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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-11 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES Meeting Date: September 11, 2012 Time: 5:16 p.m. Place: West Hawai‘i Civic Center nd Planning Department Conference Room – Building E, 2 Floor 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, 96740 CALL TO ORDER Commissioners Present: Shane Kitchens, Adam Broderson, Nancy Burns, John Hetherington and Sammie Stanbro Absent and Excused: Theresa Andreae, Fanny Au Hoy and Stephen Herbert Applicants/Representatives: Peter Piper, Scott Fleming, Richard Hill and Tom Cummins Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Keola Childs and Noriko Sauer Public: Marni Herkes and James Maurer A quorum was present. Mr. Mark introduced Commissioner Broderson who had just been appointed to serve on the Commission. Chair Kitchens called the meeting to order and the Commissioners introduced themselves. The Chair suggested that approval of the minutes of the August 7 meeting be moved to the end of the agenda. There were no objections. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Ms. Marni Herkes, a resident of Kailua-Kona, requested that the Commission place on a future meeting agenda an educational session regarding the importance of street landscaping and maintenance. By way of illustration, she made reference to the shower trees on Henry Street that had recently been trimmed very poorly, a photograph of which was in staff’s electronic file and displayed for the benefit of the Commissioners. She said that she would like organizations such as this Commission and Kona Outdoor Circle to collaborate with each other on this matter. The Chair, noting the Commission’s advisory role, asked if there was a specific recommendation that she wished the Commission to make to the Planning Director. Ms. Herkes responded that although street landscaping may be the affair of the Department of Public Works, she would like the Commissioners to give consideration to street landscaping and long-term maintenance when they review applications. The Chair assured her that as evidenced in the Commission’s past discussions and recommendations, landscaping is one of the areas that the Commissioners focus on, and that the Commission appreciates any helpful information in that regard. NEW BUSINESS 1.Design Review of a proposed inter-building bridge and deck addition for Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse. Applicant: Peter J. Piper. Landowner: LBUBS 2007-C2 Ali‘i Drive LLC. Property Tax Map Key No.: 7-5-009:025. Location: 75-5801 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona, in the Coconut Grove Marketplace. 1 Mr. Childs oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, site plan and photographs, and described the proposed project. He noted that the proposal appeared to comply with the architectural design guidelines for the Kailua Village. Commissioner Broderson expressed his concern over the project’s impact on a lone plumeria tree that is flourishing in the proposed construction area, and said that he would want the tree to be kept and maintained, especially since the landscaping has been minimized in this commercial property. Mr. Peter Piper, the applicant, introduced himself, and said that the structural design is still in progress, that the location of the bridge posts may change, and that if the final location affects the tree, they will transplant it somewhere close by. In response to the Chair’s question, he verified that the proposed colors would match the existing color scheme of the Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse building. It was moved by Commissioner Hetherington, and seconded by Commissioner Burns, to recommend approval of the proposed project as submitted, provided that the existing landscaping be preserved, through relocation if necessary, and maintained consistent with the original landscaping plan. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Hetherington, Burns, Broderson, Stanbro and Kitchens) and three absent and excused (Andreae, Au Hoy and Herbert). 2. Design Review of a proposed addition to the Customer Service Building for Hawaii Electric Light Company. Applicant: Fleming and Associates, LLC. Landowner: Hawaii Electric Light Company. Property Tax Map Key No.: 7-4-010:022. Location: 74-5519 Kaiwi Street, Kailua-Kona. 3. Design Review of a proposed 12,000 square foot warehouse building for Hawaii Electric Light Company. Applicant: Fleming and Associates, LLC. Landowner: Hawaii Electric Light Company. Property Tax Map Key No.: 7-4-010:022. Location: 74-5519 Kaiwi Street, Kailua-Kona. With the Chair’s permission, Mr. Childs combined Agenda Item Nos. 2 and 3 for presentation purposes since the two applications concerned the same applicant and property. He oriented the Commissioners regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, site plan and photographs, and described the proposed projects. Regarding Agenda Item No. 3, he said that the proposed warehouse building could be construed as exempt from the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona architectural design guidelines for the reason that the structure would have no enclosing walls, is evidently intended for industrial uses only, and the building site is set back far from the adjoining streets where the visibility would be nominal. With respect to Agenda Item No. 2, he noted that the proposed addition to the existing customer service building did not appear to comply with the architectural design guidelines for the Kailua Village. He further said that although it seemed reasonable to seek more general compliance with the design guidelines due to the nature of the industrial neighborhood, an alternate exterior design and/or materials, as well as additional landscaping, that are in keeping with the Master Plan would be worth serious consideration. The applicant’s representative, Scott Fleming, presented further information on the proposal. Regarding Agenda Item No. 2, he said that the applicant had not anticipated to be required in strict compliance with the design guidelines, given the industrial nature of the area, the appearance of neighboring structures and the small scale of their proposed addition. He explained that the flat roof 2 design was so as to keep the second-floor windows of the existing building unblocked and meet fire code requirements, that the proposed high-quality metal siding was for durability, and that in the opinion of the applicant and the landowner, Hawai‘i Electric Light Company (HELCO), the design and colors as proposed would blend in with the existing building. He said, however, that if the Commission so desired, canopy-type projections could be added over the new windows to break up the façade. Commissioner Hetherington suggested adding a parapet over the façade for a roof-like appearance. The Chair said that alternatively rooftop landscaping could be considered. Mr. Fleming responded that they would be willing to put in additional landscaping in the front area, rather than change the structural design because of HELCO’s time schedule. Commissioner Stanbro commented that it was evident from the appearance of the subject site, as well as HELCO’s other properties, that they do not maintain their landscaping very well. She suggested that some potted plants, which might be easier to maintain, would soften the hard look of the proposed structure. Commissioner Burns observed that the contrast between this structure as proposed and an attractive new building right across Kaiwi Street would be striking. Mr. Richard Hill from HELCO stated that their main objective of this project was to better serve their customers by expanding the waiting area, rather than improve the appearance of the building, and as such, having a clean, functional look by which customers can easily recognize where to go to pay their bills was more important to them. He also expressed his concurrence that they could increase foliage in order to improve the whole appearance. There was a discussion on how strictly the design guidelines should be applied to properties within the industrial area. Commissioner Burns said that special consideration should be given to the functionality of the building in a case of industrial use, and that landscaping could be used to compensate deficiencies in the design, if any. The Chair opined that the subject section of the Kailua Industrial Subdivision is included in the special district based on the community’s desire to improve the appearance of the area, and so the effort has to start at some point. Mr. Hill commented that although they were not against the design guidelines, they had spent a lot of time to come up with what was being presented. In response the Chair emphasized his opinion that the appearance of a shipping container was not acceptable. Mr. Hill further commented that while they were not fond of the flat roof either, having the roofline over the second-floor windows would go against the functional clean look that they desired. Commissioner Burns pointed out that the proposed structure is an addition to the existing building, which does have a pitched roof. However, the Chair reiterated that it would still look like a shipping container next to the existing building, and suggested that eyebrow roofing on the three sides might improve the appearance. Mr. Hill in turn suggested some mature shrubbery be used to frame the building instead of potted plants as suggested earlier. Mr. Fleming mentioned that their original design had included some lava rocks on the front wall surface, and offered an option to add lava rock wainscot along with landscaping. Commissioner Hetherington suggested that a horizontal band along the roofline be considered in addition. Concerning Agenda Item No. 3, Commissioner Broderson noted that the proposed warehouse would considerably be taller than any buildings in the vicinity, and that it would be visible from Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway. He made a suggestion that some drought-tolerant trees, such as palms, should be planted to screen the view. It was then moved by Commissioner Hetherington to recommend approval of the proposed warehouse building, with a recommendation that additional 3 landscaping for the purpose of screening the warehouse building be installed and a long-term landscape maintenance plan be established. Mr. Hill expressed his concern over the location of the recommended landscaping, explaining that the site was in a high-voltage switching area, which would create a safety issue, and that the trees might also interfere with large cranes that they operate. Following further discussion on the location of landscaping, the applicant and HELCO representatives agreed to landscape the front area facing the street, and also to screen the employee parking area with some trees, if recommended. Commissioner Hetherington withdrew his motion, and made a new motion that the Commission recommend approval of the proposed warehouse as presented, with landscaping in the back of the employee parking area to screen the view of the warehouse. Commissioner Broderson pointed out that there was a planting strip along Kaiwi Street, which was not being utilized. Mr. Hill commented that HELCO would prefer the street frontage for planting to the area near the warehouse. Commissioner Broderson recommended drought-tolerant plants such as areca palms or oleanders. In light of the discussion, Commissioner Hetherington amended his motion to state that the Commission recommend approval of the proposed warehouse as presented, with the addition of a landscaping screen of areca palms or similar along the Kaiwi Street frontage of the existing employee parking area. Commissioner Burns seconded the amended motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Hetherington, Burns, Broderson, Stanbro and Kitchens) and three absent and excused (Andreae, Au Hoy and Herbert). Commissioner Hetherington then made a motion regarding Agenda Item No. 2 that the Commission recommend approval of the structural design of the proposed addition to the Customer Service Building, with the following design considerations to be addressed: 1.lava rock/stone wainscoting at the base of the building; 2.lava rock/stone façades in front-facing recessed walls (shown as yellow “cement plaster” in the application plan set); 3.potted plants to be installed and maintained in front-facing building recesses; 4.a horizontal band, with a stepped relief design to be determined, at the top of the building; 5.the abovementioned band to be painted a color complementary to the rock façade and the rest of the building colors; 6.planting strips for shrubbery of a minimum 42-inch maintained height on both mauka and makai sides of the building addition/parking area; and 7.landscaping of the currently chain-linked cage with a canopy-type tree matching with the existing trees, a royal poinciana or similar, to be planted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Burns, and carried with five ayes (Hetherington, Burns, Broderson, Stanbro and Kitchens) and three absent and excused (Andreae, Au Hoy and Herbert). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1. Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of August 7, 2012. 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. 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Mark said that the next meeting would be held on September 25, 2012. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 7:45 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Burns and seconded by Commissioner Stanbro 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