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Home My WebLink About2021-09-14 ARC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 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 5 0 Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 5 0 Nicholas Latkovic X 5 0 Michael McAuliffe X 5 0 Jim McIntosh Juan Mireles X X 5 5 0 0 John Vuksic X 4 1 Also Present: Rosie Lua, Principal Planner Nick Melloni, Associate Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, advised the Commission there were no comments or inquiries received prior to the meeting. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. MINUTES of the Architectural Review Commission meeting of August 24, 2021. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Commissioner McAuliffe, seconded by Commissioner Mireles, and a 6-0-1 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, the minutes for August 24, 2021, were approved as presented. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 2 McAuliffe, McIntosh, Mireles, and Van Vliet; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: Vuksic; 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 None B. PRELIMINARY PLANS 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. At the direction of City Staff, Commissioner McAuliffe recused himself due to a conflict of interest and left the meeting room. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, presented the item. Mr. Swartz turned the presentation over to the applicant, Lennar, whose team provided a detailed presentation on the project. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments and concerns for the project. During discussion Commissioners and applicant, Lennar, identified street exposed lots which should feature enhancements. After review of the applicant’s site plan which contained previously identified lots by Lennar for side enhancements, it was agreed upon by the Applicant that these lots would also be considered for rear enhancements. At the conclusion of the discussion, it was determined the item would be continued to the next regularly scheduled ARC meeting on September 28, 2021 to address comments provided by the ARC. Upon a motion by Vice Chair Lambell, seconded by Commissioner Vuksic, and a 6-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, Case No. MISC 21- 0025, was continued subject to the following: 1) Applicant will explore options for lowering all roof pitches which exceed a 4:12 pitch; 2) Applicant will work with staff on landscaping plan; 3) Roof edge rake tile detail on all Spanish Plans should be returned back to the structure as detailed during meeting discussion; MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 3 4) Front windows on Plan 1843 should be further recessed; 5) Applicant will contact the Dolce Home Owners Association to inquire and potentially incorporate regulations regarding upkeep of pot shelf detail; 6) Applicant will confirm material for walls, including side yard gates, which should match existing developed lots; 7) Revisit single shutter detail on all plans and add a second shutter as appropriate, including the addition of a left shutter on enhanced Spanish Plan 2064 “A”; and 8) Confirm and update plans to reflect fascia is hardie board and not wood material. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McIntosh, Mireles, Van Vliet and Vuksic; NOES: None; ABSENT: McAuliffe). C. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 1. CASE NO: PP 18-0004 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Discussion and preliminary design feedback for proposed roof top screening. LOCATION: Avenida Palm Desert - 40445 Portola Ave, Palm Desert Commissioner McAuliffe rejoined the ARC meeting. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, presented the discussion item noting the request is for design feedback for the proposed roof top screening for Avenida Palm Desert. Mr. Swartz shared recent photos which displayed the existing conditions, visibility of the mechanical equipment and external ladder for reference, and renderings of the proposed screening provided by the applicant. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments on the project’s design. Comments and concerns provided during the discussion included: • Discouraging the use of metal screening to cover a metal mechanical unit which ultimately appears as one big metal box, • Architectural forms should be used for screening, • The use of corrugated metal appears foreign compared to the existing architecture as there are no other metal components, • The need for a detailed roof plan and submittal to accurately decipher what is being proposed, including how the proposed screening material will be supported. No formal action was taken on this item as it was brought forth solely for commissioner’s comments to the applicant. VI. COMMENTS Commissioner Vuksic provided an update for the Arts in Public Places Commission. He stated the Arts in Public Places Commission presented the City Council with the two finalists selected for the art sculpture which will be placed on San Pablo. At the City Council meeting, Councilmembers decided they would like the public’s input on the two finalists selected and deferred their decision. City Council asked staff to reach out to the public to obtain feedback on the two finalists. MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 Associate Planner, Nick Melloni, provided an update for the Abronia Trail 4-plex. Mr. Melloni reported the applicant appealed the ARC's denial and appeared before City Council on August 26, 2021. Mr. Melloni reported the City Council overturned the ARC's decision and approved the applicant's appeal which will allow the project to move forward to the Planning Commission tentatively on October 5, 2021. Associate Planner, Nick Melloni, provided an update for the Vitalia project. Mr. Melloni reported the City Council approved this item by unanimous vote. He noted they added additional conditions of approval, however, none of which effected the architecture. Currently, the applicant is working toward securing financing and preparing their final drawings. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, provided an update for the Santa Barbara Condos project. Mr. Swartz reported the project went before the Planning Commission on September 7, 2021, and was denied. Mr. Swartz stated several neighbors adjacent to the project were opposed to the density and height of the two-story units. The applicant will have two options which include withdrawing their project and resubmitting a project that stays within the permitted zoning density of 5 (five) units per acre or proceed to City Council with a recommendation of denial from the Planning Commission. At this time, staff is awaiting the applicant's decision. Upon inquiry by Commissioner McAuliffe, Mr. Swartz stated some of the comments of concern brought up were the proposed density of 12 (twelve) units per acre versus the permitted 5 (five) units per acre and the layout of the site plan which they felt lacked landscaping and open spaces. In response to inquiry by Commissioner Latkovic, Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, advised the Commission staff is currently reviewing the history of the ARC and working to codify bylaws for the ARC which would define the ARC's purpose, objectives, and duties. Additionally, staff is working toward the development of minimum standards of architecture, which would cover the minimum expectations of the ARC. Tentatively, a study session may be held at the end of October, possibly November, with the ARC to help further define the minimum standards and objectives of the ARC. VII. ADJOURNMENT With Architectural Review Commission concurrence, Chair Van Vliet adjourned the meeting at 3:23 p.m. Rosie Lua, Secretary Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Sec tary