Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

 March 7, 2005                             Monday                                      5:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Commrs. Allen Root, Michael Boudreau, Jim Lopes, David Smith, Greg Wilhelm, Vice-Chair Zeljka Howard, and Chairperson Charles Stevenson

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.  Open Space.    ARC and ER 12-04; Review of design of new water storage tank to replace existing tank in the open space area above General Hospital, and environmental review; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Continued from February 22, 2005) (Pam Ricci)

On a 6-1 vote (Commr. Smith voting no), the ARC approved the Negative Declaration with Mitigation Measures, and granted final approval to the water tank project, based on findings, and subject to conditions and mitigation measures.  The ARC was comfortable that City staff and its consultants had responded to direction provided on 1-3-05.  The Commission was supportive of the revised contour berms, the added variety of plant materials for screening, and the tank color.

Neighbors Pat Mullen, Dale King, and Hal Sweasey spoke, all mentioning concerns with the scale and visual impacts of the tank.

2.   1500 and 1521 Froom Ranch Way. ARC 7-05; Conceptual review of eight new buildings on two parcels; C-R zone; Madonna Properties, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

The Commission provided preliminary comments on conceptual plans, but did not come to overall consensus to provide specific direction on elements of site planning and building architecture.  Instead, the Commission’s comments will be presented to the applicant in the form of the meeting minutes. 

Commission discussion focused on the locations of proposed building pads and strategies to best comply with Costco EIR mitigation measures to maintain open views to both the anchor tenants at the rear of the site and the Irish Hills beyond.  They wanted to see outdoor use areas provided near entries and other locations that could be protected from the prevailing winds.  Suggestions were made to make sure that loading areas were well screened and that clusters of trees be used to soften building elements.  Overall the building elevations with their varied roof forms and articulated facades were well received, but recommendations to further refine them consistent with the Community Design Guidelines were offered.

3.    2570 Flora Street.  ARC MI 144-04; Review of two new houses in an area that has been designated sensitive; R-1 zone; Stephen Barasch, applicant. (Tyler Corey)

On a 7-0 vote, the ARC continued action on the project to a date uncertain direction regarding changes to the overall design of the project to be consistent with City policies and standards.  Several members of the surrounding neighborhood spoke in opposition to the project as designed.  The two main themes of comments were that the buildings were not an appropriate scale for the sites and that the mirror image designs did not fit into the neighborhood and exacerbated concerns with scale.

COMMENT & DISCUSSION:

4.    Staff:

A.   Agenda Forecast

Pam Ricci provided an Agenda Forecast.

The meeting ADJOURNED at 9:05 p.m. to a special meeting scheduled for Monday, March 14, 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in the Planning Conference Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.