HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-17 Architectural Review Board Summary Minutes
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===============MEETINGS ARE CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26=================
This agenda is posted in accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2(a) or section 54956.
Thursday, April 17, 2014, Meeting
8:30 AM, Council Chambers
Call to Order
Roll Call: Chair Lee Lippert, Vice-chair Randy Popp, Board Members Alexander Lew, Clare Malone
Prichard, Robert Gooyer.
Staff: Amy French, Chief Planning Official; Russ Reich, Senior Planner; Diana Tamale, Administrative
Associate , Clare Campbell, Senior Planner; Jodie Gerhardt, Senior Planner; Matt Raschke, Senior
Engineer
Oral Communications: Members of the public may speak to any item not on the agenda; three
minutes per speaker. The Architectural Review Board reserves the right to limit oral communications
period to 15 minutes. None.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions: The agenda may have additional items added to it up
until 72 hours prior to meeting time. None.
Minutes Approval: None.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:
Minor Items:
1. 1213 Newell Road [14PLN-00040]: Request by the City of Palo Alto Public Works
Department for Architectural Review of new signage at the Main Library. Zone: Public Facilities
(PF). Environmental Assessment: Exempt from CEQA per CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
Existing Facilities.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Architectural Review Board (ARB) recommend approval of the proposed
project to the Director of Planning and Community Environment (Director), based upon the ARB
Approval Findings in Attachment A.
No public comment.
Architectural Review Board Action: Vice chair Popp moved seconded by Board Member Gooyer to
approve the wall sign only with all other signage to be continued to a date uncertain.
Vote: Approval, 4-0-1-0 (Clare absent)
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES
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Major Items:
2. 600 East Meadow Drive [14PLN-00078]: Request by Peter Jenson on behalf of the City of
Palo Alto for Architectural Review of the Magical Bridge playground project and the replacement
of the bridge over Adobe Creek, located at the southern end of Mitchell Park. Zone District:
Public Facilities (PF). Environmental Assessment: A Mitigated Negative Declaration has been
prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Architectural Review Board (ARB) recommend the Director of Planning and
Community Environment approve the proposed project, based upon the Architectural Review findings
(Attachment A) and subject to the conditions of approval (Attachment B).
Public Comments:
Leland Levy, spoke that the project is exciting and positive.
Roger Smith, spoke that this is a great opportunity for the children of all abilities to play.
Olenka Villarreal, spoke that she is excited about the full wheelchair accessibility.
Barbara Bulter, mentioned that this is a great project for the public and people of all abilities.
Architectural Review Board Action: Vice chair Popp moved seconded by Chair Lee to appove the
project with the following items to return on consent:
1. Change redwood header to steel
2. Photometrics
3. Signage
4. Design for the playhouse
Vote: Approval, 5-0-0-0
3. 261 Hamilton Avenue [13PLN-00267]: Request by Cody Anderson Wasney Architects for
Architectural Review and Historic Resources Board review of a Historic Rehabilitation that
includes the relocation of floor area from the existing basement to allow a 5,910 square foot
addition at the rear of the building and establishment of a 1,196 square foot Mezzanine floor for
a net zero gain in floor area for a Historic Resource located within the Ramona Street Historic
District. The project also includes a request for reclassification from a Category 3 Historic
Resource to a Category 2 Historic Resource to allow the approved Rehabilitation to generate
15,000 square feet of Transferable Development Rights. Zone District: Downtown Commercial
with Ground Floor and Pedestrian Overlay (CD-C(GF)(P)). Environmental Assessment: Exempt
from CEQA per CEQA Guidelines Sections 15331 Historical Resource Rehabilitation and 15301
Existing Facilities.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Architectural Review Board (ARB) recommend the City Council approve the
proposed project, based upon the required findings (Attachments A & B) and subject to the conditions of
approval (Attachment C).
Public Comments:
Bret van de Sande, spoke that they support the project but there should be some improvement to
redesign the medallion at the alley. They don’t support the plaques on their building.
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Nelson Buchanan, spoke that he is concerned about the parking intrusion, the mathematics don’t
compute and the FAR does not calculate.
Doria Summa, spoke that the addition should be built to look taller and important to use non-reflective
glass.
Jeff Levinsky, spoke that staff has misinterpreted the code in relationship to the language that limits
modification of building.
Roxy Rapp, spoke that it is important the project improves the alley.
Architectural Review Board Action: Vice Chair Popp moved seconded by Board Member Gooyer to
continue the project so the applicant can consider the Board’s comments and staff can review the floor
area questions. Vice Chair Popp made an amendment motion to continue the project to the regular
meeting of June 5, 2014.
Vote: Approval, 5-0-0-0
4. 2555 Park Boulevard [13PLN-00381]: Scoping session for preparation of the Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) for the redevelopment of 2555 Park Boulevard with a new three-story,
23,269 square foot office building in the Community Commercial (CC(2)) zone district.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Architectural Review Board (ARB) and public provide comments regarding the
scope of environmental issues and alternatives to be considered in the preparation of an Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed office building project at 2555 Park Boulevard.
Public Comments:
Peter Brewer, spoke that the perimeter of the EIR is not separate from the whole project. He is
concerned with the common boundaries, his building and his neighbor will be put in the shadow of the
building.
Jared Jacobs, spoke that he lives adjacent to the project, he is concerned about the light and the sound
that comes from a big building and traffic.
No action was taken, this was a scoping session.
Board/Staff Announcements, Updates, Reports, and Comments: Members of the public may not
speak to the item(s).
Adjournment
Subcommittee Members: Randy Popp and Alex Lew
SUBCOMMITTEE:
5. 180 El Camino Real [12PLN-00382]: Request by Macy’s of behalf of the Board of Trustees
of the Leland Stanford Junior University for a Subcommittee Review of changes to the glazing on
the east and south elevations and changes to the loading dock doors for a previously approved
commercial project (Bloomingdales) in the Community Commercial (CC) zoning district.
Subcommittee Action: The project was approved by the subcommittee.
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6. 103 El Camino Real (El Camino Park) [13PLN-00434]: Request by City of Palo Alto Public
Works Engineering for Subcommittee review of minor project details that include project lighting
and paver samples associated with a previously review project for park improvements for El
Camino Park that include a synthetic soccer/lacrosse play field, natural turf softball/lacrosse play
field, new restrooms, enlarged parking lot, and other improvements in the Public Facility zone
district. Environmental Assessment: An Environmental Impact Report was adopted March 5, 2007
in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Subcommittee Action: The project was approved by the subcommittee.
7. 611 Cowper Street [13PLN-00259]: Request by The Hayes Group for Subcommittee review
of project modifications to a previously approved project to allow the construction of one 34,703
square foot four-story mixed used building (three floors commercial and one floor residential)
with below grade parking. The proposed modifications are for landscape and building material
changes on the south elevation. Zone District: CD-C(P). Environmental Assessment: Exempt
from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines
Section 15332.
Subcommittee Action: The project was approved by the subcommittee.
STAFF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEWS: Project Description: Two non-illuminated wall mounted signs; the building has already been repainted Applicant: Brianna Menon Address: 710 San Antonio Avenue [13PLN-00501] Approval Date: 4/4/14 Request for hearing deadline: 4/17/14
Project Description: One non-illuminated wall mounted sign
Applicant: Sharon Lee
Address: 534 Ramona Street [13PLN-00467]
Approval Date: 4/3/14
Request for hearing deadline: 4/16/14
Project Description: One illuminated wall sign for Pizzeria Delfina in the CD-C(GF)(P) zone district Applicant: Patrick Flynn Address: 651 Emerson Street [14PLN-00069] Approval Date: 4/9/14 Request for hearing deadline: 4/22/14 Project Description: The installation of two halo illuminated wall signs for Mongo DB Applicant: Dan Kitzmiller Address: 100 Forest Avenue [14PLN-00080]
Approval Date: 4/10/14
Request for hearing deadline: 4/23/14
Sub-Committee Members: Terms:
Vice chair Randy Popp February 20, 2014 to April 17, 2014
Alexander Lew February 20, 2014 to April 17, 2014
Robert Gooyer May 1, 2014 to July 17, 2014
Clare Malone Prichard May 1, 2014 to July 17, 2014
Lee Lippert August 7, 2014 to October 16, 2014
Randy Popp August 7, 2014 to October 16, 2014 Alexander Lew November 6, 2014 to February 5, 2015
Robert Gooyer November 6, 2014 to February 5, 2015
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Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Architectural Review Board after distribution of the agenda packet
are available for public inspection in the Planning and Community Environment Department at 250 Hamilton Avenue, 5th floor, Palo Alto, CA. 94301 during normal business hours.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT (ADA). The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. To
request an accommodation for this meeting or an alternative format for any related printed materials, please contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 650.329.2550 (voice) or by e-mailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org.
PUBLIC COMMENT. Members of the Public are entitled to directly address the Architectural Review Board concerning any item that is described in the notice of this meeting, before or during consideration of that item. If you wish to address the Board on any
issue that is on the agenda, please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers, and deliver it to the Board Secretary prior to discussion of the item. You are not required to give your name on the speaker card in
order to speak to the Board, but it is very helpful.
RECORDINGS. A DVD of the proceedings may be reviewed by contacting the City Clerk's Office at (650) 329-2571.
LATE RECEIVED MATERIALS. Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Architectural Review Board after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the Planning Department on the 5th floor, City Hall, 250
Hamilton Avenue during normal business hours. During the 9/80 Friday closure, materials will be available at the Development
Center, 285 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto. Please call 329-2603 to reserve a copy.
All correspondence relating to any of the agenda items or non-agenda items, which were not received by the 2:00 PM deadline for
inclusion into Board packets on the Thursday preceding the meeting date, need to be received before 3:00 PM on the date of the meeting for distribution to staff and Board members.