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Home My WebLink About2014-02-25 �1'�� CITY OF PALM DESERT � � ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES February 25, 2014 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 Chris Van Vliet, Chair X 4 Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 3 1 Paul Clark X 4 Gene Colombini X 4 Allan Levin X 4 Michael McAuliffe X 4 Jim Mclntosh X 4 John Vuksic X 4 Also Present Lauri Aylaian, Director, Community Development Tony Bagato, Principal Planner Eric Ceja, Associate Planner Pedro Rodriguez, Code Compliance Supervisor Janine Judy, Recording Secretary III. MISC Chair Chris Van Vliet and Commissioner Karel Lambell were reappointed to a four-year term; January 14, 2014 to December 31, 2017. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 11, 2014 ACTION: Commissioner McAuliffe moved to approve the February 11, 2014 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, Mclntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES, and Lambell absent. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES February 25, 2014 VI. CASES: A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO: SA 14-52 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: SPORTS AUTHORITY, 11710 Mt. Cambridge Ct., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Final approval of a new building sign with reverse channel letters; Sports Authority. LOCATION: 72-517 Highway 111 ZONE: P.C.-(3) Mr. Eric Ceja, Associate Planner, said this is a sign application for the existing Sports Authority at Desert Crossings. They have an existing 75 square foot red-faced sign that they are proposing to remove and replace with a 112 square foot white-faced sign. Per the Desert Crossings sign program, any sign over 75 square feet requires the approval of the Architectural Review Commission (ARC). The building fascia was repainted about five years ago so the red sign kind of blends into the building. Staff is in favor of replacing the sign face to white and increasing the size of the sign as adjacent tenants like Marshall's and Bed, Bath, and Beyond all have signs over 100 square feet. However, when staff looked at the sign graphic the size seems squeezed into that space therefore; staff is not recommending approval for this sign face based on that. The Commission discussed the graphic and the height of the existing sign. Mr. Ceja said currently "Sports" is at 3' and "Authority" is at 1'-8". The applicant is proposing to increase "Sports" to 3'-8" and "Authority" to 2'. The Commission also discussed the dimensions of the building fascia and how the sign relates to it. Commissioner Vuksic said his first impression was that it looked a little too big. He understands they want it bigger, but it is a little over the top. MR. KEITH FANNING, Sports Authority Representative, pointed to one of the drawings that was a street view and said you can't even tell there is a store there because the sign blends into the terracotta color. Their proposal is for white lettering on the sign so it will have a little pop from the street like the signs for TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Best Buy. Commissioner Clark said the signs for Marshall's and Bed, Bath, and Beyond work well in the area even though they are large signs and they work with the colors around it. Mr. Bagato said even though 8" letters don't seem that big, the font style of"Sports Authority" seems much larger than some of the other signs. Commissioner Clark asked if there was a proposal for an acceptable size sign. Mr. Ceja said he offered the applicant two options; one option would be to reface the sign and staff G:\Planning\JanineJudyWRC\1Minutes\2014\140225min.docx Page 2 of 5 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES February 25, 2014 could approve over the counter, the second option was for a larger sign up to 100 square feet that would need ARCs approval. Staff feels that at 111 square feet it does look really tight, but thought if they could reduce the letter height a couple more inches then it would fit better in that space. The Commission offered the representative some direction and said iYs the relationship of the size of the sign to the space available, as well as the overall colors and the environment that the sign is in. One option would be to reduce it a bit so it doesn't look quite so overpowering on that surface. ACTION: Commissioner Vuksic moved to deny as proposed. Motion was seconded by Levin and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Levin, McAuliffe, Mclntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES, and Lambell absent. B. Preliminary Plans: 1. CASE NO: PP 13-421 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: TOMA STOIANOVICI, 40-462 Corte Placitas, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of landscape and architectural design for a new duplex. LOCATION: 45-855 Portola Avenue ZONE: R-2, SP Mr. Eric Ceja, Associate Planner, said this is the third review for the proposed duplex on Portola Avenue. The applicant has provided new renderings and a new plan set to match the drawings. Staff feels that the new plans reflect previous comments made by the Commission for enhanced design and to better match the architecture in the area. Staff is in favor of approving this request and allowing the project to move forward to the Planning Commission. The Commission and the applicant discussed the surrounds on the side and back windows, the pop-outs on the side column elevations, and the soffit over the garage doors. ACTION: Commissioner Clark moved to preliminary approve subject to: 1)final drawings to reflect 4" surrounds on rear and back windows; 2) show pop-out on side column elevations on final drawings; and 3) soffit over the garage doors to be straight instead of arched. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Colombini and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Levin, McAuliffe, Mclntosh, Van Vliet, and Vuksic voting YES, Lambell absent. G:\Planning\JanineJudy�ARC\1Minutes\2014\140225min.docx Page 3 of 5 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES February 25, 2014 3. CASE NO: MISC 14-44 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: KEN STEMMER, 74-478 Highway 111 Suite 322, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Preliminary approval of a height exception. LOCATION: 44-545 Santa Margarita Avenue ZONE: R-1 Mr. Eric Ceja, Associate Planner, said this request is for an 18' roof height for a home proposed on a vacant lot. The proposal is to build above the 15' with varying roof heights; 16'-8" and 18'. He presented a slide presentation showing the proposed roof heights and the actual distance that the 18' height will be from both the surrounding street and properties. Staff notified the surrounding properties for this proposed home and a letter was received in opposition from a neighbor across from the property stating that their views could potentially be impacted with the 18' roof height. Staff feels that the roof height above the 15' is sufficiently away from the public road way and recommends approval. The Commission discussed the height and feels that it will be a non-issue since it is so far back. They reviewed two other homes located near this property with a similar floor plan. Commissioner Clark said the neighborhood has a lot of older homes that have flat roofs and he can see where some people might be concerned with height issues, but he also saw a lot of hipped roofs that were of more recent construction. Mr. Tony Bagato, Principal Planner said it is more typical now days to have 18' roof heights. Staff studied the impact on property lines and felt there wouldn't be any impacts on the adjacent properties. ACTION: Commissioner Levin moved to preliminary approve. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Vuksic and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Levin, McAuliffe, Mclntosh, Van Vliet, and Vuksic voting YES, and Lambell absent. C. Miscellaneous Items: None G:\Planning\JanineJudyWRCl1Minutes\2014\140225min.docx Page 4 of 5 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES February 25, 2014 VII ART IN PUBLIC PLACES UPDATE —Commissioner John Vuksic Commissioner Vuksic reported on the recent Art in Public Places meeting (AIPP). The request to paint a traffic box on Highway 111 and EI Paseo was denied because the City is planning on undergrounding some of the utilities in that area. The AIPP Commission is in the process of choosing a new art piece for the EI Paseo median due to the sale of one of the sculptures. The sculpture called "Happy Swinging" at the YMCA was recently offered to the City as a donation. Unfortunately it was denied because the repair to the sculpture would be too expensive. The exhibit, Ancestra/ Recall... is on display in the Palm Desert Community Gallery until April 17, 2014. The 2014 Palm Desert Public A�t Documentary Film Series continues with two films remaining; March 20 and April 17. The metal sculpture on Dinah Shore Drive and Monterey Avenue, damaged after a car accident, is being repaired and will be replaced soon. VIII COMMENTS The Commission discussed the proposed hotel on Larkspur. IX ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion by Commissioner Clark, second by Commissioner Levin, and a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Levin, McAuliffe, Mclntosh, Vuksic, and Van Vliet voting YES and Lambell absent, the Architectural Review Commission meeting was adjourned at 1:25 p.m. . TONY BAGATO, P INCIPAL PLANNER SECRETARY � A JUDY E O DING SECRETARY G:\Planning\JanineJudyWRCllMinutes\2014\140225min.docx Page 5 of 5