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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-2014 ARC MinutesSAN LUIS OBISPO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES June 2, 2014 ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Patricia Andreen, Ken Curtis, Suzan Ehdaie, Amy Nemcik, Allen Root, and Vice -Chair Greg Wynn Absent: Chairperson Michelle McCovey -Good Staff: Senior Planner Pam Ricci, Recreation and Public Art Manager Melissa Mudgett, Fire Captain Matt Callahan, and Recording Secretary Diane Clement ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: 'The agenda was accepted as presented. MINUTES: The minutes of May 19, 2014, were approved as presented. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON - AGENDA ITEMS: There were no comments made from the public. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. 2160 Santa Barbara Avenue. ARCPA 72 -14; Review of Public Art for World Trade Center Memorial at Fire Station 1; PF -H zone; City of San Luis Obispo — Parks and Recreation Dept., applicant. (Melissa Mudgett) Recreation and Public Art Manager Mudgett presented the staff report, recommending adoption of the Draft Resolution, which finds that the public artwork proposed for the World Trade Center Memorial project at Fire Station 1 meets the City's Guidelines for Public Art, based on findings, and subject to conditions, and recommending City Council approval of the project. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Kathy Teufel, SLO Art Museum and member of the memorial art jury, noted that the artist said there was a slight noise when the wind blows through the rods, somewhat like a whistle. There were no further comments made from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Ehdaie stated that she would like to preserve the tree if possible as it adds value to the community and to the memorial. ARC Minutes June 2, 2014 Page 2 Commr. Andreen agreed and stated that sitting under the tree contributes to the experience of viewing the memorial and the buckling sidewalk does not necessarily affect the memorial. Recreation and Public Art Manager Mudgett explained that many of the tree's roots are on the surface doing damage and that it is not a selected species for this street corridor. She noted the Tree Committee will have opportunities to study the impacts, and that the loss of the tree could be mitigated by compensatory planting of new trees elsewhere on the site. Commr. Curtis suggested it may be appropriate to consider a more visible and prominent site for the memorial. Senior Planner Ricci noted that the location meets the required criteria for visibility in a public location. Fire Captain Matt Callahan stated that, in order to get such a large piece from the World Trade Center site, it was required that it be placed in an emergency services location. Commr. Curtis expressed concern that the memorial's name does not do justice to honoring safety personnel trying to rescue other people. He noted there are World Trade Centers in several major U.S. cities and around the world, and he is not sure that people will associate the name with the event in 10 -20 years. He also asked if informational plaques will be included and if lighting could provide the colors rather than the rods. Recreation and Public Art Manager Mudgett stated that, while there was not much discussion about alternative names. Senior Planner Ricci stated that the name resonates with most Americans and, as an important event in history, it will be remembered. Recreation and Public Art Manager Mudgett stated there will be an informational plaque in addition to the words inscribed on the concrete bases and up- lighting between the concrete base and the beam, creating an illusion of the beam floating. Commr. Root expressed concerns about the finish on the rods fading, the spacing of the rods, and the height of the beam. He suggested mounting it so it does not present a horizontal surface for sitting. Commr. Nemcik stated she was concerned about birds leaving droppings on the rods. Commr. Wynn expressed concern that the rods could be bent which would be very difficult to fix. He asked if they will be painted, powder coated, or anodized, and whether the lettering will be attached or recessed into the concrete. He stated his biggest concern is the potential for the rods to bend. He asked if they will sway in the wind, whether they could be broken, and what process is used to make sure that the rods will last a long time. ARC Minutes June 2, 2014 Page 3 Recreation and Public Art Manager Mudgett responded that the rods will be the same diameter as the samples and will be buried about 2 -2'/Z feet in the concrete base. She noted that the rods may be screwed into the base, and the blue rods will be powder coated, but the process of creating the rust color has not been determined. She stated that the beam has been outside behind the fire station for seven years with minimal rusting but there will be some sort of drainage included in the base to prevent staining of the base, possibly using pebbles and draining into the surrounding landscape. She noted that this artist was the only one of 93 who submitted a design that placed the beam horizontally and that this was based on the artist's research indicating this was probably its original positioning in the World Trade Center. She stated the spacing of the rods will be random. Fire Captain Callahan noted that the rods will be solid, not hollow, and that the goal is to have them move a little in the wind because they represent people although there is concern about the rods bending which has to be ironed out with the artist. He noted that oxidizing is fine since the rods are meant to age. He stated that the artist is being asked to make sure there are no burrs on the beam. He also noted that the tree is raising sections of the sidewalk, causing difficulty for a Fire Department volunteer who uses a wheelchair. Commr. Wynn stated that he would prefer the two replacement trees be planted long before the large tree is removed. Commr. Root stated he is fine with the potential staining from the rods or with the drainage if it is used to prevent staining. He noted he likes the idea of the movement of the rods but is concerned about damage. He supported a system for quick and easy replacement. Commr. Wynn supported building full -size mockups before construction and the use of surveillance cameras. There were no further comments made from the Commission. On motion by Commr. Wynn, seconded by Commr. Curtis to adopt the Draft Resolution, which finds that the public artwork proposed for the World Trade Center Memorial project at Fire Station 1 meets the City's Guidelines for Public Art, based on findings, and subject to conditions noted, and recommending City Council approval of the project_ AYES: Commrs. Wynn, Curtis, Andreen, Ehdaie, Nemcik, and Root NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: Commr. McCovey -Good The motion passed on a 6:0 vote. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 2. Staff: ARC Minutes June 2, 2014 Page 4 a. Agenda Forecast: Pam Ricci gave an agenda forecast of upcoming projects. 3. Commission: Commr. Curtis asked about the status of the Chinatown Project and if any modifications to plans were expected to come forward to the ARC. Pam Ricci responded that the Monterey Street portion of the project would be moving forward first and that some minor changes to plans were approved last year through a minor or incidental architectural review application. She noted that she did not anticipate any significant changes to project plans, but if there were, they would need to go to the ARC for review and approval. The Commission suggested for some of the larger projects reviewed in recent years such as MindBody and Sesloc that it might be worthwhile to review the original project plans and compare them to the finished projects. Pam Ricci indicated that it might be a good idea to have a field trip to visit some of the project sites as a group; the Commission concurred with this idea. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Diane Clement Recording Secretary Approved by the Architectural Review Commission on June 16, 2014. Laurie Thomas Administrative Assistant III