus in this design was to ensure That we can maintain the the work for years to come We certainly don't want to design a park that we can't maintain in the future seamlessly Lastly an increase in recreational engagement as I indicated there's so much growth that's going on on the Vista Main Street Bull Street and with Finley Park This is really the last component that really will fill a gap You know that our citizens will really enjoy So Thank you for giving us an opportunity to present to you today I'm going to invite Todd Martin was our park planner for parks and recreation to walk us through The current design. Thank you. Todd. Thank you So whoever speak when you come up I'll swear you in and then you can do your presentation So hi, please state your name Todd Martin. Do you swear to tell the truth in this proceeding? I do Good afternoon Sighted to be here As I go through the design I want to start in the center of the park where you see we have an open space event line and The idea is to build this new event space with a stage built into the hillside To project noise away from the adjacent neighborhoods into the center of the city We also wanted to design the open space and the center event space for programming to be set up for easy event setup food truck rallies and Also for different recreational activities such as roller skating and a walking track in that oval I want to activate that space From the oval we're going to spin off with strolling gardens that really start to link all the elements together from the Destination playground that spills into the hillside number 13 number 14 the splash pad The amenity stream that flows along the event line from the pond and the architecture and the architecture The architecture we've designed to be lanterns for the park with an understanding that lighting Safety is going to be important in this new design and that theme will carry out throughout the site development, too We'll have a theme to really have a cohesive design and pull everything together and then The the actual features in the buildings we have restrooms we have Shade shelter and then we also have on number 10 the building coming in from the vista Will be a hospitality office and in that office. We will have Reynolds for roller skates remote control sailboats again. We're just trying to really activate this part on a consistent level The new pond will be smaller than it is today We're filling in a portion of the pond To create that central green space and the news and the new pond will have more of a naturalized gently sloping edge to it with lush native pollinators along the edge and we'll feed that pond with the Iconic spiral that we're all very familiar with at Finley Park decided to bring that back and It'll spill down the existing rapids We're also going to save the waterfall plank That the 40 foot falls that fall into the grotto below We felt that's just as iconic as the spiral itself and number seven to the left of the Waterfall or the spiral is an upper plaza that directly connects to an overlooked plaza We love the space because it has some of the best skyline views of the city We envision using the space for small events. Maybe even weddings up there But it's also a very crucial piece of the accessible plan Because it connects from the upper with a switchback down to the overlooked plaza and from that plaza You take an elevated cantilever walk behind the existing waterfall Over the rapids and then you work your way down the hillside along Laurel Street to the green space below So you provide an experience. It's not just a switchback down the side of the hill to the park and Then number 12 the existing building along Laurel Street. We're going to convert that to our ranger station To have rangers presence in the park The visibility is important along Laurel Street. You currently can't see into the park So we're going to selectively clear trees where we need to to open up view corridors into the park same thing with the View corridor at the corner of assembly to a Laurel as you work your way down that that corridor opening up views there as well And our idea for that space is to really flood it with art and we'll work with one Columbia as We implement art in that space Once you get to the open space below that corridor You're presented with this This is this is a view you have you see the pond in front of you the lush Landscape adjacent to the pond some of the architecture and you have this the old grotto wall Or the old drum wall that's currently the Loppelstein wall We're going to clad that to become a piece of art with with Precast concrete panels and this decorative metal above and then at night it becomes a lantern for the park again Tying in to what we're doing with our architecture. It all bleeds together and it's a cohesive statement so with that what we have at Finley Park you're very familiar it's like a bowl and We have this panoramic view on the backdrop with the destination play the stage Yeah, apologies for that. So my question relates to the ranger station in the design phase of the project was their consideration giving to putting the ranger station in a more central location of the park to give a Presence of an authority figure around the clock The reason it is where it is it's because of the views you have up there You really get a good panoramic view of the park because it's elevated And that was the main reason I think having the hospitality Office at number 10 gives us that ability to be in the park also And we want the Rangers out in the park. We don't want them just sitting up there also So the the cameras we have will be in on their phones. We want them engaging in the park also. Is that it does? Yes, okay. Thank you very much Just want to add to your comment about about that So we were very intentional about the security and safety of the park So we are adding in mercy call boxes with cameras on top of them and Cameras throughout the park as well and there will be a viewing station or monitors in the ranger station where ranger will be posted But we'll have multiple rangers patrolling the park at the same time So we were very intentional about safety and security in the park as well. So I want to add that comment Any other questions commissioners Are these designs subject to potentially change others Are there areas That we could be seeing design changes where you would be before us again in the near future I don't believe so. We're currently about 50 to 60 percent through the design process So what you see is very accurate Sorry, I'll try not to take up too much more time. There were some public comments with regard to natural flora and fauna Of the park and pardon me that are particular to the area Is does any part of the design Give rise to I know it mentioned removing some trees to increase visibility from the public right away Which is which is a good thing? Is there any consideration giving to Increasing the amount of flora and fauna within the park Or yes, and we have a couple of really great opportunities Especially with the strolling gardens Those gardens are interconnected organic walk-in loops that create these different garden rooms of different scales and We can those will be just lush with native vegetation It's a good opportunity to tell that story to provide education for the public. You have it there We talked about it around the water features itself And it's a standard of a part when we do a part to really Have a lot of native vegetation in the park Right. Thank you very much. I think commissioners are good at the moment Thank you. Thank you. All right, we will now hear any comments from the public We just wanted to acknowledge to that we did receive four Written comments that were forwarded to the Commission yesterday. So those were from the Columbia Audubon Society South Carolina Native Plant Society Midlands chapter from Gary Linsky the rector of St. Peter's Church and from Tracy Our trace Ballu president of Columbia Green. So those were all forwarded to you all yesterday But we just wanted to get that on the record Thank you Anybody from the public like to speak come up and please state your name Jeff Bait live at number 10 Governor's Hill So I live right above the park immediately adjacent to the park at the Gassin Street end and do you swear to tell the truth in this proceeding? Do you swear to tell the truth in this proceeding? Just make sure you talk into this microphone as loud as you can Okay, so we're obviously excited to see something happen with the park and we'd like to hear how the upper parking lot is being changed and As you know the the gate at the gas and ends of the street is closed Permanently, I hope and there was a reason for that because we live there and we experience everything that goes on there Particularly in that upper parking lot, you know, we've we've witnessed and my neighbors will testify to this We've witnessed all the drug deals all the beatings all the You name it going on day in day out day or night. So We think it's important that access to that parking lot is controlled 24 hours a day and Also, I Know it's not the purpose of the people here to talk about what what goes on with the homeless there but these shelters and things like that we'd like to know a little bit more about lighting of those and And and what the hours that these rangers are going to be in in the park And I may have some follow us, but I know there's other folks here from Goddard's Hill And again, we appreciate something being done with this park. It's it's it's got super potential And you know, we feel like it's been left to overgrow These all these pine trees and all this stuff. It's it's it's not very attractive If you'll address also that the pine trees that are growing all around us Okay Thank you. Thank you. Oh, hold on sir then commissioner has a follow-up question for you on the Gadsden Street I want to are the gate permanently closed At the Gadsden entrance to that parking lot and that predated me living here But some of my neighbors who know the history can tell you but that had to be done because of what was going on in that parking lot all night long day in and day out, you know, and You know, it's important to us as homeowners there to that Continues to stay closed Okay, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, thank you Well, yeah, I'd like to come up and respond, please Well, thank you for the comment and I know working through the design process some of the Designs before this one. We had we had a parking lot that was one way and we were gonna do away with that And we heard very strongly from the community at the time that they did not want that They wanted the parking to stay exactly the way it is and we made that change which is reflected in the new designs So we can we can keep that gate. We can keep it one way. We understand We don't want the loop Continuing because they had a lot of problems with that so you rest assured that that will Change the way we had discussed As far as the Rangers in the park in their hours, I believe we're looking right now at six to nine As far as that schedule goes, I mean that can be fluid, of course as we get closer to the park opening and the The buildings themselves will be lit, you know all night and one thing that I didn't mention about the restrooms is that they're Going to be individual restrooms So we're not going to have one restroom that you can just walk in and you don't know what you're walking into you have individual doors that can be locked and They're just single-use only which is I think will be a very strong component for those buildings also So and the other comment that was mentioned was about the pine trees on the site So I'm sure it's part of your beautification and landscaping and our vision to clean some of this up. Yes, ma'am. All right Thank you. Any other comments? Yeah, I just want to also add in terms of camera surveillance and security The monitor Cameras will be monitored from our emergency operation center as well live feed Where our police department and our emergency management team they're housed So we'll have on-site monitoring, but we also have remote sighting remote site monitoring as well because we are very Advent about people feeling comfortable in our park feeling safe in our park as well So I wanted to add that comment as well And I had a question I assume Clearly, there'll be cameras in the parking lot. Yes. Okay. Yes, and I'm sure there'll be a law enforcement Presence fairly regularly. I mean yeah collaboration between park range and law enforcement absolutely We are very intentional also about the camera surveillance on the governor's hillside We'll make sure that those cameras are not pointing at folks home homes, but it will capture the parking lot itself So we're very intentional about about that as well Thank you Any other members from the public like to speak and I hope everybody in the audience was able to hear their responses clear enough Okay. All right good Anybody else another gentleman? Good afternoon. I'm Tom Hunt and I swear to tell the truth And I'm the resident at Governor's Hill also my question is What will the city do? Differently this time with Finley Park so that it doesn't once again fall into disrepair Well, we'll definitely bring the applicant back up for that one Also, I'd like to know about the lighting in the parking lot at the top Thank you. Thank you so obviously we we are again Very intentional about the current culture In Finley Park and as we move forward What our planning our goal is to have constant presence In our part constant activity constant activation as well And again our partnership between our park rangers communication as well as police Gonna be essential and creating a culture and atmosphere that our citizens can feel safe That is our first priority when it comes to this environment So between activation between police and park range of presence between programming We feel comfortable that this park will be safe and we'll be a place that Anyone can come and enjoy the experience. So we feel really good about that and as we proceed We can make we will make necessary adjustments as we go along But sustainability and maintenance is absolutely critical So some of the design work that you see was built in to ensure that we can maintain the park for years to come Because some of the terrain that you see here at the park now is a result of the design that occurred years ago So we understand what that looks like what that means. So some of the adjustments we made to to the park Helps us to maintain the actual terrain a whole lot better than we've done in the past So that those items were incorporated into the process as well one one being the the wall that you see That Todd described earlier that wall was very difficult to maintain and there's a lot of You know just it was hard for our internal staff to elevate to make sure that kept that was kept clean So with those columns there That's gonna assure that does that doesn't happen in the future as a as an example So we're we feel good about the design. We feel good about Maintaining our goal is to ensure that we're doing things every year in the park to make sure it's maintained Bringing new activities new products Along the way so that's built into the process as well our goal and you know mayor and counsel have publicly shared this that Our contributions to maintaining the park our maintenance goal is it's too me in a year as maintenance and programming as well So we are we feel good about that number and where we are and we'll make adjustments as necessary To add on that you're saying that has like a budgeted amount annually. Yes, ma'am. Absolutely Did you want to add anything Todd about the lighting? There was a question about the parking light lighting and the plan is to use Cobra heads That'll focus the light down into the parking lot that won't spread to the surrounding neighborhood for light pollution And the other members from the public like to speak Nobody has any follow-ups. I think we're good. All right With that all Open up to a motion second, miss Jacob. Yes, mr. Broom Yeah, mr. Greenberg. Yes, mr. McGuire and mr. Salibi Motion passes Is there any other business on the agenda today? We don't have any other business except to wish everyone a good Thanksgiving. That's good All right, so with that, I'll open up for motion to adjourn I like to make a motion to adjourn this meeting today Have a second. All right. Thank you. Thank you everybody