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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-27 1' PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1999 MINUTES **************************************************************************************************** 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 Wayne Connor X 14 0 Ronald Gregory X 11 3 Richard Holden X 13 1 Richard O'Donnell X 12 2 Frank Urrutia X 12 2 Chris Van Vliet X 14 0 Staff Present: Martin Alvarez, Assistant Planner Jason Finley, Code Enforcement Officer Kim Chafin, Senior Office Assistant II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Urrutia, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to approve the minutes of the July 13, 1999 meeting. Motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. 1 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION J U LY 27, 1999 MINUTES IV. CASES 1. CASE NO.: 99-69 APPLICANT (AND ADDREny PALMS TO PINES CANVAS for SHAWNA'S, 69-640 Sugar Loaf#69, Mountain Center, CA 92561 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of awning with signage LOCATION: 73-730 El Paseo ZONE: C-1 Mr. Alvarez reported that the Commission considered this item at its last meeting, but continued the case because the applicant was not present to answer questions. Commissioner Urrutia asked if the awning will fall between the two walls on the end, to which Ernie Brooks of Palms to Pines Canvas responded affirmatively, and added that the letters will be eight inches high with black copy, and the awning will actually project out two feet past the brick wall. Commissioner Urrutia recommended that the awning be even with the awning next door, and Mr. Brooks indicated that he could do that. Action: Commissioner Holden moved, seconded by Commissioner Urrutia, to approve the plans with 8-inch black copy and a condition that the awning not to extend more than two feet past the existing wall. The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. 2 i ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION JULY 27, 1999 MINUTES 2. CASE NO.: 99-73 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS PALMS TO PINES CANVAS, 69-640 Sugar Loaf#69, Mountain Center, CA 92561 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of awning LOCATION: 73-130 El Paseo ZONE: C-1 Mr. Alvarez reported that the applicant requests approval of an awning with signage, and the awning is to project four feet from the building and will be 149" long. The awning will not have solid side returns, similar to the existing awning for "Between the Sheets" store at the Gardens on El Paseo. The height of the awning will match the existing green awning to the east, and the height is four feet. Signage copy will be 8 inches high, but a tenant has not yet been secured. Staff recommends approval of the awning, subject to compatibility of the color and material. Action: Commissioner Connor moved, seconded by Commissioner Urrutia, to approve the awning with 8-inch copy, and awning height to be even with adjacent awning to the east. The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. 3 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION J U LY 27, 1999 MINUTES 3. CASE NO.: 99-74 APPLICANT (AND ADDREUY PALMS TO PINES CANVAS for ROBERT'S, 69-640 Sugar Loaf#69, Mountain Center, CA 92561 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of awning with signage LOCATION: 73-725 El Paseo ZONE: C-1 Mr. Alvarez reported that the applicant requests approval of a marquis awning to project 13 feet from the building and be 10 feet wide. The proposed tan color would match that of the building, and six-inch square posts would be used. The applicant will require an encroachment permit to come within 24 inches of the curb. In order for the awning to fit architecturally, a portion of the building's existing trellis will have to be removed. Staff does not feel that the awning ties in architecturally with the existing building, as the proposed awning is higher than the existing row arches. The awning will read "ROBERTS" across the front and sides. Staff recommends the Commission deny the request based on architectural incompatibility with the building. Ernie Brooks of Palms to Pines Canvas observed that the business next door, Le Peep, has a canopy awning which extends to the street, and the proposal for this awning is that it will only come out four feet rather than 12 feet. Commissioner Urrutia was concerned that the building already has a strong architectural theme, and the awning should tie in more closely with the archways. Action: Commissioner Connor moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to continue the case to allow recommended changes to be incorporated into the plans. The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. 4 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION JULY 27, 1999 MINUTES 4. CASE NO.: SA 99-67 APPLICANT(AND ADDRESS U.S. SIGNS for AUTO ZONE, 5050 Poplar Avenue #1505, Memphis, TN 38157 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of revised signage LOCATION: 73-800 Highway 111 ZONE: C-1 Ms. Chafin reported that the Commission considered the original application on July 13, 1999, and continued the case to address the Commission's concerns regarding the monument sign and landscaping on the site. The concern regarding the monument sign pertained to the words "Best Parts in Auto Parts" underneath the words "Auto Zone", and the revised plans show that the wording has been deleted and replaced with two stripes in the light tomato red and orange colors used throughout the signage. The wall signage has been revised to match the proposed monument sign, and rather than installing a larger can sign, the applicant proposes merely to replace the face. The Commission's concern regarding the landscaping was that it was installed by the landlord per the original plans, but was subsequently removed. The Director of Community Development has advised that this is a code enforcement issue with the property owner rather than an architectural issue with the tenant's signage; so the appropriate City staff members will pursue the replacement of the landscaping through the City's landscape maintenance ordinance. Staff recommends that the Architectural Review Commission grant approval of the revised plans as presented. Action: Commissioner Urrutia moved, seconded by Commissioner Holden, to approve the revised plans as submitted. The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. 5 err✓ ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION J U LY 27, 1999 MINUTES 5. CASE NO.: C 98-22 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): SAM RASMUSSEN, OCEAN PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT, 1919 Grand Avenue #2A, San Diego, CA 92109 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of final working drawings LOCATION: Southeast corner of El Paseo and Highway 111 ZONE: C-1 Mr. Alvarez reported that the final working drawings conform to the approved preliminary plans, and noted that the applicant will be required to screen any roof-top mechanical equipment if they are visible. Action: Commissioner Van Vliet moved, seconded by Commissioner Urrutia, to approve the plans as submitted. The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. 6. CASE NO.: PP 99-10 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): SELECT PROPERTIES, 18652 Florida Street, #200, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of revised preliminary plans for a car wash and mini-storage LOCATION: 77-850 Country Club ZONE: PC-2 Mr. Alvarez reported that the Commission considered preliminary plans for the car wash on July 13 and continued the case to allow the applicant to address several of the Commission's concerns, including: 1. Adding landscaping to the south elevation to screen the car wash service entrance; 6 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION J U LY 27, 1999 MINUTES 2. Setting the building back 10 feet further from Country Club Drive; 3. Lowering the overhead door on the south elevation; and 4. Adding a trellis to the south elevation. The applicant has submitted revised plans which incorporate the revisions suggested by the Commission: 1. Landscaping has been illustrated along Country Club Drive to screen the car wash entrance; 2. The building has been set back to 40 feet and 50 feet to the car wash entrance; 3. The car wash door has been lowered to nine feet; and 4. A trellis has been added to the south elevation, attached to the south perimeter wall. Staff recommends that the Commission grant preliminary approval of the car wash facility, with the additional of two trees at the southeast corner of the project to screen the car wash. Stefan Mudrey of Executive Car Wash noted that the Commission's concerns regarding traffic backing up at the entrance have been addressed by adding two lanes in and two lanes out, rather than just one lane in and one lane out. Commissioner Van Vliet asked how many cars can be stacked up in that area, to which Mr. Mudrey responded by indicating approximately 28. The project architect noted that the plans include a landscape feature on the corner, and indicated that additional plants can be added, and explained that the objective was to tie the landscaping for this project in with the landscaping for the entire center. Commissioner Urrutia asked if the trellis could be lowered from 12 feet to 10 feet, to which the project architect responded affirmatively, and added that the building orientation has been maintained to give a storefront look to the street elevation, and approximately 70% of the patrons don't stop to vacuum, but merely drive through the car wash and leave the site. 7 mmlwk vwle ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION J U LY 27, 1999 MINUTES Commissioner Urrutia asked where patrons will pay, to which the project architect responded by indicating that the cashier's window is located immediately next to the car wash entrance. Commissioner Urrutia was concerned that patrons will have to make a very sharp turn after paying in order to enter the car wash, and suggested that the cashier's window be moved back a bit to allow for an easier turn and prevent cars from scraping against the corner of the building. Mr. Mudrey commented that it would be possible to move the cashier's window back five feet to the west. Commissioner Connor noted that the plants shown on the landscaping plans do not match those on the plant list, and recommended against the use of Queen Palms. Action: Commissioner Holden moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to grant conceptual approval of the landscape plans for the car wash and granted preliminary plans of the architecture for the car wash with the condition that the trellis height be reduced from 12 feet to 10 feet and that the cashier window be moved five feet to the west. The motion carried 3-0, with Commissioner Van Vliet abstaining and Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. Mr. Alvarez reported that on July 13,1999, the Commission reviewed two precise plans for the 20.5-acre master plan known as Desert Country Plaza, which has already been approved by the City Council. The subject precise plan is part of the master plan and consists of 3.2 acres located at the northwest portion of the site. The property backs up to the railroad on the north, is partially screened by the proposed retail development to the southeast, and is adjacent to future industrial development to the south and southwest. The precise plan consists of seven self-storage buildings, identified as Buildings A-G of the site plan, and a building with an office and caretaker unit. The self-storage buildings are all 117' tall and consist of two types of split-face block and two types of precision block. The colors and materials match those of the retail portion of the master plan. 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION J U LY 27, 1999 MINUTES The office and caretaker unit consists of a two-story building with the office on the first floor and the caretaker unit on the second floor. The building has a maximum height of 26 feet, with a portion of the building at 22 feet. The building will have a smooth stucco finish (colors consistent with the master plan) and stone veneer along the bottom of the building. Staff's concern is primarily regarding the southwest elevations of the buildings, which is the portion of the project that will be visible from Country Club Drive. The remainder of the development will be screened by the commercial development to the southeast and the row of Tamarisk trees to the north. The applicant has addressed this concern by utilizing decorative materials on Building F's south elevation. Staff has reviewed the landscaping plans and finds them acceptable. Staff recommends that the Commission grant preliminary approval of the self-storage facility. David Pick noted that all self-storage facility doors will face the interior of the project, and the facility will not be open for RV storage, and will be closed at night. The facility will not have electricity for the units in order to prohibit people from engaging in light manufacturing activities on the site. Some of the units will be climate-controlled. The drive aisles will be oversized, and the facility is anticipated to generate 22 vehicle trips per day. The plans for the north elevation were prepared prior to receiving the landscape plans, and the landscape architect proposes lots of trees; so he would request that the block wall be comprised of precision block rather split-face. Commissioner Holden was concerned that the area outside the block wall won't be maintained properly, to which Mr. Pick replied that his Palm Springs facility is set up in much the same way, and the outer area is maintained every two weeks. Commissioner Holden asked where the HVAC units will be located on the climate controlled buildings, to which Mr. Pick replied that they will be located below the roof in the attic space. Commissioner Urrutia preferred the split-face wall the way it was originally proposed. 9 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION JULY 27, 1999 MINUTES Commissioner Connor stated that he would not have a problem with a precision block wall as long as the City can be assured of an adequate landscaping buffer. Commissioner Holden felt that precision block would be more resistant to graffiti, to which Commissioner Van Vliet replied that split-face can be painted easily. Mr. Alvarez proposed a combination precision block wall with split-face columns. Action: Commissioner Holden moved, seconded by Commissioner Urrutia, to grant conceptual approval of the landscape plans for the mini-storage facility, and grant preliminary approval of the architecture for the mini-storage facility, and allowed the split face wall to be substituted with a painted precision block wall with split face columns and fascia on the north elevation. The motion carried 3-0, with Commissioner Van Vliet abstaining and Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. 7. CASE NO.: PP 99-11 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESSI• ROBERT RICCIARDI, AIA for MELANIE ASSOCIATES, 75-090 St. Charles Place, Suite A, Palm Desert, CA 92211 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of two industrial buildings LOCATION: East side of Melanie Place, 400 feet north of Sheryl Avenue ZONE: S.I. Mr. Alvarez reported that the property is located on the east side of Melanie Place in the City's Service Industrial District, and the property consists of two rectangular lots totaling 43,958 square feet. The applicant proposes to construct two industrial buildings, each totaling 8,844 square feet. The building height is proposed at 22 feet and consists of precision block with stucco finish. 10 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION JULY 27, 1999 MINUTES Stucco colors will be light tan colors with bronze aluminum frames on the windows. The project will have a single access from Melanie Place leading to parking in the front and rear. The project meets all setback requirements for the Service Industrial District. Staff has reviewed the landscape plans and will defer to the Commission for comments. Staff recommends preliminary approval of architecture and landscaping, subject to comments made by the Commission. Commissioner Urrutia noted that the plans provide for 40 feet drive aisle between the two buildings when only 24 feet is needed, and preferred that the drive aisle be reduced from 40 feet to 30 feet to allow additional landscaping on Building 1. Commissioner Connor suggested that the entryways include more landscaping than just cobble. Action: Commissioner Urrutia moved, seconded by Commissioner Holden, to grant preliminary approval with the condition that the drive aisle be reduced from 40 feet to 30 feet to allow additional landscaping on Building 1. The motion carried 3-0, with Commissioner Van Vliet abstaining and Commissioners Gregory and O'Donnell absent. V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. MARTIN ALVAREZ ASSOCIATE PLANNER 11