Commission supports Libero Theatre design changes, but requires Paseo refinements and asks planning commission to weigh gates and donor wall

DesignArc and the Libero Theatre team returned to the Historic Landmarks Commission with a revised Paseo and exterior plans for an addition and backstage improvements. The applicants explained that building and fire requirements mean the north pathway must function as a code‑compliant exit court, which triggered a 10‑foot site wall and limited unprotected openings.

"We pushed back as much as we could," said Kevin Dumaine, explaining that the Paseo was reworked to become two landscaped courtyards with a defined entry sequence and gated operation that would remain open in daytime and secureable at night. Landscape architect Eva Melez described a Mediterranean plant palette that preserves existing olive trees, adds drought‑tolerant planting, and proposes citrus as a visual buffer to the nearby parking structure.

Commissioners praised the project’s expanded basement and backstage work to support theater operations, and many called the courtyard and donor wall attractive propositions for fundraising and public approach. Several commissioners, however, expressed discomfort that the new 10‑ft wall and gates could close an existing informal pedestrian route. The fire marshal and city building officials advised that, under current code and given vehicle lanes at the parking garage, the Paseo cannot serve as a legal exit court without the wall, or without substantial changes to the adjacent parking infrastructure.

The commission voted to continue the item to planning commission with comments encouraging: clearer demonstration of opportunities to keep public pedestrian continuity in the long term; study of simpler planting palettes (citrus questioned for water use); specified gate hours and operations for daytime public access; and design refinement for the donor wall and masonry elements. The motion carried with one abstention recorded.