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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-26 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES MEETING DATE: April 26, 2011 TIME: 5:20 p.m. PLACE: West Hawai‘i Civic Center nd Planning Department Conference Room – Building E, 2 Floor 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, 96740 ROLL CALL 1. Members Present: Nancy Burns, Fanny Au Hoy, Terry Dunlap, John Hetherington, Eugene Power and Sharron Stanbro 2. Absent and Excused: Stephen Herbert, Shane Kitchens and Riley Saito 3. Applicants/Representatives:Dawn Tavares and Lani Swain 4. Planning Department:Bennett Mark, Keola Childs, Ramsey Young and Noriko Sauer 5. Public: None Chair Burns welcomed those in attendance, and the Commissioners introduced themselves. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None. NEW BUSINESS 1. Design review of proposed ADA-accessible restroom addition to an existing building. Applicant: Ali Ghalamfarsa. Land Owner: Afsaneh Ghalamfarsa.TMK: 7-5-007-027. Located at 75-143 Road, Kailua-Kona, HI, ne Road and Kuakini Highway. Mr. Childs oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed project. He noted that the project met the requirements of the Zoning Code and appeared to meet the objectives and guidelines set forth in the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. The applicant’s representative,Dawn Tavares, said that there were currently no bathrooms on the first floor of the subject building, and that the only ADA-accessible bathroom was inside a restaurant. Commissioner Dunlap observed the height of the bathroom windowsill being low, commenting that the privacy factor would be more important to him than the design factor. Ms. Tavares responded that she would convey the comment to the architect. 1 It was moved by Commissioner Power, and seconded by Commissioner Au Hoy, to recommend to the Planning Director approval of the proposed project as submitted. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Power, Au Hoy, Dunlap, Hetherington and Stanbro) and three absent and excused (Herbert, Kitchens and Saito). 2. Design review of a sign permit application for two wall signs for Sears. Applicant: GP Roadway Solutions. Land Owners: Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust and Hale Hana Partners. TMK: 7-4-015:018. Located at 74-5583 Luhia Street, #100, Kailua-Kona, HI, in the Kona Industrial Subdivision. Mr. Childs oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed two wall signs. He noted that although the application termed the signs as “wall signs,” they actually met the definition of a “marquee sign” under the Sign Code. He added that marquee signs had no placement height restriction, unlike wall signs. He concluded his presentation, saying that the proposed signs appeared to comply with the Signage Criteria Guidelines for Review in the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. The applicant’s representative, Lani Swain,was present. In response to Commissioners’ questions, he said that the signs would be illuminated only during the business hours, which were 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and that the Sears store only occupied the ground floor, but they had permission to mount their sign on the second floor. Commissioner Au Hoy raised a question as to how many signs were actually allowed, expressing her concern that there could be an excessive number of marquee signs on the building. The Department staff referred the Commissioners to the relevant sections of the Sign Code, as well as the Checklist for Sign Permit and Sign Variance Applications form, to clarify requirements and guidelines for the Kona Industrial Subdivision. With reference to the sign to be mounted on the second floor, Commissioner Stanbro thought that signs should be placed where the business was located in order to avoid confusion, and for safety reasons. Commissioner Dunlap opined, however, that the purpose of the particular sign was to direct motorists to the right building initially so that they would then be able to find the actual store space. He also said that he did not find the design to be offensive, or rather he found it complimentary. It was moved by Commissioner Dunlap, and seconded by Commissioner Stanbro, to recommend to the Public Works Director approval of the sign application as submitted. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Dunlap, Stanbro, Au Hoy, Hetherington and Power) and three absent and excused (Herbert, Kitchens and Saito). 3. Design review of a sign permit application for a ground sign and a wall sign for Eben Chun. Applicant: Ina Custom Signs. Land Owners: Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust and Eben Wayne Chun. TMK: 7-4-015:004. Located at 74-5599 Alapa Street, Kailua-Kona, HI, in the Kona Industrial Subdivision. 2 Mr. Childs informed the Commission that the applicant had a schedule conflict and was unable to attend the meeting, and that they did not request postponement even though the option had been given to them. He also stated that the initial application that had been distributed to the Commission had not met requirements of the Sign Code; however, the applicant had since made revisions, and the final submittal received by the Department on this day made the proposal in compliance. Commissioner Power made a motion to deny the application, commenting that the applicant should be present atthe meeting, and therefore they should resubmit their revised application to be agendized on a future meeting. Commissioner Au Hoy seconded the motion. Mr. Mark clarified actions the Commission could take in this type of situation, specifically denial as opposed to deferral. Mr. Childs suggested that the Commission consider the fact that the applicant had been trying to comply with the Sign Code, and that if the application were denied, rather than deferred, and re-submittal were required, it would delay their effort to open a new business even further. Commissioner Dunlap opined that the applicant’s intent to comply with requirements was apparent, and that he would like to welcome their new business to the community. Commissioner Power withdrew his motion, but said that he still felt the applicant or their representative should have been present at this meeting, and therefore he could not support a simple deferral. Commissioner Au Hoy then withdrew her second as well. It was then moved by Commissioner Hetherington, and seconded by Commissioner Dunlap, to defer action in order to afford the Commissioners reasonable time to review the revised proposal. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with four ayes (Hetherington, Dunlap, Au Hoy, and Stanbro), one no (Power) and three absent and excused (Herbert, Kitchens and Saito). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1.Approval of Minutes of the Meetingsof March 8, 2011. It was moved by Commissioner Hetherington and seconded by Commissioner Dunlap that the minutes be approved as submitted. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Mark announced that the next meeting is scheduled for May 10, 2011. In response to Commissioner Dunlap’s concern about the Sign Code amendment process that had been going on for some time, the Chair asked the staff to place the matter on the next available meeting agenda and invite appropriate personnel of the Department of Public Works. 3 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 7:00 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Dunlap and seconded by Commissioner Stanbro 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: Nancy Burns, Vice Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 4