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Committee recommends approval to Planning Commission for amended development plan at 1714 Mission Drive with conditions
Summary
The Design Review Committee voted 5-0 to recommend the Planning Commission approve a revised development plan for a market and restaurant at 1714 Mission Drive, with conditions on lighting, return of window/half‑timber details and landscaping, and approval of selected paint colors.
The Solvang Design Review Committee unanimously recommended approval of an amended development plan for 1714 Mission Drive on Feb. 20, asking that several design elements return to committee review before building permits are issued.
The proposal amends a previously approved conversion of a former bank into a market and restaurant. The applicant seeks to increase a proposed addition from 5,713 square feet to approximately 5,900 square feet (an increase of about 187 square feet) and to change exterior materials by replacing some or all existing brick with stucco and half‑timber detailing. Staff said the change followed structural findings during plan development: the existing brick is unreinforced masonry that limited the earlier proposal’s structural approach.
Staff noted the project is in the Village Mixed Use (VMU) zone and that it meets most objective development standards adopted in the city’s new zoning ordinance; staff identified two principal issues to be addressed as conditions: (1) east‑facing blank wall articulation to meet the new objective standard (by adding half‑timber detailing or windows where feasible) and (2) exterior lighting fixtures that must be modified to meet the city’s dark‑sky objective standard (fully shielded, downward‑directed fixtures, maximum fixture heights per code).
Agent Lonnie Roy explained the change in approach: the original plan assumed brick veneer; subsequent review showed unreinforced masonry requiring a different structural approach and the reconfigured addition. He said the current proposal aims to match the new addition visually to the existing structure while accommodating necessary back‑of‑house operations.
Public comment included support for a more “Danish” appearance and a request that divided‑light windows be reconsidered; a volunteer group (Save Our Stars) expressed concern that light fixtures comply with the village’s dark‑sky standard and supported staff’s condition requiring shielded, downward‑directed fixtures.
After discussion, the committee voted 5‑0 to recommend the Planning Commission approve the amended development plan, subject to conditions: require return to the Design Review Committee for final review of window treatments and half‑timber placement on the east and west elevations and for the landscaping plan prior to issuance of zoning clearance; require lighting fixtures be fully shielded, downward‑directing and consistent with Solvang’s objective design standards; and approve the body color Roycroft Rose and the trim/half‑timber color Fiery Brown as the working color selections in the project packet.
Staff said these conditions will be carried forward in written conditions for the Planning Commission packet and that staff will enforce lighting and landscape compliance at plan check and permit stages.
