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Home My WebLink About2021-12-14 ARC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 – 12:30 P.M. ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING CITY OF PALM DESERT, CA I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Van Vliet called the meeting to order at 12:33 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Current Meeting Year to Date Commissioners Present Absent Present Absent Chris Van Vliet, Chair X 10 0 Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 10 0 Nicholas Latkovic X 10 0 Michael McAuliffe X 10 0 Jim McIntosh X 10 0 Juan Mireles (Resigned) 8 1 John Vuksic X 9 1 Also Present: Martin Alvarez, Director of Development Services Rosie Lua, Principal Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Nick Melloni, Associate Planner Jason Finley, Chief Building Official Monica O’Reilly, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, read aloud oral communications advising the public of their opportunity to speak on items not on the agenda at this time in the meeting. No public comments were provided. MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2021 2 IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. MINUTES of the Architectural Review Commission meeting of November 23, 2021. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Vice Chair Lambell, seconded by Commissioner Latkovic, and a 6-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, the minutes for November 23, 2021, were approved as presented. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McAuliffe, McIntosh, 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 21-0017 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a request for a wall exception (height and setback) for a five-foot-high (5’) masonry block wall located within eight (8) feet of the curb face in the front yard of an existing single-family residence. APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Karen Gottwald, Palm Desert, CA 92260 LOCATION: 45820 Mountain View Avenue ZONE: R-1 Associate Planner, Nick Melloni, presented the item. Mr. Melloni noted this is the third time this item has appeared before the Architectural Review Commission (ARC). The item was continued at its last review by the ARC on November 9, 2021, to allow the applicant to revise the plans per comments from the Commission. Mr. Melloni detailed the proposed request and acknowledged letters of support for the project which were emailed to Commissioners prior to the meeting. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments and concerns for the project. Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, invited comments from the public, to which there were none. Upon a motion by Commissioner Vuksic, seconded by Commissioner Latkovic, and a 6-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, Case No. MISC 21-0017, was approved subject to the following: 1) The wall adjacent to the pool area shall be 5’-0” tall with a setback of 10’-0” from the face of curb; 2) The wall adjacent to the drive-way area shall be 42” tall with a setback of 8’- 0” from the face of curb, and generally conform with the height and setback requirements of Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 25.40.080; 3) The height MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2021 3 of the drive-way gate shall not exceed the height of the 42” tall wall; and 4) All walls shall be level in height. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Vuksic and Van Vliet; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). 2. CASE NO: MISC 21-0032 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a request to modify the architecture for an approved 388-unit multi-family apartment community, PP/CUP 16-394, formerly known as “The Sands” apartments located on a vacant 18.13-acre parcel on the south side of Hovley Lane East. APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Bravo Gardens Apartments LLC, Palm Desert, CA 92260 LOCATION: SE Corner of Hovley Lane East and Jasmine Court ZONE: PR-17.5 Associate Planner, Nick Melloni, presented the item. Mr. Melloni advised the Commission the request is for a modification to the proposed architecture for approved Precise Plan and Conditional Use Permit No. 16-394. This item was approved by the ARC on March 28, 2017 with conditions and ultimately approved by the City Council on April 26, 2018 with modifications. Mr. Melloni turned the presentation over to the applicant and their architect, Vince Chupka, who provided further details on the proposed architectural modifications to the project’s residential buildings. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments and concerns for the project. Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, invited comments from the public, to which there were none. Upon a motion by Vice Chair Lambell, seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe, and a 6-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, Case No. MISC 21-0032, was continued subject to the following: 1) Provide additional architectural elements and details to the residential buildings to better relate to the approved architecture and style of the clubhouse building; 2) Incorporate additional architectural details, elements, and visual breaks to the massing of the residential buildings; 3) Consider alternative placement and screening options for mechanical equipment and ensure equipment is adequately screened from public and tenant views; 4) Redesign the entrances of the residential buildings to make them more prominent by adjusting the scaling and massing of the entrance and incorporating more prominent details/hierarchy; 5) Show proposed placement of gas meters and any other ground-mounted equipment or utilities and provide details demonstrating the equipment and utilities are adequately screened and incorporated in the architecture; 6) Revise the color scheme to ensure the colors of the clubhouse and residential buildings are harmonious and compatible; and 7) Provide plans with resubmittal which illustrates proposed landscape and landscape screening for various ground mounted equipment as well as locations for solar panels. MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2021 4 (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Vuksic and Van Vliet; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). B. PRELIMINARY PLANS 1. CASE NOS: PP 21-0008, C/Z 21-0001, TTM 21-0003 (TTM 38033), and MND NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of a recommendation to the Planning Commission for approval of a Change of Zone to establish a higher residential density (eight units per acre), Tentative Tract Map 38033, and a Precise Plan to construct a 32-unit single-story condominium project, clubhouse, and pool/spa on 3.91 acres at the southwest corner of Gerald Ford Drive and Shepherd Lane. APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Desert Luxury Apartments, Las Vegas, NV 89121 LOCATION: 36000 Shepherd Lane ZONE: PR-5 Commissioner McAuliffe advised the Commission his firm has had prior involvement with this item. Commissioner McAuliffe recused himself due to a conflict of interest and left the meeting. Associate Planner, Kevin Swartz, presented the item. Mr. Swartz noted this item was continued at the previous ARC meeting held on November 23, 2021. Mr. Swartz turned the presentation over to the applicant’s architect, John Danielian, who provided a detailed presentation on the proposed modifications in response to Commissioner’s comments from the prior ARC meeting. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments and concerns for the project. Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, invited comments from the public, to which there were none. Upon a motion by Commissioner McIntosh, seconded by Commissioner Latkovic, and a 5-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, Case Nos. PP 21-0008, C/Z 21-0001, TTM 21-0003 (TTM 38033), were approved subject to the following: 1) Staff to conduct field verification of roof parapets and if they are not properly concealed, applicant will revisit parapet design to ensure edges are properly concealed and line up parapet edges over garages on Style A as discussed, should it be determined they need to be enclosed due to visibility; and 2) Applicant shall be mindful of roof color to ensure it is not too reflective. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McIntosh, Vuksic and Van Vliet; NOES: None; ABSENT: McAuliffe). 2. CASE NO: PP 21-0009 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of a recommendation to the Planning Commission for approval of a Precise Plan and Environmental Assessment to develop a 330-unit multi-family residential apartment community including 15 three-story apartment buildings, a single-story MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2021 5 clubhouse, pool area, and private outdoor recreation areas, and related off-site improvements on a 15-acre parcel located at the northeast corner of Gerald Ford Drive and Technology Drive. APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Apogee Professional Services, Omaha, NE, 68144 LOCATION: NE Corner of Gerald Ford Drive and Technology Drive ZONE: Millennium Specific Plan Area 7, PR-22 Commissioner McAullife rejoined the meeting. Associate Planner, Nick Melloni, presented the item. The request is for a project located in Area 7 of the Millennium Specific Plan which proposes the development of 330 apartment units, twenty percent of which are affordable units. Mr. Melloni turned the presentation over to the applicant and their architect, Keith McCloskey, who provided further details of the proposed project. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments and concerns for the project. Principal Planner, Rosie Lua, invited comments from the public, to which there were none. Upon a motion by Vice Chair Lambell, seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe, and a 6-0 vote of the Architectural Review Commission, Case No. PP 21-0009, was approved subject to the following: 1) Parapets should be of adequate height and carried back/over or enclosed where necessary to ensure roof top equipment and parapet ends are screened in their entirety from all vantage points/angles and provide plans demonstrating this information to Planning staff; 2) Consider alternative locations proposed for artificial turf and the addition of shading elements for these areas or some other method to cool off these surfaces during the hotter months; 3) Consider enhancements to entrances to allow for more prominence with consideration to massing; 4) Revisit placement of mailroom with consideration to high winds experienced in this area; 5) Should project include gas meters, equipment should be fully screened from view and incorporated in the architecture; 6) Redesign roof drainage downspouts so they are internal and placed within the building structure and not visible from the exterior; 7) Revise the design of the stairwell towers and other building offsets by increasing the depth of plane offsets and increasing the window and door recesses; 8) Review state requirements to determine if each garage requires the addition of an entrance/exit door; 9) Review sight line from Cook exit to ensure there is no visible roof top equipment; and 10) Staff will review all revisions made in response to Commissioners comments before the project goes before the Planning Commission; should staff have concern with any revisions and are unable to resolve them with the applicant the project will return to the ARC for review. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Vuksic and Van Vliet; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 14, 2021 6 C. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS None VI. COMMENTS Development Services Director, Martin Alvarez, addressed the Commission and stated City Councilmembers, City Manager, and staff are very appreciative of their time and effort and to show this appreciation each Commissioner will be receiving a gift card. Mr. Alvarez announced staff member, Jason Finley, has been promoted to Building Official for the City. Mr. Finley provided a brief update on Monterey Crossings and noted he completed the ground waste inspections for Chick-fil-A and anticipates the foundation will be poured within the week and estimated a completion date of approximately 90 to 100 days. The other businesses in Monterey Crossings including, Quick Quack Car Wash, ATT, and Habit Burger are all moving along well and Spectrum is currently open. VII. ADJOURNMENT With Architectural Review Commission concurrence, Chair Van Vliet adjourned the meeting at 4:58 p.m. Rosie Lua, Secretary Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Secretary