Council members appeal Planning Commission's decision regarding proposed medical office
Design called into question
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

Two members of the Simi Valley City Council appealed a decision by the planning commission last month to approve the construction of a environmentally-friendly medical office building on the grounds that the proposal did not sufficiently meet the city's design guidelines.

Mayor Paul Miller and Councilmember Glen Becerra said they decided to appeal the project's approval in order to give the City Council a chance to look over the proposal.

"I just want the council to be able to look at it and discuss it," Miller said.

Despite some of the commissioners' misgivings about the project's contemporary design, the commission voted 3-2 at its June 25 meeting to approve the proposal to build a 25,400squarefoot medical office condominium building at 525 E. Los Angeles Ave.

The proposal calls for the redevelopment of an outdated medical office building that currently sits on the nearly 2-acre site. The existing one-story structure, built in 1964, would be demolished to make way for a new three-story medical condominium.

Becerra said that the council is ultimately responsible for what goes into the city and that if the commission is going to approve a project, there should be broader support.

"I'm not a person who believes you pinch your nose and vote for things," Becerra said, "particularly if you have the opportunity to make it better. Why not work a little harder . . . and ask the developer to make those changes so you're more comfortable with it?"

Commissioners Mary Bibb and Keith Mashburn cast dissenting votes at the June meeting.

"I haven't seen a building like this for about 30 years," Bibb said. "I can't really approve the project because I just don't like the building."

Mashburn agreed, adding that the building's design is inconsistent with the direction the city has been taking.

"I just don't think (residents) want to drive down L.A. Avenue and see this new style of building," he said.

Though he gave the proposal a vote of approval, Commissioner Jim Dantona expressed similar reservations, saying that he was "not a fan" of the design.

However, the incorporation of environmentally friendly, or "green," elements into the design swayed his decision.

"I don't think the building is my style, but I'm not going to vote against it because I do see it as a contemporary look," he said. "So as long as the building itself deals with the issues and looks to change its carbon footprint . . . I'm okay with approving the project as submitted."

The sleek appearance of the medical condos is different from the Mediterranean and Spanishinspired architecture the commission typically approves.

Project architect Mark Di Cecco attempted to allay the commission's concerns about the building, explaining that its shape and design elements are a direct result of the city's setback requirements and are in compliance with city guidelines.

Di Cecco added that ecoconscious components were integrated into the building because the design guidelines ask that buildings respond to Simi's climate.

"We took that to heart and then took it one step further and applied a bunch of green principles to this particular building," he said.

Recessed windows, sun shades, light-colored roofing material and the property's deciduous trees would all play a role in reducing the building's air conditioning load, which would consequently lower its energy use, Di Cecco said.

The building's durable materials- including stucco, cedar siding, and stone- would also fit in with the green perspective as they hold up well to wear and tear.

Since the June meeting, project applicant Larry Greene, of Agoura Hills-based Greeneway Development, has met with staff to modify the design.

"This is a minor hiccup. We'll get past it," Greene said. "My goal is to work with the city to come up with a plan that everybody is happy with."

So far, the design has shifted to represent a more "Santa Barbara resort style," Greene said, with a red Spanish-style tile shed roof and a lighter color scheme.

Becerra said that when the project goes before the City Council, he is hoping to see an architectural design that is more in line with the current aesthetics of the city while still being energy-efficient.

"I'm going to be looking for a building that fits the character of the community," he said.

The City Council will review the project at its July 28 meeting, when it will decide to vote on the project or send it back to the planning commission.