32:
DRAFT MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
ARCHITECTURAL
REVIEW BOARD
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009
|
City Council Chambers, Room 213 |
|
7:00 P.M. |
|
1. CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL: Present: Michael Folonis,
Chairperson
William Adams
Lynn Robb
Maegan Winning
Also Present: Ted Winterer, Planning Commissioner (arrival 7:07 p.m.)
Steve Traeger, Principal Urban Designer
Laura Beck, Associate Planner
Absent: John
Ellis
Edouard Mimieux
Amy Rothman
3. SECRETARY’S REPORT:
·
The next meetings of the Architectural Review Board
will be a Special meeting on September 9, 2009 and a Regular meeting on September
21, 2009, both in the Council Chambers.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.
5. PUBLIC
HEARING AND INPUT: None.
6
EX
PARTE COMMUNICATION: Board member
Chairperson
Folonis recused himself from Item 7.6, 09-ARB-380,
7. REVIEWS:
A. CONSENT
CALENDAR
Chairperson
Folonis made the motion to approve the Consent Calendar that was seconded by Vice-Chairperson
Robb and approved by roll call vote 4-0.
a. Resubmissions:
None.
7.1 ARB09-256,
395 Santa Monica Place, Space #114: Retail
Approval
of Building Design, Colors and Materials for the façade and Sign Plans for True
Religion Brand Jeans
ACTION: APPROVED ON CONSENT CALENDAR WITH STAFF
CONDITIONS
a.
New
Submissions:
7.2 *ARB09-312, 1725
Ocean Front Walk: Residential
Approval
of Building Colors for an existing eight story apartment building
ACTION: APPROVED ON CONSENT CALENDAR WTH STAFF
CONDITIONS
7.3 **ARB09-374, 718 Santa Monica
Boulevard: Commercial
Approval
of Sign Plans for an existing commercial building for Kumon Learning
ACTION: APPROVED ON CONSENT CALENDAR WITH STAFF
CONDITIONS
B.
REGULAR
CALENDAR
a.
Resubmissions:
None
7.4 **ARB07-221,
Approval
of Building Design, Colors and Materials and Landscaping for a new 2-story,
five-unit condominium project with subterranean parking
ACTION: APPROVED ON REGULAR CALENDAR WITH STAFF
CONDITIONS
Ramon Covarrubias was present to
discuss the project.
Chairperson Folonis closed the public
hearing.
The Board stated that the applicant
has responded to the previous concerns of the Board and improved the project
with a revised roofline, smooth trowel finish stucco, reduced the two-story
appearance of the building, and embraced the Contemporary style of
architecture.
The Board also stated that the project
is now designed to be more pedestrian friendly; however, expressed concern with
the repetition of the windows on the south elevation.
Chairperson Folonis made the motion to
approve the project with staff conditions that was seconded by Board member
7.5 *ARB09-239, 1427 4th
Street: Office
Approval
of Building Design, Colors and Material for a new
4-story office building with ground floor retail and subterranean parking
ACTION: CONTINUED AT THE APPLICANT’S REQUEST
Mike Meers and David Hibbert were
present to discuss the project. The
Board requested that the applicant speak to the changes made in response to the
issues raised by the Planning Commission from the June 15, 2009 submittal.
Chairperson Folonis closed the public
hearing.
Board members stated that the proposed
design revisions are an improvement with revised shading of the upper element
windows, the revisions to the awnings and pilasters, and the well articulated
and differentiated upper level of the building above the second floor.
Board members also stated that the
applicant has responded to the previous concerns of the Board with the choice
of a lighter stone material; however, the Board expressed concern with the under-developed
entry element and noted that the glass materials have an applied appearance.
Mr. Meers asked for a continuance.
Chairperson Folonis made the motion to
continue the project that was seconded by Vice-Chairperson Robb and approved by
roll call vote 4-0.
Chairperson Folonis recused himself
from Item 7.6, 09-ARB-380, 1829 Eleventh Street.
b.
New
Submissions:
7.6 ARB09-380,
Approval
of Building Design, Colors and Materials for a 2-story three-unit condominium
project currently under construction
ACTION: CONTINUED, DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM
7.7 ARB09-310,
432 Wilshire Boulevard: Service Station
Approval
of Sign Adjustment and Sign Plans for an existing service station for Chevron
ACTION: APPROVED ON REGULAR CALENDAR WITH STAFF
CONDITIONS
Erika Skeie was present discuss the
project and agreed with all the recommendations of the Staff Report to revise
the plans so that the total sign area for the subject property does not exceed
150 square feet.
Chairperson Folonis closed the public
hearing.
Chairperson Folonis made the motion to
approve the project with staff conditions that was seconded by Board member Winning and approved by roll call vote 4-0.
7.8 ARB09-311,
Approval
of Sign Adjustment and Sign Plans for
ACTION: APPROVED ON REGULAR CALENDAR WITH REVISED
FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS
Bob Aptaker and Nick Igel were present
to discuss the project and requested two minutes of additional presentation
time for a total of four minutes.
Chairperson Folonis made the motion to
extend the presentation time to four minutes that was seconded by
Vice-Chairperson Robb and approved by voice vote.
Chairperson Folonis closed the public
hearing.
Staff identified, at the Board’s
request, the purview area for this application and which signs were in the
jurisdiction of the Architectural Review Board.
Board members Winning, Robb, Adams,
and Folonis concurred that the proposed signs are well composed, integrated
into the complete mall, lyrical, welcoming, designed with appropriate colors
and materials, and unique with the touch screen ability; however, the Board
expressed concern with the animated scrolling and touch-screen signage and the Colorado
Avenue entry sign size.
The Board added the conditions that the
applicant work with staff to further abstract the flowered Santa Monica Place logo
in the Colorado Avenue tower element to avoid the appearance of signage; keep
sign type “A” a changeable-copy sign as opposed to an animated sign; and keep
the LCD screens text and color only with no advertising, or imagery that would resemble
a sign.
The Board used the subsequent findings
to allow a sign adjustment for animated signage for the LCD screens: the applicant
demonstrated a hardship as the third story tenants need identification and
direction at the street level; the building is unique in that it is the city’s
only mall and there are no other buildings with similar circumstances and third-story
restaurants in the city; the signs are compatible, integrated,
well-thought-out and proportionate to
the proposed mall project ; and the proposed signs serve to identify Santa
Monica Place which is an important and unique business in the city.
Vice-Chairperson Robb made the motion
to approve the project with revised findings and conditions that was seconded
by Chairperson Folonis and approved by roll call vote 4-0.
8. DISCUSSION: Public input permitted.
a.
Discussion of potential formation of a subcommittee
to address proposed/potential building heights and setbacks. (MF)
ACTION: DISCUSSION HELD
Chairperson
Folonis, Vice-Chairperson Robb and Board member Adams did not have an update at
this time. Chairperson Folonis met with Commissioner
Koning and set an agenda for further discussion. Chairperson Folonis requested that this item
remain on the agenda for further discussion at a later.
b.
Discussion and update regarding past referrals and
Code Compliance efforts regarding illegal signage.
ACTION: DISCUSSION HELD
Laura Beck informed the Board that
Code Compliance persistently continues to follow up on banners and temporary
signage. Of particular concern, is that
after a citation and removal, a proprietor will again put up another banner. Code compliance is continually working to
update the list and resolve the problem.
c.
Discussion
on the proposed “City of
ACTION: DISCUSSION HELD
Vice-Chairperson
Robb will resend the notes to the Board members by E-mail and will re-agendize
for discussion when a full board is present.
Vice-Chairperson Robb asked the Board members to bring their notes and
ideas to the next meeting.
d.
Discussion of potential recommendations for the
update to the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE).
ACTION: NO ACTION TAKEN
e.
Discussion
regarding the status of the Greyhound sign formerly located at
ACTION: NO ACTION TAKEN
9. FUTURE
BOARD AGENDA ITEMS: None
10. REFERRALS
TO STAFF: Vice-Chairperson Robb referred the American Apparel Store on Main Street
for large window sign images. Chairperson
Folonis stated that the Van store has improved with the removal of the illegal
signage and merchandise.
11. ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Folonis made the motion to
adjourn at 8:55 p.m. that was seconded by Vice-Chairperson Robb and approved by
voice vote.
MB
08-24-2009