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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-03-2003 ARC Minutes SAN LUIS OBISPO ARCHITECTUAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 3, 2003 ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Allen Root, Michael Boudreau, Zeljka Howard, Jim Lopes, David Smith, and Chairperson Charles Stevenson. Absent: Vice-Chair Rob Schultz. Staff: Associate Planner Pamela Ricci and Recording Secretary Irene Pierce. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was modified to present Item 3 before Items 1 & 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: MaryBeth Schroeder, 2085 Wilding Lane, expressed concern with the real estate investors that are causing the housing market in San Luis Obispo to rise to level that is no longer affordable. There were no further comments made from the public. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Downtown. ARC 193-02; Review of a downtown historic street lighting program; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (To be continued to March 17, 2003) (Hilary Hodges) This item was continued to March 17, 2003, without discussion. 2. 2903 Broad Street. ARC 109-02; Review of a seven-unit residential development in the “special considerations” overlay zone; R-2-S zone; Dave Bolduan, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore) Associate Planner Pam Ricci presented the staff report recommending schematic approval of the project with the applicant to return to the ARC with staff recommended modifications and a complete landscape plan, following City Council action on the tentative subdivision map. Chairperson Stevenson clarified the schematic nature of the review and noted that the Commission is being asked to consider two exceptions. Planner Ricci noted that the ARC does not need to take any discretionary action on the yard exceptions, but comments and recommendations on their appropriateness can be made. ARC Minutes March 3, 2003 Page 2 Joseph Boud, project architect, briefly explained the changes that were made to the project plans. He asked that the Commission not adopt the recommended condition regarding changes to the design of the garages. He concurred with the portion of condition 3 that states, “Window treatments should be incorporated into the garages”. He agreed to dress up the post and beams on the front porches. Commr. Lopes asked for clarification of the width of the porch posts. Mr. Boud replied that the posts would be a minimum of six inches square. Chairperson Stevenson asked where the stamped portion of concrete would be located and if the drainage will be handled through a swale in the driveway. Mr. Boud replied that they have submitted a grading and drainage plan and explained where it would drain. Chairperson Stevenson noted that Plan B shows a vertical element in the garage through the second floor. He wondered if they could extend an eyebrow element above the garage door and across the opening. Mr. Boud replied this could be done, but the more they add on to these homes, the less they become starter homes. Dave Bolduan, 388 Los Cerros Drive, said he supports a trellis. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Art Murphy, 2974 Rockview Place, expressed support for the project. He noted his main concern on this project is the drainage, and expressed support for a swale. There were no further comments made from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Boudreau expressed support for the glass lights on the garage door, noting they satisfy his concern about the garage. He expressed support for the project as it stands. Commr. Root commented that he does not support moving the laundry area into the storage area. He suggested that a citrus tree be planted to screen the southern exposure and that a play area be added in the common area. He would like to see a little more articulation, but supports the project overall. Commr. Howard moved to grant schematic approval to the project incorporating recommendations 1, 2, and modifying Condition 3 to state “the design of the garages shall be modified to include additional trellises with something replicating the entry columns on Plan B, and eliminate laundry facilities; and window treatment will be ARC Minutes March 3, 2003 Page 3 incorporated. Condition 4 modified to add: more detailing and articulation would be appropriate, and delete condition 7. Seconded by Commr. Root. Chairperson Stevenson commented that this is a great example of utilizing a difficult site. Commr. Lopes voiced his concern with the parking spaces in the front yards and felt this is something that should not be seen in San Luis Obispo. He felt this could be redesigned to have the parking in the back, and offered some suggestions. Commr. Root responded to Commissioner Lopes’ comments about the parking and concurs that the cars are visible from the street. There was discussion about the parking. Chairperson Stevenson requested an amendment that the stamped concrete on the apron coming in from Rockview be more than 10-feet, and recommended 20-feet, and a gateway to identify it as a private street. This was added to condition 1 in the motion. The Motion Maker and Second accepted the amendment. Planner Ricci noted this could be continued to a date certain of April 7, 2003, to finalize the colors. AYES: Commr. Howard, Root, Boudreau, Lopes, Smith, and Stevenson. NOES: None. ABSENT: Vice-Chair Schultz. ABSTAIN: None. The motion carried 6-0. 3. Citywide. ARC 42-00; Review of the addition of the Hillside Development section to the approved Community Design Guidelines; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Pam Ricci) Associate Planner Pam Ricci presented the staff report recommending approval of the Hillside Development section to the approved Community Design Guidelines, with some additions. She suggested an amendment on page 1/3, regarding driveway slope and noted that wording was added to make it consistent with the City’s Parking and Driveway Standards. Paul Crawford, Consultant, offered some suggested language that references the Hillside Section in the Land Use Element. He noted it is important to recognize that these proposed revisions go into the guidelines. Chairperson Stevenson felt there should not be competing ordinances and guidelines that confuse people. ARC Minutes March 3, 2003 Page 4 Commr. Lopes felt the hillside policies are not guidelines and wondered if the City administered them as standards. Planner Ricci replied yes, and explained they apply to all hillside lots. Commr. Lopes questioned how the ARC would use these as standards in relation to how they would use the guidelines that the policy has proposed. Planner Ricci explained the intention was that these concepts that are included in the development standards in the Land Use Element would be further described to guide designers in terms of the final product on a hillside lot. PUBLIC COMMENTS: MaryBeth Schroeder, 2085 Wilding Lane, noted she is an RQN member and has seen many things go wrong with hillside lots. She felt the original standards for hillside slopes should be further enforced and become more restricted. Carla Saunders, 660 Oakridge, read a letter from a Residents for Quality Neighborhoods (RQN) representative, and noted she supports the Hillside Standards and the ARC. She stated that the RQN requested that the Land Use Element Hillside Development Standards also become part of the Community Design Guidelines. She mentioned that RQN recommends that this item be continued to allow for more public input because they received the staff report the previous Wednesday and have not had as much time to review these details and complicated materials as they felt were merited. She commented that the San Luis Obispo Hillside Ordinance Draft Guidelines 1991, were written by ARC members at a time when many hillside developments had come before them that caused concerns. She felt they may have merit as a possible vehicle for further interpreting the standards, but not replacing them. She mentioned that Attachment 1 is not as clear and instructive to applicants and supportive of the LUE Hillside Standards as the ARC version Attachment 3, and felt that Attachment 1 might weaken portions of the LUE Hillside Standards. She stated they do not support Attachment 1 inclusions in the Community Design Guidelines. She offered a few revisions to lighting and landscaping standards. There were no further comments made from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Lopes moved to continue this to a date certain of April 21, 2003, and requested staff to address Land Use Element Policy E in more detail. Seconded by Commr. Howard. AYES: Commrs. Root, Howard, Lopes, Smith, Boudreau, and Stevenson NOES: None ABSENT: Commr. Schultz ABSTAIN: None ARC Minutes March 3, 2003 Page 5 The motion carried, 6:0. No agenda forecast was presented. ADJOURNMENT With no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. to the next regular scheduled meeting for March 17, 2003, in Council Hearing Room. Respectfully submitted by Irene E. Pierce Recording Secretary