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DRC 03-06-08Design Review Committee March 6, 2008 Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 777-3308 APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE HELD ON March 6, 2008 ROLL CALL Committee Members present: Committee Members absent: Staff present: Staff absent: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: None Lisa Giefer, Chairperson Jessica Rose, Commissioner None Leslie Gross Gary Chao None POSTPONEMENTS/REMOVAL FROM CALENDAR: None ORAL COMMUNICATION: None CONSENT CALENDAR: None PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Application No.(s): EXC-2008-01 Applicant: Evershine Location: 19620-19870 Stevens Creek Blvd Sign Exception to exceed the number of allowed tenant names on a monument sign, to exceed the allowed maximum sign height and to exceed the number of allowed signs for several tenants as part of a sign program Design Reviezv Committee decision final unless appealed. Staff member Chao went over some history of the previously approved sign exception applications at the Marketplace Shopping Center. This history was necessary to demonstrate the reasoning behind this new sign exception application for the wall and monument signs for tenants at the new Building C part of the shopping center. Due to the shape of the building some tenants will have several frontage views with which to place advertising signs. Staff supports the request for additional wall signage for the new tenants. The second aspect of the sign exception request is for seven tenant names on the monument signs instead of five. Staff supports this request as well. The design of the monument signs is symmetrical and 2 Design Review Committee March 6, 2008 aesthetically pleasing. The applicant is also requesting that second story tenants in Building A be allowed to have 24" signs as opposed to 22" and for Building C tenants to have one sign at 36" and both floor tenants to have signs that are 26" high. The new sign ordinance allows double row signs to be 36"tall. Staff supports all of the applicant's requested exceptions to provide continuity with the existing signs at the shopping center with the exception of the 36" sign for US Bank. The placement of the proposed 36" tall US Bank wall sign is not compatible with the rest of the signs on the tower element. Staff member Chao also suggested that the previously approved second sign on top of the existing Merlion sign on the tower of building C should be reconsidered and that only one sign should be allowed. Chairperson Giefer asked the applicant several questions about the design aspects of the signs (lighting methods, building materials, location and landscaping). She asked what the plan would be if the 36" tenant sign was not approved. The applicant stated that they would place smaller signs in other locations to provide the tenant with visibility. This tenant has street frontage, so there are other placement options available to them. She confirmed that the tower signs on Building A could be a maximum of 24". Staff member Chao explained that the Design Review Committee could also limit or change those signs to maintain sign continuity between the buildings. Commissioner Rose commented that she felt the existing signs at the center obscured the building's nice architecture and looked "busy'. Chairperson Giefer concurred that the center has a lot of existing signs and looks cluttered. Chairperson Giefer requested that the following conditions of approval be added to the resolution: any proposed exposed neon signs shall be reviewed and approved by the Design Review Committee, Building C's tower element shall only have one additional sign placed above and centered with the existing "Merlion' sign and shall be no more than 36" in height, all second story signs at Building A and Building C shall be no more than 24" in height and ground monument signs shall be permitted to have a maximum of seven tenant names. The construction and illumination of the ground sign shall be designed to reduce glare either by thickness of the panels or muted colors. MOTION: Chairperson Giefer moved to approve EXC-2008-01 with the above listed conditions SECOND: Commissioner Rose ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none VOTE: 2-0 2. Application No.(s): EXC-2008-02 Applicant: Michael Abler Location: 10767 Brookwell Dr Single Family Residential Exception to construct a portion of a side-yard addition to within five feet of the north side property line Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed. Staff member Gross explained that this lot is unusual in size and angle, so any additions to the residence will cause encroachment in to the side setbacks. The surrounding homes in the neighborhood also are irregular in shape and staff has supported other encroachments for non- conforming lots. The available buildable area on the lot would be very limited because of its shape if the exception is not granted, therefore, staff supports the application. The applicant stated that the proposed addition is only about 2 feet deep to expand a very small master bathroom. Chairperson Giefer clarified the side setbacks at the site and asked to make sure the fire department will have no objections to the limited space on the side. Commissioner Rose commented that she felt that the applicant had done a good job in trying to stay within the 3 Design Review Committee March 6, 2008 setback requirements while dealing with a very difficult lot. Chairperson Giefer agreed and made mention of some homes in the area have only three feet setbacks. MOTION: Commissioner Rose moved to approve EXC-2008-02 SECOND: Chairperson Rose ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none VOTE: 2-0 3. Application No.(s): EXC-2008-03 Applicant: Civic Park, LLC (Amicis) Location: 10300-10380 S De Anza Blvd., 20490-20530 Town Center Ln. Sign Exception for a ground sign in the public right of way, to allow for a second wall sign and for a revision to an approved sign program Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed. Staff member Chao explained that in 2005 the Design Review Committee approved a commercial sign to exceed the maximum allowed height, have blade signs and have directional signs that are visible from the street. Staff supports the proposed exception to allow the building directional sign to be in the public right-of-way. The frontage of the building is set back several feet from the street and surrounded by landscaping, a short cement wall and a fountain. Because of this setback, commercial tenants have very little visibility from the street. The public works has reviewed the plans and has requested that the monument sign not be placed in the public right-of-way corner sight triangle. The Public Works department would like to condition the approval to include a maintenance agreement and the requirement of a Hold Harmless Agreement as well. The applicant is also requesting a second wall sign facing Town Center Lane and De Anza Boulevard. An exception for this sign is necessary as they already have a wall sign and the monument sign. The building is notched back and Staff feels that the additional signage will provide them with greater visibility to southbound traffic on De Anza Boulevard. The proposed sign program change is to allow for 24" sign heights from 18". Staff supports this change. Staff also recommends changes to the sign program to address lighting, depth of signs from the wall out and how window signs are measured. Chairperson Giefer suggested an abandonment clause be added to the resolution. The architect for Amici s stated that the directional signs are necessary since the public is not aware of the available on site parking. The building signs will be centered, back lighted and within the 48" height envelope requirements for the two rows of lettering. He discussed the colors to be used on the sign and showed a rendering to scale of what the building frontage could look like with full occupancy. The discussion continued about additional sign needs for future tenants, lighting techniques, colors and textures to be used for the wall signs and the design and placement of the monument sign. Michael O'Connor, the director of the Villagio HOA asked for clarifications on what the original sign letter heights were approved to be. It was explained that the change was to exceed 18" for double row signs. The sign ordinance has been changed so that the building envelope is now 48". Mr. O'Connor also was concerned that the monument sign was not going tot be visible from southbound on De Anza Boulevard because of the cement wall and landscaping. Gloria Tam spoke on behalf of the property owner. She stated that retail tenants need to have a place to advertise, so a monument sign is essential. Commissioner Rose felt that moving the monument sign mid-block would be appropriate. Chairperson Giefer asked if precedence was being set by allowing a ground sing to be located in the public right-of-way. Staff member Chao explained that there are a few, but they are located in older centers. Chairperson Giefer expressed concerns about the ground sign. Other businesses were not allowed to have their ground signs 4 Design Review Committee March 6, 2008 placed so close to the street and didri t want to open the Committee up to numerous sign exception applications as a result of this monument sign. Chairperson Giefer does not support the monument sign, however, she does support each De Anza facing tenant having one wall sign each and corner sign. The blade signs are nicely designed. The wall signs need to be within the building envelope of the 2008 Sign Ordinance for two lines of lettering. Commissioner Rose liked the sign designs overall, but couldn't comment on the monument sign since she did not have the history of the site. The discussion continued with suggestions to other locations where it might feasible to place the monument sign. Several changes/conditions were made to the model resolution to support approval of the application such as; the monument sign location shall be approved by staff and placed on private property, the monument sign shall be constructed to reduce glare either by thickness of the panels or color, with the exception of Amici s sign the font/lettering on the monument sign shall be uniform and approved by staff, each tenant facing De Anza Boulevard shall be allowed only one wall sign, and any signs with exposed neon require additional review and approval from the Design review Committee. If the applicant wished to appeal the decision of the Design Review Committee, the application would be referred for hearing to the Planning Commission. MOTION: Commissioner Rose moved to approve EXC-2008-03 with the all of the stated changes incorporated into the resolution SECOND: Chairperson Giefer ABSENT: none ABSTAIN: none VOTE: 2-0 OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Changing the time Design Review Committee meets. The Committee members decided to move the start time of the meetings to 12:30 on the first and third Thursdays of each month. If an applicant is unable to meet at 12:30, the Design Review Committee will meet with that applicant prior to the Planning Commission meeting. Res ectfull(y' Isu9bmitted: Beth Ebben` Administrative Clerk g:planning/DRC Committee/Minutes030608