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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-27 s ��•�� CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 27, 2015 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 17 Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 17 Paul Clark X 15 2 Gene Colombini X 16 1 Allan Levin X 15 2 Michael McAuliffe X 15 2 Jim McIntosh X 16 1 John Vuksic X 16 1 Also Present Tony Bagato, Acting Director, Community Development Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Eric Ceja, Associate Planner Pedro Rodriguez, Code Compliance Supervisor Janine Judy, Recording Secretary Cancelled meeting:03/10/15;08/11/15,08/25/15 III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 13, 2015 Action: Commissioner Levin moved to approve the October 13, 2015 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe and carried by a 6-0-1-1 vote, with Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES, Clark absent and Colombini abstaining. of 4 ARCHITECTURAL REV WV COMMISSION MINUTES October 27, 2015 V. CASES: A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO: MISC 15-283 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: PANDA EXPRESS, INC. 1683 Walnut Grove Avenue, Rosemead, CA 91770 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of approval for the recovering of existing awnings with a new color; Panda Express. LOCATION: 72363 Highway 111, Suite C ZONE:P.C.-(3) Mr. Eric Ceja, Associate Planner, presented a request for recovering existing awnings with a new color from blue to red for the new Panda Express located in the Desert Crossing. Staff is recommending approval. The Commission reviewed the awning sample and asked if it would be a vinyl material because they were concerned with the glare it may create. MR. RUBEN RODELA, Gabriel and Associates, said it is more of a vinyl type material, however the actual Sunbrella is fabric. He said the sample provided was for color purposes only and not the actual material. Commissioner Lambell suggested they submit an actual sample for staff's review. ACTION: Commissioner McIntosh moved to approve subject to providing staff with an actual Sunbrella awning color/material sample. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES and Clark absent. GAPIanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2015\151027min.docx Page 2 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REIV COMMISSION MINUTES October 27, 2015 2. CASE NO: MISC 15-250 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: LOREN DEGRAT, 50855 Washington Street, Suite 227, La Quinta, CA 92253 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of final approval for an exterior paint color change to black; Cranked Vapors. LOCATION: 74-214 Highway 111 ZONE: C-1, S.P. Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, presented a paint color modification for Cranked Vapors. He explained that the applicant painted his fascia black and installed an unpermitted sign. He presented photos of the fascia and the new sign. He informed the Commission that the new sign was permitted over the counter and what was being reviewed today was the black color on the fascia, which the owner was okay with. If the Commission had concerns with the sign, it could be discussed as well. ' Chair Van Vliet referred to the sign and thought the letters on the sign were too thin and suggested that the individual letters have more depth. The Commission and MR. RANDY BUCHSBAUM, sign representative, discussed the depth of the letters. The Commission reviewed the fascia color and the renderings. Commissioner Lambell was concerned with the black area painted out at the entry. MR. LOREN DEGRAT, owner, explained that the entry had already been painted by the previous store owner. Commissioner Vuksic was concerned with the black color on the fascia and felt it would be too much. He said if there was a compelling artistic statement being made it may be okay but he wasn't seeing that. Commissioner Vuksic felt this wasn't executed with any quality. He suggested that the Commission drive by the site to review the color. The Commission reviewed the signage and felt that the letters should have more relief where they are standing up to give it more of a sense of quality than just having a plain letter on a plaster surface. Commissioner Vuksic said he appreciates that the applicant wants to get this done but they were concerned with approving something that they will regret. He didn't think that r painting the entire building black is the answer. Used in the right GAPIanningUanineJudyWRC\1Minutes\2015\151027min.docx Page 3 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL RMV COMMISSION MINUTES October 27, 2015 amount black is a great color, but it has to be done in a tasteful way. He wasn't comfortable with it unless he goes out and looks at the building to understand the scale of it. Chair Van Vliet asked if the applicant could have window signage that says "Vapors" for the next couple of weeks to give the Commission time to make a site visit. Mr. Swartz said the applicant could do that but it would be limited to 25% of the window area. Commissioner McIntosh asked why the applicant went with the color black. MR. DEGRAT, explained that his logos are white so he thought an opposite color would stand out. The Commission and the applicant continued to discuss some solutions for the fascia color. Commissioner Vuksic said this Commission is getting into a real dangerous area of trying to design this for the applicant and said it's not simple enough to do that. He asked how they could get something done faster and Mr. Bagato said the Commission could appoint a couple of Commissioners to meet with the owner and staff on site to review the color. Commissioner McAuliffe said if this Commission can approve the signage could they separate the facade paint color from the motion to let the applicant move forward with the sign and solve the building colors separately. Mr. Bagato said they could, but the Commission would have to be generally okay with the black on the fascia before they reinstalled the sign because if the fascia is changed to white you would have to repaint it first before reinstalling the sign. Commissioner McIntosh felt the Commission was okay with the sign but Chair Van Wet was still concerned with the depth of the letters at only a quarter of an inch. MR. BUCHSBAUM said he will increase the depth on the letters to a half inch to one inch foam. Commissioner Lambell suggested a banner that just says "Vapors". Commissioner Vuksic said this would give the Commission a chance to make a site visit to review the color and the sign. The Commission and the applicant continued to discuss the options. Mr. Swartz said since the applicant needs the sign up now, he suggested painting the fascia back to the original building color and then put the sign back up. Then the applicant can paint the entry wall black to create an accent color. The Commission and MR. DEGRAT discussed changing the colors of the sign to accommodate the new fascia color to be reviewed by staff. GAPIanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2015\151027min.docx Page 4 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REIN COMMISSION +►` MINUTES October 27, 2015 ` ACTION: Commissioner Vuksic moved to approve black as an accent color on the wall only subject to: 1) fascia to be painted back to the original building color; and, 2) applicant to work with staff on the signage. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES and Clark absent. 3. CASE NO: MISC 15-207 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: ROTHBART DEVELOPMENT, Attn: Stanley Rothbart, 10990 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90024 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to approve a new 6,700 square foot building on the last remaining building pad (22) within the Desert Gateway Shopping Center, and a landscaping plan surrounding the building and at the southeast corner of Dinah Shore Drive and Monterey Avenue. LOCATION: 34-100 Monterey Avenue ZONE: P.C.-3 Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, presented a proposal for a new 6,700 square foot building within the Desert Gateway Shopping Center. This was reviewed by the Commission on August 12, 2014 and several recommendations were made. He mentioned that staff worked with the architect to make those changes and pointed those changes out to the Commission. Chair Van Vliet asked how deep the windows were and MR. BRIAN POLIQUIN, architect, said some of them are just a few inches. The windows will be framed out and the glass will be moved in to give it some relief. Chair Van Vliet said the south elevation is pretty visible and it doesn't look like the windows are recessed on that side. MR. POLIQUIN said the applicant was pressing on him not to recess the windows on that side. Mr. Swartz said they previously discussed with the applicant about recessing the windows a little more but the tenant and the landlord didn't want to do that. MR. POLIQUIN said after discussing this with staff, they pulled the back towers on the south elevation outward a couple of feet to give it a little more relief. He said he recessed the side windows about 4" because his client didn't want the side windows too deep. On the tower side, they 0` didn't recess everything and created a little more dimension GAPIanningUanineJudy\ARC\lMinules\2015\151027min.docx Page 5 of 8 b ARCHITECTURAL REV1V COMMISSION *90 MINUTES October 27, 2015 between parapets highs and lows to give the building a little more dimension. He explained that the tenant, Chipotle, would rather have a flat top roof than a sloped roof. So he is trying to work the building into the Chipotle style. He pointed out that this building is a bridge between the existing buildings which are a bland sand color with the typical rounded edge curves and mock mission. They tried to get the building to be a little more playful and colorful on that corner while also fitting in the tenant needs. The Commission and the architect discussed the parapets and rooftop equipment. MR. POLIQUIN said the parapets are healthy and the units will not be terribly large. They will keep the equipment on the low side. Mr. Tony Bagato, Acting Director, Community Development, pointed out that the back side of the building will be facing the street and asked if deliveries will be in the front. MR. POLIQUIN said most of the deliveries will wind up in the front because most of the time they don't go back of house. In theory they could, but there is only a small walkway in the back. Commissioner Vuksic was concerned with the architecture of this building and the lack of depth and tile that ties it into the other buildings in the center. He was worried that this building, which is pretty tall, lacks depth and will show up in real life. Commissioner McIntosh said the major concern was the characteristic of the existing buildings having more of a sloped tile roof emphasis in the overall geometry that is lacking in this building. He asked the applicant if they could incorporate more slope tile roof instead of the small offerings of the two little sloped roofs. MR. POLIQUIN said he would talk with his client. Commissioner McIntosh said this corner building will present the whole shopping center and everything else cuts the style line with the tile sloped roof. Commissioner McIntosh said he remembers reviewing the Panera Bread building and this Commission had the same sort of critique about the proportion of the relief to the size of the building and the amount of shade and shadow that you will actually see. Commissioner Vuksic said comparing the Panera building with this proposed building it doesn't have any tile roofs and is really flat on both street views. So it just doesn't seem like that's enough for this corner lot. He suggested breaking the skyline with some tile and not just a token piece; something at least as effective as the other buildings. The Commission and the applicant continued to discuss the architectural style of the center. Commissioner McIntosh said GAPIanningUanineJudyWRC\1Minutes\2015\151027min.dou Page 6 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REV+wr W COMMISSION MINUTES October 27, 2015 given the context of the existing buildings he feels this will be a big departure for no reason. Commissioner Vuksic told the architect he could creatively take those elements and incorporate the vernaculars they have there and put a different twist on it. MR. POLIQUIN said he will talk with his client. He reminded the Commission that his client wants to move away from the same old thing. ACTION: Commissioner Vuksic moved to continue Case No. MISC 15-207 subject to: 1) providing more building depth for the walls and windows; 2) incorporating some of the existing shopping center's architecture including sloping tile roofs; 3) consider redirecting the building so the back of the building isn't facing Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive; and 4) providing a revised color board. Motion was seconded by Commissioner McIntosh and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES and Clark absent. B. Preliminary Plans: None C. Miscellaneous Items: None VI. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES UPDATE — Commissioner Vuksic (10/14/15) Commissioner Vuksic reported the following from the last AIPP meeting. Some of the upcoming events at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert will include free admission into the museum, Still Life Capturing the Moment exhibition, Vino and Yinyasa (Yoga on Wednesday evenings with wine tasting), lecture series, Community Day Event (Day of the Dead) on October 28, Walk of the Skulls on October 30, Annual Meet the Galen on November 20 (theme - Big Hair), Earth Day in April, and Resolution 5K on January 9. First Weekend events will include docent tours on Fridays, unveiling of Phillip Smith's artwork on November 6, performance by Henry Wolf, and Saturday Art Adventures with families and children 12 and under. Two more sets of traffic cabinets will be painted (Fred Waring Drive and Portola Avenue, and Magnesia Falls Drive and Portola Avenue); a sub-committee will be formed to review submissions for the 2017/2018 El Paseo exhibition; one artist was added to the art registry; Westfield Palm Desert is branding the top deck of the parking structure The Deck, and the first event will be called Street; an all G:\PlanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2015\151027min.dccx Page 7 of 8 ARCHITECTURAL REVV COMMISSION 4 MINUTES October 27, 2015 valley public art meeting will take place on November 19; and the documentary film series is now being prepared. VII. COMMENTS The Commission and staff discussed Springhill by Marriott on Highway 111 and the Fairfield Inn on Technology Drive. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Upon a motion by Commissioner McIntosh, second by Commissioner Lambell, and a 7-0-1 vote, with Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES and Clark absent, the Architectural Review Commission meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m. TONY B GATO, ACTING DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY gCE JU R CORDING SECRETARY GAPIanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2015\151027min.dou Page 8 of 8