Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

April 21, 2008                            Monday                                 5:00 p.m.

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

Commrs. Hopkins and Kambitsis were absent. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  The agenda was accepted as submitted. 

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

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        1885 Monterey Street.  ARC 71-07; Architectural review of a hotel remodel project with a new 2,280 s.f. building proposed; C-T-S zone; Yatin Naran, applicant.   (Brian Leveille)  (To be continued to a date uncertain) 

The ARC continued this item to a date uncertain without discussion. 

2.        1204 Nipomo Street.  ARC 1-07; Conceptual architectural review of a new mixed-use building with 2,836 s.f. of ground floor commercial space and four residential units; C-D zone; Jules Rogoff, applicant.  (Brian Leveille) 

On a 4:1:2 vote (Commr. Palazzo voting no), the ARC continued this item to a date uncertain with direction.  The ARC’s discussion focused on the modern architectural style of the building and its consistency with Chapter 4, Downtown Design Guidelines, of the Community Design Guidelines.  Commission direction included general ways that the building design could be modified to better fit its downtown location such as a more compatible architectural design, greater architectural detailing, a more transparent ground floor, and more compatible symmetry and rhythm for upper-floor windows.  Individual comments included a range of different techniques to improve the design such as a greater variety in building colors, a more substantial corner entry, more horizontal divisions to upper floor windows, a different rhythm to upper floor decks, and a greater focus on the building’s horizontal articulation. 

3.        1321 & 1327 Osos Street.  ARC 102-07; Conceptual architectural review of a new mixed-use project with about 8,800 s.f. of office space and 11 residential units; O & R-3 zones; Mission Medical Partners, applicant.  (Pam Ricci) 

On a 5:0:2 vote, the ARC continued this item to a date uncertain with direction.  The ARC was enthusiastic about the new-Victorian architecture of the building finding it in keeping with its location in the Old Town Historical District and compatible with the adjacent Seventh Day Adventist Church at 1301 Osos, a master list historical structure. The ARC discussed the issues in the staff report including tandem parking for the residential units and the elevator design.  Overall, the Commission was pleased with the project design, including the use of tandem parking in the underground garage, and felt that it was generally headed in the right direction. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

1.           Staff: 

A.     Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci provided an agenda forecast for the upcoming May 5^th meeting.  She handed out copies of a memo prepared by Associate Planner Michael Codron along with a copy of the design review chapter from the Draft Orcutt Area Specific Plan.  She noted that this information was being distributed ahead of time to give the Commission additional time to review the chapter. 

B.     399 Foothill Boulevard appeals – Pam Ricci reported on the City Council’s action on April 15^th to uphold the appeals filed on the ARC’s approval of the project, and deny the project without prejudice.  She noted the conditions that a new development application would need to abide by, which were to eliminate the lofts, maintain a maximum building height of 25,’ and provide a 15-foot building setback along Foothill.  

2.           Commission: 

A.     Minutes:  April 7, 2008 - The minutes were approved with minor amendments. 

B.  Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned  

       The ARC asked that staff put any appeals of their future decisions on the agenda under “Comment and Discussion” for a debriefing discussion prior to the Council’s consideration of the appeal.  They asked that a copy of the minutes from the meeting where the project was discussed be supplied to them for the debriefing discussion. 

ADJOURNMENT 

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. 

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.