2017-12-19 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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Mr. Dunlap displayed a site photograph of the proposed site that depicted a vacant lot located off of Kuakini Highway and explained that this project was reviewed and approved previously by the Commission and now the applicant is returning with revisions. Their architect, Michael Riehm, will go thru the proposed changes one sheet at a time. Commissioner Roth, serving as Chair, asked if any other Commissioner had any other questions of staff. As there were no other questions of staff, Commissioner Roth asked the representative to introduce himself. Mr. Michael Riehm, architect and representative for the applicant, stated that he is from the Riehm-Owensby Architects LLC office in Kona and distributed hand-outs for the Commissioners on the proposed changes. Mr. Riehm went through the proposed changes per sheet A2 thru A9 and L1 (attached): Some of the discussion focused on the cooler unit which will be concealed with panels and may be a different color than the main building or may be metal exterior, and that they may add a mural to the rear of the building near the cooler wall. Mr. Riehm said they may design a metal frame to hold the mural so that it doesn’t affect the cooler wall/unit. On Sheet A2, Mr. Riehm noted that they are also proposing to add a sculpture-type tiki torch as part of the relocated flare that is proposed. Mr. Riehm described the roof changes proposed on Sheet A5 and said that the roof was one continuous roof and now it is proposed as one roof lower than the other roof to break up the mass of the building. On Sheet A8, Mr. Riehm noted that with the revised roof at various heights, the building height would be lowered about 3-4 feet. Discussion: Commissioner Hetherington asked if the plan shows reduced landscape planting and whether a side yard buffer was required. Mr. Riehm replied that Rule 17, Landscaping, only requires 1 tree every 35 feet and their plan shows more trees than required and that the landscaping at the entrance at the driveway would be eliminated. Commissioner Van Pernis said it appears that the applicant is coming back with changes to reduce the costs and said the sidewalk would serve the future guests. Mr. Riehm responded that the proposed project is not intended as a public facility and that the guests would be arriving by shuttle, and that the owner may want to omit some of the landscaping due to costs. Mr. Riehm said that if reducing the previously approved landscaping is not an option than he will present that to the owner. Commissioner Crusat asked Mr. Riehm to explain the purpose of the bio-swale. Mr. Riehm explained there would be plants where the water drains into and would filter the pollutants, thereby eliminating the need for drywells. He further stated the landscaping in the bio-swale would be xeriscape, to reduce water usage. There was concern expressed that parking would occur in the bio-swale, and Mr. Riehm assured the Commissioners that would not occur as there will be 54 parking spaces available. 2