The Lexington Planning Commission last week approved most of the elements requested by Washington and Lee University in the exterior design of the proposed Founders Hall, but requested some elements be brought back at its next meeting with amendments or additional information.
The one amendment that the Commission requested involved some of the lighting fixtures that were pro-
THESE ELEVATION DRAWINGS for the proposed Founders Hall, which show the view of the building from the entrance at the corner of Washington Street and Lee Avenue (above) and from Lee Avenue (left), were among the images that were presented to the Lexington Planning Commission last Thursday.
posed for the site. One of them, a free-standing dome top bollard path light, is not certified as being dark sky compliant, which raised concerns among some members.
While the standards for approval for a certificate of appropriateness for an institutional overlay do not explicitly require lighting fixtures that are formally certified as being dark sky compliant – meaning they are designed to minimize glare and light pollution -- all of the other lighting fixtures proposed for the site are certified.
Tom Kalasky, executive director of university facilities for W&L, told the Commission that he didn’t know why the proposed bollards weren’t certified as being dark sky compliant, but it was included because these kinds of bollards have been installed in other places around campus. Kalasky agreed to find a bollard that is certified as dark sky compliant for the Commission to consider.
The Commission also requested that elevation designs of the Lee Avenue side of the building that show the view of the building from “eye level,” which include proposed landscaping elements that are being proposed to be installed between the building and the sidewalk, be presented.
They further requested that the elevations be provided from two angles – facing the building from Lee Avenue, and looking down the Lee Avenue side of the building from Washington Street in the direction of the post office.
Kalasky noted that the proposed landscaping for the site will include a number of native species of plants, some of which will be positioned along the foundation of the building and will be “compliant with the building but [not] overpower the building.”
Kalasky also updated the Planning Commission on plans to hold a forum with the public to get feedback on a parking study, something he proffered in December when the Planning Commission considered – and ultimately approved – a request to amend the setback of the Washington Street frontage of the proposed building from 34 feet to 21 feet.
Kalasky told the Commission that the university has entered into a contract with the Timmons Group to conduct the study, not just in regards to this site but for the whole of the university’s campus, which will take about six months to complete and will be made available for public review after it is completed.
Charlie Hall made the motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness for Founders Hall and Tori Bates provided the second. The motion passed in a 5-0 vote, with Commission member John Eastwood and City Council liaison Leslie Straughan recusing themselves from the discussion and vote. Eastwood cited his employment at W&L as the reason for his recusal, and Straughan cited her husband’s.
