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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-18 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES Meeting Date: December 18, 2012 Time: 5:17 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: John Hetherington, Theresa Andreae, Fanny Au Hoy, Adam Broderson, Nancy Burns and Stephen Herbert Absent and Excused: Shane Kitchens and Sammie Stanbro Applicants/Representatives: Charles Uyemura, Rodney Lee, Ron Dobashi and Russell Wong Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Keola Childs and Noriko Sauer A quorum was present. In Chair Kitchens’ absence Vice Chair Hetherington called the meeting to order. The Vice Chair suggested that approval of the minutes of the November 7 meeting be moved to the end of the agenda. There were no objections. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS - No statements were presented under this section of the agenda. NEW BUSINESS 1. Review of a Sign Permit application for American Savings Bank. Applicant: Neon Electric Service, Ltd. Landowner: Lanihau Properties, LLC. Property Tax Map Key No.: 7-5-005:061. Location: 75-5644 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona, at the west corner of Kuakini Hwy. and Palani Road. Mr. Childs described the proposed wall sign and ground sign, and went over the applicant’s submittal, including site plans and sign specifications. He noted that both signs appeared to be well designed and appropriately positioned according to the Sign Code, except that the proposed materials might not comply with the material limitation set forth for Kailua Village. The applicant’s representative, Charles Uyemura, introduced himself, and distributed additional information to the Commissioners, including material samples. He demonstrated the proposed illumination method, using an overlay material that would defuse the intense LED emission and illuminate the logo and lettering with subtle light. He added that LED is more energy efficient and requires less maintenance compared with florescent light bulbs. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Uyemura for his presentation with the actual visual effect of illumination. For the Commissioners’ benefit, Mr. Childs asked Mr. Uyemura about the cost of this 1 type of signage. Mr. Uyemura responded that it was in the $10,000 range, excluding the general cost for any signs, such as the cost of installation, and added that it was generally high-end customers who would ask for this type of signage. It was moved by Commissioner Burns, and seconded by Commissioner Broderson, to recommend to the Public Works Director approval for the sign permit application as submitted. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Burns, Broderson, Andreae, Au Hoy and Herbert) and two absent and excused (Kitchens and Stanbro). 2.Design Review of proposed building renovations for an automobile sales facility. Applicant: Aloha Auto Group, Ltd.. Landowner: Lanihau Properties LLC. Property Tax Map Key No.: 7-5-004:027. Location: 75-5645 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, at the east (mauka-Ka‘ū) corner of Kuakini Hwy. and Palani Road (former Shell service station). Copies of a comment letter from Chair Kitchens, who was unable to attend this meeting, were distributed to all the Commissioners in attendance and the applicant’s representative, Russell Wong. At the Vice Chair’s request, Mr. Mark read it aloud to the group. In summary, the letter stated that while Chair Kitchens recognizes that the revised landscape plan is a significant improvement, he believes that some planting immediately adjacent to the building is necessary to mitigate the appearance of a vast white monument. It also indicated his disapproval of the revised architectural plan as submitted, stating that he is disappointed to see the only direction the applicant gave to their draftsman appears to be a roof material change, that despite all their acknowledgements about bringing in historical elements at the last meeting, they have merely proposed a color “midnight blue equal to historical color,” which just by having the word “historical” does not accomplish compliance with the guidelines for Kailua Village, and that even though the existing condition of the property is undesirable, approving this as presented for the sake of seeing an improvement diminishes the value the Commission stands for and ultimately sets a bad precedent. Mr. Childs gave a presentation on the revised renovation plans; the original application had been reviewed by the Commission and consequently withdrawn by the applicant on November 7. He noted that no information was provided regarding exterior lighting or the location of air-conditioning equipment. With respect to the Kailua Village Master Plan architectural guidelines, he said that the low-pitch, gable-end roofline was in compliance, that the addition of eyebrow awning would provide design relief to the long wall, which would meet the objectives of the guidelines, and that the proposed landscaping would be a substantial improvement to the existing condition. In addressing Chair Kitchens’ comments in his letter, Mr. Wong said that they had since had to scale down their renovation project because KIA had made a decision not to sign a contract with them; however, the applicant still wished to improve the property appearance mainly by upgrading the landscape. He added that the renovations would have to make economic sense to them. In response to the Commissioners’ questions, he said that he was not sure of the ownership or the status of an existing fence on property, that there would be no air-conditioning unit on the roof, and that no outdoor lighting was planned except that the building interior lights would illuminate the frontage. He also represented that they would be agreeable to taking down an existing white post along Palani Road, which appeared to be remnants of a sign. 2 In response to Mr. Wong’s statement that the applicant was open to suggestion on different exterior colors, there was a discussion that led to a consensus that the Commission would prefer colors that would match the nearby structures, such as the shades of grays on the Harley Davidson building on immediately mauka or the earth-tone green and beige on the new American Savings Bank building across the intersection, to the proposed white walls and blue roof. The group also exchanged suggestions for particular species of plants. Mr. Wong pointed out that they would rather avoid shady trees because of droppings on cars. He also clarified that their proposal was to keep enough concrete base to display one car and landscape the rest of the front corner area. Commissioner Broderson commented that while it was understandable that the applicant would want to maintain the border planting low to be able to show their cars, appropriate spacing of plants was important to provide a continuous foliage screen upon maturity. Upon Mr. Wong’s comment that the applicant would hire a professional landscaper to finalize the plan and oversee the landscaping, Commissioner Herbert made a motion that the Commission defer its decision and ask the applicant to return with a more detailed landscaping plan. Mr. Childs noted that the Zoning Code requires the Commission to forward its recommendation to the Planning Director within 30 days of its receipt of an application, and that the Commission would not meet the requirement, if they were to defer their decision today. Commissioner Herbert amended his motion to state that the Commission approve the proposed building renovations, with a recommendation that the landscaping plan be improved. Mr. Mark suggested that the Commission forward more specific directions to the Planning Director for her staff’s reference during their review process. Upon further discussion, Commissioner Herbert withdrew his motion on the table, and made a new motion; it was moved that the Commission recommend the Planning Director’s approval of the proposed project, with the following recommendations: 1.The color of the building walls and roof be complementary to those of the adjoining or facing buildings; 2.Landscaping with several medium height plants or trees be installed next to the building, such as near its corners, to visually break up the building mass; 3.The perimeter of the site, except for the functioning driveways, be planted with tropical plantings, such as native white hibiscus, Tahitian gardenia and Queen Emma spider lily, together with palms, such as the proposed Alexander palm variety; and, 4.Plant specimens be of sufficient size to provide a visible effect upon installation, and that the perimeter plantings be spaced appropriately to establish and maintain a continuous planting screen upon maturity. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Burns. Commissioners, mentioning that the Commission represents the Kailua-Kona community, noted the significance of the subject site as one of the principal gateway entrances into historic Kailua Village, and expressed appreciation for the applicant’s willingness to restore lost landscaping features and install further improvements, both in additional plantings and building coloration, which would benefit the community as well as the business facility’s street-front appearance. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Herbert, Burns, Andreae, Au Hoy and Broderson) and two absent and excused (Kitchens and Stanbro). 3 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1. Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of November 7, 2012. It was moved by Commissioner Burns and seconded by Commissioner Au Hoy that the minutes be approved as submitted. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. 2. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2013. It was moved by Commissioner Andreae and seconded by Commissioner Broderson that this matter be postponed to the next meeting. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Mark announced that the nominations of Mr. Paul Bleck, who had served on the Commission in the past, and Mr. Alvin Akina would be considered by the County Council in the near future. The Commissioners agreed to tentatively schedule the Commission’s annual recognition dinner on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Mr. Childs informed the Commissioners that the next meeting scheduled for January 8, 2013, was cancelled since no applications had come in by the due date. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 7:00 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Herbert 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: John Hetherington, Vice Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 4