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2015-02-04 DRC Final MinutesCITY OF ORANGE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES — FINAL Committee Members Present: Robert Imboden -Chair "Iim McCormack —Vice Chair Carol Fox Craig Wheeler Staff in Attendance: Jennifer Le, Senior Planner Jeff Borchardt, Assistant Planner Sharon Penttila, Recording Secretary Administrative Session — 5c00 C=hair Imboden opened the Administrative Session at 5:07 p.m February 4, 201 5 Chair Imboden inquired if there was any Policy or Procedural information. Jennifer Le, Senior Planner, indicated there was none_ She stated they are targeting the Demolition Review Ordinance discussion for March 4"'. The Committee Members reviewed the meeting minutes ti the Design Review Committee meeting of January 21, 2015_ Committee Member Fox made a motion to close the Administrative Session of the Design Review Committee meeting. SEG'ON U= Craig Wheeler AYES: Carol Pox, Robert Imbodcn, "him McCormack, and Craig Wheeler NOES. None MOT10N CARRIED_ Administrative Session adjourned at 5:16 p. m. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for February 4, 2015 Page 2 of 5 Regular Session — 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: All Committee Members were present. COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 18, 2015: Committee Member Imboden made a motion to elect Tim McCormack as the Chair. SECOND: Carol Fox AYES: Carol Fox, Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack, and Craig Wheeler NOES: None Committee Member McCormack made a motion to elect Carol Fox as the Vice Chair. SECOND: Craig Wheeler AYES: Carol Fox, Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack, and Craig Wheeler NOES: None 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: January 21, 2015 Committee Member Wheeler made a motion to approve the minutes from the Design Review Committee meeting of January 21, 2015 as emended during the discussion at the Administrative Session. SECOND: Tim McCormack AYES: Carol Fox, Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack, and Craig Wheeler NOES: None MOTION CARRIED. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for February 4, 2015 Page 3 of 5 AGENDA ITEMS Continued Items (2) DRC No. 4769 -14 — VILLAGE REMODEL BUILDING K & I • A proposal to remodel the facade of Building K & I located on the out parcel of the Village at Orange adjacent to Heim Ave. • 1500 E. Village Way. Building K &I • Staff Contact: Jeff Borchardt, 714 - 744 -7224, jborchardtkcit o� forange.org • DRC Action: Final Determination Jeff Borchardt, Assistant Planner, presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. The applicant, Branko Prebanda, P.R. Architects, wanted to add that the pedestrian access has also been improved from Heim Avenue along the building frontage. Public Comments Chair Imboden opened the item to the Public for comments. There were none. The applicants who were present to answer questions and concerns of the Design Review Committee were Branko Prebanda, Deborah Loayza, Jim Baldovin, Jeffrey Axxell and Jennifer Frederick. Chair Imboden opened the item to the Committee for discussion. The Committee discussed the following: View from Adjacent Residences • The tower feature on the south elevation closest to Wal -Mart is too high. It is currently proposed at 34 feet 6 inches. The committee was specifically concerned with the height and the proximity to residences. The height is much larger in scale than the adjacent residences. Furthermore, the up- lighting under the cornice feature could be a nuisance to the existing residences to the west. The Committee suggested reducing the tower height, and putting the lighting element on a timer. • The Committee also questioned the applicant about how the bracing along the rear of the parapet would be addressed. The applicant responded that the roof would be carried up along the bracing (solid surface), and that the line of sight diagram demonstrates that the bracing would not be seen from the adjacent residences. Transformer and Electrical Cabinet • The committee expressed concern with the proposed location of the transformer because it required the removal of an existing mature tree. The applicant said they would try and work with Southern California Edison to relocate the transformer so the tree could be saved. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for February 4, 2015 Page 4 of 5 • The committee asked the applicant how the proposed electrical equipment was being screened. The applicant responded with a metal cabinet painted to match the building. The committee suggested adding some type of landscape screening around the cabinet... Landscaping • Some committee members discussed whether the plant species chosen would adequately screen the proposed transformer and Committee Member McCormack stated that it would. Committee member McCormack discussed his desire to see the new landscaping continued onto the north side of the building and expressed his concern with the potential for the landscape palette chosen to lose its design character in the future through inappropriate maintenance practices. The committee suggested adding a shield at the top of the landscape green screen on the building, to prevent the landscaping from growing beyond the screen and assist in maintenance. • The committee asked the applicant what type of concrete color and texture would be used in the new hardscape. The applicant responded Coachella Sand, Top Cast 15. Committee Member McCormack made a motion to approve DRC 4769 -14 based on the findings and conditions listed in the staff report and with the additional conditions: 1. Move transformer to the east to retain the existing tree. If that is not feasible, plans will need to come back to the Design Review Committee for review before the issuance of the building permit. 2. Screen the electrical cabinet with a tall screening shrub appropriate to the north elevation that matches the Rhamnus Californica, as discussed in the meeting. 3. Lower the tower on the southwest corner to 28 feet high. With the following recommendation: • Assess the sustainability of the design intent over time through the use of either different plant materials or a specific maintenance manual. SECOND: Craig Wheeler AYES: Carol Fox, Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack, and Craig Wheeler NOES: None MOTION CARRIED. City of Orange — Design Review Committee Final Meeting Minutes for February 4, 2015 Page 5 of 5 New Agenda Items None ADJOURNMENT: Committee Member McCormack made a motion to adjourn to the next regularly scheduled Design Review Committee meeting on February 18, 2015. SECOND: Craig Wheeler AYES: Carol Fox, Robert Imboden, Tim McCormack and Craig Wheeler NOES: None MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m.