Pilgrim Triton gets architecture and design revision in Foster City

“I’m glad the comments we offered were heard and that you didn’t have to change footprint or mass or height or — you didn’t have to do other than articulate the facade with what you already had and I think you’ve done a fabulous job, I’m very pleased,” said Commissioner Noemi Avram, according to video of the March 7 meeting.

Pilgrim Triton Phase C is the last remaining phase of the Pilgrim Triton Master Plan Area and Sares Regis will develop the 4.78-acre site after the City Council signed off on the controversial development late last year. The project is located at 551-565 Pilgrim Drive and 1159 Triton Drive, and entails 70 for-sale townhomes with 22 workforce-housing units for first responders and other city employees.

The townhome buildings’ exterior color schemes, originally an earth tone palette of browns, tans and whites, have been brightened and diversified in the updated proposal, according to a staff report. The new color scheme includes base colors of whites, tans and grays with accents of green, blue and red. Each building will also have a different color scheme to minimize the sense of monotony that commissioners were concerned about in the first proposal.

“I’m so tired of earth tones and it’s nice to see that we’re finally breaking out of that doldrum, said Commissioner Dan Dyckman.

In addition to color changes, townhome facades have been given additional articulation, including more variation in the roof parapet heights, enlarged windows with bays and canopies have been added over some decks, according to the report.

“People wanted to be able to find their own homes and their own entries and have them be different from their neighbor’s home so in no situation anymore do we have a townhome facade that identically mimics the other townhome facade on either side of it and that was done through a combination of color application, color differentiation among the buildings and also modifications to the articulation of how the bay windows are formed and accented on some townhome units,” said Andrew Turco, assistance vice president for residential multifamily development at Sares Regis. 

For the workforce housing building, red accents will enhance the facade and entries are now enclosed with glass for added security.

The park plaza will be completed as part of the project and its design has not changed since the December study session. Other changes include the addition of a barbecue to the shared open space between the townhomes and the workforce housing building and an emergency vehicle access road will be constructed between that building and Street C.

Commissioners offered other suggestions and minor concerns that may or may not be addressed in the future. Commissioner Paul Williams wants to make sure the eyesore of utility boxes aren’t placed in front of buildings and he’d also like to see public art installed on the site. And Dyckman noted that the decks look onto parking areas rather than the more pleasing view of paseos.

The development will be the subject of another Planning Commission hearing in April.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 102