Architectural Review Commission Meeting Update
Regular Meeting

June 15, 2009                              Monday                                       5:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL:       Commrs. Jim Duffy, Suzan Ehdaie, Steven Hopkins, Chris Weber, Greg Wilhelm, Vice-Chair Anthony Palazzo, and Chairperson Allen Root 

Commr. Wilhelm was absent. 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:   

The agenda was accepted as submitted. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:   

There was no public comment other than on regular agenda items. 

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.    11980 Los Osos Valley Road.  ARC 7-07; Conceptual review of a new commercial retail center on the “GAP” property known as Prefumo Creek Commons; Irish Hills Plaza East, LLC, applicant.  (Phil Dunsmore) 

Following an extensive staff presentation discussing the project details, the EIR, and the City’s Community Design Guidelines, the ARC opened the hearing to public testimony.  The applicant team explained their design philosophy and changes made in reaction to previous ARC direction.  Several Laguna Lake neighborhood residents expressed concerns with design elements of the project including wall heights, building placement, and pedestrian connections. 

On a 6:0 vote, the ARC continued the item to a date uncertain with direction.  The Commission generally followed the directional items included in the staff report with a few changes.  After some discussion weighing the pros and cons, they decided to eliminate the directional item to consider shifting the footprint of Anchor C, the building closest to the nearby residential neighborhood, further to the west.  They added directional items for a photo-simulation showing the project from Highway 101 and asked that story-poles be set up to illustrate the height of the planned noise wall along Froom Ranch Way. 

COMMENT & DISCUSSION: 

1.    Staff: 

a.  Agenda Forecast  - Pam Ricci provided an agenda forecast for the upcoming 7-06-09 meeting. 

b.  Upcoming Joint ARC/CHC training – review tentative agenda and schedule for workshop on architectural compatibility and historic preservation. 

Pam Ricci provided background on the proposed training including the planned agenda.  The Commission asked staff to send out a follow-up e-mail regarding attendance at the event once firm dates were selected. 

2.    Commission: 

a.  Minutes:  April 20, 2009 - The minutes were approved as submitted. 

b.  Recent Project Review – Lessons Learned 

The ARC questioned changes made to the Frog & Peach Pub on Higuera Street and their consistency with the Community Design Guidelines and previous approvals. 

Commr. Duffy suggested that, if there are no regular agenda items to hear on a scheduled meeting date, the ARC might look at a field trip to visit and discuss various projects.  He also asked that staff reiterate the desire for ARC members to have agendas and other correspondences sent to them by e-mail, rather than hard copies through the mail. 

ADJOURNMENT   

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Architectural Review Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the Community Development Department, 919 Palm Street, during normal business hours.