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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-01 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES Meeting Date: September 1, 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, Adam Broderson, Theresa Andreae, Fanny Au Hoy, Ann Kern, Shaun Roth and Zon Sullenberger Absent and Excused: Alvin Akina, Jr., Paul Bleck Planning Department: Keola Childs and Bennett Mark Applicant/Representative: Tracy Tam Sing, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks; for Hulihe‘e Palace; Roger Basel, Architect, Jeff Fischer for Island Lava Java, LLC Public: Five attendees, no testimony presented 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 June 2, 2015 It was moved by Commissioner Kern and seconded by Commissioner Sullenberger 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 proposed reconstruction of a low masonry rock wall with addition of ornamental metal fencing at Hulihe‘e Palace, along the southern portion of its Ali‘i Drive frontage and the common side boundary with the Kona Inn Shopping complex. Applicant: Dan Quinn, Administrator, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks. TMK: 7-5-007:020. Mr. Childs described the proposed ornamental fencing and wall reconstruction project and its purpose of improving security of the Hulihe‘e Palace premises, and said that the design and color of the materials appeared to be in compliance with the Kailua Village design guidelines. The project site is owned by the State of Hawai‘i, and is managed by the Daughters of Hawai‘i under agreement with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. Tracy Tam Sing, archeologist for the Division of State Parks, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai‘i, provided further explanation and description of the proposed fencing and wall improvements. Commissioners questioned Mr. Sing regarding various project design feature decisions, including heights of the wall and fencing, fence material and its durability. Mr. Sing explained their principal design decision bases of: (1) purpose of keeping uninvited persons off the project premises and minimizing the feasibility of trash being disposed onto the subject property by use of 3” fence baluster spacing, (2) design and color integration with existing fencing elsewhere on the project site, (3) durability of fence materials in a high salt environment near the shoreline, and (4) desire to retain existing wall heights for historic consistency. Commissioner Au Hoy requested Acting Chair Dahlberg’s approval for her recusal from voting, but not discussion, on the subject matter due to her being a member of the Daughters of Hawai‘i, the organization managing the subject property. No objections were made by any commissioners to her recusal, and Chair Dahlberg approved the recusal from voting. Following discussion on the matter, Commissioner Broderson moved for the Commission’s recommendation of approval as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sullenberger. The motion carry unanimously by roll call vote. 2.Design review of a proposed expansion of an existing two-story building (“Building A”) and addition of an outdoor seating/dining area at the makai-Kohala (northwest) corner of the Coconut Grove Marketplace for the relocation/expansion of “Lava Java” restaurant. Applicant: Island Lava Java, LLC. TMK: 7-5-009:028. Mr. Childs described the proposed remodeling and indoor and outdoor expansion features of the proposed two-story building renovation project, including the proximity of the outdoor dining and expanded deck features to the property lines and the private sidewalk fronting Ali‘i Drive and proposed landscaping elements being preserved, removed and added. He said that the proposed renovations and expansion, by design and coloration, appeared to be fully consistent with the architectural design guidelines for Kailua Village, particularly as to adding open and open-sided street fronting activities, sloping roof elements, and substantial shade tree elements in the outside dining area. Commissioners questioned various building design and landscaping design features, including types and characteristics of trees to be added and the removal or retention of certain mature coconut palm trees in or near the outdoor and open deck seating areas to be created. Following discussion, Commissioner Roth moved for the Commission’s recommendation of approval. Commissioner Sullenberger seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. 2 3.Design review of a proposed wall sign for “Lava Java” restaurant for applicant and location described above. Mr. Childs identified the depicted sign location on the proposed building, as shown on the building perspective drawing submitted with the renovation and expansion plans reviewed immediately prior to this sign permit application review. He noted several apparent inconsistencies with the Sign Code provisions regulating signs in Kailua Village, and Zoning Code regulations: 1.Contrary to the sign permit application identification of the proposed sign as a wall sign, it appeared to be in fact a “projecting sign.” The area of the sign, when calculated according to the method proscribed in the Sign Code, appeared to comprise approximately 17 square feet, rather than the 12 square foot area represented in the application. 2.At a mounting height of approximately 14 feet, the sign may be proposed at a height exceeding the nine feet allowable under the Sign Code. With regard to these two matters, Mr. Childs explained that he was merely making a literal interpretation of the Sign Code language, and that decisions of compliance and permissibility of a particular sign proposal are made by the Department of Public Works, not the Planning Department. 3.The horizontal length of the proposed sign, as shown on the submitted plans, extends into the “front yard,” as defined and regulated by the Zoning Code, beyond the allowable extension limit of six feet. Thus, a sign permit application for the proposed sign would not be approved by the Planning Department if presented in its current size and location on the building. Mr. Childs noted that the sign coloration and design appeared to be fully consistent with the sign design guidelines for Kailua-Kona. Commissioners expressed support for the proposed mounting height as an appropriate design means to visually integrate the upper and lower stories of the building as one business operation. Commissioners asked the applicant if the sign was to be lit, such as by directed exterior lighting, due to it high placement on the building if approved in that position. Mr. Jeff Fischer, on behalf of the applicant, stated that they had not considered sign lighting but may do so if encouraged by the commissioners. The applicant’s architect, Roger Brasel, presented an illustration of an alternate sign design and placement which would comply with the sign code and zoning code requirements identified (above) by Mr. Childs. Commissioners expressed their beliefs that the original location was superior for a variety of design and functionality reasons, but that the sign size (area of the sign) should be reduced to meet the limitations of the Sign Code for twelve square feet. Following discussion, Commissioner Andreae moved for the Commission’s recommendation of approval with the height as presented, and with the condition that the sign area be reduced to 12 square feet as required by the sign code. Commissioner Kern seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. 3 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS – None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Childs announced that the next meeting scheduled for September 15, 2015 was cancelled owing to a lack of applications. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 6:55 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Roth 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, Keola Childs, Planner A T T E S T: Peter Dahlberg, Vice Chairman Kailua Village Design Commission 4