HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-09 ��•�� CITY OF PALM DESERT
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
• MINUTES
October 9, 2007
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 14 4
Kristi Hanson X 15 3
Chris Van Vliet X 18
John Vuksic X 18
Ray Lopez X 15 3
Karel Lambell X 13 5
Nancy DeLuna X 8 1
Also Present
Lauri Aylaian, Director
Tony Bagato, Principal Planner
Ryan Stendell, Associate Planner
Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner
Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist
Janine Judy, Senior Office Assistant
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 25, 2007
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Van Vliet, seconded by Commissioner
Lambell, to approve the September 25, 2007 meeting minutes. Motion
carried 6-0-0-1, with Commissioner Gregory absent.
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
V. CASES:
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES OCTOBER 9, 2007
A. Final Drawings:
1. CASE NO: SA 07-129
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): JOE ROSA/CERTIFIED SIGN, P.O. Box
45, Sun City, CA 92586
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Final approval of
monument signage; Best Buy & Cost Plus.
LOCATION: 44-419— 44-495 Town Center
ZONE: PC(3) SP
Mr. Swartz presented plans for two (2) revised monument signs
that include changes recommended by the Commission at the
meeting of July 23rd. These signs would have four (4) tenants and
would be made of fabricated aluminum. The sign on Highway 111
would be 11 feet and the sign on Town Center Way would be 8 feet
6 inches.
Commissioner DeLuna stated that the applicant addressed the
Commission's concerns from the July 23rd meeting by making the
sign wider, changing the colors and adding wood around the top.
She noticed that the use of rock or stone was not used to add more
interest that would set it apart.
Mr. Jose Rosa, Representative stated that one of the suggestions
made at the last meeting was to have the signs look more like the
design of the buildings. Since the buildings do not have a rock or
stone face he made the signs similar to the building columns and
incorporated the colors of the buildings into the signs.
Commissioner Vuksic thought it still looked like any other sign in
California and felt it didn't have any artistic merit. He did notice that
the signs did tie into the pieces of the building and stated that
something along this line would be approvable if it only had three
(3) tenants on it, but it didn't have any aesthetic merit that would
make him inclined to allow more than three (3) tenants. It needed
to be more interesting and pleasing.
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ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES OCTOBER 9, 2007
Commissioner Lopez suggested that staff work with the applicant
and direct him to monument signs in the city that are well designed
for his review. The Commission named a few signs in the city for
his review.
Mr. Stendell asked if the Commission wanted to go in the direction
of approving this in a three (3)-panel fashion or did they want to
leave that up to the applicant. Commissioner DeLuna stated that
she wanted to see something a little more unique and different.
She said that the signs mirror the design of the buildings, but it
shouldn't be limited to the building materials that were used. Mr.
Rosa stated that he understood, but he went with the Commission's
recommendations from the last meeting and was now being asked
to head in another direction. Commissioner Hanson stated that the
Commission was trying to help him and thought he would have
taken this to a design level instead of a minimal level to get it
through the approval process.
The Commission would like the applicant to come up with
something unique and interesting and felt that there were elements
in the City that he could review. Commissioner Hanson also
suggested that the sign could be two (2) levels. They could step
the sign with two (2) pieces and have three (3) tenant signs on one
side and one (1) tenant sign on the other side.
Commissioner Van Vliet stated that the sign was still too massive.
Mr. Stendell stated that he understood that the reasons for the
height of the signs was because Town Center Way and Fred
Waring were relatively flat and Highway 111 at the Starbuck's side
had quite a slope going down. Commissioner Van Vliet stated that
it looked like it was over six (6) feet from the upper elevation and
didn't understand why it was so big. Mr. Rosa stated that it wasn't
any higher than the existing sign. Commissioner Van Vliet stated
that the existing sign was too high and didn't know how it got
approved.
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner
Vuksic, to continue Case No. SA 07-129 subject to staff directing the
applicant to several well-designed signs located within the City for his
review. Motion carried 6-0-0-1, with Commissioner Gregory absent.
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B. Preliminary Plans:
1. CASE NO: PP 07-07
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): PREST-VUKSIC ARCHITECTS, 44-530
San Pablo Avenue Suite 200, Palm Desert, CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of a
17,600 square foot professional office building; Delio.
LOCATION: 44-450 Monterey
ZONE: OP
Mr. Stendell presented a new office building on Monterey. He stated that
the building meets all set back requirements and building heights, and
also mentioned that the landscape plans were currently being reviewed.
Commissioner DeLuna stated that she liked the color choices. Mr. John
Vuksic, Architect, stated that they were still working on the color
renderings.
Commissioner Hanson stated that she was concerned with how imposing
the building would be as you were driving towards it. She indicated that it
was critical with how they would handle the landscape. She asked if the
covered carports would be lighted and would there be fluorescent lights
lighting up the outside. She suggested having some kind of screening on
the backside of the carports so the glare wouldn't be coming out into the
street, which would make it feel less residential. Mr. Stendell stated that
there had been some discussion relative to that issue and explained how
they were talking to the applicant about some sort of neighborhood
friendly type carport structures, whether they would be of a fabric material
or something not so hard when transitioning from residential to office.
Commissioner Hanson suggested banking the carports and concentrating
trees at the end of the street to diffuse the building. She stated that she
would rather see trees blocking the building beyond and move the
carports out of the periphery. Mr. Vuksic stated that he liked the comment
about moving the parking structure so that it wouldn't be at the end of
Guadalupe. Commissioner Van Vliet expressed that there would still be
an issue for the homes located near the building. Commissioner Hanson
suggested that the first three (3) feet at the carports have the metal
louvers so the light would not penetrate back into the neighbor's homes.
Mr. Vuksic stated that there was a solid element on the back of the
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ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES OCTOBER 9, 2007
structure where the lights could be mounted and shielded so that the light
would only shine up into the canopy itself, then there would be nothing but
indirect lighting that the neighborhood would perceive.
Mr. Stendell stated that this same situation has been allowed to take place
up Monterey. He indicated that he visited the end of three (3) streets and
each one was done differently with only one having an issue between
residential and office, which had nothing to do with this. For the most part,
the three (3) streets function like this fairly well.
Ms. Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist asked who would be
maintaining the property at an area near the cul-de-sac and asked if it
would be a dead zone. Mr. Vuksic stated that driveways would occupy
part of it and Commissioner Hanson stated the remainder would probably
be landscaped. Ms. Hollinger pointed out that that area was outside the
property line with no meter and no water. Mr. Vuksic felt that the owner
would be happy to maintain that area. Ms. Hollinger stated that would be
an opportunity to utilize that area to help screen some of the carports.
Action:
It was moved by Commissioner Hanson, seconded by Commissioner
DeLuna, granted approval subject to: 1) designing neighborhood friendly
carports; 2) screening of carport lighting; and, 3) owner providing and
maintaining landscaping on the east side of the wall. Motion carried
6-0-0-1, with Commissioner Gregory absent.
C. Miscellaneous Items:
None.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Commissioner Lopez, seconded by Commissioner Lambell to
adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-1-0-1. The meeting was adjourned at
12:50 p.m.
TONY BAGATO
PRINCIPAL PLANNER
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