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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-21 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES Meeting Date: October 21, 2014 Time: 5:15 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: Paul Bleck, Alvin Akina, Jr., Theresa Andreae, Peter Dahlberg, John Hetherington, Sammie Stanbro and Zon Sullenberger Absent and Excused: Fanny Au Hoy and Adam Broderson Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Keola Childs and Noriko Sauer Applicant/Representative: Stone Wolfsong and Winton Nicholson Public: None A quorum was present. Chair Bleck called the meeting to order and the commissioners introduced themselves. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Meeting of October 7, 2014. The Commission postponed this item until the next meeting at the secretary’s request. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS – No statements were presented under this section of the agenda. NEW BUSINESS 1. Design review of a proposed platform lift and related pedestrian access improvements for persons with disabilities (ADA access). Applicant: Full Life Thrift and Gift Shop. Landowner: GLACS LLC. TMK: 7-5-030:024. Address: 75-5995 Kuakini Highway. Pottery Terrace, fronting and adjoining Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill restaurant. Mr. Childs described the proposed ADA pedestrian access improvements to the entryway of the applicant’s business, which included a mechanical wheelchair lift, a new deck and stairs, and a pitch roof addition above the improvements. He said that the construction materials and paint colors were to match the existing building, and that although the wheelchair lift was a non-traditional feature, the design and coloration appeared to be reasonably consistent with the design guidelines of the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona (“Master Plan”). 1 Mr. Childs noted, however, that the proposal was based upon the property’s sub-standard parking lot configuration, and, furthermore, the proposed project would reduce the number of parking spaces currently provided. He said that the Planning Department would be able to assess the parking situation when the required application for Plan Approval was submitted. The applicant’s representative, Stone Wolfsong, stated that Full Life is a nonprofit organization, which services people with disabilities, and that they wished to set an example to the community. She spoke of the project’s visual impact, which she said would be minimal. In response to the commissioners’ questions, she said that the applicant was hoping to get a secondhand wheelchair lift, and, as such, she was not sure of the color at the moment. It was moved by Commissioner Hetherington and seconded by Commissioner Andreae that the Commission recommend the Planning Director’s approval of the proposed project as submitted. A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed with six ayes (Hetherington, Andreae, Akina, Dahlberg, Stanbro and Sullenberger) and two absent and excused (Au Hoy and Broderson). 2. Review of a revised design proposal for a new three-story commercial-residential building on Walua Road. Applicant: Winton Nicholson, Nicholson LLC. Landowner: Ohia Lani, LLC. TMK: 7-5-018:097. Address: 75-5915 Walua Road. Fronting both Kuakini Highway and Walua Road. As background information, Mr. Childs went over the applicant’s initial proposal, which had been reviewed by the Commission on July 22, 2014, and the recommendations that the Commission had made at that time. Copies of the minutes were also distributed. Mr. Childs then described the revised design featuring hip roofs of composition shingles, board and batten siding on the third level, more windows, trellises, a large display window and wood railings. He noted that most of the design elements requested by the Commission were incorporated. With respect to the landscaping plan, he said that the proposal included frontage landscaping along both Walua Road and Kuakini Highway, and that it appeared to comply with the Planning Department’s landscaping rule. He concluded by commending the applicant for reaching the basic principles of the Master Plan. The applicant, Winton Nicholson, circulated paint color chips for clarification, and said that the proposed colors were from the Benjamin Moore historical color scheme. Regarding a canoe on the mauka exterior wall as shown on the drawing, he explained that the owner had a weathered canoe, which could be suspended from the eaves as a decoration; however, that might attract birds to nest there, so they were considering Hawaiian motif carving as an alternative. He also mentioned that he was aware that the proposed lighting fixture Option B would not be approved because there was no vertical shield to generate downcast light as required. Commissioners Hetherington and Akina both expressed their preference for Option A. Commissioners Sullenberger and Stanbro noted that the windows on mauka wall of the third floor, which is the residential floor, seemed inadequate for taking advantage of a view of the mountain and of mauka breeze, as well as for providing design articulation to the wall. Commissioner Hetherington commented that from his work experience he knew that there would not be much of a view because of the eight-foot berm on Kuakini Highway in addition to the elevation drop of the subject property. Chair Bleck also commented from his experience that those windows on the Kuakini Highway side would more than likely be kept shut because of the traffic noise. Mr. Nicholson responded by saying 2 that there were also utility lines along Kuakini Highway that would obstruct the view, and that the owner after much consideration had opted to place a lot of windows on the other side. The commissioners thanked Mr. Nicholson for his cooperation and for revising the design as requested by the Commission in its initial review. Commissioner Hetherington moved, and Commissioner Stanbro seconded, to recommend the Planning Director’s approval of the proposed project as submitted. Commissioner Dahlberg, referring to the proposed six-foot high trash enclosure with stucco finish, pointed out that the design guidelines of the Master Plan encourages use of natural materials, such as rocks. After a brief discussion, Commissioners Hetherington and Stanbro withdrew their motion and second, respectively. It was then moved by Commissioner Hetherington and seconded by Commissioner Sullenberger that the Commission recommend the Planning Director’s approval of the proposed project as submitted, with a recommendation that the applicant consider constructing or facing the trash enclosure with lava rock or rock veneer in lieu of the proposed stucco finish. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with six ayes (Hetherington, Sullenberger, Akina, Andreae, Dahlberg and Stanbro) and two absent and excused (Au Hoy and Broderson). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Mr. Mark informed the commissioners that the next regular meeting scheduled for November 5, 2014, was cancelled owing a lack of applications, and that the staff was anticipating a few agenda items for the meeting of November 18, 2014. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 6:20 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Sullenberger 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: Paul Bleck, Chairman Kailua Village Design Commission 3