Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: October 23, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: David Sanchez, Community Development Director Subject: RPD-205 and CUP-405, Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura - Public Art
BACKGROUND
Request: The applicant is requesting approval of two outdoor art features in a residential development, to comply with a condition of approval for RPD-205 and CUP-405.
Applicant: Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura; 1400 Hillcrest Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
Property Owner: Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura; 1400 Hillcrest Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
Assessor’s Parcel Number: 162-0-023-070
General Plan Designation: High Density Residential
Zoning Designation: Residential Planned Development, maximum 30 units per acre (RPD-30U)
DISCUSSION
Parcel and Area Characteristics
The project site is located within the Central Neighborhood of Camarillo, and is surrounded by the following land uses:
RPD-205 and CUP-405, Area Housing Authority - Public Art October 23, 2024
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GENERAL PLAN
LAND USE DESIGNATION ZONING DESIGNATION CURRENT
LAND USE
PROJECT
SITE High Density Residential Residential Planned Development, 30 units per acre max (RPD-30U)
Multifamily
Residences
(under
construction)
NORTH Low-Medium Density Residential
(10 d.u. per acre max) Residential Planned Development Single-Family Residences
SOUTH Industrial/Commercial Service Commercial (S-C) Self-Storage Facility
EAST Industrial Light Manufacturing (M-1) Light
Manufacturing
WEST Low-Medium Density Residential
(10 d.u. per acre max) Residential Planned Development Single-Family Residences
Project Description
On October 27, 2021, the City Council approved RPD-205 and CUP-405 for the construction of 59 affordable rental units, one unrestricted manager’s rental unit, eight affordable for-sale condominium units, and a parking structure. Condition 188 of RPD- 205 and CUP-405 requires the developer to incorporate two outdoor art features into the project, subject to approval by the City Council.
Area Housing Authority worked closely with the Pleasant Valley Historic Society and Studio Channel Islands on the proposed public art, which reference the site’s history as the location for People’s Lumber and later Stock Building Supply.
In 1890, the site was donated to People’s Lumber by Juan Camarillo Jr., the younger brother of Adolfo Camarillo. The company wanted to provide building materials to local farmers, ranchers, and builders at a fair price. In 1908, the company bought the steam schooner San Jacinto to ship materials from mills in Northern California to Port Hueneme.
By 1950, the company employed 150 people, making it one of the largest employers in the City. Adolfo Camarillo was on the Board in 1926 and was the President of the Board from 1942 to 1950. People’s Lumber changed its focus and became a real estate investment trust by 1982. The Camarillo yard became Stock Building Supply and operated until 2018. Both art pieces include scenic views of the Douglas Fir trees of Northern California.
The developer is requesting to install ceramic tile murals on either side of the monument sign at the corner of Barry Street and Lewis Road, and a painted mural on the east elevation of the parking structure.
The hand-built ceramic tiles will cover two approximately 9-square-foot areas on either side of the monument sign, which will fill the area from the underside of the coping stone to the ground, and from the edge of the signage lettering to the stone pillars at the ends of the structure. The existing plan includes a metal sign reading “Vista Campanario” in the central portion of the monument sign. The tiles will have a three-dimensional design, showing a landscape of Douglas Fir trees with a mountain background, drawn from RPD-205 and CUP-405, Area Housing Authority - Public Art October 23, 2024
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reference photographs of locations in Northern California. Ceramic tiles are resistant to weathering and damage in outdoor conditions.
The painted mural will depict a blue sky, which will extend the full height of the wall, with a painted forest which will extend approximately two-thirds of the way up the wall, leaving space for the building number to be clearly visible for emergency services. The mural will include a portrait of Juan Camarillo Jr. and a short description of the history of the site on a tree cross-section. A swirling pattern reminiscent of tree rings will flow between the trees. The mural will be painted in a “painterly style”, reminiscent of 1960s tourism posters to reflect the use of the historic Camino Real for tourism purposes. The poster style also references the mid-century design cues that were contemporary to the City’s founding.
The texture of the trees will be rendered in three or four tones to give dimensionality, and the overall color palette will be limited to create cohesion and depth. The mural will be hand-painted, with an acrylic paint capable of lasting a minimum of 10 years without noticeable fading. A clear coat will be applied to enhance the lifespan of the work and protect against UV damage and discoloration. The property owner is responsible for the long-term maintenance of the public art features.
General Plan
Evaluated below is the consistency of the proposed project with the applicable policies of the City of Camarillo’s General Plan.
10.6.4 Public Art - Public Art Design Guidelines
a. Use public art and cultural amenities to celebrate Camarillo’s diversity, history and unique character.
b. Take advantage of opportunities to emphasize, through art, the cultural connections between Camarillo, CSUCI and local arts groups.
c. Use public art and cultural amenities to help commemorate local history and culturally significant places.
d. Support artworks and cultural activities that explore and reflect the diverse facets of Camarillo life.
e. Encourage larger projects (construction > 25,000 sf) to incorporate public art. ➢The historical context of the art piece was coordinated with the Pleasant Valley Historic Society. The proposed public art commemorates the local history of the project site as the former People’s Lumber and later Stock Building Supply and Juan Camarillo Jr., who donated the site to People’s Lumber.
Community Design Element Policy PQPF-1.1.1: Public buildings should present a good architectural character based on style, color, material, and texture. ➢The proposed public art incorporates high quality materials such as ceramic tile and hand-painted acrylic that will add character and interest to the development.
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Staff has reviewed and found the proposed project to be consistent with the applicable goals and policies of the City’s General Plan, and the development standards set forth in the Zoning Ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no budget impact as a result of this action.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
The proposed public art is not subject to CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), which exempts from CEQA review the minor alteration of existing structures involving negligible expansion of existing use. This agenda item meets the criteria for this exemption because the public art will be applied to approved structures, with no change to the footprint or the use of the structures.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Determine that the proposed public art is not subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, because the art will be applied to approved structures with no change to the footprint or the use of the structures.
2. Approve the proposed public art, subject to the condition that the art must be maintained in good condition, including removal of graffiti.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ceramic Wall Installation and Painted Mural Proposals
2. Location Map