2017-09-19 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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Applicant: Kazi Food Corp. of HI / dba: KFC-HAWAII Landowner: Lili‘uokalani Trust TMK: (3) 7-4-015: 001 Location: 74-5588 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 The Commission took up this item out of order at 6:05 p.m. Mr. Dunlap displayed some site photographs, and gave a PowerPoint presentation of the applicant’s submittal. He noted that the application did not include signage, which would be submitted separately at a later date. He pointed to the applicant’s color samples, and noted that the proposed red color was not a bright red but more of a rust color. The applicant’s representative and the architect for the project, Shane Kitchens, presented additional information. He said that he had been a member and chairperson of this Commission, and that based on his experience in reviewing applications that were merely satisfying corporate demand, he tried to mingle the bright red-and-white mainland franchise identity with the design guidelines of the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. He expounded that more natural materials were incorporated, and that the colors, including the red, were toned down in accordance with the recommended color palette. He noted that the color of the roof would match that of the wainscot basalt tiles. In response to Commissioner Van Pernis’ question about landscaping plan, in particular, existing palm trees that were not shown on the drawings, Mr. Kitchens stated that although the palm trees and other trees were omitted from the drawings in order to show the architectural design of the building, all existing trees, including the palm trees and a large canopy tree, would remain in place, along with grass. He displayed a stalk of actual red croton plant as a sample, and said that existing mock orange shrubs were in bad health and would be replaced with colorful red crotons, which would complement the rust accent color on the building. He used Mr. Dunlap’s site photographs to clarify the applicant’s landscaping plan. Upon inquiry by Commissioner Van Pernis, Mr. Kitchens stated that the white light bar below the eaves would have low illumination and be turned off in accordance with the shopping center operations, which he estimated to be around ten o’clock. In response to Commissioner Kern’s question about the functionality of the light bar, Mr. Kitchens stated that it was more of a design element than a lighting fixture. Commissioner Van Pernis commented that it was architecturally nice to have the band, but expressed his concern about the light being potentially too bright. Commissioner Sullenberger shared the same concern, and said that while he also liked the band, he did not favor intense white. Mr. Kitchens responded that since the light band was custom made, the width could be reduced, as well as the illumination intensity by possibly using a denser material. He was agreeable to Commissioner Van Pernis’ suggestion to reduce the bar width and illumination by one-third. Commissioner Kern commented that the band was nicely breaking up the walls, and that she would not want to see it entirely removed. Commissioner Roth also commented that the light band would fit the activity of the area, as the property was within the intense commercial section of Kailua Village. Commissioner Ikeuchi expressed her support of the proposal, and commended the applicant for revamping the existing building in such a way that historical elements were incorporated. 4