HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-25 ARC Regular Meeting Minutes
City of Palm Desert Page 1
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
(HYBRID MEETING)
City Hall, Development Services Conference Room
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449, this meeting may be conducted as a hybrid meeting
allowing public access via teleconference or in person.
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) was called to order by
Chair Vuksic on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 12:29 p.m. in the Council Chamber Conference
Room, City Hall, located at 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners James Edward Blakeley, Dean Wallace Colvard (Remote),
Nicholas Latkovic (Remote), Michael McAuliffe, Francisco Sanchez, and Chair
John Vuksic.
Absent: Vice Chair Jim McIntosh
The Commission was informed Vice Chair McIntosh would be unable to attend the
ARC meeting today due to important personal business, which qualifies as an
excused absence. The Commission had no objection to Vice Chair McIntosh’s
excused absence.
Commissioner Colvard stated his need to participate remotely was due to a recent
medical procedure. The Commission did not object to Commissioner Colvard’s
request for remote participation.
Commissioner Latkovic stated his need to participate remotely was due to
business related travel out of state. The Commission did not object to
Commissioner Latkovic’s request for remote participation.
City Staff
Present: Richard Cannone, Director of Development Services; Nick Melloni, Principal
Planner; Carlos Flores, Senior Planner; Lucero Leyva, Project Manager; and
Monica O’Reilly, Recording Secretary, were present at Roll Call.
Tuesday
July 25, 2023
12:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting
Architectural Review Commission Minutes July 25, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 2
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair Vuksic opened and closed the non-agenda public comment period. No public comments
were provided.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Associated documents on the following item can be viewed on the Architectural Review
Commission Information webpage at, https://www.palmdesert.gov/our-city/committees-and-
commissions/commission-information.
Chair Vuksic opened and closed the public comment period for the Consent Calendar. No
public comments were provided.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ,
CARRIED 6-0 (MCINTOSH ABSENT); to approve the consent calendar.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
SANCHEZ, CARRIED 6-0 (VICE CHAIR MCINTOSH ABSENT); to approve the
Architectural Review Commission Regular Meeting minutes of July 11, 2023.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER: Items removed from the Consent Calendar for separate
discussion will be considered at this time.
None
5. ACTION CALENDAR
A. SELECTION of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BLAKELEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
MCAULIFFE, CARRIED 6-0 (VICE CHAIR MCINTOSH ABSENT); to renominate and
appoint John Vuksic as Chair.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LATKOVIC, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SANCHEZ,
CARRIED 6-0 (VICE CHAIR MCINTOSH ABSENT); to renominate and appoint Jim
McIntosh as Vice Chair.
B. SELECTION of Commission liaison for the Cultural Arts Committee.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MCAULIFFE, SECOND BY CHAIR VUKSIC, CARRIED
6-0 (VICE CHAIR MCINTOSH ABSENT); to renominate and appoint Dean Wallace
Colvard as Cultural Arts Committee liaison.
C. FINAL DRAWINGS
None
Architectural Review Commission Minutes July 25, 2023
City of Palm Desert Page 3
6. NON-ACTION ITEMS
Associated documents on the following item can be viewed on the Architectural Review
Commission Information webpage at, https://www.palmdesert.gov/our-city/committees-and-
commissions/commission-information.
Senior Planner, Carlos Flores, provided a brief introduction on the item and introduced
consultant PBK, Bernie Wassink, to provide a presentation on the North Sphere Fire Station
102 preliminary designs. Mr. Wassink stated there are two design options which will be shared
with the commission, noting the Fire Department preferred Option 2. The presentation
included an overview of the site plan, floor plan, and a detailed review of architecture and
materials for both Option 1 and Option 2.
Fire Chief, Mike Beverlin, introduced himself and offered to answer questions from the
Commission. Upon inquiry, Chief Beverlin shared the Fire Department preferred Option 2
because the proposed colors for the walls are not as dark which will help mitigate heat, the
overhangs will provide protection for the windows, the stone veneer blends very well with the
surrounding mountain view, but mainly for operational purposes regarding heat prevention
and maintenance.
Commission comments and inquiries included, signage material, depth of plane changes
between buildings, Accoya Wood material and finish, depth of overhangs, material palette,
and varying height of buildings. The Commission predominantly preferred Option 2.
7. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSIONERS
None
B. CITY STAFF
Principal Planner Melloni reported ARC commissioners were contacted individually to set
up Zoom meetings with consultant, JKA, to discuss Landscaping Design Standards.
Principal Planner Melloni informed there may be modifications to the timelines for the
Objective Design Standards Joint PC/ARC Study Session and Objective Design
Standards Community Outreach Meeting. Two developments have construction
documents ready for ARC subcommittee review to confirm substantial conformance,
CarMax and Urban Crossings. Commissioners Colvard and McAuliffe volunteered for the
CarMax ARC subcommittee. Chair Vuksic and Commissioner Latkovic volunteered for the
Urban Crossings ARC subcommittee.
C. ATTENDANCE REPORT
The attendance report was provided with the agenda materials. The Commission took no
action on this matter.
Architectural Review Commission Minutes July 25, 2023
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8. ADJOURNMENT
The Architectural Review Commission adjourned at 1:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melinda Gonzalez
Melinda Gonzalez, Senior Administrative Assistant
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Nick Melloni
Nick Melloni, Principal Planner
Secretary
APPROVED BY ARC: 9/12/2023