HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-10 ARC Regular Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM DESERT
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2020 – 12:30 P.M.
ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Chris Van Vliet called the meeting to order at 12:32 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Absent:
Chair Chris Van Vliet Commissioner Jim McIntosh
Vice-Chair Karel Lambell Commissioner Jim Schmid
Commissioner Allan Levin
Commissioner Michael McAuliffe
Commissioner John Vuksic
Also Present:
Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development
Eric Ceja, Principal Planner
Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner
Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner
Monica O’Reilly, Management Specialist II
Wayne Olson, Senior Management Analyst
Deborah Schwartz, Business Advocate
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. MINUTES of the Regular Architectural Review Commission meeting of October 27,
2020.
Rec: Approve as presented.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Levin, seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe, and a
5-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, the minutes were approved as presented
(AYES: Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, Van Vliet, and Vuksic; NOES: None; ABSENT: McIntosh
and Schmid).
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ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION NOVEMBER 10, 2020
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V. CASES
A. FINAL DRAWINGS:
1. CASE NO: MISC 20-0023
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of a fence
exception for design, height, and material for a 5-foot-8-inch vinyl fence located in
the front yard of a single-family residence.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Huang Kehsiung, 72895 Sonora Drive, Palm
Desert, CA 92260
LOCATION: 72895 Sonora Drive ZONE: R-2
Chair Van Vliet moved to, by Minute Motion, deny Case No. MISC 20-0023.The motion
was seconded by Vice-Chair Lambell and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Lambell, Levin,
McAuliffe, Van Vliet, and Vuksic; NOES: None; ABSENT: McIntosh and Schmid).
2. CASE NO: SARC 20-0008
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a new
wall sign for Metro by T-Mobile, a retail store.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: AKC Permit Company, 75197 Lighthouse Lane,
Lake Elsinore, CA 92540
LOCATION: 73540 Highway 111, Suite 2 ZONE: DO
Commissioner McAuliffe moved to, by Minute Motion, approve Case No. SARC 20-
0008, subject to the following: 1) Color the background of the articulated cabinet to match the
building fascia; and 2) use an opaque background for the articulated cabinet to ensure only
the magenta sign copy appears illuminated. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Levin and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, Van Vliet, and Vuksic;
NOES: None; ABSENT: McIntosh and Schmid).
3. CASE NO: MISC 20-0022
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve new
sport court lighting (pole-mounted LED lights).
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Brian Ansley, 46340 Desert Lily Drive, Palm
Desert, CA 92260
LOCATION: 46340 Desert Lily Drive ZONE: R-1 20,000
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Commissioner Levin moved to, by Minute Motion, continue Case No. MISC 20-0022,
subject to the following: 1) Staff to work with the applicant to notify the neighbors of the sport
court lighting; 2) staff to visit the site in the evening when the lights are on; 3) staff to look at
the area of the basketball court and the wall to determine if there is room for landscaping; and
4) staff to return to the ARC with the findings. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Vuksic and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, Van Vliet, and Vuksic;
NOES: None; ABSENT: McIntosh and Schmid).
B. PRELIMINARY PLANS:
1. CASE NO: CUP 20-0007
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a
design to construct a new 65-foot wireless telecommunication facility designed as
a palm tree.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Smartlink, 2033 San Elija Avenue, Suite 600,
Cardiff, CA 92007
LOCATION: 73750 Dinah Shore Drive ZONE: SI
Commissioner Vuksic recused himself from this item due to a conflict of interest and
left the meeting.
Vice-Chair Lambell moved to, by Minute Motion, continue Case No. CUP 20-0007,
subject to the following: 1) The applicant shall explore installing a shorter monopalm(s)
without equipment that is clear of the RF requirements to create an illusion of a cluster of
palms in lieu of live plantings. The motion was seconded by Chair Van Vliet and carried by a
4-0 vote (AYES: Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, and Van Vliet; NOES: None; ABSENT: McIntosh,
Schmid, and Vuksic).
2. CASE NO: PP/CUP 20-0003
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a
mixed-use project consisting of approximately 16,500 square feet of retail and
office uses on the ground floor, and 60 residential units (1-3 bedrooms) on the
second and third floors, the Chandi Mixed-Use Project.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Chandi Enterprises, LLC, 42270 Spectrum Street,
Indio, CA 92203
LOCATION: SEC Fred Waring Drive and ZONE: DE
San Pablo Avenue
Commissioner Levin recused himself from this item due to a conflict of interest and
left the meeting.
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Commissioner Vuksic moved to, by Minute Motion, approve Case No. PP/CUP 20-
0003, subject to the following: 1) The parapets on taller forms are returned back far enough
to create a well-proportioned three-dimensional form; and 2) staff to review the parapet
returns. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe and carried by a 4-0 vote
(AYES: Lambell, McAuliffe, Van Vliet, and Vuksic; NOES: None; ABSENT: Levin, McIntosh,
and Schmid).
C. MISCELLANEOUS:
None
VI. COMMENTS
Associate Planner Kevin Swartz provided an update on the Avenida apartment complex
and Cam’s Corner.
Assistant Planner Nick Melloni commented that he had not received plans for the Bump
and Grind Plaza.
Director of Community Development Ryan Stendell commented that City Hall is open by
appointment only.
Vice-Chair Karel Lambell mentioned that it was difficult to understand the applicant with
the fence and hoped he was able to talk to the staff at City Hall.
Staff responded that they spent four months working with the applicant, and staff informed
him that the Commission would deny the fence; however, he still wanted to go through
the process.
Mr. Stendell provided a brief update on San Pablo Phase II and outdoor dining on Lupine
Lane.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
With the Architectural Review Commission concurrence, Chair Van Vliet adjourned the
meeting at 2:40 p.m.
ERIC CEJA, SECRETARY
MONICA O’REILLY, RECORDING SECRETARY