Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

August 7, 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 

Commissioners Howard, Boudreau, and Wilhelm were absent.

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Commissioners or staff may modify the order of items.

Item # 4 was considered first since the applicant had requested that it be continued.

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

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

BUSINESS ITEMS:

1.      Tumbling Waters Plan Distribution. ARC 151-03; 861 and 953 Orcutt Road.  Overview and distribution of plans for the Tumbling Waters project, a new residential neighborhood of 178 homes located on the south side of Orcutt Road between Laurel Lane and Broad Street.  ARC review of the project is scheduled as a public hearing for the August 21st agenda. (Michael Codron)

This item was listed as business item on the agenda so that staff could provide the Commission with a brief overview of the project and distribute project plans, giving the Commission additional time to become familiar with this complex project.  It was noted that the first public hearing is scheduled before the ARC on August 21, 2006.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

2.      4450 & 4460 Broad Street.    ARC 194-05; Review of a proposed business park development including a total of 74,883 square feet of new commercial floor area; C-S zone; VFP- Broad Street, LLC, applicant. (Phil Dunsmore)

On a motion by Palazzo, seconded by Hopkins, the Commission voted 3-1 to approve the project and adopt the mitigated negative declaration. Commissioner Lopes voted against the motion with concerns about visual resources along the scenic corridor.  The Commission discussed the proposed sign program at great length and debated the proposed Electronic Message Center. The Commission decided to move the project forward without the sign program and continued review of the sign program to a date uncertain. The motion to approve the project included a condition to move the proposed pedestrian path outside of the creek setback and install additional shade trees in the parking lot to comply with the City’s Parking and Driveway Standards. The motion, however allowed the applicant to install pole lights at the rear of the site, contrary to staff’s recommendation.

3.      577 & 579 Marsh Street and 1213 & 1221 Nipomo Street. ARC 36-06; Review of a mixed-use project; 33 residential units and 6,200 square feet of commercial space; C-D zone; Bermant Homes, applicant. (Jaime Hill)

 On a motion by Commissioner Hopkins, seconded by Commissioner Palazzo, the Commission voted 3-1 to approve the project based findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements. Commissioner Lopes voted against the motion with concerns about neighboring compatibility, the location/lack of screening of the gas meters, the height of the patio walls to the rear of the townhomes, and due to desire for additional setbacks on the second and third stories of the Nipomo Street elevation.

 4.  899 Higuera Street. ARC 79-06; Review of a façade remodel to a downtown building; C-D-H zone; Copelands Properties, applicant. (Jaime Hill)  

At the request of the applicant, the project was continued to the next regularly scheduled meeting, August 21, 2006. There was no one from the public there wishing to speak on the item, so it was continued without any discussion

COMMENT & DISCUSSION:

 5.Staff:

A.   Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci provided a forecast of items expected on the next meeting agenda.  She noted that there would be two other items in addition to the Tumbling Waters and Apple items, but that they were small residential projects that the ARC had previously reviewed.

B.  Memorandum – Ballot Measure Campaign Guidelines for Elected Officials and Advisory Body Members. – Pam Ricci reiterated the restrictions for advisory body members in terms of their discussion of the ballot measure.

C.    2007 Calendar – Pam Ricci pointed out that the regularly scheduled meeting dates in January 2007 both fell on holidays.  She suggested that the ARC meet on the second and fourth Mondays in January instead.  The Commission agreed to this, but Commr. Lopes noted that the fourth Monday in January would conflict with the Tree Committee meeting. 

6.Commission: 

A.    Minutes: July 17, 2006 (amend or approve). - The minutes were approved with minor amendments.        

        B.    Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

Commr. Lopes noted that the photographs in the agenda packet were overly dark to the point of being illegible.  Pam Ricci she would talk to support staff to discuss it with the printers. 

The Commission again voiced their frustrations with the windows being blocked off for the Sephora tenant improvement in the Court Street project.  They suggested that the white windows be darkened if possible so that they did not stand out as prominently. 

Commr. Root mentioned that the Carroll Building at 969 Monterey Street looked very attractive and that he really liked the look of the aged brick.  He also mentioned that he had been contacted by neighbors on Grove Street regarding their concerns with the installation of a mono-pine cell site next to the nearby medical center at California and Highway 101. 

The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, August 21, 2006, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.