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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR 2026-028RESOLUTION NO. 2026-028 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE APPROVING ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW 25-004 FOR A PROPOSED MURAL AT 227 EAST BRANCH STREET WHEREAS, the Architectural Review Committee reviewed the proposed mural at 201 East Branch Street (the “Project”) at its meeting on December 15, 2025, and recommended denial of the Project in accordance with the City’s Public Art Guidelines and Public Art Donation Program (“Guidelines”); and WHEREAS, the applicant for the proposed mural is Village Creative, which operates a s a business that offers lessons in music, art, sewing, and photography; and WHEREAS, on May 12, 2026, the City Council considered approval of Architectural Review 25-005 at a duly noticed public hearing; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the Project and the applicable environmental determination under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and the State CEQA Guidelines, and has determined that the project is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 for minor alteration s to existing structures; and WHEREAS, all prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande that: 1. Recitals. All recitals above are true and correct and hereby incorporated into reference. 2. CEQA. The proposed mural is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) under the Class 1 exemption, which applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features where the project involves negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15301.) The City further finds that no exceptions to the Class 1 exemption apply. 3. Architectural Review Findings: 1. The proposal is consistent with the architectural guidelines of the city, or guidelines prepared for the area in which the project is located; The proposal to paint a wall mural on a painted brick wall is consistent with all applicable architectural guidelines for the project. Painted wall murals are appropriate for this location due to the historical use of painted wall signs RESOLUTION NO. 2026-028 PAGE 2 directly onto brick buildings. The colors and the content of the mural are consistent with all relevant guidelines, including the City’s Design Guidelines and Standards for the Historic Character Overlay District (D-2.4). 2. The proposal is consistent with the text and maps of the Arroyo Grande general plan and this title; The Project as proposed is consistent with the City’s General Plan, specifically the Economic Development Element, which emphasizes the implementation of public art. 3. The proposal will not be detrimental to the health, safety, comfort and general welfare of the persons residing or working in the neighborhood of the proposed project; The Project will not be detrimental to the health and safety of the general public due to being designed with materials that are intended for use on outdoor walls. Further, the applicant will be required to implement appropriate safety measures for pedestrians while the work is occurring , which will mitigate any potential safety issues during installation. 4. The general appearance of the proposal is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood; The Project is not anticipated to result in adverse impacts to surrounding uses, existing artwork, or design elements in the vicinity. The scale and composition are compatible with the pedestrian-oriented character of the area, and the subject matter is consistent with the broader visual context of the Village. The mural is expected to contribute positively to the visual interest of the public realm without overwhelming or detracting from adjacent development or design features. 5. The proposal is not detrimental to the orderly and harmonious development of the city; The approval of this artwork will not have any detrimental effect on the harmonious development of the City due to being consistent with the adopted guidelines for public art. Further, the installation of public art in the Village supports the City’s Economic Development goals related to public realm enhancements and placemaking. 6. The proposal will not impair the desirability of investment or occupation in the neighborhood. The Project will not impair the desirability of the neighborhood due to being consistent with the adopted guidelines for public art. Further, the installation of RESOLUTION NO. 2026-028 PAGE 3 public art in an area designed for pedestrian activity increases the visual intrigue and creates a sense of community that will promote further investment in the neighborhood. 4. Public Art Selection Criteria Findings: 1. Evaluation of artistic excellence, examining: a. The artist’s qualifications, including: education, training, experience, body of work, recognition of the artist, and the consistency of the artist’s qualifications with the stated goals of the project; b. The artist’s record of previous collaboration with other agencies, organizations, artists, fabricators, or installers to achieve a successful result in implementing the proposed project; c. The artist’s experience working in the public realm; d. To the extent applicable, the artist’s previous proven successful experience in creating, producing or otherwise implementing projects similar to the one proposed; e. The original nature of the proposed concept; f. The inherent artistic quality and aesthetic merit of the work; The submitted artwork was designed by Canned Pineapple Co., a studio based in Nashville, Tennessee, that specializes in murals and large-scale artwork. The artist has completed multiple installations within the Central Coast region, including in public and high-visibility settings at Cal Poly and Duncan Alley. The studio has an established portfolio of large-scale mural projects comparable in scope and method to the proposed installation. Their previous work demonstrates experience in designing, coordinating, and implementing public - realm projects, including collaborations with property owners, agencies, and installation teams. The submitted materials indicate a history of producing original designs and concepts tailored to specific sites. 2. Appropriateness of scale, form, material, content and design relative to the immediate neighborhood and environment; no mural shall be approved if the mural, as proposed, would create an objective risk to public health, safety, or welfare (e.g. a mural near a roadway would be rejected for the use of reflective materials, like mirrors, which could cause a distraction to drivers). Scale is defined as the relative size of a building element in relation to other forms and the human body. Form is the shape or configuration of the artwork; The mural would not create a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of the general public. The mural does not include reflective or hazardous materials. In terms of scale, the mural is proportionate to both the building façade and the surrounding environment. The proposal is sized to be clearly visible and engaging for both pedestrians and vehicles, including those idling at the prominent intersection of E. Branch and Mason Streets. The dimensions are appropriate for the viewing distance and speed of passersby, ensuring visibility RESOLUTION NO. 2026-028 PAGE 4 without overwhelming the architectural context. The content is community- oriented, making it suitable for a public-facing location. The simplistic design is legible and avoids creating visual clutter. 3. Appropriateness of proposed materials in regards to structural and surface integrity. Materials should be considered in the context of ability to deter against vandalism, withstand weathering, and maintain the intended design; The mural is proposed to be hand-painted using durable exterior latex paint, a material commonly used in public art installations due to its long -term performance and relatively low maintenance needs. 4. Ease of maintenance and longevity of the proposed materials; The artist and property owner proposed the use of durable exterior latex paint based on the artist’s proven success with these materials in completing similar projects. Exterior latex paint is suitable for outdoor murals due to its resistance to weathering. Additionally, the selected materials can be easily cleaned, touched up, or refreshed if needed. 5. Appropriateness of the proposed method of installation of the artwork with consideration given to the safety and structural factors involved in installation; The proposed use of paint on the painted-brick exterior of the building is appropriate and would not negatively impact the structural integrity of the building. Installation of the proposed mural would likely require a temporary sidewalk closure and rerouting of pedestrians, which would be assessed through an encroachment permit. 6. Location, considering the intended audience for the proposal, whether the public will be a captive audience or whether a person would need to take affirmative steps to view the project. Consideration shall be given to whether the mural would be in an area typically accessed or viewable by minors; The proposed location is situated at a highly visible intersection along Mason Street at E. Branch Street, making it readily visible to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The intended audience is members of the general public who encounter the mural in the course of their daily activities, rather than individuals who must take affirmative steps to seek it out. Given that the site is an area commonly accessed by a broad cross-section of the community, including minors, the content of the mural was intentionally designed to be appropriate for all ages. 7. A mural shall not be approved if it includes: a. Copyrighted work without permission of the holder of the copyright. b. Obscene materials. RESOLUTION NO. 2026-028 PAGE 5 c. Defamatory content. d. Fighting words or advocates imminent lawless action. e. Content, including but not limited to, words, symbols, signs, trademarks, or references to products or services provided on the premises. Such content meets the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (AGMC) definition for signage, as regulated by AGMC Chapter 16.60; The mural does not include words, logos, symbols, or direct references to products or services offered on the premises. While the imagery depicts general creative activities such as music, visual art, and photography, these themes are broadly interpretive and are not unique to the services offered by the business. The intent and composition of the artwork are community - oriented and symbolic in nature, and the imagery is not presented in a manner that functions as advertising or signage, as defined by the Mu nicipal Code. The mural is designed to be viewed as public art independent of the continued presence of the business and is not dependent on the identification of any specific service or program. 8. Public Art proposed in the D-2.4 Historic Character Overlay District is also subject to the following criteria: a. An identified relationship to the social, cultural and historical identity of the area; b. An identified relationship to the site's existing architectural features; c. The nature of the site's surrounding neighborhood and potential impact of the public art project on residents, businesses, and existing works of art or design elements within the site's vicinity. The proposed mural reflects themes of artistic expression, including music, visual arts, and craftsmanship. These themes are consistent with the Village’s identity as a pedestrian-oriented district with an established history of creative and cultural activity. The artwork reinforces, rather than conflicts with, the area’s cultural character by depicting community-based creative engagement. The use of painted brick as a canvas is consistent with historic precedent for painted wall graphics within commercial and mixed-use buildings in the area and maintains the underlying architectural form and materials of the structure. The mural is not anticipated to result in adverse impacts to surrounding uses, existing artwork, or design elements in the vicinity. The scale, composition, and subject matter are compatible with the pedestrian character of the area and are expected to enhance visual interest within the public realm without introducing visual clutter or inconsistency with nearby development. 5. Severability. If any section, division, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this resolution or the document in the record in support of this resolution is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unenforceable, unconstitutional RESOLUTION NO. 2026-028 PAGE 6 or otherwise void, that determination shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, divisions, sentences, clauses, or phrases of this resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Arroyo Grande hereby approves the project as described and shown in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference with the above findings, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. On a motion by Council Member Maraviglia, seconded by Council Member Guthrie, and by the following roll call vote to wit: AYES: Council Member Maraviglia, Guthrie, and Mayor Ray Russom NOES: None ABSENT: Council Members Loe, and Secrest the foregoing Resolution was adopted this 12th day of May 2026. CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR ATTEST: JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: MATTHEW DOWNING, CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO FORM: ISAAC ROSEN, CITY ATTORNEY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-028 PAGE 7 VILLAGE CREATIVE Exhibit A VILLAGE CREATIVE OPTION A OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION I, JESSICA MATSON, City Clerk of the City of Arroyo Grande, County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury, that the attached Resolution No. 2026-028 was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande on the 12th day of May, 2026. WITNESS my hand and the Seal of the City of Arroyo Grande affixed this 15th day of May, 2026. JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK