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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-09 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES MEETING DATE: March 9, 2010 TIME: 5:03 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: Cindy Coats, Paul Bleck, Stephen Herbert, Gregory Ogin (5:12 pm), David Ross, Jr., Riley Saito, Fanny Au Hoy and Ann Kern 2.Absent and Excused: Fritz Harris-Glade 3.Applicants and Representatives: Lisa Johnson of Manini Holdings, LLC 4.Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Rosalind Newlon and Keola Childs 5.Public: Marni Herkes Chair Coats welcomed those in attendance, explained the role of the Commission and the meeting procedures and the Commissioners introduced themselves. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Marni Herkes advocated the County’s and the Commission’s adherence to the existing sign code in making its recommendations and decisions regarding permitting and variances, rather than condoning variance requests. She asserted that the existing sign code is effectively written to protect natural beauty and urban aesthetic values, and reasonably relates the impacts and needs of signage with vehicular and pedestrian traffic flows. She discouraged the Commission and other County agencies from establishing a pattern of deviations, through granting variances from the codes provisions. Ms. Herkes also asked the Commissioners to be more aware of the various needs for landscaping and greenery in our community and the landscaping changes, such as removal of trees, being made by property owners today. NEW BUSINESS 1. Design review of a sign permit application for a wall sign, a directory sign, and five projecting signs on an industrial building. Applicant: Mattson Davis of Manini Holdings, LLC. Land Owners: Mattson Davis of Manini Holdings, LLC and Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust 1100. TMK: 7-4-010:001. Located at 74-5617 Pawai Place, Kailua- Kona, HI, at the head of the cul-de-sac. 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, directory and projecting signs. She stated that the proposed directory sign and the five uniformly designed and scaled projecting signs comply with the sign code and the Kailua Village, but that the proposed wall sign did not comply with the sign code due to the size of the included graphics. 1 She explained that while the size (area square footage) of the wall sign was compliant, the particular proposed graphic design is deemed to be a business logo, i.e., symbol, of the business itself, and is thus required by the sign code to be no larger than the permissible lettering size. In this case, the business graphic is proposed to be 36 inches high, while the sign code limits lettering heights to 18 inches within the Kailua Industrial Subdivision. Ms. Newlon stated that the applicant would like to apply to the County Council for a variance from the sign code in order to maintain its proposed design, in the absence of immediate action by the County Council on implementing expected revisions to the sign code that prospectively would allow the subject sign as submitted. Accordingly, she explained, the applicant would like the Commission’s favorable recommendation to the Department of Public Works and County Council for the necessary variance from the sign code. Commissioners discussed the County’s standards for determining building structures or sign graphics as being business logos or symbols, and thus comprising signs or sign elements subject to sign code limitations. Members also discussed the uncertain timing of prospective amendments to the sign code that might allow the applicant’s wall sign as proposed. The applicant’s representative, Lisa Johnson of Manini Holdings, LLC, addressed the particular graphic design element of the proposed wall sign that did not comply with the sign code. She explained that the silo-type image, as scaled, was an essential element of the proposed wall sign, and its deletion or substitution by other designs would not provide the identification their business feels is very important. Commissioners queried Ms. Johnson as to the applicant’s willingness to either wait for prospective sign code changes or delete the non-conforming graphic element for now and add it later, once the sign code has been changed to allow it. After discussing the uncertainties of the timing of code changes and what changes would actually be effected, as well as the costs of making later changes, Ms. Johnson indicated a preference to apply to the County Council for a variance if the Commission were to provide a favorable recommendation for such. Commissioner Ogin moved the Commission to recommend to the Director of the Department of Public Works his favorable recommendation of approval of a request for variance from the sign code to accommodate the applicant’s proposed wall sign,since the wall sign is consistent with Department of Public Works’ proposed revisions to the Sign Code. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ross. Upon discussion, the motion was amended and seconded by Ogin and Ross, respectively, to include a favorable recommendation of the proposed directory and projecting signs as submitted.A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously (Commissioner Harris-Glade absent and excused). 2 2.Design review of a sign permit application for a wall sign, a directory sign, and twenty projecting signs on an industrial building. Applicant: Mattson Davis of Manini Holdings, LLC. Land Owners: Mattson Davis of Manini Holdings, LLC and Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust 1100. TMK: 7-4-010:002. Located at 74-5606 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona, HI, at the south end of Pawai Place. 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, directory and projecting signs. She explained that the proposed signs were very similar to those proposed for the adjoining parcel (identified by TMK No. 7-4-010:001) as item number 1 on this meeting agenda, except that this proposed directory sign is to be a ground sign rather than a type of wall sign, and the projecting signs for tenants would have slightly larger lettering.Ms. Newlon noted that the directory and projecting signs would comply with the sign code and Kailua Village Master Plan Guidelines for signs. Ms. Newlon stated that the wall sign, being essentially identical to that proposed for the adjoining property per the previous agenda item, did not comply with the sign code for the same reasons and would similarly require a variance approved by the County Council. The applicant’s representative, Lisa Johnson of Manini Holdings, LLC, stated that she had no further comments to offer, inasmuch as the situation was the same as just discussed for the previous agenda item. Commissioner Ross moved the Commission to recommend approvals as provided for agenda item 1 for the adjoining parcel. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ogin. In discussion, commissioners confirmed this motion (i) recommends to the Director of the Department of Public Works his favorable recommendation to the County Council for its approval of a request for variance from the sign code to accommodate the applicant’s proposed wall sign, since the wall sign is consistent with Department of Public Works’ proposed revisions to the Sign Code ,and (ii) also provides a favorable recommendation for the Director’s approval of the proposed directory and projecting signs. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1. Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of January 12, 2010 and January 26, 2010. It was moved by Chair Coats and concurrently seconded by all other Commissioners that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were none. 3 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 5:59 p.m., it was moved by Chair Coats and concurrently seconded by all other Commissioners that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. Respectfully submitted, Keola Childs, Planner A T T E S T: Cindy Coats, Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 4