HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-13 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes
KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
MINUTES
MEETING DATE: July 13, 2010
TIME: 5:15 p.m.
PLACE: Mayor’s Conference Room aka Hanama 1
75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
ROLL CALL
1. Members Present: Paul Bleck, Stephen Herbert, Shane Kitchens, Nancy Burns, Eugene
Power, Ann Kern, Ann Peterson (5:22 pm)
2. Absent and Excused: Cindy Coats, Riley Saito
3. Applicants, Presenters and Representatives: Carl Nii, Debbie Baker,
Eric Von Platen Luder, Patti Kiernan, Glennon T. Gingo
4. Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Rosalind Newlon and Keola Childs
5. Public: None other than applicants and presenters.
Vice-Chair and acting Chair Paul Bleck welcomed those in attendance and explained the role of
the Commission and the meeting procedures.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS
There were none.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Design review of a sign permit application for a wall sign for American Savings Bank.
Applicant: Allen Kubota of American Savings Bank. Land Owners: Alexander and
Baldwin Inc. and McBryde Sugar Company Limited. TMK: 7-5-004:010. Located at
75-5995 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, HI at the Lanihau Shopping Center.
Ms. Newlon oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding
properties on the location map, presented illustrations supplied by the applicant and
described the proposed wall sign as to size, number and tone of colors used and lettering
fonts. The sign is to have letter and logo heights of nine inches on vinyl canvas within an
aluminum frame, and will be illuminated. She explained that a sign variance had been
previously granted for the subject property (Lanihau Shopping Center) allowing letters
and logos up to 12 inches high, so it seemed that the applicant could increase the letter
and logo height to 12 inches if it so desired. Ms. Newlon said that the proposed wall sign
appears to meet the various KVDC Guidelines as well as the Sign Code.
There were no questions from the Commissioners or statements from the public on this
matter. Commissioner Herbert moved the Commission to recommend approval of the
sign permit application. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kern. A roll call
vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.
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2. Design review of a sign permit application for a ground sign and a directory sign for
Watumull Properties Corporation. Applicant: Jeremy Neill of Neill Sign and Design.
Land Owners: Jaidev Watumull of Watumull Properties Corporation. TMK: 7-5-
008:009.Located at 75-5776 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona, at Waterfront Row.
Ms. Newlon oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding
properties on the location map, presented illustrations supplied by the applicant and
described the proposed ground and directory signs as to size, number and tone of colors
used and lettering fonts. She reported that while the proposed ground sign appeared to
comply with the Sign Code, it did not appear to meet all of the various KVDC Guidelines
for signs due to the number of colors and font styles used. Ms. Newlon noted that the
particular business (Blue Waiaka Restaurant) named in the proposed streetfront ground
sign would not be allowed to have a second sign visible from the street mounted
elsewhere in the building complex because of the Sign Code limitation of one sign per
business per street frontage.
As to the proposed directory sign, she stated that it also met the requirements of the Sign
Code but did not meet the KVDC Guidelines for signs due to the number of different
fonts used as well as the lack of design consistency with the primary structure.
In discussion following the presentation, commissioners queried staff as to whether the
imagery on the ground sign was a logo or simply artwork. Staff explained that in this
case the image was considered to be artwork as there was no direct identification with
any tenant’s business name or logo. Commissioners also discussed the many different
colors present in the sign with some concern that too much content, in both wording and
colors, was proposed for this sign.
Patti Kiernan, CRC, of Clark Commercial Group, property manager for the subject
property’s owner, came forward to address questions from the Commissioners. Ms.
Kiernan explained the owner’s reasons for the proposed mix of imagery and wording
content on the sign.
Commissioner queried the applicant’s representative as to the safety of the arrow-shaped
sign placards on the proposed directory sign and suggested possible alternatives. Ms.
Kiernan explained why the owner felt there was little or no practical hazard created by
the proposed placards but expressed a willingness to review the design as to whether a
revision would be justified. Commissioners also asked for clarification as to the number
of fonts on the tenant signs and if logos were also intended. Ms. Kiernan said the owner
would be willing to provide all business names in a single font and letter size.
There were no statements from the public on this matter.
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Commissioner Peterson moved the Commission to defer approval of the ground sign
until review at a later meeting when the applicant could return with a revised proposal
containing fewer colors, being either colors carried over from the proposed artwork or
from the colors in the “Blue Waiaka Restaurant” sign. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Kern.
In discussion, the motion was amended by the movant and second to additionally
recommend approval of the directory sign with the condition that the same background
color be used for all individual tenant names, and that it also be one of the colors used in
the main portion of the directory sign.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried by majority vote of Commissioners
Bleck, Burns, Kern, Kitchens, and Peterson. Commissioners Herbert and Power voted
against the motion.
3. KAILUA VILLAGE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (KVBID)
Presentation by Debbie Baker, Executive Director of KVBID, of the proposed
interpretive signs to be placed at four sites within Kailua Village.
Ms. Baker, with KVBID Board Members Eric Von Platen Luder and Glennon T. Gingo,
presented illustrations of the four proposed signs to be erected at Kailua pier, Ali’i Drive
in front of the seawall near the Likana Lane intersection, Hulihe’e Palace lawn, and Hale
Halawai lawn. She stated that the signs, funded by a public grant from the Hawaii
Tourism Authority, are intended to inform residents and visitors of significant cultural
and historical aspects of those locations.
In response to questions from the commissioners, Ms. Baker affirmed that the signs and
their supports were designed to be safe in strong winds and to steel-fabricated to be
longlasting.
Commissioner Peterson moved the Commission to approve the design and placement of
the proposed signs. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kern and was
unanimously approved.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
1. Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of June 15, 2010.
It was moved by Commissioner Kern, seconded by Commissioner Burns, that the
minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by voice vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were none.
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, at 6:22 p.m., Acting Chair Bleck adjourned the meeting with the
unanimous consent of the commissioners present.
Respectfully submitted,
Keola Childs, Planner
A T T E S T:
Paul Bleck, Vice-Chair and Acting Chair
Kailua Village Design Commission
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