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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-26 r *MONO, ti..rrr CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION • MINUTES June 26, 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 10 1 Chris Van Vliet X 10 1 John Vuksic X 9 2 Karel Lambell X 11 Pam Touschner X 8 3 Allan Levin X 11 Ken Stendell X 10 1 Paul Clark X 3 Gene Colombini X 3 Also Present Tony Bagato, Principal Planner Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner Missy Wightman, Assistant Planner Pedro Rodriquez, Senior Code Officer Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Christina Canales, Assistant Engineer Janine Judy, Recording Secretary Cancelled meetings: 03/13/12 111. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 12, 2012 Action: Commissioner Levin moved to approve the June 12, 2012 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Clark and carried by a 7-0-1-1 vote with Commissioner Touschner abstaining and Commissioner Gregory absent. ARCHITECTURAL REIV COMMISSION MINUTES `.r June 26, 2012 V. CASES: A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO: MISC 12-103 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): MARCO ANTONIO GUTIERREZ, 74-300 Goleta Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of a wall setback exception LOCATION: 74-300 Goleta Avenue ZONE: RA-S.P. Ms. Missy Wightman, Assistant Planner, stated this wall setback exception has been previously submitted to ARC two other times. The applicant originally came to ARC requesting a 6' high wall located 7' away from the face of the curb. Typically staff requires 6' walls located 20' back from the face of the curb so they were asking for an exception. In discussion with staff, it was recommended the applicant lower the height of the wall and add wrought iron so that it is not a solid wall 7' away from the face of the curb. The applicant has returned with a proposal to build a wall 2' high block wall with 2'-6" of wrought iron above painted brown with 5' columns in between. Since they are asking for an exception to the code, staff recommended removing the fences that are not in compliance with the code today; the chain link fence with the slats and a wood fence on both sides of the property. She pointed out several fences in this neighborhood that were closer to the road and said this happens because some of the homes may have been built with the Riverside County codes or because City codes have changed over time. She came to her recommendation of 4'-6" on this wall because solid block walls below with wrought iron above are typical on this street and are about 4'-6" in height. Ms. Wightman stated when an exception is requested, it is required to submit landscape plans adjacent to the curb. The Landscape Specialist made some comments on the landscape plans and the corrections have been completed, but the applicant still needs to submit an irrigation plan to landscape for final approval. If this is approved today, that is one condition the applicant has to fulfill. Staff is recommending approval. GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 2 of 12 f ARCHITECTURAL RE' U COMMISSION N%.W MINUTES June 26, 2012 Commissioner Vuksic asked why the exception was being proposed. Ms. Wightman stated Public Works recommended that the applicant keep it out of the right-of-way and the homeowner is not requesting anything different from his neighbors. Staff is asking him to upgrade the property with a landscape plan and remove the unpermitted fencing along the sides. She also pointed out that a lot of times, staff offers exceptions if there are trees or full grown landscaping in the way. The applicant does have two full grown trees in the front yard and if the wall was moved back further, it would impact the tree root system and eventually the tree would die according to the landscape staff. Commissioner Colombini wondered how the wrought iron would be mounted to the top of the block wall and was concerned with how it would look two to three years from now. He asked how it was mounted to the block wall. Ms. Wightman said this Commission could condition that the company doing the drawings provide a detail showing the connection of the wrought iron to the block wall and it could be reviewed at staff level. The Commission reviewed and discussed both side yard gates and walls on the sides of the house. The wood fence goes all the way back to the front side of the house with a gate that goes across the yard. It is visible from the public-right-of way so staff asked the applicant to return both side walls so that they will be even with the front fagade of the house. The Commission suggested that both side yard gates and walls be replaced to match the new wall and gate design. The Commission discussed the column height and Ms. Wightman said for the first 15' from the face of curb they are 4'-6" in height and then beyond that it is 5'. The Commission suggested the first 10' of side walls be a combination of block wall and wrought iron to match the front yard. Commissioner Touschner was concerned that the pedestrian gate did not appear to meet handicap requirements. GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626m1n.doc Page 3 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL REIN COMMISSION MINUTES June 26, 2012 Mr. Tony Bagato, Principal Planner, said the Commission could condition the approval with a 3' wide gate in addition to framing. ACTION: Commissioner Clark moved to approve subject to: 1) both side yard gates/wall shall be replaced to match new wall and gate design; 2) the first 10' of side walls shall be a combination of block wall and wrought iron to match front yard; 3) submit detail of how wrought iron will be attached to wall; 4) pedestrian gate shall have a 3' clearance; 5) clarify whether west yard gate is sliding or opening in two panel sections; and 6) plans shall be reviewed and approved by Staff. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Colombini and carried by an 8-0-0-1, with Commissioner Gregory absent. 2. CASE NO: SA 12-199 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): PACIFIC PREMIER BANK, 73- 745 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval to change the material and color, and add new company signage to three existing awnings; Pacific Premier Bank. LOCATION: 73-745 El Paseo ZONE: C-1, S.P. Mr. Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner, presented the project and summarized the staff report. The only signage at this location is three existing awnings. The reason this request is being presented to the Commission is because Section 25.68.080 states that all awnings shall be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Review Commission and since the awnings are changing, the signage is part of it. On Awning #1 the color and material is changing and staff recommends approval. Awning #2 is located over the ATM and the applicant is proposing signage both in the center of the sign facing the parking lot and on the sides. To avoid clutter, staff recommended that the applicant either choose signage in the front or on the sides, and the applicant prefers signage on the sides. In conversation with the applicant, the applicant is completely removing awning #3 over the window. The proposed awnings are the same size and location as the existing awning. Staff is recommending approval of Awning #1 and #2. GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 4 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL RE- V COMMISSION MINUTES June 26, 2012 The Commission reviewed and discussed the color and location of awning signage. ACTION: Commissioner Lambell moved to approve Awning #1. Awning #2 shall only have signage on the sides; and removal of Awning #3. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Touschner and carried by an 8-0-0-1 vote with Commissioner Gregory absent. 3. CASE NO: MISC 12-203 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): EL PASEO PREMIERE CENTRE, 73-655 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of a color change; El Paseo Premiere Centre. LOCATION: 73-655 El Paseo ZONE: C-1, S.P. Commissioner Vuksic abstained from this item and stepped out of the conference room. Mr. Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner, said the El Paseo Premier Centre recently purchased a few buildings and are proposing to paint this section a white color similar to the Daily Grill and Ralph Lauren buildings. He presented color swatches of the proposed colors and photos of the existing buildings. Staff's main concern was that it was such a large building and may be too white. He stated as new tenants come in or wants to add an awning the awning does not have to be the same color. The applicant is also proposing to add landscape in front. The Commission reviewed the photos and the selected colors. Commissioner Touschner thought it was too much white and appreciated that over time the signage will change to add some character to it, but she was wondering if the rendering is making it look too white. MR. DAVID FLETCHER, Chartwell Properties, said everything would be white. He said this has a timeless and classic feel that is not Old World but is not ultra modern either. They have had GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 5 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL RE%WodV COMMISSION MINUTES June 26, 2012 success with the Daily Grill and Ralph Lauren buildings, which are more massive than this one and the storefronts and awnings break it up and sets it off well. The Commission reviewed and discussed the columns, lighting, and awnings. MR. FLETCHER pointed that most of their tenants want awnings even though they are not required on this side of the street for sun control. Commissioner Lambell was concerned that there are only two black awnings and all the rest of the stores have white. She wondered what breaks it up and draws your eye to it rather than it just going away as a white building. MR. FLETCHER said they want the building to go away classically and they want the storefront and the merchandise to stand out. They have found in high end retail that stores want their merchandise to be the focus. Commissioner Touschner was concerned that white really shows all the flaws of the architecture. Not necessarily the stuff in the middle, but the stuff at the end because it is kind of dated. MR. FLETCHER said this is a band-aid for them because they are not in a position yet to upgrade this building. Commissioner Touschner appreciated Mr. Fletcher's comment that this is a band-aid because she feels that it is. She encouraged him that as awnings go up they are not all the same. Commissioner Lambell said she is having trouble with all the white. She knows they have been wildly successful at the end of this street. Daily Grill stands alone almost because the other buildings to the west have a personality to them. There are different things happening along the way, especially with Ralph Lauren and CPK across the street and they have a real difference there. She said she is not seeing the opportunity happening here. MR. FLETCHER said the Ralph Lauren building is white all the way across and the thing that breaks up that building are the awnings. GAPlanning\JanineJudy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 6 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL REV COMMISSION MINUTES June 26, 2012 Commissioner Lambell understands that it is all white, but she would prefer to see more interest. She is sure the tenants will be very happy to be able to do the windows and to attract the attention that way. She commented that she is attracted to a building because it speaks to her architecturally, not what is in the window. Commissioner Stendell asked Mr. Fletcher when a tenant comes in and wants to change the color of the building, will he hold pat on the color of the building and allow them just to do their storefront. MR. FLETCHER said at the moment his answer is yes unless they came in with something phenomenal that made sense. He can see this building breaking up, but not in its current format. ACTION: Commissioner Colombini moved to approve design as presented. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Stendell and carried by a 6-1-1-1, with Commissioner Lambell voting NO, Commissioner Vuksic abstaining, and Commissioner Gregory absent. 4. CASE NO: MISC 12-130 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): DALE GARDON DESIGN, 20885 North 907 Place Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Approval of awning revisions, new parking lot design, landscape design, and flatwork; The Shops on El Paseo. LOCATION: 73-130 El Paseo ZONE: C-1, S.P. Commissioner Vuksic abstained from this item and remained outside the conference room. Part 1: Mr. Tony Bagato, Principal Planner, said this was an approval of a parking lot design, landscape design, and flatwork. This was previously presented to the Commission for review of the building along with the black and white striped awnings. The building design was approved, but not the awnings. This is Phase 2 of a three phase project for this center. GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 7 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL REIV COMMISSION MINUTES June 26, 2012 Mr. Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner, passed around comments made by the Landscape Specialist and said any approval would be subject to these comments. The Commission would be reviewing the awnings and landscape out in front on El Paseo. MR. DAVID DAVIS, Architect, said the last time this project was presented was for the architecture of the building and the floor plan. They were approved with one exception; the awning pattern. They were approved for the awning size, location, and the color of solid blacks and black and whites and what was left over was how much of the black and white strip would be allowed on the front of the buildings along El Paseo. He presented a slide presentation and explained that this building is somewhat burdened with not so great architecture and not so great bones at the moment. This is an enhancement of the property, but is not a complete tear down and rebuild. He presented plans for the revised preferred option of the awning pattern. At the previous meeting, the Commission gave them the direction to come back and reduce the amount of striped awnings. As a character for the awnings, they think it looks terrific and there is a balance of 60/40 maybe 55/45 on the black and black and white stripes. They are trying to go with more black than striped, but they want to have some balance and rhythm on the front of the building. They are requesting approval of the revised preferred option. The Commission reviewed the width of the strips and discussed with the applicant the 50/50 equal size stripe and made a motion to approve. Part 2: Mr. Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner, stated the next phase of this project would be approval of the trees and flatwork in the rear of the store. One of the comments from the Landscape Specialist is that currently there are six palm trees in front on El Paseo and staff is recommending six. The applicant is proposing eight, but has now submitted a revision to that number. He went through the comments from the Landscape Department and stated that the applicant agrees to a landscape agreement that way if anything dies, the applicant would have to replace it. GAPlanningWanine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 8 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL RE' JV COMMISSION s.... MINUTES June 26, 2012 Ms. Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist, stated this agreement pertains to the plant material choices, the spacing, over-planting, and the condition of the landscape from the curb line down towards El Paseo. The comments pertain strictly to their area because of the type of material they are proposing to which staff disagrees because of the type of material and location. The landscape staff wants a landscape agreement so that should those plants die there is a mechanism in place to make sure the applicant replaces the dead plants. MR. DAVID DAVIS, Architect, described the project and their plans for the landscape design. He stated they are proposing placement of 10 fan palm trees; five on each side of the via with 25' spacing. They are trying to create some unity between this property and the property to the west and are using the paving material and the landscape to provide that unity. He described the streetscape paving and the tile that would be used on the property and the lighting that would be placed around the property and on the building. Since they were here last, there has been a lot of discussion between the landscape design staff and the public works staff. There have been quite a few revisions back and forth because there is a lot of debate going on between what the landscape department thinks is appropriate and what the applicant feels is the right decision to be made on this site. The landscape plan has been updated to indicate where they have moved the ramp to put the lawn close to the back patio and the addition of landscape around the patio to give it a softer, plusher colorful spot between the parking lot and a potential tenant's patio in the back area. The Commission discussed the comments made by the landscape department and reviewed the number of palm trees. MR. DAVID FLETCHER, Chartwell Properties, stated they redid the palms both in front of the Escada building and the Ralph Lauren building, as well as other buildings along El Paseo and they are trying to tie this property into the other buildings. He said the more shade they have on that side of the street the better, since that is the sunny side of the street. In reference to the landscape planters, he has reviewed the comments made by the Landscape Specialist. He explained they were able to deal with all the ADA issues except for two or three areas where they have some elongated planters to pick up the grade difference. GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word Files\A Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 9 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL RE N COMMISSION y MINUTES June 26, 2012 Commissioner Lambell expressed to the applicant that the awnings were superb. She didn't have any concerns and felt they didn't need to choke down the sidewalk anymore than they should and if they've relocated palm trees in the past and had approval then that is a precedent they don't have to deal with. Mr. Bagato said the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) is now in charge of reviewing the landscape design. The issues that staff is having are more design issues and ARC has the ultimate authority of the landscaping design. If the Commission feels there is design merit to what they are proposing, staff will work with the applicant. However, if things don't follow through as planned, there will be a Landscape Agreement to make them change it. Commissioner Levin asked Ms. Hollinger about her comments regarding the pebbles in the planters. Ms. Hollinger said there was a conflict in the landscape plans whether they actually wanted cobble or pebble. If they are using pebble, it has to stay contained and cannot be near a sidewalk because of public safety issues with it getting kicked out by pedestrians. Commissioner Touschner agreed with the comment that there is no reason to choke it and making it tight. She questioned the inconsistency with the planter beds where some were longer. MR. DAVIS explained the grade and ADA issues and said instead of having a ramp and lowering the floor level in the building, they will lift the pavement. On the plan, the planters are double the ,width because they are trying to get more planting at the front where the via is to create an area with more color. Commissioner Touschner liked the idea of more palm trees. Mr. Swartz indicated the additional palm trees would be subject to the applicant meeting Coachella Valley Water District's water calculations. Commissioner Van Vliet asked what the usage of the grass area in the rear would be. MR. DAVIS said the north side of this property feels like it is a back of house service and throw away zone. They are trying to get a GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 10 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL RE,,% ; COMMISSION MINUTES June 26, 2012 tenant and patio space that is good and the grass would add a level of lushness. They want to have the ability to create this micro- climate back there that is comfortable and get away from the back of house service feeling. ACTION: Part 1: Commissioner Lambell moved to approve revised awning design as presented. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet and carried by a 7-0-1-1 vote, with Commissioner Vuksic abstaining and Commissioner Gregory absent. Part 2: Commissioner Lambell moved to approve subject to: 1) awning design revisions; 2) placement of 10 fan palm trees; five on each side of via with 25' spacing; 3) specify cobble vs. pebble on landscape plan; 4) specify plant choice in planters; 5) size of planters shall be determined by the Landscape Specialist; and 5) Landscape Maintenance Agreement shall be included as a part of the project. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-0-1-1 vote, with Commissioner Vuksic abstaining and Commissioner Gregory absent. B. Preliminary Plans: None C. Miscellaneous Items: None V1. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES UPDATE — Commissioner John Vuksic Nothing to report at this time. Next meeting will be July 18, 2012 VII. COMMENTS The Commission discussed the electrical panel at Red Lobster and suggested that trees and shrubs be used to screen it. The Commission asked Mr. Bagato to convey to the contractor that the Architectural Review Commission is upset that this was not on the drawings when approved. They also discussed the removal of the solar panels on the Berger Foundation and the conversion of cottages to medical offices on the corner of San Pablo and De Anza. GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word FilesW Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 11 of 12 ARCHITECTURAL REV COMMISSION MINUTES I June 26, 2012 VIII. ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion by Commissioner Stendell, second by Commissioner Lambell, and an 8-0-0-1 vote, with Commissioner Gregory absent, the Architectural Review Commission the meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m. �'Wtp J' EJUbY RDING SECRETARY GAPlanning\Janine Judy\Word Files\N Minutes\2012\120626min.doc Page 12 of 12