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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-05 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES Meeting Date: May 5, 2015 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: Peter Dahlberg, Alvin Akina, Jr., Theresa Andreae, Fanny Au Hoy, Adam Broderson, Ann Kern, Shaun Roth and Zon Sullenberger Absent and Excused: Paul Bleck Planning Department: Keola Childs and Noriko Sauer Applicant/Representative: Lani Swain Public: None A quorum was present. In Chair Bleck’s absence, Vice Chair Dahlberg was the presiding officer and called the meeting to order. Commissioners introduced themselves. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Meeting of February 3, 2015 It was moved by Commissioner Sullenberger and seconded by Commissioner Kern that the minutes be approved as circulated. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS – None. NEW BUSINESS 1. Design review of a sign permit application for a wall sign, door sign, and ground-mounted directory sign for HD Supply Holdings Inc. Applicant: GP Roadway Solutions. Landowner: Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust. TMK: 7-4-015:024. Located at 74-5598 Luhia Street. Mr. Childs distributed recent photographs of the subject property. He described the proposed signs, and said that they appeared to be in compliance with the Sign Code and the Kailua Village guidelines from a composition standpoint, including the sign areas, font sizes and coloration, except that the Sign Code does not specifically address door signs. He noted that the placement of the wall sign, 1 however, would exceed the height allowed by the Sign Code, which provides that the top edge of a wall sign shall not exceed nine feet above the grade or finished floor level or one-half the height of the wall on which it is located, whichever is less. He further noted that despite this restriction the Department of Public Works had permitted wall signs to be mounted higher in some cases in the past, for instance ones on a two-story building between Kuakini Highway and Walua Road. He pointed out that the subject property is a tall warehouse building in the Kailua Industrial Subdivision where, unlike the Kailua Village Core, signage is geared towards motorists rather than pedestrians. He also commented that the location and features of the property posed a visibility challenge to the business owner. The applicant’s representative, Lani Swain, addressed questions from the Commissioners. He said that there was currently a temporary banner displayed on site, which would be removed once the application was approved, and that their directory sign was already mounted, which in his opinion did not stand out as much as it appeared in the photo image attached to the application. He added that there was currently only one other business on the directory sign. In answering Commissioner Andreae’s question as to why the application was after the fact, Mr. Swain said that he had prepared the application package earlier, but that one of the parties was unable to sign the form for a while. Commissioner Broderson, noting the peculiarity of the property, including the topography and the fence that blocks the front view, said that the higher placement of the wall sign was reasonable, and that he had no problem supporting the proposal as submitted. Commissioner Andreae commented that she would prefer to see uniformity in the tenants’ signs on the directory board. Commissioner Roth responded that different designs and business logos on a directory sign would enable instant recognition, which was advantageous in motor vehicle traffic areas for safety reasons. Commissioner Broderson agreed and told his recent experience where he had had difficulty in identifying businesses as he drove in the particular neighborhood. The consensus of the Commission was that uniformity might be encouraged in foot traffic areas, such as the Kailua Village Core along Ali‘i Drive, but safety for motorists should be taken into account in other areas. It was moved by Commissioner Andreae and seconded by Commissioner Broderson that the Commission recommend to the Public Works Director the approval of the proposed sign permit application as submitted, with a condition that the existing banner sign be removed upon issuance of the requested sign permit. There was no discussion on the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with seven ayes (Andreae, Broderson, Akina, Au Hoy, Kern, Roth and Sullenberger) and one absent and excused (Bleck). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS – None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Childs announced that the next meeting scheduled for May 19, 2015 was cancelled owing to a lack of applications. 2 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 5:45 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Sullenberger and seconded by Commissioner Kern 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: Peter Dahlberg, Vice Chairman Kailua Village Design Commission 3