Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

March 20, 2006                            Monday                                 5:00 p.m.

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

Commrs. Wilhelm and Boudreau were absent. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  

The order of the agenda was modified to accommodate the artist presenting the public art piece for Mitchell Park. Item No. 4 was moved to the beginning of the hearing. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  

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

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.   1413 Calle Joaquin. ARC 9-06; Review of frontage landscaping for expansion of the Auto Park and on-site grading, Kelly Gearhart, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)  

On a motion by Lopes, seconded by Root, the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the design of the landscape plan for the Calle Joaquin right-of-way and off-site improvement areas, based on findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements. The Commission spent considerable time discussing a mix of trees and plantings that would properly balance the competing objectives of providing foreground screening along the Highway 101 corridor, maintaining long-range view corridors of the Irish Hills and Morros to the west, and giving car retailers some visibility from the highway.  Ultimately techniques such as clustering trees and having tree species of varying forms were employed to meet objectives. 

2.   2238 Broad Street. ARC 62-05; Conceptual review of new – mixed use development project with 91 residential units and 25,000 sq, ft. commercial space; C-N-H zone; Halferty Development Co., applicant. (To be continued to April 17, 2006) (Brian Leveille)  

The item was continued without discussion to a date certain, April 17, 2006. 

3.   625 Toro Street. ARC 176-05; Conceptual review of a 7 – unit condominium development including removal of street parking; R-4 zone; Narnaji Enterprise, applicant. (Jaime Hill) 

On a motion by Stevenson, seconded by Lopes, the commission voted 3-2 to continue the project with direction to reconfigure the site to comply with City policies. Commissioners discussed the merits of attached versus detached design, the functionality of the common open space areas, the pedestrian path through the site, and the screening of the trash bins. Although the Commissioners agreed that the actual architecture was pleasing, the majority felt that the unit size should be reduced and that additional units should be attached.  

4.   1400 Osos Street. ARC 242-05; Review of a new public art piece for Mitchell Park; PF-H zone; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Pam Ricci)  

On the motion by Stevenson, seconded by Smith, the commission voted 4-1.  The commission found that the artwork for Mitchell Park meets the criteria for public art and recommended its approval to the City Council, based on findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements.  

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

5.   Staff:

    A.    Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci provided a forecast of items expected on the next meeting agenda.   

6.   Commission: 

       A.    Minutes: March 6, 2006 (amend or approve) 

       The minutes of March 6^th were approved as amended. 

       B.    Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

The Commission reiterated previous concerns with the appearance of the Urban Outfitters’ storefront and color of the sign at 962 Monterey Street.                                   

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, April 3, 2006, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.