2023-04-25 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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interior courtyard with an area of 12 square feet with maximum letter height of 8 inches tall, with letters made of stainless-steel standoff metal, painted white/off-white for contrast, at an elevation of approximately 9 feet. Applicant: Stanley Haanio Landowner: Roman Catholic Church TMK: (3) 7-5-008:006 Location: 75-5769 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Ms. Newlon gave a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed two wall signs. She noted that the one facing the interior courtyard would meet the Sign Code, but that the other facing Ali‘i Drive would exceed the maximum sign area and letter height allowed under the Sign Code. She said that the applicant would have to work with the Department of Public Works (“DPW”), Building Division, to see if a variance application would be required. She noted that the applicant pointed out that the sign location would be set back 170 feet from the roadway, which they could bring up as a justification for the variance. There were no questions from the Commissioners. Chairman Roth called upon the applicant. Mr. Haanio clarified that although the application indicated the color of the courtyard sign being white, their intent was to make it the same as the color of the other sign, which would be bronze. He stated that in addition to the 170-foot setback, there are many trees in the front, through which people might not even be able to see the building itself from Ali‘i Drive once they become fuller. He added that the church landscaping crew do a great job, and the well-maintained landscape is adding to the aesthetics of the Kailua Village in his opinion. He concluded his presentation by saying that the letter size as recommended by their architect, though exceeding the Sign Code allowance, would look good and would not be overwhelming. When asked by Chairman Roth if there is another sign along Ali‘i Drive near the entrance, Mr. Haanio said that there is a small sign inside the gates, about 3 feet by 3 feet, displaying their Mass schedule. Commissioner Young asked for clarification on why the applicant would need a variance. Ms. Newlon explained that they would need a variance from the Sign Code, approved by the Director of DPW, for the letter height and overall size of the front sign that exceed the limit of 9 inches and 12 square feet, respectively. She further explained that in this particular case, the setback distance from the roadway and mitigation by trees, as Mr. Haanio had noted, would support their grounds for a variance allowing exceptions from the code requirements. Commissioner Lussiaa asked if those code requirements are set regardless of setbacks or wall sizes. Chairman Roth responded that in some cases, a variance is justified because of those conditions of the site. Ms. Newlon also responded that regardless of setback distance or wall size, the Sign Code sets the maximum letter height to 9 inches and the sign area to 12 square feet within the Kailua Village Core section, and there is another section in the Kailua Village where larger signs are allowed. Chairman Roth informed the new members that in the past the Commission had had a lot of discussions in reviewing signs that required a variance and recommended disapproval in some cases, and that the Commission had also recommended approval in other cases where the colors were acceptable, the size was proportional to the building, and/or the distance from the roadway was far. He added that there are some 2 Kailua Village Design Commission April 25, 2023, Meeting Minutes