HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-14 ARC Regular Meeting Minutes
CITY OF PALM DESERT
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022 – 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 12:32 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present Absent
Chris Van Vliet, Chair X
Karel Lambell, Vice Chair (Left meeting at 1:48 p.m.) X
Nicholas Latkovic X
Michael McAuliffe X
Jim McIntosh X
John Vuksic X
Also Present:
Richard Cannone, Deputy Director of Development Services
Rosie Lua, Planning Manager
Nick Melloni, Associate Planner
Denise Hamet, Management Analyst
Robert Hargreaves, City Attorney
Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Secretary
Planning Manager, Rosie Lua, informed the Architectural Review Commission (ARC),
at the direction of the City Council and going forward, an attendance record will be
included as a regular informational item on the agenda which reflects commissioners’
attendance over a rolling twelve-month period.
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Planning Manager, 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.
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IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. MINUTES of the Architectural Review Commission meeting of May 24, 2022.
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 May 24,
2022, were approved as presented. (AYES: Lambell, Latkovic, McAuliffe,
McIntosh, Vuksic, and Van Vliet; NOES: None; ABSENT: None).
V. CASES
It should be noted associated staff reports, memos, attachments, and discussion on
the following item 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 NOS: PP/CUP 20-0003, DDA and TPM 38023
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Notice of Action for May 24,
2022 regarding the Chandi mixed-use project located at 73515 Fred Waring
Drive.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Chandi Group USA, Indio, CA 92203
LOCATION: 73515 Fred Waring Drive ZONE: DE
Planning Manager, Rosie Lua, acknowledged the memo before the
Commission and provided an oral report for the informational item. Ms. Lua
advised Commissioner’s after the ARC meeting held May 24, 2022, the
applicant contacted staff and requested clarification as to the legality of the
additional conditions placed on the project by the ARC. The City attorney
determined conditions listed in the Notice of Action from the May 24, 2022,
ARC meeting are unenforceable conditions and will be modified to reflect as
recommendations. Ms. Lua further informed the project was found to be in
substantial conformance and will be permitted to proceed with building permits.
Discussion ensued with commissioner’s providing comments and concerns
regarding the matter. After thorough discussion, Ms. Lua confirmed as
requested by the Commission, staff will review conditions applied by the
Commission during the May 24, 2022 meeting to verify if they were previously
conditioned by the ARC and provide an informational update to commissioners.
B. PRELIMINARY PLANS
None
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C. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
1. CASE NO: MISC 22-0013
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary review and
discussion to provide architectural comments for Mechanics Bank a new 4,000
square-foot commercial building located in the Jensen’s Shopping Center at
73611 Highway 111.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: McAuliffe & Co. Architects, Palm Desert, CA
92260
LOCATION: 73611 Highway 111 ZONE: DO
Commissioner McAuliffe informed the Commission of his need to recuse
himself due to a conflict of interest as he will be presenting this item on behalf
of his client.
Associate Planner, Nick Melloni, presented the item noting it is being brought
before the Commission as an informational item and no action is required by
the ARC. The presentation was turned over to the applicant, Michael McAuliffe,
with McAuliffe & Co. Architects who provided a more detailed presentation on
the project and answered questions from the Commission.
Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners providing comments and
concerns for the project. Planning Manager, Rosie Lua, invited comments from
the public, to which there were none.
Comments and concerns provided during the discussion include, but are not
limited to:
• Applicant should be mindful of placement for tenant entries and all
entries should be clearly identified.
• Provide further details, including placement and architecture of
proposed trash enclosure.
• Consider adding additional recess for transition in plane between stone
veneer and header over window. (SK 2.0)
• Revisit architecture for the corner tower element to ensure compatibility
with proposed architecture for remainder of building.
• Revisit proposed architecture and massing to evaluate compatibility
with existing buildings and pedestrian scale.
• Explore roof material options which may be more suitable for the thinner
roof style.
• Revisit transition between stone veneer element and hipped roof.
• Provide more articulation for hipped roof; preferably the roof pitch
should be as shallow as allowable.
• Revisit material transitions including rake tile that abuts cubed forms.
• Provide coping details for cap on parapets.
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No formal action was taken on this item as it was brought forth solely for
commissioner’s comments to the applicant.
Vice Chair Lambell left the meeting at 1:48 p.m.
VI. COMMENTS
Commissioner Vuksic provided a brief update on the Cultural Arts Committee. He
reported the City is considering the purchase of two sculptures currently located on El
Paseo and adding them to the City’s permanent collection. There was also discussion
regarding the placement of a mural on the former Fitzhenry-Wiefels Funeral Home
location (Southeast corner of San Pablo and San Gorgonio Way).
Deputy Director of Development Services, Richard Cannone, provided an oral update
on actions taken by Planning Commission and City Council. Mr. Cannone reported
Planning Commission approved the Spanish Walk project and City Council approved
staff’s request to extend the Dining Deck program through June 30, 2024.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
With Architectural Review Commission concurrence, Chair Van Vliet adjourned the
meeting at 1:54 p.m.
Rosie Lua, Secretary
Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Secretary