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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-18 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES MEETING DATE: November 18, 2008 TIME: 5:00 p.m. PLACE: The Mayor’s Office Conference Room, Suite 103 Hanama Place Office Building in Kailua Village ROLL CALL 1.Members Present: Sally Marone, Fanny Au Hoy, Paul Bleck, Cindy Coats, Stephen Herbert, Ann Kern, Gregory Ogin and David Ross, Jr. 2.Absent and Excused: Fritz Harris-Glade 3.Applicants: Bruce Cook and John Hetherington 4.Staff Present: Bennett Mark, Rosalind Newlon and Noriko Sauer 5.Public: None The Chair welcomed those in attendance, and the Commissioners introduced themselves. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS 1.Design review of a proposed wall sign for Hospice of Kona. Applicant: Laura Varney of Hospice of Kona. Land Owner: Bruce E. Cook, Walua Heights LLC. TMK: 7-5- 018:089. Located at 75-5925 Walua Road, Kailua-Kona, HI, northwest of the junction of Walua Road and Lunapule Road. Staff Presentation 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 sign meets the Sign Code according to the Department of Public Works. Applicant Presentation The applicant, Laura Varney, was not available. The land owner, Bruce Cook, said that he represents her. Public Testimony There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. 1 Commission Discussion In response to the Commissioners’ queries, Ms. Newlon clarified that the initial design was to place the signage higher on the wall for better visibility, but the applicant has chosen to lower it, and reduce the letter height as well, to comply with the Sign Code, rather than seek a variance. Action It was moved by Commissioner Ogin, and seconded by Commissioner Herbert, to recommend to the Public Works Director the approval of the sign application as submitted. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Ogin, Herbert, Au Hoy, Bleck, Coats and Kern) and one absent and excused (Harris-Glade). Commissioner Ross abstained, and was excused, due to a potential conflict of interest. 2.Design review of two proposed signs for Walua Heights LLC. Applicant: Bruce E. Cook, Walua Heights LLC. Land Owner: Bruce E. Cook, Walua Heights LLC. TMK: 7-5-018:089. Located at 75-5925 Walua Road, Kailua-Kona, HI, northwest of the junction of Walua Road and Lunapule Road. Staff Presentation Ms. Newlon noted that the subject property is the same as that of the first agenda item, Hospice of Kona, and described the proposed wall sign and ground sign. She said that they will use the same material and design as the Hospice of Kona sign for their wall sign, and that the yellow color selected for the ground sign lettering will match the existing ground sign on the rock wall on the opposite side of the entryway. She also noted that both signs meet the Sign Code according to the Department of Public Works. Applicant Presentation The applicant, Bruce Cook, was present and available for questions. Public Testimony There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. Commission Discussion Query was made about the existing “Aloha Insurance Building” sign on the opposite rock wall, as the letters look to be taller than the allowable height of 9 inches in the photo. Mr. Cook said that his understanding, as the former owner of the property, is that they did secure necessary permits for the sign. No questions were asked about the proposed signs. Action It was moved by Commissioner Ogin, and seconded by Commissioner Coats, to recommend to the Public Works Director the approval of the sign application as submitted. 2 A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Ogin, Coats, Au Hoy, Bleck, Herbert and Kern) and one absent and excused (Harris-Glade). Commissioner Ross abstained, and was excused, due to a potential conflict of interest. 3.Design review of a proposed twelve unit office/residential use condominium project. Applicant: John Hetherington of Hawaii Design Group. Land Owner: Charles Cotton of Walua Sunsets LLC, and William Hall LLC. TMK: 7-5-018:092. Located at 75-5915 Walua Road, Kailua-Kona, HI, northwest of the junction of Walua Road and Lunapule Road. Staff Presentation Ms. Newlon oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, and summarized the proposed project and her review of it against the Zoning Code, Rule 17 and the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. She mentioned that the project previously secured the Commission’s favorable recommendation to the Planning Director, a Final Plan Approval and a Special Management Area Use Permit for a 12-unit apartment building; however, the project concept has since been changed to office/residential mixed use, and therefore the applicant is going through the permit process again. Applicant Presentation The applicant, John Hetherington, introduced himself, and gave some background information regarding the concept change. Public Testimony There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. Commission Discussion In response to Commissioner Ogin’s question, Ms. Newlon clarified that the parking calculation is based on office use since that has higher parking requirement than that of residential use. Commissioner Ogin expressed his concern whether 40 parking stalls would be adequate since the building might house businesses that require more parking for customers, such as restaurants, shops and medical offices. Mr. Hetherington stated that the project is not meant for restaurants or retail shops, but at this point the type of occupants is unpredictable. He added that what they are promoting is the same person living upstairs and having an office downstairs, which would reduce the commercial density. Commissioner Ogin commended the concept of office/residential mixed use. In response to Commissioner Bleck’s inquiries, Ms. Newlon said that no loading zone is required for the proposed use, that the elevator shaft can go 10 feet above the 30-foot height limit, and that the applicant has to submit a sign permit application separately. In response to Commissioner Ross’s observation, Mr. Hetherington said that shallow- rooted plants will be selected for the landscape strip fronting Kuakini Highway so as not to interfere with the sewer line running through the landscape easement. 3 Commissioner Coats pointed out that the ADA parking stalls are farthest from the elevator, and the Commissioners discussed alternatives to bring those stalls near the elevator. Mr. Hetherington said that upon his trial he concluded the current configuration is the best solution to meet all the parking requirements, and that without adjusting the structural design or the unit size, these ADA stalls can’t be relocated. Commissioner Herbert opined that it is not unusual to see ADA stalls 100 feet away from elevators, that there is enough space for a van drop-off by the elevator, and that the concern doesn’t warrant potential structural modification. Mr. Hetherington said that he will revisit the matter and consider possibilities. The Commissioners expressed their support for the color scheme chosen for the building. Action It was moved by Commissioner Ogin, and seconded by Commissioner Kern, to recommend to the Planning Director the approval of the proposed project as submitted. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with seven ayes (Ogin, Kern, Au Hoy, Bleck, Coats, Herbert and Ross) and one absent and excused (Harris-Glade). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Minutes of the Meeting of October 14, 2008 – It was moved by Commissioner Kern, and seconded by Commissioner Coats, that the minutes be approved as circulated. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. For the Commissioners’ information and comments, if any, copies of departmental memorandum dated November 12, 2008, regarding a request from Samson LLC for a time extension for Condition C of Ordinance Nos. 06 137 and 06 138 were distributed. Ms. Newlon mentioned that the Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the Planning Director for this 149- unit Kumulani multi-family complex at its July 22, 2008, meeting, and gave some background information on the time extension request. ANNOUNCEMENT Mr. Mark made the following announcement: 1.County of Hawaii is in process of administration change, which will come into effect as st of December 1. 2.Efforts are being made to recruit new commissioners since three more Commissioners st will complete their three-year term on December 31, who are asked to continue their service until replacements are found. According to Corporation Counsel, a couple of applications have come in so far. 3.The Commission’s annual dinner is planned in January or soon after with a new director, depending on the Commissioners’ availability. Commissioner Ogin at this point asked for an update on the Kailua Village Business Improvement District (KVBID) projects. Ms. Newlon responded that the Department has not 4 received any new information from them, and reiterated that discussions with Ms. Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel, concluded that the KVBID’s projects are not subject to the Commission’s review unless they require approval by the Planning Director or the Public Works Director; but the KVBID could make an appearance on a voluntary basis to inform the Commission of their projects. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 5:58 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Ogin, and seconded by Commissioner Coats, 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: Sally Marone, Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 5