HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-24 ARC Regular Meeting Minutes
City of Palm Desert Page 1
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
(HYBRID MEETING)
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361, this meeting may be conducted by teleconference. There
will be in-person public access to the meeting location.
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) was called to order by Vice
Chair McIntosh on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. in the Development Services
Conference Room, City Hall, located at 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Dean Wallace Colvard, Nicholas Latkovic, Michael McAuliffe, Vice
Chair Jim McIntosh, and Francisco Sanchez.
Absent: Chair John Vuksic.
City Staff
Present: Richard Cannone, Director of Development Services; Rosie Lua, Deputy Director
of Development Services; Nick Melloni, Senior Planner; Anna Dan, Assistant
Planner; Nikki Gomez, Assistant Planner; and Melinda Gonzalez, Recording
Secretary, were present at Roll Call.
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
Vice Chair McIntosh opened and closed the non-agenda public comment period. No public
comments were provided.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
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/commission-
information.
Vice Chair McIntosh opened and closed the public comment period for the Consent Calendar.
No public comments were provided.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LATKOVIC,
CARRIED 5-0 (CHAIR VUKSIC ABSENT); to approve the consent calendar.
Tuesday
January 24, 2023
12:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting
Architectural Review Commission Minutes January 24, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 2
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
LATKOVIC, CARRIED 5-0 (CHAIR VUKSIC ABSENT); to approve the Architectural
Review Commission Special Meeting Study Session minutes of December 6, 2022.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
LATKOVIC, CARRIED 5-0 (CHAIR VUKSIC ABSENT); to approve the Architectural
Review Commission Regular Meeting minutes of January 10, 2023.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER: Items removed from the Consent Calendar for separate
discussion will be considered at this time.
None
5. ACTION CALENDAR
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/commission-
information.
A. FINAL DRAWINGS
1. CASE NO: MISC22-0043 (Continued from January 10, 2023)
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a
materials exception for an existing fence in the front yard setback of a single-family
residence located at 77100 Indiana Avenue.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Theresa Illare, Palm Desert, CA 92211
LOCATION: 77100 Indiana Avenue
ZONE: Single-Family Residential (R-1)
Assistant Planner, Anna Dan, narrated a PowerPoint presentation on the item and
responded to Commission inquiries. Theresa Illare, Applicant, was present and
answered questions from the Commission.
Vice Chair McIntosh opened and closed the public comment period. No public
comments were provided. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners
providing comments for the project.
Following discussion, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER LATKOVIC, CARRIED 5-0 (CHAIR VUKSIC ABSENT); to approve
Case No. MISC22-0043 with the following conditions:
1. The Applicant shall submit a revised landscape plan to City staff incorporating
additional planting materials at the front yard with varying heights to screen the
wall.
2. The proposed Palo Verde tree shall be no less than a 24-inch box size as required
by the Palm Desert Municipal Code (PDMC).
Architectural Review Commission Minutes January 24, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 3
2. CASE NO: PP22-0004 Amendment No.1
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of an amendment to
Precise Plan (PP) 22-0004, revising the exterior architecture for a 150-unit multi-family
residential community on a 6.8-acre parcel located at 77800 Gerald Ford Drive (APN
694-520-019, and -020).
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Western National Group, Irvine, CA 92614
LOCATION: 77800 Gerald Ford Drive
ZONE: Planned Residential (PR-19)
Senior Planner, Nick Melloni, narrated a PowerPoint presentation on the item and
responded to Commission inquiries. Brian Gilchrist, Applicant, and Chris Williams,
Architect, presented additional details on the project and answered questions from the
Commission.
Vice Chair McIntosh opened and closed the public comment period. No public
comments were provided. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners
providing comments for the project.
Following discussion, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LATKOVIC, SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ, CARRIED 5-0 (CHAIR VUKSIC ABSENT); to approve
Case No. PP22-0004 Amendment No.1 with the following conditions:
1. The applicant shall provide a 42-inch wall to enclose the patios of all ground floor
apartment units of Building Nos. 1 through 3. All ground floor patios for Building
Nos. 4 through 8 shall be enclosed by a permanently maintained 42-inch hedge or
wall, which shall be reviewed by the ARC Subcommittee at final construction
drawings. The hedge shall be installed at a height of 42 inches at the time of
planting.
2. Where the metal mesh is removed from external stairwells, the applicant shall
provide a minimum thickness of 4 inches around the border of the area where the
mesh was removed. The applicant shall provide appropriate details illustrating the
modification, including cross sections, on the final construction drawings.
3. The final construction drawings shall return to an ARC subcommittee for final
acceptance and substantial conformance review.
4. All drainage downspouts shall change color with building color change.
5. All downspouts shall be connected to the subsurface drainage system.
6. The applicant shall provide a lighter color where the exterior composite siding is
removed.
3. CASE NO: SARC22-0004
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration for approval of a
comprehensive sign program for exterior signage for Palms to Pines West commercial
center.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: The Signs and Services Company, Stanton, CA 90680
LOCATION: 72740 El Paseo
ZONE: Office Professional (OP)
Architectural Review Commission Minutes January 24, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 4
Assistant Planner, Nikki Gomez, narrated a PowerPoint presentation on the item and
responded to Commission inquiries. Ryan Ybarra, Applicant Representative,
answered questions from the Commission.
Vice Chair McIntosh opened and closed the public comment period. No public
comments were provided. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners
providing comments for the project.
Following discussion, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LATKOVIC, SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, CARRIED 5-0; (CHAIR VUKSIC ABSENT) to
approve Case No. SARC22-0004 with the following conditions:
1. Prior to the issuance of any sign permit the applicant shall resubmit a revised sign
program to planning staff which omits the maximum 111 square foot sign area and
revise to state the maximum sign area for M1 is 149.38 square feet and 121.01
square feet of sign area for M2.
2. Applicant shall revise sign program to add specific language defining allowable
fonts and colors.
4. CASE NO: SARC22-0005
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration for Architectural
Review Commission approval of a comprehensive sign program for exterior signage for
the Oracle Plaza.
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: Signarama, Palm Desert, CA 92211
LOCATION: 73585 Fred Waring Drive
ZONE: Office Professional (OP)
Assistant Planner, Nikki Gomez, narrated a PowerPoint presentation on the item and
responded to Commission inquiries. Jeff Grady, Applicant Representative, answered
questions from the Commission.
Vice Chair McIntosh opened and closed the public comment period. No public
comments were provided. Discussion on the item ensued with Commissioners
providing comments for the project.
Following discussion, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COLVARD, SECOND BY VICE
CHAIR MCINTOSH, CARRIED 5-0; (CHAIR VUKSIC ABSENT) to approve Case No.
SARC22-0005 with the following conditions:
1. Prior to the issuance of any sign permit, the applicant shall submit a revised
Sign Program to Planning Staff which includes a restriction that all exterior
signs including, window signs shall be non-illuminated on all elevations facing
existing residential uses.
2. Prior to the issuance of any sign permit, the applicant shall submit a revised
Sign Program to Planning Staff that includes a revised floor plan in the
document which clearly associates each suite number with a specific exterior
sign location.
3. The sign program shall be revised to identify all prohibited signs and comply
with Palm Desert Municipal Code Chapter 25.56.050.
4. Window signs shall be prohibited on all second story windows.
Architectural Review Commission Minutes January 24, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 5
B. MISCELLANEOUS
None
6. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Colvard provided an update on the Cultural Arts Committee.
In response to inquiry, Deputy Director Lua, explained per the City’s ordinance,
commercial developments have the option to pay a public arts fee or install an approved
art piece.
B. CITY STAFF
Deputy Director Lua reported the City is currently working on establishing objective design
standards to develop a comprehensive program to address updates in housing laws.
Upon inquiry, Senior Planner Melloni reported Avenida Palm Desert has completed the
installation of their roof screening. During inspection staff found some discrepancies
which have since been addressed.
Senior Planner Melloni shared a PowerPoint presentation regarding the previously
established Architectural Review Commission subcommittees. Commissioners
volunteered for three new projects, Sanin Buildings, Urban Crossings, and Staybridge
Hotel, identified by staff as needing an ARC subcommittee for review of final construction
drawings.
C. ATTENDANCE REPORT
The attendance report was provided with the agenda materials. The Commission took no
action on this matter.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The Architectural Review Commission adjourned at 2:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melinda Gonzalez
Melinda Gonzalez, Senior Administrative Assistant
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Rosie Lua
Rosie Lua, Deputy Director of Development Services
Secretary
APPROVED BY ARC: 2/28/2023