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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-10_BVAC_Minutes_Approved CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH BALBOA VILLAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Location: ExplorOcean 600 East Bay Avenue Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Henn called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Balboa Village Advisory Committee Members: Michael Henn, Council Member (Chair) Tony Petros, Council Member Gloria Oakes, Balboa Peninsula Point Association (Absent, Excused) Ralph Rodheim, Balboa Village Merchants Association Member Grace Dove, Central Newport Beach Community Association Tom Pollack, ExplorOcean Representative Jim Stratton, At-Large Representative Staff Members: Brenda Wisneski, Deputy Community Development Director Tony Brine, City Traffic Engineer Fern Nueno, Associate Planner II. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS (comments limited to 3 minutes) - None III. ITEMS FOR REVIEW 1. MINUTES OF AUGUST 13, 2014 Recommended Action: Approve August 13, 2014 Minutes Council Member Henn noted that the minutes are once again highly detailed and encouraged being more prudent with minute summaries. There were no further comments from the Committee or the public on the minutes. Action: Committee Member Pollack moved to approve the minutes of the August 13, 2014 meeting. Committee Member Stratton seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0, with Committee Member Oakes, absent. 1 2. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Recommended Action: Receive and file. Council Member Henn introduced the item and noted there have been changes to the schedule. He addressed Council's recent review of the Parking Management Program and reported receiving good comments from the public and that Council felt well about what was presented. Deputy Community Development Director Brenda Wisneski addressed upcoming meetings regarding the item including Planning Commission and Council meetings and the specific issues to be reviewed. Committee Member Stratton noted that at the Planning Commission meeting on September 18th, the Commission will be considering eliminating in-lieu fees and parking requirements in commercial areas as well as the employee parking program and the shared parking concept. Council Member Petros referenced a comment made at the City Council meeting and asked about noticing. Ms. Wisneski reported that BVAC meetings are not publicly noticed in the same manner that Planning Commission and Council meetings are noticed, but all meetings are done in accordance with the Brown Act public hearing requirements. Council Member Petros commented on starting momentum and getting property owners excited and invested in new opportunities that will be available. Ms. Wisneski commented on a two-pronged approach involving property and business owners. She noted that the employee parking program must be flushed out with business owners. Committee Member Rodheim addressed outreach by the Balboa Village Merchants Association (BVMA) and suggested holding a town hall meeting to provide relevant information to property and business owners. Council Member Petros commented on an event hosted by DJM at the Cannery regarding Lido Marina Village that served as a sort of town hall meeting. Marcel Ford, Vice Chair of the BVMA, offered to distribute flyers door-to-door. Discussion followed regarding making a special, focused effort to property and business owners. Council Member Henn opened public comments. Jim Mosher asked for an explanation regarding the need for Planning Commission review of commercial parking versus residential parking. 2 Ms. Wisneski reported that the regulations pertaining to the parking district is in the Zoning Code which is under the Planning Commission's purview. She added that the residential parking program is not in the Zoning Code. W.R. Dildine commented on absentee business owners who were concerned about shared parking. Action: The report was received and ordered filed without objection. 3. DESIGN GUIDELINES — RRM Design Recommended Action: Finalize Design Guidelines and forward to Planning Commission. Ms. Wisneski introduced the item and deferred to the consultant for a presentation. Jami Williams, RRM Design, commented positively on the process and presented a PowerPoint presentation. She provided an update on the design guidelines and addressed the creation of stronger, more succinct guidelines with specific direction relative to decorum and styles. She reported streamlining them to eliminate duplications and commented on a new format to make them more user-friendly. Zoning Code requirements were removed and she noted that guidelines should provide strong direction but allow for flexibility in design. Council Member Henn commented positively on the revisions made and on the ULI emphasis on pedestrian-friendly features of the Village. He addressed sidewalk dining and questioned whether that should be included in the document. Council Member Petros commented positively on the revisions and on the guidelines reinforcing principles such as apertures on the sidewalk and landscaping. He suggested taking another look at fagade improvements specifically regarding doors and glass and avoiding setting up an internal contradiction/conflict. Committee Member Rodheim commented on lighting and noted the need to address it as people feel safe when areas are lit. Ms. Williams addressed sidewalk dining and the use of the alley and agreed to add a few guidelines to encourage exploration of outdoor dining opportunities and enhancing the use of paseos and alleyways. Committee Member Dove noted that the boardwalk is not an alley as noted in a photograph and commented on the enforceability of requiring an applicant to work within the guidelines. Ms. Wisneski stated that the guidelines can be implemented from staff's perspective. 3 Discussion followed regarding existing sign guidelines and the need for consistency. Members of the Committee commented on the document being readable and clear. Ensuing discussion pertained to encouraging lighted signs and wayfinding signs. Council Member Henn opened public comments. Howard Hall inquired regarding identification of the Newport Landing Restaurant Building. Ms. Wisneski noted that the document will be refined prior to presenting it to Council. Discussion followed regarding A-frame signs, the possibility of Council lifting the prohibition of A-frame signs, car signs and the prohibition of certain signs as well as the City's sign code. Leslie Miller commented on the possibility of the Arts Commission reviewing the document. Ms. Wisneski reported that staff conducts design review and that the consultant has worked with the design guidelines of several cities. Jim Mosher addressed the possibility of the Arts Commission providing recommendations to Council. He commented on the purpose for which the Arts Commission was created including advising Council on aesthetics, adding that design guidelines impact the aesthetics of the City. Discussion followed regarding the importance of public art, the production of an Arts and Culture Master Plan for the City, next steps in the process and the purpose of the design guidelines being specific to future development. Ensuing discussion pertained to providing a "receive and file" report to the Arts Commission to raise their awareness, streetscape improvements and public art, the Planning Commission's jurisdiction and the Arts Commission's roles and duties. Brief discussion followed regarding palm trees planted along Main Street, and the need for lighting on Main Street and along the boardwalk. Action: The Committee unanimously agreed to forward the design guidelines to the Planning Commission (6 ayes-0 noes, with Committee Member Oakes absent). 4. WAYFINDING — RRM Design Recommended Action: Finalize Wayfinding Program and forward to City Council. Simon Andrews, RRM Design, provided a presentation on a wayfinding sign program and addressed prior meetings regarding the matter and replacing existing signs with signs that 4 promote identity for Balboa Village. In addition, he presented the new, proposed vehicular wayfinding scheme, location of new wayfinding signs, the possibility of modifying the existing monument sign to make it consistent with the branding message, gateway signs, and regulatory signs. He addressed kiosk and directional signs and materials. Discussion followed regarding increased lighting in the Village and some of the wayfinding signs, overhead collision liability and vehicular, pedestrian, and ADA clearance height. Committee Member Pollack made minor typographical corrections, commented on the placement of the G2 sign and noted that it needs to be corrected. He referenced another sign and it was confirmed that it will be a double-faced sign. Additionally, he commented on the deletion of ExplorOcean from wayfinding signs. Ensuing discussion pertained to signage for ExplorOcean, the location of "K" signs and installing one by the green on Main Street and another by the Pavilion. Discussion continued regarding mixed-use components and the use of "twinkling" lights on the signs. It was noted that the "twinkles" will be oriented towards traffic and that their intensity can be controlled. Council Member Henn reported there will be another chance to approve the specific designs of the archway and signs. He commented on the possible change in the template of monument signs in the City. Discussion followed regarding removing the logo from the monument sign, representing ExplorOcean and the Fun Zone, and concerns relative to the amount of text on each sign. Action: The Committee unanimously agreed to finalize the Wayfinding Program, without the proposed changes to the monument sign, and forward it to City Council (6 ayes-0 noes, with Committee Member Oakes absent). 5. STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PLAN — RRM Design Recommended Action: Finalize Streetscape Improvement Plan and forward to City Council. Brian Hannigan, RRM Design, provided a presentation on the Streetscape Improvement Plan. Council Member Petros mentioned including an arm on the benches. Discussion ensued regarding the OCTA bus shelter, trash receptacles, and other amenities. Committee Member Rodheim suggested that the planters were too modern. Action: The Committee agreed that the planters should have a more historic look. The existing improvements were discussed. The Committee, staff, and public continued discussion on the color palette, landscaping, tree wells, maintenance, and lighting. 5 Council Member Henn suggested adding more landscaping overall. Action: The Committee unanimously agreed to finalize the Streetscape Plan as discussed, and to forward to City Council (6 ayes-0 noes, with Committee Member Oakes absent). IV. PUBLIC COMMENT - None V. ADJOURNMENT (Meeting End Time: 6:00 p.m.) There being no further business to come before the Balboa Village Advisory Committee, Chair Henn adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m. Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2014, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 6