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Home My WebLink About0627.093• De~ember 9, 1993 HONORABLE CITY' COUNCIL Palo Alto, california Appeal of Archit:ectural RevieW' Board Denial of Ne~· Paint Colors for Existing B~ildinq located at ~DO Ha~ilton Avenue Members of the Council~ REPORT :{N BRIEF .Co .: 23 This report fOLWards to council an appe~l by 300 Hamilton Associates of a denial of the proposed exterior building paint colors at zoo Hamilton A·.-enue~ The denial "Was issued by the Director of Planning and community Environment, based on the recommendation of the Architectural Review Board (AF,B) and after the applicant indicated no interest in having the Director return the application to the Board for an additional review. Statf recomrn~nds that ~~e appeal be granted and the application approved. MCKGROUND The original approval of the existinq exterior-pink color and green metal windoW' frames at the subject site was granted on May 9, 19B3. Subsequently, the ARB on Decemb.::r 15, 1983 granted approval of the "mlnt green~ metal roofing material. On August 13, 1993, the appellant, 300 Hamilton Associates, submitted an application for a minor ARB approval to repaint the exterior building facade of the Great Western Bank building at 300 Hamilton Avenue. The proposed colors in L,e original submittal were a "honeybee" (yellow) tor the base paint and nwhite wood-(cream) for the horizontal bands and trim. Staff recommended approval ot the proposed color scheme, as staff believed that th~ new colors, combined with the existing tinted qreen ~inclows and green roof, were more compatible with the architecture of the building and the s~roun~ing sites than the existing pink base. The application was continued by the ARE on September 2, 1993, for further study of colo~s to tone down the CMR:627:93 I I /' coler and take advantaqe of the architectural detailing of the buildinq. The applicant submitted revised pairlt colors on September 24, 1993 and ~ ~odified paint design. vhich eli~inated the painted cream bands at the third, £ourth, and fifth floors, in response to the Board's co~ents in the first reviey. On October 21, 1993, the ARB voted 4-Q-I-O (~ith Board MemDer Piha absent) to recomrnen~ approval of the revised proposal as presented by the applicant subject to the follo~ing condition: The colors b~ brought closer togethe~ in hue to reduce the contrast. color samples are to be painted on the buildinq in a sunlit corner area. The Board will review the on-site colors with final approval to be .on the November 4, 199) ARB consent calendar. At the request of the ARB, the applicant painted the proposed colors or .. the building for the Roardfs review. The ARB at its meeting of November 4, 1993, voted 3-1-1-0 to recommend denial of t.~e paint color proposal (with Board Member Mise absent and Boa~d Member vieira-aa-Rosa opposed, as she felt the project could be approv~ as presented in this iteration). The Director ot Planning and community Environment considered referring the pr~ject back to the ARB for the me0be~s to work with the applicant to resolve the ARB concerns: however, becaUSe the project had already been through several iterati~ns of review, and the applicant requested that the denial be forwarded to the Council, the denial was granted by the Director of Planning and Comaunlty Envircnment on November a, 1993. On November 15, 1993, the decision of the Director of Planninq and community Environment was appealed by 300 Hamilton Associates (appeal application and letter attached). Minutes of the ARB meetings are attached. The minutes of the September 2, ~993 meeting ar~ not verbatim due to a failure in the recording equipment~ A color reduction of the applicant's preferred color scheme is attached. Additional renderinqs &nd color samples ~ill be available at the Council meeting or Dec~er 13, 1993. ANALYSIS The appellant has based the appeal on the need to fOrv4rd the project, as the Board reviewed three different color variations without coming to agreement on a c~lor scheme. In the review ot the color submittals, the ARB commented on the buildinq .ass ~n which the colors would appear and the need to consider th. color in context with the visual appearance of adjacent sites, such aa the civic Center Plala and other surrounding buildinqs~ The ARB felt that the base color on such a prominent buildinq is too strong and intense. The Board desires a more neut~al and .ellow CMR:627:9) 12/9/H page 2 ,..;': , color tor the bAae and. warm contra5tinq color £or a trim used specifically to stren9then architectural building elements. findings Finding for denial: The proposal does not meet the standards fc~ review in sections 16.48.120,a). 2, 6, and 12 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code in that the color proposal is not compatible with the immediate environment adjacent to the site. specifically the civic Center Plaza, does not provide a haraonious transition vlth the approved improvem~nts off the site, and is not compatible with the architectural elements of the buildinq. ARCHITEC"l'1JR)o..L RE"tJIEW BOARt) RECOMMENDATION' The Architectural Review Board recamaends that the City council deny the appeal, and uphold the Director of Planninq and CO'mInunity Environment and ARB decision not to pa int the exterior paint colors as proposed subject to the finding listed above. STAFF RECOMKENDATION staff recommenda that the City Council approve the appeal and overturn the Director or Planninq and community Environment and Architectural Review Board decision not to paint the exterior building facade the final color sche.e p~oposed subject to the finding listed below. Finding .for Approval: The final color submittal meets the standards for review section 16.48.120# standards for Review of the Architectural Review Ordinance of the Palo Alto Municipal Code~ because the proposed color scheme is an improvement as the new colors are more compatible with the colors in the immediate downtown area, contrast with the ~xisti~q pink base and work better with the existing green tinted windows and green window frames. Respectfully submitted, ;tz,?d?;u. $1L44" WRRAINE WEISS " Planner BERNARD M. STi!OJNY Assistant City ~anager CMR:627:93 KENNETH R. S CHREI BER Director of Planning and comnunity Environment 12/9/93 Page 3 Attachments: Location Map Action minutes of 9/1/93 ARB meeti~9 Excerpt verbatim minutes of 10/21/93 ARB meetinq Excerpt ve~batim minutes of 11/4/9] ARB meeting Appeal application and letter dated November 15, 1993 Color reduction of last color scheme (City Co~~cil Members only) CC: Appellant and Applicant Richard Elmore CMR;627:93 12/9/93 Page 4: • • " . . "'---..... :~ ~-,---.- 5T ~. PC ~rl I .. "", I"";,'i!' ; ,,,. '''' ,,;:~" l< ~ 3499 § ""'. PC f--19Q c ~" co OV<OS' ~ ~ '£l~'~ .,.,} (P)' \1f, ~ rd 1 1"" IT1r ~O, I~~~ ~ W 'P,R U~<i.n ~ I~~ if ~!; ~~ 1I '0 t'lfc t I~ It. ~f:'~ i;l~ ~,L ~ I:oi[<i.·· '1j.~ ;0" ODi I PF p' . ,,,; -,';;;-,'0'1 ,~~ jif~! I~~ .!5 . -"''' ''" .~'~,~\mZ i , ... -,'';C;;Q III ~0 . ~F:: I; !f ItC5~; P) i! i ,,; ",1;1" " i .~:!..L{~ ~ . til IERLEY \~J 1~ll'" fillt !Iill '*Il" ~r;no, 21~!~I~i I I'PF I~ II~' ...• ~ ". ,,, '~F ~'f RM:-[ppSI , SITE LOCATION ~ lir. ,,"4'1 '" I.,. . Ie: "" I ;1, r, 300 Hamil ton Avenue : 0 ' .. ~.. .... fi ~ t- i "".\1' ~ :;: u IlH i-it-[PI' . AlIT • J' J.r~! I. "~~ :E 1£ ,.~ ['0 l~~~~ i F Iii ~ I:~H -' c =..-2...: ~ -0', -~ • c • ". , ~~ B~ " I~~ '" I. L... I ..... ' i9~~~'if w '397 •. ~ I''" I; .' ~~ ~r;J-I'\}l JIm ~'. ~[ ,:mJl,~~~ [i'9~7 I~ :5 I~ .'~: I! ~ I 'PF ~~l~i~< rift? ;'PF Ill,,, . 13~ '~1 Ei1llir~ "" Ig If 1$ If ~ to >- " North ~ GRAPH1C AHACHKENT ! D~ll: Decel"ber 13, 1993 TO SI~ff REPORT ,,1l[ NO." .. _'"' ~~~i~r'i _300 Harni \ ton Avenue --Appeal of Architectural Peviewb~O u, u"" p,rnr colors TO! e'lS!ln~"lTrn:rTIf!F lOCATlOH tlAP, 300 Hamilton Avenue ---.. -.~--- J j ~rcbitcctnrnl I~cvlc\\' ~ __ ~~! ________________ ~J~l_il_II~lj_e_·s MINUTES Thursday, September 2, 1993 8,00 AI~ Boar~ Members Prese~t: Michael lyzwa Council Conference Room 2'50 Ham; Hon Avenue Palo Alto, California JUlia Maser Aino-Vieira-da-Rosa Shirley Wils.on Board Memb~rs Absent: Thomas Hise Staff Members Present: Jim Gilliland Lorraine Weiss 8. APPROVAL OF MIHUT£S OF AUGUST 19. l~~J APPROVED as corrected (3-0-1-1, Thomas Hise absent and Shirley Wilson abstained). C. ORAL COIII!UNICATIOHS None D. AEiE!!DA !JEllS APPROVALS: The Architectural Review Board (ARB) decision en the desi9r. af the project is a recommendation to the Director of Planning and Conmunity Envircnmel"lt (the Director), who makes the final d!cision. Unless. oU1Erwise stated by He ARB or the Director, project approvals incorporate Project ~eview Committee conditions as mailed to the applic.ants and staff conditions i!.S recommended in the Information Memo ran dums. CHANGES: A~y change to an approved design pian must be resubmitted to the City for approval. P.esubmitta,l of a project may be necessary if changes are mandated as a result of compl);ng with other City department requirements. or any other applicable codes, or ordinan,e requirements or ottler regulatory agencies. APPEALS: All major and minor project approvals are subject to an appeal period, which allows for the applicant or mem~ers of the public to file an appeal from the decision of the Oirector on the project. The appeal period for major projects (designat~d with an asterisk "*-) is eleven B: \er,t,\ali "\tml2: Page J indicating plant species, q~antitie5, and sizes and an irrigation plan with water us~ cal~uJaticns. and a lighting plan ~ith photometries. S. The ap!ll ieant shall subm', t for A~B re' ... ielrrf and appro .... al prior to submission for buncOing pe!"Tl1it, a wall section and installation details of the ~al'ious materials proposed. 6. Signage shall return for ARB review and' -approval. 7. Trash enclosure location and design to return. 8. Th€ design of the exterior rear wall ~halT r~turn on consent ,=alendar for final approval. II. REGUlAR AGENDA 3. 268 UM;yersjtv Avenue Starbucks Coffee Storefront remodel for new tenant, Starbucks Coffee. Paul s.oz:man, Architect for Starbuck's Coffee, presented the proposal. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Non. ARCHiTECTURAL REVlfW BOARD ACTION: .4PPROVED (4·0-0-1. Thorn.s H;s. absent). with the follawirlg conditions: CONDITIONS 1. The applicant shall obtain a~ encroachment permit from the Public W~rks Department for the encroachment of the cornice o~er the sidewalk and impact Ue use of the side-walk. durins construct jon prior to submission for a building permit. 2. A.")y cOfls~ruction Within the public r~ght-of-way Shill tcnforrn, to standards established in the CitY'$ Standards SpeCifications for the Utilit!es Department and the Public Works Departm~nt. II. REGULAR AGENDA 4. 300 HaJlli 1 ton Ayenue Great Western Bank Repaint building exterior a flew color. 93-ARB-l!1 Craig French, Keenan Land Company, presented the proposal. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: flon. B:\arb\lllin\09QZ Page 6 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ACTION: CONT!NUED (4-0-0-1. Thomas Hise absent,. for f •. II-ttjer study of colors tc ton", do..,n the color aild to take advantage of the architectura1 detailing of the bunding. II. REGULAR AG£NDA 5. Downtown Trafflc Controll@rs City of Palo Alto 93-MB-l70 Fiep1iJr::ement of eXisting traffic controll~rs and cabinets throyghout toe downtQwr. area per previous ARB re~ie~ of project. APPLICANT REQUESTED THIS IT[M BE CONTINUED UNTIL NEXT MEETING. Ill. NEW/OLD BUSINE5S A. ARB participation in the Palo Alto Centennial. The BQard discussed part ic"ipat len with the HRB in the Palo Alto Centennial. B. Discussion of landscape maintenance. Th~ Board suggested that the general condition of street trees and tree maintenance b! discus~ed at the Tree Task F~rce. The Board also suggested that malntenanc~~ lands~ap1ng. and general code enforcement issues be discussed at the jOint AR8/City Council Ileet ing. c. Parking ~ot lighting levels. This item was postponed to a iater ~eetlng. B: \arb\llin\09OZ rage 7 • 300 Hamilton Avenue Great Western Bank ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARO HEARING October 21. 1993 N~w paint colors fQr existing building. F,O.2 53-ARE-IS! Ju1 it! Meat, thaiNlan: This is. the thirlj HeiR C~ the ,'eguTar agenda. Sec~use we cannot tt11 about colors in this room with this light, W~ are 90'"9 to take a brief br~ak. Without any co~~ts or discussion arnon9 us, we are gOing to !10 with the app"t iCIl'lt IcrO$'$ the street to see-the actua1 colors at the site. P'lr, Gi~1i1and: r will emphasize that they are welcome to say what they .are going t.o do, but do not discuss anything until y.ou return $0 that we have it on tape. {The board lel¥e~, and returns five minutes later) ~_l1iur.: Are there arty ~tat"f cOI1IIIlents or board quest ions? (Noni;!) Hlen we Will hear from tnt applicant. Chop Kee,.,,". 700 Emerson Stre@t, Palo Alto; ~e didn't say a ""'ord out there! I will tor. this over immediately to Mr_ Elmore_ Richard Elmore __ rt;)res~nti1"lg Kp.@na" land ComR!.nv: I an; her~ \IIIith the <:olor chang! for 300 Hamilton Avenue. yo~ see hert what it is. Th~~e are actual pa'nt sa;ples, and I hav! us~d the $a~ celors to render the illustrat10n with. We just feeT that this would be I very nf<:e color to have en the street~ We feel St would give the b~fldin9 a fresh look, something that woyld be equally ex~it1ng as the co1Qr that prec~j~s it. fn fnt~uci"g t~~ gray I feel thlt we Ire keeping the brightness cf the ye11o"l balanced on the streetsca:pe~ W''lI are. of cours~~ worKir,g w1tl'1 tne given which ;s the green. This light of the fluorescence gives this y!11ow a much g1ten ~ast. as ~e all e~perienced outside~ That is my sunrnation. M$_ M.as1;!r: Are there in.)' quest';ons? Hs. Wilson: Yes. Richard, you sta.rted to e.xpiairr outside why you chose the yellow and Y{ll(l" feel ings about it. Mr. Har~; It is because of my feeling about the yellow limestone buildings io FY~nce. I nave always like that coior in a cityscape. ] think it symbolically rQpresents sun1ight, to me. It is just nice to live witn, wh!Ch is the way r would put it. That is totally subjective, but that is why I ch~se this cclor. Ms. Maser; Does that explain the color of your shirt? l1aughter) Mr. HarQ: lind'a, wt'o was here 1!arljer, was wearing ,n entirE ensemble to support our color choicet 10/21/93 -j- p,c~ Ms. ~aser: A 1itt1e c.ollu,siQn here. o~.a)'. thank you. Ms. Wilson: ThiS is cErtainly an improvement vver the last presentatIon. The colors are ve~y ~lff~rent in the natural 5u~li9ht. to?, than it looks in this room. I am stin not sure it is q>wite as soft as I would like to see it, in l"'elattonsMp to the-two colors.. ! just need to know how ot.her board memb~rs feel about it. It is &jways har~, because nEw paint i~ so new l~oki"g" J wish there wer! somt application that could ma~e newly painte<! buildings iook a little morE-weathered. 7hey do so roany fantastic things with pa~n:t these days. This is a big building. and you. can1t go ovor it with a rag. 1 thin*:; we ire very close wH~, this new. r am not Sllre it is: quite there, so I want to hear what other board members have to say. Mr. Haro: It .ill soften with age. Ms. WiJsgn: I know. ~IQ: If you don't sta~t .;t~ some va1ues, you end up with ~ white wUh. ~. Pi Rosa: I am i~terested in hearing what other beard members h~ve to slY, because I really feel uncomfortabi .. with tl'tis. r like the Frefl..:h limestone buildings, but they havi a soft~ess and modelling Quality that paint does not have. ~or me, thert is a lot of tontrast~ I Keep trying to .,cid looking at tne building and just 100k at the paint colors. ~en 1 l.ok at the building, I see. big contrast ~t.een tne gray and t" yellow toot s~s l,s$ so in the act.al samples. Als.o I feeT really 'Uncoofortibll12 with the striping, too. I understand what you are try1ng to do 1s to ton. down the yellow somowhat there. Mr. h'arp: The striping is n()t to tone down tne ye~low. To me, at least, it is to give the fa~ade mOTe character t more arcn;teetural inte~est. I thi~k it also mir.imiz!s its mass. fit!_--'lfast,r: Richard, we wi 1 T get b.;ck. to you after the hoard ~as cO!'llpl eted its caaments. Mr, HiS!: I thir;"K: this 9ntY and 1'el1o .... ;s an improvement over the colors tnlt Ir. there. ~en I talked with the applicant/owner of this ~";lding, he felt tonfident that th~ colors wouid wur~. So I am willing t~ support that. It is close enough fo~ me. !1s~_.JlW.r.: 1 have I ~i9n levei of discomf(lrt with these c:ol{lrs. This is i big bUilding, and it ;s very exposed. It is l building that has had a lot of public c.Qntroversy ctlnr.ect~ wHh it apropos the e}('iSti"9 c:cicr"~ which hiS faded to really Quite a pleisant tolor over time, But i hay~ an t'nOrmou5 fei.1'" of the bdghtness ar.d the contrast ~t~en th-ese C010TS Ind th~ ia~k of subtlet) of these colors. and how that is gOing to app~ar on the bunding~ J understafld th .. t you don't want this fJ.'Ji1ding to be a bac~ground building, but lh n~ w~, shape or form i5 this buildin~ ever going tD be a background building. rt is a big bui1ding, and the mass of it is very prominent on t~at corner. My feelj"9 is, as AinQ said, I haYe been te franc~ and hive SQen limest~np.. To ~~. thi~ ;$ a much bright~r, 10/21/93 -2- . " harsher, more intense color than tne limestDne J am familiar with. r th; n!c: that the-yel1o .... , u you are standing on the Ci ty Hall P! ala w.'er-E yo~ have k1nd of a terra cotta color on the paying, will nQt be a gooG marrlage of colors as you art standing ~here. I think the contrast between the 9r~y and yellow 7S going to be hard t~ take~ visually. We talked about using two colors at the last meeting, but vEry subtly done, not this tr-emendou$Ty strong ccntrut. S(l I will be unable to support these c:.oloys. 14s. wnsol"l: As J look. more: at it and think more about it, it is the contrast that is disturbing me the mO$t. 1 am _andering if you would copuider a taupe color instead of the gray? A col"r t~at ;s 'r"·o~t2d ill yellow, more than this is. I think J am disturbed by the strength of this element here~ I like this, which has. ill cil.armin'ij fee', to me-. I am wonderir,g how it look if these panels were this color, this gray, and if these verticals were th~ taupe or whatever second color you did. It would ~elp tne scale, 1 feel, and wouTd not mak! this quite so muc~ of a pylon , which ~t h. i am not SUr-iii if this is: th, rigM color for thesE 1?1~mt?nt~ here. Maybe they should be the wall color. Things are coming to the 9ro~nd ~ere. Suddenly, this co1or does not come to tne ground, !xcept in the back. That is anot~er thing I would reconsiaer a little. I think we are getting closer to it. We cep"tiil1r.ly want; t to be succ!ssful and' .,You to be ~.ppy with it. Tnos. ire my comments. Ms~ Maser: We can continue this, or we can oe~J it. J would like to get some feedback from t~f applicant as to how you want us to trBit this. We want to work with yo~ on this, Chop. Ms. Wilspv: [was tryirl9 to figure out hO\li we can eKpe<:S1 h ttl'fs. getting c oser. We .are Hs. KISer: I would t~l"'tainlJ be wi 11 ing to ha\lt one of tiS meet with you. We have done tki$ C~ several projects recently, meeting with applicants tc t~y and come up w1th $om€tnin9t in the i~terim, to g1ve you ~ome inpyt. It is up to you. Hr. Kegnan! Well. I am obsessed with colo~ qu~stions. ThiS is more by wa:! Df explainlng wner-e I a.m coming frDDl, tha.n Cinytnin9 else. {A). I am obsessed w~th ,olors. I see buildings ruined with colors all the time. (S), J don't trust architects wit~ colors. Kenny Rodriquel and I have regular fights be-cause r donrt let him do the colors. (C), I let an a~chftect, a university architect, cnoose the colors of the brick at 1661 Page Kill Road, and I t~ink it is .11 wrong. It reinforces A ond B of what I just said. F1na'11~ J went to Aicha~d because he is t~at unique blend of artist a~d designfr that i don't get ordinarily. We havt looked at eight it~ratjons of different Combinations of t~i$. None of them w~re -wrong" but there was certainly a consensus that this was the direction we were most bappy w7th. ;~is contrist 1ssue, wh~n you lot)k at thi.s rather than this, be-c.omes le-ss appare~t, I feel. The issue of .~.th.r this piece .hould b. the yellow color or the gr,y I would defer to Ricnard and members of the board. Those kln~s ~f qu~stion$ are good irchitectural Questions .~ wher~ is the base, is the building dyin9 somewhere .. those questions are where arc~itects are good. The ~uestion of taupe, Richard? IO/Zl/93 -3- F'.C3 Mr, Haro: couid warm that up, and .ake less cor.tr~st, ~rr ~e,~an: But fundamentally, this is where we wa~t to go with it. ~r Haro: Te(hnicalls, ! can go to the paint purveyor, and W~ can work. in a~d out of bot~ the gray and yellow, maybe softenfng th! sray, putting some more warmth i~to the gray, and putting some warmth back into the yellow to miti9ate the contrast and s~ften tn, yellow. We coula do tnit, and tnen come ba<:k to one or more of you at your 1nd;~'tdual 1ocitions and get in initial on it, somethfng like that. TI'\i!t cOl:ld be done by the middle of next week. Ms Maser: Does a"yon~ else from tht pub1ic wish t~ comment? (Nen,) Ms, Wilson: r would like s~ ot~er board members to respond tc some of the iss.ues I ra~sed. r would 1 ik.e to know what yOIJ th',nk about the re~eri~9, tn~ placement of the coTors, and whether you have some of t~e sima conterns I do, or ~ether you tn1nk I 1m out to lunch. MS Ma$@r~ Well, I do not nave a prabltm, and I do not know why. ~at you .ay jnt.".ctu;'ly i. quit. true, hut in this ca.e, in t~. reality of tnf5 t I would prefer te see the c~~trasting coior ~eld in between those two missive ~1ers. J am speak1ng of the col~s, and the 1ittle posts or cap.itals above. ~. Wilsgp! h~at about the end elements, the py1ons, as J ca11 them? Ms, Maser, 1 think you can get too IIlUch micky-MUSing around with contr.sting colors. I rather Ii •• tn. fact that that i, .11 one color and treated as a simple shape. Jf you break it d~ too much, it is 9~~ng to look too m1ckey·mocse. Hs Wil s.on: It ; s a real1y strong plane. Ms. Maser! I personally do not have a problem with tne way he has appropriated th.,e color.. I do have a very big problem with the colors. For me, it is not Just a Question of adding a little bit ~ere or tne~~. These ~olors, really. I feel ire too strong. The build~n9 is 50 mas~~v& that it ;s going to mak@ iverything ~l$e in t~e n~f9hborhood disap~ea~, and th1s 1s all you are going to see~ For me~ it reilly ne@ds to be completely restudi~, with the interest in the building not be in using colorful colors b~t in ~$ing subtle colors in an interesting way. S~tnfng that is going to ~tch, not ja~t tne neighborhood. But that is one person, and we Mave four people. Maybe t~e rest of you ~11l be very comfortabl~ wltn $OmE minor adjustments to c~lors. Mr. ~fgnan: You don't want tnQ canary building. That is how it is currentiy referred to. Ms. Maser: There has been a lot of public comment on the coTor of that building . .Ms. Ma$e-r~ !t is very Llnderstanda~re that you want this building to stll"ld out. Who wouldn't want their building to stand out, but I am trying to look at thfs in t~e concept of the whOle. IO/ZI/93 .4· " ·~;':~~k: . .... fits. wih.9Jl: .... e want it to be positive for '2"verynne. Mr. Hise: Wa~ tnat ""ally your intentior" to make your bui1ding stand out? Mr. keenan: 'No, abs.olutely not. My diN'Ction to Ri<:hard was Hat J. winted some classic combinations h~re. I beli~~e this to be a classlc combination. We do have the green to deal with, regardless, which is hi9h1y contrasting. We haYE the h;gh~st rents in to~~. an1 I can't have something that looks li~e tutti-fruitti. It's got to b. el.g,nt in its presentation. JIIs. M~.sgr; Ho-w would you 1 i ke us to proceed (In this? Do you ha".'!! a preference for working with us? Mr. Keenlr.: I think you could do t~i$ for I coup'e of yeirs. I a~ gott,'S no direction. Ms ..... aar: We ga'tt very clear directicm at the last meeting when you Wfre not present. When we fjr~t saw this, each of us spoke very clearly abo~t what we wanted to' do. We m~ntjoned wor~$ like "more s~bt1ty,· "more interest," and I think we wefe very spetific, Chop. I did not thlnk we were being htard. [got the distinct impresSion that what we w~rf saying WBsn't gett~ng t~roc9h. I repeated it, b~t as t~at issue was be:ng eontlu~ed, I had i strong fteling that there h!d not been a really good understanding, as much as we tried t~ get the 1d@iS across. I think we were very, very eiear in OiJr directfoT'.. ~8.I,n_i.11: Why doesn't $omebDd'y trl' a motion far approval, if there is one here, and let's S~~ what happens. The ~tio~ ~ay be to tone it down, or t~. mot1on may be to ta" • hike. !!1Ilm!; Ms, Wi hQn : I wi 11 make iii mot i on for approva 1 of the c:orreept, with the condft1on that the colors ~ brought clcser tog!ther in hue and that the contrast be r.duced. g"-l!1ill; 6y Tho",as Hi s •. Mr. Hise: I would hope that we co~ld work wlth the color samples against the building a~d not hav~ to render the b~i1di"g again. This is an expensivt process for the app'icant~ Ms. W~JsOT\: I WQuld like to see some painting start on trle buildir:g, and let's have a look at it. Is it going to be I two-coat process? Mr. Hal"'o: don't know. Ns. Di~: When we look~d at the old color samp1e th~re. I was re~lly surprised that 1 fou~d that to be a much ~re ccm~ortable ,alar, becaus~ it tended to hold t09~ther in the way that this was a real pasteily pink. I think what that building needs is a color that do.sn't get too 'rou~frou. and it is not a Victorlan building. It is a very strong. bold bililcnng) so r il'l'l a little afraid of this c!)lor. B~jt I agree. dontt render it again becau$e it is so hard not too look at that rendering *here the gray is so powerful. 10/21/93 -5- Mr. )1;se; I iikc th~ 9NY. For me, the yell 0"'" is. too bright. Ms Wilson: But outside, ytllow doesn't ioo~ anyt~ing like it does in tr,is roO«1. It is very paste' outside. Ms. M,ser: could ~e hear the wording of the motion? F.~ M~. Gilliland: Approve a contept of the colors brought cios~r together in hue and to reduce tne contrast. Mi-.-0). Resa: Sc 1t would just return on cOI')!;:ent? Mr. Hae: l..OUld n t~tner COIle ba.ck. here, VJ"!sIU un Ur'C: Luild;I'l-;J. ~~: I would li~e to se. tn. color. go on this building. Sitting in tnis room is not vtry effective. Ms. Pi Bosa: So we ca.n just go by the building, and th1s it~m can come back on 'onsent. Mr, HarD: We will do it i~ this parking are •. Ms. Maser: 00 it where you Irt 901fi9 to get sunlight on it. Perhaps yo~ could ~ a corner whtre you get sa.a s~ade. All tho.~ in flvor? (Passes unanimously) Mrt jill1lAnd: 00 you want to try and do it before the next meeting so that I can put it on consent for the next meet1n~? (Yes) Sc it wi" be on YQU~ consent calendar fo~ NovembEr 4. 10/21/93 -6------ ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BDARD HEARING November 4, 1993 300 Hq,mi lton ~ 300 Hamilton A5sociat~s Hew paint (o1ors fo::r existing buPding. ,,1ylie Maser. Chairman: I have a question fer the buard. Has e .... eryone been out to the site to see the eoioTs? Do ... ·e have the previous samples? It would be nel pful to see .... here you started, and where you are now, is this has gone through se~eral iterations. Ld"s go out there and see them. Chop Keenan: The issue that the board brought to us last t;m~ ~'as to bring the colors into less of I contrast. I think that is what we have ac(omplished here. Ms. Maser: Yes. you have changed the intensity of th~ yellow. !-It EimQre: We have warmed up the gray and have taker. down the yellow. We have a much less contrasting pair of cclors. {The board. no'ot leaves to -wic\II 300 Hamilton) Mr. Gillila~4: As the board is leaving. I ~ould advise you to please not have any discussion ther~. (The board returns) Ms. Maser~ let us proceed with a motion en this. MQTION; Ms. Oa Rosa; I will make a motion that includes your suggestion that the apf}licant r!consider the colors suggested, such as the taupe with wh;~e trim, or some other color scheme. Ms. Maser: Any discl!ssi'o~? Ms Wilson: To V~, the term ~white~ does not mean a snarp white. I think ",hat ThofOas His! is saying, with these colors, "is that he is looking for a little more mellowness. If you look at the Bryant Street buil~ing when YDU are cut there near the Pacific Bell building, it has a really nice color palette. !t does not fotave to iJlatch that but it has that nuance, rather than a sharp contrast. You are getting claser to it. I feel you have really made progress. Ms • .li4aser: The problem, i thir)k, is that these c.o1ors start to be-so close that they are almost imperc.eptible in sunlight that there is a difference at all. Your sugg~stion of using that taupe colar is something close to the Post Offic~ building, which is an off-white, nat a bright whit.e. 1t 'Would still be a contrast and 9he a stronger sense than what you have now of this interplay b!tween two different tones. It would be in keeping with the overall C010fS of the intersection of that area of town. ll/04/93 -1- Ms. Wilson: There are a lot of bl'ead colors. That is kbd of the tOM around th~ plazi, That plaza is important, and you ar~ rea7ly an important part of a \/ery significant urban sp~ce. I feel a tremendous CDtmlltll!>E!nt to the civic p"'iif.ZiI. I am ... er~ thankf ... l that this building is there. I wish we had a building as significant on the oppos,te side of to, plaza, quit' frankly, H~. 01 Rosa: We also discussed other possi~i1itles, not restriping the building~ but enhancing the shadows. T~at is ~hat happ~ns at Bryant Street, the paint and stone trim, so there is that natured texture of the stone which you are not going tJ get with a painted surface. 1 made tne motion in order to get a reaction from the applicant. ~now you are unhappy. Kr. Ke~nan: To be honest ..... ith you, T liave Kind of run out of time on this. The only reason we are even taTking about this is that the building has some leaking problems, so '~e are redoing stucco, etc. !.'inter wilT come within the next several weeks, 50 that is why 1 w~~ld like to stay w~th the co'~r J have. You are all go;~g in somewhat different directions. If you have a problem W'ith your civic c~nter building. that is not my building. Ms. Wilson: It is the floor, more than the building. ~eenin: I could be flippant and say, why don't you guys come up with some colors, ind 1'11 review them tne next ti~e. Ms. Maser: That is a good idea! Mr. Keenan: Tnat;s nne. I wO!..ild be happy. r CQuid stay with the status QUo or accept one of your colo( schemes. Ms. Haser: We ar~ not allowed to do that. We have interjected our thinking befo~e in situations like this, but appare~tly, it is not consid~red appropriate or proper. r feel we have been fairly clear that we wouid c~rtainly be much more accepting of a scheme that used this color specifi<:al1y for either the major portion of the building or the ,,::;c€nt color, along with a color that is kind of an off white that piCKS up the softer .... hi te of the neighborhood itsel f. r did not understand your comment, Chop, that yo~ feel you could just go ahead and paint th;s buiTding? ~ Keenan; r courd paint it tne color that it is. Ms. Maser: I see. r persona)ly would love to hav€ you come back with a suggestion that we have made, and let U5 think about it. Mr. Keenan: To be ~onest, to paint this building this (oTor ain't gonr.a happen. I'll just have to go on to another j~ry. Ms. Maser: That is going to be more tjme consuming. Mr. Keenan: My alternatiVES a~e th! status quo color or something that can get comfortabl~ with. It is my investment, and you are here to 11/04/93 -~. protect t~e public interest. and I apprec1i!ti:! that, but I think we-have come to l09serheads. I am prepared to ~o and ask somebcdy else. Ms. Maser: How does th~ board fe~l about that? Ms. Wtlso~: If he wants to that, that is fin~. Mr. K2er.an: Ne hard feelings. Ms._Maser: Al1 right. Would you like to change jlQur moticn? Ms. pa Rosa: would like to see if there is suppo~t on this board for the CQfOrS as submitted, rat~er than a denial. So I am withdrawing my first motion. I wDuld like to make a motion for approval as submitted, and see ho~ the board feels about that. Ms. piha: would like to see the actual rendering before 1 could' '1ote for it. Mr. Elmore: r could ha'w'e that rertdering h-sre by th-=" end of the meeting. Ms. Haser: If you carl have it here after the first item on the reg~lar agenda, we wi11 hold this aside. (Next item is taken up, then archltect returns with the rendering) Ms. Maser~. Where were we on this? made a motion. Mr. Gilliland: It was not se~onded. so yau have no motion O~ the f100r at at the present time. HOllON: Ms .. WilsQn: let me make the motion again. I move approval as ,uMitted. Ks. Piha: fs that the current glazing? It is deplcted as 9reen glass. Mr .. _Keenan~ Yes. Ms. Maser: Hearing nD second, Shir1ej would you like to try another motion? t!.,$--=--..wnSO:1: [don't know whether I should be making a motion for appI'uval with colar adjustment. They just want a denial. Mr. Keenan: Obviously. there is not one solution to this problem. I not so pigheaded to say that my way is the on1y way. but another solution wtlilld be to stay llIith the existing calor, but make it Ifiore peachy. But n~ed some banding. I aske~ Richard wnat color. and he said h~ would go with a very light gray banding. ff you thir.( troat is the direction you want to see, ] can come back with that. But I want a building with c.f'laracter. Ms. Wilson: understand that, and I support that. ) 1/04/93 ·3- '., ~ ... . "".' Mr. Elmore: j Vdnk we are so close to tne yelle" tlue that ;s e;dstfng that I am sorr.)'~ but j think. you are o .... erreacting. Of all the c~lors, it is the one thdt p~ople emotionally react to. Also we all realjz~ that coTors fade. ff iIoIe don't start out 'illtith sometnin~~ we end up with nuthing. So r plead with you to havtl some courage ar.d not boe afraid of people callir.-g you up at night and sajfng, why did you l~t Hem ,Po!ir.t it that awf~l color, and let us do something that has ~cme real character. tnink it is p&rt of your assignment that you Tet people do things creatively. This is not obnoxious. It js just a little off. ! think you cou1d take that !In and say, this gentleman has given y~u a great bui ldfng. YOU' k.now how much he appreci ate'S H,is tewn and SlJppo!"ts everything, and say, this is something that will peop12 ~I"ill remember. rt has characteT; tnat is what ~~ wants~ and it is not obnoxjc~s. If it really does not support the red concrete pa .... ing of your plaza, maybe you should gat people to look at something else bEsides tnat. I don't thin~ it is fair to have people affected by something thdt is ~at right. M~. Wilson: That is a very compelling argument, but I feel a tre~endous responsibil~ty to the civic plaza, and I will not be supportive of these col(1rs because of that. ff this bu ilding were photographed by it.self ~ I think your colers are fine, but I fe-el Y(lU na .... e a c:ontextual problem here. If the Counci: fsels differently aboU't a, I can live "ith that. am not trying to bf critical of your taste. Mr. Keenan: let's go for a denial. MOTlON: Ms. Maser: I move f~r denial of this project. Then it will go on to the Council. ! am sorry we have not been able to come to a reso1utioil here at the ARB level and that we have not been able to resolve this among us. We hate to send things on like this. We just h~pe they understand that we have made an effort and the applicant has made an effort. We are just of different minds about this. This has not hi!eri voted upon yet, but I anticipate that this denial is going to be passed by the board. J wanted to make those comments for the board. SECOND: By Ms. Wjlson. Mr~_Ke5nan: This has been a goed catharsis. r am 901n9 to use this forum to talk ~beut the Urban Design Plan beca~se that seems to be getting into the play here. I think there are some IieTji real pr{ib1ems that we ..,i11 be facing. Ms. Wilson; Before we vote, J want ultimate suggestion about the pink. do with that, OT just put it on t~e possibility. to comment that they did make an I donrt know w~at they are going to shelf, but r think that is a I did have Dne conversation with Mr. Elmore on the phone p~ior to this meetfng. In looK7ng at the but1dir.g on the street, ! do not ha .... e difficulties with the c~'umns being a different co1or. 1 thjnk that makes a l<Jt of sense. rt is this part of the building, IIOhen I look at the actual 5ite~ that these portions look more like a wall to me. I wo~ld raally apprfcfat! consideration of the rendering of that part of the building. Ms. Maser: J would agree "ith what ShiTley just said, in looking at the 11/04/93 -4- • building a little furtneT, in stu~ying the phctograph that Cheryl has. Ms.~Rosa: This is an application t~at I feel somewnat uncomfortable with, byt ] real~y think we ~hould con~jder the drawings of the apolicant, tr;'ing to fine-tur.<! something here. The applicant feels ilery strongly about this project. There al'e a lot of differer.t types of building:'i that make up a city. When this building was paint~d pi~k, there was a big uprQar. and what it did do was to improve City Hall Plaza, the waj the color brought out the red. 1 don't think this building would be such a disuter for City Hall Plaza. If you rook at this bui1ding in the (;ontext of all the oUler buildings, I fe-el the (olor works lite" with all the other" bYltdings, except for the plaza. This is som~thlng the applicant fee1s very strongly abo~t, and if our only concern is the red of the plaza, I feel we should think about the bU11ding itself. and not in tontext of the plaza b~t in context of the enl(ironment. r feel le.'is comfortable about t~e oCitriping of the building than I do about the c~lors. I am prepared to support the application. Hs. ~,Tson: I am not even comfortable w!th tne gold and green, quite frankly~ I was at the rear of the building .... t.ere the signage is gOing to be that color. and I do not think it 1S gOing to be highly successful But that is a personal opinion, ind color is ~Ery subjectiile. I think the depth of my discomfort is Significant. Ms~: If we are through _ith discussion, all tho~e in favor of the mot jon? That passes on a 3-1-J-0 vote. Thomas Hise is absent and Aino Vieira da Rosa opposed the motion. because she .... ould naile voted to approve the project as presented~ Mr. G111iland: lRt me clarify that what you will be taking forward to Council is this proposal with these two colors? (Vesj 11/04/93 -5- RECEIVED NOV 15 1993 CITY OF PALO ALTO Offioe 01 the City elm APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF DIRECTOR OF PLANNING DS>ARTll!HTOI'I'WMIQ AND COMMUNITY ENVlRDNMENT (ARCKI1~C'''URAL REVlEW APPLIC~n~DIMi.<J!'MENf To be filed in dup(".tCate AppI">ealioo No. -----.:lL-AIM -b I flame o! Appeilarrt $" H/t!11/L-7PIY d1i<>q~ Receipt r,o. 'U --'liP Pi>Ol1e 10/1 r ! <126 -2.1-'(""/ ~¥P"/ ZIP LOCAnON OF PROPERTY; As"""ors Parce! No. L~ -~'U,/P16 Zane District ct)_,~_CF') StreelAddress _)'pO ItA/flU-rON APEtlu.- Name of Property Q-.vner CIf other than appellant) ___ _ P,-operty 0",,",'$ A~dres$ 7(70 &!1iVfft?tf 5L~hP A(,..7Z? 0" ?"ffel Street City ZIP The decision Of th~ Director of Planrmg and Community Enviro"me-ni dated _~6=' '"1/,-,'1,,,--__ _ '9 1'3 whereby''''' appr.catioo of ipp HtfmIl-rt?~LJt4"np;£2-____ . (original applicant) '01 archrtectural r~ was _-;:-:~4"~EC",/!,!eZ2=.,= __ ~ Is heJeby appealed for the reasons stated (approvedjderJed) in 1he ana&led letter Qn dup'"lCate). Slgnat'Jre of Appellant -~'-6'f--- ClTY COUNClL DEOSION: Dal. _______ _ Approved __ _ Denied ___ _ Remarks and/or Conditions: SUBMITTAL REOUIREMENTS SATiSFIED: 1. Plans By: 2-Labels By: 3. Appeal Appnr:ation Forms 11-15-'13 By, 7T1. BJU •• lener II-i5-~.3 By: 7Yl. .~ 5. Fee JI-t.S -'7'2 By: /J1i} (:'.u.c-c.~-=- 12(89 ! , ! I . I I November \5, \993 RECEIVED Palo Alto City Cooncil 00"" of the City Clerk Cioy of Palo "Jto 250 Hmultof.i Avence Palo )\.]to, CA 94303 Re: Appeal from Oo<i.;oo of Director of Planning (ARB) Application # 93-ARB-161 300 mmilton Avenue Dear City CounCIl Member" NOV! 5 1993 Ibe decision of the Director ofPlan:ning OD the vote of the . .i\.rchitecttlral Review Beard was. to deny appl.icatiOD 93-ARB-J 61 to apply new paint <:olors to 300 Hamilton Avenue. This applicaticm bas been before the ARB on tJ-uee occasions At the fim hear'.ng, the ARB rejected the single color subm~ttaI and continued the rtern aDowt."'Ig for a resubmittal The second meeting introduced a revised two color scheme which responded to comments received at the first meeting, The second meeting resulted in an apprmraJ with conditions requiring the "colors be brought closer together in hue and to reduce the contrast". The third submittaI,responding to the condition impO>ed during the second review,was denied by the ARB. This appeaJ asks for a reversal of the finding lilat the color scheme is una<:ceptable and requests approval of the m...."'St recent submittal sin=e~,,~L Craig Frencn Hamilton Management, Inc. c' Chop Keenan Richard Elmore 100 £"'E~50'" STFlEET ' PALO /Io.UQ.C.ALI""'I'lJ..:I ... ~43u' TEi.£"HONE 1"'15: 3:<6-22"'", -TI::L E"CQ"Y 1""51 3C!6-2920