2008-07-08 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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access his site through Alahou Street and the private roadway within the applicant’s development, and thereby reduce incoming traffic on Kuakini Highway. He believed that overall the public would benefit from moving this traffic off of Kuakini Highway by way of these private easement road and driveway connections. Commissioners queried the applicant as to the location and screening of the trash enclosures. Mr. Dunlap replied that although the locations for these facilities were not yet set, he assured the Commissioners that they would be included in the forthcoming application for the balance of the subject property (the upper one-third) that would include the gas station and car wash facility, and that screening would be proposed that complies with the KVDC guidelines. Cmmr. Ogin expressed his belief that the drive-through option for the lower building’s future corner tenant was a good, effective feature that would respond to a desire by the public for quick, convenient access to certain food and beverage items. Commissioners discussed the apparent lack of landscaping at the corner of Henry Street and Kuakini Highway, where a sign is to be placed on a six foot high wall. In particular, there was concern about the visibility of cars queuing at the drive-through pick-up window on the elevated driveway grade immediately behind that exposed wall section at the street corner. Action Cmmr. Herbert moved for approval of the application, seconded by Ann Kern, subject to the following conditions: 1.resubmittal of a simplified color scheme for the Panda Express building which eliminated the gold and black and white trim features and added architectural articulation features to the “blank wall” on the north elevation of the building; 2.landscaping features to be added to camouflage vehicles using the drive-through lane from being visible from the Kuakini-Henry Street intersection; 3.replace the oleander planting with a non-toxic hedging from the approved plant list; and 4.show the location of the necessary trash enclosures and proposed screening materials. Discussion followed regarding the effect of passing a motion requiring re-submittal to KVDC vis-à-vis the Planning Department accepting and processing the Plan Approval application for the proposed project. Staff said that the Department would treat the motion as a recommendation for approval and therafter accept a plan approval application. Cmmr. Ross asked if the plan approval review would include the buildings in the upper portion. Mr. Dunlap said that the applicant only needed approval as to the site grading and traffic circulation requirements of the project as to the upper portion of the project site, as the whole site had to be designed as one integrated system. He added that plan approval review would necessarily include the upper buildings as simple “masses,” not detailed architecture with proposed colors and complete architectural 5