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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-21 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII MINUTES Meeting Date: June 21, 2022 Time: 5:24 p.m. Location: Live-stream online meeting, with the West Hawaii Civic Center, Planning Department Conference Room, Building E, 2nd Floor, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as the in-person meeting site CALL TO ORDER Commissioners Present: Shaun Roth, Bryant Ching, Michaela Ikeuchi, Zon Sullenberger, and Arne Werchick Absent and Excused: Jasmine Crusat, Ann Kern, and Riley Smith Planning Department: Rosalind Newlon (Planner), Deanne Bugado (Planner), and Noriko Sauer(Commission Secretary) Applicants/Representatives: Richard Vierra, Ryan McGrady, and Mel Ventura(New Business Item 1) A quorum was present. Chairman Roth reminded the Commissioners to keep their cameras on in order to have the quorum verified throughout the meeting. Chairman Roth asked the Commissioners to disclose, as required by the Sunshine Law, if there was anyone else at their remote location. There were no such disclosures. Chairman Roth called the meeting to order. He introduced the Commissioners and described the Commission's duties and meeting procedure. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the Meeting of April 26, 2022. At 5:26 p.m. 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 There were no members of the public in attendance. Upon being asked by Chairman Roth, Ms. Bugado indicated that the Commission had received no written statements from the public. NEW BUSINESS 1. PL-KVD-2022-000014: The applicant, Mr. Richard Vierra of RTV Designs, Ltd., is requesting a sign variance for two signs to be located at the Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union on Hualalai Road in Kailua-Kona. The two signs include: 1) a replacement of a ground sign at the driveway entrance measuring 9 feet 6 inches by 1 3 feet 9 inches (35.62 square feet)with maximum letter height of 7-5/8 inches and logo height of 2 feet, and 2) a wall sign over the building entrance that measures 11 feet 2 inches by 2 feet 4 inches with maximum letter height of 9 inches and logo height of 2 feet 4 inches. The color of the logo is a teal green, letters a warm dark gray, and background an off-white. The ground sign would be atop an existing lava rock wall with landscaping. The exterior colors of the buildings will not be changed. Applicant: Mr. Richard Vierra/RTV Designs, Ltd. Landowner: Kona Community Federal Credit Union TMK: (3) 7-5-004:001 Location: 75-159 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 The Commission took up this item at 5:27 p.m. Ms. Newlon gave a PowerPoint presentation on the requested sign variance. She showed the subject parcel of land and existing building on aerial photographs. She indicated the location of the two proposed signs on the site plan and site photographs, which also showed the existing ground sign that would be replaced with the proposed sign. Ms. Newlon noted that the applicant's submittal was showing the new ground sign being designed to be 6 feet 10 inches tall, including the rock wall base; however, since the sign would be within the front setback area, the height would have to be reduced to 6 feet or less. She said that she had discussed this with the applicant, and that he would modify the design by adjusting the blank spaces on the sign and/or relocating the address to the rock wall base to comply with the requirement. She said that the applicant was requesting a variance from the Sign Code for the 2-foot-high logo and the total sign area of 35 square feet, as the maximum allowed within the Kailua Village Special District is 9 inches in height and 22 square feet, respectively. She noted that the proposed earth-tone colors and the use of natural stone were consistent with the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona guidelines. Ms. Newlon displayed a graphic simulation of the front entrance with the proposed wall sign. She described the specifications of the wall sign and said that the height of the logo in this case was designed to be 2 feet 4 inches, also exceeding the 9-inch limit, and required a variance. She said that the color palette was identical to that of the ground sign. Ms. Newlon further noted that on June 17, 2021, a Plan Approval had been granted for the exterior modifications to the building, drive-through area, and landscaping; however, the signage had not been included in that approval and therefore required review and recommendation of the Commission. Chairman Roth asked if the business, or Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union ("HCFCU"), had obtained a variance for the existing ground sign. Ms. Newlon responded that she had found none in her research, and that while she was not certain, the building and signage could have existed before the Sign Code was enacted. When asked by Commissioner Ikeuchi about the size differences between the existing ground sign and the proposed one, Ms. Newlon said that according to the applicant, the proposed ground sign as modified would be 6 feet tall together with the rock wall base, which would be 2 feet shorter than the existing sign. Commissioner 2 Kailua Village Design Commission June 21,2022,Meeting Minutes Ikeuchi also asked if the signs would be illuminated from the inside, and Ms. Newlon requested that the applicant clarify his proposal for lighting. Chairman Roth called upon the applicant for his presentation. In response to Commissioner Ikeuchi's question, Mr. Vierra explained that the signs would be internally lit with white LED lights, and that because the logo and lettering would be projecting about a half inch from the background with the opaque surface, the illumination effect would be a glow around the edges of the logo and lettering. He confirmed Ms. Newton's presentation on the intended modification to the overall height of the ground sign and stated that it would be reduced to 6 feet. He added that if the modification included relocating the address to the rock wall base, that address would not be illuminated. He said that there was presently some landscape lighting, which he was unsure whether or not the architect intended to maintain in addition to the internal illumination. With respect to the wall sign next to the main entrance, Mr. Vierra stated that because that wall was set back far from the property line, and also the sign would be mounted in a recessed area under a canopy roof, the visibility from the public right-of-way would be limited. He further stated that the purpose of the sign was so that as customers drive in, they could distinguish HCFCU from an adjacent property with which HCFCU shares the vehicle entry. He noted that the wall sign would also be internally lit the same way as the ground sign. Mr. Vierra confirmed Chairman Roth's supposition that the background surface was also opaque, which would only reflect the light. Upon inquiry by Commissioner Ikeuchi, Mr. Vierra clarified that the letters and logo would be illuminated internally, but that the light would not come through the faces of them but reflect off of them and create a glow around each letter. When asked by Commissioner Ikeuchi what time HCFCU closes its door, Mr. Vierra said that while unsure of exact time, he would guess at 6:00 p.m. as a typical financial institution. He noted that he had not stipulated the hours that the signs would be illuminated. There being no further questions of the applicant from the Commissioners, Chairman Roth opened the floor for comments and discussion. He commented that the ground sign being lower in height would be an improvement, that the overall facelift of the building would help the village look better, and that he found the proposed signs to be very much in keeping with the building. He further said that with the property like this where the signs would primarily be seen while driving, he did not have a problem with the logo size as proposed. Commissioner Ikeuchi said that her concern with the internal lighting was that it was unknown how bright the internal light could be made. She said that since the business closes before the sunset, she did not understand why the ground sign would need to be brighter than a few tasteful landscape lights pointing at it, which would be classier and more upscale in her opinion. Commissioner Werchick said that he would have no objection to it being internally lit as long as it was somehow indicated that it would be soft lighting and not a glaring type of bright lighting. Chairman Roth commented that unlike the white band on the Kentucky Fried Chicken building that the Commission had had lots of discussions on, this illumination design would create indirect glowing light. He further said that he would be fine with either the proposed method or use of landscape lighting, but that it might be the applicant's opinion that the glowing light would give more modern look to the sign. Commissioner Ching expressed his support for the 3 Kailua Village Design Commission June 21,2022,Meeting Minutes proposed indirect lighting and said that it would look very tasteful in his opinion. Commissioner Sullenberger agreed with Commissioner Ching and commented that the brightness of the light source did not really matter with this halo type of indirect lighting because it would actually illuminate the background and enhance that off-white color as opposed to coming directly through the lettering. He further said that he would also support the variance request, as the composition of the letters and logo looked harmonious and nice as designed. Chairman Roth also pointed out that when a roadside sign like this one was being shined by landscape lights, motorists might see the light sources as they drive. He suggested that the Commission could approve the illumination as presented and recommend that no landscape lights be used so as to avoid additional amount of light. It was moved by Commissioner Ikeuchi and seconded by Commissioner Werchick that the Commission approve the application as presented, including the internal lighting, with no landscape lighting directed at the sign. There being no discussion on the motion, a roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with five ayes (Ikeuchi, Werchick, Ching, Sullenberger, and Roth), no noes, and three absent and excused (Crusat, Kern, and Smith). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS At 5:53 p.m. Chairman Roth announced that this was Commissioner Sullenberger's last meeting. He and the other Commissioners thanked Commissioner Sullenberger for many years of his service on the Commission. Chairman Roth noted that two new members were expected to be sworn in by the next Commission meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 12, 2022. Ms. Bugado said that the tentatively scheduled July 12, 2022, meeting was cancelled, as no applications had come in, and that the next tentative date was July 26, 2022. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chairman Roth adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary ATTEST: Shaun Roth, Chairman Kailua Village Design Commission 4 Kailua Village Design Commission June 21,2022,Meeting Minutes