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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-2014 ARC MinutesSAN LUIS OBISPO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES August 18, 2014 ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Patricia Andreen, Ken Curtis, Suzan Ehdaie, Amy Nemcik, Allen Root, and Chairperson Michelle McCovey -Good Absent: Vice- Chairperson Greg Wynn Staff: Senior Planner Pam Ricci, Contract Planner Rachel Cohen, and Recording Secretary Diane Clement ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. MINUTES: The minutes of August 4, 2014, were approved as presented. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON - AGENDA ITEMS: There were no comments made from the public. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. 3720 Broad Street. ARC 106 -14; Review of a new facility for McCarthy Steel wholesale and warehousing; C -S -S zone; McCarthy Steel (Bill Hand), applicant. (Rachel Cohen) Contract Planner Rachel Cohen presented the staff report, recommending adoption of the Draft Resolution which approves the project, based on findings, and subject to conditions. Jim Duffy, Jim Duffy Architects, stated that removing the gray panels, designed to break up the structure's mass and color of the vertical metal siding on the north and south elevations is acceptable and that he is happy to work with the City Arborist about the types of trees to be planted. He noted that the temporary building on the adjacent property will be removed in six months or less. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no comments made from the public. ARC Minutes August 18, 2014 Page 2 COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commrs. Curtis and McCovey -Good stated that they like the horizontal siding designed to break up the mass of the vertical siding on the north and south elevations. Commr. Curtis noted that it is a long building so some breaking up with color and material is preferred and, although he would choose a different beginning and ending location, he is happy with it as proposed. Senior Planner Ricci inquired whether a majority of the Commission supports the inclusion of the wall panels. Several Commrs. responded that they would be fine either way. There was agreement to change Condition 4 to "may remove the horizontal, corrugated siding from the north side of the structure." Commr. Curtis asked for an explanation as to why Condition 9 states that the mechanical and electrical equipment shall be located inside the building but also refers to placing condensers and other mechanical equipment on the roof. Architect Duffy stated that the condenser units will be on the ground on the south side behind the fencing and there is no rooftop mounting planned. Senior Planner Ricci noted that Condition 9 is a standard condition that addresses screening for a range of different types of mechanical equipment, which may or may not be roof - mounted. She pointed out that sometimes rooftop equipment is proposed later and that the condition provides for additional information to be a part of plans to determine that adequate screening is provided. Commr. Curtis stated that if rooftop equipment is put up later, it sometimes becomes an eyesore and there have been cases where rooftop mountings have not been satisfactory. Architect Duffy asked if it was acceptable to put privacy slatted fencing up to fencing already in place on two adjacent properties. Senior Planner Ricci stated that there is no need to unduly duplicate fencing. Contract Planner Cohen noted that the landscaping on the Steamfitters Union side would help screen the construction site. There were no further comments made from the Commission. On motion by Commr. Ehdaie seconded by Commr. Curtis to adopt the Draft Resolution approving the project, based on findings, and with the word_ "shall" in Condition 4 changed to "mom." ARC Minutes August 18, 2014 Page 3 AYES: Commrs. Ehdaie, Curtis, Andreen, McCovey -Good, Nemcik, and Root NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: Commr. Wynn The motion passed on a 6:0 vote. 2. 600 Tank Farm Road. ARC 121 -12; Review of a new 77,370- square foot headquarters for Digital West; BP -SP zone; Tim Williams, applicant. (Pam Ricci) Chairperson McCovey -Good recused herself because her firm is working on plans for the project. Commr. Ehdaie assumed the role of Chairperson for the rest of the meeting in the absence of Vice Chairperson Wynn. Senior Planner Ricci introduced David Moran, DiLeo & Moran, who is a contract planner working for the City on the review of this project. David Moran presented the staff report, recommending adoption of the Draft Resolution, which grants final approval to the project, based on findings, and subject to conditions. He pointed out several minor changes to conditions included in the Draft Resolution. Tim Williams, project applicant and founder of Digital West, discussed the history of his company in the area and the plans for the new facility under review by the ARC. He introduced Laura Gough, 2G Architects, who described the overall building design in more detail. Jeremy Freund, Wallace Group, responded to some of the Commission's questions related to grading. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Jann Biegel, representing Hidden Hills Mobile Lodge, expressed concern with noise from proposed generators and long -term use of the shared road with the mobile home park. She also stated that line of sight requirement from the mobile home park should remain as part of Condition 9. There were no further comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Andreen asked what kind of traffic the completed project would generate other than employee traffic. Tim Williams stated that the majority of customers do not need to access the facility because they can do everything remotely. Commr. Curtis asked if the noise studies considered construction noise and activities.. Mr. Moran responded that construction noise was assessed and that there was also a requirement to water the site as necessary to control dust. ARC Minutes August 18, 2014 Page 4 Senior Planner Ricci pointed out that the negative declaration which evaluated noise has already been approved and is not under consideration by the Commission, but that the mitigation measures are included in Attachment 4 to the staff report. Commr. Root asked about the frequency and duration of power failures necessitating use of the generators in the past. Mr. Williams stated that the longest power failure experienced at the current San Luis Obispo facility was three hours and that, even in a worst case scenario at full build -out with all generators running, that City noise thresholds would not be exceeded. Jeremy Freund, Wallace Group, stated that construction traffic will use the secondary access road to the west of the project so there will not be a burden placed on the primary access road through the mobile home park. Commr. Curtis expressed concern about the potential for the stockpiling of material on the property to the south to cause some issues in the future. Commr. Ehdaie stated that this is a very exciting project for a major employer in the City and the design is beautifully done. Other Commrs. added their commendations. There were no further comments made from the Commission. On a motion by Commr. Root, seconded by Commr. Andreen to adopt the Draft Resolution_granting final approval to the proiect with the condition changes presented at the meeting. AYES: Commrs. Root, Andreen, Curtis, Ehdaie, and Nemcik NOES: None RECUSED: Commr. McCovey -Good ABSENT: Commr. Wynn The motion passed on a 5:0 vote. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 3. Staff: a. Agenda Forecast by Senior Planner Ricci: September 8, 2014: Pacific Courtyards, possibly a conceptual review for a building at the corner of Marsh and Broad across from CVS pharmacy, a mixed use project with four residential and six live /work units at 774 Caudill Street, four new residential units with parking at 460 Marsh Street. • September 15, 2014: conceptual review for a mixed use project on Miner's parking lot, hotel development behind the restaurant at 1845 Monterey, a 9- unit residential development on the west side of Rockview. ARC Minutes August 18, 2014 Page 5 4. Commission: a. Commr. Nemcik will be absent from both September meetings. b. Commr. Curtis will be absent from the September 15 meeting and possibly from the September 8 meeting. c. Commr. Andreen noted that the SESLOC building is looking very attractive. d. Commr. Root agreed and added that he also likes the iFixit building on Monterey because it honors the existing architecture. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Diane Clement Recording Secretary Approved by the Architectural Review Commission on September 8, 2014, Lauri Thomas Administrative Assistant III