HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-2017 ARC Minutes
Minutes
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
Monday, July 17, 2017
Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission was called to order on Monday,
July 17, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis
Obispo, California, by Chair Wynn.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Richard Beller, Brian Rolph, Amy Nemcik, Allen Root (arrived at 5:02
p.m.), Vice-Chair Angela Soll, and Chair Greg Wynn.
Absent: None.
Staff: Deputy Director of Community Development Doug Davidson, Associate Planner
Shawna Scott, and Planning Technician Kip Morais. Other staff members presented
reports or responded to questions as indicated in the minutes.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BELLER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
NEMCIK, CARRIED 5-0-1 to approve the minutes of the Architectural Review Commission
meetings of April 17th and May 1, 2017.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. 570, 578, 590 Marsh &581 Higuera Streets. ARCH-2213-2015: Architectural review of a
new mixed-use project that includes three, four-story structures with a request for a
maximum height of 59.5 feet. The project includes 19,792 square feet of commercial space,
62 residential units, 36 hotel rooms, and a two-level underground parking garage with 136
parking spaces, as well as a request for a new driveway approach to the parking garage
along on Nipomo Street. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review.; C-
D zone, The Obispo Company, applicant. (Rachel Cohen) This item is to be continued to a
date uncertain.
Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of July 17, 2017 Page 2
Commissioner Beller disclosed ex-parte communication with applicant John Belsher.
ACTION: MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR SOLL, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ROLPH,
CARRIED 6-0 to continue the item to a date uncertain.
2. 3825 South Higuera. ARCH-0605-2017: Conceptual architectural review and preliminary
feedback on a proposed beer garden concept including a brewery, restaurant, and outdoor
seating area, which would be constructed using re-purposed sea trains and would displace
existing parking spaces adjacent to the Tribune building; no final action is being requested;
M-SP Zone (Higuera Commerce Park Specific Plan); John Belsher and DTJ Development,
LLC, applicant. (Shawna Scott)
Associate Planner Shawna Scott presented an in-depth staff report and responded to
Commission inquiries.
Applicant Representative Jenny Emerick provided an overview of the conceptual plan.
Tim Crawford, Access Engineering Group, responded to Commission inquiries.
Public Comment:
Ron Sedbury expressed concerns regarding potential impacts on the surrounding residential
area.
---End of Public Comment---
Commissioner Beller suggested adding features in front of the sea trains to create a unified
larger scale project consistent with the surrounding development; encouraged the applicant
to consider the space path relations between two containers, and look at the Bonetti/Tribune
area holistically (heights, shapes).
Commissioner Rolph stated concerns with the color scheme and encouraged the applicant to
consider stacking the sea trains.
Commissioner Nemcik spoke in favor of the conceptual plan, and suggested re-purposing
the sea trains in an innovative way.
Commissioner Root encouraged use of a subtle and sophisticated color scheme; do not
camouflage the sea trains; suggested a consistent industrial theme throughout the site; stated
a second level could be an option with connecting elements to provide shade and reduce the
box-like corners.
Commissioner Soll encouraged compatible colors, and noted that false fronts are
undesirable.
Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of July 17, 2017 Page 3
Chair Wynn encouraged the applicant to define certain areas (back of house, trash, etc.),
provide circulatory details; expressed interest in seeing pedestrian scale; stated additional
sidings and facades could be appropriate with textures or perforated metals; encouraged the
applicant to be true to the industrial nature of the site; suggested exploring the option of
sawtooth units on the street-front.
3. 313 and 315 Madonna Road. ARCH-0568-2017: Review of the façade remodel of an
existing commercial building located at 313 and 315 Madonna, including new landscaping
and loading dock reconfiguration, with a categorical exemption from environmental review;
C-R-PD zone; The Kroenke Group, applicant. (Kip Morais)
Project Architect James Van Hooser joined the meeting via conference call.
Assistant Planner Kip Morais, presented the staff report with use of a PowerPoint
presentation and responded to Commission inquiries.
Robert Green, Columbia, Missouri, SLO Promenade representative, provided a brief
presentation, outlining the history of the site.
Project Architect James Van Hooser provided detailed information regarding the project
design.
Public Comments:
None.
Chair Wynn closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Beller expressed concerns regarding the façade on the west and southwest
corner; encouraged the applicant to reference the City’s Community Design Guidelines for
direction on articulation; suggested the applicant create a more robust outside space with a
destination feel, avoiding billboard-like signage; encouraged storefronts with bike lock
areas.
Project Architect Van Hooser stated a desire for balance between good development and
design; suggested a pullback to increase seating areas and adding a canopy for shading.
Following a brief discussion, Chair Wynn and Commissioner Beller volunteered to form a
subcommittee to support additional conditions, directing the applicant to explore additional
opportunities at the Sprouts corner entry; encouraged the applicant to incorporate deeper
recesses and secondary uses on the west façade.
Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of July 17, 2017 Page 4
ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR WYNN; SECONDED BY ROLPH, CARRIED 6-0 TO
APPROVE THE PROJECT WITH ADDED CONDITIONS:
1. Reformat numbering of conditions in the resolution
2. Modify language of Condition #28 to encourage the applicant to do the Letter of Map
Revision
3. Add condition to encourage additional southside shading
4. Add condition directing applicant to return to an ARC subcommittee and Deputy Director
of Community Development to review the south and west elevations and chamfer clip at
Sprouts to consider additional entry opportunities and review circulation concerns and
billboard signage and canopy structure.
COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION
Deputy Director Davidson provided an agenda forecast.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Architectural Review
Commission is scheduled for Monday, August 7, 2017 at 5:00 p.m., in the location, 990 Palm
Street, San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION: 09/11/2017