Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

July 16, 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 

Commissioner Greg 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.           888 Morro Street.    ARC PA 93-07;   Review of public art in front of the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre;  PF-H  zone; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant. (Jaime Hill) 

On a 6-0 vote, the ARC found that the proposed art piece met the City’s criteria for public art and recommended approval to the City Council for its installation.  The Commission liked the whimsical design given its proposed location.  Project artists Carol Paulsen and Stephen Plowman explained the impetus for the project design as a tribute to Bill Beeson and noted how the piece would be constructed.  In response to questions from the ARC, the artists acknowledged that people would attempt to climb the piece, but that the hard plastic materials would make maintenance and repairs straightforward.  Richard DeLong from the Arts Council spoke in support of the piece and introduced Bill Beeson’s daughter Avery. 

2.    Citywide.  GPI and ER 49-06; Review of general regulations and further discussion of form-based codes proposed for the South Broad Street Corridor Plan area; City of San Luis Obispo, applicant.  (Kim Murry) 

The ARC evaluated a mock project and compared the City’s Community Design Guidelines to the proposed design standards contained in the draft plan.  The Commission indicated that staff should consider modifying the draft plan to include a reference to existing zoning code parking requirements; to specify how height is measured; to require the dimensions for build-to lines to be shown in the plan; to re-evaluate the standards for the mixed-use building type; and to review the other building types to ensure the proposed standards carry out the intent statements.  Finally, the Commission indicated that the General Regulations in the draft plan address the desired character of the neighborhood provided the previously recommended changes are incorporated. One member of the public gave testimony that the proposed cul-de-sac at Caudill and Broad had caused a property sale to fall out of escrow.  Input was also given that if parking credit for on-street spaces was going to be given to adjacent properties, additional public parking needed to be available nearby in a lot or structure. Finally, the testimony included a request to insure that endorsement of mixed-use projects required development of more of a commercial component rather than a predominately residential one.  

 COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

2.           Staff: 

A.       Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci provided an agenda forecast for the upcoming 8-6-07 and 8-20-07 meetings. 

B.       Revised Bylaws - Pam Ricci explained that the Council made two very minor amendments to the ARC’s bylaws and provided members with copies of the latest version. 

       C.   Retreat Follow-up – The Commission reviewed a summary of their discussion from the retreat and responded to how the experience had influence their work on the Commission since that time. 

D.    Council Correspondence – Pam Ricci distributed copies of a letter written by Carliss Campbell to the Council voicing her displeasure with how the review process for the proposed house at 148 Broad Street had gone. 

3.           Commission: 

A.        Minutes: June 18, 2007 (amend or approve) - The minutes were approved with a minor amendment. 

       B.   Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

               Commr. Hopkins mentioned how well the new medical office at the corner of Margarita and South Higuera had turned out. 

The Commission then shared their respective opinions about the Apple store in the Downtown Center and how the lack of windows along Morro Street did or did not significantly affect the experience of walking along the adjacent sidewalk. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, August 6, 2007, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.