HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-07 Minutes (2)Fayetteville Public Library
Board of Trustees Special Meeting with Project Architect Jeff Scherer, MS&R LTD
February 7, 2000
Prepared by Louise Schaper
Corrected 2/28/00
Trustees present were M. Thomas, L. Gottsponer, L. Brewer, S. Singleton, R. Alexander and M. Roberts. Staff
members present were L. Schaper. Also present were L. Kellams, C. Allison, J. Scherer. The meeting was called to
order at 4:10 p.m.
•
Purpose of meeting: J. Scherer said that the Board needed to find agreement about (1) entrance/exits;
(2) landscape and site issues; (3) functional layout of building.
II. J. Scherer presented the latest site plan, functional layout and form of the building. Key points were:
a. The walking distance from the old to the new library is 200 feet more than the mall complex.
b. New site plan shows graded southwest corner for safety purposes. This will eliminate retaining wall
and trees on that side and allow for a sidewalk on the east side of West.
c. Meet City regulations for sidewalks.
d. Use of DDEP materials for sidewalks etc. .
e. Narrowing of Mountain Street; widening of West St. to allow for parking on the east side.
f. Entrance only from Mountain.
g. Front porch concept for entrance.
h. All high traffic activities in oval form. Cafe able to be open when library is closed. Cyber cafe with
shared information desk functions being explored.
i. Exit right, enter right is ideal and is possible with this layout.
j. Book pavilion (oblong form) offers flexibility, quiet study, reading areas.
k. At northeast corner (entrance) height of building is 26 feet. Needs more urban design work.
I. Elevator—one public. Can leave space (shaft) for second one. About $120K for second one now.
m. Expansion is possible on the sides, not up.
n. Jeff asked Board's point of view on tree issue M Roberts said safety is key and we need to replant.
S. Singleton said that the land is not virgin forest... it is an urban space and to go to extraordinary
length to save trees is to have the tail wag the dog. L. Gottsponer said we need to provide
sidewalks to meet City code.
o. Jeff said this is a real life complex urban setting issue—nothing is black and white. Trees may be
compromised anyways, need to regrade for safety and visibility.
p. R. Alexander said that the reasons to do It are numerous. We will replace the trees.
q. There was agreement among Trustees to:
1. Replace the trees, regrade the southwest part of the site, and add all new sidewalks. Jeff
reminded us that the civic restructuring was not in the budget.
2. Entrance off Mountain.
3. Bury utilities.
r. Jeff said that stopping now is difficult. People want to know what it will look like but once the
referendum passes there is another year of design work. This is just a concept—but it is not final.
s. S. Singleton asked why the change in design. Jeff stated it is important to gauge reaction to
different designs.
t. Jeff said doing a pitched roof is very difficult. The gable would be 30' high and add a huge cost to
the project. It would take two floors of space. He said we would never see the building from the
angle we see the model. You cannot build a house and put it on a copier to enlarge it into an urban
building.
u. The cost of doing stone is at least twice the cost of brick. Predominant material on the square is
brick. Stone is not usually used on the scale of an urban building. To do it right would be difficult.
Jeff is thinking of a brick base with a lightweight material (glass and bronze) for the upper level.
v. Jeff is thinking of brick on the interior of the ellipse
w. L. Gottsponer wants a discussion of expansion in the full report. If the cost comes in reasonably, we
might be able to do the full expansion now.
x. Next meeting will focus on next steps.
III. Adjournment: M. Thomas moved and M. Roberts seconded a motion to adjourn. The meeting was
adjoumed at 6 p.m.