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04-18-2001 DRC MinutesCITY OF ORANGE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES for Wednesday, April 18, 2001 Committee Members Present: Susan Secoy Karen Sully* Joe Woollett Replaced Alice Angus for this meeting) Staff in Attendance: Chuck Lau, Associate Planner Committee Member Absent: Alice Angus Mark Paone Leonard Filner Administrative Session - 4:30 P.M. The board met for an administrative session beginning at 4:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m. Regular Session - 5:30 PM REVIEW OF MINUTES: The review and approval of the April 4, 2001 minutes wE:re deferred to the May 9, 2001 meeting. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for April 18, 2001 Page 2 DRC No. 3611 - CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY Construction of a new All Faiths Chapel at the northwest corner of University Drive and Orange Street, and demolition of the existing student dormitory (Cheverton Residence Hall) at 555 N. Center Street for the construction of a new 163 space surface parking lot. Staff Contact: Daniel Ryan, Senior Planner -Historic Preservation DRC Action: Recommendation to Planning Commission The revised plans were presented by David Martin and Robert Murrin with AC Martin Architects, Bill Cathcart -Landscape Architect, and John Biggs with Chapman University. The revisions included changes in the site plan to address the concerns of the Staff Review Committee SRC), and the use of additional landscaping. The angle of the canted roof has been reduced from 15% to 10%, and the shape and material of the skylight has been refined so that it has a softer appearance. Finish material samples and color palette were presented to address the issue of compatibility and consistency with the campus. New colored rendering were also presented. The landscape plans showed that additional planting material and new interlocking pavers have been provided. The meeting was opened for public comments: Joan Crawford (394 S. Orange Street) continues to belief that the design is not compatible with the Historic District. It does not necessary mean that the building cannot be a modern design, but it does not enhance the Historic District. In the past, we (OTPA) have always required that new structures within the entire district (residential or non-residential) to be compatible. Chapman University's new buildings (BIT Building and Law Building) both have design features and elements that ties-in with, and are compatible with the district. The design concept of the new chapel is admirable, but it belongs somewhere else that is not in Old Towne. Committee Chair Susan Secoy respects the opinion of the OTPA, but feels that this is one of the more interesting and dynamic pieces of architecture that she has experienced. The location of the chapel being one block behind Glassell Street makes it a piece of architecture to be discovered. In reference, the Wayfarer Chapel (Palos Verde, California) is such a discovery where the structure cannot be seen along the main thoroughfare, but as you enter up into the property, you would discover an amazing piece of architecture. She also feels that the architect has done a very good job of extracting some of the materials from the campus and applying it to a different vocabulary on the new chapel. Acting Committee Member Karen Sully feels that the revised plans addressed the DRC's concerns precisely. She also likes the changes that have been made to the skylight, which is more sculptured and refined than previous. Committee Chair Susan Secoy stated that lighting is one of the key elements for this project. She would like to know how this is being addressed. David Martin explained that internal lighting would be used for the skylights, and the exterior pedestrian lighting fixtures would match the existing fixtures on the campus. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for April 18, 2001 Page 3 DRC No. 3611 - CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY (Continued) Committee Chair Susan Secoy would like to clarify that the color renderings presented at this meeting fully addresses the concerns of the DRC from the previous submitted plans. MOTION was made by Committee Chair Susan Secoy to recommend approval of the project to the Planning Commission with the following conditions: Documentation of the exhibits presented on April 18, 2001 DRC meeting shall be provided to the Planning Commission. The recommendation for approval is based on the finding that the proposed work conforms to the standards and design criteria referenced and recommended by the Design Review Committee. The proposed work complies with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines. The proposed work is compatible with, and therefore will not adversely affect the use and design of existing buildings within Old Towne. SECOND:Joe Woollett AYES:Susan Secoy, Karen Sully, Joe Woollett NOES:None ABSENT:Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Alice Angus ABSTAINED:None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for April 18, 2001 Page 4 2. DRC No. 3628 -MATRIX SERVICE New 52,400 sq. ft. industrial facility consisting of a 20,000 sq. ft. office building, and a 32,400 sq. ft. manufacturing building. 500 W. Collins Avenue Staff Contact: Jay Eastman, Assistant Planner DRC Action: Recommendation to Planning Commission Continued from 04-04-01 meeting) Approved as Consent Item) MOTION was made by Committee Member Susan Secoy to recommend approval to the Planning Commission with the following conditions. 1. Prior to issuance of Building Permits, the applicant shall submit to the Design Review Committee (DRC) a detailed landscape plan for final review and approval. SECOND:Joe Woollett AYES:Susan Secoy, Karen Sully, Joe Woollett NOES:None ABSENT:Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Alice Angus ABSTAINED:None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for April 18, 2001 Page 5 3. DRC No. 3634 - ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH Review of a new 2-story, 55,500 sq.ft. classroom and fellowship building which is part of a larger proposed Master Plan for the St. John's Lutheran Church and School Campus. Site is located within the Old Towne Historic District, bounded by Shaffer Street on the east, Center Street on the west, Almond Avenue on the south, and Chapman Avenue on the north. Staff Contact: Anna Pehoushek, Senior Planner DRC Action: Preliminary Review and Comment The project was presented by Darrel Hebenstreit with Architects Orange. The project is being reviewed as part of amultiple-phased plan for the future expansion of St. John Lutheran Church and School that consists of a Master Plan, Specific Plan and Signage Program. This meeting will be focused primarily on a new 2-story 55,500 sq.ft. classroom building with a parking garage on the ground level at the southwest corner of Chapman Avenue and Shaffer Street. The existing contemporary 2-story office building (Non-Contributing) would be demolished. At the advise of City staff, they have retained the services of Mr. Robert Chattel -Historic Architectural Consultant, and have also had several meetings with the OTPA (Old Towne Preservation Association) for their input. Some of Mr. Chattel and OTPA's comments of earlier studies were that the building was too massive, particularly along the Chapman elevation, and looked too much like an office building. Mr. Chattel was concerned that the architecture was neither traditional nor contemporary in design. Mr. Chattel suggested to breakup the building into smaller pieces and deal with them as series of individual elements. Some of these pieces would be more traditional and closely tied to the existing vocabulary, and other pieces that are more architecturally neutral that fits in between. The traditional architectural vocabulary is taken primarily from Walker Hall with an emphasis on symmetry. The literal adaptation of architectural features included arch window shapes, metal eyebrow canopies, balconies, and 2-tone brick veneer finish reinforced with accent banding. The intent is not to create an exact copy, but try to make a strong link to the existing campus. Some of the earlier design studies were too massive, and showed a rounded corner element that was deemed too contemporary. Later studies showed reductions in building height with a stepped back design at portions of the second story, and breaking-up the building with vertical elements. The building elevations have gone through several iterations to arrive at a general design scheme that both Mr. Chattel and the OTPA felt was moving in the right direction. The meeting was opened for public comments: Joan Crawford (394 S. Orange Street) thinks that the architect has done a good job, but she is still concerned with the bulk and mass. She agrees with cutting up the building so that does not appear as one massive building. She also thinks that it does pick up the elements of Walker Hall, and tying in very well without imitating it. Jeff Frankel (384 S. Orange Street) also thinks that it is a nice looking project. The use of material is appropriate, and it fits well within the community. The new building relates well with the existing buildings on campus, and with the surrounding architecture. The issue of bulk and mass has been addressed with this project. He also appreciates the architect's effort in meeting with OTPA and surrounding residences to address their concerns. It is a good overall project. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for April 18, 2001 Page 6 3. DRC No. 3634 - ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH (Continued) Committee Chair Susan Secoy stated that architect's approach in working with the community is admirable. The project looks as if it was designed by committee, in which a lot of different ideas have been pulled together in this building. This is reactive architecture. She would have liked to have Robert Chattel here at the meeting to address the concerns of the DRC. Architecturally, the building looked like "Main Street Retail" in which the project can be a very elegant proposal if it was located in a commercial district. However, this is an academic building, and we need to address the issue of "Form" follows "Function". The elevation is very busy, with different architectural elements that are occurring on a building that is being used for the same academic function. If this an academic building, then perhaps it should represent an academic building, as opposed to looking like a retail commercial district. Committee Member Joe Woollett appreciates the architect's effort in working with the community to find the right solution that is agreeable with everybody. The building comes across as a mask or some type of stage set where the function of the building is different from its appearance. In an effort to try and hide the parking structure, the building ends up looking like a Disneyland street. This is a result of try to impose this historic fabric onto a new building. In a sense, the DRC is getting what they've asked for and now here it is, but it doesn't work. Darrel Hebenstreit stated they could have proposed a plastered, more contemporary architectural vocabulary that would have been more academic, but the feedback he received was that it is not an appropriate design solution, given the strong context of the existing campus. Committee Chair Susan Secoy and Committee Member Joe Woollett both preferred the earlier design studies that were presented, as the architectural elements seemed to hang together a little more. The project seems mixed-up as to whether it should be Contemporary or Classical. That style of architectural may work for certain type of buildings, but for an academic building, it really needs to be assured of itself in order to promote the intellectual growth of our society. Acting Committee Member Karen Sully agreed and expressed her fondness of traditional architecture, and particularly with the Walker Hall building. She would prefer to see more continuity with some of the traditional elements, instead of breaking up the building into smaller pieces. She also agreed that the new building needs to look more academic. Committee Member Joe Woollett would like to continue this project and have it come back to a meeting with the full committee present. This project has raised some very important fundamental questions as to how Historic Preservation standards and guidelines are applied. Darrel Hebenstreit asked if a study session could be arranged so that both he and Robert Chatttel could meet with the Design Review Committee to address some of the design issues that have been raised. Committee Chair Susan Secoy directs staff to coordinate a study session with the applicant. PRELIMINARY REVIEW ONLY - NO ACTION REQUIRED) DRC 04-18-01 Minutes