The city Design Review Board is meeting today to review plans for several projects.

The first is NeighborWorks Great Falls’ Rockcress Commons.

The proposed project includes construction of a new 124-unit, multi-family apartment complex on a 7.97 acre parcel, located west of 23rd Street South and north of 24th Avenue South.

124-unit Rockcress Commons set for Commission vote on annexation, zoning on Dec. 5

The development includes six three-story apartment buildings, one two-story apartment building and a one-story community building. The total square footage of the combined buildings is proposed to be 107,489 square feet. The property is currently zoned as a Planned Unit Development, as approved by City Commissioners on Dec. 5, 2017.

Rockcress Commons gets initial okay in city development process

The proposed project meets requirements of the city’s standards and guidelines for new construction, except one.

Three of the three-story apartment buildings don’t meet the guideline requiring first floor façades to have 30 percent windows and doors.

Planning staff and the developers met to discuss potential mitigation for both the first level and upper levels of these facades and agreed to include design and architectural details in order to divide and enhance the elevations, according to the staff report. Larger evergreen landscaping will be incorporated into the site plan to screen utility meters and air conditioner units.

The DRB will also review plans for remodeling the Cine4 Complex at 1116 9th St. S. The property owner is proposing to remodel the entire east façade to help promote the retail space to potential tenants and bring more foot traffic to the retail/commercial area. The new proposed east façade is bold and Montana Modern in style, according to the staff report.

The DRB will also review exterior remodel plans for the Town Pump at 505 NW Bypass and the Town Pump at 700 10th Ave. S.