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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-12-03 w..+r MINUTES PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION SPECIAL ADJOURNED MEETING DECEMBER 3, 1996 I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. Commissioners Present: Richard Holden Chris Van Vliet Staff Present: Phil Drell Steve Smith Martin Alvarez Steve Buchanan Eric Johnson Rudy Acosta Daisy Garcia Donna Bitter II. CASES: A. Preliminary Plans: 1. CASE NO.: CUP 96-28, TT 28450 and TT 28451 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): INTRAWEST RESORT OWNERSHIP CORPORATION, The Landing, Suite 326, 375 Water Street, Vancouver, B.C. NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of architecture for a 311-unit residential vacation ownership complex LOCATION: Frank Sinatra Drive south to Country Club Drive between Portola Avenue and Cook Street ZONE: PR-5 The architect for the project, Mr. Chris McFadden, explained how the project is in conjunction with the north sphere project and will interact into the north course project. He indicated that the project will be going before the planning commission on December 17, 1996 and to the Section 4 Committee on December 10th. Mr. MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 3, 1996 McFadden asked that the commissioners present indicate any concerns they may have with the preliminary plans and that they would be back before the full commission on December loth with a full presentation and model. Mr. Chuck Shepardson explained that the north course will be a true desert course constructed to feel like the course had been designed and carved out of the mountains. The plant material will be let go to grow in their natural state. He indicated that the south course will have more of a defined desert feel, creating a resort lifestyle that emphasizes the desert environment. Mr. Shepardson showed how the hacienda buildings have been sited in neighborhood clusters of four and six units with generous landscaping to create more of a neighborhood feeling. He noted that they want it to seem as if this development was built at the same time as the north course blending the two together. Mr. Alan Hart explained that the 61 units are not sold as timeshare units,but actually are used by members only through a point system. The clustered units are individualized with different activities and amenities. Mr. Hart showed how the buildings are stepped so that the chimneys are not in a straight line and to create individual views. Mr. McFadden added that each of the units are designed to fully utilize the outdoor space and will all have outdoor fireplaces. He presented the proposed material and color pallet noting that the colors are very rich with an adobe type texture finish. Mr. Hart explained that the intent is to create a bolder color scheme. He added that there will be trellis work on the patios as well as the entry ways and elements of natural wood that will be allowed to weather along the major walkways. Commissioner Holden asked if he had driven down El Paseo to see how the natural wood twists here in the desert. Mr. Hart explained that they will have total control of the wood. Mr. Shepardson explained that Phase I includes the resort sales center, the activity center and the first two neighborhood clusters. He explained how you will enter the project up a grade with the roadway squeezed to go through a canyon until you reach the high point at the end of the road where you will be at the top of two beautiful golf courses on each side. Mr. Hart showed the resort/activity center located at the entrance to the project with a tower building housing the front desk/reception area. He indicated that because these buildings are about 8,000 square feet they have to really emphasize the landscaping to help bring the buildings together. Mr. Shepardson indicated that the architecture for the amenity buildings is not traditional but is designed to bring together a blend of all the architectural elements in the desert. The use of towers and stones are used throughout. There will be no barrel type roof 2 MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 3, 1996 tiles but a copper roof with very close seams to create a lot of shadows on the sales and amenity buildings. Mr. Shepardson noted the design for a large golf cart parking area because they are trying to get people to not use their cars. Mr. McFadden noted that there are 1.5 parking spaces available for each unit based on a 310 unit project count. Mr. Hart added that if all the units were broken out it would calculate to approximately 1 parking space per unit. He showed how there is one central unit on the main floor of each unit that can not be divided,with two villas on the upper and lower floors that can be divided. This would be a total of nine units per building if all were broken down. Commissioner Holden indicated that the turn-outs are good and that drop off points are encouraged. Mr. Hart noted that the turn-outs can be specified as one or two hour parking for guests if necessary. Commissioner Holden stated that people who come to the desert seem to think that to drive a half mile is a big deal so they will try to park on the streets close to their unit. Commissioner Holden asked about the copper patina that will be used. Mr. Hart indicated that he had a sample of the material but could not get it through customs. He stated that it is somewhat like an old penny, that it is an aged bronze that does not turn green. Mr. Drell asked if there would be a cart barn. Mr. Hart indicated that they discussed this issue and if the use of golf carts is successful,they will have to come back to the commission to address this. Commissioner Holden asked about employee parking for maintenance workers and personnel such as the gardeners, housekeeping and pool cleaners. Mr. Hart stated that they would be utilizing the areas designated for the general parking. He added that he was under the impression that the people who will be maintaining the golf course will be maintaining this project. Commissioner Holden stated that one of the things that has happened in the past is that the maintenance personnel end up parking on the streets or in nearby market parking lots. Mr.Marvin Roos noted that the project will be done in phases so they will be able to make adjustments in the parking as they go along. He added that they are expecting people to come to the project from the airport, not driving their own cars. Mr. Hart noted that the members will be able to rent golf carts for $5.00 a day to encourage them not to rent cars to bring to the project. Mr.Drell noted that there still are a lot of attractions in the valley where people will need to drive to. He added that there will be events at the activity center that will need additional parking. Mr. Hart indicated that he would provide operational statistics to help in determining the necessary parking. Mr. Buchanan asked if they had spoken to the fire department about the dead end roads and the lack of turn arounds. Mr. Hart replied that he did talk to the fire department and explained the hammer heads throughout. 3 MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION DECEMBER 3, 1996 Rudy Acosta explained how he felt it was important to get an endorsement for the project from this commission because they will be presenting it to the Desert Willow Committee and the City Council on December 10, 1996. Commissioner Holden stated that he thought it was a very nice project but indicated that the commission would need to see details on things such as the wood textures, trellis structures and the parking situations. Mr. Acosta noted that a model would be arriving on December 9th. III. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m. CA ST SMITH PLANNING MANAGER SS/db 4