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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-2015 ARC MinutesSAN LUIS OBISPO ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES February 2, 2015 ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Patricia Andreen, Ken Curtis, Amy Nemcik, Allen Root, Vice -Chair Suzan Ehdaie and Chair Greg Wynn Absent: None Staff: Senior Planner Phil Dunsmore, Associate Planner Rachel Cohen, and Recording Secretary Diane Clement ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. MINUTES: The minutes of January 12, 2014, were approved as presented. The minutes of January 21, 2014, were approved as amended. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON - AGENDA ITEMS: There were no comments made from the public. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. 1921 Santa Barbara Avenue. ARCH - 0521 -2014; Review of a new building with four live /work units and a small commercial suite in the Railroad Historic District with a categorical exemption from environmental review; C -S -H zone; Garcia Family Trust, applicant. (Walter Oetzell) PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no comments made from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: There were no comments made from the Commission. On motion by Commr. Root, seconded by Commr. Curtis, to continue this item to a date uncertain to allow staff sufficient time to review revised project plans. AYES: Commrs. Andreen, Curtis, Ehdaie, Nemcik, Root, and Wynn NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: None The motion passed on a 6:0 vote. 2. 742 Marsh Street. ARCMI 128 -14; Review of fagade improvements to a commercial structure within the Historic Downtown District with a categorical exemption from environmental review; C -D -H zone; Ariel Shannon, applicant. ARC Minutes February 2, 2015 Page 2 Associate Planner Cohen, presented the staff report, recommending adoption of the Draft Resolution which approves the project, based on findings and subject to conditions which she outlined. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Allan Cooper, SLO, stated the downtown historic district's prevailing character is not contemporary, the proposed facade is contemporary, and approval would set a precedent. Curtis Campbell, SLO, partner and hairstylist at the Blue Bird Salon, stated the project will bring attention to Marsh Street and the other historic buildings. James Lopes, SLO, stated that it is a far reach to see this project as in conformance with the guidelines and suggested troweled plaster or brick to replace the wood fagade. David Brodie, SLO, stated that the City is known for its historical downtown and chipping away at that sets a precedent that leads to a City without distinctive architecture. He stated that the elevation for this project is not historic. Melissa Elguera, SLO, works at the salon, stated that after the fagade was added, people began noticing the salon. She called stucco unattractive and stated that "adding flavor" does not remove the historic look, part of the stucco would be left, and the facade would make Marsh Street more attractive. Janina Cannon, SLO, works at the salon, stated that nobody cared about the building before, and the applicant wants to make it look pretty. Brian Engleton, SLO, stated that one of the styles mentioned in the guidelines is modernistic and art deco and the redwood paneling is art deco, so this design fits within the guidelines. He added that the City needs to support small businesses and the salon is breathing vitality into this part of the downtown. Kat Stock, SLO, Scout Coffee manager, stated people do not notice Scout because of the brick exterior. She supported the salon design and noted it is on the boundary of the downtown district across from CVS and would not look congruent if it were in an historic Spanish -look building. There were no further comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Wynn stated he sees this as not new development but a minor fagade upgrade and thinks the applicant's proposal is fine. Commr. Andreen stated that when she first saw it, she was shocked but then discovered recycled wood on buildings elsewhere in town. She stated that, ARC Minutes February 2, 2015 Page 3 nevertheless, it is not consistent with the downtown guidelines and she cannot reconcile this design and the guidelines. Commr. Root stated it is a long stretch to say the building had a Spanish Revival style before the salon occupied it. He called the building "plain jane 1950s." He noted that big companies come to town and insist on their look, such as Victoria's Secret and Apple and this is not a flashing sign but a high grade piece of architecture drawing people into the salon. He stated he likes Option E and will support the project. Commr. Curtis stated it was unfortunate that the work was started before approaching the City or the project might have been steered in another direction. He stated he does not think the success of the salon is based on exterior materials like redwood but is based on the personality of the applicant. He added he finds the material and modernistic design handsome but in the wrong place, an appropriate material would be stone or tile on the bulkheads. He stated the facade is also inconsistent with some of the design guidelines that the Commission is required to apply. Commr. Nemcik stated that covering the entire facade with wood, as suggested by the Cultural Heritage Committee (CHC), would mean losing the historical significance of the building. She stated she likes the asymmetrical way it is presented, which the planter box helps, and she supports this project. Commr. Ehdaie stated she supports the staff recommendation. Commr. Wynn noted that Commr. Nemcik mentioned that the CHC concern was the asymmetry, not the wood. He stated he has no problem with it. There were no further comments made from the Commission. On a motion by Vice -Chair Ehdaie, seconded by Commr. Root, to approve the fapade improvements (Wynn proposes an option a as proposed by the applicant and option f would be as proposed with the planter) with option e and option f (applicant choice). AYES: Commrs. Ehdaie, Nemcik, Root, and Wynn NOES: Commrs. Andreen and Curtis RECUSED: None ABSENT: 1 Position Vacant The motion passed on a 4:2 vote. 3. 855 Aerovista Street. ARCH - 0571 -2014; Review of new commercial building for SLO Brew and other light manufacturing and warehouse use with a categorical exemption from environmental review; BP -SP zone; Auzco Development, LLC, applicant. (Rachel Cohen) Associate Planner Cohen presented the staff report, recommending adoption of the Draft Resolution which approves the project, based on findings and subject to conditions. ARC Minutes February 2, 2015 Page 4 PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: There were no comments made from the Commission. On a motion by Commr. Andreen, seconded by Commr. Nemcik, to adopt the Draft Resolution which approves the project, based on findings and subject to conditions. AYES: Commrs. Andreen, Curtis, Ehdaie, Nemcik, Root, and Wynn NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: 1 Position Vacant The motion passed on a 6:0 vote. 4. 851 and 860 Humbert Avenue. ARC 113 -14; Review of a 2 -lot, 20 -unit affordable housing project with a community room; R -3 zone; SLO Non -Prof. Housing Corp., applicant. (Rachel Cohen) Associate Planner Cohen presented the staff report, recommending adoption of the Draft Resolution which approves the project, based on findings and subject to conditions. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Tim Waag, SLO, supported the project, noting the City attracts workforce jobs paying $8 -15 per hour, the sharing lifestyle is now more popular, we do not want veterans to be homeless, and, while we cannot end homelessness, we can chip away at it. There were no further comments from the public. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commr. Curtis stated it is a very attractive development and in compliance. There were no further comments made from the Commission. On a motion by Commr. Curtis, seconded by Commr. Andreen, to adopt the Draft Resolution which approves the project, based on findings and subject to conditions, including adding the following to Condition 4. "Plans shall include provision to provide a trellis cover for both lots. AYES: Commrs. Andreen, Curtis, Ehdaie, Nemcik, Root, and Wynn NOES: None RECUSED: None ABSENT: 1 Position Vacant ARC Minutes February 2, 2015 Page 5 The motion passed on a 6:0 vote. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION: 5. Staff: a. Agenda Forecast: Wednesday, February 18, 2015: 1) 667 Marsh Street — four -story mixed -use project; 2) four -story addition to the Granada Hotel 6. Commission: Commr. Andreen stated the Tree Committee approved the removal of the tree at the fire station for the 9/11 monument and 12 trees will be planted elsewhere. Commr. Curtis stated he is interested in a meeting to evaluate approved projects. Senior Planner Dunsmore stated the Commission can plan this at the next meeting. Commr. Wynn stated there is a need to continue to refine the design guidelines and he is seeing buildings and signage that the guidelines do not describe. Senior Planner Dunsmore stated he has asked a consultant to do a presentation on contemporary design in an historic district for staff, the Commission, and the public. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Diane Clement Recording Secretary Approved by the Architectural Review Commission on February 18, 2015. R LeU04 Thomas Administrative Assistant III