01-05-2005 DRC MinutesCITY OF ORANGE
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
MINUTES
January 5, 2005
Committee Members Present: Jon Califf
Donnie Dewees
Craig Wheeler
Joe Woollett
Staff in Attendance: Leslie Roseberry, Planning Manager
Christopher Carnes, Senior Planner
Howard Morris, Landscape Specialist
Committee Member Absent: None
Administrative Session - 5:00 P.M.
The Committee met for an administrative session beginning at 5:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned
at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Regular Session - 5:30 P.M.
City of Orange -Design Review Committee
Meeting Minutes for January 5, 2005
Page 2
1. DRC No. 3970-04 -Del Rio, LLC.
Proposed Design Guidelines for the new Del Rio Planned Community.
73.6 acres located west of Glassell Street, north of Lincoln Avenue, and south of the
Santa Ana River Channel
Contact: Chris Carnes, Senior Planner
DRC Action: Recommendation to the Planning Commission
Project Planner, Chris Carnes, reviewed the history of the Del Rio project and explained that in
conjunction with the City's review of Tentative Tract Map 16768 the applicant was required by
the Del Rio Development Plan to submit design guidelines and landscaping plans for DRC
review. The Del Rio Design Guidelines contain architectural, site plan, and landscaping criteria
for the phased development of the project. This review of the project does not include the
landscaping and improvements to the public park site, which will be reviewed by the City's
Park's Commission. The DRC's decision was a recommendation to the Planning Commission
and City Council. Landscape Specialist, Howard Morris, reviewed the design and materials in
the landscaping plans, and stated the plans were well designed and in compliance with City
regulations.
The applicant's representatives, Frank Elfend and Pat Murphy, reviewed the specifics of the
Guidelines and landscaping plans. In summary, the purpose of the Guidelines is to use flexible
design criteria and uniform landscaping design to create a sense of community.
The DRC members reviewed the proposed Guidelines and landscaping plans, and existing site
conditions. The DRC members discussed the primary visual impacts of the project are the views
from Glassell Street and that the side and rear elevations of the structures visible from Glassell
will have the same architectural treatment as the front elevations. The DRC members reviewed
the proposed defining elements of the architectural styles, and the proposed landscaping
materials for the streetscape and open space. The DRC members also discussed some changes to
the Guidelines so as to create an attractive community: reduce the number of roof vents on large
multi-family buildings, use similar architectural styles within the same block, place buildings at
varied setbacks and vary the building massing of the front facades to avoid a uniform
appearance. Overall, the DRC members concurred that the Guidelines were well prepared.
A motion was made by Committee Chair Jon Califf to recommend the Planning Commission and
City Council approve the Del Rio Design Guidelines and landscape plans subject to the
following conditions:
1. Remove references in the Guidelines (Pages 10, 13, and 16) restricting the use of any
one building material (wood, brick, stone, wood siding, etc.) to 70% or less on any
front elevation.
City of Orange -Design Review Committee
Meeting Minutes for January 5, 2005
Page 3
2. Remove reference (page 10) in the Guidelines that louvered shutters are a design
element for a Craftsman structure. Craftsman structures are not known to have used
louvered shutters.
3. Remove reference (page 18) in the Guidelines that allow two building materials on the
exterior of the building. Monterey architecture does not have two different exterior
wall treatments.
4. To create a sense of neighborhood, similar architectural styles (such as Monterey and
Spanish) shall be used within the same block.
5. To provide additional privacy for future residents the placement of windows on walls
facing side yard areas shall be staggered to as not to face directly into a window on a
neighboring residence.
6. To improve the visual appearance of large, multi-family structures, the roof vents shall
be grouped together or placed on the rear roof area.
7. To provide usable front porches, the minimum depth for a porch should be 5 feet.
8. To enhance the public views of the project, all side and rear elevations that are visible
from public streets shall have the same architectural treatment and details as the front
elevation of the building.
9. To create an interesting streetscape, front building setbacks shall be varied and the
front facade for buildings shall be of varied massing.
10. The DRC shall review final building and landscaping plans for conformance with the
Del Rio Design Guidelines and applicable City regulations prior to issuance of
building permits for any residential development.
The DRC's recommendation of approval was based on the findings that the proposed
architectural features and landscaping materials provide for residential development that will
create a sense of community and be compatible with existing land uses in the vicinity of the
project site.
SECOND: Craig Wheeler
AYES: Jon Califf, Donnie Dewees, Craig Wheeler, and Joe Woollett
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RECUSED: None
MOTION CARRIED
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