Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

June 5, 2006                            Monday                                 5:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Commrs. Zeljka Howard, Jim Lopes, Anthony Palazzo, Greg Wilhelm, Steven Hopkins, Vice-Chair Allen Root, and Chairperson Michael Boudreau 

Commr. Wilhelm 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.   499 N. Chorro Street. ARC 207-05; Review of a 6 unit condominium project; R-4 zone; Bella Vista SLO, LLC, applicant. (Tyler Corey)  

On a 6-0 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the project, based on findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements.  Discussion focused on providing pedestrian access from the public right-of-way to each individual unit, privacy and overlook impacts to adjacent properties and buildings and colors and materials proposed for building elevations.  Based on existing site topography and extensive street frontage, in was determined that the proposed site layout was acceptable with the addition of two pedestrian connections and additional landscaping along North Chorro and that a color and materials board, including actual samples to match those depicted on the bottom of the rendering, be submitted to Planning staff for review and approval prior to the issuance of a building permit. 

2.   3251 S. Higuera Street. ARC PR 228-04; Review of a revision to a new medical office building; C-S-S zone; Tolosa Health Developers, LLC, applicant. (Tyler Corey) 

On a 6-0 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the project, based on findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements.  Discussion mainly focused on the proposed building colors and materials.  Ultimately, the ARC required the applicant to submit a color and material board, including actual samples, to Planning staff for review and approval with a maroon color for the fingers and under-story of the canopy with a charcoal roof, a charcoal gray color (70-90% gray) for building awnings, and maroon tile accents. 

3.   151 N. Santa Rosa Street. ARC 238-05; Review of a remodel to an existing service station; C-R-S zone; Chevron Products Co., applicant. (Phil Dunsmore) 

On a 6-0 vote, the ARC continued action to a date uncertain with direction on aspects of building design, canopy design and landscaping.  A majority of the Commission felt that adding height to the center of the structure was the correct approach to help screen the back wall of the adjacent bank building.  The ARC directed that the entry be highlighted by a revised roof form utilizing an open gable or a pyramidal hip with either standing-seam or tile roofing.  They also asked that the canopy design better coordinate with the remodeled building. 

4.   2932 Augusta Street. ARC 159-05; Review of a modified site plan for 9 residential condominiums; R-4 zone; Steno-Wolf Associates, applicant.(Phil Dunsmore)   

On a 6-0 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the revised project plans that essentially “flipped” the site plan, based on the same findings and with most of the same conditions as originally approved by the ARC on March 6, 2006.  The changes to the site plan were necessary to honor an existing easement on the property that provides emergency access to the rear buildings of Judson Terrace on the project’s south side.  The main topic of discussion was the design of the trash enclosure because of its prominent location in the project’s street yard.  The ARC eventually accepted the trash enclosure design with doors facing the street with conditions that there be trailing vines on the trellis above the structure, clinging vines on the walls of the structure, and hardware on the doors with a decorative motif. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

5.    Staff: 

A.       Agenda Forecast      

       Pam Ricci provided a forecast of items expected on the next meeting agenda.   

6.    Commission: 

A.       Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

The ARC reiterated the importance of having colors and materials boards with actual samples along with project plans prior to final approval.  There was discussion about how colored elevations and prints often do not accurately portray the actual colors used in the completed project and the difficulties and issues that this can cause. 

The ARC also discussed concerns with changes occurring after their review of projects.  The ARC recognized that staff needs some flexibility to work with applicants on needed changes to accommodate code issues that may arise or other minor kinds of modifications, but wanted to stress that aesthetically significant or substantive changes needed to return for the full Commission’s review. 

The meeting adjourned around 9:10 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, June 19, 2006, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.