Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

October 15, 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 

Commr.  Palazzo 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.        485 and 493 Pismo Street. ARC 76-07; Review of six-unit residential project; R-3 zone; Sansone Company, applicant.  (Brian Leveille) 

On a 6-0-1 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the project, based on findings and subject to conditions and code requirements.  The Commission liked the proposed building architecture and felt that it fit in well with the historical context of the neighborhood.  The ARC found that the proposed trellises in the street yards were a nice addition to the project and supported the approval of a separate fence height exception to allow them.  Fred Schumacher, an owner of a nearby property, had questions regarding the number of lots proposed and the amount of parking provided, but had no objections to the project. 

2.        Downtown Core Area.  R/TA 50-06; Review of proposed changes to the City’s Community Design Guidelines relating to building height in the downtown core; City of SLO, applicant.  (Michael Codron) 

On a 6-0-1 vote, the ARC recommended approval to the City Council of the proposed changes to the City’s Community Design Guidelines relating to building height in the downtown core with suggestions on changes to Figure 4-2 and a recommendation not to include a draft graphic regarding building transitions.  The ARC appreciated the hard work of staff throughout the process of updating the guidelines, and felt that the final draft guidelines with the new graphics would be a valuable tool to designers, staff, the public and decision-makers in reviewing downtown projects.

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

3.        Staff: 

A. Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci provided an agenda forecast for the 11-5-07 and 11-19-07 meetings. 

4.        Commission: 

A.        Minutes: October 1, 2007 (amend or approve) -  

B.       Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

Chairperson Boudreau mentioned that the new homes in the Bowden Ranch development were much grander in scale than other homes in the surrounding neighborhood. 

Commr. Wilhelm noted that the Firestone patio project looks good and that he especially likes the scale and details of the columns. 

Commr.  Howard commented that the shape of the new awnings for “It’s A Grind” in the Irish Hills Plaza shopping center off Los Osos Valley Road did not match the adjoining building features. 

The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, November 5, 2007, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.