Time is now 3 p.m.

I'd like to call to order this historic design review commission meeting for Wednesday February 4th, 2026.

May I have a roll call, please?

Maman Seveno.

Here.

Velasquez?

Here.

Galloway Mazuka?

Here.

Givata.

Okay, we'll come back to you.

Group?

Here.

Commissioner Giv Guevara.

Here.

Sorry about that.

You're good.

Thank you.

Cervantes.

Holland.

Fetzer?

Here.

And Gibbs.

Here.

We have a quorum.

Thank you.

May I have translation services, please?

Good afternoon, everyone.

Buenas tardes at all those.

Gracias.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The Historic and Design Review Commission is an advisory board appointed by the City Council.

I am J.

Maurice Gibbs, Chairman, and the Vice Chair is Jeffrey Petser.

It is the function of the Commission to advise the city manager and all relevant city departments concerning all applications for permits for properties in historic districts for landmarks on city property in the river improvement overlay and for demolitions.

In considering whether to recommend approval or disapproval of an application for certificate of appropriateness, the commission shall be guided by the city's unified development code and design guidelines and standards that have been adopted by City Council.

An appeal of a decision by administrative official can be filed in accordance with the city's unified development code.

If anyone present wishes to speak in favor or in opposition to any item on today's agenda, please sign up on the public comment sheet.

It is not necessary to sign up if you are the owner of or representative for a project on the agenda.

You will be called on as the case is called.

Case representatives will be given no more than 15 minutes to present their case with an additional two minutes to respond to public comments.

Speakers for or opposed to a case will be limited to two minutes each.

Speakers may also sign up to yield their time.

I'm sorry, speakers may also sign to yield their two minutes to another speaker who has signed up.

Anyone who is yielding their time must be present at the time the speaker is called upon.

Speakers will be called upon in the order in which they are signed up.

Following public testimony, any commissioner may call upon any speaker to respond to further questions.

Approval by the commission does not take the place of any type of permit.

Permits must be attained for all work.

Certificates of appropriateness for work approved by the commission will be emailed to you within 10 days.

No work of any type is to be started without obtaining the appropriate city permits after a certificate of appropriateness has been issued by the Office of Historic Preservation.

At this time, please silence your cell phones.

Good afternoon, everyone.

First, just a quick note that we've been joined online by Commissioner Galloway.

Welcome.

No announcements other than we do have our restored by light event coming up next Friday on February 13th.

Oh look, Edward is ready with it.

Um so this is a free public event at Mission San Jose the the night before Valentine's Day, so it might be a good day-night option as well.

Um so this is where we light up the facade with the original frescoed appearance as well as a few other fun things.

There'll be there'll be music and dancing and live performances, um, as well as food trucks.

So bring kids, bring families, bring your picnic blankets and all of that, um, and come out for a good time.

Um and then with that we can do action on meeting minutes from January 21st.

Can have a motion for meeting minutes, please.

Yes.

Um I move for approval of the meeting minutes for January 21, 2026.

A second.

It's been moved and properly seconds.

Any further discussion?

Maybe we're rolling call, please.

Aye.

Galloway.

Aye.

Mazuka?

Aye.

Givada.

Aye.

Group.

Aye.

Cervantes?

Yes.

Fetzer?

Hi.

And Gibbs.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Motion carries, thank you.

Hey, just another note, we've been joined by Commissioner Cervantes online, so we have four virtually today.

Um on the screen, you will see we have six items on consent.

Um, is it true we don't have any voicemails?

Okay, so we'll play voicemails at this time.

I don't consent.

So there actually are no public comments on consent items.

Thank you.

Do any commissioners wish to pull any items?

Yes, sir.

I wish to pull item number three.

I wish to push item number one.

Item three and item one.

Any other items.

All right, hearing none, and may I have a motion for the balance of the consent agenda?

I would like to motion to accept items two, four, five, and six, all with staff stipulations.

Second.

May I have a roll call, please?

Savino.

Aye.

Velasquez?

Aye.

Galloway.

Aye.

Ms.

Yuka?

Aye.

Kivara.

Aye.

Group.

Aye.

Cervantes?

Yes.

Fetzer?

Aye.

And Gibbs.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

You're on the consent agenda agenda and your address is 219 East Houston, 340 East Wee Setch, 110 Lexington, and 710 North Doll of your case has been approved, and you do not need to stay for the remainder of this hearing.

If you have any questions, please contact your case manager or member of staff.

Your certificate of appropriateness or commission action letter will be prepared and emailed to you within 10 days.

Commissioners, we'll start off with item number one.

This is the via bus shelters.

I will um I guess I'll read the requests and the recommendation or we can just answer questions at this time.

Commissioner Cervantes, um, you can go ahead, sir.

Yeah.

What I was looking for was uh the changes that were discussed at the last uh uh meeting, both the DRC and uh in the uh subsequent meetings we've had.

I know we talked a lot about uh ways that they can do to soften up the impact of this of this uh this construct here in the in the historic districts.

So I'd like for them to just kind of discuss the changes that they made.

Um and then put some graphic representation of the changes they made.

I don't want to rehack the entire thing, just the major changes that we're talking about.

Sure.

Sorry.

Oh, you know what?

Okay.

All right.

So uh good afternoon.

My name is Art Herrera.

I am the director of special projects at VIA.

So based on the the comments received from the first HDRC meeting, the D uh uh design review committee uh meeting, as well as some of our follow-up with the neighborhood associations.

Uh there are four items where we are uh making some adjustments to the design, and then there is one item that we are still looking into uh and it's more related to uh operational constraints for our digital messaging.

So let's just uh walk through these five items.

The first is the shelter design.

So uh one of the comments we received during those various meetings was uh it it at least something that we knew we would be able to touch is the color.

So what we've done is we reached out to uh the neighborhoods, and what uh with King William and Monte Vista have requested is for the darker color on these stations.

And so for those stations as well as the sister stations, and that's essentially the station that's across the street or heading in the opposite direction.

We're going with a dark grain color, which uh fits within our color palette uh and is something that the the neighborhoods had uh requested specifically.

Uh related to the signage panel, one of the other uh comments that we received was how do we tie in or at least acknowledge the fact that these shelters are in these historic neighborhoods.

And so in our signage panels, we will be incorporating logos related to the uh the appropriate uh neighborhood.

Um and then on the windscreen itself, uh, because it's student artwork, we are going to be putting a uh an artist recognition plaque at the top.

And I think I have uh an image of that.

And uh and a uh plaque at the top of the uh the wind screen that acknowledges the the student artwork.

And then just to the right of it, we're going to be putting in a uh the same uh um narrative that is provided by the Office of Historic Preservation on there to acknowledge the uh the neighborhood associated or the neighborhood that it is uh located in.

The other comment we heard back was related to the uh rock wall on the uh on the eastern side of Roosevelt, across the street from the uh the park there.

So originally what we were going to do is we were going to demo a portion of that stone wall and uh replace it with concrete wall.

One of the comments we heard back was whether or not we would be able to apply some of the salvaged rock as a veneer so that we can have a more uh natural looking transition between the rock wall and the new wall that we're building.

And so that's one of the things that we will be doing.

We will be applying any of the the salvage rock from that demolition and applying it as a veneer to that concrete wall.

And then the the last thing that we're still looking into uh is so the digital messaging screens at the top that's providing real-time bus arrival information.

There uh may be an opportunity where a portion of that sign is dedicated to push out messages, not only to our writers, uh, but also um to just anyone walking up and down uh along the station.

And one of the things that we could push is uh a uh the logo of the neighborhood and any events occurring in that neighborhood uh during that month or or if any upcoming uh events that may be happening in or around that neighborhood as well.

Uh the other thing that we would like to do is include a QR code in our signage that would send that uh any individual that uh clicks or or takes a photo of the QR code straight to their uh to the website for that specific neighborhood.

And uh other than that, those are the specific changes that we're proposing and we will be making uh to these stations.

Thank you, sir.

You received any comments from the community on the um the brutalness of the design as far as it being squared off and kind of blocky, that that sort of thing is as a community mentioned anything about that.

There was a comment from uh the King William uh neighborhood that uh that specifically asked if the there's an existing shelter there in front of Bonham Academy.

Uh and it's a we call it an historic shelter, ironically, and it's uh one of our oldest shelters.

They requested whether or not that exact shelter could just be used instead of this uh proposed canopy.

The issue is it doesn't provide as much coverage and as much uh shade and weather protection as what we've been hearing from the community at all uh at large, as well as from the council and our board.

And so it would go against one of those project goals if we had done that.

Other than that, there there hasn't been any uh comment specific to the design of the shelters.

More so on the color.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions for applicant?

Mr.

Chair, I have a question for the applicant.

Going to the color, the proposed green color.

I see on page 31 of the 73-page document, you have your color palette laid out.

Um you're showing that the darker color will be used for beams and joists and those sorts of things.

Yes.

Uh how about the uh roofing material?

It's a standing state seam type.

It it is, and that material would also be the same color.

So essentially the uh the structure itself as well as the roof would all be that darker green.

So are you getting a custom color for the roof, or are you using a standard roof color for the rest of the custom all of it's a custom color?

Okay.

And it's the darker color in the basement.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions about the applicant?

All right.

May I have a motion, please?

I make a motion, Mr.

Chair, to uh approve as presented by the applicant with all applicable staff stipulations.

Second.

Further discussion.

May I have a roll call, please?

Yeah.

Well, I'm sorry.

Okay.

We did a little bit of a delay.

I'm sorry, Mr.

Chair.

Go ahead.

Yeah, I just I I do have a concern with the bulkiness, the squareness of the tubing and the construction of it.

Um I do see that they have uh adjusted the color palette.

They're trying to not make it stick out.

Uh I don't think that there's been enough change to it to do that.

Um while I support the project and I support the changes they have done, I'm still a little hesitant to support the overall motion because of that.

So I think I will be voting no on this uh iteration of it.

Thank you, sir.

Other comments?

Um it's more of a question.

Um in looking at the uh Pena station uh illustration, it looks like in the background there are some columns with uh V shape that goes up and they're they're curvilinear.

It looks like there's one, two, three, four, four of them.

Is that a design element or is that something that I'm misreading?

Uh what page are you looking at the way you pull it up?

It's the first package number one, not the full package.

And where it has the see that historic.

Do you see those green uprights with the V column or a V design at the top?

Okay, so that's actually the image is superimposed over an existing image.

What you're seeing in the background is actually the existing shelter canopy, and that's what that element is that you see there, that V.

It's just it was superimposed.

Yeah, I I see why they wanted it.

It's it's elegant and and very different from the new one.

Um thank you.

Sure.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chair, I have a question for the applicant.

But sure.

J just I'm just uh wondering uh looking at that the green that is you know really kind of a typical hunter green.

Are do you have any concern that that the I guess the the full purpose of the colors is correlating with what we think people remember so they'll know where they're going, right?

Did y'all have any concerns that the darker green at night possibly would look black?

With the amount of uh under lighting that we're going to be prepared uh have it at the stations, it it shouldn't come off that way.

You it should be lit enough that you should see that it is still green.

Sure, sure.

Thank you.

I have one more question, Mr.

Chair.

Sir.

Okay, sir.

Yeah, uh speaking to those D's of the of the uh uh previous candidate.

Can you incorporate something like that to retain some of the character of the previous junction there?

It not on these uh shelters, no sir.

Thank you.

All right.

Final questions.

All right, may I have a roll call, please?

Savino?

Aye.

The last guess?

Aye.

Galloway.

I.

Group.

Aye.

Cervantes.

No.

Holland?

Aye.

Pet sir?

Hi.

And Gibbs.

Hi.

Motion carries.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Item number three, please.

Item number three is 175 East Houston Street.

The uh applicant Francisco Barone, as well as Aubrey Hartman, uh, should be with us virtually.

Francisco, are you there?

Uh yes.

Can you guys hear us okay?

Sure can.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you.

Vice Chair Officer.

Yes.

Um I pulled this just for to reiterate a couple of staff comments.

Uh one is screening of the rooftop equipment on the new edition.

Um the latest drawings show a five-foot tall parapet wall and uh to screen the equipment.

But I think it should be noted that depending on what equipment is selected and how it's installed, the five foot may not be tall enough.

And so that uh the height of that screen may be need to be adjusted to uh hide the equipment.

Um that is basically in reference to a an earlier project that came before the commission where we were assured by the designers that uh the rooftop equipment of a new downtown hotel would be screened uh due to the design of the building, uh wide roof overhangs and such.

And um it was passed and is uh now under construction, and you can see that rooftop equipment uh wherever you can see that building, which is very unfortunate.

Uh so uh want to make sure that the screening of that equipment uh I think is very important for um not only meeting the guidelines but for the overall aesthetic of the of the design.

The other element is um staff's recommendation that the uh the recessed dark black uh panel recess panel that's on St.

Mary's, that there should be some articulation in there to uh break that up right now.

It's a fairly wide element and uh as you further develop this that you look at what's happening in that swath, whether you can I know there's a fire stair behind that wall, whether you can put windows at the landings, whether you can put in an uh some sort of uh complementary or accent vertical band to break up that width.

So just want to reiterate those two staff comments uh going forward as y'all develop these.

Okay, yeah.

Great feedback uh you um making sure that recorded any with our MEP consultant again just to make sure that we're shielding or screening any of the mechanical equipment up at the roof.

And then we also hear your concerns about the connector keys.

Um on the west side, we do have a couple of guest rooms where we do have punch windows, and I think that the recommendation of looking at adding some other glazing on this uh thing Mary's side is also something worth uh studying on our end.

So we'll definitely take a look into that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Other questions, comments or the applicant.

May I have a motion, please?

Yes, I move for conceptual approval of items one and two with staff stipulations.

Uh at this time, no action on item three.

Staff uh does not recommend that, and I believe uh the city is still studying whether a passenger drop-off is uh warranted on Houston Street.

Second.

It's been moved and properly second further discussion.

Um uh Mr.

Chair, with your permission uh to the maker of the motion, uh it seems that it would be uh blatantly clear if perhaps uh the language uh in the motion included maybe the the removal of the term five feet and and just uh the terms to uh uh screening to to adequately uh screen uh mechanical equipment.

That way that that way the the motion covers the amend the motion to uh delete the reference to a five-foot tall mechanical screen, but uh the height of the screen should be dictated by the equipment and how it's mounted and its ultimate uh height and um yes, thank you.

Do the second agree?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Further discussion, questions for the applicant.

May I have a roll call, please?

Savina.

Aye.

Velasquez?

I.

Galloway.

Aye.

Mazuka?

Aye.

Givata.

Aye.

Group.

Aye.

Yes.

Holland?

Aye.

Petzer?

Aye.

And Gibbs.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item number seven, please.

Item number seven, uh HDRC case number 20, 26, 013, 418 Florida, and 319 East Carolina.

The applicant is requesting conceptual approval to construct a commercial structure on the vacant lot addresses for 18 Florida and 319 East Carolina, located within the Lavaca Historic District.

Let me uh sorry, I'll read the recommendation.

Uh staff recommends conceptual approval of the proposed building footprint, general lot layout, and general building materials based on findings A through T with the following stipulations.

One that the structure setback from East Carolina should be greater than the setbacks of the adjacent structures to the immediate west.

So then finding D, a setback diagram should be submitted for review and approval.

Two that a street elevation should be developed to show the proposed height and context with the adjacent single-story historic structure on East Carolina and Florida streets is noted in finding F.

Three, that transom windows be installed above each canopy.

Additionally, staff recommends that the profiles of muttons, mullions, another storefront and transome frame elements should relate to those found historically on commercial structures within the Lovaca Historic District.

Four, that detailed landscaping and lighting plans be submitted for review and approval by the commission.

Five is in regards to a master signage plan being developed.

Six that all mechanical and service equipment be screened as required by the guidelines as noted in finding P.

Seven that the applicant consider relocation or repositioning of the dumpster or that the applicant propose a dumpster location that is complementary of the structure's architecture.

Seven, that no curb cut exceed uh excuse me, eight, that no curb cut exceed 25 feet in width.

Uh nine, that all parking areas be buffered to be consistent with the UDC and stipulation tens regarding archaeology.

Um we have the applicant here in person um and the applicant can field any questions that you have at this time.

I will say, and I'll let the applicant clarify that they have uh confirmed that they are in agreement with staff's stipulations.

Hi, my name is Lorena, and this is Miles.

We're with Villa Park, a part of KPNJ.

And yeah, so we had responded to all these recommendations.

Um we're providing the details necessary, the setbacks, we are within that setback, we're further in.

Um we will be providing that street elevation on the CDs if this continues forward.

Um the we will providing the transom windows, and those will reflect the mullions that are within the historic district.

Um the landscaping and lighting plans, everything that needs to be submitted.

The owner agreed that we will be submitting that.

We've also met with the La Vaca Association this past Friday.

They gave us their concerns, and we we've responded to what they were requesting.

This used to be called the shops at um Celltown, and they wanted it to be the shops at La Vaca.

So um the owner agreed that we would revise that and that we would provide a mural on the I-37 elevation to kind of give it the grand entrance to the historic neighborhood.

Um of course they were concerned of the trees that are existing there that will all be remaining.

Um there's a big peacon tree, and the ones along I-37 will also remain.

And the adjacent neighbors um with the fence line, they went to this meeting.

Um they had concerns about screening, so we've removed a couple of parking spaces to add additional shrubs and vertical landscape to help um screen their area.

We agreed to keep their fences.

Um the neighbor on Florida Street, they want their fence to remain.

Um, so we approve that.

And the neighbor on the left-hand side, Carolina Street, they want a new fence, which um the owner will be providing um per their request.

And um we'll be adding additional screening at the dumpsters, and I believe those were all of their requests.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Chair, we have three voicemails.

Okay.

Um, and I'll note uh while I'm pulling those up, there are also two letters in your packets.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Chris Golke.

I live at 410 Florida Street in the La Vaca Fork neighborhood, and I'm calling in regards to the proposed development at 418 Florida Street.

Uh it's case number two zero two six-zero one three.

Uh item number seven for the upcoming meeting.

Uh, as the direct next door neighbor on the western side of the property line, I want to say that I am in support of this development.

This is the best of the proposed uses for this property.

Um, several different ideas have been proposed over the years.

Um, and as the neighbor, uh, we really like the idea of a small retail and dining uh facility going in right here.

Uh we actually had the opportunity to meet with the architects directly and see a preliminary landscape plan that has uh trees on the western edge, which would be along you know my property line.

And you know, as they have shown us um with a good number of trees keeping the real uh big old growth pecan tree that's on the corner of the property.

Um if they go forward like this with this kind of landscaping, um, you know, that's uh real acceptable to me as a neighbor, and I think would look really nice uh in our neighborhood.

Um the other thing is we spoke to them about the fencing between our properties, and they agreed to keep the existing fencing in place, and uh that's acceptable to us, uh, and you know, creates a fine buffer between our properties.

And so overall, um, I think this would be a nice addition to the neighborhood and something that the neighbors will use.

And so, as I said, uh very much in support of this development uh next door.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Emily Golke, and I live at 410 Florida Street in Lavaca.

I'm calling about case um 2026 oh thirte at 418 Florida Street.

Item number seven for the hearing on February 4th, 2026.

I just wanted to say that I'm very excited by the proposition of this property, and I think that the space is something the community will enjoy, um, especially in comparison to the other propositions that have been made about this property over the last few years.

I viewed an initial landscaping plan, and my only comment to the architect was to have tall plants along the western edge of the pro as a western edge of the property as a buffer due to the grading differences between this lot and the lots next door.

He was very receptive to my comments.

Um we are very excited to support this building next door to RM.

Thank you.

Bye.

Good morning, I'm Melissa Stendhal, representing the Lavaca Neighborhood Association for case number 013 item seven, address 418 Florida 319 East Carolina Street.

The Waka Neighborhood Association is supportive of this proposal, provided the applicant accepts and incorporates all staff recommendations, which adequately address our primary concern.

We have met with the architect to discuss the importance of ensuring that the proposed commercial development is compatible with its historic neighborhood context and the surrounding residential area.

We appreciate the west facing orientation that addresses the neighborhood and encourages pedestrian and bicycle access.

We like the covered and uncovered outdoor seating and open space, which we anticipate will be well used, and we've requested sidewalks on all three approach sides.

We have also requested clear and careful signage to indicate one-way street approaches and to identify designated bike paths as this block experiences a high volume of wrongway driving.

We find the west and south elevations to be stark and have concerns regarding the placement of dumpsters.

We requested additional architectural detailing, vegetation, facade greening, and public art to activate the west elevation as a prominent gateway to La Vaca, and also to soften the visual impact and improve compatibility of the south elevation with adjacent front-facing home.

We requested enhanced screening of the dumpster enclosure, including evergreen vegetation to minimize year-round visibility from adjacent homes as much as possible.

The architect has met with both homeowners immediately went to the site to discuss fencing and buffering, and we encourage that those homeowners' needs are met.

If parking is found to exceed the need for these commercial uses, fewer spaces might preserve more of the West Buffer.

Thank you for your consideration.

It's all over voicemail.

Thank you, sir.

So I'm going to go on order, see if anyone has any questions.

So we'll start with our virtual applicants.

Commissioner Guevada.

No questions right now, sir.

Thank you, Commissioner Group.

No questions.

Thank you.

Commissioner Galloway.

No questions, Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Cervantes.

No questions, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Mazuka.

Commissioner Holland.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Sabino.

No questions.

Thank you.

Commissioner Velasquez.

Yes, sir.

In general, the project is it seems to be a really good benefit to the environment there.

But when it when it comes to the design of the facade that's facing the highway, it seems that uh of all the buildings that have a back, this would be a building that would uh kind of follow the rule that there's that there is no back in design, right?

So just just wonder are are y'all open to um considering uh a stronger exaggeration of lines, exaggeration of your of your uh ins and outs, shadow lines, uh something that makes uh you know the back much more exaggerated.

I mean, aside from a mural.

Because even if you had a mural, you'd there'd still have to be some treatment of the the space that meets the mural I mean just in general.

Are you all open to the yeah?

So the murals within like a big facade of brick, as you can see on the screen.

Unfortunately, we do have utilities that will serve um these tenants, so we'll have um the gas and then the electric gutter, which we're providing on adding a screen with a lot of um ivy that will grow from that.

So hopefully that'll hide um most of that.

Um but what we could do is add maybe additional masonry at the top because you probably won't see the bottom with the utilities and the landscape that we'll be providing.

So see that's part of I I'm glad that you're saying that it's early enough because that it's a it's a major facade.

Yes.

Uh on that on that stretch.

Yes.

And I know it was a gas station before, and it was a very ugly thing.

This is definitely uh uh a hundred steps in the right direction, and and for for the most part it's a wonderful project.

But um at the early stage that it is um it seems that there needs to be a lot of work done to that 281 facade.

We'll definitely look into it and see what we can provide on the on that top elevation so we can kind of so it's not so blank.

Um we'll we'll look into that.

Thank you.

Vice Chair Fetzer.

Uh no questions at this time.

I'll happy to make a motion, then I have some comments.

So I move for conceptual approval with staff stipulations.

Second.

It's been moved in properly.

Second discussion.

Yes.

Um, thank you for listening to staff and uh meeting with the neighborhood and the adjacent property owners and addressing all of their concerns.

Um I look forward to see how you all develop your details, which is the uh where all the uh key elements will will shine forth.

Um especially the the east facade has been discussed that needs further articulation.

Uh something we discussed in uh the DRC is uh the signage on the west facade and uh careful study of the type of signage and the lighting and how it may or may not impact the adjacent neighbors.

Um then uh as you probably heard my little rant previously about mechanical screening of all the rooftop equipment.

Oh yeah, we'll be providing a screen around all that.

So that will be in the CDs for y'all to approve the the proper height.

Okay.

And uh then I encourage you uh as you develop the plans and addressing all of these issues to reach out to staff and and request another DRC, and we're happy to uh continue these discussions.

Thank you.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Commissioner Guevara.

Any comments, sir?

No comments, sir.

Thank you, Commissioner Group.

I have no comments.

Thank you, Commissioner Galloway.

No comments.

Thank you.

Commissioner Cervantes.

No comments, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Commissioner Mazooka.

No comments.

Thank you, Commissioner Holland.

No comments, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Savino.

Uh yes, Mr.

Chair, thank you.

I do have a comment, and that is as I take the long view of the history of this property on this very challenging site and seeing every proposal that has come forward in the past few years, and knowing the neighborhood, I want to commend you all on your progress.

Thank you.

And look forward to seeing more of the work.

We're excited.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Velasquez.

Yes, uh uh generally in support of uh the proposal.

It's it's beautiful.

Um but I I will look toward uh that um that east-facing facade.

Yes.

To not not be in a different building, but but exaggerating what really should be a a strong part of the design challenge.

I mean, particularly the the way the the door is treated.

Like there I understand it's the back of a building, and that door looks like the door in the back of a of a building.

It shouldn't.

Uh there's opportunity for that that um that section there that's holding the mural to uh uh sit that mural a little bit more gracefully and and possibly um take advantage of the opportunity for height, uh things that can exaggerate this so that in the end you end up with a building that has no technically back, yeah, right?

Because that that is a that is a front whether whether we like it or not.

It's a front, not maybe not the front.

So uh um we'll be looking forward to to some some stronger design work on that back.

Okay, yeah.

Thank you.

Vice Professor Final Words.

Um just thank you for your proposal and look forward to uh how you develop it.

Thank you so much.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Mayor Roll Call, please.

Savino.

Aye.

Velasquez?

I.

Galloway.

Aye.

Mazuka.

I.

Group.

Aye.

Cervantes?

Yes.

Holland?

Aye.

Fetzer.

Aye.

And Gibbs.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Motion carries, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Item number eight, please.

Item number eight on the Historic and Design Review Commission agenda, case number two zero two six-020 214 West We Satch Avenue.

The applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness for approval to install a detached 154 square foot aluminum and polycarbonate carport at the northeast portion of the lot.

Staff does not recommend approval to install a detached 154 square foot aluminum and polycarbonate carport at the northeast portion of the lot.

Staff finds a carport designed to more traditional materials consistent with the guidelines.

I am unsure if the applicant is here today.

The applicant is not here with us today.

All right, thank you.

So being that Appkin is not here, we'll um entertain any questions and then we'll proceed on as we know the applicant was here.

So any questions for this case.

So I'll start off with Commissioner Guevada.

I'm sorry, before we go.

I'm sorry, I mean I interrupt you, but we do have a voicemail.

I'm sorry, go ahead.

2114 West We Satch F.

My name is Robin Foster, offering comments on behalf of Bianca Maldonado, President of Montecello Park Neighborhood Association, and the NPNA board of directors.

PO box 100 315 78201.

We support staff's recommendation for denial.

The proposed cantilever single car structure constructed a polycarbonate panel is incongruent with the Monticello Park Historic District.

While the height of the proposed structure and the existing garage are not provided, the mapping of the proposed single car carport is industrial in nature and is not respectful of the existing garage height, roof line, and mapping.

A traditional carport with materials which relate to the historic home would be more appropriate.

We thank you for consideration of our comment.

Thank you.

All right.

So going back to questions, um, I heard you, Commissioner Gavada, that you had other no questions.

Um Commissioner Group.

I don't have questions, and I'll do a motion if there's no more questions.

Um I'm going to go around and we'll come back to um if no one else has anything.

Commissioner Galloway.

No questions, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Cervantes.

No questions.

Thank you, Commissioner Mazuka.

No question.

Thank you, Commissioner Holland.

No questions.

Thank you.

Commissioner Sabino?

No questions.

Thank you, Commissioner Velasquez.

So a question for staff.

If if uh of uh an assemblage like this had like a breakaway connector at the bottom, would would that be considered um uh uh different than uh uh something that is rooted in the ground?

No.

I mean we're one of the things we don't regulate is like a pop-up tent that you could pick up and walk away with.

This is pretty substantial, so we count it as construction.

Okay, but the reason I ask Corey is because if if it had a a breakaway connector, then it it most definitely could qualify as not being a permanent structure.

Right, so I'm saying it would qualify as permanent.

We do consider some things as impermanent and not subject to a COA, but those are limited to things like a pop-up canopy that you can a person could pick up and physically move.

This this would even if it's breakaway, it still requires the footing, and so it's construction.

Thank you, Corey.

Thank you, Vice Chair Fetcher.

No questions.

Thank you.

Commissioner Group, I'll take your motion, please.

I move to a uh move as recommended by staff.

Second.

This has been moved and properly second.

Um then have any questions.

I'm assuming there's no discussion.

I just wanted to reiterate.

I think uh a staff has a right on this and uh also the comments from the neighborhood.

It is something that's not really seen.

And we I think it's missing some information.

It still gives the option for the applicant to come back with a different design and still get a car for it.

Thank you, Commissioner Group.

Mr.

Just Sure, sir.

Would you say that that looking at the overall site, the house, the garage, and looking at at what is presented to us with respect to the cost of this?

It it may be that that this is uh a price point that makes it possible.

If it was a structure that most definitely was something that was removable, something that was reversible, then perhaps it helps more than it hurts.

Um you know, like a catalog piece that's in line with like the old Sears catalog houses, only this is today.

Uh so I just would like to say that that I I would be in support of allowing something like this, considering it's not seen from the street, the the where it sits in the lot.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you very much, sir.

All right, may I have a motion, please?

I'm sorry not a motion of roll call, please.

Savino?

I.

Velasquez?

Nay.

Galloway.

Hi.

Mazuka?

I.

Group.

Aye.

Cervantes.

No.

Holland?

Aye.

Fetzer?

Aye.

And Gibbs.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Item number nine, please.

Item number nine on the historic and design review commission agenda, case number two zero two six-zero two five one two two East Houston.

The applicant is requesting a certificate of appropriateness to install number one, one thirty-six square foot internally illuminated channel letter sign reading insomnia cookies with logo, and one four square foot internally illuminated blade sign at existing sign board.

Number two, install three LED neon signs, two at the primary windows and one at the recessed entry, amounting to approximately 10 square feet.

Number three, install various final graphics amounting to approximately 40 square feet.

Number one, staff recommends approval to install 136 square foot channel letter sign reading insomnia cookies with logo and one illuminated blade sign and existing sign board.

With the following stipulation that the applicant uses a reverse lit channel letter sign for the sign reading insomnia cookies and associated logo.

That the blade sign does not feature overall illumination of the cabinet face and instead feature punch through illumination of letters or other key features.

Number two, staff does not recommend approval to install three LED neon signs.

Number three, staff recommends approval to install vinyl graphics with the following stipulation that the overall window coverage of the vinyl graphics does not exceed 30 percent window coverage.

Staff finds the applicant should submit new drawings reflecting the above stipul stipulations prior to the issuance of a COA.

And we have Greg Burkett with Apex Signs here today.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Uh Greg Briquette with Apex Sign Group, 7208 South WW White Road, San Antonio, Texas.

Um the application that we presented to the historic here is what they normally use as their branding guidelines for all their stores around the country.

Um the request is for a uh facelit channel letter.

Would like the board to consider that along with the faux neon graphics in the window.

All of those are very critical to the success of the particular tenant and business.

Again, it does match basically their branding guidelines that they use throughout the country and uh what they have at most of their sites.

That is, sir.

Sorry.

I was saying is that it's yeah, I mean I don't know what else I can tell you.

I mean, they they presented this, this is what they would like, and they would like the board to consider it.

Um I don't know if they're opposed to any of the changes requested, but uh the window graphics where they can comply with that, but they would like to have uh consideration for the uh faux window neon and then the faceless channel ladders for both the flag mount and the uh facelet storefront ladders.

All right, thank you very much, sir.

I appreciate your time.

So um we'll go around first with questions.

Commissioner Givati, questions for the applicant?

Uh no questions right now, sir.

Thank you.

Commissioner Group I do have some questions to the applicant.

So you said you are looking to faux neon for the windows?

I'm sorry.

Oh you said they're gonna be non-Neon LED signs?

Well, no, these LED signs are nothing more than a faux neon.

They're they're LED and they're low voltage, so they're safer at uh hand ground level, but these are they're actually used to mimic neon, but they are LED.

Okay, so because staff is saying they do not recommend approval of them, but the use of neon O LED may be appropriate.

Yeah, that's a good the sign is a simulated neon look, but it is actually LED, made to look like neon.

And it's your stereotypical old-fashioned neon window signs that read open.

But instead of using neon, it is a mimicked uh representation of the.

Are you proposing on Chernon?

Sure.

So um the guidelines really talk about the use of neon um being used in such a way that it contributes to maybe the architecture or the overall design of the signage package.

Um a good example, I guess, would be um directly next to this suite.

There's a new shop that used neon in that particular way.

Uh we generally find um that the way the faux neon is used here isn't necessarily contributing to the overall signage package or architecture of the suite itself.

I when I hear that, I kind of under I can't understand the rationale behind that.

What does that actually mean?

I guess it's just because they're very standard signs, right?

The open and the delivery.

So let me continue with the questions.

I understand it now.

And then um so you said the applicant, this is what the applicant wants.

But does the applicant have anything um regarding the reverse vent channel so we can come direct compromise?

Because it would still be the logo and all the design.

But it would just be reverse lit.

I mean, at the end of the day, I mean, to get something approved, if they're gonna have to do that, obviously they're gonna have to do that.

But for this point in time, the reference is to go and ask for what they use as a national branding guideline and what their standard sign package is.

I mean, we know that there are these type letters downtown.

Whataburger is a classic case.

They're signing.

Their face left is asking for.

It's not so much the sign.

Yeah, there are facelit channel letters all downtown in the historic district.

Okay.

But so you haven't discussed it would keep the same design.

You haven't discussed the option.

You have, but they would like to not go with that.

Right.

The preferences is presented right now before you is the faceless channel letters.

Okay.

I have no further questions.

Thank you.

Commissioner Galloway.

No questions, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Savantes.

No questions at this time, sir.

Thank you.

Commissioner Mazuka.

No questions at this time?

Thank you, sir.

Commissioner Holland.

For question for the applicant, um what's the the footprint of insomnia cookies?

Where what other cities and states are they in?

Oh, I mean, we we're fortunately doing them uh on I don't know the exact footprint.

The the truth is they're not my pot.

I'm one of the owners of Apex Sign Group, so I have a sales rep that handles that account and PMs, but I can just look on our project uh sheet of of jobs, and I think last year we did 25 of them.

Most of them are around universities and campuses, but they were expanding outside of that.

Um to my knowledge, there's a couple here in town already.

One of them is not far from uh on UTEX Drive off of uh I-10.

Uh actually, I think uh Warsbach Parkway's got one.

So they are, and they typically are they would either be in a near a campus or in a typical strip center retail uh uh place.

I thank you.

I the reason I was asking where I was going with that is I just I would imagine that you go into a historic district or some some district with some guidelines that that Insomnia Cookies corporate is going to have some alternate signage or um some sort of other logo treatments that they may have.

So I really wondering if this was a one-off or if these are all over the place.

No, no, this is not a one-off location.

They are a uh chain that are growing quite significantly.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Commissioner Savino.

I have no questions, but given the opportunity, I would make a motion.

Sure.

Um Commissioner Velasquez.

Yes, sir.

Sir, um I imagine you have to go back to your uh customer.

Um with the scale of the area that's being covered here.

The the signage it it seems appropriately placed, the scale of it seems like it would work.

Even the window signs, but um I'm I'm wondering about the waves, the the vinyl waves, I guess they're not graphics, yeah.

Because of the building, the mirrored glass, it gets really crazy.

It it just it just looks wrong, it looks inappropriate.

It makes the thing all that's being accomplished with the signage that just confuses the heck out of it.

You know, from there, the only thing you can see is insomnia cookie.

Even warm cookie delivered that.

Well, that's that's what they're mimicking is the uh smell effect off the warm cookies.

Well, I uh if if if indeed what what's going to happen is that you would go talk to them and come back.

Um perhaps they would be willing to give up the wave to to remove the monotony and to allow the the signage to do what it does.

It starts to look balanced outside of whatever the guidelines are.

It at least starts to look like a balanced cell.

Uh but with the waves there, it makes everything it's hard to even see how any of it makes any sense.

Just if you take that back to sense to them.

Well, it would make sense to them if they were in a mall and it was perhaps everything was modern, they weren't in a historic context, or they were in a college environment and there is a Burger King next to it and all that.

But uh between those two limestone or concrete casting place columns and that the glass with that reflectivity that it has.

It it doesn't look like it achieves that it's it's the smell of a cookie.

It it it looks more like it's uh a computer that somebody put their finger on and it just kept typing.

So maybe maybe if if you could tell them let them let them ask them if they'd be willing to give that up.

Perhaps when you come back, maybe there's some better negotiating that it can occur there.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Vice Chef Hesser.

No questions.

Thank you.

I'll take your motion now, Commissioner Sabino.

I would like to motion to the applicant's request that we approve item number one.

We deny item number two and approve item number three, all with staff stipulations.

Second.

Further discussion.

Um yeah, I um to my colleagues um comment the the scale and the graph the design of the insomnia cookies is right.

The blade sign is right.

It really is eye-catching in that um um facade.

Um, the um to the to the neon sign portion, I completely agree.

I think the difference is that when we think of neon, and neon is used in a historic setting, it's the structural aspect of neon that relates to the building's facade versus just being used as a typeface.

And I think that's what happens with the newer LED-produced neon signage.

So you could do that signage in any other typeface.

To the graphics, um, I think it's reasonable.

All of these stipulations that staff has made are very consistent with the guidelines downtown.

It's very typical.

This is not really an atypical condition.

This is very typical.

Um you did mention the um uh the optimism of the the company and they're doing well, and they're um they have new uh new locations, and I think they will find that this location might be the key to their success rather than than just simply the graphics.

The the location is what will be really unique and uh successful for them.

So uh that's what my motion is based on.

Thank you.

Um go around for one final round.

Um Commissioner Givata, any comments No comments, sir.

Thank you.

Commissioner Group.

Yeah, um I'll be supporting the motion and to the applicant.

I think I think the lighting is very different.

I'm not well, we're not here to uh you know figure out if the design is correct or not.

Um I would also suggest to look a little bit more downtown and that water burger sign that has the LED, there's a lot of LED inside the building, so maybe that helps.

I guess I just wanted that question because it's insomnia cookies.

Does that mean it's open 24-7?

I guess so.

Again, I I will be honest, I have never been to one.

I try I try not to stay away from the really important.

I try to stay away from crumble cookies, insomnia, bunk cakes, all that stuff.

Well, at least I'm gonna go on the public record that I want to stay away from that stuff.

Well, I have had their I have had their cookies and they are very good.

So related to the sign, I think it's important that we also know you know by the lighting because of that when it will be open and whatnot.

So um the bright lighting right now in the room, so I will support the motion.

Thank you.

Commissioner Galloway.

No comments, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Commissioner Cervantes.

Yes.

And this is probably mostly the same.

Yeah, if this goes through, is he locked into this design?

Or does the or does the applicant have a chance to go back to corporate and maybe do uh do some redesign uh like one of the other guys for who it was that suggested it, but um I I think there's room for some adjustment.

What happens if this goes through?

Right.

So um for some of the elements that look like that will be denied, I think that there's like there's an opportunity to to rethink that and come back.

My experience with it's typically been so yeah.

I guess my comment then would be to the applicants, sir.

I'd really uh recommend you kind of get a little more uh uh detail on you know the company and what their corporate uh headquarters says about alternate logos and how to have it fit into the to the environment here.

Um I'll support the motion, but uh I just hoping you can kind of reach out to them and get a little more little more design input and kind of hash this out.

Thank you, sir.

Commissioner Mazuka, no comment.

Thank you.

Commissioner Howland?

Thank you.

Commissioner Savino, further?

Oh, no further comments.

Thank you, Commissioner Velasquez.

Um Mr.

Chair, I just uh I'd be supporting the motion, but just to go show you how uh different everybody thinks, I would uh reverse two and three if it was up to me.

But uh either way, uh um I support the motion.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Vice sir?

No comments.

Thank you.

May I have a roll call, please?

Savino.

Aye.

Velasquez?

Aye.

Galloway?

Aye.

Mazuka?

Aye.

Givada.

Aye.

Group.

Aye.

Cervantes?

Yes.

Holland?

Aye.

But sir.

Aye.

And Gibbs.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Item number 10 has been postponed.

This is the last case on the agenda.

We are adjourned.

Have a great day, everyone.