Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

December 4, 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 

All of the Commissioners were present. 

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: 

Update on Advisory Body Recruitment.  

Audrey Hooper, City Clerk, discussed upcoming vacancies on the advisory bodies. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:  

The order of the agenda was not modified. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  

There was no public comment. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.        303 Del Mar Court.  ARC MI 146-05; Review of a new single-family home on a sensitive site; R-1 zone; Tomas Schoff, applicant.  (Continued from November 20, 2006)   

2.        307 Del Mar Court.   ARC MI 147-05; Review of a new single-family home on a sensitive site; R-1 zone; Tomas Schoff, applicant. (Continued from November 20, 2006)  (Phil Dunsmore) 

Items 1 and 2 were considered together as one project. 

Staff presented a brief photo display of the property, the neighborhood and the plans for both 303 and 307 Del Mar Court, discussing the basis for the ARC’s review of two new single family residences. Following a brief discussion regarding site drainage and other site planning issues, the ARC on a 7-0 vote granted final approval to both ARC MI 146 and 147-05, based on findings and subject to conditions and code requirements. In discussion after the initial motion, the ARC added a condition to require greater variation in color between the two residences and asked the applicant to provide additional landscape treatment around the trash enclosure of the front house closest to the street. 

3.        1043 Ella Street.    ARC 21-06;  Review of a 16-unit condominium conversion project; R-2 zone; Brian Rolph, applicant. (Brian Leveille) 

On a 7-0 vote, the ARC continued action on the project to a date uncertain with detailed direction.  Given that the project is a conversion, rather than new condominium proposal, the Commission felt that certain concessions were appropriate and would keep the units more affordable.  These concessions included not recommending that covered parking be required to maintain open view corridors, and allowing the same general parking configuration that now exists with additional planters.  In general, the Commission was supportive of the applicant’s efforts to improve the appearance of site buildings with an extensive facelift including a new roof system with dormers, new cement siding and new windows.  The project would also improve the appearance of the site with extensive landscaping additions and new pedestrian pathways.  The ARC will review the project for final architectural approval after the Planning Commission and City Council consider the required tentative tract map. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

2.        Staff: 

A.       Agenda Forecast - Pam Ricci gave an overview of upcoming projects for the December 4^th & 18^th ARC hearings.  She mentioned that the meetings on December 18^th & January 22^nd would be held in the Council Chamber, rather than the Hearing Room because the CHC would be meeting on those same nights.

B.       Rawson Appeal – Pam noted that an appeal of the ARC’s December 4^th approval of the façade remodel for the former Structure tenant space at 899 Higuera had been filed by Mark Rawson as the representative for Copelands Properties.

C.       South Broad Street Corridor Focus Group Representative – Anthony Palazzo volunteered to serve as the representative from the ARC.

D.       Mandatory Ethics Training – Pam reminded the Commission of their mandatory training on December 13^th at the Board of Supervisors Chamber from 5:00-7:00 p.m

E.        Budget Goals - Pam distributed the consolidated budget goals of all the advisory boards to the Commission.  There was a brief discussion about some of the groups that had related or overlapping goals.  The Commission requested that there be time set aside on December 18^th to discuss whether there was a desire to make any further changes to their goals after they had an opportunity to review the consolidated goals in more detail.

F.        Tree Committee Representative – Pam mentioned that the Commissioners begin thinking about their interest in serving on the Tree Committee since there would be an opening when Jim Lopes’ term ends at the end of March.

3.        Commission: 

       A.    Minutes: November 20, 2006. The minutes were approved as amended. 

       B.    Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

Jim Lopes expressed disappointment with some of the details for the new Housing Authority project at the corner of Johnson and Ella Streets including the lack of a finish on the trash enclosures and the drab building colors. 

Anthony Palazzo reiterated the importance of having colors and materials boards with actual samples, rather than color photo copies as a substitution. 

Zeljka Howard mentioned that the height of the fences of the new residential project at the corner of Foothill and Tassajara did not provide much privacy for outdoor use. 

The Commission suggested that members come to the next meeting with photos of window displays that they consider as good examples in anticipation of the appeal discussion of the 899 Higuera project at the Council.                                           

The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. to a regular meeting scheduled for Monday, December 18, 2006, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street.