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Home My WebLink About2011-06-26 • Y w �1•�� CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION • MINUTES June 28, 2011 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 8 2 Chris Van Vliet X 10 John Vuksic X 9 1 Karel Lambell X 9 1 Pam Touschner X 7 3 Allan Levin X 10 Ken Stendell X 9 1 Also Present Lauri Aylaian, Director Tony Bagato, Principal Planner Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Pedro Rodriquez, Senior Code Officer Christina Canales, Assistant Engineer Janine Judy, Senior Office Assistant III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 14, 2011 minutes to be approved at the next meeting. ACTION: No action taken. V. CASES: Y ARCHITECTURAL RE W COMMISSION ''s MINUTES June 28, 2011 A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO: SA 11-225 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): INTEGRATED SIGN, 1160 Pioneer Way #M, El Cajon, CA 92020 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of three wall signs; Go Wireless Verizon (Desert Crossings). LOCATION: 72-333 Highway 111, Suite E ZONE: C-1 SP Mr. Swartz presented the project and summarized the staff report. The applicant is requesting approval of three wall signs. Desert Crossing has an approved sign program, which allows for halo-lit illuminated channel letters, but the proposed signs are internally illuminated channel letters. The proposed signage meets development standards and looks well- proportioned and attractively done. Staff has no concerns with the signage and how it relates to the building. The channel letters do not meet the approved sign program for Desert Crossing, and staff recommends that the applicant submit halo-lit illuminated channel letters. Mr. Swartz presented photos of the signs in Desert Crossing showing a mixture of halo-lit illuminated channel letters and internally illuminated channel letters. Mr. Bagato stated that most of the signs are halo-lit. Mr. Swartz stated the applicant has photos of signs with channel letters. He also indicated that the landlord approved the proposed sign with channel letters. Commissioner Gregory asked if this was in conflict with their sign program and Mr. Swartz said the sign program was approved for halo-lit. He informed the landlord that if they did want signs with channel letters they could amend the sign program, which will return to the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) for review and approval. The Commission discussed the sign program and the different styles of signage at Desert Crossing. Commissioner Van Vliet said the Commission would have to go with the sign program. Commissioner Vuksic disagreed. Commissioner Van Vliet said what good is a sign GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word Files\A Minutes\201 1\AR1 10628min.DOC Page 2 of 5 ARCHITECTURAL Rt'1HEW COMMISSION *4101 MINUTES June 28, 2011 program then. Commissioner Vuksic stated it establishes guidelines, but as the project evolves then maybe they would want to take another look at it. Commissioner Gregory pointed out that a developer creates a commercial center and enacts a sign program, which is approved through the City. Mr. Swartz agreed and said it comes through the ARC for approval. Commissioner Gregory said the landlord needs to amend their sign program so that every sign doesn't have to through ARC if it conforms to the amended sign program. Mr. Bagato stated the reason it was brought here was because it was conflicting. When he researched Desert Crossing in the past, they required reverse channel letters. If you had Target, Sport Authority, and TJ Maxx signage with through the face lettering, it's going to be pretty bright. Commissioner Vuksic stated the Verizon sign is a lot more subtle, and a very stylish sign; not just big block letters. Mr. Bagato said they should keep it more uniform and not hodge- podge. Commissioner Gregory thought the big issue was having a sign program with teeth in it. If they want to have some type of directive where a sign is over a certain size, it must be halo-lit. That would be one way to watch out for the big signs being too much in your face. Mr. Chris Bolster, representative, said he wasn't trying to buck the sign program, but this is such a small sign. The letters will typically be 11" to 12", with a very thin stroke on the logo. If they start halo-lighting it, it will just wash into the background of the building at night. He presented photos of several signs with reverse channel letters currently at the complex. Most of the signs out there have thicker stroked letters and the halo shows up better. The applicant's sign is so small and will not have much of a brightness issue. As for the landlord modifying the master sign program, their client needs a sign so they can get their store up and running and modifying the master sign program may take some time. Commissioner Lambell said she appreciated the position he was in and understands that they need to get up and running. However, on the other side of this is a sign program that is in place for that center and until that is changed they are beholding to that sign program. Commissioner Gregory said he didn't have a problem with the proposed sign, but the landlord has to agree to it because we have a system in place. If we were to vote in favor of it, we would be creating a real problem; not just for this center but for a lot of centers. The reason we have a sign program is to avoid this. Mr. Swartz stated the landlord did GAPlanningWanine Judy\Word Files\A Minutes\2011\AR110628min.DOC Page 3 of 5 ARCHITECTURAL REW COMMISSION MINUTES June 28, 2011 sign off on this proposal, but they would have to amend the sign program. Commissioner Vuksic suggested they amend it to say that smaller signs on a case by case basis can be reviewed to see if they can be lit through the face. Commissioner Levin asked if this gets amended would it come back through ARC and Mr. Bagato said yes. ACTION: Commissioner Lambell moved and Commissioner Vuksic seconded, to continue Case SA 11-225. Motion carried 5-0-1-1, with Commissioner Touschner abstaining and Commissioner Stendell absent. 2. CASE NO: SA 11-237 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE, 71-691 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of wall signage and the addition of business name to existing monument sign; Windermere Real Estate. LOCATION: 73-993 Highway 111 ZONE: C-1 SP Mr. Swartz presented the project and stated the applicant was proposing signage on the awning, signage facing Highway 111 , and signage facing Portola. The applicant will also be placing their name on the existing monument sign. Staff is recommending approval. However, since the awning is in the city right-of-way the applicant would have to obtain an encroachment permit for the lettering to be placed on the awning. Commissioner Lambell asked what type of letters they were proposing and Mr. Swartz indicated they were halo-it, but the awning would not be illuminated. Mr. Dennis Hinkle, representative, said the lighting is internal and only lit from the back side, which gives a halo effect on the building. Commissioner Lambell stated this is a really visible corner and liked both signs on Highway 111 and Portola. She liked the awning and said it updates the building and makes it look like there is a new tenant. ACTION: Commissioner Lambell moved and Commissioner Levin seconded, to grant approval. Motion carried 4-0-1-2, with Commissioner Vuksic abstaining and Commissioners Stendell and Touschner absent. GAPlanningWanineJudy\Word FilesW Minutes\2011V1R110628min.DOC Page 4 of 5 ARCHITECTURAL RL�P"EW COMMISSION 1%W MINUTES June 28, 2011 B. Preliminary Plans: None C. Miscellaneous Items: Mr. Bagato updated the Commission on the Rosewood Hotel project and the Neon Sign ordinance. Mr. Pedro Rodriguez, Senior Code Officer updated the Commission on the surveillance of sign twirlers, balloons, open house signs, and garage sale signs. VI. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Levin moved and Commissioner Lambell seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0-0-1, with Commissioner Stendell absent. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. TONY BAGATO PRINCIPAL PLANNER GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word Files\A Minutes\201 1\AR 1 10628min.DOC Page 5 of 5