Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

May 7, 2007                            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 

Commr. Palazzo was absent. 

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.           950 and 990 Aero Drive.  ARC 5-07; Conceptual review of a new 134-room hotel; BP-SP zone; Airport Hotel LP, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore) 

On a 6-0-1 vote, the ARC continued the project with direction to a date uncertain.  The project had been scheduled for a conceptual review prior to completion of the required environmental document or Planning Commission review of the required use permit.  Carol Florence, local representative, described the coordination efforts that their project team had made with various other agencies including the County Airport, Caltrans, and County General Services.  Project architect Jonathan Watts described the design concept for the building wit a porte-cochere highlighting the entry and private spaces for rooms creating a “cascading” effect from the ground floor to the third floor. 

Overall the ARC was very supportive of the project design finding it appropriate to its setting at the entry to the airport and consistent with the design guidelines contained in the Airport Area Specific Plan.  Specific direction added at the meeting included: 

·        Providing more continuity in the exterior building connections and details;

·        Using more vivid colors; and

·        Including an expanded site plan that better shows the site’s context and a physical model with a revised submittal. 

2.           392 Prado Road. ARCMI 34-07; Review of landscaping designs for Prado Road medians, parkways and roundabout; Prado Road Development, applicant.  (Pam Ricci) 

On a 6-0-1 vote, the ARC granted final approval to project plans, based on findings, and subject to conditions.  The ARC mainly asked questions of the applicant, his landscape architect, and staff about selected plant materials and the unique constraints that affected the sizes and species of trees.  The ARC agreed with staff’s conclusions that the selected plant palette for the parkways, medians, and roundabout would beautify the street corridor, comply with Margarita Area Specific Plan requirements, and respond to area constraints.  John French, applicant, lobbied for long-term City maintenance of both the parkways and medians.  Doug Gerard on behalf of himself and his wife Judy Tyner asked for consideration of plant species that did not produce as much pollen given the prevailing winds in the area, specifically expressing a concern with the Crape Myrtle.  The ARC added a condition that the pollen generation characteristics of plants be taken into consideration when making final selections. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

3.           Staff: 

A.       Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci provided an agenda forecast for the upcoming

       5-21-07 meeting. 

       B.   Retreat Discussion – Scheduled for Wednesday, May 16^, 2007 

Pam Ricci presented the Commission with invitations to their upcoming retreat and explained the format in more detail.  She mentioned that the general goal is to make the Commission work more efficiently as a group and to have an opportunity to have more extended discussions about relevant subjects outside of the regular meeting arena.  She noted that a final agenda was in the works, but that any Commission ideas about topics were still timely and could be e-mailed to her in advance of the retreat. 

4.           Commission: 

A.        Minutes: April 16, 2007  – The minutes were approved as submitted. 

       B.   Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

       Commr. Howard noted that the Fish n’ Chippery that they had just recently reviewed had already gone out of business. 

       Vice Chair Root mentioned that he had taken photos of new development near downtown Los Angeles that was pedestrian-oriented and incorporated historic buildings into the design that he planned on sharing with the ARC. 

Commr. Wilhelm pointed out that he thought that the fascias, trims, and awnings of at the new Suburban/Tank Farm commercial complex designed by MW Architects looked too thin.  He suggested that other Commissioners look at the project in the field to see if they agreed.  

The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. to a special meeting (retreat) scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., at Novo Restaurant at 726 Higuera.