Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

March 3, 2008                            Monday                                 5:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Commrs. Jason Kambitsis, Zeljka Howard, Anthony Palazzo, Greg Wilhelm, Steven Hopkins, Vice-Chair Allen Root, and Chairperson Michael Boudreau 

All of the Commissioners were present. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: 

The order of the agenda was not modified. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

There was no public comment other than on regular agenda items. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS:   

1.        399 Foothill Blvd.  ARC 55-07; Review of a mixed-use project in the C-N-S zone, including 1,532 s.f. of commercial space and 4 residential units; David Lopez, applicant.  (Tyler Corey) 

On a 6-1 vote (Commr. Palazzo voting no), the ARC granted final approval to the project, based on findings, and subject to conditions.  The Commission concluded that the mixed-use project was consistent with the City’s General Plan, Community Design Guidelines, and goals to provide workforce housing  They liked the building detailing and quality of materials, and supported the site design to separate the residential and commercial uses on-site and to buffer the development from adjacent properties. 

Three neighbors spoke at the hearing voicing concerns with the intensity of the proposed development.  Steve Hilstein noted that the proposed amount of parking was insufficient and was concerned with multiple days of trash pick-up at the site because of noise. John Magee wanted assurance that the drainage system would work efficiently and questioned the compatibility of the modern building architecture with angled roof forms with the surrounding neighborhood.   Stephanie Hilstein pointed out that the loft spaces would be utilized as second bedrooms.   

Brett Cross, president of Residents for Quality neighborhoods (RQN), spoke to the six points that he included a letter that had been submitted to staff earlier in the day and distributed at the meeting to the ARC.   He stressed that site development should be held to different property development standards than typically would be allowed in the C-N zone given the site’s “S”- overlay zoning and its location being predominately surrounded by R-1 development.  He felt that the ARC’s focus of review should be with the compatibility of the proposed development to the surrounding neighborhood. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

1.           Staff: 

A. Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci provided an agenda forecast. 

2.           Commission: 

A.        Minutes:  February 19, 2008 – The minutes were approved as submitted. 

       B.   Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

ADJOURNMENT 

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Architectural Review Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the Community Development, 919 Palm Street, during normal business hours.