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2014-07-02 DRC Final MinutesCITY OF ORANGE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES - FINAL July 2, 2014 Committee Members Present: Robert Imboden - Chair Tim McCormack — Vice Chair Carol Fox Craig Wheeler Joe Woollett Committee Members Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Anna Pehoushek, Principal Planner Marissa Moshier, Associate Planner - Historic Preservation Anne Fox, Contract Planner Angie Cisneros, Recording Secretary Administrative Session — 5:00 p.m. Chair Member Imboden opened the Administrative Session at 5:10 p.m. Anna Pehoushek, Principal Planner, reminded the Committee members to stay focused on aesthetic issues and the design of the projects in light of some of the Agenda items that involved controversial land use issues and multiple entitlements. Ms. Pehoushek also provided information about the scheduling of conflict of interest training with Assistant City Attorney Gary Sheatz. The training will be conducted in September at a more convenient time for all Committee Members. Chair Member Imboden stated there was no Policy or Procedural information. The Committee Members reviewed the meeting minutes from the Design Review Committee meeting of June 18, 2014. Committee Member McCormack stated that he would recuse himself from Item #4 due to conflict of interest. Committee Member McCormack made a motion to close the Administrative Session of the Design Review Committee meeting. SECOND: Craig Wheeler AYES: Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack, Carol Fox, Craig Wheeler and Joe Woollett NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Administrative Session adjourned at 5:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2014 Page 2 of 8 Regular Session — 5:35 p.m. ROLL CALL: All Committee Members were present. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Opportunity for members of the public to address the Design Review Committee on matters not listed on the Agenda. CONSENT ITEMS: Committee Member Fox made a motion to approve the minutes of June 18, 2014 from the Design Review Committee, as corrected during the discussion at the Administrative Session. SECOND: Craig Wheeler AYES: Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack, Carol Fox, Craig Wheeler and Joe Woollett NOES: None ABSTAIN: None MOTION CARRIED. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2014 Page 3 of 8 NEW AGENDA ITEMS AGENDA ITEMS Continued Items: (2) DRC No. 4720 -13 — THE OLSON COMPANY TOWNHOMES ON WASHINGTON AVENUE • The applicant proposes to construct 58 new townhomes on a vacant 4.02 net -acre, triangular- shaped parcel. • South Side of Washington Avenue, opposite its intersection with Hamlin Street. • Staff Contact: Anne Fox, (714) 744 -7236, afoxkcityoforange.org • DRC Action: Recommendation to the Planning Commission Anne Fox, Staff Contact, presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. Public Comments Speaker in favor of project was Steve Short. Speakers opposed to this project: • Carmen Abraham • Randall Beck • Elvira • George Gallardo • Pam Gibbons • Kim Johnson • Jim Livernos • Christine Loeza • Roy Spencer • Vivian Maxwell Doris Nguyen, Applicant; Alan Scaves, Architect; John Reekstin, Senior Vice President, Olson Company; Allison Kunz, Senior Vice President Design, Olson Company; Peter A. Duarte, Landscape Architect; Diane Gayland and Carol McDermmit, Entitlement Advisors, were present to answer questions and concerns from the DRC. Chair Imboden opened the item to the Committee for discussion. The Committee discussion focused primarily on site plan issues, neighborhood compatibility, building massing, and exterior design. Key issues identified included: • Configuration of building placement. • Fencing style in relation to parking areas and adjacent residences. • Lack of sensitivity in the design and site plan in response to surrounding neighborhood character, street network, and environment. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2014 Page 4 of 8 • Privacy issues related to window placement and two -story development in relation to neighboring properties. • Plant material and size in relation to planting areas and available planting space. • Planting program conflicts with existing infrastructure. • Overall project design in relation to long -term quality of living environment. • Placement of parking and trash enclosures. The Committee expressed general opposition to the project as presented, and encouraged the applicant to take a more flexible approach with the unit floor plans in order to achieve greater variation in the exterior architecture and building massing. The Committee also suggested that the applicant install story poles to provide a better understanding of the proposed development in relation to the neighborhood. Committee Member Woollett made a motion to continue to allow the applicant to address comments received by the Committee on the recorded minutes. SECOND: Craig Wheeler AYES: Robert Imboden, Carol Fox, Tim McCormack, Craig Wheeler and Joe Woollett NOES: None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2014 Page 5 of 8 New Agenda Items: (3) DRC No.4676 -13 — CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS CENTER BUILDING SIGNAGE • The applicant has submitted building wall signage plans for the Digital Media Arts Center for review and recommendation for approval to the Community Development Director in compliance with Condition No. 43 of the Conditions of Approval for DRC No. 4676 -13. • 230 N. Cypress Street (Northwest corner of Maple Avenue and Cypress Street) • Staff Contact: Lucy Yeager, (714) 744 -7239, lyeager @cityoforange.org • DRC Action: Recommend Approval to the Community Development Director Lucy Yeager, Staff Contact, presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. Public Comments: Jeff Frankel of the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) stated that they are in favor of the project. Kris Olsen, Chapman University, and Mark Hickner, John Moreland, and John Bishop of the KTGY Group, were present to answer questions and concerns from the DRC. Chair Imboden opened the item to the Committee for discussion. The Committee expressed its support for the proposal, but asked for clarification of the finish, mounting, and lighting of the bronze lettering on the east elevation. Questions were also asked about the position and sign painting technique for the signage on the north elevation. Committee Member Fox made a motion to recommend approval to the Community Development Director DRC No. 4676 -13, in accordance with the staff findings and conditions of the staff report and with the following additional condition: • That the sign letters have a' /4" space between the building and the sign. SECOND: Tim McCormack AYES: Robert Imboden, Carol Fox, Tim McCormack, Craig Wheeler and Joe Woollett NOES: None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2014 Page 6 of 8 (4) DRC No. 4740 -14 — CC PROPERTIES RESIDENCE • A proposal to rehabilitate an existing contributing two -story residence, construct a two -story building with two apartment units, and construct a two -car garage on property in the Old Towne Historic District. • 128 N. Pixley Street, Old Towne Historic District • Staff Contact: Marissa Moshier, (714) 744 -7243, mmoshier @cityoforange.org • DRC Action: Preliminary Review Marissa Moshier, Staff Contact, presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. Public Comments Committee Member Tim McCormack recused himself as he was the landscape architect for the project. Jeff Frankel of the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) expressed opposition to the project. He stated that this infill project does not fit within the context of the street. The bulk and mass are out of line with the neighborhood. Mr. Frankel also commented on the size and scale of the new construction in relation to the historic structure, and the FAR. He also expressed concerns about the proposed building materials and need to consider cumulative impacts of new development on the historic district. Jon Califf, J.M. Califf, AIA & Partners, Inc., Jack Singer, Mickey Clark, and Janine McCormack, were present to answer questions and concerns from the DRC. Chair Imboden opened the item to the Committee for discussion. The DRC expressed general support for the project, but agreed that the project design needed refinement. The Committee provided comments on the following: The bulk and mass of the new structure in relation to its surroundings. The need for design changes to make the new unit subordinate to the historic structure. The manner in which the proposed unit and garage affect the historic building footprint. The Committee suggested the applicant consider alternative roof forms and orientation, modifications to the floor plan, and other creative strategies to make the new unit subordinate to the historic structure. The Committee concluded its comments on the Preliminary Review of DRC NO 4740 -14. No action was taken on the application. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2014 Page 7 of 8 (5) DRC No. 4746 -14 — WALSH DUPLEX • A proposal to construct an addition at the rear of a non - contributing residence in the Old Towne Historic District. The property also contains a contributing residence. • 388 N. Shaffer Street, Old Towne Historic District • Staff Contact: Marissa Moshier, (714) 744 -7243, mmoshier @cityoforange.org • DRC Action: Final Approval Marissa Moshier, Staff Contact, presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. Public Comments Jeff Frankel of the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) expressed opposition to the project. He stated that the project should be nullified because the definition of the word "duplex" needs to be clarified. He also questioned the use of vinyl windows in Old Towne. Thomas Walsh, Applicant, was present to answer questions and concerns from the DRC. Chair Imboden opened the item to the Committee for discussion. The Committee discussion focused primarily on the site layout, the use of vinyl windows on the addition to the non - contributing structure, the validity of classifying the existing development as a duplex, and existing and proposed FAR in relation to the surrounding neighborhood. The Committee also considered whether or not it could consider any action on the project given the legal non - conforming garage condition. Committee Member Woollett made a motion to continue DRC No. 4746 -14 pending further review by staff of the relationship of the project to the Grand Street study, and to allow the applicant to consider that information in relation to the proposed project. The Committee amended the motion to include further investigation of the other issues that have been raised including: • The use of vinyl windows. • The definition of a duplex. • Whether or not the expansion of the unit is possible given the non - conforming size of the garage. SECOND: Carol Fox AYES: Robert Imboden, Carol Fox, Tim McCormack, Craig Wheeler and Joe Woollett NOES: None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2014 Page 8 of 8 ADJOURNMENT: Committee Member Woollett made a motion to adjourn to the next regular scheduled Design Review Committee meeting on July 16, 2014. SECOND: Carol fox AYES: Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack, Carol Fox, Craig Wheeler and Joe Woollett NOES: None ABSENT: None MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 10:35 p.m.