2014-05-06 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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Minutes of May 6, 2014 Meeting of the Kailua Village Design Commission Page 3 of 5 2.Design review of a sign permit variance application for one ground sign and two wall signs exceeding allowable maximum area and lettering/symbol heights for “Holiday Inn Express & Suites” hotel. Applicant: Ina Custom Signs. Landowner: Kona Hospitality LLC. TMK: 7-5-007:009. Located at 75-146 Sarona Road. Mr. Childs first described the proposed ground sign, noting that in addition to the 18 sq. ft. sign area described in the variance application, which he measured to actually be approximately 19 sq. ft., the sign pedestal itself was internally illuminated in the same color as the sign. He said that it therefore seemed to be part of the entire sign to be considered. He noted that the illuminated area contained within the sign’s pedestal and cap altogether comprises an additional 10 square feet, bringing the total ground sign area up to 29 square feet if calculated as he suggested it should be. Noting the proposed sign is to be constructed entirely of metal and illuminated, curved plastic, Mr. Childs stated that only the proposed lettering, having a maximum height of 9 inches, complied with the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona, and the rest of the sign was entirely modernistic in appearance. Projecting digital site photos showing the nearly completed building, Mr. Childs identified the proposed locations of the two proposed wall signs, internally illuminated and comprising 32 and 43 square feet respectively, and each to be mounted high on the building at the middle of the third floor elevation of the mauka wall (facing Kuakini Hwy. over an intervening parcel) and north wall (facing Sarona Rd.). He noted that both signs would substantially exceed the 12 sq. ft. maximum allowable in the Kailua Village Core Area, and that the sign facing Sarona Road proposed lettering up to 17” high which exceeds the 9 inch height allowable in this area. Mr. Childs identified, through use of projected photos, the apparent difficulties that the hotel operator may be facing in placing its signage where it can be visible to arriving or returning motorist customers. He said that these difficulties seem partially caused by the building being accessible only by a right-in, right-out, back-angled minor road which is offset just beyond a signalized intersection (Kalani Street/Kuakini Hwy.), and where the approach visibility of the subject building is largely obscured by a three-story streetfront building (Kuakini Tower) at that signalized intersection. However, Mr. Childs stated that the size of the three proposed signs, coupled with the proposed illumination of large plastic facings, presented a modernistic appearance currently unmatched in scale within the Kailua Village Core Area, and do not appear to comply with the guidelines of the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. Finally, Mr. Childs reminded the commissioners of their signage suggestions offered to the applicant several years previously, when the hotel building was presented to the Commission for its design review and recommendations; the commissioners had recommended that the applicant use natural lava rock framing materials for a ground sign, and predominately earth-tone colors for all signs. In the following discussion, commissioners reviewed the provided digital photos of the building from its Kuakini Hwy. and Sarona Road points of view, and expressed a variety of concerns about the proposed sign placements and illuminated sizes. Commissioners noted the proposed mauka (Kuakini) facing sign would seem to provide limited visibility to motorists, despite its proposed large, illuminated size (32 sq. ft.), and therefore doubted that its visual impact would be beneficial to anyone, particularly with its design being so out of character with the Kailua Village Master Plan. Commissioner Andreae suggested the applicant consider placement of a single sign on the façade of the abbreviated porte cochere instead of the large Sarona Rd. facing walling sign and the ground sign.