2017-08-15 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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Mr. Dunlap displayed some photographs of the subject property. He said that the parking requirement for the project, which was one stall complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) standards, was satisfied by a parking agreement with the adjoining King Kamehameha Mall. He described the project with the applicant’s drawings, and noted that no signage was proposed at this time. Mr. John Hetherington, the architect for the project, provided further information. He stated that instead of paving most of the 2,000-square foot parcel for parking, the applicant opted to create a garden setting with drought-tolerant local plants, such as akia, ti, pohinahina and Singapore plumeria, and raised planters where customers could sit and wait, as well as four dining tables under a trellis with ‘ōhi‘a posts. He further stated that the project would be a true walk-up establishment, with a dropdown window that could serve customers in a wheelchair or on a handicap scooter, and that there would be bike racks for bicyclists, which was in line with the newly established Bike Share program and biking path maps for the neighborhood. He said that the ground would have a concrete path stained in amber color and turf blocks with grass in them, and that there was an existing six-foot rock wall along the southern boundary, which would prevent people from entering to and from the adjoining American Savings Bank property. He stated that the applicant’s intent was to modernize and upgrade the property overall, but maintain the charming character of the existing structure, such as the double-pitch roof and lava rock exterior. He showed a photograph of the existing lava rock exterior, and said that they would keep the exterior as much as possible, with addition of matching new lava rock veneer. He noted that the property was currently attracting the homeless, and that the applicant wanted to contribute to the community by doing their part to help Kailua Village thrive and prosper. Commissioner Au Hoy questioned the safety of the turf blocks for the handicapped and elderly. Mr. Hetherington responded that turf blocks were able to accommodate wheelchairs, scooters and dining chairs, especially with hardy Bermuda grass that could be cut very short. He added that the other options that they had considered but were not preferable included pavement, stepping stones and gravel. Mr. Dunlap clarified that ADA compliance would be confirmed during the Plan Approval process. Upon inquiry by Commissioner Au Hoy, Mr. Hetherington displayed color samples of three shades of blue for the roof, and said that although Atlas Regal Blue was the applicant’s choice out of the three, they were open to the Commissioners’ opinions. Commissioner Au Hoy said that she would prefer a lighter blue, as the proposed darker shade, together with the lava rock exterior, would make the small building appear even smaller. Commissioner Van Pernis expressed his agreement. Commissioner Roth commented that a darker roof might be less reflective, but he concurred with Commissioner Au Hoy that it would make the building hot. In response to Commissioner Roth’s question, Mr. Hetherington stated that the present roof color of the adjacent King Kamehameha Mall was beige, but that it would be painted over to match the food booth during the course of planned remodeling. He added that the applicant’s intent was to create the feel that the food booth was a part of the mall. The consensus was that Siam Blue was preferable to Atlas Regal Blue. Commissioner Sullenberger thanked the applicant for their vision for the subject property, without which there would have been temporary black fencing instead as proposed earlier by the landowner. Upon inquiry by Commissioner Au Hoy, Mr. Hetherington stated that the trellis would be as long as the building and should be large enough for four tables, and that there would be a shade cloth over the trellis. He added that the color of the shade cloth would probably be black or else match 2