HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-08 ARC Regular Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM DESERT
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 8, 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
X
X
X
X
X
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
Wayne Olson, Economic Development
Janine Judy, Recording Secretary
Cancelled meetings: 12124119, 3/10/20, 3/24/20, 4114/20, 8/11/20,
'Kole] di I LTj 01► I ley -A 1101► 61
None
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 25, 2020
Year to Date
Present
Absent
11
2
12
1
13
12
1
12
1
11
2
12
1
Action:
Commissioner Levin moved to approve the August 25, 2020 meeting minutes.
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lambell and carried by a 6-0-1 vote,
with Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet, and Vuksic voting YES and
Schmid absent.
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES September 8, 2020
V. CASES:
A. Final Drawings:
1. CASE NO: PP 18-0007
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: GOODWAY DESIGN AND DRAFTING,
Attn: Wendell W. Veith, 41-625 Eclectic Street, Suite M1, Palm Desert,
CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve final construction drawings for Building 1; Poole Plaza.
LOCATION: 75-051 Sego Lane
ZONE: SI
Mr. Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner, presented the construction plans
and stated that he reviewed the changes and found them to match with
the preliminary approval and suggestions recommended by the
Commission in terms of setbacks, equipment screening, and design.
Staff recommended approval.
ACTION:
Commissioner Lambell moved to approve as presented. Motion was seconded
by Commissioner McAuliffe and carried by a 6-0-1 vote, with Lambell, Levin,
McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet, and Vuksic voting YES and Schmid absent.
2. CASE NO: MISC 18-0018
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: AN OH, 73-444 Ironwood Street, Palm
Desert, CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve a request for a material and height exception for two (2)
existing wooden 6-10" gates, setback 14'-6" from the face of curb.
LOCATION: 73-444 Ironwood Street
ZONE: R-1, 20,000
Mr. Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner, stated that at the meeting of August
25, 2020, the Commission recommended that staff draft conditions of
approval that specify the agreements and assurances for the long term
maintenance of the fence. The applicant has reviewed and agreed to
the terms of the conditions which shall remain in place as long as this
gate is on the property. Staff is recommended approval.
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Mr. Melloni said these conditions of approval shall be placed in the City's
permit tracking software and will be used to enforce the maintenance.
It's not always common to do this but the Commission has the authority
to adopt this condition, make it specific for this fence, and have the
Community Development Department and the Code Compliance
division enforce the condition. He pointed out that this agreement would
also be transferrable to a new owner.
The Commission discussed how this agreement is transferred to a
potential new owner who will be required to maintain the fence. Mr.
Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development said if the new
owner doesn't do their due diligence they quickly learn about the
agreement when Code Compliance pays them a visit usually after
receiving a complaint from a neighbor.
ACTION:
Commissioner Levin moved to approve subject to: 1) the property owner shall
maintain the fence(s) to preserve a "like new" appearance (based on the date
of approval and as documented in the file photographs) that is visually free of
major wood decay, including but not limited to cracking, splintering, warping,
cupping, rotting, sun damage, greying, fading and mildew. The wooden fence
panels shall be replaced as needed to preserve a "like new" appearance; 2)
the property owner shall, on an annual basis, reseal the wood fence panels
using a translucent sealant which preserves the natural grain of the wood fence
panels; 3) maintenance of the fence as described above shall remain in effect
for as long as the fence remains on the property. Motion was seconded by
Commissioner Vuksic and carried by a 6-0-1 vote, with Lambell, Levin,
McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet, and Vuksic voting YES and Schmid absent.
Commissioner Vuksic recused himself from this project and left the zoom meeting.
3. CASE NO: MISC 20-0017
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: PREST VUKSIC GREENWOOD
ARCHITECTS, 44-530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite 200, Palm Desert, CA
92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve a height exception for a new 17'-6" single-family residence.
LOCATION: 73-355 Grapevine Street
ZONE: R-1, 40,000
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ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
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Mr. Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner, presented a proposal to construct
a new 3,300-square-foot single-family residence with a height of 17'-6".
The home is reasonably set back from the street and will match the
existing footprint. He stated that the item of discussion today is the main
portion of the house. There will also be a detached office and a
detached garage that conform to the height limit and all mechanical
equipment will be concealed within the building. The top of the parapet
is 17'-6" and conforms with all the development standards of the zone.
Staff recommended approval as proposed.
The Commission and the architect discussed the grade of the property
which is spread pretty evenly along the entire length of the property and
how it is measured from the average grade of the property. The architect
pointed out that the percentage of the roof that is over the height is about
35 to 40%, which is only over the living room, kitchen and dining room.
The Commission discussed the elevation in relationship to the street
heights and felt that it will work because of the way the site is used and
the fact that the higher area is internal to the footprint of the building.
ACTION:
Commissioner Lambell moved to approve as submitted. Motion was seconded
by Commissioner McIntosh and carried by a 5-0-1-1 vote, with Lambell, Levin,
McAuliffe, McIntosh, and Van Vliet voting YES, Vuksic abstaining and Schmid
absent.
4. CASE NO: MISC 20-0018
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Chick-fil-A, Inc., 15635 Alton Parkway,
Suite 35, Irvine, CA 92618
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve an amendment to the Chick-fil-A restaurant located on Pad 4
of the Monterey Crossings center. Changes include site plan and
landscape alterations to accommodate a two-lane drive -through.
LOCATION: 73-070 Dinah Shore Drive
ZONE: P.C.-3, Monterey Crossings Specific Plan
Mr. Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner, presented an amendment to the
Chick-fil-A restaurant located on Pad 4 of the Monterey Crossings
center originally approved by the Architectural Review Commission
(ARC) in August 2019. Changes include site plan and landscape
alterations to accommodate a two-lane drive -through; elimination of
building 3 on parcel three to accommodate the added drive -lanes;
additional landscaping along the drive -through; elimination of parking
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spaces to the east of the building entrance; relocation of outdoor dining
to the east side of the building, adjacent to the entrance; and, additional
parking and relocated trash enclosures to the north of the building. The
building itself is not changing from the original approval. Mr. Melloni
wanted to focus on the screening of the vehicles in the drive -through
lanes, which is required through the Monterey Crossings Specific Plan.
The applicant will add additional trees and shrubs along the drive -
through area only. Outside of that area is maintained by the landlord of
the overall project. Staff is recommending approval of the changes.
The Commission was concerned with the lack of screening for the drive -
through from Monterey Avenue (Monterey) northbound. They discussed
the slope and landscaping that will shield the cars from Monterey. Mr.
Eric Ceja, Principal Planner, stated that screening is typically
accomplished at the same grade with heavy landscape or some sort of
small wall or a combination of both. However, there is a challenge here
because Monterey is rising as it goes by the site, and the canopy itself
isn't just designed to screen the vehicles but will also provide shade to
the customers while waiting to place an order or pickup their food.
The Commission continued to discuss the lack of taller landscape that
will help screen the vehicles. They suggested mid -size landscaping
along the bottom of the slope closer to the building. The applicant
pointed out that the landlord has control of most of that area with the
landscaping and they would have to talk with them about that. The
Commission believes that mid -sized landscape would soften the impact
of having several cars in the drive -through and at night with all the
headlights.
Mr. Ceja suggested to the Commission they make a condition that
requires an upgrade to the landscape plan to accommodate the
screening. This would then put the burden on Chick-fil-A to discuss an
update to the landscape plan with the landlord regarding the screening
requirement. He pointed out that this condition is being made because
the driveway has changed and you want to see a landscape upgrade.
After further discussion, the Commission suggested planting
Washingtonian filifera in that area. Mr. Melloni stated the Commission
can place a condition on the approval that the palms are checked at the
time of ordering and installation to ensure that they are of a trunk
thickness and height preferred by staff. Staff can direct the condition
that Chick-fil-A will work with the property owner.
The Commission referred to the top of the drive -through canopy and
pointed out that with the wind conditions in that location, the top of that
canopy will collect windblown trash and debris pretty readily and will
have to be maintained on a regular basis.
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ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
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ACTION:
Commissioner Vuksic moved to approve subject to: 1) the palm trees located
along the western edge of the drive -through shall be Washingtonia filifera
specimens with a brown trunk height between 10' and 15' and large diameter
trunks; and 2) drive -through canopy shall be maintained on a regular basis to
avoid debris that may collect on top. Motion was seconded by Commissioner
McAuliffe and carried by a 6-0-1 vote, with Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh,
Van Viiet, and Vuksic voting YES and Schmid absent.
B. Preliminary Plans:
None
C. Miscellaneous Items:
The Commission and staff discussed the Downtown Neighborhood Design
criteria adopted into City code for the Palm Desert General Plan, One Eleven
Development Code (Downtown), and the University Neighborhood Specific
Plan.
None
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Lambell moved to adjourn the Architectural Review Commission
meeting at 2:35 p.m.
ERIC CEJA
PRINCIPAL NNER
SECRETARY
JA , I E UDY
REMROING SECRETARY
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