HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-13 . � �
PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1999
MINUTES
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1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m.
Commissioners Present Current Meetina Year to Date
Present Absent Present Absent
Wayne Connor X 7 0
Ronald Gregory X 5 2
Richard Holden X 6 1
Richard O'Donnell X 7 0
Frank Urrutia X 6 1
Chris Van Vliet X 7 0
Staff Present: Phil Drell, Director of Community Development
Steve Smith, Planning Manager
Martin Alvarez, Assistant Planner
Daisy Garcia, Code Enforcement Officer
Kim Chafin, Senior Office Assistant
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Commissioner O'Donnell, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet,
to approve the minutes of the March 23, 1999 meeting. Motion carried 3-0-2, with
Commissioner Urrutia absent and Commissioners Holden and Gregory abstaining.
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
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IV. CASES
B. Preliminary Plans
1. CASE NO.: TT 28575
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): WINMAR PALM DESERT, LLC for THE
CANYONS AT BIGHORN, 50-100 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of fencing
LOCATION: The Canyons at Bighorn
ZONE: PR-5
Mr. Drell reported presented photographs of the fence and asked for the
Commission's input regarding whether or not it should meander more or less,
whether it should be closer to the bike path, and whether or not it should be
a different color.
Chairman Gregory felt that it looks cheap, with which Commissioner
O'Donnell concurred.
Chairman Gregory suggested that the fence meander horizontally rather than
vertically and that the color match that of the sand in the background.
Commissioner Connor felt that the fence should be lower so it does not
break the visual plane of the top of the berm.
Action:
Commissioner Connor moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to
authorize the Director of Community Development to provide the applicant
with direction regarding design and color, consistent with the discussion of
the Commission. The motion carried 5-0, with Commissioner Urrutia absent.
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2. CASE NO.: PP 98-5 and TT 28818
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS� MARRIOTT OWNERSHIP RESORTS,
6649 Westwood Boulevard, Suite 500, Orlando, FL 32809-6090
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of
landscaping around the sales buildings and architectural and landscape
plans for the maintenance buildings
LOCATION: East side of Monterey befinreen Frank Sinatra and Gerald Ford
ZONE: PR-5
. Mr. Smith reported that staff met with the applicant last week, and the City's
landscape consultant, Eric Johnson, reviewed the landscape plans and felt
they were headed in the right direction. The site plan for the maintenance
building has been revised to address the Commission's concerns.
The project landscape architect noted that the desert scape on Gerald Ford
will be maintained, a meandering sidewalk will be installed, and a green
screen will be provided inside the wall in an eight-foot planting area.
Commissioner Holden was concerned about the entry drive on the corner of
Gerald Ford and asked if the retention basin is the lower part of the lot, to
which the landscape architect responded affirmatively.
Chairman Gregory commented that the Evergreen Ash trees have not done
well in small planters as parking lot trees, suggested that a different tree be
used for that area, and noted that these trees are proposed in larger
planters.
Commissioner Connor added that Ash trees also break up the curbs, and in
low temperatures, drop their leaves; so they wouldn't be an effective screen
during all times of the year.
Commissioner Van Vliet was concerned about the landscaping along Gerald
Ford and felt there was not enough area to provide for adequate screening,
to which the project architect replied that the wall footing will be reversed in
order to ensure adequate space in which to place the trees.
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Chairman Gregory asked if the sidewalk will meander vertically as well as
horizontally, to which the landscape architect responded affirmatively.
Action:
Commissioner Connor moved, seconded by Commissioner Holden, to grant
conceptual approval. The motion carried 5-0, with Commissioner Urrutia
absent.
3. CASE NO.: C 97-4
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS� JERRY WALKER c/o TWW
INVESTMENTS for DEL TACO RESTAURANT, 76-968 California Avenue,
Palm Desert, CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT• Approval of revised
architectural elevations
LOCATION: 74-617 Highway 111
ZONE: C-1
Mr. Alvarez reported that the Commission granted preliminary approval in
May 1997 for the proposed 3,200 square foot Del Taco restaurant. The
applicant has submitted revised elevations in order to incorporate a "funland"
or an interior playground. The revised elevations are significantly different
from the preliminary approval, and thus warrant review by the Commission.
Changes to the preliminary approval include an increase in tower heights
from 24'6" to 26'4", and an increase in the basic building height from 16'6"
to 19'6". The applicant has also modified the tower elements on the north
and west elevations by projecting them away from the building and using
Spanish tile. All metal roofing has been eliminated. The applicant has
added a canvas awning on the west elevation and finro metal decor channels
with red and green neon back lighting along the top of the building. The
building's exterior color scheme remains the same as was previously
approved by the Commission.
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Staff recommends that the tower element on the north elevation (Highway
111 elevation) be centered and that the metal channel decor proposed along
the top of the building be non-illuminated.
Chairman Gregory felt that the building is too tall for its width, with which
Commissioner Holden concurred and suggested that the roof element be
brought down to a more human scale.
Chairman Gregory felt that the building is too massive and does not have
enough articulation to create interest.
Commissioner Connor felt that the biggest problem is the verticality of the
building, and was disappointed regarding the loss of architectural detail that
was included as part of the original submittal.
Commissioner O'Donnell felt that the applicant needs some professional
design help, and agreed that the source of the problem with the scale of the
building is the proposed "funland."
The consensus of the Commission was that the applicant should look at a
design where the top of the "funland" does not become the top of the rest of
the building.
Action:
Commissioner O'Donnell moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to
continue the case to allow the applicant to address the Commission's
concerns. The motion carried 5-0, with Commissioner Urrutia absent.
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C. Miscellaneous
1. CASE NO.: MISC 99-5
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS� JOHN HACKER, 68-487 Highway 111,
Cathedral City, CA 92234
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT• Approval of 18-foot high
residence
LOCATION: 40-960 Avenida Rosario
ZONE: PR-5
Mr. Smith reported that the applicant has resubmitted a plan for a 15-foot
high residence which was approved by staff at the counter; so the
Commission need not take any action.
A. Final Drawings
1. CASE NO.: C 98-22
APPLICANT (AND ADDRES�• ROBERT RICCIARDI, AIA for OCEAN
PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT, 75-090 St. Charles Place, Suite A, Palm
Desert, CA 92211
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT• Final approval of signage
LOCATION: Southeast corner of EI Paseo and Highway 111
ZONE: C-1
Mr. Smith reported that the applicant seeks approval of a sign program for
the One EI Paseo project. The applicant proposes project identification signs
"One EI Paseo" using black faces and returns. The plans do not indicate
whether or not these signs are to be illuminated. The applicant proposes a
series of building designation signs "West Building," non-illuminated, flat, cut-
out letters. Color is not noted, although is assumed to be black.
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The tenant sign program is proposed using reverse channei letters with a
gold satin face and one shot gold returns. Illumination will be 4500 white
neon. The plans calculate the maximum signage permitted on each building
elevation, subtract the project and building designation sign areas and then
prescribe the remainder for future tenants. The calculations contained on the
plans are acceptable. At this time, the only tenant identification sign is for
A.G. Edwards. The proposed sign complies with the proposed program.
The proposal also includes a proposed monument sign for LG's Prime
Steakhouse and Kaiser Grille. The design and size (4'6" high) of this
monument sign is acceptable; however, its location is not delineated. Staff
recommended approval of the monument sign subject to it being placed in
an acceptable location. The monument sign includes cut-out letters reading
"LG's Steakhouse" in white and "Prime" in red. The Kaiser Grille portion of
the sign reads "Kaiser Grille" in brown letters.
All of the proposed tenant signs will be mounted higher than 20 feet on the
wall. This requires an exception per the ordinance.
Staff recommends that the sign program and monument sign be approved
subject to the following conditions:
1. That the monument sign be placed in an acceptable location
approved by staff;
2. That the applicant clarify whether or not the project identification signs
are to be illuminated;
3. That the color of the building identification signs be acceptable to the
Architectural Review Commission;
4. That the applicant obtain an exception to the wall height limits per
Section 25.68.730 of the ordinance.
Chairman Gregory felt that the proposed tenant identification signage will
make the structure look like an industrial building rather than an upscale
office building, with which Commissioners Connor and O'Donnell agreed.
Commissioner Connor stated that he does not have a problem with the
height of the wall signs for "One EI Paseo" and "East Building" and "West
Building" as long as they are non-illuminated and black cut-out letters.
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APRIL 13, 1999
MINUTES
Action:
Commissioner Van Vliet moved, seconded by Commissioner O'Donnell, to
approve the "One EI Paseo," "West Building," and "East Building" signage
with the condition that they be non-illuminated, black, flat, cut-out letters, and
to continue the tenant identification signage and the monument signage until
the applicant provides the necessary information regarding specifications
and location. The motion carried 5-0.
V. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
STEVE SMITH
PLANNING MANAGER
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