Art Jury Committee Meeting Minutes
RSF Association Office - 8:00 a.m.
July 10, 2007

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Present: President Jack Queen, Vice President Diane Larsen, Secretary Gail Frazar, Member Paul Slater

Also Present: Building Commissioner Robert Green, Senior Planner Kirk Dakan, Associate Planner Arnold Keene, Consulting Architect Jim Kelley-Markham and Administrative Assistant Jasie Gan

Absent: Member Mark McClure

The Minutes of the June 26, 2007 meeting were approved as written.

STAFF REPORTS:

The Construction Permit Application Form will be amended to include the title (position) of signer.  

Arnold Keene will be contacting the tenants regarding unapproved signage in the village area.

Board Member Kim Higgins sat in on this Art Jury meeting as an observer.

Consent Calendar: A motion was made, seconded and passed to approve the consent calendar.

CONFERENCE ITEMS:

Oldfield Property I.D. 35.4.3
Appeal: Art Jury’s decision letter from June 14, 2007

Board member Bob Spears conducted the mediation. The mediation was continued at Mr. Oldfield’s request.

The Art Jury reiterated their prior concerns about the proposed design, namely that they did not find the site/floor plan design, building placement in a prominent location or building bulk aesthetically pleasing. The project should therefore be redesigned. The Art Jury has previously provided extensive comments on this design as noted in the Art Jury’s letter dated April 12, 2007 (and prior correspondence). Please refer to this letter and prior Association correspondence for guidance in redesigning the project.

Additionally the Art Jury suggested that the applicant meet with the Association staff and Association Architect Jim Kelley-Markham to discuss design direction.

Chandler Family Property I.D. 32.12.4
Trust Workshop Application: Residence/Garage (7,420 sq. ft.), Attached Covered Areas (1,375 sq. ft.), Basement/Tuck-under (2,000 sq. ft.), Tuck-under Garage (4,300 sq. ft.), Guest House (725 sq. ft.), Maid’s Quarters (900 sq. ft.) Grading, Retaining Walls, Fencing & Walls

Architect Tom Bollay and Brian Zant attended the meeting.

The Art Jury made the following comments:

1. Please provide some story poles to allow full assessment of the visibility of the “enthusiast garage”
2. Please provide more detailed grading concepts.
3. Please show how the service quarters will be integrated into the site to minimize prominence and grading.
4. Please resubmit another Workshop Application.

Moe Property I.D. 36.19.1
Preliminary Application: Barn (1,008 sq. ft.), Fencing & Walls, Landscape, Request to keep 3 horses on 4.06 acres           

Mr. Moe, Architect Max Wuthrich and Landscape Architect George Mercer attended the meeting.

The Art Jury APPROVED the Preliminary Application subject to the following conditions:

1. Prior comments regarding landscaping at the north property line have not been addressed. Please incorporate a wider area between the fence and property line. Landscaping shall be indicated in this area with the Final submittal.
2. Tree removal proposed in the pasture area should be reduced. Please indicate reduced tree removal with the Final submittal.
3. Landscaping is required to screen the project from off-site. If for any reason the final, approved landscape installation does not meet this objective, the Association may require additional plantings, pursuant to Regulatory Code Section 42.0302. Any existing vegetation not shown and approved on the plans as “to be removed” shall be considered “Critical View” landscaping as defined in that regulation. Any trees or landscaping damaged or destroyed during construction or transplanting shall be replaced in-kind with new materials prior to Final Inspection of the landscaping.

Finley Property I.D. 9.8.8
Workshop Application: Addition (6,789 sq. ft.), Basement/Tuck-under Addition (2,735 sq. ft.), Attached Covered Areas (831 sq. ft.), Office (496 sq. ft.), Guest House/Pool House/Gym (2,926 sq. ft.) with Basement/Tuck-under (2,392 sq. ft.), Grading. Retaining Walls, Fencing & Walls, Entry Gate & Pilasters, Landscape, Pool/Spa

Mr. and Mrs. Finley, Austin Finley and Todd Brazzon attended the meeting.

The Art Jury made the following comments:

1. Please completely redesign both the “workout building” and the south wing/ bedroom addition primarily to keep the buildings on the existing pads; and minimize grading and prominence of the proposed additions.
2. The south wing/ bedroom addition requires extensive grading. Such grading does not respect the natural features of the site (a large, rectilinear fill with a man made appearance is proposed).
3. The south wing/ bedroom addition is located very close to the edge of slope in a prominent location. Additionally the addition is tall, bulky and contains vertical two story elements which further emphasize the building’s prominence. Such a prominent addition does not respect the natural features of the site. Please redesign to reduce the prominence of the building.
4. Portions of the south wing/ bedroom addition appear to be three stories. A maximum of two stories is permitted by par. 121 of the Rancho Santa Fe Protective Covenant. A covenant modification (covenant–wide) would be necessary to allow three stories and this is not encouraged by the Art Jury.
5. The long axis of the “workout” building has a north-south alignment. The design and alignment of the building requires that portions project out beyond the existing flat pad requiring extensive grading. Such grading does not respect the natural features of the site. Please redesign the building; move it away from the edge of slope; align it east-west and tuck it against the slopes to the north of the lower pad.
6. Please avoid straight driveways which allow public views into the site (“workout” building).
7. The current house is a Colonial/ Ranch style building. It will be very difficult, if not impossible to successfully convert this style of building to the proposed Mediterranean style. Authentic detailing including but not limited to thick walls and deeply recessed windows will be required.
8. Please avoid a contemporary interpretation of a Mediterranean design. The Art Jury favors a more traditional design direction.
9. Please avoid formal, axial arrangements of buildings. Please use a more informal arrangement and allow the natural features of the site to dictate building placement rather than modify the site to fit the buildings.

Gruen & Property I.D. 36.9.4
Smith Workshop Application: Addition (1,950 sq. ft.), Basement/Tuck-under Addition (2,400 sq. ft.), Attached Covered Area (1,000 sq. ft.), Detached Garage (1,550 sq. ft.), Guest House (1,600 sq. ft.)           

Mr. Gruen and Architect Don Looney attended the meeting.

The Art Jury previously reviewed and commented on an application for this site (see letter dated May 8, 2007 attached). The Art Jury considers that comments 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 from the May 8, 2007 letter have not been completely addressed. Additionally, the resubmitted proposal considered at the meeting of July 10, 2007 has a design direction which was not suggested by the Art Jury. The Art Jury is not in favor of the new design.

The Art Jury had the following comments:

The existing structure (“the bones of the building”) has a strongly defined character which dictates the exterior appearance. It will be extremely difficult to satisfactorily modify the building to a different style, especially of the high aesthetic standard required by the Art Jury.

The Art Jury again noted that it will be virtually impossible to achieve a “Lilian Rice” Spanish colonial style building by converting the current building, due to the inherent design features of the building.

If the applicant decides to proceed with a remodel which is not in the style of a “Lilian Rice” Spanish colonial building, please be aware that such a project will also be required to meet “uniform and high standard of artistic result” per par. 46 of the Rancho Santa Fe Protective Covenant.

1. The Art Jury considers that adding to the building’s bulk is not aesthetically pleasing. The building already has sufficient bulk. Only additions of a very limited size are suggested. The Art Jury is not in favor of adding substantially to the bulk of the residence. Any small additions should have a narrow, informal design. Please consider reducing the bulk of the building.
2. The proposed project adds a three story element. A Covenant-wide modification is required for this element. It is not recommended that the applicant pursue such a modification.
3. Submit clearer information on architectural changes to the exterior (vignettes).
4. Submit concept elevations and floor plans.
5. Submit complete floor plans.
6. Submit conceptual grading plans and a recent topography survey (per application requirements).
7. Submit accurate floor area information (square footages on the application and plans do not match).
8. Please resubmit a Workshop Application. NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Please refer to the Art Jury’s letter of May 8, 2007 for further direction.

CONSTRUCTION SITE SIGNS: Board Meeting of July 19, 2007

Allen Property I.D. 48.7.1
Temporary Construction Sign
North County Custom Homes

The Art Jury is recommending APPROVAL of the Temporary Construction Site Sign to the Board of Directors at the July 19, 2007 meeting.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

Alsadek Property I.D. 36.3.3
Grading Revisions

The Art Jury APPROVED the Grading Revisions and Revised Landscape Plan subject to the following condition:

1. Landscaping is required to screen the project from off-site. If for any reason the final, approved landscape installation does not meet this objective, the Association may require additional plantings, pursuant to Regulatory Code Section 42.0302. Any existing vegetation not shown and approved on the plans as “to be removed” shall be considered “Critical View” landscaping as defined in that regulation. Any trees or landscaping damaged or destroyed during construction or transplanting shall be replaced in-kind with new materials prior to Final Inspection of the landscaping.

Chapparone Property I.D. 2089.86
Final Application: Detached Patio Cover (324 sq. ft.), Fencing & Walls*, Landscape, Pool/Spa*, Propane Tank

The Art Jury APPROVED the Detached Patio Cover, Fire Pit and Propane Tank subject to the following conditions:

1. Provide detail of a solid gate design for the propane tank enclosure for staff review and approval prior to issuance of permit.
2. Landscaping is required to screen the project from off-site. If for any reason the final, approved landscape installation does not meet this objective, the Association may require additional plantings, pursuant to Regulatory Code Section 42.0302. Any existing vegetation not shown and approved on the plans as “to be removed” shall be considered “Critical View” landscaping as defined in that regulation. Any trees or landscaping damaged or destroyed during construction or transplanting shall be replaced in-kind with new materials prior to Final Inspection of the landscaping.

*The Art Jury DENIED the Fencing and Pool/Spa with the following comments:

  “WHEREAS, Rancho Santa Fe is unusually attractive and valuable as a high class place of residence because of the rare quality of its landscape, trees and shrubs and the fine architecture and other improvements established by its property owners; and WHEREAS, these property owners are most desirous of preserving, continuing and maintaining this character of community and rare landscape features and of upholding the quality of all future architecture and improvements; and of restricting the use, height and bulk of buildings;…” (Covenant Preamble).

It is the opinion of the Art Jury that a “ …reasonably high standard of artistic result and attractiveness in exterior and physical appearance…” and “fine architecture” required by Paragraph 46 of the Protective Covenant, would not be achieved by the addition of obtrusive structures and features, which increase visual prominence, including the proposed fencing. The proposed fencing is approximately 140 lineal feet along the golf course side of the property. The fence is proposed to be 5 feet tall and constructed of wood posts and vinyl chain link fencing. The 140 lineal feet of fencing proposed along the golf course is located within 12 inches of the applicant’s property line. This location would prohibit the applicant from incorporating any landscape buffer that would screen the fence from off-site views. Typically, the Art Jury requires 20 feet or more of landscape area to allow sufficient landscaping to screen fences along the golf course. The Art Jury is not in favor of man-made features, such as fencing, that are prominent to off-site views. 

The Art Jury noted that the Protective Covenant objective of “maintaining this character of community and rare landscape features.” Was in part achieved by maintaining predominantly a rural landscape comprising primarily of landscaping as opposed to architectural features. The Art Jury also noted that the location, within 12 inches of the property line on a prominent location with little existing landscaping, add to the level of prominence and do not preserve the rural “character of community”. For the above reasons the Art Jury could not make the finding required by Paragraph 46 of the Protective Covenant that the fencing would maintain a  “… reasonably high standard of artistic result and attractiveness in exterior and physical appearance….”

Culver Property I.D. 2089.132
Final Application: Commercial Sign
Chicago Title Escrow

The Art Jury could not recommend approval of the Commercial Sign at this time.

The Art Jury prefers that the multi-tenant sign be used in place of the proposed tenant signs to avoid a proliferation of signs.

Culver Property I.D. 2089.132
Final Application: Commercial Sign
Wells Fargo

The Art Jury could not recommend approval of the Commercial Sign at this time.

The Art Jury prefers that the multi-tenant sign be used in place of the proposed tenant signs to avoid a proliferation of signs.

Culver Property I.D. 2089.132
Final Application: Repaint Culver Building Sign

The Art Jury could not recommend approval of the Commercial Sign at this time.

Please resubmit a smaller “Culver Building” sign with the white lettering on green background. The existing sign is much larger than would be approved under current Art Jury policy. The current, muted color of the sign mitigates its size. If the sign were to be repainted with the more contrasting green on white color scheme the sign’s size would accentuated and would be unaesthetic because of its new visual prominence.

If the applicant  wishes to have a new color scheme, it is suggested that a design be created for a smaller sign that is in keeping with the traditional signs in the Village Commercial Area. The traditional signs are smaller, made of steel, and incorporate decorative cutouts.

Gingiloski Property I.D. 27.7.3
Preliminary Application: Addition (2,443 sq. ft.), Attached Covered Areas (823 sq. ft.), Retaining Walls

The Art Jury DEFERRED the Preliminary Application with the following comments:

1. Relocate the secondary driveway gate to be a minimum of 50 feet from the edge of pavement on Las Colinas.
2. Clarify design of the address monument. The site plan indicates a rectangular outline.
3. The Art Jury is not in favor of the large patio area proposed at the south side of the residence. The patio area is approximately 2000 SF and is located near the street. Additionally a driveway is very close to the patio and landscaping will be limited creating views of the area from the street.

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