Meeting Information

Civic_Design_Committee

CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, November 17, 2003
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes

Commissioners Present: Stanlee Gatti, Andrea Cochran, William Meyer, Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, Rod Freebairn-Smith

Absent: all present

Staff Present: Richard Newirth, Nancy Gonchar, Rommel Taylor


Call To Order: 3:10 p.m.

1. J.P. Murphy Clubhouse Phase 1
   
   Denise Loo, Project Manager, Recreation and Park introduced the project. Ms. Loo stated that there had been several community presentations starting in April with the most recent being last month. Ms. Loo also reviewed the scope of work for the project. She explained that the project consisted of a renovation and expansion of the existing facility as well as accessibility improvements. The expansion would add new storage and a multipurpose room. The renovations included new doors and windows, refinished floors, repainted exterior walls and a new roof. Ms. Loo introduced Roggerio Bittencourt, architect, DPW BOA.
   
   Mr. Bittencourt explained that for the most part the building was exactly the same. The new storage and multipurpose room would be located at the gound floor level. The material and color would match the existing building.
   
   John Thomas, landscape architect, DPW BOE presented the landscape improvements. He explained that there would be new play structures and improved courtyard areas for more public oriented functions.
   
   Commissioner Gatti opened the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Gatti closed the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Freebairn-Smith stated that the design was on a good track.
   
   Commissioner Cochran commented that it was difficult to get a sense of the materiality from the drawings. She also commented that it might be difficult to match the existing colors.
   
   Commissioner Stauffacher-Solomon stated that she did not like the colors and that the team should study other color options.
   
   Commissioner Meyer stated that he liked the overall building design. He agreed with commissioner Stauffacher-Solomon that different colors should be explored. He stated that the team should look at different hues and values with in the color palette presented.
   
   Commissioner Gatti stated that he liked the forms and color choice. He felt that they were appropriate to the architectural style. Mr. Gatti commented that the presentation was also well done. He recommended that they return for a combined phase 2 and 3.
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1: Meyer
   Vote: Unanimous
   
   
2. Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center and Oceanview Park Phase 3
   
   Michael Pierron, architect,stated that there were no changes in the design since the Phase 2 approval.
   
   
   Motion to approve Phase 3: Freebairn-Smith
   Vote: Unanimous
   
   
3. La Grande tank Replacement Project Phase 3
   
   Stanley So, Architect , DPW, BOA introduced the project. He stated the project designed had evolved with community input since October of 2002.
   
   Arts commission staff asked for specific community meeting dates.
   
   Howard Fung, Project Manager, PUC stated that he would forward to the Arts Commission a list with the meeting dates.
   
   Mr. Fung stated that the PUC along with DPW had been making revisions on the overall design since February of 2003. Based on community comments, the design team attempted to make the tower more prominent but not overwhelming. Engineering issues and functionality were also at the top of the list during redesign. Mr. Fung commented that the color would remain the same based on community input.
   
   Richard Newirth, Executive Director, Arts Commission asked Mr. Fung to clarify that the project design being presented today not the same design approved by the Civic Design Committee on February 24, 2003.
   
   Mr. Fung stated that today was the first time these design changes were being presented to the Civic Design Committee.
   
   Mr. Newirth asked for clarification on what community groups were in support of the current design.
   
   Mr. Fung stated that over 1,000 people had been notified of community design meetings.
   
   Commissioner Gatti stated that the only public comment the other commissioners should consider are the ones offered today either verbally or via submitted letter. Mr. Gatti opened the floor to public comment
   
   Robin Chiang, architect , board member San Francisco Beautiful, expressed his opinion against the proposal.
   
   Michael Alexander, architect, board member San Francisco Beautiful, expressed his opinion against the proposal.
   
   Franco Mancini, President, Friends of McLaren Park, expressed his opinion against the proposal.
   
   Fran Marton via letter read by Mr. Mancini, expressed her opinion against the proposal.
   
   Commissioner Gatti closed the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Meyer stated that the new proposal presented was generally fine. He agreed with the addition of the pilasters to frame the access stair. He commented that the color scheme should looked at further. Mr. Meyer felt that the screen at the top of the tower should be removed. He expressed that the form of the tower should be studied further.
   
   Commissioner Staufacher Solomon stated that previously approved proposal was stronger.
   
   Commissioner Cochran stated that the she would prefer a tower that is clearly of an industrial aesthetic. She commented that she would urge the designers to explore options that did not included excessive decoration. In general she felt the design was acceptable.
   
   Commissioner Freebairn-Smith commented that the site plan should be revisited and the form of the tank studied further.
   
   Commissioner Gatti stated that stated that the presented design was acceptable, however he was not pleased with the process. Mr. Gatti stated that this was clearly a phase 2 review and not a phase 3 because the design had drastically changed. He stated that to approve the design the team needed to present additional schemes that illustrated the process of reaching the current design.
   
   Martha Ketterer, landscape architect, DPW BOE briefly reviewed the site plan. She explained that the plan had not changed since the previous review.
   
   Commissioner Gatti recommended that the design team return to the Civic Design Committee for a combined phase 2 and phase 3 review.
   
   
   
   
4. New Business
   
   
5. Adjournment 4:50 p.m.
   

Revision Date