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08-23-2000 DRC MinutesCITY OF ORANGE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES for Wednesday, August 23, 2000 Committee Members Present: Linda Boone Leonard Filner (Vice Chair) Mark Paone Susan Secoy (Chair) Joe Woollett Staff in Attendance: Chuck Lau, Associate Planner Howard Morris, Landscape Coordinator Committee Member Absent: None Administrative Session - 4:30 P.M. The board met for an administrative session beginning at 4:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00 p.m. Regular Session - 5:30 PM REVIEW OF MINUTES: The review of the July 19, 2000 and August 9, 2000 minutes were deferred to the September 6, 2000 meeting. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 2 DRC No. 3549 - V.R.S.J. MEDICAL New medical office complex with parking structure 230 S. Main Street DRC Action: Recommendation to Planning Commission The project was presented by Darryl Hebenstreit with Architects Orange. The proposal is to construct two 2-story medical office buildings with a 4-level parking structure at the former Ford automotive dealership site. The exterior finish material is painted smooth the-up concrete panels. The use of split-face block occurs primarily at the parking structure. Susan Secoy stated that the DRC's overall response is supportive of the direction of the project. There are only some refinements with the architecture that still needs to be addressed in reference to City's adopted Southwest Redevelopment Project Area Design Standards. Susan Secoy opened the meeting for public comments: (None) Mark Paone expressed concerns with the visual impacts along the alley in back of the parking structure. Are there opportunities to add landscaping in this area? This is a large wall surface that would be susceptible to vandalism (i.e. graffiti). Perhaps a combination of vines at the ground level with planter boxes above (similar to Chapman University parking structure) would provide some visual relief. Can the parking structure be shifted forward to create some landscape planter area? Mr. Hebenstreit replied that the parking structure could probably be shifted forward slightly, but it would also decrease the planting area in front of the parking structure and/or the office buildings. Leonard Filner asked if landscape planters can be also added along the north and south sides of the parking structure to help articulate those elevations? Mr. Hebenstreit replied that shortening the parking structure would not be feasible because it is at zero setback at these property lines, and there are no openings. Doing so would significantly reduce the number of required parking spaces. Susan Secoy noted that the Southwest Design Standards emphasize more of a pedestrian friendly approach in design through the use of architectural elements. One example would be the use of exterior lighting. Mark Paone suggested perhaps some type of metal canopy element could be used at the two corner ends and at the pop-out elements of the buildings. MOTION by Mark Paone to recommend approval of the project to the Planning Commission with the following conditions: 1. Submit final site, building and landscape plans to DRC for review and approval. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 3 1. DRC No. 3549 - V.R.S.J. MEDICAL (Continued) 2. Shift parking structure forward minimum of 2 ft. to create landscape planter along back alley. Landscape planter shall be planted with vines and low shrubbery at the ground level. Planter boxes shall be provided at the upper levels and planted with hanging vines. 3. Submit north and south building elevations of the parking structure to show fenestration, and to show how the split-face blocks are being utilized to help reduce the scale of the structure. 4. Incorporate awning/canopy elements along the front (east) building elevations of the office buildings to promote pedestrian scale, consistent with the Southwest Design Standards. 5. Submit lighting fixture plan (cut sheets) to DRC for review and approval. SECOND:Susan Secoy AYES:Linda Boone, Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Susan Secoy, Joe Woollett NOES:None ABSENT:None ABSTAINED:None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 4 2. DRC No. 3559 - LIS GIUSTO Room addition to the rear of an existing residence in Old Towne 374 N. Cambridge Street (Contributing Structure) DRC Action: Final Determination Note: This item was previously reviewed for an accessory second unit) The project was presented by the owners Lis Giusto and Rawles Thompson. The proposal is to demolish the "boot-legged" addition at the rear of the existing residence, and replace it with a new addition that complies current code requirements. The project was opened for public comments: Robert Imbodent asked what type of window, siding and details are being used? What is the existing and new? The existing asbestos siding would first be removed to reveal the horizontal wood siding underneath. Depending on the conditional of the wood siding, a determination would then be made to either repair/restore, or to replace it with a new wood (cedar) siding having the same size and profile. The windows would be wood double-hung to match the existing house. Joan Crawford asked if the F.A.R. would remain the same with the new addition, and is there a clear line of demarcation? (Yes) Also, when was the "boot-legged" addition built? Mark Paone stated that the T-111 siding on the addition would suggest that it was built in the mid 1960's. Jeff Frankel is concerned with the condition of the existing wood siding and whether or not it can still be saved. Joe Woollett is also concerned that if the existing wood siding if removed, the Building Department may require seismic retrofitting (i.e.: plywood shear panels, let-in bracing, foundation tie-downs, etc.) before any new wood siding can be installed. Susan Secoy agrees with the direction of the project, however, the submitted plans are incomplete and lacked pertinent detail information for the DRC to make a final determination. MOTION by Susan Secoy to continue the project based on the discussion above. SECOND:Mark Paone AYES:Linda Boone, Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Susan Secoy, Joe Woollett NOES:None ABSENT:None ABSTAINED:None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 5 2. DRC No. 3559 - LIS GIUSTO (Continued) A SECOND MOTION was made by Mark Paone to approve the removal of the asbestos siding on the main house to reveal the condition of the existing wood siding underneath, and to allow the demolition of the rear "boot-legged" portion of the residence, based on the fact that it is considered non-contributing, and that it was an un-permitted addition. SECOND:Linda Boone AYES:Linda Boone, NOES:None ABSENT:None ABSTAINED:None Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Susan Secoy, Joe Woollett MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 6 3. DRC No. 3577 -BARBARA ROSE Re-painting of an existing building within the Plaza Historic District 26 Plaza Square (Contributing Structure) DRC Action: Final Determination The project was presented by the owner Barbara Rose, and her contractor Dimitri Chami. The proposal is to repaint the entire building with a new palette consisting of a yellow base, ivory trims, dark brown pilasters, and a green fabric awning. The meeting was opened to public comments: Joan Crawford stated that the colors should be more subtle. Several years ago, the Plaza Design Collaborative had recommended a color palette that was more period to the Plaza Historic District. Perhaps the applicant should take a closer look at using something similar. Robert Imbodent stated that the intensity of the proposed colors does not fit well in the context of the surrounding buildings. Historically, this particular building would not have been painted with these colors. Joe Woollett stated that this is a prominent building within the Plaza Historic District. It is also perhaps one of the more difficult buildings to deal with because it is Art Deco style, but most of the other buildings in the area are not. The Art Deco is a special type of style that is very sensitive in terms of color. The color selection must do justice to the Art Deco style, while at the same time, it does not offend the surrounding buildings. This is something that cannot be done casually. It is highly recommended that a consultant be hired to further research this building. Mark Paone agreed and further stated that more information is still needed on the rest of the building such as how the existing aluminum storefronts are being treated, existing tiles on the building, better awning detail, doors, and integration of the existing signage on the building. MOTION by Joe Woollett to continue the project based on the discussion above. SECOND: Susan Secoy AYES: Linda Boone, Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Susan Secoy, Joe Woollett NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAINED: None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 7 4. DRC No. 3578 -CLARK HILLS New detached second unit constructed over a garage within Old Towne 475 S. Grand Street (Contributing Structure) DRC Action: Final Determination The project was presented by the owners Clark and Denise Hills, and their architect John Linnert. The proposal is to construct a new 2 bedroom unit over a 3-car garage at the rear of a R-2 zoned property with an existing single story residence in the front. The building is designed sensitively in scale to the existing neighborhood, and is tied together with an arbor/trellis element to achieve cohesiveness with the front house. The project was opened to public comments: Joan Crawford asked what is the project's F.A.R.? Trellis elements are not typically found in Old Towne Orange. The new unit appears rather large in scale. Robert Imbodent stated that although the architectural style and character of new unit is sympathetic to Old Towne, its overall size seem to dwarf the existing single story residence. Jeff Frankel is concerned with the scale and massing of the new unit being out of context with the surrounding neighborhood. John Linnert replied that the project is well within the maximum .70 F.A.R. allowed under the R- 2zoning. The project's bulk and mass has been taken into consideration through its relatively low 22.5 ft. overall roof height. The building has also been designed to resemble more of a 1'/2- story rather than a full 2-story building. As for the arbor element, there are dozens found in Old Towne Orange. Susan Secoy stated that she supports the direction of the project in terms of enhancing the back alley, but questions if the multi-gable dormer at the rear elevation is appropriate? Perhaps a shed type dormer might work better in this application? Mark Paone stated that it would help to see a massing study (drawings) of adjacent residences to better understand its contextual relationship to the neighborhood. Also, the rear building elevation doesn't seem to work well, particularly in regards to the building entrance off the back alley. Further study is needed. Susan Secoy referenced a recently approved project (133 N. Shaffer Street) that was reduce to approximately 21.5 ft. in overall height. Have the exterior finish material and color palette been selected for this project? Also, what type of exterior lighting fixture is being used? John linnert replied that that a smooth Hardi-plank siding would be use with a wood corner trim, and a light beige color to match the existing. As for the lighting fixture, acut-sheet would be submitted. The DRC further discuss with the applicants that it would be helpful if there were more objective ways of determining what is considered 1'/z -story versus 2-story structures within Old Towne. City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 8 4. DRC No. 3578 -CLARK HILLS (Continued) MOTION by Mark Paone to continue the project based on the discussion above. SECOND:Joe Woollett AYES:Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Susan Secoy, Joe Woollett NOES:None ABSENT:Linda Boone ABSTAINED:None MOTION CARRIED City of Orange -Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2000 Page 9 5. DRC No. 3579 -THE RETINA INSTITUTE Screening of roof mechanical equipment for an existing medical office building 436 S. Glassell Street (Non-Contributing Structure) DRC Action: Final Determination The project was presented by Mr. Carl Thielmann -Administrator for the Retina Institute. The proposal is to comply with the Notice of Violation for the screening of roof top mounted mechanical equipments. The meeting was opened for public comment. (None) Mark Paone appreciates the applicant's effort in responding to the notice of violation, however, the submitted plans are rudimentary and lacks the level of detail that is necessary for a thorough review of the project. There are no building elevation plans, finish material and color samples. The DRC cannot make a determination because the submittal package is incomplete. Mr. Thielmann asked if he needs to hire an architect to prepare the plans and resubmit again? Mark Paone suggested that a more complete set of plans be submitted, but the hiring of an architect is not a requirement. MOTION by Susan Secoy to continue the project based on the above discussion. SECOND: Leonard Filner AYES: Leonard Filner, Mark Paone, Susan Secoy, Joe Woollett NOES: None ABSENT: Linda Boone ABSTAINED: None MOTION CARRIED 8-23-00 Minutes