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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-07 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI`I MINUTES Meeting Date: March 7, 2023 Time: 2:32 p.m. Location: Live-stream online meeting, with the Planning Department Conference Room, West Hawaii Civic Center, Building E, 2nd Floor, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as the in-person meeting site CALL TO ORDER Commissioners present via Zoom: Shaun Roth, Alayna Kilkuskie, Jasmine Crusat, Palani Greenwell, and Arne Werchick Absent and excused: Ann Kern Office of the Corporation Counsel: Suzanna Tiapula, Esq. (Counsel to the Commission) Planning Department: Deanne Bugado (Planner), Rosalind Newlon (Planner), and Noriko Sauer(Commission Secretary) Applicant/Representative via Zoom: Rick Hendershot(Item 1), and James Evans, Katherine Luga and Jeffrey Zimmerman (Item 2) Applicant/Representative in person: Katharina Findlay (Item 2) Public member in person: Luke Berenato A quorum was present. Chairman Roth called the meeting to order at 2:32 p.m. Chairman Roth reminded the Commissioners to keep their cameras on. Chairman Roth made a disclosure that Ms. Kari Kimura was nearby [but not participating in the meeting]. Chairman Roth introduced the Commissioners and explained the Commission's duties and meeting procedure. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the Meeting of February 7, 2023. At 2:33 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 Chairman Roth confirmed with staff that there were no statements from the public. 1 NEW BUSINESS 1. PL-KVD-2022-000026: The applicant, Rick Hendershot of Mauna Kea Signs,is requesting design review for a new wall sign at HFS Federal Credit Union, at the Kona Coast Shopping Center,located at TMK 7-4-015:001. The project includes replacing an existing wall sign with a new wall sign with an area of 14.6 square feet and letter height of 16 inches; logo height of 22 inches,with raised 1/z" acrylic lettering, and mounted with allthread studs into stucco. The colors for the sign include orange, red and gray. The sign will not be illuminated. Applicant: Rick Hendershot of Mauna Kea Signs Landowner: Lili`uokalani Trust TMK: (3) 7-4-015:001 Location: 74-5588 Palani Drive, Suite 5, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 The Commission took up this item at 2:34 p.m. Ms. Newlon gave a PowerPoint presentation on the application. She noted that comments from the Department of Public Works, Building Division ("DPWBD"), indicate that the proposed logo and letter height does not comply with Sign Code Section 3-58(c), which limits the height to 9 inches. She said that the applicant, however, states that the proposed sign has the same 16-inch- high letters and 22-inch-high logo as the existing approved sign that is to be replaced, is less than half of the footprint, and has no illumination. She said that the applicant states that reducing the letter height to the Sign Code limit of 9 inches would diminish the visibility to the Credit Union members. She further said that the applicant also states that granting the requested variance would be consistent with the other signs in the Kona Coast Shopping Center, whose sizes are the same as or larger than the proposed sign. When asked by Commissioner Crusat about the existing variances for the other signs in the Kona Coast Shopping Center, Ms. Newlon said that Sign Variance No. 14 approved in November 1999 covers the entire Shopping Center and allows 12-inch-high letters and logos and 22-square foot sign areas, that the two larger bays at each end of the complex are allowed even taller letters and logos and larger sign areas, as well as roof signs. Chairman Roth commented that there had been discussion on general guidelines for tenant signs when the Commission had reviewed the renovation project for the complex years ago. Ms. Newlon noted that the Shopping Center does not have a master sign plan but has its requirements based on the variance allowances. There being no further questions of staff from the Commissioners, Chairman Roth called upon the applicant. Mr. Rick Hendershot reiterated that his client was replacing the sign that had been approved by the Commission in 2011, with a non-illuminated sign with the same lettering size and less sign width and area. He pointed out that in addition to the two larger bays, there are a couple of other business signs in the complex, with a 36-inch logo or 24-inch lettering. There being no further questions of the applicant from the Commissioners, Chairman Roth opened the floor for comments. He said that in his opinion the proposed sign is consistent with the other tenants' signs and the Shopping Center generally, and that based on the fact that they 2 Kailua Village Design Commission March 7,2023,Meeting Minutes are scaling back the size and eliminating the illumination, he would recommend approval. Commissioner Crusat commented that she does not generally support sign variances, but that in this case the sign appears to be a good size and goes well with the building. Chairman Roth also noted that the purpose of the existing variances is to provide better visibility because the complex is set far back from the street. It was moved by Commissioner Werchick and seconded by Commissioner Crusat that the Commission recommend approval of the application as presented. There being no discussion on the motion, a roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with five ayes (Werchick, Crusat, Greenwell, Kilkuskie, and Roth), and one absent and excused (Kern). 2. PL-KVD-2023-000029: The applicant, Nine Brains Big Island I, LLC, a Delaware LLC, dba Pacific 19, is requesting design review for three new wall signs and one ground sign at an existing hotel in Kailua Village to be rebranded as Pacific 19 Hotel. The area of the ground sign is approximately 22.60 square feet, and the letter height is 31 inches tall. The wall signs range in area from 22.5, 35, and 46 square feet in size, and possibly larger depending on how the sign area is calculated, with a range of letter height from approximately 15 inches, 3.5 feet and 4.5 feet tall. The ground sign will consist of black acrylic letters on white acrylic background on a rock wall. The wall signs will consist of black letters on a light-colored exterior wall. Applicant: Nine Brains Island I, LLC dba Pacific 19 Landowner: Lanihau Properties, LLC TMK: (3) 7-5-006:016 Location: 75-5646 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 The Commission took up this item at 2:50 p.m. Ms. Newlon gave a PowerPoint presentation on the application. She noted that the project is a rebranding of the Kona Seaside Hotel to Pacific 19 at the corner of Kuakini Highway and Palani Road. She described the specifications of the proposed signs and showed comments from the DPWBD on each of the four proposed signs. She quoted, among other comments, that the sign proposed as a"monument sign" is considered a"ground sign"under the Sign Code, and that the examiner was unable to determine the lettering heights or areas of the proposed wall signs from the information provided in the application[See EXHIBIT A for the complete comments]. She commented that if the applicant wishes to pursue signs that exceed the Sign Code allowance, their option is to apply for a variance. She concluded her presentation by saying that the other rebranding work that they are currently proposing is for the interior, but that if any exterior work requiring a Plan Approval is proposed in the future, that portion will come before the Commission for review and recommendation. Chairman Roth asked for clarification on a picture of a rectangular wall sign shown above the proposed ground sign. Ms. Katherine Luga from Carlsmith Ball responded that that sign was originally proposed and was to be illuminated but has since been removed, and that the picture was apparently not removed when the submittal was prepared. Upon being further asked by Chairman Roth, Ms. Luga confirmed that it was not an existing sign. 3 Kailua Village Design Commission March 7,2023,Meeting Minutes When asked by Commissioner Werchick how the proposal compared with the existing signage, Ms. Newlon said that the Kona Seaside Hotel has a ground sign, but that she was not sure of wall signs. Commissioner Kilkuskie noted that a Google Maps image shows an existing sign on the mauka wall one story below the new proposed location. Chairman Roth suggested that the applicant provide clarification during their presentation. Commissioner Greenwell, noting that many signs in the Kailua Village appear to be noncompliant, asked when the Sign Code had been revised. Ms. Bugado responded that other than the more recent procedural update, such as sign variances are now being approved by the Director of Public Works instead of the County Council, the Sign Code itself had last been revised in 2005. When further asked by Commissioner Greenwell if then applying for a sign variance is common, Ms. Bugado said that from her experience in the past twelve years there have not been a lot of variance applications because of the process requirement to go through County Council hearings. Chairman Roth commented in agreement with Commissioner Greenwell that there are many signs in the Kailua Village that are not legal. There being no further questions of staff from the Commissioners, Chairman Roth called upon the applicant's representative. Mr. James Evans from Nine Brains introduced himself, Ms. Katherine Luga from Carlsmith Ball who is the counsel on the process, Mr. Jeffrey Zimmerman who is producing the signage, and Ms. Katharina Findlay who is the general manager at the project site. Mr. Evans clarified that there was a ground sign for the Kona Seaside Hotel in the same rock wall location, and that they are replacing it with a slightly smaller sign. He also confirmed that there was a wood-paneled Kona Seaside Hotel sign on the mauka building wall, which is being replaced with a new Pacific 19 sign with acrylic lettering as part of the facade renovation. Ms. Luga stated that the applicant did not apply for a sign variance because they had not received DPWBD's comments on the specific Sign Code sections, and that they will be processing a variance application once the Commission issues its recommendation, which hopefully would be a generalized approval in concept potentially subject to securing the sign variance. Mr. Evans commented on the reason for the increased lettering size and said that 9-inch lettering on the 45-foot-tall building would be unreadable. Mr. Zimmerman introduced himself as the sign fabricator. He said that Pacific 19's designer created a minimalistic design for signs with clean and simple black letters on a white acrylic background presenting a higher contrast. Regarding the sign on the mauka wall, he confirmed with Mr. Evans that it is proposed to be mounted on the sixth-floor level and said that along with the hotel name there is a component of GPS coordinates in the design, which presents an interesting and artistic way of creating a brand for the village and visitors. He reiterated the reason for the increased lettering height and said that they attempted to create a sign that would be visible from the roadway. The Commissioners had no questions for the applicant's representatives. Upon being asked by Chairman Roth, Ms. Newlon stated that no comments were received from the public regarding this application. Chairman Roth opened the floor for comments. He said 4 Kailua Village Design Commission March 7,2023,Meeting Minutes that considering the fact that the application lacks necessary information, as DPWBD's comments point out, and the fact that there is no sign variance application while the proposal clearly requires a variance, he did not think that the Commission could recommend this request to go through; it is a matter of deferral or disapproval in his opinion. Ms. Luga requested that it be deferred. She said that they had been instructed to process this application prior to filing a variance application, which they did, but now that they have specific comments from DPWBD, they will process the variance application. Upon being asked by Ms. Luga, Ms. Bugado confirmed that sign variances are approved or denied by the Director of Public Works, not by the Commission. Chairman Roth commented that while the Commissioners understand that branding is important, they for example did not accept Safeway's sign to go over 36 inches where the brand was also very important and the building was big and far from the roadway; the applicant in this case should take that into consideration when they reassess their signage, and the variance application should be clearly articulated as to the reasons why the variance is necessary. Commissioner Werchick commented that considering the size of the building, he was fine with having a sign by the sixth floor, which in his opinion looks better. He suggested that the applicant consider a variance from the Sign Code limitation of 9-foot above grade in their application. Commissioner Greenwell, agreeing that the size of a sign needs to be proportional to the building size, said that he did not have an issue with the locations or the sizes of the signs, but that he was not fond of the design, which does not feel like Kona to him. He suggested that the applicant reconsider the font or otherwise make it more artistic. Commissioner Werchick commented that the applicant's disadvantage and challenge is with the building, which itself does not look like Kona and is very different from everything else in the village. Commissioner Greenwell, while agreeing on that perspective, suggested some artwork or a mural rather than just the Arial font. It was moved by Commissioner Werchick and seconded by Commissioner Crusat that the Commission defer the application until the applicant can prepare a sign variance application and provide more detailed information. There being no discussion on the motion, a roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with five ayes (Werchick, Crusat, Greenwell, Kilkuskie, and Roth), and one absent and excused (Kern). ANNOUNCEMENTS Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 21, 2023. At 3:22 p.m. Chairman Roth asked if there were any administrative matters. Ms. Bugado informed the Commission that there are four individuals being nominated to the Commission by Mayor Roth: One in the Historic/Cultural Resources Expert category and three in the Business/Property Owners Representative category, two of which would succeed Commissioners Crusat and Werchick, if confirmed. She added that Commissioner Greenwell's reappointment for a full three-year term, who has served less than a year of resigned member's remainder, is also being submitted to the County Council for confirmation. Ms. Bugado also confirmed that the next scheduled meeting date is March 21, 2023. 5 Kailua Village Design Commission March 7,2023,Meeting Minutes ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chairman Roth adjourned the meeting at 3:24 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary ATTEST: Shaun Roth, Chairman Kailua Village Design Commission 6 Kailua Village Design Commission March 7,2023,Meeting Minutes