Neighborhood conservation meeting on June 2nd
Z
Community Workshop to discuss the highest priority of the Land Use and
Circulation Element (LUCE) Strategy Framework—conserving the character
and scale of the City’s residential neighborhoods. The workshop will
focus on:
NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION: how is this distinct from historic
preservation and what are other communities doing?
ATTRIBUTES & CHALLENGES: what are the attributes of your neighborhood
and what are the major challenges it faces?
TOOLS & APPROACHES: what type of tools or procedures can assure
conservation of your neighborhood?
Please join us to provide input, and to participate in shaping the
future of Santa Monica.
The workshop is on Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:30 9:00 P.M. at the Main
Public Library located at 601 Santa Monica Boulevard. Please RSVP to
ensure adequate equipment and staffing.
FolkA...@aol.com
Freida Dubin
If anyone is interested - ARB hearing on more cell antennas -- more microwaves into the air. Seems like there are already enough cell towers up and down Wilshire.
7.1. ARB09-178, 320 Wilshire Boulevard: Commercial
Approval of building design, colors and materials for antenna and screening on the rooftop of an existing commercial building.
Architectural Review Board Meeting: June 1, 2009
Agenda Item: 7.1
To: Architectural Review Board
From: Steve Traeger, Urban Designer
Laura Beck, ARB Liaison
Subject: ARB 09-178 to approve the design, colors, and materials for the installation of an unmanned wireless communication facility and related equipment.
Address: 320 Wilshire Boulevard
Applicant: WDR, LLC
Recommended Action
It is recommended that the Architectural Review Board approve ARB application 09-178 based upon the findings and subject to the conditions contained within this report.
Executive Summary
The applicant proposes to install an unmanned wireless communication facility on the roof of a 3-story commercial office building located at the subject property. All equipment will be screened with appropriate materials painted to match the finish of the existing building. It is anticipated that the proposed antennas will have minimal aesthetic impact to the neighborhood (as viewed from the public right-of-way), therefore staff recommends project approval.
Background
08UP-008: On February 26, 2009, the Zoning Administrator approved, with conditions, the installation of an unmanned wireless communication facility on the roof of an existing three-story commercial building in the BSC-2, Bayside Commercial District.
The review and approval by the Zoning Administrator included the following condition of approval:
· The Architectural Review Board shall review the proposed screen wall extension and the appropriate texture and color of the enclosure as to match the existing building. The final design and screening shall be subject to review and approval by the Architectural Review Board, prior to issuance of a Building Permit. The facility, including all antennas, associated electrical and mechanical equipment, and cable trays, shall be painted to match the color of the existing building or structure upon which it is located.
Project / Site Information
The following table provides a brief summary of project data:
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Zoning District / Design Guidelines: |
BSC-2 (Bayside Commercial) Zoning District |
|
Parcel Area (SF): |
5,000 SF |
|
Parcel Dimensions: |
100’ x 50’ (rectangular shaped lot) |
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Existing On-Site Improvements (Year Built): |
3-story commercial building constructed in 1949. |
|
Mature Vegetation |
None |
|
Historic Resource |
Existing building is not listed. |
|
CEQA |
Exempt pursuant to Section 15303(3) |
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Adjacent Zoning & Use: |
North C3 – Commercial use. South BSC-2 – Commercial use. East BSC-2 – Commercial use. West BSC-1 – Commercial use.
|
The subject property is located on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard between the Third Street Promenade and Fourth Street in the BSC-2 (Bayside Commercial) District and is approximately 5,000 square feet in area. The area includes a mix of commercial uses. Surrounding uses consist of commercial retail to the north and west, restaurant use to the east, and office commercial to the south. Adjacent buildings to the subject property are two and three stories in height, which is consistent with other buildings on the block.
Analysis
The applicant proposes to install an unmanned wireless communication facility on the roof of an existing three-story commercial building in the BSC-2 (Bayside Commercial) District. The existing omni antennas located on the roof will be removed, while the existing equipment cabinets and screen enclosure will remain. The existing building is approximately 40 feet in height to the top of the parapet wall.
The proposed wireless facility consists of six (6) panel antennas, and six (6) related mechanical equipment cabinets located within the existing 216 square foot roof-top screen enclosure. Two of the proposed antennas will be concealed within the existing screen enclosure (west facing sector), while the remaining 4 antennas will be concealed behind a vertical RF transparent screen wall extension (NE & SE facing sectors). The existing screen enclosure is 5’-10” above the parapet wall, and is located toward the rear portion of the roof. As approved by the Zoning Administrator (Use Permit), the applicant proposes to add a screen extension above a portion of the existing enclosure within the general footprint, approximately 72 square feet (33% of the existing enclosure footprint in terms of building volume) in size. The extension is 5’-6” in height above the height of the existing enclosure, and is approximately 11’-4” in height from the top of the parapet wall. The RF transparent screen extension will be textured (medium finish stucco) and painted (beige) to match the existing building. In addition, any associated electrical and mechanical equipment, and cable trays, will also be painted beige to match the color of the existing building.
Prior to Use Permit approval, staff worked with the applicant on a variety of alternate designs in efforts to minimize the visual impact of the antennas. The proposed design is an improvement from the original proposal which extended the height of the entire enclosure that added a considerable amount of building volume to the roof area. The enclosure is located toward the rear of the building (38’ from the front building edge and 11’ from the side building edge), thereby reducing overall visibility from Wilshire Boulevard and 4th Street. The height of the existing building and the 3 foot rooftop parapet further reduces the visibility of the enclosure from the public right-of-way. The proposed design was reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator in review of Use Permit 08-008.
In summary, the proposed wireless communication facility is compatible with the building design. The screening material for the antenna will be textured and painted to match the existing finish of the building. The new wireless communication facility will have minimal aesthetic impacts on the neighborhood as viewed from the public right-of-way. Therefore, staff recommends approval of the project.
Impact on Historic Resources
The subject property is not listed on the City’s Historic Resources Inventory.
Code Compliance
This application has been preliminarily reviewed for compliance with the BSC-2 (Bayside Commercial) district development standards which address aspects of the plan that could result in significant changes to the project’s design. A complete code-compliance review will not occur until the application is submitted for plan check. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the plans comply fully with all applicable provisions of the Municipal Code. The applicant has been notified of any significant non-compliant aspects of their plans, and a condition has been added requiring full compliance with all applicable regulations prior to the issuance of a building permit. Any significant changes to the design subsequent to any ARB approval will require Board approval.
Building Design
|
DESIGN ELEMENTS |
PROPOSED EXTERIOR MATERIAL, FINISH AND COLOR |
|
RF Transparent Screening |
Stucco, painted and textured to match beige finish of building. |
FINDINGS:
A. The plan for the proposed building or structure is expressive of good taste, good design, and in general contributes to the image of Santa Monica as a place of beauty, creativity and individuality in that the existing and proposed RF transparent screen wall enclosure will be textured and painted to match the existing building on-site. In addition, any associated electrical and mechanical equipment, and cable trays, shall be painted to match the color of the existing building. The facility will have minimal aesthetic impacts on the neighborhood as viewed from the public right-of-way.
B. The proposed building or structure is not of inferior quality such as to cause the nature of the local neighborhood or environment to materially depreciate in appearance and value in that high quality material as detailed in the application submittal and as presented to the Architectural Review Board will be used.
C. The proposed design of the building or structure is compatible with developments on land in the general area in that the existing and proposed RF transparent screen wall enclosure will be textured and painted to match the existing improvements on-site. In addition, any associated electrical and mechanical equipment, and cable trays, shall be painted to match the color of the existing building. The enclosure is located toward the rear of the building, thereby reducing overall visibility from Wilshire Boulevard and 4th Street. The height of the existing building and the 3 foot rooftop parapet further reduces the visibility of the enclosure from the public right-of-way.
D. The proposed development conforms to the effective guidelines and standards adopted pursuant to Chapter 9.32 – Architectural Review Board, and all other applicable ordinances insofar as the location and appearance of the buildings and structures are involved. Specifically, the location and appearance of the buildings and structures comply with required findings set forth in Chapter 9.32, as documented by the Architectural Review Board, and as conditioned, the plans will fully comply with all applicable regulations prior to the issuance of a building permit.
CONDITIONS:
1. This approval shall expire when the administrative or discretionary entitlements previously granted by an associated approval have lapsed. If no such permit has been issued, this approval shall expire one year from its effective date, unless appealed or otherwise implemented pursuant to applicable municipal regulations.
2. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall demonstrate that the plans comply with all applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. Significant changes to a project’s design shall require review and approval of the Architectural Review Board. Minor changes may be approved administratively pursuant to all applicable guidelines.
The Architectural Review Board’s approval, conditions of approval, or denial of this application may be appealed to the Planning Commission if the appeal is filed with the Zoning Administrator within ten consecutive days following the date of the Architectural Review Board’s determination in the manner provided in Chapter 9.32, Section 9.32.160.
Prepared by: Steve Mizokami, Associate Planner
Steve Traeger, Urban Designer
Laura Beck, ARB Liaison
Attachments
A. Applicant’s Submittal Material