2019-09-17 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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Location: No Street Address Assigned Yet, parcel located the corner of Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and Henry Street Ms. Bugado presented the applicant's revised proposal. [The Commission had voted to defer action on the previously submitted proposal at its July 9, 2019, meeting.] She noted that the roofs were reverted to the originally approved pitch; however, the applicant was still proposing a height increase for the convenience store roof in order to conceal rooftop equipment. She displayed the applicant's renderings, which better depicted the proposed coloration and landscaping, as the Commission had requested at the previous meeting. She also noted that the landscape plans were slightly changed but still showing shade trees and buffer areas. There were no questions from the Commissioners. Chairman Roth called upon the applicant. Ms. Linda Schatz introduced herself as the owner's representative. She also introduced Mr. Matt Conte, the architect for this application; Messrs. Toby Yamashiro and Jason Knable, representing Safeway; and Mr. Randall Monaghan, the landscape architect, who participated over the phone. Mr. Yamashiro provided a PowerPoint presentation (Exhibit A). He stated that they tried to address concerns that had been raised at the previous meeting, by incorporating the following changes: • Returning both roofs to the original 5/12 pitch; • Reducing the requested height increase for the convenience store from 2 feet 5 inches to 11 inches; and, • Adding plumeria trees to the landscaping at the Henry Street entrance. Mr. Yamashiro stated that everything else that had been presented in the previous submittal would remain the same. He also stated that one addition in this submittal was a propane tank proposed to be installed along the northeast elevation of the convenience store. He said that the tank would be screened from the public view with white hibiscus bushes, which would be about two feet taller than the tank. He added that the propane tank was necessary for store operations. Chairman Roth pointed out that the 50-foot kamani trees proposed to be planted between the convenience store and Henry Street appeared to conflict with the store building. Mr. Monaghan stated in response that there should not be a conflict, as the kamani trees would create a canopy above the building. Chairman Roth asked whether their intent was then to plant tall mature trees from the beginning. Mr. Monaghan responded that the intent was to plant small trees, which would have to be pruned regularly, and that once a canopy was formed, kamani was not a problematic tree and would provide shade to the area. Ms. Schatz noted that there would be kamani trees throughout the site, and that having them in the subject location would tie the whole project together. Mr. Monaghan said that such would be the case with the newly added plumeria, which was also used in other areas of the site. In response to Chairman Roth's further question, Mr. Monaghan stated that the plumeria trees as planted would be a 15-gallon size at a height of six to eight feet with a spread of four to six feet, and that they would probably double the height in five years, which would be the appropriate height to maintain. Commissioner Ikeuchi, acknowledging the reduction of requested height increase for the convenience store building, asked the applicant to clarify the reason for the proposed eleven-inch increase. Mr. Conte responded that in designing the building they had verified the equipment sizes to make sure that the parapet was high enough to hide it well. He stated that even with the 2