09-18-2019 DRC MinutesCITY OF ORANGE
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITEE
MINUTES – FINAL
September 18, 2019
Committee Members Present: Anne McDermott – Chair
Mary Anne Skorpanich – Vice Chair
Tim McCormack
Carol Fox
Robert Imboden
Staff in Attendance: Anna Pehoushek, Assistant Community Development Director
Marissa Moshier, Historic Preservation Planner
Robert Garcia, Senior Planner
Monique Schwartz, Associate Planner
Jessica Wang, Administrative Specialist
Simone Fannin, Recording Secretary
Regular Session – 5:32 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Committee Members McCormack, Skorpanich, Imboden, McDermott, and Fox were present.
FLAG SALUTE:
Vice Chair Skorpanich led the flag salute.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Opportunity for Members of the public to address the Design Review Committee on matters not
listed on the Agenda.
There were no speakers.
CONSENT ITEMS:
(1) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 21, 2019
Committee Member Skorpanich made a motion to approve the August 21, 2019 minutes as written
with a correction as noted on page 3.
SECOND: Imboden
AYES: McCormack, McDermott, Fox, Skorpanich, and Imboden
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
AGENDA ITEMS:
Continued Items: None
City of Orange – Design Review Committee
Final Minutes for Meeting on September 18, 2019
Page 2 of 8
New Agenda Items:
(2) Design Review No. 4981-19 – St. John’s Courtyard
A proposal to add a shade structure, benches, and additional landscaping to the courtyard
next to St. John’s Lutheran Church. The church is separately designated in the National
Register of Historic Places.
185 S. Center Street, Old Towne Historic District
Staff Contact: Marissa Moshier, (714) 744-7243, mmoshier@cityoforange.org
DRC Action: Final Determination
Marissa Moshier, Historic Preservation Planner, provided an overview of the project consistent with
the staff report.
Stephanie Sherman, landscape architect for the project, and Timothy Virus, applicant, were available
to answer any questions.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
Compatibility of the design with the historic church.
The size, thickness, materials, finish, aesthetics and sturdiness of the refreshment counter.
Stability and support of the brick banding around the countertop.
Jeff Frankel, representing Old Towne Preservation Association, commented on the existing code
violation at the church involving bollards in the public right-of-way.
Chair McDermott closed the public hearing.
The Committee had additional comments and questions on the following:
Granite proposed for the countertops is not compatible with the surroundings.
Various designs, materials and finishes for the large refreshment counter. The Committee
agreed that the information and refreshment countertops should be polished, sealed, hardened
concrete to avoid stains and maintain durability.
The brick around the refreshment counter look aesthetically unstable and are unnecessary;
there is enough historic brick on-site.
The note "by others" on the side elevation on Page 6 should be removed.
Reasons for the openness of the refreshment counter base.
The applicant was amenable to bringing the countertop back to the DRC prior to attaining building
permits.
Committee Member Fox made a motion to approve Design Review No. 4981-19 - St. John's
Courtyard based on the findings and conditions in the staff report with the following additional
conditions:
The information and refreshment counters shall be redesigned and return to the DRC for
approval prior to issuance of a building permit.
All concrete specifications in terms of texture and color shall be indicated on the drawings.
City of Orange – Design Review Committee
Final Minutes for Meeting on September 18, 2019
Page 3 of 8
Drawings shall clearly indicate that any new construction shall not touch any historic
resource.
SECOND: Imboden
AYES: McCormack, Skorpanich, McDermott, Imboden, and Fox
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
(3) Design Review No. 4966-19 – 76 Gas Station
A proposal to renovate an existing full-service gas station, including the conversion of
existing service bays to convenience store area, expansion of the convenience store building,
sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption, and related on-site improvements.
5344 E. Chapman Avenue
Staff Contact: Monique Schwartz, (714) 744-7224, mschwartz@cityoforange.org
DRC Action: Recommendation to the Planning Commission
Monique Schwartz, Associate Planner, provided an overview of the project consistent with the staff
report.
Joseph Karaki, representative for the applicant, spoke on behalf of the project.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
There were no speakers.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
Electric vehicle charging spaces.
Regulations and drainage of on-site water. Marissa Moshier stated the project went through a
Minor Site Plan Review; therefore it was reviewed by all the departments including Public
Works and their Water Quality Division.
Color of existing block wall.
Location of the existing "snack shop" sign.
Sheet A3.0, Note 3 should read "asphalt composite shingle roof" instead of shake shingle.
The actual need for the number of proposed parking spaces in relation to site landscaping.
Landscaping is deficient on the site; a large shade tree could be incorporated by removing
parking Stall #1 or #6 on the site plan.
Location of the propane tank in relation to the appearance of the property and landscape
opportunities.
Damien Fergani, owner of the gas station, asked to retain their parking spaces for possible future
charging stations and convenience store and propane customers.
City of Orange – Design Review Committee
Final Minutes for Meeting on September 18, 2019
Page 4 of 8
Committee Member McCormack made a motion to recommend approval to the Planning
Commission of Design Review No. 4966-19 – 76 Gas Station based on conditions and findings in
the staff report with the additional conditions as follows:
Parking Stall #6 shall be reconstructed and curbed to become a planting area.
The charging station shall move down two stalls to the east.
A Sycamore or London Plane tree shall be planted where Stall #6 is located.
Landscape and irrigation plans shall return to the DRC prior to building permit.
SECOND: Skorpanich
AYES: McCormack, Skorpanich, and McDermott
NOES: Fox and Imboden
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Recess: 7:00 - 7:10 p.m.
(4) Design Review No. 4956-18 – Terrace Apartments
A proposal to construct three multi-family apartment buildings as part of the existing Terrace
Apartments. The proposed project would add three, 4-story multi-family apartment buildings
for a total of 167 new apartment units with a maximum height of 45 feet to the site.
200 City Boulevard West
Staff Contact: Robert Garcia, (714) 744-7231, rgarcia@cityoforange.org
DRC Action: Recommend Approval to the Planning Commission
Robert Garcia, Senior Planner, provided an overview of the proposal consistent with the staff report.
Tim Strader, consultant with Star Point Ventures, Tyler Gold, landscape architect, and Jan Van
Tilberg, architect, were present to answer any questions on behalf of the applicant.
Jan Van Tilberg provided a visual presentation of the project.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
There were no speakers.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
The project is elegant, appropriate and compatible
The Committee asked for an explanation of the landscaping.
Concerns about the height of the parapet to adequately obscure the rooftop equipment from
Lewis Street and the shopping center; the Committee was in support of a higher parapet and
would like to see the design of the screening.
Building A's south elevation has a large blank façade compared to the other buildi ngs; find a
simple, subtle way to enhance the façade.
Pedestrian access to the local office and entertainment areas.
City of Orange – Design Review Committee
Final Minutes for Meeting on September 18, 2019
Page 5 of 8
Requested that alternatives for the Mexican feather grass and Texas needle grass be selected
due to their invasiveness.
Need for the lighting, landscaping and architectural lighting to all work together.
Consideration should be given to how the architecture-based lighting will affect the
landscape.
The importance of using plants that can tolerate the different exposures around a tall
building.
Consider Platanus acerifolia columbia instead of Jacaranda tree and Divulsa with Pennisetum
spathiolatum.
Committee Member Fox made a motion to recommend approval to the Planning Commission of
Design Review No. 4956-18 – Terrace Apartments based on the findings and conditions in the staff
report with the additional conditions:
The Mexican feather grass shall be replaced with Pennisetum spathiolatum .
The screening for the rooftop equipment and an alternate treatment to the south façade of
Building A shall return to the Design Review Committee prior to issuance of a building
permit.
SECOND: Skorpanich
AYES: McCormack, Skorpanich, McDermott, Imboden, and Fox
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
(5) Design Review No. 4986-19 – Rod’s Liquor
A proposal to convert existing liquor store into a restaurant. The building is a contributing
historic resource in the Plaza Historic District.
118 W. Chapman Avenue, Plaza Historic District
Staff Contact: Marissa Moshier, (714) 744-7243, mmoshier@cityoforange.org
DRC Action: Preliminary Review
Marissa Moshier, Historic Preservation Planner, provided an overview of the proposal consistent
with the staff report.
Jeff Rabbitt and Edwardo Diaz, architects, spoke on behalf of the project. Mr. Diaz provided a
visual presentation consisting of the historical photos and the project design.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
Jeff Frankel, representing Old Towne Preservation Association, commented on the contemporary
character of the changes appearance that a lot of the historic fabric is being removed from the
building.
City of Orange – Design Review Committee
Final Minutes for Meeting on September 18, 2019
Page 6 of 8
The applicant responded to questions from the Committee regarding:
The historic elements of the floor, walls and exterior original interior walls.
The trusses, window's transparency and the intent to preserve the wood frames as much as
possible.
The railing behind the rollup door.
Use and access to the alley and easement with shared outdoor seating.
Preservation in reusing the original neon signs.
Replacement of the aluminum window with a rollup door.
Importance of the patio having an indoor-outdoor feel to the restaurant owner.
Options for shading on the west side and providing weather resistant closure on the patio.
Intent to emulate the original transom windows.
Challenges with keeping the tin ceiling throughout the building.
Tenant does not intend to have sidewalk tables.
Somehow paying homage to the drive-through area.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
A detailed assessment of what is historic fabric is needed.
Incorporating the original signs from Rod's Liquor should be considered.
Consider the rollup windows with wood frames.
The historical fabric of the concrete floor and the inconsistency in the level of the floor.
Mislabeling of the door operations on the rollup doors.
A decision-making process about what is there, what is to be restored and what is changing
should be guided by the Secretary of Interior Standards and Old Towne Design Standards.
Thought needs to be given to the awning, it looks like a prism transom except it is being done
in a natural finish wood so that it is a shade.
Committee objects to raising the grade on the patio even if it is crooked. The story of the site
is told on the pavement and once it is covered you lose the historic feel.
Concerns about the number of rollup doors on the building and the percentage of added
material is more than half of the façade.
The desire to remove interior features and expose the trusses and brick does not honor the
history of the building because the building never appeared that way.
A time period for the rehabilitation needs to be selected and followed through in the design.
The railing for the patio should be pulled in from the façade; not out front.
The original diagonal wall opening is being taken away and there are too many openings.
Chair McDermott stated this is a preliminary review and thanked the applicant for their presentation.
RECESS: 9:46 - 9:55 p.m.
City of Orange – Design Review Committee
Final Minutes for Meeting on September 18, 2019
Page 7 of 8
(6) Design Review No. 4909-17 – Chick-fil-A
A proposal that involves the demolition of an existing 8,579 square-foot structure and the
construction of a one-story, 4,563 square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant building with a double
drive-thru lane and associated surface parking, landscaping, and utilities.
202 South Main Street
Staff Contact: Robert Garcia, (714) 744-7231, rgarcia@cityoforange.org
DRC Action: Recommendation to the Planning Commission
Robert Garcia, Senior Planner provided an overview of the project consistent with the staff report.
Jennifer Daw, Robert Lombardi, and Amin Atlaschi, representatives for the project, were available
to answer questions.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
They were no speakers.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
An explanation of the civic gesture at the corner of the property.
The tree requirements compared to other commercial projects.
Conflicts with the Southwest Design Standards.
The placement of the building closer to the street in order to achieve a pedestrian-oriented
design.
The mixed-use zoning and recommendations for pedestrian-oriented design in relation to the
positioning of the drive-through features.
Retention of on-site drainage in relation to site and landscape design.
Aspects of the proposed plan that do not comply with the Southwest Design Standards
including setbacks, trees, and hedges.
The site warrants a more urban design approach.
A solid row of landscaping on the corner prevents pedestrian access into the site.
The community feature on the corner is confusing; it is more characteristic of identifying an
entrance to a city. Consider public art.
Project is under-landscaped and scale of trees is too small.
Committee Members agreed they cannot support the project because the project does not comply
with the Southwest Design Standards, even if the General Plan and zoning changed. If the building
were on the corner it would be an asset to the neighborhood and streetscape.
The applicant asked for a continuance in order to reconsider the project based on the Committee's
comments.
City of Orange – Design Review Committee
Final Minutes for Meeting on September 18, 2019
Page 8 of 8
Committee Member Skorpanich made a motion to continue Design Review No. 4909-17 – Chick-fil-
A in order to allow the applicant to redesign the project based on the Committee's comments.
SECOND: Imboden
AYES: McCormack, Skorpanich, McDermott, Imboden, and Fox
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair McDermott adjourned the meeting at 11:00 p.m.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2019.