Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-08-27 MINUTES PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL COMMISSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1991 I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 12: 15 p.m. Commission Members Current Meet_:Lnq Year to Date Present Absent Present Absent Ron Gregory, Chairman X 15 1 Rick Holden X 14 2 Frank Urrutia X 12 4 Chris Van Vliet X 1.3 3 Wayne Connor X 10 6 Staff Present: Phil Drell Steve Smith Jeff Winklepleck Steve Buchanan Daisy Garcia Donna Bitter II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was moved by Commissioner Holden, seconded by Commissioner Connor, to approve the minutes of the August 1.3, 1991 meeting as submitted. Motion carried 3-0. III. It was moved by Commissioner Holden, seconded by Commissioner Connor, to approve the following cases by minute motion. Motion carried 3-0. A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO. : 2009 SA APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : IMPERIAL SIGN CO. for MANCUSO'S RESTAURANT, 46-120 Calhoun Street, Indio, CA 92201 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of business identification sign LOCATION: 72-281 Highway Ill ZONE: P.C. - 4 Staff indicated that the stucco sign would match the existing stucco wall . Commission approved proposed sign subject to the removal of the existing roof sign. MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION AUGUST 27, 1991 2. CASE NO. : 2010 SA APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): PARAGON SIGNS for REAL ESTATE CENTER, 77-670 Springfield Lane, Suite 7A, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of business identification sign LOCATION: 44-250 Monterey Avenue ZONE: O.P. Request was to place signage on the Monterey Avenue side of the building as well as the parking lot side. Commission approved proposed sign subject to the Monterey Avenue signage being placed on the south side of the entrance door. 3. CASE NO. : 2011 SA APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : IMPERIAL SIGN CO. for COMPUTERS MADE EASY, 46-120 Calhoun Street, Indio, CA 92201 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of business identification sign LOCATION: 73-960 Highway III ZONE: C_-1 Commissioner Holden was concerned that if the can extended out further than the border, the border would not be seen. Commission approved the business identification signage with the following conditions: 1 ) The border around the sign to be at least the same size as the thickness of the can 2) Background color changed to off-white 4. CASE NO. : PP 90-13 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): DSL SERVICE CO. , 3501 Jamboree Road, Suite 5000, North Tower, Newport Beach, CA 92658-6030 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: 1 ) Approval of east perimeter wall design; 2) Preliminary approval of architectural plans for pad No. 8 (Downey Savings building) 2 MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION AUGUST 27, 1991 LOCATION: Fred Waring Drive and Highway III ZONE: P.0 (3) S.P. Staff indicated that as part of the approval for the center the applicant was required, as the result of a noise study, to install a perimeter screen wall . The wall adjacent to the residential area is to be 8' in height scaling down to 6' . This wall to be landscaped on both sides. Commission approved the wall design only, by minute motion, continuing the preliminary approval of the architectural plans to the regular meeting. Motion carried 2-0-1 , with Chairman Gregory abstaining. 5. CASE NO. : 2013 SA APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : EMBASSY SUITES HOTELS, 74-700 Highway III , Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of existing lighting in trees LOCATION: 74-700 Highway III ZONE: PC-4 Staff indicated that there were approximately 26 trees with existing lights, noting that final approval would be given by the city council . Commission recommended approval to the existing lighting with the condition that they did not flash. B. Preliminary Plans: 1. CASE NO.: CUP 91-I1 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): MAPLE LEAF PLUMBING, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. , Post Office Box 3653, Palm Desert, CA 92261 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of revised architectural plans for remodel LOCATION: 44-865 Santa Ynez ZONE: R-3 Commission granted preliminary approval to revised architectural plans as submitted. 3 MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION AUGUST 27, 1991 2. CASE NO. : APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): CHRISTENSEN HOMES for MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM PURCELL, Post Office Box 1864, Palm Desert, CA 92261 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of 16'6" single family house LOCATION: 48-275 Alan Circle ZONE: R-1 10,000 Staff noted that the adjoining lot was 4 to 5 feet higher than this lot, and that the adjacent neighbor had signed the plans stating that he had no problem with the height of the proposed home. Commission approved the plans as submitted. 3. CASE NO. : 322MF and 323MF APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): THOMAS HENNESSY, 304 Dolan Avenue, Mill Valley, Ca 94941 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of existing architecture and landscaping to qualify for a certificate of conformance LOCATION: 73-121 and 73-131 San Nicholas ZONE: R-2 (7) Commission granted approval to the certificate of conformance subject to the property owner maintaining the project and improvements in substantial conformance with their present conditions on August 27, 1991 . IV. CASES: A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO. : 2012 SA APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): TSING TAO CHINESE CUISINE, 73-085 Catalina Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of business identification sign 4 MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION AUGUST 27, 1991 LOCATION: Northeast corner of Portola and Highway III ZONE: C-1 Mr. Drell presented modified plans noting that the new sign installed at the center had some problems. He indicated that the wall could not accommodate the required transformers. The applicant from the new sign company presented an alternative using a raceway. The modified plan showed a type of underscore design element under the lettering for the raceway. There would also be an exposed neon in the raceway to make the raceway look more like a design element. Mr. Drell also indicated that instead of the approved redwood, sandblasted signs for the second story and the rear signs, the applicant is now proposing non-illuminated channel letters the same size as the front signage. This would be a change to the approved signage program for all the tenants if approved by commission. Commissioner Holden asked about the thickness of the proposed raceway. The applicant noted that the raceway would match the configuration of the channel letter. Commissioner Holden felt that a much thinner raceway should be used. He did not feel the entire raceway needed to be 8" deep. The applicant indicated that the raceway was being used to hold the transformers, and that was the reason for the continuous thickness. Commissioner Holden felt what was needed was an enclosure for the transformer with the use of something else to run the conduit to the letters. Mr. Drell suggested an alternative to the raceway by placing the transformer in the logo and run a conduit to each letter. The applicant felt that a large enough transformer could not fit in the logo for the entire sign. Chairman Gregory asked what part of the raceway would be illuminated. The applicant replied that the letters would be the only part that was illuminated. The raceway would not. Chairman Gregory did not see the need for the neon. The applicant noted that the neon was added to dress up the signage. Commissioner Connor also did not prefer the use of the neon. Chairman Gregory asked about the color of the proposed raceway. The applicant indicated that it would be painted to match the color of the letters. Commissioner Connor was concerned with the raceway being painted the same color of the letters, noting that it would be very confusing and takes away from the letters. 5 MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION AUGUST 27, 1991 Chairman Gregory felt that if the raceway were textured and painted to match the building, it would look clumsy. Action: It was moved by Chairman Gregory to place the raceway under the letters and the material to match the same sheet metal around the letters. Raceway is not to be illuminated. Neon and the dips at the end of the raceway to be eliminated. This approval based on the understanding that the existing Van's sign be removed and replaced with the new sign program. Motion died due to a lack of second. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Connor, seconded by Chairman Gregory, to continue the request for a new sign program to allow for further study of recessing the raceway into the existing fascia. Commission noted that the owner and/or contractor should be present for the applicant's next presentation. Motion carried 3-0. 2. CASE NO.: PP 90-13 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): DSL SERVICE CO. , 3501 Jamboree Road, Suite 5000, North Tower, Newport Beach, CA 92658-6030 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: 1 ) Approval of east perimeter wall design; 2) Preliminary approval of architectural plans for pad No. 8 (Downey Savings building) LOCATION: Fred Waring Drive and Highway III ZONE: P.C. (3) S.P. Staff reported that the architecture for this building would not be approved by this commission. It would be recommended for approval to city council . Commissioner Holden reminded commission and staff that when the center was originally approved, the direction came down from city council that as long as the Downey Savings building was something really special , it would be o.k. to separate the building from the remainder of the center. He noted that the proposed elevations were more of a reflection of the center that is behind the building rather than something that was highly detailed as requested by council . Commissioner Holden added that when the separate building was originally discussed commission was looking for something that was more people oriented rather than just a reflection of the center. 6 a } NWe MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION AUGUST 27, 1991 The architect, Susan Quan, and Ed Ritter of Downey Savings and Loan, presented the revised elevations and sketches of the design for the building. Ms. Quan noted that a study was still be conducted on the west elevations in regards to landscaping. Commissioner Connor felt that the west elevation (facing Highway 111 ) seemed to be the starkest. Chairman Gregory noted that the rough sketches showed a lot more interest than the actual working drawings. Commissioner Holden noted that one of the things missing was that the arches were not reflected back on the remainder of the architecture. The drawings seem to show a box that has some arches on the front of it.. He felt that the commission was looking for details on the structure to be continued throughout rather than just plastering something on the outside of a box. Chairman Gregory asked about the windows originally designed on the south elevation. Ms. Quan noted that this area would be above a teller area, and the windows in this location were still under study. Commission preferred the windows on this elevation. Commission Connor felt that a lot of the details were lost from the rough sketches to the working drawings. Chairman Gregory added that the deletion of the arches on the west elevation needed to be shown on the working drawings. Commissioner Holden felt if the floor plan could be changed some it would give the applicant leeway for more detail , as the commission originally required that if the applicant wanted an individual pad for the bank building, it would have to look like an individual building and it would not look like part of the shopping center. Commissioner Connor added that this was the only building in the center that would be viewed at a 360 degree angle, and therefore all the elevations are extremely important. Commissioner Holden felt that the arches should be carried through to the back structure. Commissioner Connor added that the architecture of the center was very simplified and this building should carry out the elements that the center was lacking. Commissioner Holden agreed that the building needed more enhancement. Chairman Gregory felt that the working drawings need to show more relief, as reflected in the rough sketches . Commissioner Holden suggested the possibility of extending the vault area out to create some interest in the building. 7 1w 1 r+"G MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION AUGUST 27, 1991 Action: It was moved by Commissioner Connor, seconded by Commissioner Holden, to continue the preliminary architectural plans based on the comments noted above. Motion carried 2-0-1 , Chairman Gregory abstaining. B. Miscellaneous Plans: I. CASE NO. : APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : CITY OF PALM DESERT/ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION MANAGER, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, Ca 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Review of Water Efficient Landscape Guidelines The city's Environmental Conservation Manager, Mr. John Wohlmuth, presented the draft "Water Efficient Landscape Guidelines" to commission stating that the goal was to give the landscape architect and residents what the city is looking for in future landscaping. Commission asked that they review the guidelines and provide written comments to Mr. Wohlmuth within one week. V. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 1 :50 p.m. ST VE SMITH ASSOCIATE PLANNER SS/db 8