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Home My WebLink About2009-11-24 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES MEETING DATE: November 24, 2009 TIME: 5:00 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, Fritz Harris-Glade, Stephen Herbert, Ann Kern, Gregory Ogin, David Ross, Jr. and Riley Saito 2.Absent and Excused: Fanny Au Hoy and Paul Bleck 3.Applicants and Representatives: Jeremy Neill, Peter Piper and Jeffrey Foster 4.Office of the Corporation Counsel: Amy Self 5.Department of Public Works: Chris Domino 6.Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Rosalind Newlon and Noriko Sauer 7.Public: Larry Adams, Terry Dunlap, Wendy Fujinaka, Clint Sloan and Debbie Baker Chair Coats welcomed those in attendance, and the Commissioners introduced themselves. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None. NEW BUSINESS 1.Design review of asign permit application for Kona Surgery Center. Applicant: Jeremy T. Neill of Neill Sign & Designs. Land Owners: Edward J. Rapoza of Walua Commercial Venture. TMK: 7-5-018:094. Located at 75-5705 Kuakini Highway., Suite 4, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, northwest of the junction of Walua Road and Lunapule Road. Ms. Newlon oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed wall sign. She noted that the Department of Public Works finds the sign in compliance with the Sign Code, and that it also appears to meet the guidelines of the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. The applicant, Jeremy Neill, was in attendance. It was moved by Commissioner Harris-Glade, and seconded by Commissioner Ross, to recommend to the Public Works Director the approval of the proposed sign as submitted. 1 A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with six ayes (Harris-Glade, Ross, Herbert, Kern, Ogin and Saito) and two absent and excused (Au Hoy and Bleck). 2.Design review of asign permit application for Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse (former Hard Rock Café). Applicant: Peter J. Piper of Piper Designs. Land Owners: LRG Real Estate LP and PFP Anekona LP. TMK: 7-5-009:025. Located at 75-5815 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, at the Coconut Grove Marketplace. Ms. Newlon oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed wall sign and marquee sign. She said that the signs appear to meet the guidelines of the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona; although there are more than three colors used in the signs, they blend in with each other and do not appear to be overwhelming. She noted, however, that according to the Department of Public Works the applicant needs variances from the Sign Code for the height of the logo and for the elevation of the wall sign. Peter Piper, the applicant, and Jeffrey Foster, the restaurant manager, were in attendance. With regard to the elevation of the wall sign, Mr. Piper said that he used the second floor as the reference point, and noted that the previous tenant, Hard Rock Café, had its sign on the same location. Clint Sloan, a Kailua-Kona art gallery owner, spoke in support of the application, saying that the proposed design is a piece of art and he would actually like to see it larger. The commissioners were in agreement that the design is artistic and appropriate for the Kailua Village, and that a sign permit should be granted without the applicant having to go through the variance process since the ambiguity is with the Sign Code; they questioned the definition of “logo” and “floor level.” It was moved by Commissioner Harris-Glade, and seconded by Commissioner Kern, to recommend to the Public Works Director the approval of the sign application as submitted, with a recommendation that the applicant work with the Public Works Building Division to avoid the variance process. Commissioner Saito moved to amend the motion by adding another recommendation that the Building Division consider the second floor as the finished floor level for purposes of interpreting the Sign Code, which was seconded by Commissioner Kern. A roll call vote for the amendment was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Saito, Kern, Harris-Glade, Herbert and Ross) and two absent and excused (Au Hoy and Bleck). A roll call vote for the main motion was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Harris-Glade, Kern, Herbert, Ross and Saito) and two absent and excused (Au Hoy and Bleck). Commissioner Ogin abstained due to a conflict of interest. 3.Design review of a proposed outdoor seating area at Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse (former Hard Rock Café). Applicant: Peter J. Piper of Piper Designs. Land Owners: LRG Real Estate LP and PFP Anekona LP. TMK: 7-5-009:025. Located at 75-5815 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, at the Coconut Grove Marketplace. 2 Ms. Newlon described the proposed project on the site plans, noting that it is for the same property as the previously reviewed sign permit application. She said that the project appears to meet the guidelines of the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona, but added that the applicant needs to submit a Special Management Area use permit assessment application. Peter Piper, the applicant, and Jeffrey Foster, the restaurant manager, were in attendance. Clint Sloan, a Kailua-Kona art gallery owner, spoke in favor of the proposed project, saying it will be a great addition to the Ali‘i Drive neighborhood. It was moved by Commissioner Ross, and seconded by Commissioner Herbert, to recommend to the Planning Director the approval of the proposed project as submitted. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Ross, Herbert, Harris- Glade, Kern and Saito) and two absent and excused (Au Hoy and Bleck). Commissioner Ogin abstained due to a conflict of interest. 4.Possible changes to the Sign Code within the Kailua Village Special District. Presentation and Discussion with the Department of Public Works, Building Division. Chris Domino from the Public Works Building Division made a presentation on possible changes, including establishing three districts within the Kailua Village Special District with different sets of requirements based on the characteristics of the area, as well as modifying the application review process. Debbie Baker, a board member of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District, spoke about their own signage review project within their district, adding her personal note that the Sign Code should be written plainly to be readily understood. Terry Dunlap, an architect in Captain Cook, with some handouts demonstrated how the current size requirements do not allow signs that are suitable for the buildings in some cases, and thus create needs for variances; he said there would not be so many variances necessary, if performance standards – to determine a letter size or character height, using factors such as the distance from the street and the traveling speed of traffic – were implemented. Larry Adams from Aloha Petroleum stated that existing competitors are doing what the Sign Code doesn’t allow his company to do, mentioning as an example that their planned gas station in the corner of Henry Street and Alahou Street is not allowed to have a monument sign for gas prices unless a variance is obtained. The Commission discussed and outlined their possible recommendations to the Building Division, which included the following: In general simplify the Sign Code to make it understandable; define the term “logo”; re-examine the allowable letter height and overall size of signage based on different regional needs; amend the variance section so as to eliminate the involvement of the County Council for sign variance approval, and transfer the authority to approve sign variances to the Public Works Director. Commissioners Harris-Glade and Ogin volunteered to meet with stakeholders in the community to solicit their input. Mr. Domino and the Commissioners agreed that this 3 th discussion be concluded at the January 12 meeting, and that in the meantime the Commissioners individually, without copying to each other, will email their comments or suggestions to Mr. Domino. 5.KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION – Open Discussion Implementing the Architectural Design Guidelines in the “Master Plan for Kailua-Kona” within the Kailua Village Special District. It was moved by Commissioner Harris-Glade and seconded by Commissioner Ogin that this item be postponed until the next meeting. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1.Approval of Minutes of the Meetings of October 27, 2009 It was moved by Commissioner Kern and seconded by Commissioner Harris-Glade that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 7:30 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Ross and seconded by Commissioner Kern that the meeting be adjourned. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary A T T E S T: Cindy Coats, Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 4