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Home My WebLink About1999-03-23 . '� ,� PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1999 MINUTES **************************************************************************************************** I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. Commissioners Present Current Meetina Year to Date Presen Absent Present Absent Wayne Connor X 6 0 Ronald Gregory X 4 2 Richard Holden X 5 1 Richard O'Donnell X 6 0 Frank Urrutia X 6 0 Chris Van Vliet X 6 0 Staff Present: Steve Smith, Planning Manager 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 9, 1999 meeting. Motion carried 4-0. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. 1 � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MARCH 23, 1999 MINUTES IV. CASES A. Final Drawings 1. CASE NO.: C 98-22 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS� ROBERT RICCIARDi, AIA for OCEAN PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT, 75-090 St. Charles Piace, Suite A, Palm Desert, CA 92211 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT• Final approval of landscape plans; approval of signage LOCATION: Southeast corner of EI Paseo and Highway 111 ZONE: C-1 Mr. Smith reported that the applicant did not submit plans; so the case must be continued. 2. CASE NO.: CUP 97-16 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS�• MCFADDEN/MCINTOSH ARCHITECTS for WALGREENS, 73-929 Larrea, Suite 1A, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT• Final approval of architectural elevations and landscaping LOCATION: Southeast corner of Monterey Avenue and San Gorgonio ZONE: R-1 Mr. Smith reported Staff has reviewed the final working drawings for Walgreens Drug Store. The plans are consistent with the revised plans approved by the City Council and which were reviewed by the Architectural Review Commission previously; however, the colors on the veneer at the base of the columns and on the building are chocolate brown, which is a different color than originally presented. 2 . � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MARCH 23, 1999 MINUTES Eric Johnson has had an opportunity to review the landscape plans. They are essentially as we had anticipated; however, the wall along the east side is not shown on any plans. The architect indicates that the wall is still in the plan. Staff would like to change the Colorado Mesquite and the Maleluca to more suitable trees, i.e, Chilean Mesquite. The row of parking spaces at the south end of this building needs additional trees to comply with the ordinance. The applicant proposes individual channel letter signs with red plex faces and red neon on the west and south elevations. These signs comply with the size limits of the ordinance; however, staff would suggest that we go with reverse channel letters and white neon consistent with previous commercial applications. A monument sign is proposed at the southwest corner of the site with an overall height of 5'6" and a face with dimensions of 3'9" x 12'6". The monument signs compties as to size and height. The details on the sign face are somewhat confusing and need to be clarified as to face color. The roof has been designed with parapets on all four sides to help screen roof mounted equipment. The plans call for a considerable amount of roof mounted equipment, including air conditioning units and a satellite antenna. These items will need to be completely shielded from view from public right- of-way. The plans include proposed parking lot lighting with the use of 20 and 30-foot tall potes. The photometric plan does not extend beyond the property line as required; so staff will handle the parking lot lighting. Since the lighting plans are unacceptable, they will not be included as part of the Commission's approval today. Staff recommends the following: 1. That the Commission grant final approval of the architectural plans, including signs, subject to revising the channel letter wall signs to reverse channel with white neon and acceptable clarification of color of sign face on the monument sign; 2. That the lighting plan be referred to staff for final approval, consistent with the lighting ordinance; and 3. That the landscape plan be approved subject to comments contained in the report. 3 . `�r"` ''� ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MARCH 23, 1999 MINUTES Commissioner Connor questioned Mr. Johnson's comment regarding changing the Roos Lancea to Shoestring Acacia and indicated he feels the Roos Lancea would be preferable because the Acacia wouldn't block the wall as well; however, he would suggest a 36-inch box Roos Lancea. He would also suggest that the area with cobble and walk should have additional shrubbery to soften the appearance. Jim Mclntosh announced that additional changes are anticipated to the site, including the removal of four feet of wall on the north side. Commissioner Urrutia suggested that the words "Drive Thru" be eliminated from the monument sign and preferred that directional signage be used to indicate the presence of a drive thru pharmacy window. Commissioner Van Vliet noted that the monument sign is to be located atop a finro-foot high mound,which would make the sign 7.5 feet higher than street grade. Commissioner Connor suggested eliminating the base of the sign to keep the height under six feet, and Mr. Mclntosh agreed that it could be done. Mr. Smith noted that the plans indicate that the wall signs on the west and south elevations will be internally lit red letters, and indicated that the Commission has historically preferred reverse channel letters. Commissioners Urrutia and Van Vliet agreed that reverse channel letters with white neon is preferred. Action: Commissioner O'Donnell moved, seconded by Commissioner Urrutia, to grant final approval for the architecture, excluding the lighting plan and landscaping plan, and approving the wall sign with reverse channel letters and white neon, and approving the monument sign with a height maximum of 5'6" measured from the adjacent sidewalk, and deleting the word "drive thru." The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Holden and Gregory absent. 4 . "�'r'' ',�' ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MARCH 23, 1999 PP 98-5 B. Preliminary Plans 1. 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 sales and maintenance buildings LOCATION: East side of Monterey between Frank Sinatra and Gerald Ford ZONE: PR-5 Mr. Smith reported that the sales building is proposed as a two-story structure with an overall height of 36 feet. Tower elements at either end extend to a height of 46 feet. The original approval of the units for this project included a height exception granted by the City Council for buildings up to 36 feet (three stories). The architecture of the tile roof structure is interesting and acceptable. Staff's only concern involves the height of the proposed building and the tower elements. The proposed maintenance building is located at the northeast corner of the project and has been turned 90 degrees since its site plan was last reviewed by the Commission. The tile roof structure has a height of 21 feet and 24 feet. Its design is acceptable. Staff recommends that the Commission grant preliminary architectural approval for the sales and maintenance building, subject to receipt of an acceptable landscape plan. Commissioner Van Vliet was concerned that the entry would be too tight for large trucks to make the turn. 5 . � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MARCH 23, 1999 PP 98-5 Commissioner Urrutia stated that he has no problem with the sales office, but the maintenance building is in the corner of the project adjacent to a main street, and the area across the street could potentially be developed with residential uses; so he would suggest that a buffer be created between the maintenance facility and the surrounding area. He would recommend that the plans provide more setback from the street along the perimeter. All the parking is set right up against the walls, which does not leave much room for landscaping. He would also suggest incorporating the retention basin outside the fence so that it is visible from the street. Bob Ross noted that the retention basin must be inside the area because the area is sunk down four to five feet below street grade. Commissioner Urrutia suggested that the retention basin be turned into a landscaped area which would open the corner up and improve aesthetics, to which Mr. Ross replied that he will look into it. Commissioner Connor indicated that his biggest concern is perimeter landscaping. Commissioner Urrutia was uncomfortable approving the maintenance facility at this point, but indicated that the sales building is acceptable. Commissioner O'Donnell was also concerned that no landscape plans have been presented. Action: Commissioner Connor moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to grant preliminary approval for the architecture of the sales building and to continue approval of the maintenance building for consideration along with the landscape plan. The motion carried 4-0, with Commissioners Holden and Gregory absent. 6 . � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MARCH 23, 1999 PP 98-5 V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m. STEVE SMITH PLANNING MANAGER 7