12-18-2019 DRC MinutesAPPROVED BY THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITEE ON FEBRUARY 5, 2020
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FINAL MINUTES
CITY OF ORANGE December 18, 2019
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE 5:30 p.m.
STAFF PRESENT: Marissa Moshier, Historic Preservation Planner
Robert Garcia, Senior Planner
Kelly Ribuffo, Associate Planner
Jessica Wang, Administrative Specialist
Simonne Fannin, Recording Secretary
REGULAR SESSION
1. OPENING:
1.1. CALL TO ORDER:
Chair McDermott called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
1.2 FLAG SALUTE:
Vice Chair Skorpanich led the flag salute.
1.3 ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Committee Members McDermott, Fox, McCormack, Skorpanich, and Imboden.
1.4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Opportunity for members of the public to address the Design Review Committee (DRC) on
matters not listed on the Agenda.
There were no speakers.
2. CONSENT ITEMS:
2.1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 4, 2019
A motion was made to approve the December 4, 2019 minutes as emended to staff.
MOTION: Skorpanich
SECOND: Fox
AYES: McCormack, Fox, Skorpanich, McDermott and Imboden
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES December 18, 2019
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3. AGENDA ITEMS:
Continued Items:
3.1 DESIGN REVIEW NO. 4909-17 – CHICK-FIL-A
A proposal to demolish an existing 8,579 square-foot structure and construct a one-story,
4,527 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, project principal lead; Eduardo Diaz, architect; John Hurien, landscape
architect; Robert Lombardi and Russell Hatfield all spoke on behalf of the project.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
Roger Gumerman, resident of Orange, spoke in favor of the project .
Chair McDermott closed the public hearing.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
Adequacy of parking spaces provided.
The need to see the color and materials board.
Adequacy of tree count and types of trees being used.
Suggestion that the King palms on the street should be changed to Queen palms.
The depth of the landscape area on the west side of the property.
Whether the spacing of trees on Almond and Main complies with the Southwest Design
Guidelines.
The doors on the floor plans are different than what is shown on the elevations.
Handicap path of travel.
Project has more of a suburban than urban feel.
Tree canopy could be further enhanced.
Purpose and options for the bypass lane at the drive-thru. Consider removing the bypass
lane in order to increase landscaping.
Replace bollards at the electric vehicle charging stations with a low side wall or high
curb.
Door placement in relation to pedestrian approach from sidewalks.
The landscape design, selected materials, and their placement reflects a conventional
suburban landscape approach rather than urban.
The benefit of establishing some landscape hierarchy.
Reduce 15 gallon agave plant size to 5 gallon.
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES December 18, 2019
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Move transformer next to trash enclosure, move the Crêpe Myrtle down and plant a
larger tree in its place.
Move trees 18 inches away from the property line to avoid the landscape hanging over
onto the neighbor's property.
Pros and cons of diamond cuts in the curb at the parking spaces.
Placement and species of trees that provide more shading; Sycamore and Crepe Myrtle
are preferred.
Committee Member Fox made a motion to approve Design Review No. 4909-17 – Chick-Fil-
A, subject to the findings and conditions in the staff report with the additional conditions as
follows:
1. The Queen Palms along Main Street shall be changed to King Palms.
2. One more King Palm shall be added along Main Street subject to Public Works approval.
3. The Strawberry trees along the southern property line shall be realigned to line up with
the striped parking lines of the parking spaces.
4. The parking space adjacent to the trash enclosure shall be removed and the electrical
transformer moved into that location; the Crêpe Myrtle shall be shifted to align with the
second parking space striping and a Magnolia planted in its place.
5. All Magnolias shall be changed to Standards and the Magnolia at the southeast corner of
the property shall be changed to a Low Branch Sycamore.
6. Plans shall be corrected to reflect the accurate door locations on the exterior elevations.
7. Agave pots along Main Street shall be centered along the columns of the building.
8. Bollards in the parking lot shall be replaced with a simple metal fence.
9. Color/material board and fence replacement shall return to DRC prior to issuance of a
building permit .
Recommendations:
That the landscape architect consider alternate plants for the potted Agave.
Downsize 15 gallon D ianellas to 5 gallon pots.
SECOND: Skorpanich
AYES: McCormack, Skorpanich, Imboden, McDermott and Fox
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
RECESS: 7:29-7:40 p.m.
New Agenda Items:
3.2 DESIGN REVIEW NO. 4924-17 – ARCHITECTS ORANGE STAIRS AND PATIO
Final determination on the paint color for new metal structures at the rear of two historic
buildings. The project for replacement of an exterior stair and remodeling of outdoor
patios was approved by the Design Review Committee on November 6, 2019.
144 N. Orange Street and 141-149 N. Glassell Street, Plaza Historic District
Staff Contact: Marissa Moshier, (714) 744-7243, mmoshier@cityoforange.org
DRC Action: Final Determination
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES December 18, 2019
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Marissa Moshier, Historic Preservation Planner, provided an overview of the project
consistent with the staff report.
Jeff Rabbitt, representative for Architects Orange, spoke on behalf of the project.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
They were no speakers. The public hearing was closed.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
The white has been toned down; however, there is still a lot of white.
Alternate color options for the fence.
Alternate color options for the staircase and railing.
Committee Member Fox made a motion to approve Design Review No. 4924-17 – Architects
Orange stairs and patio as submitted.
SECOND: McDermott
AYES: McDermott and Fox
NOES: McCormack, Skorpanich, Imboden
ABSENT: None
MOTION FAILED
The Committee had further comments and questions on the following:
Recommended changing color of the fence to gray.
There is a lot of the newness that should be toned down.
Too much of the building's rear façade has changed which is not appropriate for the
Historic District .
Consider keeping the stairway and all the metal features white, with the exception of the
awning, in the P3 charcoal color.
The color of the sign contrasts with the building.
Committee Member Fox made a motion to approve Design Review No. 4924-17 – Architects
Orange Stairs and Patio based on the conditions and findings in the staff report with the
additional condition as follows:
The metal picket fence around the patios shall be changed from white to P3, Grizzle
Grey.
SECOND: Skorpanich
AYES: McDermott, McCormack, Skorpanich, Imboden, and Fox
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES December 18, 2019
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3.3 DESIGN REVIEW NO. 4986-19 – ROD’S LIQUOR CONVERSION
Final determination regarding design features for a project to convert Rod’s Liquor, an
existing convenience store, to a restaurant. The project was approved by the Design
Review Committee on November 6, 2019.
118 W. Chapman Avenue, Plaza 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 revisions made
per the committee's recommendation consistent wit h the staff report.
Jeff Rabbitt, applicant , spoke on behalf of the project.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
Roger Gumerman, a resident of Orange, spoke in favor of the project .
Chair McDermott closed the public hearing.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
Placement of the mullion for the storefront on the Chapman Avenue elevation, including
the condition of the existing bulkhead and whether or not it has been changed based on
historic photographs.
The prism glass and combination of old and new materials. Sample of the new prism
glass should return to the DRC.
Staff needs to do a fie ld match to ensure the proposed brick color matches.
Window materials, hardware and colors.
Black aluminum and hardware for the new doors is acceptable as long as it resembles
steel.
Recessed lighting in the tin ceiling and alternative light fixture options. Alternative
lighting fixtures shall be approved by staff.
Lighting should not be attached to the historic brick; conduit should be drilled into grout
joints.
Committee Member Fox made a motion to approve Design Review No. 4986-19 – Rod's
Liquor Conversion, based on the findings and conditions in the staff report, rescind ing the
previous requirement of mullion alignment for the Chapman Avenue storefront and approve
the alignment as currently submitted, with the additional conditions as follows:
1. Storefront glazing facing Chapman Avenue as drawn in the current proposal is approved ;
the Design Review Committee’s prior requirement to change it is rescinded.
2. Prism glass to be used in the new windows shall return to the DRC for review.
3. Brick color shall be confirmed in the field by staff.
4. Light fixtures and conduit mounted on the historic brick shall not be drilled through the
face of the brick and shall go through the grout joints.
5. Recessed can lighting at the patio shall be eliminated.
6. Staff may approve any back plates that need to be manufactured for the light fixtures.
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES December 18, 2019
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SECOND: McCormack
AYES: McDermott, McCormack, Skorpanich, Imboden and Fox
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
3.4 DESIGN REVIEW NO. 4984-19 – BUCKNER RESIDENCE
Preliminary review for a proposal to construct a 1,527 square foot habitable basement
under an existing historic single-family residence.
235 E. Palmyra Avenue, Old Towne Historic District
Staff Contact: Kelly Ribuffo, (714) 744-7223, kribuffo@cityoforange.org
DRC Action: Preliminary Review
Kelly Ribuffo, Associate Planner, provided an overview of the project and code violations
consistent with the staff report.
Mike Williams, project contractor, spoke on behalf of the project.
Chair McDermott opened the public hearing.
Jeff Frankel, a representative of the Old Towne Preservation Association, spoke in
opposition.
Chair McDermott closed the public hearing.
The Committee had comments and questions on the following:
The unacceptability of a large basement window on the front elevation o f the house.
Structural engineer review of the removal of the historic foundation.
Specifications of the current building permit regarding the plaster finish for the new
foundation.
Egress from the basement and code specifications; DRC needs to seek building official
approval.
Size and depth of windows is excessive and ha ve no relationship to the windows above
them, nor are they related to the historic nature of the house or are compatible with the
Design Standards.
Double hung wood windows are unusual in a basement.
Landscape is over the top for the simplicity and period of the house.
Staircase and how it fits with the setbacks does not appear on the plan view; more detail
is needed.
It is unacceptable to remove the historic foundation and replace it.
Window wells on historic basements should be similar to a crawl space access.
Landscaping, as a screening device, is inadequate.
A window well horizontal grate at grade is preferred over a fence.
Any alterations made to a historic structure should be made with the most minimal
changes necessary.
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES December 18, 2019
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A window well at the rear of the house, to provide required egress, should be as small as
possible; the remaining basement windows, which are treated like vents, should be glazed
and placed logically with the archit ecture.
Chair McDermott advised the contractor to consider the Committee's comments and return
with the appropriate changes.
4. ADJOURNMENT:
Chair McDermott adjourned the meeting at 10:06 p.m.
The regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 1, 2020 has been canceled. The next
regular meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.