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Home My WebLink About08-03-2015 ARC Draft Minutes of 07-20-15DRAFT SAN LUIS OBISPO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 20, 2015 ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Patricia Andreen, Ken Curtis, Amy Nemcik, Allen Root, Angela Soll, Vice-Chair Suzan Ehdaie, and Chairperson Greg Wynn Absent: None Staff: Senior Planner Brian Leveille, Senior Planner Jaime Hill, and Recording Secretary Erica Inderlied ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. MINUTES: The minutes of July 6, 2015, were approved as amended. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: There were no comments from the public. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. 12424 Los Osos Valley Road. ARCH-1064-2015; Review of the rebranding of an existing ARCO gas station site to a Chevron gas station, including replacement of the existing canopy and signage and minor building façade modifications, with a categorical exemption from environmental review; C-T & LOVR zones; Bruce Sayahan, applicant. Jaime Hill, Senior Planner, presented the staff report, recommending that the Commission adopt a resolution approving the proposed replacement canopy and signage and minor building façade modifications, based on findings and subject to conditions which she outlined. In response to inquiry from Commr. Curtis, staff confirmed that the subject portion of Los Osos Valley Road is a designated scenic corridor in the City’s General Plan. JR Beard, applicant representative, summarized the history of the project; noted the rationale for increasing the canopy height and the need for a design package meeting the requirements of the Chevron Corporation; added that staff’s recommendation that the canopy have a gabled, or hipped, roof would further add to the height of the structure. Draft ARC Minutes July 20, 2015 Page 2 PUBLIC COMMENTS: James Lopes, SLO, spoke in support of staff’s recommendation; noted concern about the requirement for a gable roof and the potential for glare from site lighting; noted that most other gas stations in the area utilize monument signs rather than pole signs. There were no further comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Andreen spoke in support of eliminating the requirement for a gabled canopy roof, and the use of neutral colors on the canopy. Commr. Curtis spoke in support of staff’s recommendations; commented that the project is located in a scenic gateway to the City; spoke in support of the use of a monument sign rather than a pole sign, reducing the height of the canopy to less than nineteen feet, and eliminating the requirement for a gabled canopy roof. Curtis spoke in support of modifying the colors of the building to match corporate colors, rather than making the colors of the canopy neutral. Commr. Soll spoke in support of a flat roof, neutral colors and lowered height for the canopy, and the use of a monument sign rather than a pole sign. Commr. Root spoke in support of a flat canopy roof and use of a monument sign instead of a pole sign; noted opposition to the building and canopy having different color schemes. Commr. Nemcik spoke in support a flat roof for the canopy, the use of neutral colors for the canopy, and reducing the canopy height to the height of the building. Vice-Chair Ehdaie noted support of a flat canopy roof; spoke in support staff’s recommendation otherwise. Chair Wynn spoke in support of allowing a flat canopy roof, lowering the canopy to fifteen feet, utilizing a monument sign instead of pole sign, and matching the building and canopy color schemes; requested that project conditions be modified to require submittal of a photometric plan for new and existing lighting, for evaluation by staff for compliance with codes. There were no further comments from the Commission. On motion by Vice-Chair Ehdaie, seconded by Commr. Soll to adopt a resolution approving the proposed replacement canopy and signage and minor building façade modifications, based on findings and subject to conditions contained in the staff report, with the following revisions: Draft ARC Minutes July 20, 2015 Page 3 A. Finding 6. shall be added to read “[To allow a monument sign: LOVR is a scenic corridor, and a monument sign, if practicable, will be used in lieu of a pylon sign, to maintain the high visual qualities of the area. B. Condition 3. shall be modified to read, “The applicant shall work with City engineering staff on a monument sign design and location that will not interfere with required intersection sight lines, while complying with other regulatory measures, to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director. If a monument is found to not be practicable, then the pylon sign shall include a maximum of 72-square feet and two (2-sided) sign faces. The “Seattle’s Best” and “Extra Mile” signs shall be removed from the pylon”. C. Condition 4. shall be modified to read, ”The canopy and structure shall utilize a harmonious neutral color palette .” D. Condition 5. The canopy roof shall be limited to 15-foot clearance with the minimum fascia depth practicable. E. Condition 6. shall be added, to read: “All LED light features along the fascia shall be eliminated and canopy lighting limited to that necessary to meet state and federal standards. Site photometrics shall be submitted with Building Permit applications demonstrating site compliance (existing and proposed new) with City Night Sky Standards, and confirmed on-site prior to finalization. AYES: Commrs. Andreen, Curtis, Ehdaie, Nemcik, Root, Soll, and Wynn NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: None The motion passed on a 7:0 vote. 2. 1144 Chorro Street. ARCH-1376-2015; Review of exterior building modifications to accommodate a new bowling alley, nightclub use, and restaurant in the Historic Downtown Commercial zone, with a categorical exemption from environmental review; C-D-H zone; Discovery San Luis Obispo, applicant. Senior Planner Leveille introduced the item, summarizing the Cultural Heritage Committee’s review and recommendations made on June 22, 2015. Kyle Bell, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report, recommending that the Commission adopt a resolution which approves the project, based on findings and subject to conditions which he outlined. Draft ARC Minutes July 20, 2015 Page 4 Mark Rawson, applicant representative, summarized the history of the project; explained the structural rationale for narrow windows and poster frames along the Marsh Street frontage. Jeremy Pemberton, applicant representative, Morro Bay, summarized the vision for the project and the variety of anticipated clientele; commented on the difficulty of remodeling the existing structure into something compliant and aesthetically pleasing. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Chair Wynn requested that the sign package be returned to the Architectural Review Commission for review; recommended that the applicants be bold in the treatment of the marquee signage areas, reconsider extending the horizontal awning farther along Marsh Street, and limit the glossiness of exterior colors. Vice-Chair Ehdaie and Commr. Nemcik spoke in support of the project. Commr. Root spoke in support of taking advantage of marquee areas to create a unique identity; spoke in support of the project. Commr. Soll spoke in support of the project, and of reducing the glossiness of exterior colors and materials. Commr. Andreen spoke in support of being bold with sign package design. Commr. Curtis spoke in support of avoiding faux historical features and using “sleek,” mid-century modern styling; noted concern regarding the negative impact of the “pop- out” areas along the Chorro Street elevation. Commr. Andreen left the meeting at 7:13 p.m. There were no further comments from the Commission. On motion by Commr. Curtis, seconded by Commr. Root, to adopt a resolution approving the project, based on findings and subject to conditions contained in the staff report, with the following revisions: A. A condition shall be added directing that signage proposals and façade revisions, specifically the marquee, be returned to the Architectural Review Commission for review. Draft ARC Minutes July 20, 2015 Page 5 B. Condition 8. shall be revised to eliminate inapplicable language relating to the placement and treatment of backflow preventers, or eliminated entirely. AYES: Commrs. Curtis, Ehdaie, Nemcik, Root, Soll, and Wynn NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: Commr. Andreen The motion passed on a 6:0 vote. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 3. Staff: a. Agenda Forecast Senior Planner Leveille provided a forecast of upcoming agenda items. 4. Commission: Commr. Root noted lack of familiarity regarding the code enforcement process and how it relates to provisions of Architectural Review Commission approvals that are altered without permission following construction. Commr. Nemcik inquired as to the mechanisms behind the needed update to the Community Design Guidelines. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Erica Inderlied Recording Secretary