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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-03-2017 ARC Correspondence - Item 2 (Cooper)Meeting. L�Lq . 0:. I �_ Item: '2 -- To: To: SLO Architectural Review Commission Re: 1185 Monterey Street From: Allan Cooper, Secretary Save Our Downtown Date: March 30, 2017 RECEIVED CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO MAR 3 0 2017 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Honorable Chair and Commissioners - I and Save Our Downtown are asking you to continue this project with direction. In good conscience you cannot arrive at Finding #3 in your draft resolution which states that "...the project is consistent with the City's Community Design Guidelines applicable to commercial development because the proposed project incorporates similar materials and architectural features to the surrounding neighborhood and provides a complementary color scheme." In summary, staff incorrectly insists that the proposed gull-wing roof overhangs are similar to those on the San Luis Diagnostic Center, that the scale of the building is compatible with the predominately horizontal, low-rise buildings lining Monterey Street and that this proposed project preserves "...the historic flavor" of the community. We are asking that you direct the architect to incorporate more of an horizontal emphasis into the Monterey Street elevation and that the roof design, along with its exaggerated overhang, be reconfigured to better reflect the roof treatments that predominate in the surrounding neighborhood. Below, I am including a number of staff statements followed by my responses to these statements. Staff: "The architectural style of the project is unique and does not include canned or trademark design." Response: The gull wing roof configuration, prevalent on Aerovista Lane, has become an architectural cliche. So have the exaggerated shed roof overhangs featured on the following proposed projects: 9 on Rockview, the Shell Station development, the Tank Farm Commerce Park project, the Bridge Street project, the West Creek residential development and the completed Lofts @ 1218 Southwood Drive. These architectural features may be compatible elsewhere but they do not fit into the context of Monterey Street. Staff: "This contemporary design is compatible with the transitioning commercial development along Monterey Street, including the use of rectangular windows, planter boxes, a street corner cut-out present on the proximate Montoro building, and extended roof overhang and soffit evident on the San Luis Diagnostic Center building at the corner of Monterey Street and Santa Rosa Street." Response: There is very little along this portion of Monterey Street that could be described as "contemporary design" and 1185 Monterey Street is definitely not compatible with its context. It would be a stretch to compare the extended roof overhang of the San Luis Diagnostic Center with the "Chandigarh" style, upward -sweeping roof plane (and equipped with down lights) proposed for 1185 Monterey Street. The previously cited Montoro Building and San Luis Diagnostic Center, and further East along Monterey Street, the Ruby Rose Building (1235 Monterey Street), the Antique Center (1239 Monterey Street), the 1241 Monterey Street building and the SLO Provisions building (1255 Monterey Street) are clearly Spanish colonial revival style. The Mortgage House building (1131 Monterey Street), the Volvo Dealership (1219 Monterey Street), the Caldwell Banker Premiere Real Estate building (1234 Monterey Street), the Piemonte's Italian Delicatessen building (1234 Monterey Street), the Training Center @ Kimball building (1144 Monterey Street), the Left Field building (1242 Monterey Street), the iFixit Office building (1330 Monterey Street) and the Body Balance Center building (1248 Monterey Street) are all a modified Streamline Moderne or Art Deco style. The only departure from these styles that could be considered "transitional" would be The Mix (1308 Monterey Street) which, like the proposed 1185 Monterey Street building, is tall, top- heavy and characterized by a number of boxy, heavily -framed window bays. Per the Community Design Guidelines Chapter 3: B.1 "...the compatibility of new projects with the existing built environment should be a priority. The goal is to preserve not only the historic flavor of the community but, equally important, its scale and ambience." Needless to say, the predominate low-rise, horizontal scale of the surrounding neighborhood (with the exception of The Mix) is not reflected in this project with its emphasis on the three vertically-oriented window bays. Staff: "The south elevation shows a large blank wall facing the south, which would be clearly visible from Monterey Street. The ARC should discuss inclusion of articulating features such as windows or cut-outs, similar to the north elevation." Response: I agree with staff that this large blank wall should be articulated. Staff: "The City Arborist recommended that the ficus tree remain, due to the local public significance of the tree, its healthy condition, and this species' ability to withstand heavy pruning." Response: I heartily agree with the City Arborist. This street tree should remain. Thank you!