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 4 of 5 Commissioner Kitchens suggested the mauka-facing sign be eliminated altogether and the Sarona Rd.-facing sign be repositioned to the middle of the building’s second floor (rather than third floor) in order to ensure long-term visibility as proposed frontage palm trees matured with crowns high enough to obscure a third-floor positioning. Several commissioners expressed displeasure and unacceptability of a cinder-block constructed enclosure along the frontage of the property, and which Mr. Childs said may not have been approved by the Planning Department. The applicant’s architect, Don Johnson, explained to the Commission that the applicant’s objective was to achieve what limited visibility was possible from Kuakini Hwy. prior to the awkward entrance road immediately after a signalized intersection on a four-lane road (Kuakini Hwy.). He also explained why visibility was deemed important from both a northbound approach on Kuakini Hwy. as well as the southbound approach which allowed the principal means of access via right-in, right- out turning movements only. He further explained that the applicant seeks to have a ground sign at the only entrance leading to the front lobby entrance of the hotel. Mr. Johnson said that he was personally uncomfortable with the placement, form and materials of the cinder-block enclosure noted as being in front of the hotel entrance and apparently blocking the intended visibility of the proposed ground sign. He said he would consult with the property owner and recommend re-design and possibly removal of that enclosure. Commissioner Andreae asked if an off-site ground sign, at the intersection of Sarona Road with Kuakini Hwy., would be possible instead of the proposed location along the lower, more distant, entranceway into the hotel property. Mr. Childs explained that off-site signs were not permissible under the Sign Code, and are informally considered to be “billboards.” He stated that one could always apply for a variance from the Sign Code to allow such, however, the permission of the other site’s owner would also be required to proceed with a variance application. After substantial discussion of alternatives, commissioners moved recommendations on the proposed signage in the form of three motions, one for each of the proposed signs, as follows: 1.For the proposed mauka wall sign (facing Kuakini Hwy.) Commissioner Hetherington moved, and Commissioner Kitchens seconded, that the sign be reduced to a maximum of 16 sq. ft., and to be comprised of only the Holiday Inn Express “H” logo on the illuminated green square background, in order to minimize unfavorable signage impact in Kailua Village. The motion carried with five aye votes (Kitchens, Andreae, Au Hoy, Hetherington and Broderson) and four absent and excused (as listed above). 2.For the proposed wall sign facing Sarona Road, Commissioner Kitchens moved, and Commissioner Hetherington seconded, that the proposed sign be relocated to a lower elevation, in the middle of the second floor elevation, directly below the third floor placement proposed in the application, to ensure long-term visibility under mature tree landscaping along Sarona Road. The motion also proposed an alternate location, on the façade of the porte cochere, that would also be acceptable to the Commission. The motion carried with five aye votes (Kitchens, Andreae, Au Hoy, Hetherington and Broderson) and four absent and excused (as listed above).