HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-11 MINUTES
PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
JUNE 11, 1996
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I . CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 12 : 30 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Current Meeting Year to Date
Present Absent Present Absent
Richard Holden X 17 1
Frank Urrutia X 16 2
Chris Van Vliet X 16 2
Wayne Connor X 15 3
Richard O'Donnell X 18 0
Ronald Gregory X 16 2
Staff Present: Steve Smith
Steve Buchanan
Daisy Garcia
Donna Bitter
II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
It was moved by Commissioner O'Donnell, seconded by
Commissioner Urrutia, to approve the minutes of the May 28,
1996 meeting as submitted. Motion carried 4-0-2,
Commissioners Connor and Van Vliet Abstaining.
III. CASES:
A. Final Drawings:
1 . CASE NO. : 4654 SA
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : IMPERIAL SIGN CO. , INC. for
MUSASHI, 46-120 Calhoun Street, Indio, CA 92201
NATURE OF PROJECT APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of business
identification signage
LOCATION: 72-785 Highway 111, Suite B-4
ZONE: C-1
Steve Smith presented the drawings for the proposed
business signage indicating that the business is located
in the Palms to Pines Shopping Center which previously
housed Anderson Travel . He indicated that the proposed
sign would be red and that there were no other red signs
in the center. The adjacent businesses are The Village
Lounge with white signage and Humphreys Yogart with green
signage.
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Action:
It was moved by Commissioner O'Donnell, seconded by
Commissioner Urrutia, to approve the business
identification signage as submitted. Motion carried 6-0 .
2 . CASE NO. : 4656 SA
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : PRICE CLUB, 72-800 Dinah
Shore, Palm Desert, CA 92211
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of
additional business identification signage
LOCATION: 72-800 Dinah Shore
ZONE: P.C. (3)
Steve Smith presented the proposed signage indicating
that it would be installed on the north elevation. He
noted that it would exceed the 20 foot height limit but
at 20 feet, it would not be visible because it is along
the side of the railroad tracks along Interstate 10 .
Commissioner Urrutia agreed and felt that the signage
still would not be visible as proposed.
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Holden, seconded by
Commissioner Connor, to approve the additional business
identification signage as submitted. Motion carried 6-0 .
3. CASE NO. : 4658 SA
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : AMERICAWEST SIGNS & NEON for
BANK OF AMERICA, 42-170 Sarah Way, Temecula, CA 92590
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of wall
mounted bank identification signage
LOCATION: 42-095 Washington Street
ZONE: P.C. (2)
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Steve Smith presented the drawings for the proposed
signage stating that pursuant to recent ordinance
amendments the sign is allowed but they will have to take
down some of their existing signage. He added that the
ordinance states that the signage must be consistent with
the existing signage.
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Holden, seconded by
Commissioner Van Vliet, to approve one "Bank of America"
sign subject to the removal of one of the existing
secondary business signs in order to meet the ordinance
requirements . Staff to grant final approval on size and
color. Motion carried 6-0 .
4. CASE NO. : 4659 SA
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : ULTRANEON SIGN COMPANY for
JUICE POWER, 5458 Complex Street, Suite 401, San Diego,
CA 92123
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of non-
conforming business identification signage
LOCATION: Desert Crossing Shopping Center
ZONE: P.C. (3)
Steve Smith presented the drawings for the proposed
signage indicating that it would be located west of Pearl
Vision in the Desert Crossing Shopping Center. He
indicated that the fuscia was not an approved color for
the center but asked that the commission approve the
graphics . Mr. Smith noted that the top sign was 36
square feet and the bottom one was at 24 square feet, and
therefore it may need to be reduced in size.
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Connor, seconded by
Commissioner Holden, to approve the business
identification signage subject to it conforming to the
center's approved colors and size. Motion carried 6-0 .
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B. Preliminary Plans :
1. CASE NO. : TT 24984-2
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : FOXX DEVELOPMENT CORP. for THE
GROVE, 73-111 El Paseo, Suite 200, Palm Desert, CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of revised
preliminary elevations and landscaping plans for two
model homes in the final phase of The Grove
LOCATION: The Grove
ZONE: PR-5
Steve Smith presented the revised elevations for the two
model homes along with floor plans for the two units
which staff received the day before. Commissioner
Urrutia felt that the revised plans did not show any
changes from the preliminary plans presented at the last
meeting. The applicant, Mr. Jim Foxx, outlined the pop-
outs and column details to match the existing units .
Commissioner Urrutia felt that there were other units in
the subdivision that have more interesting details . Mr.
Foxx indicated that the home buyer will have a lot of
different variations to choose from as Plan 1 will have
14 different elevations with Plan 2 having 21 different
elevations .
Commissioner Connor noted that Eric Johnson questioned
the compatibility with the existing landscaping. Mr.
Foxx indicated that all the plant material was
compatible. Mr. Smith asked about the dead palm trees
there now. Mr. Foxx replied the landscape maintenance
district that is responsible have not maintained them.
Commissioner Holden indicated that the condition
originally placed on The Grove plans regarding solar
protection in the way of overhangs or landscaping on the
east and west elevations should be implemented on this
phase as well .
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Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Gregory, seconded by
Commissioner Holden, to grant final approval of the
elevations and landscaping plans for the two model units
only subject to the applicant incorporating adequate
solar protection on the east and west elevations . Motion
carried 6-0 .
2 . CASE NO. : PP/CUP 96-5
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : RICK MURO for PINNACLE
ATHLETIC CLUB, 73-462 Shadow Mountain Drive, Palm Desert,
CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of
preliminary architectural and landscaping plans
LOCATION: 72-960 Fred Waring Drive
ZONE: O.P.
Steve Smith presented the plans noting that the matter
will be before the planning commission on June 18th for
approval of the precise plan and use. He noted that the
property is zoned O.P. The building is being designed
only for a health club facility on three floors, two
above ground.
MS. DIANA LAMAR, property owner at 43-827 Acacia Drive,
was present and addressed the commission. She indicated
that she was impressed with the surrounding southwest
style architecture that had been used on the office
buildings in the area as well as the landscaping and felt
that the massive architecture of the proposed building
did not conform with the surrounding buildings .
Commissioner Gregory asked that discussions on the
architecture be held over until the applicant and
architect arrive.
Commission re-addressed this item at the end of the
agenda as the applicant still had not arrived at 1 :45
p.m. Mr. Smith informed the commission that it was a 25 '
high structure with two stories above ground and one
story below ground. Mr. Buchanan indicated that the day
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care center in the basement could not be approved.
Commissioner Holden indicated that there are no other
buildings along Fred Waring Drive that are two stories
where the two story elements stayed the same along the
entire building. He added that there was an 8 ' side yard
that is 120 feet long on the north side of the building
that will eventually become a storage area as he felt it
would not be landscaping that will be maintained.
Commissioner Connor felt that the building lacked
undulation and detail .
Mr. Smith indicated that the building was 30% over on the
lot coverage for the parking provided. Commissioner
Urrutia felt that the use could dictate a very fun type
of architecture but he did not think it did in this case.
He felt that it was too massive and too boxy and that it
looked like a warehouse that had been embellished some.
Commissioner Urrutia added that being two stories and
seeing the roof line at the second level with no
horizontal break-ups did not help either. Commissioner
Urrutia discussed his concerns with the lack of parking
because of his experience being directly across the
street from the Sports Club in Palm Desert.
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Urrutia, seconded by
Commissioner Connor, to continue the request to allow the
applicant to revise the plans addressing their concerns
as indicated above. Motion carried 5-0-1, Commissioner
Gregory Abstaining.
3 . CASE NO. : CUP 96-18
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : McFADDEN & McINTOSH ARCHITECTS
for CAM'S CORNER, 73-929 Larrea, Suite 1A, Palm Desert,
CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of
preliminary architectural and landscaping plans for fuel
station/convenience store
LOCATION: Northwest corner of Highway 111 and Deep
Canyon Road
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ZONE: C-1
Steve Smith reported that the request would be going
before the planning commission on July 2nd. The project
is located at the northwest corner of Deep Canyon and
Highway 111 with the new Lucky' s project on the east side
and Dennis Goedecke and other offices on the north side.
There is no direct access from Highway 111 but there will
be a redesign in the form of a super block and customers
will have to drive down Allessandro to enter the project.
Mr. Smith indicated that there were 28 parking spaces on
site which is consistent with what was done at Portolla
Avenue. He added that the developer reviewed the plans
for Luckys and used some of the same architectural
treatments and colors .
Mr. Smith informed the commission that he met with Dennis
Goedecke and the owner of Country Club Liquor across the
street and determined that they will need to redesign the
Allessandro side of the building to look like the front
of the building. He added that there was concern with
the exterior access of the restroom but that the sheriffs
department is stating that the access needs to be from
inside the convenience or video store.
The applicant, Chris McFadden, indicated that there had
been a letter of amendments submitted. He noted that the
project has three frontages and he has opened up all
three sides . He added that the entire project is fully
landscaped and the outside restroom access will be
eliminated. Mr. McFadden indicated that the parking
would be sufficient because of the non-habital space that
will be included. He showed how and where the fuel
tankers would access the project from Allessandro and
leave out onto Highway 111 .
Commissioner Gregory asked to hear from the neighbors in
attendance. Mr. Dennis Goedecke noted that he had a
number of concerns but that the biggest is on the north
side of the building. He reminded the commission of the
core area specific plan insuring that the buildings along
Allessandro look like the front of the buildings . He
felt that this issue still needed to be addressed because
there is parking on the Allessandro side. His other
concern was how the project will look when entering Palm
Desert and felt that it was very important to know who
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the supplier was . Mr. Goedecke also discussed his
concerns with the architecture and the size of a 6,000
square foot building on this lot size. Another concern
of Mr. Goedecke was the outside access to the restrooms
which he was told the sheriffs department was handling.
Commissioner Connor felt that from a landscaping point of
view it appears to be under landscaped on all three
street frontages and the project did not meet parking
requirements as far as parking lot shade trees . He added
that he would like to see some of the landscaping from
the new Lucky' s center carried over to this project.
Commissioner Connor added that there is no tree planting
on Highway 111 and thought that trees here would help
soften the center. He added his concerns with the site
planning at the introduction of Palm Desert.
Commissioner Holden noted that when there was a gas
station proposed for across the street the commission
said that it would have to be totally screened. He did
not see how the proper screening of the cars would take
place because there was not enough landscaping and hated
to see a sea of asphalt and cars at the entrance to the
city. Commissioner Holden discussed his concerns with
the traffic problems on Allessandro when the tanker
trucks try to enter the project. He did not see how the
tanker truck entrance on Allessandro would work being so
close to a major intersection.
Commissioner Connor indicated that the landscape strips
were so narrow that it would be difficult to do anything
with landscaping. Mr. McFadden reminded the commission
that it was not a pedestrian site and the issue was to
address the vehicle traffic.
Commissioner O'Donnell discussed his concerns with the
parking congestion that would be created. He also did
not want to see all the asphalt and cars at the entrance
to the city as the landscaping was not enough to screen
the project.
Commissioner Van Vliet felt that the Allessandro side was
too tight and could dictate moving the building some.
Mr. McFadden indicated that they would have to cut some
of the square footage off the building. Commissioner Van
Vliet added that the 25 foot high canopy was another
concern and felt that it should be less visible.
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Commissioner Urrutia indicated that most of his concerns
were the same as already mentioned but felt that one of
the things that should be considered is reversing the
location of the canopy. He felt that aesthetically a lot
more could be done with what the building would look like
from the corner if it were reversed on the site. Mr.
McFadden disagreed with commission and felt that the
canopy was well integrated. Commissioner Urrutia felt
that the canopy was done very well but was just concerned
with what you will see as you come into the city.
Commissioner Gregory felt that changing the building
location would help the situation with the narrow
landscaping islands . He felt that if the canopy could be
shortened some it would allow for more room to beef up
the landscaping. Mr. McFadden indicated that moving the
building was not an option in his opinion.
Mr. Goedecke felt that the applicant is eating up a lot
of space with the deli and video store and wondered if
these two uses were important. He added that these extra
uses are taking away areas that would allow for more
lavish landscaping. Commissioner Connor asked to see the
landscaping plans for Luckys center approved for across
the street noting that the new Lucky' s has a very
generous landscaping treatment at the corner which is
opposite of what is proposed here.
Commissioner O'Donnell encouraged the applicant to
restudy the idea of reversing the building on the site
plan. Commissioner Holden agreed and added that if the
building is not reversed on the site plan as they
suggested than the landscaping would have to be beefed up
considerably.
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Gregory, seconded by
Commissioner Van Vliet, to continue the request to allow
the applicant to restudy the site plan addressing the
following issues:
1) Redesign elevation along Allessandro Drive to
look like the front of the building;
2) Landscaping to be beefed up on all three
street frontages as well as conform to the
city' s shade tree parking lot requirements .
Landscaping needs to be more compatible with
the Lucky' s center across the street;
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3) Traffic situation when fuel trucks enter the
project;
4) Proper screening to eliminate the view of
extensive asphalt and cars at the entrance to
the city;
5) Restudy site plan to consider reversing the
location of the canopy.
Motion carried 6-0.
C. Miscellaneous :
1. CASE NO. :
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS) : SUNLITE DEVELOPMENT, INC. for
LOVIN RESIDENCE, Post Office Box 10668, Palm Desert, CA
92255
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of plans
for single family residence exceeding 15 foot height
limit
LOCATION: Corner of Della Robbia Lane and Crosby Lane
ZONE:
Steve Smith presented the plans stating that it is in
Ironwood Country Club and not a part of any homeowners
association.
Action•
It was moved by Commissioner O'Donnell, seconded by
Commissioner Holden, to approve the plans for the single
family residence as submitted. Motion carried 6-0 .
IV. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 2 :05 p.m.
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STEVE SMITH
PLANNING MANAGER
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