2021-05-25 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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an existing commercial building. The wall sign would front Henry Street. The wall sign height is 34.5"inches (ht. of logo) by 184.05 inches, for a total of 44.10 square feet. The maximum letter heights proposed are 13.24 inches and 10.46 inches. The proposal includes a sign made of acrylic material with LED modules for illumination. The proposed colors of the letters are blue with the background painted to match the existing approved color of the building. The logo is proposed with light blue and dark blue in a shield-like design with an orange sunburst. The height of the sign is approximately 30 feet. Landowner: John David Rapoza, et al. TMK: (3) 7-5-004: 058 Location: 75-1000 Henry Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Ms. Newlon gave a PowerPoint presentation on the applicant's request. She described the proposed project on site photographs, design specifications, and elevation drawings. She noted that the applicant was applying for a variance from Chapter 3-58 of the Sign Code for the following specifications: the sign area being 44.10 square feet, exceeding the maximum allowable 22 square feet or 15 percent of the wall area, whichever is less; the lettering height being 13.24 inches and 10.46 inches, exceeding the maximum allowable 9 inches; the symbol height being 34.5 inches, exceeding the maximum allowable 9 inches; and the mount elevation being approximately 30 feet above the grade, exceeding the maximum allowable 9 feet from the grade or half of the wall height, whichever is lower. She said that Sign Code variances had been issued to different businesses in the same building before, namely the Borders bookstore in 1997, Coldwell Banker Maryl Realty in 2011, and Anderson Wealth Planning in 2013. She also mentioned that the Commission had recommended a denial of a variance requested by Planet Fitness in April 2019, who then came back in July 2019 with a modified sign that met the code requirements. Referring to the applicant's notice letter to surrounding businesses, copies of which were included in the application package, Commissioner Smith asked if there were any responses from the community. Mr. Tanaka representing Department of Public Works, Building Division, answered that his division was unaware of any responses. He pointed out that the notice did not indicate the 20-day comment deadline, nor was there any proof of it being actually sent out. Commissioner Smith noted that considering the date of the letter being January 13, 2021, it could be assumed that if they had any concerns with this application, they would have responded by now; he said therefore this was satisfactory to him. Commissioner Smith also asked how the County would make sure that the applicant was complying with the national electric code for installation of the illuminated sign, if approved. Mr. Tanaka responded that the applicant had already submitted an electric permit application as part of the sign application package. Ms. Newlon affirmed this and said that it was just excluded from her presentation for design review. Mr. Tanaka added that the electric permit application was on hold pending outcome of this variance request. Commissioner Smith concluded his questions by saying that he would be supporting this variance request. 2 Kailua Village Design Commission May 25,2021,Meeting Minutes