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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO7550RESOLUTION NO. 7550 RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO DENYING AN APPEAL AND APPROVING THE DESIGN OF A PROJECT TO BE LOCATED AT 375 ARBORETUM ROAD The Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE as follows: SECTION 1. Procedural Background and Statement of Facts. On May 8, 1995, Stanford Management Company ("applicant") applied for. Architectural Review Board (ARB) approval to construct a one- story 4,400 -square -foot commercial building for bank use, located at 375 Arboretum Road in the CN zone (ARB File No. 95-ARB-81). The project was also subject to a separate application for a condi- tional use permit for the financial service use. On April 6, 1995,, the Architectural Review Board reviewed and commented on the conceptual design of the project on a preliminary review basis. On July 20, 1995, the Architectural Review Board conducted a public hearing, considered the negative declaration prepared for the project, and approved the final design of the proposed building and related site. improvements. That decision was appealed to the City Council by Mr. Herb Borock on August 4, 1995, pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code section 16.48.090. Based upon an incorrect determination that the appeal also applied to the conditional use permit approval, a hearing on the use permit was conducted by the Planning Commission. on September 27, 1995. Prior to conduct of a hearing on the use permit by the City Council, it was determined that no valid appeal of the use permit approval had been filed. Accordingly, the Council hereby finds that the hearing of the Planning Commission was a nullity, and the decision of the Zoning Administrator approving the conditional use permit is a valid final decision on the subject use permit. The appeal of the Architectural Review approval was placed on the City Council's agenda of September 18, 1995, at which time the Council continued the matter to its meeting of October 16, 1995. On October 16, 1995, the matter came before the City Council. The Council then heard testimony from interested parties, and rendered its proposed decision. SECTION 2. Analysis and Findings. Unless specifically set forth otherwise below, the Council has determined that the witnesses and documentary evidence relied upon are credible and competent with respect to the facts asserted, and that the facts asserted are not speculative. Having reviewed and considered the information contained in the staff reports, minutes, letters and 1 951025 lac 00&0155 other documents included in the record of proceedings before the Architectural Review Board, and having conducted a public hearing at which time interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence for and against the proposed applica- tion, the City Council hereby -makes the following findings based upon the testimony and evidence contained in the record of proceedings and received during the public hearing: a. The project furthers and contributes to the goals and purposes of the Architectural Review ordinance as set forth in Section 16.48.010 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code by being well - sited on the parcel and fitting well within the context of the street scape. The structure is of contemporary design with architectural enhancements visible to pedestrians and motorists. The structure is visually pleasing and makes use of quality materials to create a more desirable presence at this corner than that which currently exists. b. With respect to the standards for ARB review set forth in Palo Alto Municipal Code section 16.48.120: 1. The design of the project is consistent and compatible with applicable elements of the Comprehensive Plan (ARB Standard No. 1) , in that it is compatible with the Urban Design Element objectives of promoting the orderly and harmonious development of the City and providing visual environments of high aesthetic quality and variety which are considerate of each other. The project promotes orderly and harmonious development by providing a commercial service use in an area with a land use designation of Neighborhood Commercial and is compatible with the surrounding regional shopping center and medical facility uses. It promotes a visual environment of high aesthetic quality and variety which is considerate of the surrounding environment by adding a well -designed contemporary building, using high quality materials, to a site which is surrounded by the modern buildings found in the Stanford Shopping Center northwest of the site and the Medical Center south of the site. Further, the project would replace the existing unsightly vacant gas station and would add a building which complements the surrounding buildings and environment. The project also complies with Policy 3 of the Urban Design Element, which calls for the promotion of visual aesthetics, and Program. 4 of the Element, which calls for discouraging garish signs. It promotes visual aesthetics through tree planting, landscaped areas and removal of visually disruptive elements on major City streets. The project provides a consistent landscape scheme through the inclusion of thirty-seven new trees, a landscape buffer on the private property fronting Quarry Road and the removal and replacement of two street trees in poor condition. It 2 951025 lac 0080155 • • discourages garish signs through the use of individual illuminated pan channel letters and a logo which have clean lines and are easy to read. 2. The design of the project is compatible with the immediate environment of the site (ARB Standard No. 2) in that it is in the vicinity of the Stanford Shopping Center and the Medical Center and contributes to the lively overall environment of this major intersection. 3. The design of the project is appropriate to the function of the project (ARB Standard No. 3) in that it is designed to allow convenient access from the parking area to the main entrance of the financial institution and the interior is designed to provide easy access to the services the bank provides. The exterior of the building is designed to portray the stability desired by the bank. 4. The design of the project is compatible with improvements both on and off the site (ARB Standard No. 6) in that the existing vacant gas station and remediation equipment currently on the site will be removed and the new on -site parking area, landscaping, bicycle parking area, and trash/recycling enclosures have been designed to facilitate and enhance the location and architectural style of the new bank building. The on -site landscaping, particularly the five oak trees adjacent to Quarry Road, will provide tree canopy over the off -site public sidewalk to be installed as part of the project. The location and provision of on -site trees to shade off -site improvements is consistent with the relationship between the public right-of-way and private property on the other side of Quarry Road. The location of the landscaping on -site will not prevent the future widening of Quarry Road or the future location of an off -site landscape strip between travel lanes and the off -site public sidewalk immediately adjacent to the project site. All improvements provided by the project proponent in the public right-of-way along Arboretum Road will be consistent with approved plans for off -site improvements. 5. The planning and siting of the building, parking and landscaping create an internal sense of order and provide a desirable environment (ARB Standard No. 7) in that the parking on - site is conveniently located in front of the main entrance to the building and away from the major arterial; the stone masonry entrance element with four feet of additional height over the main portion of the building and the painted steel canopy above the entrance stand out as an entry statement, which enhances the building and directs the pedestrian to the main building entrance; and the landscaping surrounding the building creates a desirable visual environment from both streets as well as on -site. 3 951025 lac 0080155 6. The amount and arrangement of the open space are appropriate to the design and function of the structure (ARB Standard No. 8) in that all setbacks, perimeter landscaping and parking lot landscaping, as required by the Zoning Ordinance, are either met or exceeded. The building is set well back from both Arboretum and Quarry Roads and there is a well -landscaped buffer between the roadways and the building and parking area. The open areas on both sides of the building are also well -landscaped and provide visual relief for customers entering the building from the parking area off Quarry Road. There is a pedestrian path which leads from the southeastern corner of the parking area to the front entrance of the building. This pedestrian path contributes to the design and functioning of the open space on the site and assists in connecting areas of open space to the building and parking area. 7. Sufficient ancillary functions are provided to support the main functions of the project and are compatible with the design of the project (ARB Standard No. 9) in that the vehicle parking area, bicycle parking location, landscaping and the trash/recycling enclosures are placed. to facilitate the location of the main building. The trash/recycling enclosures will be constructed of materials that are compatible with the materials used in the main structure and the landscaping is planned in such a way as to provide visual relief and shade for users of the site. 8. Access to the property and circulation thereon are safe and convenient for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles (ARB Standard No. 10) in that the access from Quarry Road is approxi- mately eighty-eight feet from the intersection at Arboretum Road and will not create conflict with vehicles or cyclists turning onto Quarry Road from Arboretum Road. While access to a few of the parking stalls is somewhat awkward as a result of the building being sited on a diagonal, on -site circulation is nevertheless safe and convenient. The siting of the building in this manner is desirable because it opens a view corridor to the adjacent parcel and creates a visual enhancement on the site, thereby satisfying other important goals of the Architectural Review ordinance, including those set forth in ARB Standards 7 and 8 discussed above. 9. The design promotes harmonious transitions in scale and character in areas between different land uses (ARB Standard No. 5), and the materials, textures, colors and details of construction and plant material are appropriate expression to the design and function of the project and are compatible with the adjacent and neighboring structures, landscape elements and functions (ARB Standard No. 12) in that the window walls, aluminum storefront entrance framing and stainless steel entrance canopy and proposed colors are appropriate for the modern architectural style of the building and are compatible with the surrounding modern 4 951025 Jac 0080155 buildings. The plant materials in the landscape plan, especially the Coast and Holly Oak trees, are compatible with the Oak street trees being installed all along Quarry Road and Arboretum Road. The Manzanita hedges are similar to hedges on the adjacent vacant parcels and the flowering Evergreen Pear is a popular tree found throughout the adjacent Stanford Shopping Center and surrounding area. 10. The landscape design concept creates a desirable and functional environment and depicts an appropriate unity with the building on the site (ARB Standard No. 13) and is suitable and adaptable to the site and will reduce the consumption of water in its installation and maintenance (ARB Standard No. 14) in that the combination of Coast Live Oaks, Holly Oaks and flowering Evergreen Pear trees will complement each other in terms of color and size and will grow to a height consistent with the height of the building itself. The trees have been located in such a way as to allow visibility of the building while providing a desirable tree canopy. The Manzanita hedges help define the site and guide users of the facility to major points of access. The Lavender and Rosemary ground covers contribute to the overall completeness of the landscape plan and provide additional color on the site. The landscaping plan will reduce water consumption by using a variety of native and non-native compatible plant materials with similar water requirements. The landscape plan will meet the requirements of the Water Conservation Division of the City of Palo Alto Utilities Department. 11. The design of the project is energy efficient (ARB Standard No. 15) in that although there are no exterior energy design elements included in the building design, the internal lighting and climate control systems will maintain the interior of the building at a constant and comfortable temperature. A combination of evergreen and deciduous trees are included in the exterior landscaping plan so that shade will be provided for the building and open areas of the site in the summer and sun will be provided in the winter. 12. The City Council finds that ARB Standards No. 4 and 11 are inapplicable to this particular project, in that the project site is not within an area having a unified design or historical character, and there are no natural features to be preserved on this previously -developed site. c. The Council finds that each of the considerations and findings set forth in this Resolution separately and independently constitute substantial evidence and independent grounds in support of the decision set forth below. 5 951025 lac 0080155 • SECTION 3. Environmental Assegsment. The Council finds that this project will not have a significant effect on the environment and approves the negative declaration. SECTION 4. Statement of Decision. Based upon the foregoing findings, and the findings and evidence set forth in the staff reports and record of proceedings, the City Council hereby denies the above -referenced appeal and approves the design of the subject project. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: October 30, 1995 AYES: ANDERSEN, FAZZINO, KNISS, ROSENBAUM, SCHNEIDER, SIMITIAN, WHEELER NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: HUBER, MCCOWN ATTEST /17 APPROVED: Ci C erk APP AS TO Senior Assistant City Attorney irector of Planning and Community Environment 6 • 951025 4c 0080155