Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting
 

September 19, 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 

Commr. Root was absent. 

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

The order of the agenda was not modified. 

1.      715 Tank Farm Road. ARC 98-05; Review of a new commercial office with a building height exception at the southeast corner of Tank Farm Road and Broad Street; O-SP zone; Lee Development, applicant. (Tyler Corey) (Continued from September 6, 2005.) 

On a 6-0-1 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the project, based on findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements.  Commission discussion focused on ways that the entry on the eastern elevation could be embellished to be better articulated and more in keeping with the northern elevation.  A condition was modified to ask for changes to the east elevation, as well as the south elevation, to add interest and articulation with detailing like that used on the north elevation.  Another condition was modified to specify can-type lighting fixtures with up and down lights, rather than wall packs.  Other conditions were added regarding a pedestrian pathway across the parking lot to connect the entry of the new building to the existing central building, the addition of more vertical planting to the planter east of the main building entry, and a condition that all project conditions would remain in effect for the lifetime of the building.

2.       City-Wide. ARC 144-05; Review of a new City bus shelter design. City of San Luis Obispo and Public Works Department, applicant (Jaime Hill) 

On a 6-0-1 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the new bus shelter standard, based on findings, and subject to conditions.  The Commission agreed that the new standard was cleaner looking and would result in fewer maintenance issues.  Conditions were added by the Commission to alter the standard design when warranted by ridership levels or environmental conditions, such as excessive wind, to the discretion of the City’s Transit Manager. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

3.       Staff: 

A.        Agenda Forecast – Pam Ricci provided an agenda forecast. 

B.       Parliamentary Procedures Manual and upcoming training.  Pam Ricci mentioned that a training session was planned for Wednesday, October 19^th at 5:30 p.m.  The Commission asked that the session cover the topic of the protocol for changes made after a motion is made and seconded. 

4.       Commission: 

                       A.  Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

Pam Ricci mentioned that Brett Cross had sent the Community Development Director an e-mail with concerns about the appearance of the new service station under construction at the corner of Tank Farm Road and Broad Street.  The Commission discussed some of the limitations of their impact on the final design given the multi-tiered review of the project, but noted that berming and planting was proposed that would enhance the project’s appearance. 

The Commission talked about the Costco store which had just opened the preceding Friday.  The ARC felt that the trellis would have been more distinctive if its color had varied more from building walls.  Commr. Lopes felt that the shed roofs did not really give adequate variation to the roof plane because they extended only to the parapet.  There was also discussion about the hardscape treatment approved near the building entry (checkerboard colored asphalt), and the interim (single terra cotta color asphalt with tan band) and long-term solutions (colored and scored concrete in earth tones) to improve the appearance.  The ARC liked the parking and building lighting. 

Future Meeting Topics 

The Commission discussed their desire to prepare a memo to the Planning Commission and City Council about suggested ideas to modify the language of the Land Use Element in regard to High-Density Residential policies as they refer to preferred housing types (mainly attached) and the Zoning Regulations in terms of maximum unit sizes. 

There was interest in having a discussion at an upcoming meeting regarding more detailed criteria for lighting.  Commr.  Lopes indicated that he had some information to share as a starting point for discussion. 

The Commission adjourned at 7:45 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, October 3, 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.