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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-14 ARC Regular Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 14, 2020 (VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING) CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p,m. ROLL CALL Commissioners Chris Van Vliet, Chair Karel Lambell, Vice Chair Allan Levin Michael McAuliffe Jim McIntosh Jim Schmid John Vuksic Current Meeting Present Absent X Also Present Ryan Stendell, Director, Community Development Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner Russell Grance, Director, Building & Safety Pedro Rodriguez, Code Supervisor Deborah Glickman, Economic Dev Wayne Olsen, Economic Dev Janine Judy, Recording Secretary Cancelled meeting: 12/24/19, 3110/20, 3/24/20, 4/14/20 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 23, 2020 Action: Year to Date Present Absent 8 2 9 1 10 9 1 9 1 9 1 9 1 Commissioner Levin moved to approve the June 23, 2020 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lambell and carried by a 6-0-1 vote, with Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh Schmid, and Vuksic voting YES and Van Vliet absent. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES V. CASES: A. Final Drawings: None B. Preliminary Plans: July 14, 2020 The Architectural Review Commission considered Case PP 19-0010, but it was incorrectly listed on the agenda as "Waring Medical Plaza SARC 19-0010." Commissioner Vuksic recused himself from this project and left the meeting. 1. CASE NO: "PP 19-0010" APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: DMA, 35493 Veranda Avenue, Wildomar, CA 92595 NATURE OF PROJECTIAPPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of a recommendation to the Planning Commission for approval to construct a two-story 18,434-square-foot, multi -tenant light industrial building: Alpha Holdings Building. LOCATION: 73-725 Dinah Shore Drive ZONE: SI Mr. Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner, presented a request for approval to construct a two-story 18,434-square-foot light -industrial building on Dinah Shore Drive. The building will feature suites for up to three tenants. The building architecture is characterized by simple rectangular massing and forms, which are consistent with the intended industrial nature of future building tenants. Primary entrances to the respective suites are oriented towards Dinah Shore Drive (Dinah Shore). Each of these entrances is highlighted by a covered entry projecting outwards from the primary mass of the main building. The side and rear elevations feature limited articulation, with the rear featuring industrial style roll -up doors. The exterior finish palette consists of various shades of gray and stacked stone veneer. The building design screens roof -mounted equipment and exhaust vents with a continuous six-foot parapet wall. Electrical equipment and fire risers will be located within a room towards the rear of the building. Roof drains and gutters will be located within the walls of the building. The majority of site landscaping is concentrated along the street frontage within the proposed retention basis. The landscape palette consists of a mix of desert -native shrubs, and accent plants including various agave and yucca. Trees, including Blue Palo Verde and Chitalpa Pink Dawn will be placed within the parking areas and around the rear and side perimeter of the development. The project generally GAPlaning%JardneJudV%ARMlMinutee120201200714nin.doex Page 2 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES ACTION: July 14, 2020 complies with the development standards for the SI zone, with the exception of the landscape coverage requirement, as the SI zone doesn't not have a specific landscaping coverage requirement. Staff recommends preliminary approval of the project as purposed and allow the project to move forward to a public hearing with the Planning Commission. Commissioner Lambell was concerned with the lack of shade noted on the renderings and asked the architect what can be done to avoid this becoming just a flat face. MR. DAVE MADDEN, architect, pointed out that the articulation is achieved by the three (3) entryway covers one on each side of the high tower. The covered entries with the rock veneer stick out 4 to 6' from the building Commissioner Levin and MR. MADDEN discussed the lack of recess on the windows. MR. MADDEN said on the front elevation he will take the four center windows on the left and right side of the entryway, double frame a wall in front of it and recess them 4" to 6". Commissioner McAuliffe thinks that will work and suggested they double frame and set the windows to the inside to give them about 6" of recess. Commissioner McAuliffe and MR. MADDEN discussed the areas for the roof drains. MR. MADDEN said they will have interior drains one on the left and one on the right that will drain towards the front with pickups in the roof to catch the water. Commissioner Levin moved to approve subject to double -framing and setting windows to the inside on either side of the primary entry to create additional recess and architectural interest, as well as shading. Motion seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe and carried by a 5-0-1-1 vote, with Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, and Schmid, voting YES, Vuksic abstaining and Van Vliet absent. 2. CASE NO: PP/CUP 20-0003 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: CHANDI ENTERPRISES LLC, Attn: Toni Merrihew, 42270 Spectrum Street, Indio, CA 92203 NATURE OF PROJECTIAPPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a mixed -use project consisting of approximately 16,500 square feet of retail/office uses on the ground floor, and 60 residential units (1- 3 bedrooms) on the second and third floors; Chandi Mixed -Use Project. LOCATION: SEC Fred Waring Drive & San Pablo Avenue ZONE: DE G.UnanningUenineJudMRC%lMintmtoW0201x00714udmdocx Page 3 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2020 Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, reminded the Commission this came before them September 24, 2019 for review of a conceptual design for a mixed -use project consisting of approximately 16,500- square-feet of retail/office uses on the ground floor and 60 residential units (1-3 bedrooms) on the second and third floors. This vacant property is located across from City Hall on the corner of Fred Waring Drive (Fred Waring) and San Pablo Avenue (San Pablo) and is zoned Downtown Edge which allows for mixed -use development up to three stories. A year or two ago the City Council awarded the property to the Chandi Group to develop a three- (3) story mixed -use project. The one bedroom units will be approximately 711 square feet, two bedroom units wIll be a little over 1,000 square feet, and a few three bedroom units will be a little over 1,300 square feet. On the ground floor there will be about 16,000 square feet of retail/commercial facing San Pablo. Mr. Swartz presented the parking summary and stated they have met the parking requirements. He pointed out an art piece that will be a focal point facing the intersection, as well as having an outdoor plaza atmosphere and an inviting atmosphere of cafes, restaurant or bars on the corner of San Pablo and Santa Rosa Way. He said the importance of this project is being the first three story mixed -use development. MS. TONI MERRIHEW, Chandi Group USA, reminded the Commission that about a year ago they brought an early conceptual design to them, as well as a couple of the City Council members for review and comments. After meeting with the City, they took the suggestions back to their architectural design team, but unfortunately the plans weren't evolving and Mr. Chandi made the decision to start with a new architectural team and they are excited with the current changes. MR. MIKE BOYD, Architect with Danielian Associates, said this is a prime site along San Pablo and Fred Waring and they wanted to take advantage of these two corners of the site to create some interesting public spaces and allow the public to come into the retail commercial layer. It is also important to give the apartment residents a feeling of security and separation from that public realm. They have created a resort like deck with pool, spa and other amenities on the roof of the garage and the two level parking structure will not be seen from the street. The challenge with the building size is having enough articulation in the elevations so they created an exciting street scene with a lot of massing breakups. MR. LOUIS BRETANA, Lead Designer with Danielian Associates said they are trying to create a building that gives a sense of space and engage with City Hall, and a street scene that helps with interaction with San Pablo. They articulated the building to reduce the mass and used a landscape palette that will respond to the desert environment that won't deteriorate in the extreme heat. He described the screen shapes and balconies to help shade the sun, a dynamic corner at San Pablo G.VionningUanineJudykARC%lMlnutesUO2Uk2OU7l4min.dace Page 4 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2020 and Santa Rosa Way (Santa Rosa) with a cafe and outdoor dining space. He liked the constraints of the building shape as it creates a real dynamic outdoor space that isn't so uniform, as well as an expanded pedestrian and vehicular experience. MR. JOE WICENTOWICH, Senior Project Manager with Danielian Associates, provided an overview of the building systems, the type of construction and how they are bringing services into the building. He described the two points of entry; one off Fred Waring and the other off Santa Rosa that will provide access for trash pickup and other supplementary loading and unloading. The overall building composition is a non-combustible podium type structure with concrete and steel on the first level for retail commercial, as well as the parking and wood construction on top of the podium and fire rated as required. The rooftop units will all be centralized over the roof areas and hidden with a 5' to 6' mechanical screening. The only thing they are not accounting for right now is the placement of the boiler pad that is a program requirement which will be discussed with the client. In lieu of water heaters in each individual unit, they may have a central boiler with appropriate screening. The central room in the parking area will be towards the back. They will make accommodations for condensing units on the backside or adjacent to the residential units. The fire riser room will probably occur in the trash area. They will provide space for mechanical systems to allow ventilation and will have a lot of openings available. MR. CHRIS HERMANN, Hermann Design Group, presented renderings for resident active space, a fitness center, and covered cabana type seating areas, a little pool, outdoor seating, tables, chairs, a barbecue area and a fire pit. He explained that the deck is raised a couple steps to get a pool depth of about three feet. There will be raised planters with palm trees and tubular steel fencing. MR. OPUS GARZA -- Hermann Design Group, pointed out and described the three points of access with gates on the east side. He explained that their plan was to soften up all the hard scape by planting in a hierarchy with the first row low and tight and the background a little higher to provide screening. The Commission and the applicants discussed the locations of the elevators and all points of access to the project, as well as resident's access to the pool from their apartments. The Commission reviewed and discussed how the project relates to the single family home on the east elevation along Santa Rosa. The landscape team said they could provide privacy screening for the home. The Commission was concerned that landscaping would not be adequate for this three-story project and suggested they explore a landscaped terrace above the parking garage to create architectural treatments or a landscaped privacy screen for the balconies. G.VienningUenineJudylAHCllMinvto$W020%200714min.docx Page 5 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2020 Commissioner McIntosh suggested they show in true scale the massing of the relationship of the building and the existing residential home to the east. The Commission and applicant discussed the recesses and eyebrows on the windows to help shade the residential units. Commissioner Vuksic suggested the eyebrows over the windows project 1 8" to 24" and said they need to be constructed at that depth. The Commission reviewed and discussed the openings in the building's design for cross flow and ventilation in the courtyard. The applicant provided the rendering to show the openings and after further discussion said they will take another look at this. The Commission and the applicant discussed the onsite storm water retention plan. Mr. Swartz stated that Public Works is working on this with the applicant. The Commission asked about the utilities for both the commercial and the residential units. The applicant said the residential units will have central air units and each unit will stand alone for water, gas and electricity. Commissioner Levin suggested they indicate on the plans the locations of all utilities and mechanical rooms for commercial and residential units. He also asked where the meters will be located and if they will be visible. He asked them to show that on their renderings as well. The Commission had further conversation about the neighboring adjacent property. Commissioner McAuliffe suggested the applicant provide a simple massing of the home to see it in section and even in perspective. He said it will also be important in how they further develop this area with landscape or additional architectural treatment. The Commission reviewed the parking structure and Commissioner McAuliffe said since the structure is concrete he suggested that it will be important that the concrete is treated as an architectural finish and detailed in a way where it looks like a finished product and not an unfinished parking deck, particularly because it is so close to the residential property on the east elevation. Commissioner McAuliffe left at 1:50 p.m. The Commission discussed the large stone surfaces on the building. Commissioner Vuksic said the stone surfaces/pieces need to be sized appropriately for the scale of the large wall surfaces and the same applies to the accent tiles_ The Commission discussed the material for the mechanical screening_ The applicant stated they haven't picked out a specific product but it will GAPIanningUanlne JudMRC%lMInuies120201200714min.doex Page 6 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2020 be something more architectural versus utilitarian. Commissioner Vuksic was concerned that the tenants on the upper levels will see the mechanical units and suggested they re-examine the visibility of the screening from the 3rd floor units. Commissioner Vuksic referred to the vertical windows with eyebrows on either side of the open area on the corner of Fred Waring and San Pablo that are pretty significant. He suggested they fur the walls to read as slots on the south elevation to have more than 3" of recess. Commissioner Vuksic told the applicants as they move forward with the schematic design to submit more details to the floor plans, roof plans, parking plan, and design details. Mr. Swartz reminded the applicant and the architect that they will have to submit a sign program and to start thinking about where the signs will be located and to show them on the renderings. Commissioner Schmid asked the applicants if they have considered solar panels on the roof. The applicant said they will meet with their energy consultant but it is something they definitely will research. MS. MERRIHEW said Mr. Chandi has indicated his preference to install solar on this building. ACTION: Commissioner Vuksic moved to continue subject to: 1) eyebrows over the windows project 18"-24" and need to be constructed at that depth; 2) explore a landscape terrace above the parking garage on the east elevation to create architectural treatments or landscaping as a privacy screen for the balconies and for the existing residential homes; 3) create openings for cross flow or ventilation for the courtyard; 4) address on -site storm water retention plans with the Public Works department; 5) indicate location of all utilities and mechanical rooms for commercial and residential units; 6) show in true scale the massing of the relationship of the building and the existing residential home to the east; 7) the exterior finish of the parking deck needs to be a treated architectural finish and detailed in a way to appear as a finished project and not an unfinished parking deck; 8) the stone surfaces/pieces need to be sized appropriately for the scale of the large wall surfaces. Same applies to the accent tiles; 9) re-examine the visibility of mechanical screening from the 3rd floor residents; 10) fur walls to read as slots on south elevation; 11) as the applicant moves forward with the schematic design, submit more details to the floor plans, roof plans, parking plan, and design details; 12) indicate approximate signage locations on renderings; and 13) eventually, a Sign Program will be required at a later date. Motion seconded by Commissioner McIntosh and carried by a 5-0-2 vote, with Lambell, Levin, McIntosh, Schmid, and Vuksic voting YES, and McAuliffe and Van Vliet absent. GAPlanningUenina JudMFtO1MInuses120201200714min.doe: Page 7 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES C. Miscellaneous Items: None VI. COMMENTS July 14, 2020 The Commission and staff discussed Avenida Senior Living, the proposed sculptures for the turn -around on San Pablo Avenue (San Pablo), and the second phase of the San Pablo street project. VII. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Levin moved to adjourn the Architectural Review Commission meeting at 2:25 p.m. a ERIC CEJA PRINCIPAL PLAN R SECRETARY *a�� N JUD J RDING SECRETARY G•1PIanningUanineJudy%ARf IMInutes%202012007l4mindoca Page 8 of 8