REPORT TO THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Title
File #: 2015-7702
Location: 155 S. Murphy Avenue (APN: 209-06-009)
Applicant / Owner: Hoolala USA / Nick Gera
Proposed Project:
LANDMARK ALTERATION PERMIT to allow exterior modifications including repainting the facade of an existing commercial building in the Local Landmark District
Reason for Permit: A Landmark Alteration Permit is required for exterior modifications to buildings in the Murphy Station Heritage Landmark District.
Project Planner: Aastha Vashist, (408) 730-7458, avashist@sunnyvale.ca.gov
Issues: Consistency with Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines
Recommendation: Approve with conditions
Report
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed project is to allow modifications to the exterior colors of the existing commercial building located at 155 South Murphy Avenue. The existing building is two-stories in size and is currently occupied by Hoolala Chicken restaurant. The primary building entry faces South Murphy Avenue and the City-owned surface parking lot is located towards the rear of the building facing South Frances Street.
A Landmark Alteration Permit is required for any exterior modification to buildings within the Local Landmark District.
Background
The building was built in 1998 and has Victorian influences with slender columns at the entrance and arched windows on the second floor level. The building also has ornamental roof cornices and a balcony overlooking South Murphy Avenue. The primary colors of the original building were white stucco with decorative red trim and moldings (see photos in Attachment 2). The existing front canopy sign was approved under a separate staff-level Sign Permit (Project no. 2015-7487) in June 2015. The permit allowed fabric replacement and change of the color of the existing awning from red to black. The yellow copy and logo were approved as part of the sign permit.
A Neighborhood Preservation complaint was recently filed for repainting the façade and installing a rear awning signage without a permit. The permit to consider the rear awning is currently under review by staff similar to the front awning. This application is before the Heritage Preservation Commission because the bright yellow and red trim color used by the applicant may be considered a departure from the Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines. The Commission can provide direction regarding these color choices.
Color: The applicant proposes yellow trim and moldings along both facades of the building (see photos in Attachment 3 and 4). In addition, red door trims are proposed along the front façade facing South Murphy Avenue. The proposed shade of red is brighter than the existing red color of the trims and decorative moldings on both the building facades. The new colors are a departure from the existing palette of building colors along the streetscape, which includes shades of muted yellow, beige, pale peach, and dusty rose. These muted colors reflect the guidance in the Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines. Staff notes that the Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines were written over twenty years ago and over time the preferred color schemes have substantially changed, in keeping with the shifting color tastes and trends. The City has also shown acceptance to different color schemes that are an exception from the traditional color scheme of the Murphy Avenue District. For example, the buildings at 156 and 193 South Murphy Avenue have dark color shades for the main body that are traditionally reserved for highlighting the building details.
The changes are proposed to a small portion of the building façade; therefore, staff finds that the proposed modifications will not have a negative impact on the existing character of the street or architectural style of the building. Staff recommends painting the railing on the second floor in the red color to visually unify the building façade into a single entity and red also allows the railing detailing to have an equal visual impression. Staff has included a Condition of Approval (PS-1) requiring that the applicant to paint the railing in red to match the red door trims.
Applicable Design Guidelines
The following design guidelines from the Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines are applicable to the project:
Colors
• Every effort should be made to coordinate all the colors which make up a building façade, including awnings and signage.
Analysis: The proposed color of the trims and decorative elements complements the signage on the building facades. The proposed color palette is compatible with the existing building architecture and adds positively to the Murphy Avenue streetscape.
Public Contact: One hundred and seventy three notices were sent to surrounding property owners and residents adjacent to the subject site in addition to standard noticing practices, including advertisement in the Sunnyvale Sun Newspaper and on-site posting. No letters or calls were received from the public by staff.
Environmental Determination: The proposed modifications are not significant to warrant a historical impact analysis. The general form of the building remains as currently existing. A Categorical Exemption Class1 (minor alterations to existing structure) relieves this project from CEQA provisions.
CONCLUSION
Staff was able to make the required Findings for the Landmark Alteration Permit in Attachment 5.
If the Heritage Preservation Commission cannot make the findings to support the proposed colors, the applicant would be required to paint the trim and moldings back to the original red hue or other color with direction from the Commission.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Landmark Alteration Permit with recommended Conditions in Attachment 6.
2. Approve the Landmark Alteration Permit with modifications.
3. Deny the Landmark Alteration Permit.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve the Landmark Alteration Permit with recommended Conditions in Attachment 6.
Staff
Prepared by: Aastha Vashist, Assistant Planner
Approved by: Gerri Caruso, Principal Planner
ATTACHMENTS
1. Vicinity and Noticing Maps
2. Project Data Table
3. Site Photographs-Existing
4. Site Photographs-Proposed
5. Recommended Findings
6. Recommended Conditions of Approval