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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-23 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES MEETING DATE: August 23, 2011 TIME: 5:16 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, Nancy Burns, John Hetherington, Sammie Stanbro, Terry Dunlap (recused from New Business No. 2) and Riley Saito (from 5:22 p.m. till 6:45 p.m.) 2.Absent and Excused: Fanny Au Hoy, Stephen Herbert and Eugene Power 3.Applicants/Representatives: Ryan McKay, Terry Dunlap, Jim Perry and Sean Asmus 4.Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Keola Childs, Ramsey Young and Noriko Sauer 5.Public: None Chair Kitchens welcomed those in attendance and described the meeting procedure. Commissioners introduced themselves. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS None. NEW BUSINESS 1. Review of a sign permit variance application for two wall signs for Wal-Mart store. Applicant: Teresa Jones. Land Owner: Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust. TMK: 7-5-004:043. Located at 75-1015 Henry Street, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, on the northeast corner of the intersection of Henry Street and Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway. Mr. Childs oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed wall signs. He said that the applicant would have to obtain a variance from the County Council for the overall size, lettering height, as well as the placement height, since the proposed signs did not comply with the Sign Code, and that the material used did not meet the Signage Criteria Guidelines for Review in the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. He noted that both sign locations did seem to have unusual limitations on visibility; the sign over the main entrance would be approximately 500 feet away from adjoining Henry Street and could be seen only from the intersection with the store’s driveway entrance, and the other sign on their makai wall would be only partially visible from a limited range of Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, although it would be fully visible at various points about a quarter mile from the property toward the ocean. 1 The applicant’s representative, Ryan McKay, stated that the store was also in the process of renovating the interior, and that the applicant believed that the contemporary logo design, which had actually been introduced on the mainland a few years earlier, would enhance the aesthetics of the community. He stressed the poor visibility of the signs due to the store orientation, and gave a slide show to demonstrate the disadvantage. In response to Commissioner Dunlap’s question, he said that each letter and the symbol would be internally illuminated, and that as any Wal-Mart stores throughout the nation, the illumination would stay on during business hours, which in this case would mean 24 hours, unless restricted by local law. Commissioners felt that the signs were too large for the Kailua Village Special District, and observed that the makai sign would be clearly noticeable from the vicinity of the Kailua Village Core and perhaps offshore, even though the store itself was outside of the Core boundary. In response, Mr. McKay said that the applicant would consider reducing the size from the proposed 214.43 square feet to 150 square feet, if the Commission unanimously made the recommendation. Commissioners also expressed their concern over potential light pollution. Commissioner Stanbro was especially concerned about the prospect of impacts on views from the ocean. Commissioner Dunlap, pointing out the island-wide effort to minimize the amount of light for the benefit of the observatories atop Mauna Kea, suggested that the applicant explore other ways to illuminate the signs, such as lighting behind the letters that would create a halo effect. Mr. Mark referred the Commission and Mr. McKay to Chapter 14 of the County Code for outdoor lighting regulations. Mr. McKay said that they would consider changing the letter color from white to blue, if so recommended, and that he would appreciate the Commission’s favorable recommendation subject to specific conditions, rather than denial, so that they could proceed without returning for another review by the Commission. It was then moved by Commissioner Hetherington, and seconded by Commissioner Burns, to recommend that the Public Works Director forward his favorable recommendation to the County Council of an application for a variance from the Sign Code for the subject sign permit application, subject to the following conditions: The applicant’s reduction of the area of both proposed wall signs from 214 square feet · each to not exceed 150 square feet each, and The applicant’s compliance with the provisions of Chapter 14, Article 9 (Outdoor · Lighting), Hawai‘i County Code. Commissioner Saito emphasized that the Commission’s favorable recommendation was for a variance from the Sign Code only and not from the Outdoor Lighting provisions. After further discussion about the blue color option suggested by Mr. McKay, the Commissioners reached a consensus that the proposed white letters with yellow symbol, when illuminated, would have the least effect on the character of Kailua Village Special District. Commissioner Hetherington clarified his motion, that the colors were accepted as presented. With Commissioner Burns’ agreement, a roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Hetherington, Burns, Dunlap, Saito and Stanbro) and three absent and excused (Au Hoy, Herbert and Power). 2 2.Design Review of a proposed one-story, single-tenant building for unspecified commercial purposes which may include retail or food service, with drive-through service, for Relo Kona, LLC. Applicant: Terry Dunlap. TMK: 7-5-004: 031. Located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Henry Street and Kuakini Highway. The Chair accepted Commissioner Dunlap’s request to recuse himself from this item due to a direct conflict of interest. Mr. Childs oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, and described the proposed project, which would be the second phase of a larger commercial development for which the conceptual plan had previously been endorsed by the Commission. He noted that the proposed color scheme and landscape were consistent with the first phase, and that with the exception of a high-walled structural feature that looked like a low truncated tower, the proposed project appeared to meet the guidelines set forth in the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona. The applicant, Terry Dunlap, presented further information. He said that the then Kailua Village Design Commission, approving the conceptual plan for the entire commercial development, had recommended that a uniform design be kept throughout the development, and that the same parking lights, roof material, color scheme and landscape concept were therefore incorporated in the proposed phase. He added that they would submit a sign permit application for review at a later date. In response to Commissioner Burns’ question, Mr. Dunlap indicated loading zones and trash enclosures on the site plan, and said that the parking was shared among the businesses within the development. Commissioner Stanbro inquired whether a different type of groundcover could be considered instead of grass in order to conserve water. Mr. Dunlap reiterated that they were trying to achieve uniformity, and added that the grass area was not large enough to cause the concern. Jim Perry, the owner’s representative, mentioned that the use of rock walls was also to tie in with the extensive rock wall work done in the first phase. Commissioner Hetherington asked what their plan was if the drive-through component turned out to be unnecessary. Mr. Dunlap responded that the building was custom-designed for a particular tenant with that need. The Chair spoke in favor of the truncated tower-like element, saying that the building would look more attractive than a plain box design and would fit in well with the ambience of the neighborhood. It was moved by Commissioner Stanbro, and seconded by Commissioner Burns, to recommend to the Planning Director approval of the proposed project as presented. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Stanbro, Burns, Hetherington, Saito and Kitchens), and three absent and excused (Au Hoy, Herbert and Power). RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 6:45 p.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 6:55 p.m. 3 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1. Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of July 26, 2011. The Commission at this time took up the minutes of the previous meeting out of order. It was moved by Commissioner Hetherington and seconded by Commissioner Burns that the minutes be approved as submitted. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. NEW BUSINESS 3. Formation of a Sign Code Review Committee of the Kailua Village Design Commission. It was moved by Commissioner Dunlap, and seconded by Commissioner Burns, to defer this item to the next meeting for the reason that there were only five members present. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Discussion of the existing Sign Code (Chapter 3, Hawai‘i County Code) as to provisions applicable to the Kailua Village special design district (“the District”) and which provisions the Commission may wish to recommend be amended. Discussion to include current and preferred boundaries of the District, the Kailua Village Core, and the Kailua Industrial Subdivision as presently defined therein, sizes and types of signs and sign fabrication materials allowable in those areas, and all other provisions applicable to the District. It was moved by Commissioner Dunlap, and seconded by Commissioner Burns, to defer this item also to the next meeting for the reason that there were only five members present. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. Commissioner Dunlap then recommended that a field trip through the Kailua Village Special District to inspect signs be scheduled in the near future in order that the Commission could discuss the subject matter as an informed group, and that the Mayor be invited to the field trip so that the Commission’s concerns could be better communicated to him. The Chair thought that it would be more efficient to involve the Mayor in a follow-up trip by a prospective committee rather than the initial trip by all members. Commissioner Hetherington suggested that a well- organized itinerary be created where the primary purpose of the trip would be to take notes and pictures with little dialogue at each site, followed by discussion taking place in the meeting room. Mr. Mark said that the trip would have to be agendized and conducted with the site visits open to the public. Commissioner Dunlap suggested that the Commission also discuss this topic at the next meeting. The Chair reminded the Commissioners that each member would present their thoughts about the boundary issue as well at the next meeting, according to their action at the previous meeting. The Commissioners expressed their desire that all members should be in attendance in order to effectively carry out discussion. 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 7:35 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Hetherington and seconded by Commissioner Burns that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary A T T E S T: Shane Kitchens, Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 5