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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-11 CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 11, 2005 **************************************************************************************************** I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Current Meeting Year to Date Present Absent Present Absent Ronald Gregory, Chairman X 15 4 Kristi Hanson X 15 4 Chris Van Vliet X 13 6*excused John Vuksic X 19 Ray Lopez X 16 3 Karen Oppenheim X 19 Karel Lambell X 18 1 Also Present: Tony Bagato, Assistant Planner Ryan Stendell, Assistant Planner Donna Quaiver, Senior Office Assistant Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 Commissioner Vuksic moved, seconded by Commissioner Lambell to approve the minutes of September 27, 2005. The motion carried 5-0-2-0 with Commissioners Gregory and Van Vliet abstaining. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS A. None. 1 vow ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES A. Final Drawings 1. CASE NO.: MISC 05-03 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): ALLEN BIXEN, 41-865 Boardwalk, Suite 106, Palm Desert, CA 92211 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Request final approval of elevations for a facade enhancement of Matsuri Restaurant, Pete Carlson's Golf& Tennis, and Chinese Antiques. LOCATION: 73-741 Highway 111 ZONE: C-1 Mr. Bagato stated that he didn't receive revised plans and the applicant was not present. Action: Commissioner Hanson moved, seconded by Commissioner Oppenheim for continuance to the meeting of October 25, 2005 to allow the architect or representative to be present. Motion carried 7-0. 2. CASE NO.: PP 05-18 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): HABITAT ARCHITECTURE, GUY DREIER DESIGNS, 41-995 Boardwalk, Suite D, Palm Desert, CA 92211 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Request approval of single-family home in the hillside planned residential zone. LOCATION: 705 Summit Cove ZONE: HPR Action: Commissioner Hanson moved, seconded by Commissioner Vuksic for approval by minute motion. Motion carried 7-0. GRanning\Donna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 2 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES 3. CASE NO.: C 05-09 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): FELCOR LODGING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 545 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 1300, Irving, Texas, 75062 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Request approval of a 30' high elevator tower element. LOCATION: 74-700 Highway 111, Embassy Suites ZONE: PC Action: Commissioner Hanson moved, seconded by Commissioner Vuksic for approval by minute motion. Motion carried 7-0. B. Preliminary Plans 1. CASE NO.: PP 05-12 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): NEIL BRANDOM, 1100 Quail, #102, Newport Beach, CA 92660 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of plans for a 150-unit apartment complex. LOCATION: 75-650 Gerald Ford Drive ZONE: R1-M going to PR Mr. Bagato stated that this project is located at the northwest end of the Emerald Desert site on Gerald Ford. The applicant is present to give more details about the architecture. The style of architecture is similar to the Taylor Woodrow project (Spanish Walk) that was recently approved by the ARC. The applicant stated that they were trying to do something that would be complimentary to the Taylor Woodrow architecture and landscaping. GRanning\Donna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 3 Owe ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES Commissioner Vuksic asked about the type of windows that they are proposing and wondered if they're nail-on windows. The applicant didn't know. Commissioner Vuksic commented that some of the exterior walls look like they're 2 x 4 walls and I don't really see any depth. In a lot of cases I do see depth, which is great, but in the few areas where it's flat, that they should use a smaller nailer than the wall thickness so that you have some recess on the windows. If it's a 2 x 6 wall, use a 2 x 4 nailer and if it's a 2 x 4 wall, use a 2 x 3 nailer. The roof tile is going to be concrete, but the applicant stated that it would be complimentary to the Taylor Woodrow project and it would be equal in quality. A color/material board was not available at the time of the meeting, but it will be submitted with the working drawings. Commissioner Vuksic stated that the designs are very nice so as long as the finishing of it is of the same spirit. Action: Commissioner Hanson moved, seconded by Commissioner Oppenheim for preliminary approval, subject to reviewing a color/material board with the final drawings. Motion carried 7-0. 2. CASE NO.: C 05-06 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): CARVER COMPANIES, 74-947 Highway 111, Indian Wells, CA 92210-7113 MARK GILES, KKE ARCHITECTS, 525 E. Colorado Blvd., 4" Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101-5226 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Request preliminary approval of revised elevations for a new Bank of America building at Desert Gateway Shopping Center. LOCATION: 34-420 Monterey Avenue ZONE: PC Mr. Bagato stated that the building looks a little tall in some areas, such as the tower element, which could be lowered. The arches look like they're a little high. They're using a lot of the same materials as noted in the guidelines, but some of the details on the arches and proportions of the building need to be looked at. G:Planning\Donna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 4 'rr✓ ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES Commissioner Gregory asked if the old elevations were available for comparison. Mr. Bagato displayed the previous elevations for the commission to review. Commissioner Hanson stated that the roof pitches are over-pitched. They look like they're about 5:12, which adds to the illusion of height. The architecture looks like they've done the minimum of what they could do to get by. It still needs more work. Some of the shapes and forms are nice, but other areas show arches that are too similar and could be broken up. It's missing some details and it needs a little bit more asymmetry in its makeup. Commissioner Vuksic commented that he likes the forms and the composition of the forms. The tower, however, looks stretched. I'd like to hear the architect's reason for designing it like that. I am concerned about the details. As adequate as the forms are, as far as the number of them and the juxtaposition of them to each other, I'm concerned about the details because it could really fall apart if it was poorly detailed. The roof pitch looks too steep. It's starting to look like a mansard roof. Noli Kalingo, architect, was present and stated that he's working with Mark Giles from KKE Architects on the elevations. One challenge that they're facing is a request by the Bank of America to have the entrance visible at night for security reasons. A person should be able to see what's going on inside the bank at night. That's why we're trying to make the storefront clear. We're minimizing the number of columns at the entry because a person could easily hide behind a column. The tower can be lowered. Commissioner Vuksic asked if he could thicken the two columns that are shown because it looks very top heavy on the two spindly columns. Mr. Kalingo stated that he can thicken them. Commissioner Oppenheim stated that the signage looks squished in there. I understand that you're trying to keep the front of the building open because it's a bank but it really looks condensed. Mr. Kalingo stated that he could bring the arches down and create more room for the signage. Commissioner Hanson suggested using the tower on the right-hand side and incorporating the signage in this area. Mr. Kalingo stated that he could make the tower wider but this is the main sign for the bank. Commissioner Hanson suggested mixing the elements up a little bit and use arches and glass and other elements. G:Planning\Donna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 5 `we ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES Commissioner Van Vliet asked about the roof pitch. Mr. Kalingo stated that it's 3:12. Commissioner Vuksic stated that it's a minimum of 5:12 and could be at 6:12. Commissioner Hanson stated that 3:12 or 4:12 is standard for a tile roof. Action: Commissioner Oppenheim moved, seconded by Commissioner Lambell to continue the request to allow the applicant to return with revised elevations. Motion carried 7-0. 3. CASE NO.: SA 05-90 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): LYNN FOSTER, 1000 Lakes Drive, #405, West Covina, CA 91790 WAL*MART STORES, INC., 2001 S.E. 10th Street, Bentonville, AR 72712 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of gas station canopy, island building design and signage related thereto. Sam's Club /Wal*Mart. LOCATION: 34-220 Monterey Avenue, Gateway Center ZONE: P.C. Mr. Bagato stated that he thought that the signage that's shown at 2' in height be reduced to 18" so that it would be more in proportion with the canopy. The letters should be reverse channel letters. Action: Commissioner Vuksic moved, seconded by Commissioner Hanson for approval, subject to reducing the letters on the canopy to 18" in height with letters to be reverse channel. Motion carried 7-0. 4. CASE NO.: MISC 05-37 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): DAVID HIDALGO ARCHITECT, INC., 316 S. 1st Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Request approval of exterior remodel in conjunction with the City of Palm Desert's Facade Enhancement Program. G91anning0onna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 6 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES LOCATION: 73-010 El Paseo, (building "A" at the former Columbia Center). ZONE: PC Action: Commissioner Hanson moved, seconded by Commissioner Vuksic for approval by minute motion, subject to changing the green color to a sage green, to be approved by staff. Motion carried 7-0. C. Miscellaneous 1. CASE NO.: PP 05-22 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): SUMMIT PROPERTIES, 2082 Michelson Drive, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92612 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Discussion regarding elevations of a new three-story condominium complex. Falling Waters LOCATION: 35th Avenue and Gateway Drive, behind Wal*Mart ZONE: Sl The applicant stated that this is currently an industrial site and that they are fulfilling the requirements of the revised general plan and bringing multi-family to the site. There is a Wal*Mart on one side and a business park on the other side. The product that they're proposing is a series of two-story buildings with a loft feature that occurs on two floor plans out of the five floor plans that they are offering. The loft level is not across the whole building and it rises 6' above the second floor ridge line. We are really calling these a two-story building with lofts as opposed to three-story buildings. The loft adds a nice architectural feature to the project. The site drops 50' from one corner to the other (from west to east) and 30' from south to north. Those buildings along the street (Gateway and the future 35th Avenue) will essentially be 8' below street grade. Greg Bucilla, architect from Bucilla Group Architecture, was present and gave an introduction to the project. There will be a clubhouse with a variety of pools and other amenities. The main entry is off 351h Avenue. The site plan shows that the recreation facility is in the center of the site. The buildings are prairie style with a flat roof, multi-colored G:Planning\Donna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 7 "W `r✓ ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES with private patios. The units will have approximately 160-180 square feet of usable outdoor private space behind low walls at the entries. There's a lot of articulation with stone, banding and glazing with primary and accent colors. This project is a very pedestrian, paseo-linked product. The linkages between east and west and north and south cater to getting to and from the recreation facility. There will be an auto court lane behind the buildings so that the garages face each other. There will be guest parking but the cars for the residents will be loaded into the garages off the main street. The buildings will be three and four unit townhome buildings with a major recreation facility, a guarded entry, paseos and open space. We're trying to address the lane and hide the garages. Commissioner Oppenheim asked about the total number of units in the project. Mr. Bucilla stated that there are a total of 247 units. Commissioner Van Vliet asked if there was a separate gate for the service people, such as gardeners. Mr. Bucilla stated that they would be going through the main gate and there's also a secondary gate. Commissioner Van Vliet asked if the HOA would include a gardening service. Mr. Bucilla stated that the HOA would take care of the landscaping needs. The private patio area would be the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain. They're 95' deep into the guard gate and the minimum is 75'. If we need to push this back, we could push it back further but they're double loaded at this point. If there's a homeowner with a card access they go in on the right side and if you're a guest you pull into the guard gate and you pull in. Homeowners can also enter through the side gate. The square footage of the units will be 1,150 square feet for the smaller units to 2,000 square feet for the larger units. Commissioner Lambell asked about the number of units that have a loft. Mr. Bucilla stated that there would be about 60-70 units with a loft. Commissioner Vuksic asked about the density of the project. Mr. Bucilla stated that it's about 12 units per acre. Commissioner Vuksic asked about the thick red bands that are drawn around the windows on the elevations. Mr. Bucilla stated that it's a vinyl window sash. Commissioner Vuksic stated that the architecture is really good looking. Something that strikes me that's a little disappointing is that there's nothing about it that says to me that it's in the desert. It looks like it can be anywhere. Mr. Bucilla stated that the landscape will be desert landscaping. We wanted the architecture to be very distinct so we chose prairie style. We plan on using desert colors on the buildings. G:Planning\Donna Qua iver\wpdocs\Wgmin\AR051011.MIN 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES There are 30" overhangs on the buildings and they have close to 3'-4' of overhang in some instances on the clubhouse. All of this helps to provide shade and deep shadowing for the desert. Commissioner Vuksic stated that he's critiquing what is obviously a quality project. Mr. Bucilla stated that they didn't want to come in with a Mediterranean/Tuscan look that everybody does all over Southern California. We chose the Prairie style because it's a little retro; a little Frank Lloyd Wright. We thought that this might be unique to the area and thought that this was a positive idea. We're looking at our landscape architect to incorporate the desert back into the project. Commissioner Vuksic asked about the depth of the retention basin. Mr. Bucilla stated that it's about four feet deep. Commissioner Vuksic stated that in the rendering it looks level. What I see is a road lined with buildings with a retention basin on one side. Mr. Bucilla stated that it will look like a park area and serve as a recreation area. That's where the basketball court and volleyball courts will be. Commissioner Vuksic stated that he's disappointed in the site plan because it looks like it was done with very little imagination. Mr. Bucilla stated that they've been through 4-5 variations of this site plan and have spent a number of months dealing with the site itself. It's difficult because the site drops 50' from one corner to the other and it also drops 30' from south to north. We really did spend a lot of time and there are a lot of site plans in the trash because of the elevation changes. Commissioner Vuksic stated that he sees the "Wrightian" architecture and I would expect that a "Wrightian" site plan would have a lot more imagination thrown into it. Mr. Bucilla stated that the buildings will be stepping down the slope and there will be a lot of detail in the buildings themselves. We feel that the articulation will be there. Commissioner Vuksic stated that long, straight streets could work if there's a really striking, powerful axis. These really just look like roads to me. I think that you've got your work cut out for you to make it look the way that you've described it. Mr. Bucilla stated that the roads are only 24' wide so that we would have a larger landscaped area. The buildings do open up on the street side so when you're driving down looking at the paseos, you're looking at the wider side. Those are all things that we did to open up the site so we could use the landscaping properly. Commissioner Hanson commented that it isn't very often that she and Commissioner Vuksic disagree, but today I'm disagreeing with him on the architecture only because each of the elements that you've presented show desert architecture. I think that the roof forms, the large overhangs, the use of stone, plaster and metal all are very indicative of desert architecture. I think it does have an obvious G:Planning\Donna Qua iver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 9 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES "Wrightian" prairie-style of architecture, but it still seems very desert- like. I really like it and the applicant has done a really nice job and I'm happy that you've added that loft level because I think that otherwise it might come across as a very flat, uninteresting building. Trying to accommodate two stories could produce a building with no interest vertically. I'm really pleased with it. You're challenged on the site, but as a community, we're now starting to be really challenged with what we can do on a site and how much we need to incorporate onto a site. It's getting more difficult to do some of the fun things that we're used to doing, although we will still challenge you to work really hard to make that happen. Commissioner Van Vliet asked about the guest parking. If the streets are 24' wide, then you wouldn't be able to park on the street. Mr. Bucilla stated that they have 2.5:1 parking in the whole project. There are two-car garages for every unit and another half on the surface. There are parallel parking spaces all the way through the roadways. Some areas have head-in parking as well. Commissioner Lopez commented on the retention basin with the volleyball and basketball courts and stated that heavy rains could make the basin overflow. How will the area handle a basketball court and a volleyball court? Mr. Bucilla stated that there's a pipe at the end of the alley that takes water into the storm channel. They have to have a combination of both retention and drainage to the storm channel. Commissioner Lopez stated that he didn't see the trash locations on the site plan. Will residents put out trash cans once a week, or will there be dumpsters? Will the trash cans be screened? A lot of people don't put their trash cans back into the garage and leave them on the side of their house. Hopefully, your CC & R's would take care of that. I don't see any trash locations near the clubhouse and I was wondering how you were going to handle those and how many there would be. Mr. Bucilla stated that residents will be required to bring their trash cans inside, per their CC & R's. The clubhouse will have carts that they're move in and out for their trash. Commissioner Lopez stated that the secondary entrance shows gates that go right into the wall and a median island. If somebody accidentally turns into the entrance, they would have to back out. I would suggest having an opening so that somebody could get out. Mr. Bucilla commented that that's a good point and he would look into making that change. Commissioner Lopez stated that it looks like they put as many buildings on the project as possible. G:Planning0onna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051011.MIN 10 IVA*, ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES Commissioner Vuksic asked if they could squeeze enough room out of the site to stagger the buildings so that there aren't long lines of buildings. There are sixteen buildings in a row that are all at the same setback line. The applicant agreed that they could stagger the buildings. Commissioner Vuksic stated that he likes the loft element and they make the buildings more special. This item was on the agenda for discussion purposes only. No action was taken. 2. CASE NO.: MISC 05-09 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): BARBARA ROMANO, 48-120 Ocotillo Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Request an exception to the wall ordinance with a 6' high block wall at 8' from the curb. LOCATION: 48-120 Ocotillo Drive ZONE: R-1 Mr. Bagato stated that the applicant is requesting an exception to the wall ordinance. Mr. Stendell stated that we've been working with the applicant for a long time. In 2002, we approved a wall exception at 12' from the curb. Unfortunately, that approval has expired and the applicant has revised their plan to show an 8' setback from curb at 6' in height. They have submitted a landscape plan for the outer part of the wall. Based on the previous approval, we do feel that the landscaping is nice and the block wall will have cultured stone applied to it. From a staff perspective, we've given them approval on a 12' setback previously, therefore, we could possibly allow it again. The wall does justify an exception in that they've had their wall hit by a car so this would be a safety issue. The code currently states that a 6' wall be located 20' from the curb. Commissioner Van Vliet commented that they could still have the same design at 12' from the curb, as opposed to 8' from the curb. Commissioner Hanson stated that it would be tough to approve the wall at 8' from the curb. Commissioner Vuksic stated that the design looks good on the plan, but it looks awfully close to the curb. Commissioner Hanson commented that she likes the curved aspect of the wall and how it follows the street, but if it could be moved back to the 12' mark, I think that that would be much easier for us to approve with a 6' high G:Planning\Donna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agmin\AR051 01 1NIN 11 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OCTOBER 11, 2005 MINUTES wall given the fact that the ordinance has changed to 20' from the curb. Commissioner Vuksic stated that the wall could be curved the same way at 12' from the curb as it's shown at 8' from the curb. There will be lots of yard and lots of relief from the pool area. The difference on the impact from the street will be tremendous compared to that of a 6' high wall at 8' from the curb. Ms. Romano suggested having the wall 10' from the curb, but the commission commented that she should feel lucky to get the wall approved at 12' from the curb. Commissioner Gregory suggested adding a planter area next to the driveway to allow the car doors to have room to open and it would also soften the look of the wall. Commissioner Hanson commented that the way the plan is currently drawn, the wall is right up against the driveway so if you open you car door you would hit the wall. If you move the wall back a few feet and add a landscaped planter next to the driveway it would give you room to open a car door. It was recommended that the planter be 3' in width. Action: Commissioner Vuksic moved, seconded by Commissioner Hanson for approval subject to (1) wall along street at 12' from curb, (2) wall along driveway 3' from driveway, and (3) use L-shaped footing that goes toward the house. Motion carried 7-0. VI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m. STEVE SMITH PLANNING MANAGER G:Plan ning\Donna Quaiver\wpdocs\Agnnin\AR051011.MIN 12