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.