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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-10 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES MEETING DATE: May 10, 2011 TIME: 5:18 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: Shane Kitchens, Fanny Au Hoy, Nancy Burns, Terry Dunlap, Stephen Herbert, John Hetherington, Sammie Stanbro and Riley Saito (from 5:23 p.m.) 2.Absent and Excused: Eugene Power 3.Applicants/Representatives: Carter Yokoyama and Marty Barger 4.Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Keola Childs, Ramsey Young and Noriko Sauer 5.Public: None Chair Kitchens welcomed those in attendance, and the Commissioners introduced themselves. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None. NEW BUSINESS 1.Design review of a sign permit application for one wall sign for Carter Yokoyama. Applicant: Jeremy Neill, Neil Signs & Design. Land Owners: Edward J. and Rhondall K. Rapoza. TMK: 7-5-018:094. Located at 75-5905 Walua Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i. Mr. Childs oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed wall sign. He noted that the design and coloration of the proposed sign appeared to comply with the Signage Criteria Guidelines for Review in the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona; however, he also noted that the placement of the sign might not comply with the Sign Code, which required a wall sign to be mounted at the lesser of one-half the height of the wall or nine feet above the finished floor level, and added that the Department of Public Works had not determined whether the proposed sign would meet the height limitation. The applicant’s representative, Carter Yokoyama, was present. In response to Dr. Yokoyama’s inquiry, Mr. Childs said that the Planning Department was unable to decide on the height compliance issue, as the Sign Code was subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works. Dr. Yokoyama said that he was the only occupant on the second floor, that he had a temporary banner up at present, and that the landlord had told him that the subject wall was intended for tenants’ signage. 1 Commissioner Stanbro opined that the sign looked aesthetically fine, and that the proposed placement height seemed proportionally more appropriate than the height specified in the Sign Code. Commissioner Dunlap disclosed that he was Dr. Yokoyama’s patient and his company had built Dr. Yokoyama’s suite. And upon confirmation by Mr. Mark that such circumstances did not necessitate recusal, he said that the sign as proposed would serve its purpose, which was to direct people to their destination; since the subject business was located on the second floor, it made sense to mount the sign on the second floor level rather than the ground floor level. It was moved by Commissioner Hetherington, and seconded by Commissioner Stanbro, to recommend to the Public Works Director approval of the sign application as submitted, including the placement height. Mr. Childs commented that considering the role of the Commission, their concurrence that the proposed design and placement height met the aesthetic requirements, as called for in the Master Plan, would be a valid point to make, if the Commission wished to further affirm their favorable recommendation. Commissioner Hetherington then amended his motion to add the following: It was the feeling of the Commission that the proposed placement location was acceptable and appropriate for the building and the circumstances, as it pertained to its height on the building. The amendment was seconded by Commissioner Stanbro and approved by a unanimous voice vote. A roll call vote on the amended main motion was taken and the motion carried with seven ayes (Hetherington, Stanbro, Au Hoy, Burns, Dunlap, Herbert and Saito) and one absent and excused (Power). 2.Design review of a sign permit application for a marquee sign for Big Island Honda. Applicant: Big Island Honda. Land Owners: Lanihau Properties, LLC. TMK: 7-4-005:087. Located at 75-5608 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i. Mr. Childs oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed sign. He noted that although the application termed the sign as a marquee sign, it actually met the definition of a wall sign pursuant to the Sign Code. He also noted that the applicant’s representative had just informed him of an error in their application that the sign would actually be mounted below the existing marquee while the application described it to be mounted above. He added, however, that the sign might still exceed the maximum placement height limitation. He said that he had also verified with the representative that none of the other signs depicted in the application existed or were currently proposed. He further said that there was an existing ground sign and a roof sign within the property, neither of which he found any record of being permitted. He concluded his presentation, saying that the design and coloration of the proposed sign appeared to comply with the Signage Criteria Guidelines for Review in the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona, except for the use of a glossy material; however, he pointed out for the Commission’s consideration that the area of the sign was small and the location for the sign was over 100 feet from the public roadway. The applicant’s representative from Big Island Honda, Marty Barger, gave some background information, and said that he thought the sign was reasonable from the perspective of appearance and location. The Chair agreed that the sign would perform the function of indicating where their service center was. In response to Commissioners’ questions, Mr. Barger said that he had no personal knowledge about the permit status of the existing signs, and that the illumination of the proposed sign would stay on until 2 9:00 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. along with other lighting at the subject complex, although their business closed at 6:00 p.m. It was moved by Commissioner Herbert, and seconded by Commissioner Burns, to recommend to the Public Works Director approval of the sign application based on the correction made by the applicant’s representative, that was to place the proposed sign below the existing marquee, not above. Commissioner Dunlap pointed out that the Department would have to organize the records accordingly in order to avoid confusion in the future. Mr. Childs responded that he intended to confirm the correction in a letter to the applicant. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with seven ayes (Herbert, Burns, Au Hoy, Dunlap, Hetherington, Saito and Stanbro) and one absent and excused (Power). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1.Approval of Minutes of the Meetings of April 26, 2011. It was moved by Commissioner Burns and seconded by Commissioner Au Hoy 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 was scheduled for May 24, 2011. He further mentioned that included in the agenda would be a report from the Department of Public Works personnel regarding revisions to the Sign Code, as well as the formation of a sign committee of the Commission. In response to Commissioner Burns’ inquiry as to what had been recommended to the Department of Public Works by the Commission in the past, Mr. Mark said that no written proposal for specific revisions had been made, although the Commission had held discussions with the Department of Public Works staff at advertised meetings. Commissioner Dunlap suggested that the Kailua Village Business Improvement District representatives be invited to the discussion. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 6:20 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Dunlap and seconded by Commissioner Hetherington that the meeting be adjourned. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. Respectfully submitted, A T T E S T: Noriko Sauer, Secretary Shane Kitchens, Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 3