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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttachmt 5 Minutes From 03-27-2007 PC Meeting 8.3 P A 03-063 Scarlett Court Design Guidelines- Phase I of the Scarlett Court Specific Plan which includes the creation of design guidelines for the Scarlett Court area and an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map. Chair Schaub asked for the Staff Report. Ms. Erica Fraser, Senior Planner, and Jason Jones, RBF consultant for the project, presented the specifics of the project as outlined in the Staff Report. Chair Schaub asked if this is similar to the overlay done for the Historic District. Ms. Fraser responded that it is similar to the Phase 1 part of the Historic District Overlay. However, the General Plan Amendment is being added to the Scarlett Court Study to include policy language to the General Plan document. Ms. Mary Jo Wilson, Planning Manager, added that the General Plan Amendment is not part of tonight's recommendation; however, it will be presented to the Planning Commission at a later date. Cm. Biddle asked about the public participation at public meetings. Ms. Fraser responded that at the first community meeting there were only a few participants from the public; however, once the design guidelines were drafted for the second community meeting, there was greater participation from the public. Cm. Biddle wanted clarification on the replacement and repair of the existing signs. Ms. Fraser explained that if a store owner wanted to repair more than 50% of its sign, then the current zoning ordinance requires the owner to conform the sign to existing regulations. If the design guidelines were also in effect then the owner would need to comply with the guidelines as well. Cm. Biddle asked if it was 50% of the cost or area. Ms. Wilson responded that it was 50% of the valuation of the sign. Chair Schaub asked how would the design guideline relate to the City's Design Element. Ms. Wilson responded that the Community Design Element that the City will work on shortly is an element of the General Plan which would be a guiding document with general policies related to design. As a part of the preparation of the Community Design Element, staff will ensure consistency with the various Specific Plans. Jason Jones, with RBF gave an overview of the design guidelines and talked about next steps. Chair Schaub commented that the document should discuss what type of signage is appropriate with various architectural styles. Ms. Wilson responded that Staff would ensure that the suggested language is included in the document under signage. Cm. Biddle commented that the sign section was good. Cm. Tomlinson commented that the examples cited in the guidelines were good. CommissIon <'.feeling 28 ,Harefi 2?, 3U(}( Attachment 5 Cm. Tomlinson stated that he understood that the window signs are discouraged if it occupies 25% or more of the glass area; how would that be defined? Ms. Fraser responded that the Zoning Ordinance describes the percentage of the window pane as well as how the area of the window pane is calculated. Cm. Tomlinson asked if the 25% was appropriate or should it be further reduced. Ms. Fraser responded that 25% is appropriate and it is consistent with what most of the cities regulate. Ms. Wilson further added that the City has active code enforcement with regard to signage. Cm. Tomlinson asked if the coloring or glazing of windows needs to be addressed in this document. Ms. Wilson responded that the Site Development Review section of the Zoning Ordinance will be reviewed as a part of the City's update to the Zoning Ordinance. Cm. Tomlinson wanted to know if the street lights depicted in the draft guidelines would be the standard for the Scarlett Court area. Ms. Fraser responded that the street lights shown in the guidelines are examples of what they could be, not necessarily what they need to be. Since the City does not maintain privately installed street lights, it would be up to the developers to decide on the type of street lights they would like to install. Chair Schaub said that palm trees are shown in the document; however, they should be removed from page 52. Cm. Tomlinson asked about overhead utilities and wanted to know if applicants were required to underground them? Ms. Fraser responded that there were overhead utilities in two areas. There are overhead utilities on private properties and overhead utilities facing 1-580. The Municipal Code requires overhead utilities to be under grounded on private properties. An example would be the Lowe's development which was required to underground its utilities. However, at this time the City does not have plans to underground the overhead utilities facing 1-580. Cm. King noted that on page 24 of the draft guidelines cinder blocks were not listed as a discouraged material. Ms. Wilson stated that Staff would add that to the list of discouraged materials. Cm. Tomlinson wanted a modification to the discussion on dark colors on buildings. He wanted to ensure that the use of dark colors were not too limiting. Ms. Fraser indicated that the guidelines indicate that the dark colors have to be used as accents only as the City does not want a developer to color a whole building black. Ms. Wilson stated that Staff would refine the language to address the Commissions concern. Hearing no further questions for Staff, Chair Schaub opened public hearing and asked if anyone in the audience would like to comment. Brad Kassabian, from Kassabian Motors, asked when phase 2 would be completed. Chair Schaub responded that the City Council would be ones to answer the question. Ms. Fraser further added that the City Council's direction was to postpone phase two of the Scarlet Court Specific Plan at this time. Commission 'K~{f!1LlT .'\1eft/r,q 29 'Marer.. 27, ]()i}i" Jim Bailey, with Dublin Honda, commented that the new site where the dealership will be located has parking issues as BART riders tend to park there. He also indicated that the suggested landscaping for the area is good; however, it is difficult to find dirt that will hold plants that is able to sustain life. Russ Fuller, with Dublin Honda, clarified that the dirt being referred to is the dirt that is required to fill the bioswales. Ms. Fraser responded that the landscaping in the draft guidelines are typical landscaping and have nothing to do with bioswales. The bioswale requirement as referenced by Mr. Fuller and Mr. Bailey is part of the conditions of approval required by the Public Works Department for the Dublin Honda project. Ms. Wilson suggested that the representatives from Dublin Honda give their contact numbers to Staff and Staff could have the Public Works Department personnel contact them regarding the issue. Doreen Green, Property Manager of Buscik-Gearing, said that they have been in Dublin a long time and would like the City to treat them kindly. She asked that the City bear in mind that the City needs the small businesses in addition to the big commercial complexes. Hearing no further comments or questions, Chair Schaub closed the public hearing. Chair Schaub commented that he likes the document. He indicated that the Commission would like to see the suggested changes to the photographs and text brought back to the Planning Commission. Ms. Fraser asked if the Commission would like to continue the item to April 10, 2007 meeting. On a motion by Chair Schaub and seconded by Cm. Wehrenberg, and by a 5-0-0 vote, the Planning Commission unanimously moved to continue the hearing of the Scarlet Court Design Guidelines to the April 10, 2007 Planning Commission meeting. Cm. Biddle asked about the procedure for the distribution of the guidelines once it is adopted by the City Council. Ms. Fraser indicated that Staff is looking into various options to make the document available for those who would like a copy. One of the options is to make it available on the City's website as well as on disk for purchase. NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE OTHER BUSINESS 10.1 Brief INFORMATION ONLY reports from the Planning Commission and/or Staff, including Committee Reports and Reports by the Planning Commission related to meetings attended at City Expense (AB 1234). Cm. Biddle discussed the last Housing Commission meeting and gave a brief overview of the major points of the meeting. (PlanniNg (j)mmissi(~n 'Rmu&tr 30 ~J.fardi 2?, ::001