Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

October 17, 2005                            Monday                                 5:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL:      Commrs. Allen Root, Jim Lopes, David Smith, Greg Wilhelm, Charles Stevenson, Vice-Chair Michael Boudreau, and Chairperson Zeljka Howard 

Commr. Smith was absent. 

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

The order of the agenda was not modified. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

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

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        Downtown.  ARC 193-02;  Review of a downtown historic street lighting program; City of San Luis Obispo Public Works Department, applicant.  (Brian Leveille) 

On a 6-0-1 vote, the ARC recommended approval of the light placement for the downtown pedestrian lighting plan to the City Council, based on findings, and subject to the following recommendations: 

1.      Look into using a 100-watt bulb for light fixtures to maximize spacing and reduce the needed number of light standards.

2.      Consider a pilot project where a lighting installation is installed for a block to observe lighting levels in the field and evaluate effectiveness.

3.      Consider expanding the lighting district to the south to the intersection of Hiiguera and Marsh Streets., which is known as an established gateway to the downtown. 

2.        962 Monterey Street.  ARC/MOD 20-05:  Review modification of an approved facade remodel to a Master List historic property; C-D-H zone; Copeland Enterprises, applicant.  (Jaime Hill) 

On a 5-1-1 vote (Commr. Lopes voting no), the ARC approved the requested modifications, which allowed exposed I-beams as vertical columns around the central entry doors and a horizontal I-beam as a lintel between the lower storefronts and upper transoms. Another component of the approved modification request was to allow the upper window frames to be painted a blue-gray color to coordinate with the new steel storefront system.  The ARC added a condition asking for additional ornamentation of the vertical and horizontal I-beams to create a decorative entry portal.

 COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

3.    Staff: 

A.       Public Art Discussion 

Betsy Kiser provided a detailed PowerPoint presentation regarding the history of the public art program, guidelines for the placement of public art in private and City projects, and clarification of the in-lieu fee requirement.

The ARC recommended the following changes to the criteria by which they evaluate public art projects: 

Change Criterion No. 1 as follows: 

Publicly funded public art shall be located within the public right-of-way, or shall otherwise be easily visible or accessible from a public right-of-way.  When privately funded, art shall be clearly visible in an area open and freely available to the general public on a consistent basis, or public accessibility shall be provided in an equivalent manner based on the characteristics of the artwork or its placement on the site. 

Modify Criterion No. 5 as follows: 

Public art shall be integrated with the site and/or building, and include landscaping, lighting, interpretative information and other amenities where appropriate. 

Add the following as Criterion 7: 

Public art shall be compatible with the immediate site and neighborhood in terms of historic, social and cultural characteristics, architectural scale, materials, land use, and geographical and environmental context.   

B.       Possible Meeting Date Changes in 2006 

The ARC indicated that they would meet on January 9^th and 23^rd given the two Monday holidays in the month on regular meeting days. 

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

4.    Commission:

         A.   Minutes:  October 3, 2005 (approve or amend) - The minutes were approved with a minor amendment. 

C.      Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

Commr. Stevenson brought up the following items: 

·        He thought that speaker slips might be helpful for the recording secretary on hearing items, especially where there is extensive public testimony.

·        He requested that staff report back on Wrona’s Auto Repair on South Street in terms of their expanded auto sales.

·        He expressed concerns with the ficus trees in the downtown and suggested replacing them with another type of tree with a more open and lacy canopy.  Commr.  Lopes mentioned that the Tree Committee is working on updating its street tree list and that he could forward their recommendations once a revised list is endorsed.

 The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, November 7, 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.