Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

November 7, 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 

All of the Commissioners were present. 

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.        1136 Walnut Street.  ARC 121-05; Review of a new religious facility; R-4 zone; Iqbal Family Foundation, applicant.  (Phil Dunsmore) 

On a 7-0 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the building and site design, including a setback exception for the west property line, based on findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements. The project architect Heidi Gibson provided a very thorough and interesting presentation regarding the building layout and motivations for the building architecture and site design.  The Commission was impressed with the thought behind the design and concluded that it was an appropriate solution for a difficult site.  The amount of available parking was discussed and questioned, but found to be compliant with City standards. 

2.        620 California Boulevard.  ARC 164-05; Review of a wireless telecommunications facility camouflaged as a pine tree; O-S zone; Cingular wireless, applicant.  (Tyler Corey) 

On a 7-0 vote, the ARC granted final approval to the project, based on findings, and subject to conditions and code requirements. The Commission was most concerned that the branch density be full enough to screen proposed antennae and that the branches of the mono-pine be varied enough to look real.  Wording was added to one condition to reflect the concerns with branch density and variation and another condition modified to add a requirement for a wood trellis with vines to screen equipment boxes from the parking lot of the medical offices. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

3.    Staff: 

A.   Agenda Forecast – Pam Ricci provided a forecast for the next two meeting    agendas. 

4     Commission: 

       A.    Minutes:  Minutes of October 17, 2005 (amend or approve)      

       The minutes were approved as submitted. 

B.       Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

       Commr. Stevenson inquired about receiving copies of the Project Status Report, noting that he had not seen one in some time. 

       Commr. Lopes questioned the appropriateness of the finish detail of the knee braces at the top of the columns where they connected to the perimeter beam of the Victorian-style octagonal pavilion constructed in Mitchell Park. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, November 21, 2005, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.