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03-17-2004 DRC MinutesCITY OF ORANGE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES March 17, 2004 Committee Members Present: Jon Califf Craig Wheeler Joe Woollett (Chair) Donnie Dewees Staff in Attendance: Chuck Lau, Assistant Planner Committee Member Absent: None Administrative Session - 4:30 P.M. The committee met for an administrative session beginning at 4:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. Regular Session - 5:30 P.M. The regular session began at 5:30 p.m. and adjourned at approximately 6:15 p.m. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2004 Page 2 1. DRC No. 3873-03 - NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS A proposal to install a wireless communication antenna facilities enclosed within a false chimney structure on the rooftop of the existing "Elk's Lodge" building. 211 E. Chapman Avenue (Old Towne Historic District) Staff Contact: Chuck Lau, Associate Planner DRC Action: Recommendation to Planning Commission The Staff Presentation was given by Chuck Lau. He was accompanied by the applicant, John Koos, 310 Commerce, Irvine, CA 92601. They described the various design alternatives they considered to construct a location for the wireless communications antenna, while ensuring that it did not detract from the existing look and feel, and was visually compatible, with the buildings in the Old Towne Historic District. Because of the height of the overall structure, he explained that it would also go to the Planning Commission after the DRC makes the recommendation. Nextel reached an agreement with The Elks Lodge to host their wireless communication antenna on their roof. There were only two buildings in Old Towne Orange that met the required height for the antenna, and the other building was not structurally sound to house it. After reviewing a number of different alternatives (flag pole, etc.) Chuck Lau worked with the applicant to design a false chimney on the roof of The Elks Lodge, and the equipment would be located in the basement (which would further camouflage the device) and cables would be run to the roof. The designers discussed the location with the engineers at Nextel to ensure that they had located the antenna as far back on the roof as possible so as not to be seen, but also was close enough to the edge of the roof to provide the optimum reception. Members of the DRC asked the applicant several questions regarding the technology behind the antenna, and why this equipment seemed to be so large when other cell phone antennas are getting smaller. The answer was that although technology is improving, it still has a long way to go. The technology for this is older, but improvements are being made continually to utilize less wireless sites and to make the antennas smaller. Public Participation Janet Crenshaw, 464 N. Shaffer Jeff Frankel, 384 S. Orange Street Public comments centered on the fact that the structure, as proposed, looks different than what was originally proposed. The roof of the site is so cluttered, that it is difficult to visualize how this new structure would impact the look of the roof of the building without amock-up to see the line-of-sight. They raised concerns for what the end product would look like. The DRC said it would be essential to see amock-up so that the line-of--sight could be reviewed. They also asked that if extraneous hardware were on the roof that could be removed, that the applicant work with the building's owners to remove it. Chuck Lau will work with applicant to prepare amock-up and will notify the committee when it is ready for viewing. The DRC would also like to see additional pictures of the roof. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2004 Page 3 A motion was made by Committee Member Craig Wheeler to continue the project to the April 7, 2004 meeting. SECOND: Jon Califf AYES: Jon Califf, Donnie Dewees, Craig Wheeler, Joe Woollett NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAINED: None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2004 Page 4 2. DRC No. 3896-04 -SAINT PAUL'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL A proposal to install a new freestanding sign for an existing school facility. 901 E. Heim Avenue Staff Contact: Chuck Lau, Associate Planner DRC Action: Final Determination The Staff Report was given by Chuck Lau. He was accompanied by the applicant, Ed Hoke, 1955 N. Main Street, Orange, CA 92865. The new sign will utilize the same color and brick material as is currently being used on the campus and the end columns. It will have a smooth plaster finish similar to what's currently being used on the school, and will match the stucco coloring. The sign is five feet in height; it will be aluminum construction so there are no rusting problems in the future. The individual copy for the lettering will all be raised one-quarter inch aluminum. There will be a graffiti guard on the sign, as well. Members of the committee asked about the illumination requirements for the sign, and what is planned for the automatically changing message. Chuck Lau noted that it is the type of signage that would not be allowed to have the moving/animated messaging. The letters would be lit only during certain times of the day, and it would be kept to a .25-foot candle. The lighting is an adjustable item (controlled by a computer inside the office) to control the illumination for different types of light during the day and evening. They will utilize site lighting to illuminate the sign, and will not utilize any indirect lighting. A motion was made by Committee Member Craig Wheeler to approve the project subject to the recommendations as listed in the Staff Report. SECOND: Donnie Dewees AYES: Jon Califf, Donnie Dewees, Craig Wheeler, Joe Woollett NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAINED: None MOTION CARRIED