01-21-2004 DRC MinutesCITY OF ORANGE
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
January 21, 2004
Committee Members Present: Jon Califf
Craig Wheeler
Joe Woollett (Chair)
Donnie Deweees
Staff in Attendance: Leslie Aranda Roseberry, Planning Manager
Committee Member Absent: None
Administrative Session - 4:30 P.M.
The committee met for an administrative session beginning at 4:30 p.m. The regular session
adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Regular Session - 5:30 PM
REVIEW OF MINUTES:
A motion was made by Committee Chair Joe Woollett, and seconded by Jon Califf, to approve
the September 3, 2003 meeting minutes subject to the following corrections:
DRC 3826 03 -Richard & Susanne Schaefer pale 7 revision 1 sentence 2 amended as follows:
1. 9pt~en Committee suggested an option to shift the garage n on the site to allow for
matching eave overhangs on both sides of the garage
AYES: Jon Califf, Craig Wheeler, and Joe Woollett
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: Donnie Dewees
MOTION CARRIED
City of Orange -Design Review Committee
Meeting Minutes for January 21, 2004
Page 2
Committee Chair Joe Woollett, seconded by Jon Califf, made a motion to approve the November
19, 2003 meeting minutes subject to the following corrections:
Corrections to the August 20 2003 meeting_minutes pale 2 DRC 3763-03-Lauro and Delores
Serratos, sentence 1 amended as follows:
It was explained by Committee Chair Joe Woollett that the understanding is that instead of the
redwood ~e siding that was approved originally the applicant would like to use ~ Hardie
siding.. .
DRC-3869 - Trico Sycamore Plaza age 6 paragraph 4, and sentence 2 amended as follows:
The concern is as it's in a corner of Old Towne ;~,~~~ and thus must meet the guidelines of
the Old Towne area.
Paragraph 5, sentence 2, amended as follows:
The applicant stated that they do have plans for Cypress trees, which when mature (in a few
years), will cover the panel beards joints.
AYES: Jon Califf, Donnie Dewees, Craig Wheeler, and Joe Woollett
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
MOTION CARRIED
City of Orange -Design Review Committee
Meeting Minutes for January 21, 2004
Page 3
1. DRC No. 3871-03 -CARE AMBULANCE
Continued from the December 17, 2003 DRC Meeting.)
Proposal to remodel an existing tilt-up industrial building to be used as an ambulance
facility. The facility will house administrative offices, dispatch center, emergency
medical technicians facilities, and equipment warehouse, car wash and ambulance
service/parts area.
1517 Braden Court
Staff Contact: Mario Chavez-Marquez, Assistant Planner
DRC Action: Recommendation to Zoning Administrator
Rick Richardson (1517 Braden Court, Orange), co-owner of Care Ambulance Service, made a
presentation on the project, and asked that the Committee reconsider its previous position on the
project. Architect, Chip Sulley (30th Street Architects, 2821 Newport Boulevard, Newport
Beach, CA), also made a presentation. Their key points:
Design style is reflective of their mission for public service.
General portions of the exterior remain unchanged; they have not changed the building in
terms of proportions.
Lath and plaster arches do replace stained cedar soffits.
Use of plaster and paint allows Care to have a clean image for ahealthcare-industry
business
Design presented follows the DRC recommendation of the previous meeting to carry the
theme around to the north side and complete the stand-alone nature of the building.
They have muted the field color to a more earth tone (terra cotta) and create more
compatibility with the nature-elements of the site.
Felt the committee was being over-zealous because there were many different
architectural looks on the block, and they were being held accountable to only two
buildings that were close by and similar.
The DRC made the following comments:
DRC decisions are based on guidelines and are not personal interpretations.
Guidelines state that there should be a clear demarcation between what's been newly
added to the structure and what was there before -the theory being in an historic building
if someone wanted to restore it back to what it was historically, they would know what
parts to remove that were added later. That philosophy would work well with this
building.
The present design of the building is clear and consistent within itself. The committee is
concerned that the proposed design "covers up" the design integrity of the building,
rather than adding to it. The concern was the addition of many faux elements, much like
a retail project.
City of Orange -Design Review Committee
Meeting Minutes for January 21, 2004
Page 4
Building should reflect the style and features of the period. The committee added that in
this case it should be specifically stated that the design should respect the style and
integrity of the period that is in the northwest quadrant of Braden Court.
The proposed color palette is not compatible with what is there now.
Proposed design affects a portion of the building and not the whole building. It was
agreed that this statement should be removed in light of the new direction of the project.
The mix of style and period elements is not consistent with the original building. The
committee stated that they noted at least two design periods being added to the design:
the soffets would be considered Romanesque/18th and 19th century faux brick arches, and
the more Art Deco designs of the entrance. The proposed architectural language needs to
complement the existing architectural fabric.
Recommend having a defined entry treatment while keeping the existing elevations in a
consistent building form that maintains the industrial form. It was noted that this
statement from the previous meeting was a recommendation of an approach that might
accomplish the applicant's goal and solve some of the concerns of the committee. It's
merely a suggestion, not a directive. The committee felt the wording on this statement
should be changed to: "A possibility might be to design adefined-entry treatment." It
was noted that it is not a condition of approval.
The committee noted there were two choices on how to proceed with this project. One was to
continue this so the applicant can refine the project, and the other was to deny it. The applicant
stated that they would prefer to have it denied, so that they would appeal the decision.
As an aside, the applicant had received zoning approval (independent of this action) for the
reduction in parking.
A motion was made by Committee Member Craig Wheeler (seconded by Jon Califf) to deny the
project.
AYES: Jon Califf, Donnie Dewees, Craig Wheeler, and Joe Woollett
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
MOTION CARRIED
City of Orange -Design Review Committee
Meeting Minutes for January 21, 2004
Page 5
2. DRC No. 3883-04 -Robert MacArthur M.D.
Proposed two-story medical office building
The applicant has revised the building design and materials from elevations previously
considered by the DRC
396 S. Main Street (north side of Culver Avenue and approximately 150 feet west of
Main Street)
Staff Contact: Christopher Carnes, Senior Planner
DRC Action: Final Determination
It was noted that this project had been reviewed previously, and the DRC was happy with it -
there were a couple of concerns regarding landscaping. An area was noted where there was
concern by the DRC that a child or an adult could climb on top of it and perhaps fall into the
parking lot below -the DRC would like the architects to propose a way to make it safer. The
architects agreed to do this. They noted bougainvillea that might attain a height and fullness
in 2 or 3 years that would prevent anyone from getting into the unsafe situation, but in the
meantime, the architects proposed a type of railing (decorative wrought-iron to match the
Spanish architecture) that met with the approval of the DRC.
Tom Lennon/Jason Bell, architects, were not part of the original architect's group, and
represent a new frame of reference for everyone involved in the project. They are not the
landscape designers, but the landscape designer is under their pervue.
Committee Member Craig Wheeler, seconded by Joe Woollett, made a motion to approve the
project with the following condition:
1. Architect shall study the proportions of the arch support legs and see if they can be
improved.
AYES: Jon Califf, Donnie Dewees, Craig Wheeler, and Joe Woollett
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAINED: None
MOTION CARRIED