Architectural Review Committee Meeting

MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Wednesday, June 18, 2014 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm AFTERNOON SESSION ONLY FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS, COUNCIL CHAMBERS 580 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Members Present: Latasa, Freeman, Searle, Silva, Sullivan Members Absent: Dawson, Kimzey Staff Members Present: Principal Planner Kinison Brown, Senior Associate Planner Bennett, Senior Associate Planner Hopper, Recording Secretary Nelson CALL TO ORDER Committee Member Latasa called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm. CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Committee Member Sullivan, seconded by Committee Member Freeman, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee approved the CONSENT ITEMS: AYES: 5 MEMBERS: Latasa, Freeman, Searle, Silva, Sullivan NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 2 MEMBERS: Dawson, Kimzey ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes of June 4, 2014 ACTION: Approved as submitted. Other Consent Items 2. Consider 601 East Franklin; AR Permit 14-225 for Preliminary and Final Architectural Review of Two New Classrooms and a Conference Room; Applicant Paul W. Davis; Owner Tom Maher; Planned Community - Downtown (PC-D) Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution approving AR Permit 14-225 for Preliminary and Final Architectural Review. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. PUBLIC APPEARANCE  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2014 3. Consider 900 Munras Avenue; Sign Permit 14-127 for a Freestanding Sign; Applicant/Owner Anthony Villafranca; VAF-D2 Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution approving a freestanding sign with added Conditions of Approval. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Todd Bennett presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee Members’ questions. Applicant Anthony Villafranca, applicant/owner, thanked Mr. Bennett for his thorough presentation and said the proposed sign will be a great addition to Munras Avenue. Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments Committee Member Freeman said she supports the sign, and that the use of sign poles will complement the existing poles in the area. Committee Member Searle said the Resolution should be clarified regarding which part of the sign is considered the top when measuring height. Committee Member Silva said he supports the sign at a maximum height of 96 inches. Committee Member Silva made a motion to adopt a Resolution approving a freestanding sign with added Conditions of Approval as follows: 8. The sign will be limited to a maximum height of 96 inches. On a motion by Committee Member Silva, seconded by Committee Member Searle, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee Adopted a Resolution approving a freestanding sign with added Conditions of Approval: AYES: 5 MEMBERS: Latasa, Freeman, Searle, Silva, Sullivan NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 2 MEMBERS: Dawson, Kimzey ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None 4. Consider 1 Portola Plaza (Monterey Conference Center); Sign Permit 14-218 for a Permanent Rotating Banner Program; Applicant/Owner City of Monterey; VAF Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution approving the proposed banner program with Conditions of Approval. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Christy Hopper presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee Members’ questions. Applicant Dayna Swanson, Event Supervisor at the Monterey Conference Center, said banners are used to welcome groups and create excitement and are mainly hung in the space above 2  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2014 the office. In response to Vice Chair Freeman’s question, Ms. Swanson said the Conference Center would like the ability to approve banners expediently to accommodate visiting groups. In response to Committee Member Sullivan’s question, Ms. Swanson said it is typical to have a banner hung on only one side of the building at a time. Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments Committee Member Sullivan said the City should encourage the banner program to add clarity for conferences and also said adding some space above and below the banner could add more of a border. Chair Latasa said the Monterey Conference Center has a good track record for banner use. Committee Member Silva said the banners should be allowed to fill the entire width of the spaces on the Conference Center where they will be hung. In response to Vice Chair Freeman’s comment regarding use of banners of various heights and width, Ms. Hopper said the current proposal only addresses linear banners in the two specified locations. Committee Member Sullivan made a motion to adopt a Resolution approving the proposed banner program with Conditions of Approval. Committee Member Searle seconded the motion. On a motion by Committee Member Sullivan, seconded by Committee Member Searle, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee Adopted a Resolution approving the proposed banner program with Conditions of Approval: AYES: 5 MEMBERS: Latasa, Freeman, Searle, Silva, Sullivan NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 2 MEMBERS: Dawson, Kimzey ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None 5. Consider 675 Munras Avenue; Sign Permit Application 13-548 for One New Blade Sign, Two Wall Signs and One Freestanding Sign; Applicant Robert Wecker for The Wecker Group; Owner Craig Smith; P-C-D Zoning District; Exempt from CEQA Requirements ACTION: Continued the item to the July 2, 2014 ARC Meeting to allow applicant to work with staff on selecting a more consistent color palette that ties both the wall and fin signs together. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Ms. Hopper presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee Members’ questions. Applicant Bob Wecker of The Wecker Group, on behalf of Craig Smith, Travelodge, said the proposed signs will include the Stevenson Hotel logo, a font an color scheme that is 3 Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2014 complimentary to the building, external illumination, and less total sign area than the current signs. He also said the signs are an optimal solution allowing for maximum visibility. In response to Vice Chair Freeman’s questions, Mr. Wecker said the facility is not specifically named after Robert Luis Stevenson. In response to Committee Member Sullivan and Committee Member Silva’s questions, Mr. Wecker said only one blade sign is proposed because that is what the building walls can support, and that two wall signs would not be visible enough. In response to Chair Latasa’s question, Mr. Wecker said the colors on the signs differ but the font size and type is the same. Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments Committee Member Searle said the proposed signs do not match causing the appearance of two separate establishments. Vice Chair Freeman complimented the applicant on finding a suitable location for the signs, but said that the vertical sign does not look vintage. She suggested a serif font be used for the signs. Committee Member Silva said more color consistency is needed to tie the two signs together. In response to Committee Member Sullivan’s question, Ms. Hopper said the ARC can determine the placement, size, shape, and location of signs, but not sign content. Chair Latasa reopened the Public Hearing to allow Mr. Wecker, the opportunity to speak. Public Comments Mr. Wecker said serif fonts are difficult to read and that the proposed font is vintage. He also said he is tasked with making the sign according to the brand logo and the client’s needs. Mr. Wecker said the raised letters of the fin sign will create a shadow effect. Chair Latasa closed the Public Hearing and reopened Committee Member Comments. Committee Member Comments Chair Latasa said that the proposed height of the fin sign is appropriate. Committee Member Sullivan and Committee Member Silva concurred. Committee Member Sullivan said the lettering of the sign could be done in a font similar to Bookman Old with serifs to evoke old styling. Committee Member Searle said the proposed font matches the architecture of the building, but the colors on the two signs are inconsistent. Committee Member Silva made a motion to continue the item to the July 2, 2014 ARC Meeting to allow applicant to work with staff on selecting a more consistent color palette that ties both the wall and fin signs together. Committee Member Searle seconded the motion. 4  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Committee Member Sullivan said he will not support the motion if it does not include modification of the fonts. On a motion by Committee Member Silva, seconded by Committee Member Searle, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee continued the item to the July 2, 2014 ARC Meeting to allow applicant to work with staff on selecting a more consistent color palette that ties both the wall and fin signs together: AYES: 4 MEMBERS: Latasa, Freeman, Searle, Silva NOES: 1 MEMBERS: Sullivan ABSENT: 2 MEMBERS: Dawson, Kimzey ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None 6. Consider 2200 Garden Road; AR Permit 14-193 for Preliminary and Final Architectural Review of a New Loading Dock, a New Roll-Up Door, Relocation of a Trash Enclosure, Removal of Three Trees and Other Site Improvements; Applicant Matt Nohr of The Orosco Group; Property Owner Coastal Storage LP; I-R-130-RA Industrial, Administration, and Research and Religious Assembly Overlay; Exempt From CEQA Requirements ACTION: Adopted a Resolution approving Preliminary and Final Architectural Review for 2200 Garden Road with added Special Conditions of Approval. Staff Presentation/Committee Member Questions Taven M. Kinison Brown presented the Agenda Report and answered Committee Members’ questions. Applicant Matt Nohr, Orosco Group, said the project is great because it has retained jobs and kept the Herald in the City of Monterey. He also said the building was left in dire straits and the Herald would like to make improvements to the façade and add a roll up door without modifying the key architectural elements of the building. Mr. Nohr said the trees proposed for removal cause site line and visibility issues, circulation blockage, and roof damage. He also said the Herald needs to be operational at this facility by August 1, 2014. In response to Chair Latasa and Committee Member Searle’s questions, Mr. Nohr said no other tree removals are anticipated at this time and that he is willing to provide replacement trees for the trees that are removed. In response to Committee Member Silva’s question, Mr. Nohr said the roll up door will be painted to match and blend in with the horizontal siding. Public Comments None. Committee Member Comments Committee Member Silva said he supports the project and the repairs that will be made to the neglected building. Chair Latasa and Vice Chair Freeman concurred. Vice Chair Freeman made a motion to adopt a Resolution approving Preliminary and Final Architectural Review for 2200 Garden Road with added Special Conditions of Approval as follows: 5  Architectural Review Committee Minutes Wednesday, June 18, 2014 6. Replacement trees will be planted with direction from the City Forester to replace the trees that are removed. Committee Member Sullivan seconded the motion. On a motion by Committee Member Freeman, seconded by Committee Member Sullivan, and carried by the following vote, the Architectural Review Committee Adopted a Resolution approving Preliminary and Final Architectural Review for 2200 Garden Road with added Special Conditions of Approval: AYES: 5 MEMBERS: Latasa, Freeman, Searle, Silva, Sullivan NOES: 0 MEMBERS: None ABSENT: 2 MEMBERS: Dawson, Kimzey ABSTAIN: 0 MEMBERS: None RECUSED: 0 MEMBERS: None COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Vice Chair Freeman said she attended the Lighthouse Area Specific Plan meeting on June 12, 2014 at Scholze Park Center. She said all attendees were given the opportunity to speak and the main concern expressed was the issue of transportation on Lighthouse Avenue. Chair Latasa said staff should reexamine the previous format of ARC meetings where all members were seated around a table to allow for closer examination of detailed plans. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 7. Planning Office Update  Received update  Mr. Kinison Brown said the 230 Lighthouse appeal will be heard by PC next Tuesday. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:37 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Taven M. Kinison Brown Chair Principal Planner Architectural Review Committee 6