Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

May 16, 2005                            Monday                                         5:00 p.m.
 

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

All commissioners were present.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:

Agenda was accepted as proposed.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

There was no public Comment, however Pam Ricci, Senior Planner, announced the APA award for the City’s Community Design Guidelines.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

1.   1231 Laurel Lane.  ARC 180-04; Review of a seven unit multi-family residential development; R-4 zone; Paul Nagy, applicant. (Continued from March 14, 2005 and to be continued to a date uncertain) (Tyler Corey)

Item was continued to a date uncertain.

2.   849 Mill Street. ARC and ER 194-04; Review of five new apartment units, and environmental review; R-4 zone; William Watson, M.D., applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

On a motion by Commissioner Boudreau, seconded by Commissioner Root, the Commission voted 5-2 to grant final approval to the design of the project. Although Commission Stevenson agreed that the R-4 district is appropriate for intensification, he felt that the project could result in community criticism due to the height and mass of the building at this location. Commissioner Lopes did not agree with staff’s findings of neighborhood compatibility. The motion to approve the project included a condition to utilize a wrought iron railing with adequate articulation, a condition to utilize additional stucco banding and a soft color transition for the building, and a condition to modify the glass block on the east building elevation.

3.   3510 Broad Street.  ARC 127-04; Review of a mixed-use commercial and residential project; C-S zone; Cinderella Carpet One, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

On a motion by Commissioner Stevenson, seconded by Wilhelm, the Commission voted 6-1 to approve the building design. An earlier motion that included adding a building entry to the Broad Street elevation failed on a 4-3 vote.  Commissioner Lopes disagreed with the motion to approve the project based on the buildings location and felt that it was too close to Broad Street and not in compliance with scenic corridor policies of the General Plan. Other Commission discussion focused on the residential units and appropriate treatment of private open space areas.  Commissioner Wilhelm discussed treatment of the roof features above the warehouse building. The motion to approve the project included added conditions to increase the height of the patio walls in front of the bedrooms; add a storefront window feature to the Broad Street side of the building; add a hipped roof to the warehouse building; change the roof color from a powder blue to a grey, green, or taupe color; and add canopy shade trees to the parking lot area.

4.   1075 Court Street.  ARC 49-05; Review of a seismic retrofit and façade change; C-D-H zone; Quaglino Properties, applicant. (Tyler Corey)

On a motion by Wilhelm seconded by Boudreau, the Commission voted 6-2 to approve the exterior remodel and seismic retrofit. Commissioner Smith voted against the motion since he felt that retrofitting a building over a creek was not consistent with City’s creek policies that discourage building over a creek. Commissioner Lopes expressed concern over the use of brick materials on the outside of the building and the loss of a storefront entry on Higuera Street.  The majority of the commissioners felt the remodel was an upgrade to the property and supported the project as submitted.

COMMENT & DISCUSSION:

5.        Staff:

A.   Agenda Forecast

6.       Commission:

       A.    Minutes: May 2, 2005.

       B.    Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned.                                    

The meeting ADJOURNED to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, June 6, 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.