HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-10 � � �
��'•�� CITY OF PALM DESERT
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ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
• • MINUTES
April 10, 2012
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 6
Chris Van Vliet X 5 1
John Vuksic X 4 2
Karel Lambell X 6
Pam Touschner X 4 2
Allan Levin X 6
Ken Stendell X 5 1
Also Present
Lauri Aylaian, Director
Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner
Missy Wightman, Assistant Planner
Pedro Rodriquez, Senior Code Officer
Janine Judy, Recording Secretary
Cancelled meetings: 03/13/12
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 27, 2012
Action:
Commissioner Levin moved and Commissioner Lambell seconded, to
approve the March 27, 2012 meeting minutes. Motion carried 4-0-1-2,
with Commissioner Touschner abstaining and Commissioners Stendell
and Van Vliet absent.
V. CASES:
ARCHITECTURAL R�;:W COMMISSION � �,
MINUTES April 10, 2012
A. Final Drawings:
1. CASE NO: MISC 12-78
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): JOHN WESSMAN, 555 S. Sunrise
Way, Suite 200, Palm Springs, CA 92264
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of an
architecturat fa�ade enhancement, renovation of existing roof, and an
awning covered dining patio for a new restaurant and retail suite.
LOCATION: 73-520 EI Paseo
ZONE: C-1
Ms. Missy Wightman, assistant planner, presented this case for
preliminary approval and pointed out that a new packet of
information was before the Commission today submitted yesterday
by the applicant which addressed a number of staff's comments
made in the staff report. The applicant is developing a 2,600 sq. ft.
retail space on the east end that will exactly match Trio on the west
side. In the middle, they will be developing a 4,380 sq. ft.
restaurant space. She described the architectural style of the
building and presented the color board with stone and awning color
samples. The staff report stated the windows on the 2"d story were
faux windows, but they are now real windows. They will be
increasing the height of the interior space so these will be sky lights
letting light through. Below are pocket doors that slide to either side
so you will have the street face where people are almost sitting on
the sidewalk, but separated by the railing. Originally the awnings
were the type that roll out and come back up, but now they will
have fixed awnings about 5' from the face of the building. The
awnings protrude about 4'-6" into the public right-of-way so the
applicant will have to obtain an encroachment permit. Additionally,
on the first proposal they weren't addressing how far back the stone
goes on the east and west side and they are showing about 25'-6"
will return back. The applicant mentions that this measurement will
be determined in the field.
Ms. Wightman states this will be going to the City Council for
fa�ade enhancement funds so on the back side of the building
there are a number of items that the applicant will address:
unfinished painting on Trio which will be completed; exposed
electrical conduit that will be placed inside the wall; exposed HVAC
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units which will have a parapet wall surrounding them so it can't be
seen from the back parking lot. On the back side of the new retail
space, it was originally half open with a trellis area above that will
be enclosed and used as a retail storage area. The railing in the
back was "Smurf" blue and now will be painted black. There is an
exposed beam with a trellis feature they will be plastering over, but
the ends of the trellis feature will still be protruding out. In between
the trellis pop outs the openings will be plastered. Lastly, the
copper half dome on the sky light will be removed. She referred to
the roof plan and described how the entire area wraps around
almost like a second story effect, but it will only be one-story inside.
Commissioner Vuksic asked how far the stone goes back.
Ms. Wightman said it shows 25'-6" but as stated by the applicant,
this will be determined in the field because they want to ensure the
stone appears to wrap around the entire facade.
Mr. John Wessman, Developer, said if they have to run it all the
way back to the corner they will, it just depends on the sight line
studies from across the street.
Commissioner Vuksic asked if they can see the back corner from
the north side of the building.
Mr. Wessman said not from the backside because the roof comes
up. The back of the wall is back into the building about 40'. Once
they frame this, they will know how far back it goes. They will be
re-doing the kitchen as they need to, but this will be an all new
dining experience with 22' high ceilings with usable windows. He
said the roof is coming up higher for the air conditioning equipment.
The trusses will be closer to the top of the roof and totally hidden.
They will be using the EI Dorado limestone which they will white-
wash to give it an old world look.
Commissioner Levin asked about the railing and if there was patio
seating.
Ms. Wightman said the railing only comes out about 6" to 1' from
the wall. When they open all the windows, it will give them an
indoor/outdoor experience; they will just slide the tables up next to
the wrought iron railing.
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Commissioner Vuksic and the applicant discussed the cornice
detail in depth.
Commissioner Touschner said the east wall is huge and probabfy
an eyesore of the building because there is absolutely no detail
along that wall.
Mr. Wessman said there was a lot of bushes and trees that would
be remaining. He said he couldn't do anything to it because he was
right on the property line and the trees belonged to the other
property owner.
Commissioner Gregory suggested he work something out with the
other property owner to address the blank wall.
Mr. Wessman said right now he can't control it, but he will make a
sincere effort to do some landscaping there.
Commissioner Touschner said the color of the retail space was a
very light color and thought a darker color would actually give it a
little more depth and blend away a little bit.
� Mr. Wessman said he will bring back a color sample for the space
and a sample of the awning color for staff review.
Commissioner Touschner and Mr. Wessman discussed the wall
details in depth.
Commissioner Touschner asked if this will come back to the
Commission during construction documents.
Ms. Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development, said they
do not need to come back unless requested by the ARC.
Mr. Swartz stated the ARC will approve the design and then it will
go to the City Council for fa�ade enhancement funds.
The Commission and Mr. Wessman continued to discuss the walls
and the stepping parapets.
Commissioner Touschner stated the HVAC units need to be below
the parapet.
Mr. Wessman stated they would be below the parapet.
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Commissioner Vuksic and Mr. Wessman discussed the 19'-6" high
wall that goes around the tenant space on the east end of the
building. Commissioner Vuksic pointed out that the 19'-6" parapet
will return on the west side of the tenant space and will head north
all the way to the main volume and butt into it.
The Commission reviewed and discussed the size of the rear door
for the deliveries to the restaurant.
Commissioner Vuksic asked if this Commission looks at final
working drawings to make sure they follow through on everything.
Mr. Swartz said they would return for a new building. However, in
the past ARC has requested this to return and the Commissioners
can make that as a condition of approval.
ACTION:
Commissioner Touschner moved and Commissioner Levin seconded, to
grant preliminary approval subject to: 1); submitting a wall section through
the front elevation; 2) wrapping stone and extending it back on the east
and west elevations including the northwest corner if visible from any point
one block away; 3) running the east wall cap on the retail space the entire
length of the wall, if visible; 4) use a darker color for the proposed retail
space; 5) submit new color samples of retail space and awning, and 6)
submittal of final working drawings illustrating all of the above prior to
permitting. Motion carried 5-0-0-2, with Commissioners Stendell and Van
Vliet absent.
2. CASE NO: SA 12-88
APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): DANIEL ANBARTOUMIAN,
41461 Jamaica Sands Drive, Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of a
monument sign; Casablanca.
LOCATION: 41-750 '/z Colada Court
ZONE: PR-5
Mr. Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner said this was continued from
the last meeting to allow the applicant to redesign the monument
sign. The original design was a rock with stone columns. The
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Commission felt the columns didn't match anything on the property.
He said the current photos show the existing columns with the new
stone on the block.
Commissioner Touschner said she would abstain from this case since she didn't
attend the last meeting.
Mr. Swartz said the original sign was aimed towards Hovley Lane
on a huge slope and now the applicant is shifting the sign so it
would be located in between the two light fixtures shown in the
exhibit. The applicant still wants to go with the stone columns. The
stone will match what is currently there in the background instead
of the stone veneer which doesn't match anything. Staff
recommends approval of the new design. He stated the applicant
will come in with a new landscape plan with desert landscape
around the sign. However, approval of this sign is subject to final
landscape approval before building permits are issued. Eventually
Casablanca will tear out all the turf and replace with desert
landscaping on Portola and Hovley.
Commissioner Vuksic asked if the white surface was plaster or
slump block.
Mr. Swartz stated it would be stucco.
Commissioner Vuksic asked what the 3-inch piece on top of the
columns would be.
Mr. Daniel Anbartoumian, applicant, said the top was a half-inch
veneer type of brick that would match the block wall on the existing
property line. At the last meeting, there was a concern that the
posts were too high and he suggested they could go down to 8"
above grade instead of 18" as presented on the original plan.
Mr. Swartz pointed out that at the last meeting, ARC recommended
removing the columns and having the rock sit on the slope making
it look like one giant rock.
Commissioner Vuksic said if they are only going to have 8" flints
why not just have the stone nestled into the side of the hill.
Mr. Anbartoumian was concerned with the slope and with the sign
weighting close to 2,000 pounds he wanted it on a good solid
footing.
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Commissioner Vuksic said it may require footings and suggested
instead of having 8" flints, why not prepare the foundation to accept
a slab of stone.
Mr. Anbartoumian thought that would require a bigger stone. The
stone they are proposing is 4' tall and a 6' to 7' tall stone is hard to
come by. It took him almost a month and a half to find this one.
Commissioner Vuksic said if he brought the grade up, he could
lower the footings 8" so it is flush with the finished grade.
Mr. Anbartoumian said he could do that but Casablanca wanted to
see a little bit of column sticking out.
Commissioner Gregory said the detail shows it inserted into the
post, so maybe a few inches would show of the post if it was built
the same way.
Commissioner Vuksic said they may have to angle the front of the
plank instead of having it be horizontal.
Commissioner Vuksic made the motion and Commissioner Lambell
seconded.
Commissioner Gregory asked how the Commissioners felt about
the black letters as opposed to dark brown because the vernacular
seems to be more of a brown.
Commissioner Vuksic agreed that it would be a lot easier on the
eye if it were a dark brown or bronze.
Mr. Anbartoumian didn't think Casablanca would object, but he
would have to inform them of the Commission's recommendation.
Commissioner Vuksic amended his motion to include dark brown or
bronze lettering and Commissioner Lambell seconded.
Mr. Swartz reminded the Commission approval is subject to final
landscape approval before building permits are issued.
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MINUTES April 10, 2012
ACTION:
Commissioner Vuksic moved and Commissioner Lambell seconded, to
grant approval subject to: 1) posts shall not be visible; 2) sign shall be
flush with grade; 3) lettering shall be dark brown or bronze; and, 4)
landscape plan shall be approved before building permit is issued. Motion
carried 4-0-1-2, with Commissioner Touschner abstaining and
Commissioners Stendell and Van Vliet absent.
Commissioner Touschner excused herself at 1:15 p.m.
B. Preliminary Plans:
None
C. Miscellaneous Items
None
VI. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES UPDATE — Commissioner John Vuksic
None.
VII. COMMENTS
Ms. Aylaian discussed a call received from a resident concerned with the
architectural style and color of the Red Lobster. She stated that the City does
not dictate architectural style and explained the approval process. She informed
the resident that if she wanted the City to dictate an architectural style that is the
call of the policy makers. Commissioner Vuksic mentioned that the thickness of
the roof volume on the south side was not as deep as was recommend by this
Commission. Ms. Aylaian said she would have the inspectors verify the depth.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Gregory moved and Commissioner Lambell seconded to adjourn
the meeting. Motion carried 4-0-0-3, with Commissioners Stendell, Touschner
and Van Vliet absent. The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m.
r '/'
J INE JUpY
ECORDI G ECRETARY
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