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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-19 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII MINUTES Meeting Date: November 19, 2019 Time: 5:15 p.m. Place: West Hawaii Civic Center Planning Department Conference Room—Building E, 2nd Floor 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740 CALL TO ORDER Commissioners Present: Shaun Roth, Bryant Ching, Jasmine Crusat, John Hetherington, Ann Kern, Riley Smith, Zon Sullenberger and Arne Werchick Absent and Excused: Michaela Ikeuchi Planning Department: Rosalind Newlon (Planner) and Noriko Sauer(Commission Secretary) Dept. of Public Works: Neal Tanaka(Acting Deputy Building Chief) Applicants/Representatives: Cheryl Weaver and Mario Ramirez (New Business Item No. 1) Public: None A quorum was present. Chairman Roth called the meeting to order and the Commissioners introduced themselves. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the Meetings of November 5, 2019 Chairman Roth asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. No corrections were offered, and the minutes were approved as circulated. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None. NEW BUSINESS 1. The applicant, James Takamine, President of CU Hawaii, has submitted a revised submittal for a sign variance application for a wall sign to be located at the Credit Union of Hawaii located on a parcel accessible by Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Road. The KVDC previously reviewed the sign variance application on April 9, 2019. The revised sign variance application is for a 22 square foot PVC board sign, with satin finish, measuring 44" tall x 6' wide. The proposed lettering and area of the sign are in compliance with the Sign Code and include fonts that are black and green colored letters for the name of the bank, ranging from 3'-5"to 9"tall. The wall sign is to be 1 located at a height of 22 feet. The sign variance applies to the height of the logo which is 24" tall, that is located above the lettering for the bank name on the sign. Landowner: Credit Union Hawaii TMK: (3) 7-5-008:021 Location: 75-5781 Kuakini Highway,Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Ms. Newlon gave a PowerPoint presentation of the application. She described the revisions that the applicant had made to their initial submittal, on which the Commission had deferred action at its April 9, 2019, meeting and also advised the applicant to come back with alternative proposals. She noted that the revised design would satisfy the Sign Code requirements for sign area and lettering height, but that it would still require a variance for the logo height and sign elevation. Chairman Roth noted that the agenda described the range of the letter heights from 3 feet 5 inches (3'-5")to 9 inches (9"), which should read 3.5 inches to 9 inches. Ms. Newlon acknowledged the typographical error and concurred with the Chairman's correction. Chairman Roth called upon the applicant. Ms. Cheryl Weaver of CU Hawaii, representing the applicant, introduced herself, as well as Mr. Mario Ramirez, the manager of the Kailua-Kona branch in question. She thanked the Commission for the input provided at the previous meeting, and said that they were pleased with the revised plan, which they hoped would also be acceptable to the Commission. Chairman Roth opened discussion by saying that considering the setback distance from the road, the proposed sign seemed reasonable, which was mostly in compliance except for the logo height. Commissioner Sullenberger commented that the sign also looked proportionally appropriate for the architecture; however, he questioned the size of the backing that appeared to be protruding from the building wall in the simulated picture. Ms. Weaver clarified that it was the process of creating the picture that caused that impression, and that the sign would be made of the design elements with no backing. With that clarification, Commissioner Sullenberger expressed his support for the proposed sign. Commissioner Ching said that he had driven by the subject property and seen how far the building was set back from the street, and that he had no problem with the sign as proposed. Commissioner Hetherington commented that based on the scale of the site plan, the setback distance appeared to be approximately 121 feet, which in his opinion was a significant distance. Asked by Commissioner Smith, Ms. Newlon said that the Sign Code allowance for the height of logo was 9 inches. Commissioner Smith noted that the applicant was proposing their logo to be 24-inch high while the code allowance was 9 inches; however, he was also in support of the application, given that the building was set so far from the road. Chairman Roth commented that the applicant's logo was also graphic in nature as opposed to some other business logos and looked appropriate. It was moved by Commissioner Sullenberger and seconded by Commissioner Ching that the Commission forward its approval of the sign as proposed to the Director of Public Works. There being no discussion on the motion, a roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with seven ayes (Sullenberger, Ching, Kern, Crusat, Hetherington, Smith and Werchick), no noes and one absent and excused (Ikeuchi). 2 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Upon inquiry by Chairman Roth, Mr. Neal Tanaka from the Department of Public Works ("DPW") confirmed that DPW had received a letter from the Commission asking for the correct method of sign area calculation as prescribed in the Sign Code. He asked if the Commission expected a written or verbal response. Chairman Roth replied that a response letter would be fine. Ms. Newlon suggested that once the letter was received by the Commission, the matter be agendized so that discussion could take place. Commissioner Smith raised the following question, which should also be addressed at that time: Clarification of the responsibilities of Planning staff and of DPW staff with respect to sign permit applications and sign variance applications, for example, whose responsibility it is to verify the correctness of calculation before requests for review are submitted to the Commission. ANNOUNCEMENTS Next meeting tentatively scheduled for December 10, 2019. Ms. Newlon stated that the Commissioners would receive an email confirming whether or not the Commission would meet on December 10, 2019. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chairman Roth adjourned the meeting at 5:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary ATTEST: Shaun Roth, Chairman Kailua Village Design Commission 3