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Home My WebLink About2021-09-28 ARC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 – 12:30 P.M. ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Van Vliet called the meeting to order at 12:32 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Current Meeting Year to Date Commissioners Present Absent Present Absent Chris Van Vliet, Chair X 6 0 Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 6 0 Nicholas Latkovic X 6 0 Michael McAuliffe X 6 0 Jim McIntosh Juan Mireles X X 6 6 0 0 John Vuksic X 5 1 Also Present: Martin Alvarez, Director of Development Services Rosie Lua, Principal Planner Nick Melloni, Associate Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Vanessa Mager, Management Analyst Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Secretary Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, introduced the new Director of Development Services, Martin Alvarez. Mr. Alvarez provided a summary of his background and history with the City of Palm Desert. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, advised the Commission no comments or inquiries were received prior to the meeting. MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 2 IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. MINUTES of the Architectural Review Commission meeting of September 14, 2021. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Commissioner Vuksic, seconded by Commissioner Latkovic, and a 7-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, the minutes for September 14, 2021, were approved as presented. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Mireles, Van Vliet and Vuksic; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). V. CASES It should be noted, associated staff reports, memos, attachments, and discussion on the following items can be viewed by visiting the Architectural Review Commission Information Center website at, https://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/our-city/committees- and-commissions/architectural-review-commission-information-center. A. FINAL DRAWINGS 1. CASE NO: MISC 21-0025 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a request from Lennar Homes of California, Inc., for architecture and landscape of the remaining 132 single-family homes within the Dolce project. APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Lennar Homes of California, Inc., Corona, CA 92879 LOCATION: NEC of Gerald Ford Drive and Gateway Drive ZONE: PR-5 Commissioner McAuliffe advised the Commission his residence is directly across from the item being presented. Commissioner McAuliffe recused himself due to potential conflict of interest and left the meeting room. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, presented the item. Mr. Swartz acknowledged the revised site plan provided by the applicant which identified lots for enhanced side and rear elevations. He also shared photos which confirmed materials used for the wall and side gates for existing developed lots within the community. Mr. Swartz requested the Commission direct the applicant to work with staff on the landscaping plan as a condition of approval. Mr. Swartz turned the presentation over to the applicant, Lennar, whose team provided a detailed presentation on revisions to the project. Chair Van Vliet invited questions and comments from Commissioners regarding the project, to which there were none. Upon a motion by Commissioner Mireles, seconded by Commissioner Vuksic, and a 6-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, Case No. MISC 21-0025, was approved, subject to the following: 1) Applicant will work MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 3 with staff on landscaping plan. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McIntosh, Mireles, Van Vliet and Vuksic; NOES: None; ABSENT: McAuliffe). B. PRELIMINARY PLANS 1. CASE NO: PP/CUP 20-0002 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a Precise Plan and a Conditional Use Permit to demolish the existing Pizza Hut building and construct a new 7,500-square-foot retail and restaurant building located at 72310 Highway 111, and adoption of a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Nadel Architects, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90025 LOCATION: 72310 Highway 111 ZONE: PC-3, Scenic Preservation Commissioner McAuliffe rejoined the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) meeting. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, presented the item. Mr. Swartz advised the Commission this item was approved by the ARC in 2020. The item went before the Planning Commission and was continued. The item was continued multiple times due to concerns raised by the Planning Commission and requests by the applicant for additional time to address these concerns. The applicant has since revised their plans and are before the ARC today for approval of the revised plan. Mr. Swartz turned the presentation over to the applicant and his architect, Nadel, who provided a detailed presentation on the project and revisions made since the original approval in 2020. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments and concerns for the project. Commissioner Mireles observed there is a mailbox located on the property and asked the applicant to be mindful that it remains in conformance with the US Postal Service requirements should it need to be relocated. Upon a motion by Chair Van Vliet, seconded by Commissioner Vuksic, and a 7-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, Case No. PP/CUP 20-0002 was approved, subject to the following: 1) Roof pitch on towers should not exceed a 4:12 pitch; 2) Parapets will be of an appropriate height to adequately screen mechanical equipment in its entirety; 3) Parapets which return onto the roof should be carried further back an additional six feet; 4) Cornice detail should carry all the way around the parapets; 5) Material for awnings should be Sunbrella fabric; and 6) Trellis material should be steel, not wood. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Mireles, Van Vliet and Vuksic; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). C. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS None MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 VI. COMMENTS Management Analyst, Vanessa Mager, invited Commissioners to the San Pablo and CV Link Grand Opening scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The City is collaborating with several community partners for the event, which will be held on San Pablo and will feature live music, beer garden, children's area, artisan market and more. Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, advised the commission the Arts in Public Places Commission has proposed a name change to Cultural Arts Commission and this request will be considered by City Council at their next meeting. Ms. Lua also reported there will be several public engagement opportunities, as well as a civic engagement website available for residents to vote for one of the two finalists identified for the San Pablo roundabout sculpture. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, provided an update on Sinclair Gas Station. Mr. Swartz stated the owner has said he would like to keep the current landscaping and sculpture as is. Mr. Swartz shared pictures of the current landscape and dinosaur sculpture located in front of Sinclair gas station. Discussion ensued on the current landscape design. Commissioners commented there was a need for more robust landscaping including plant selection, trees and shrubs which have height. Commissioners request staff work with the owner to revert landscaping back to the originally approved landscape design. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, provided an update on Avenida, Palm Desert. Mr. Swartz reported he is still working with Avenida, Palm Desert on their screening and added they have verbally shared the possibility of utilizing a flat panel for screening instead of the corrugated metal panel previously submitted. Commissioner Vuksic reiterated refraining from the use of metal panels to cover the metal units which creates a larger metal box; adding the screening used should provide another architectural layer to the building. In response to inquiry by Ms. Lua, Commissioner Latkovic requested an update on the DSRT Surf project at the next ARC meeting. Additionally, Commissioner McAuliffe requested staff look into an abandoned building located at the northeast corner of El Camino and Panorama Drive. He noted the property has been abandoned for a few years and was boarded up, however, the fence has slowly been picked apart and the empty pool is being used as a makeshift skatepark. VII. ADJOURNMENT With Architectural Review Commission concurrence, Chair Van Vliet adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m. Rosie' L/ ecretary Melinda Gonzalez, Recording SecrAry 4