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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-26 ��•�� CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION • MINUTES July 26, 2016 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 10 Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 9 1 Paul Clark X 8 2 Gene Colombini X 9 1 Allan Levin X 9 1 Michael McAuliffe X 10 Jim McIntosh X 8 2 John Vuksic X 8 2 Also Present Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Pedro Rodriguez, Code Compliance Supervisor Janine Judy, Recording Secretary Cancelled meeting:2/9/16,3/8/16,5/24/16,6/28/16 III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 10, 2016 and June 14, 2016 Action: Commissioner Van Vliet moved to approve the May 10, 2016 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Columbini and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Levin, McAuliffe, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES and Lambell abstaining. *490 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 Commissioner Columbini moved to approve the June 14, 2016 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Commissioner McAuliffe and carried by a 6-0-2 vote, with Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet voting YES and Clark and Vuksic absent. V. CASES: A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO: PP 16-76 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: ROBERT RICCIARDI, 75400 Gerald Ford Drive, Suite 115, Palm Desert, CA 92211 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of preliminary approval or denial of the architectural design of a new 5,280-square-foot warehouse building. This item was continued from the July 12, 2016, ARC meeting to allow the applicant to make architecture modifications. The applicant has made changes and will discuss the revised building design. LOCATION: 34751 Spyder Circle ZONE: S.I. Commissioner Vuksic recused himself from this project and left the conference room. Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, said this project was continued from the June 14 and July 12, 2016 meetings. He reminded the Commission that this was a preliminary approval of architectural design for a new 5,280 square foot warehouse building. At the last meeting, the Commission suggested to the applicant to add different textures to give the building more articulation. The applicant is still proposing split faced block but has also added fluted concrete block to create different textures around the building. MR. ROBERT RICCIARDI, architect, said based on the comments received from the Commissioners at the July 12, 2016 meeting he has made the band larger and added more of the fluted block to create more interest especially on the front and sides of the building. He believes he has added quite a bit to the building based on their comments. Commissioner Lambell asked if the fluted concrete stands proud of the split face, and if so, by how much? G:\PlanningUanineJudyWRC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.docx Page 2 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL RENEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 MR. RICCIARDI responded it was approximately one inch giving it a nice rough texture. Commissioner Levin asked about the three different materials on the east elevation and MR. RICCIARDI said it was glass, the frame for the glass, and two different concrete block colors. He and the Commission discussed the color of the door and MR. RICCIARDI said that it was in the back and would not be seen. Chair Van Vliet said it might be seen and MR. RICCIARDI said the door would be open most of the time. Commissioner Lambell said what encourages this Commission is to see how the vision of Palm Desert is being forecast, which is very encouraging and exciting. It's about breaking the barrier and moving outside the lines with something that invokes a reason why people want to come and spend their money in Palm Desert. She is concerned that this project comes up short of their expectations. She stated that this new submittal is certainly better than the previous one, but does not meet a higher standard. She understands that it is an industrial building and the back end may not be seen but believes there is a possibility that it will. MR. RICCIARDI said he has designed in a lot of industrial parks and is told how nice his buildings look and how good they look in the desert. He came to the desert in 1960 and was told that the City of Palm Desert wanted buildings to look like they belong in the desert. Now the City wants the architectural style of San Fernando and Los Angeles, which is not what the City was originally looking for. Buildings that reflect the original architecture are being torn down based on wanting to set a higher standard. The City wants good looking buildings, but in industrial parks the buildings need to rent for under a $1.00 per square foot, therefore, a lot of money cannot be spent on the design. This is an industrial building on a street that very few people travel or ever will see that will serve start up businesses, which will be great for the City's economy. Buildings that have been approved by this Commission, in the past, are all rented out because they look good. He understands that it is a different body of Commissioner's but feels his project meets the bar. Commissioner Clark said he drove down Spider Circle to get a sense of what was already there and thought this design was similar to the two buildings to the south and east. He felt those two buildings had some definite architecture to the fronts and that the applicant's building would probably blend into those two buildings. MR. RICCIARDI said those two buildings are 40,000 to 50,000 GAPlanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.dou Page 3 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 square foot boxes and his building is only a 5,000 square foot box. Commissioner Clark said he was impressed by the design of those two buildings and how the materials were used. Chair Van Vliet said just because the building is an industrial building and is smaller it shouldn't lack architectural design. He doesn't feel there is enough differential between the split face and the fluted since it is only one inch and the two colors look the same. MR. RICCIARDI said it won't be similar because the shadow created by the fluted block will produce a totally different texture. Chair Van Vliet pointed out that it is only one inch and MR. RICCIARDI said if it is made bigger, the cost will increase making it too expensive to build on the lot. In creating this lot, the City created the smallest industrial lot ever allowing only one driveway rather than two, making it unsalable and unbuildable. All because the City wants to see a Tajo Mahan here or something that is a lot nicer which doesn't lend itself to this lot. He has created a style, in the industrial areas, that has been in the desert for a while and many people like his designs. Commissioner McIntosh said this Commission doesn't ever rely on good examples of bad architecture. He also felt that the applicant's comments on economics were not an argument for this Commission. MR. RICCIARDI said if economics are not a good argument for this Commission, then the Commissioners don't really belong here because they don't understand that industrial buildings are a lot different than commercial buildings. If buildings are over 25,000 square feet they use tilt-up which is not affordable to the tenants, which is why concrete block is used. MR. RICCIARDI referred to his design of the Rancho Mirage fire station that also has concrete fluting. Commissioner McIntosh said it has a lot more articulation and detail than the building being proposed. MR. RICCIARDI said it is a fire station and Commissioner McIntosh asked him why he was using the building as a comparison. MR. RICCIARDI said because the buildings have the same materials. Commissioner McIntosh pointed out that the two buildings have different geometry and mass. He explained to the applicant that the Commission does not want him to spend more money on this building; it just needs a little more creativity. Commissioner McAuliffe appreciates the effort made by the applicant by responding to the Commissioner's comments from the last meeting and understands that the applicant has extensive experience. However, the Commission is asking him to use his GAPIanningWnineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.docx Page 4 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 professional design experience to elevate this project. There is an opportunity to simplify this and thinks the applicant could concentrate on the areas where the fluted block is. He appreciates that the applicant has added more fluted block to the project and said this Commission is appreciative and sensitive to financial constraints. He thinks the form of the building is not what's at stake, it's about presentation. The better this building presents itself the more rentable or salable it will be. The Commission wants this project to move forward while at the same time holding the standard that Palm Desert has established as a priority. He offered to have a sidebar with the applicant outside the context of the meeting. MR. RICCIARDI said he would be glad to talk with him but right now all he has received is rhetoric; rhetoric that doesn't tell him anything except that he hasn't met the Commission's goal. He feels the Commission's goal is indefinable and is all personal taste. Commissioner McAuliffe disagreed with that comment and said that is why this Commission is made up of professionals who are qualified by a governing body to sit on this Commission. MR. RICCIARDI said other cities are a lot easier to work with and this is the first time he has ever experienced this kind of rhetoric. Other cities tell him what needs to be done and then moves forward. With this Commission he doesn't receive a guide to go on other than he could do better. Commissioner McAuliffe said there is a fine line where they have to render their thoughts but at the same time... MR. RICCIARDI interrupted and said they were not professional thoughts. At this point, several people were talking at the same time making it difficult to understand the conversation. Mr. Swartz said there are two options. One is to continue this item and the applicant could meet with two of the Commissioners, or... MR. RICCIARDI interrupted and said, as an architect, you have to have something to go on; garbage in, garbage out. If all he gets is rhetoric, which is indefinable because it's such a high level of extraction, you can't define it. Commissioner Clark suggested meeting with staff and other Commissioners to... MR. RICCIARDI interrupted and said he has met with staff and they haven't told him whether this project is good, bad, or indifferent. Chair Van Vliet said this could either be continued to allow the applicant to improve the architecture or to deny it and the applicant could appeal it to the City Council, which may be the better direction if the applicant feels he has done the best he can with this project. MR. RICCIARDI agreed with that and said because right now it's just words. G:\PlanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.dxx Page 5 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 Commissioner McAuliffe said the fire station the applicant built in Rancho Mirage is a very fine building and asked him if the level of design quality, given that's its two different projects with two different budgets... MR. RICCIARDI interrupted and said one project had a very low budget. Commissioner McAuliffe said that is when architects go to work. MR. RICCIARDI said some architects understand budgets, but very few do. Commissioner McAuliffe said he presumed that the applicant understands the budget which is the primary challenge. As an architect you have to ask yourself how you can make this work within the constraints you are given. ACTION: Commissioner Lambell moved to deny the architectural design of a new 5,280 square foot warehouse building as presented. Commission provided architectural comments to the applicant, who was unreceptive. Motion was seconded by Commissioner McIntosh and carried by a 6-1-0-1 vote. A Roll Call vote was called: COMMISSIONERS AYES NOES ABSTAINED Clark X Colombini X Lambell X Levin X McAuliffe X McIntosh X Vuksic X Chair,Van Wet X B. Preliminary Plans: 1. CASE NO: PP/CUP 16-178 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: MARLORKAND LLC, 72960 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of preliminary approval of a 20,000 square foot building, site plan, and landscape plans; Barkingham Palace. LOCATION: 73650 Dinah Shore Drive ZONE: S.I. Commissioner Vuksic recused himself from this project and left the conference room. G\PlanningUanineJudyUARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.docx Page 6 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL RIEW COMMISSION 1400, MINUTES July 26, 2016 Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, presented plans for preliminary approval of a 20,000 square foot building for Barkingham Palace. They have been leasing their current location since about 2008 and have now purchased the vacant lot on the south side of Dinah Shore Drive. The applicant is proposing to build a 20,000 square foot pet hotel and a 2,200 square foot future veterinarian facility. Since this is zoned Commercial Industrial it does require a Conditional Use Permit and Precise Plan since it is a new building and will go before the Planning Commission. He described the plans and stated there are no architectural plans at this time for the future veterinarian facility, but the architectural plans will come back as part of the entitlements when they are ready to build. He described the plans and said the back of the building on the north side will be visible from the freeway and is 20' in total height. He passed around the materials board for the Commission's review. MR. ROB PRITCHFORD, Project Designer, went over the plans and described each elevation. MR. MIKE HOMME, Homme Construction Company, said this new building will be two times bigger than the current building with 30 more spaces than what they currently have now. The indoor play area is bigger by a third, and out back there will be a bigger and nicer area for the dogs. Commissioner McIntosh said this is a good example of design with masses that are not as articulated in some areas but articulated in smaller areas. Chair Van Vliet said there was a substantial setback on the north elevation and asked what the visibility was and Mr. Swartz said the railroad tracks were there as well as tamarisk trees, and the applicant will be adding other trees. Chair Van Wet said this building has good architecture for this industrial area. The Commission discussed the A/C equipment that needs to be down below line of sight. Commissioner McAuliffe said given the size and proportion of the building the applicants have done a very nice job with composing a building of this scale. The north elevation is very well composed. GAPlanning\JanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.docx Page 7 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 ACTION: Commissioner Lambell moved to preliminarily approve as submitted with the exclusion of the veterinarian facility. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, and Van Vliet voting YES and Vuksic abstaining. 2. CASE NO: MISC 16-203 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: LERAE BRITAIN MOELLER, P.O. Box 3775, Palm Desert, CA 92261 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of preliminary approval of residential paint color change from tan to light blue. LOCATION: 45653 Portola Avenue ZONE: R.2, S.P. Mr. Eric Ceja, Principal Planner, presented a paint color change from tan to light blue. He presented before and after photos of the house and said the property owner is trying to do some property maintenance that includes re-painting. After Code Compliance received a complaint from a neighbor regarding the new color, the applicant has now repainted the house a lighter hue of blue. The trim, posts, and the roof of the carport is white. He said staff went out to this property to confirm the new lighter color, as well as looking at other homes in the neighborhood that use colors that we traditionally don't see. Staff is recommending approval of this color. The Commission reviewed and discussed the new color. Chair Van Vliet said he drove by the home prior to the meeting and said the new color is very subtle but in the shade it is darker. MR. JOVANI BUSH, the applicant's son, said he didn't realize a permit was needed to paint the house. He explained where the light blue and white colors would be used and said this is a work in progress. Commissioner Vuksic said it is important to note that the style of this low slung home has a pretty strong horizontal line with a white eave and the beam details that are white and thinks the light blue works here. He doesn't think it would work on the home next to it GAP1anning\JanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.docx Page 8 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL RENEW COMMISSION N%W� MINUTES July 26, 2016 with the sloped tan roof and feels that the applicant's home has enough artistic merit to warrant the request. ACTION: Commissioner Lambell moved to approve paint color change as presented. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 8-0 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, and Van Vliet, and Vuksic voting YES. 3. CASE NO: PP 16-180 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: TOWER ENERGY, 1983 W. 190tn Street, Torrance, CA 90504 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of preliminary approval to demolish the existing 76 gas station and replace with a new fuel island canopy, and market building; Tower Energy. LOCATION: 73801 Highway 111 ZONE: C-1, S.P. Mr. Eric Ceja, Principal Planner, presented a proposal to demolish the existing 76 gas station and replace it with a new fuel island canopy and market building. It currently has two fuel island canopies and a main building with a small market and on the back side it has three (3) repair bays. The property has been sold to Tower Energy and the proposal is to demolish the site completely; however, they have designed around the below-ground fuel storage tanks. He presented the site plan and described the changes and stated this meets all the required setbacks from Highway 111. Staff is recommending approval. The Commission discussed the property line, the signage, and the gap between the existing building and the new building being proposed. MR. TIM ROGERS, property owner, said this is similar to the station they built in Old Town La Quinta. Mr. Ceja referred to the plans and described the project. The Commission discussed the metal trellises for the vines planned in certain areas and cautioned the applicant about the use of vines on metal trellises. GAPIanning\JanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.docx Page 9 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 Mr. Ceja said the building's architecture will be a nice upgrade from what exists there now. He mentioned that gas stations along Highway 111 are Conditional Use and will go to the Planning Commission for review and approval. The Commission and the applicant reviewed and discussed the roof detail on the north and east that will be visible from Highway 111. Commissioner McIntosh was concerned with the gap and asked why they weren't planning on building right to the property line. He felt this is an odd space and could potentially be a trash collection area. MR. DWAYNE SHULTZ, architect, said it would be tough trying to put something right up against an existing building. It could happen, but it's tough. Commissioner McIntosh said it does happen all the time and believes they won't have a problem. MR. SHULTZ said they will review this. Commissioner Vuksic asked about the metal electrical box and the applicant said it will be screened and painted to match the building. Commissioner Vuksic said that normally it is in a closet. Commissioner Colombini suggested that it go inside the janitor's room. Commissioner Vuksic referred to the mechanical equipment on the roof and recommended that it be well below the parapet. He and the applicant discussed the gutters and he asked the applicant to submit gutter details. Commissioner McAuliffe was also concerned about the gap and recommended either making the gap wider where it could be maintained or sealing it. ACTION: Commissioner McIntosh moved to preliminarily approve subject to submittal of details for the gutters and electrical service panel on the final drawings. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Colombini and carried by an 8-0 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES. C. Miscellaneous Items: None G\PIanningUanineJudyWRC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.dccx Page 10 of 11 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES July 26, 2016 VI. COMMENTS VII. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Levin moved to adjourn the Architectural Review Commission meeting at 2:00 p.m. ERIC CEJA PRINCIPAL PLANNE �) SECRETARY 4110�� JA AIJUDY/R ING S CRETARY GAPlanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\160726min.docx Page 11 of 11 Y�