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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-27 . �rr` � � PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES ***********��*�*********�******�****�****�*�*****,�*******�******�***�*******�****** I. 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 8 0 Ronald Gregory X 6 2 Richard Holden X 7 1 Richard O'Donnell X 8 0 Frank Urrutia X 7 1 Chris Van Vliet X 8 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 11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Van Vliet, seconded by Commissioner O'Donnell, to approve the minutes of the April 13, 1999 meeting. Motion carried 4-0-1, with Commissioner Urrutia abstaining. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. 1 � � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES IV. CASES A. Final Drawings 1. CASE NO.: SA 99-43 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS� QUIEL BROTHERS SIGNS for PALM DESERT NATIONAL BANK, 272 South I Street, San Bemardino, CA 92410 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of business identification signage LOCATION: 73-745 EI Paseo ZONE: C-1 Ms. Chafin presented the staff report, indicating that the applicant seeks to replace signage on the EI Paseo elevation closest to the intersection with one plastic faced internally neon illuminated channel logo sign and one reverse channel (halo lit) letter sign. The logo sign measures finro feet wide by 16 inches high and features the letters "PDNB" in blue, with a mountain sunset graphic in brown and yellow. The metal returns would be painted blue. The reverse channel letters measure 10 inches high and span an area of approximately 18'/2 feet and totals 15.4 square feet. With the finro-foot wide logo, the total length of the sign measures 20 feet and totals 18 square feet. It should be noted that the building currently has signage on the San Luis Rey elevation and the western portion of the EI Paseo etevation. These signs are brown in color and are not illuminated. The applicant would like these signs to remain as is. The replacement sign is smaller than the existing sign on the EI Paseo elevation closest to the intersection; so the proposal does not exceed the maximum amount of signage allowed for the building. Commission approval is sought in that the proposed replacement sign is illuminated, while the existing sign is not illuminated, and the replacement sign differs in color as well as logo design from the two signs which will remain on the building. 2 ' � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES Staff finds the proposed replacement signage attractive and supports the request, but would prefer that all the signage be replaced to maintain consistency. Commissioner Connor felt that it would be somewhat awkward to redesign only one sign one EI Paseo when the other will still be visible, to which the representative from Quiel Signs replied that the applicant intends to eventually redesign all the signs to match the proposed sign. Action: Commissioner Urrutia moved, seconded by Commissioner Connor, to approved the proposed signage with the condition that all other existing signage also be changed to match the new signage. The motion carried 5-0. 2. CASE NO.: C 98-21 APPLICANT(AND ADDRESS� JOHN STEIGERWALDT for GLASSTONE (MARK MOSCROP), 73-960 Highway 111, Suite 5, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of final working drawings LOCATION: North side of 42nd Avenue, 1000 feet west of Cook Street ZONE: S.I. Mr. Alvarez presented the staff report, indicating that the working drawings are the same as the preliminary plans approved by the Commission, and the Planning Commission approved the building as a permanent structure. Action: Commissioner 0'Donnell moved, seconded by Commissioner Connor, to approve the final working drawings. The motion carried 5-0. 3 • � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES 3. CASE NO.: C 98-22 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS� SAM RASMUSSEN for OCEAN PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT, 1919 Grand Avenue, Suite #2A, San Diego, CA 92109 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Final approval of signage and landscaping LOCATION: Southeast corner of EI Paseo and Highway 111 ZONE: C-1 Tom Doczi, the landscape architect for the project, presented revised plans and indicated that the idea is to tie the two buildings together as well as to tie in the fountain on the corner. Four parking spaces will be eliminated in the central valet area to accommodate the fountain. The Kaiser Grill entry will be moved to the front of the building. Chairman Gregory asked if the parking area in front of the valet area will generally be used for office parking, to which Tom Rasmussen, the project developer, responded negatively. Chairman Gregory asked if it is really necessary that the developer adhere to the parking lot shade tree requirement for that area, because he feels it would be nicer to have Date Palm trees in that area because they would fit in better with the theme of the project. Mr. Smith indicated that the Commission may make that determination. Chairman Gregory indicated that his concerns have been addressed. Dave Christian presented the plans for the remodel of Kaiser Grill, and indicated that the changes are relatively small in that the existing building has a side entry, and the proposal is to extend one element out in the front to the edge of the walkway and move two other elements back in order to relocate the entry to the front of the building. 4 . � � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES Mr. Rasmussen reported that Mr. Doczi will be redesigning the base of the monument sign which will replace the existing monument sign, and the only change to the plan presented is that the proposed base will feature cantera stone. The two-sided monument sign will have letters that will be flush mounted plex with interior illumination. The building sign will be back-lit halo channel in very dark brushed metal color, and the tenant signs will be a maximum of two feet height and a minimum letter height of 18 inches. Mr. Smith recalled that the Commission previously expressed concern that the building should not allow tenant signage. Chairman Gregory noted that the building has a stronger impact on the streetscape than a smaller building would, and such a large building with a . lot of tenant signage would look like a billboard. Commissioner Holden commented that there previously was a delineating befinreen professional and retail buildings, and it was felt that signage was necessary to identify retail business space, but on professional buildings, signage serves more of a directory function. Professional buildings in downtown Los Angeles don't have lots of signage. Commissioner Urrutia indicated that he would not want this building to end up looking like the professional building on the corner of Monterey and Fred Waring, which has signage on every floor. Mr. Rasmussen stated that he doesn't want signage for every tenant in the building, but he would like to have signage for the anchor tenants, and therefore, there would only be two signs on the Highway 111 elevation, two or three on the EI Paseo elevation and two or three on the east side for a total of six to eight signs. Mr. Smith noted that if the Commission approves the proposed signage, the applicant will need to apply to the Planning Commission for an exception to , the 20-foot height limit indicated. 5 ' � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES Commissioner 0'Donnell suspected that future requests would come forth from other non-anchor tenants who would want signage, to which Mr. Rasmussen replied that the idea is to have signage for major tenants, i.e., those with 4,000 to 5,000 square feet, and he would imagine that there would only be six to eight major tenants. Commissioner Holden suggested allowing two signs per elevation and placing them at the ends of the building, to which Mr. Rasmussen replied that he would prefer to have the signs centered on the Highway 111 elevation for the finro major tenants, and there are only a couple of locations these signs could be placed because he doesn't think finro signs could be placed on the same section of the upper parapet. Commissioner Connor indicated that he would object to having the signs placed up that high, with which Commissioner O'Donnell concurred, and added that the building does not lend itself to being signed in the way currently proposed, and added that this building is supposed to be a professional office building, not a commercial center. Commissioner Urrutia agreed that the signage should be lower, and added that the tenant signs should not compete with the main building sign; so he doesn't think the tenant signs should be on the same level as the main building sign. Mr. Rasmussen indicated that the lower level will not accommodate signage because of the cantera stone, to which Mr. Smith replied that illuminated signs would be difficult to place on cantera stone, but other types of signs should work out. Mr. Rasmussen clarified that all the tenants will want illuminated signs. Commissioner Van Vliet believed it would be better to place the signs on the middle band. Commissioner O'Donnell stated that he doesn't want the building to become a big sign. 6 � � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES Mr. Rasmussen suggested restricting signage to finro on the Highway 111 elevation, and two or three on the longer side of the building, and added that he would prefer to have signage for one major tenant rather than the "One EI Paseo" building identification sign. Commissioner Urrutia noted that there are three building identification signs, and he would be open to trading those for tenant signs. Commissioner Van Vliet preferred retaining the building identification signs rather than replacing them with tenant signage, which would obviously change throughout the years. Mr. Smith asked if the applicant would be willing to include a clause in their tenant contracts which stipulates colored trade mark signs will not be recognized,to which Mr. Rasmussen responded affirmatively, and suggested that the Commission add that as a condition of approval. Commissioner O'Donnell indicated that his preference is that no tenant signs be allowed on the building, but if tenant signage is to be allowed, it should be limited to the middle band, but definitely not allowed on the top band, and added that he doesn't have a problem with the "One EI Paseo" building signage because it identifies the building. Commissioner Urrutia suggested limiting the number of signs on each exposure, i.e., one per side, with a 12-inch maximum letter height, and retaining the "One EI Paseo" signage, to which Mr. Rasmussen replied that 12 inches would be too small. Action: Commissioner Urrutia moved, seconded by Commissioner Holden, to allow tenant signage on the top parapet with the following limitations: a) a maximum of finro sign locations on the west elevation, a maximum of one sign tocation on the south elevation, a maximum of one sign location on the north elevation, and a maximum of one sign location on the east elevation (these are in addition to the building identification signs approved on April 13, 1999); b) maximum letter height of 12 inches; c) all signage centered on the upper band; and d) all fonts to be similar. The motion carried 3-2, with Commissioners Connor and Van Vliet dissenting. 7 , • � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES Action: Commissioner Holden moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to: 1) grant preliminary approval of the project landscaping with the condition that the trees proposed to meet the shade tree parking requirement (in the valet area) be replaced with Date Palms to better reflect the overall theme of the project; 2) grant final approval for the monument sign for Kaiser Grill and L.G.'s Steakhouse with the condition that a cantera base be used; and 3) grant conceptual approval of the architectural elevations for modifications to the Kaiser Grill building. The motion carried 5-0. B. Preliminary Plans 1. CASE NO.: C 97-4 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESSI• JERRY WALKER c/o TWW INVESTMENTS for DEL TACO RESTAURANT, 76-968 California Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of revised architectural elevations LOCATION: 74-617 Highway 111 ZONE: C-1 Mr. Alvarez presented the revised drawings, and noted that the roof element on the east elevation projects out five feet. Commissioner Van Vliet was concemed that the second and third stories of the adjacent hotel will not have screening from the restaurant, and those balconies will overlook the restaurant, to which Mr. Walker replied that he would like to move the pad over four feet more to add landscaping for screening purposes. Commissioner Holden observed that the plans have changed from the original plans submitted, and now there is less clay roof element. 8 . � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1999 MINUTES Commissioner Urrutia suggested extending the clay roof to the base of the parapet and adding more columns for detail on the front elevation and west elevation. Commissioner Connor agreed that columns are important. Commissioner Urrutia suggested that the building needs some differentiation via use of different textures rather than just different paint colors, and added that pop-outs could be incorporated rather inexpensively by using Styrofoam buildouts. Commissioner Urrutia suggested that the roof element on the east elevation extend out back as far as the windows, but then should not extend past that point. Action: Commissioner Van Vliet moved, seconded by Commissioner O'Donnell, to continue the case so that the applicant may have time to incorporate the Commission's suggestions. The motion carried 5-0. V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 p.m. STEVE SMITH PLANNING MANAGER 9