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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-10-25 'err CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 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 15 Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 14 1 Paul Clark X 12 3 Gene Colombini X 14 1 Allan Levin X 13 2 Michael McAuliffe X 15 Jim McIntosh X 13 2 John Vuksic X 13 2 Also Present Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Heather Buck, Assistant Planner Pedro Rodriguez, Code Compliance Supervisor Janine Judy, Recording Secretary Cancelled meeting:2/9/16,3/8/16,5/24/16,6/28/16, 10/11/16 III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 27, 2016 Action: Commissioner Levin moved to approve the September 27, 2016 meeting minutes. 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. rrr� ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 V. CASES: A. Final Drawings: None B. Preliminary Plans: 1. CASE NO: PP/CUP 16-194 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: MIGUEL RUIZ, 40240 Yucca Lane, Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to preliminarily approve a new three-story mixed-use building for residential and retail; Ruiz Building. LOCATION: 73690 El Paseo ZONE: CA, S.P. Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, stated this project came before the Commission on September 13, 2016, for preliminary approval of a mixed-use building on El Paseo. The applicant has made some minor architectural changes on the front and back of the building as well as art work on the east elevation. The applicant has been working with staff and the Building Department on exiting throughout the building. He stated that the balloon artwork shown on the east elevation is conceptual. They also included new detailing for the balconies and parapet walls. The Commission discussed in detail the mural on the east elevation. Mr. Ceja said it can be approved on a staff level if it is a paint color change, but if the applicant is applying for a public art program then it would have to go the Art in Public Places Commission. MR. JUAN OCHOA, architect, stated he met with the Building and Fire Departments and discovered they were not compliant with the number of units or occupants for the single staircase so they added another staircase that would solely serve the third floor. They added an elevator that would accommodate a gurney, allocated a room for the fire riser for the main electric panels, raised the parapets about a foot and a half to drain the roof properly, and increased the height to 33'. He pointed out that the higher roof will G:TlanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\161025min.docx Page 2 of 9 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 be towards the back and staggered. He stated there are offsets on the upper and lower balconies so the mass of the east wall has been diminished. At this time, the artwork is conceptual on the sides and they have provided a recess to frame the artwork or graphics that will be placed there. Commissioner Vuksic discussed the sidewalls and the recessed panels and thought the walls needed to be completed architecturally as opposed to painting big murals, with using materials and textures. MR. OCHOA said that since El Paseo places a lot of emphasis on public art, this could be an opportunity to display public art. He agreed that it could be completed architecturally but will defer that decision to his client. Mr. Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development said staff has been pushing some of these temporary concepts that might work in the short term knowing we have plans that may allow buildings to rise up next door to them. He pointed out that if this wall will be used to display art, it would have to go through the Art in Public Places Commission. Commissioner Vuksic talked about the roof plan and suggested that the screening for the mechanical equipment be one continuous enclosure. It would then become another layer of the architecture and the access panel can become a piece of the enclosure. He referred to the air conditioning chases and the potential impact on aesthetics. MR. OCHOA pointed out that by enclosing the mechanical screening they can move this to the side giving them more room in the interior. Commissioner Vuksic said the side elevations of the building have improved in the articulation of different planes and forms and said it has definitely improved. He made a couple of suggestions to simplify it and gave the architect some ideas to make it stronger. He referred to his diagram as Exhibit A and submitted it for the record. Commissioner Vuksic and the applicant discussed the base elements on the east and west elevations and eliminating the openings that will then blend into the existing building to create a strong mass at the bottom. MR. OCHOA said he will work on that and see what it looks like and bring back a revised elevation. GAPIanningUanineJudy\HRCIIMinutes\2016\161025min.dccx Page 3 of 9 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 The Commission discussed the grilled guard rails facing El Paseo. Commissioner Vuksic suggested that the City review ordinances. Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner said this is a Conditional Use Permit and Precise Plan and staff will create language to add into the project regarding the balconies. Commissioner Colombini expressed his concerns regarding the size of the two exterior electrical rooms which will hold six meters each for a total of 12 meters and didn't think the space was sufficient. MR. OCHOA feels the space is appropriate but said they wouldn't have a problem increasing the size of the rooms. The other concern Commissioner Colombini had was not having access to the entrance to the second staircase and felt the two staircases were too close together for proper exiting in the event of a fire. The last concern he had was the amount of room in the ceiling space for all the duct work, light fixtures, and lighting which only allows about 10 to 11 inches. MR. OCHOA said chases can be lowered in the ceiling and mentioned that this is how they will handle all the duct work. Commissioner McAuliffe said the rearrangement of the floor plans on the second and third floors were great improvements and thought having the bedrooms to the outside are going to make for nicer units. He asked if the units were going to have gas service to them and where would the meters be located. MR. OCHOA said he has a commercial building and doesn't have gas. Commissioner McAuliffe asked the applicant to check if ADA requirements are needed for one of the units. Commissioner McIntosh said they have put a lot of attention on the east side because of its size and proportion but now they need to add some relief detail on the west side as well. MR. OCHOA said at this point they are not proposing anything there. The Commission and the architect discussed the materials used to achieve the recess on the east elevation. Commissioner McIntosh stated that it should be more of an architectural component of the building and not just a painted mural on the side of a big blank wall. Commissioner McIntosh was glad to see that they did some code work and reshuffled the floor plans a bit but was concerned about the study in the front units not having any natural light or ventilation. MR. OCHOA confirmed that there was no natural daylight or ventilation. Commissioner McIntosh felt this may cause them problems down the road. MR. OCHOA said they could assign that space as storage or make it a part of the master bedroom closet. G:TlanningUanineJudyWRC\1Minutes\2016\161025min.docx Page 4 of 9 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 Commissioner Clark asked the architect if after talking with Building and Fire he was confident that he won't have any significant changes. MR. OCHOA said that was correct and believes they are satisfying the code requirements. The Commission and the architect once again discussed the west elevation wall and detailing that could be provided there. Commissioner McIntosh said something needs to be done on that side of the building. This Commission has seen perspectives and elevations on three sides but not on the west side. Commissioner Levin said if the applicant should decide to go with condos, they will have to do a map. Mr. Ceja mentioned to the applicant that they should think about that now because if they decide to do a condo conversion later it will be a separate process. Commissioner Levin said if each unit will have individual utility services they need to know now because the retrofit later on can be pretty complicated. The Commission discussed the materials and asked the architect if an updated materials board had been submitted. MR. OCHOA said he didn't believe that it changed from the last submittal. The Commission asked to see a sample of the veneer, the design on the steel, planters, materials for the balloons, and stone and metal materials. The Commission had a lengthy discussion regarding the art or architectural elements that may be placed on the east and west walls and the materials that will be used. Mr. Stendell wanted to be clear that if this is defined as art, it's not going to come back to this Commission; it will go to the Art in Public Places Commission. He said rather than looking at the wall as art they should look it as an architectural component of the building. The architect said they are trying to be cost efficient to address the Commission's concerns and will work with staff. Commissioner Vuksic said he realizes that the applicant wants to get this moving however, since this is new territory for the City this Commission wants to make careful decisions. G\PIanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minute5\2016\161025min.docx Page 5 of 9 _ ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 ACTION: Commissioner Vuksic moved to preliminarily approve subject to: 1) the mechanical enclosure shall be completed as a 4-sided element; 2) side walls shall be articulated as described on diagram Exhibit A; and 3) submittal of the east and west side wall design and an updated materials board including stone sample shall be reviewed and approved by staff. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Clark and carried by a 7-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES and McIntosh voting NO. Commissioner McAuliffe left at 1:30 p.m. 2. CASE NO: PP 16-147 APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: JARED THE GALLERIA OF JEWELRY, C/O Jeffrey De Zort, CESO, Inc. 395 Springside Drive, Suite 202, Akron, OH 44333 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration of preliminarily approving a request to demolish an existing restaurant and construct a 4,430 square foot building; Jared Jewelers. LOCATION: 72-950 Highway 111 ZONE: C-1, S.P. Ms. Heather Buck, Assistant Planner, stated this project to construct a 4,430 square foot building for Jared Jewelers came before the Commission on September 13, 2016 for preliminary approval. Taking into consideration the Commission's comments, the applicant has made a few revisions that staff has reviewed. The applicant looked at the different styles on El Paseo and other areas in the shopping district and tried to incorporate those styles and materials in the style for their building. The new design is more modern and incorporates stone rather than brick which is more architecturally responsive to the desert. The applicant is putting together a building that is completely unique as far Jared Jewelers is concerned as they do not have any other building like this nationally. She presented a materials board as well as previous designs. Commissioner Lambell and the applicants reviewed and discussed the storefront materials. MR. MARK LEVINE, Vice President, FRCH Design, said it was clear storefront with bronze anodized frames facing Highway 111. G:\PlanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\161025min.docx Page 6 of 9 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 The Commission reviewed the site plan and Chair Van Vliet and the architect discussed the front elevation. MR. LEVINE said the front elevation would be bumped out. MR. JEFFREY De ZORT, Civil Engineer, CESO, said it would be more like pilasters; bumped out and going straight across to the right and left. Chair Van Vliet asked what the offset was between the veneer and stucco on the lower wainscoting that appear to be flush. MR. DeZORT said it would be about 4" to 6" and not flush. Chair Van Vliet stated that the elevations needed a lot of work. Chair Van Vliet asked where the HVAC equipment would be located. MR. DeZORT said it was all on the roof and completely screened by the 3' to 4' high parapet. Chair Van Vliet felt this would not give them enough room to screen the units. MR. DeZORT said they will set the height of the roof to conceal the units. Chair Van Vliet told the applicant to make sure that the equipment doesn't get higher than the top of the parapets. Commissioner McIntosh asked about the big block where the sign is located above the glass element and how high the glass will go. MR. LEVINE said 19' on the front and said they could bring the block down on the sides of the vestibule to match the front so the entry mass will engage the main building mass. After reviewing and discussing the front elevation, Commissioner McIntosh asked Mr. Levine if he has designed much here in the desert. MR. LEVINE said he is in Los Angeles and has done a little bit of designing in the desert. Commissioner Lambell asked Mr. Levine if he realized that the south facing glass will cook in the direct sun and MR. LEVINE said yes. Commissioner McIntosh told him that this design is not representative of desert architecture and feels that they are designing a big problem with 20' of glass facing south with absolutely no protection. He and the applicant discussed the brows on the front and if they were intended to shade. MR. LEVINE said they were extended canopies. Commissioner McIntosh asked if the four panels of fixed glass were recessed into the wall or flush and MR. LEVINE said they would be flush. Commissioner McIntosh said another significant feature they like to see here in the desert is recessing the glass a little bit so you are punching the mass and not just having this flat, huge plane of stucco with some windows that are flush and brows that are so high they aren't really shading anything. He pointed out that these are some of the things that define desert architecture that will also address issues with the desert climate as well. G\PIanningUanineJudyWRC\1Minutes\2016\161025min.docx Page 7 of 9 *00 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 MR. LEVINE explained that some of these windows are just display. Commissioner McIntosh said he's trying to define desert architecture because applicants submit plans that don't represent Palm Desert. Desert architecture is derived from our environment and how the building forms sort of evolve to protect south exposure. MR. LEVINE said it is a controlled vestibule and understands there will be a heat gain, but it is a small space that is controlled from the interior. It is proposed as an architectural element and is a clear departure from what they've done before. Commissioner McIntosh said he is just trying to give the applicants some hints on what defines desert architecture. The Commission continued to discuss the front elevation and the definition of desert architecture and climate. Commissioner Vuksic said things were touched on that were good as far as helping to convey what desert contemporary architecture is. The last time this was here he made a comment that this building was uninspiring and would say the same thing today. Just because the style has changed it still looks uninspired. He was glad that Commissioner McIntosh said he didn't want to give them a list of things to do because he feels that it is dangerous at this point to engage in a critique because it's going to become a grinding process. He thinks this design needs to be done in a more skillful way than what has been presented. Commissioner Levin suggested when they return with the next submittal to update their site plan so that it appropriately reflects the footprint of the building as well as the consistency in the architectural elevations. Commissioner Vuksic said for a building of this mass, height and size there needs to be more going on with the materials than what has been presented. It would take a really strong architectural design to pull off that simple of materials palette on a building of this size. Commissioner McIntosh said a 4' wainscot of cultured stone going around the base of the building isn't inspiring. Commissioner Vuksic said this design needs more skillful articulation and architectural design. He suggested driving along El Paseo and Highway 111 and look at the good examples of desert design to justify what they are doing. MR. DeZORT said there is some attention to the fact that this is a national brand so there is some consistency that they obviously need and want in a store and their brand and image they present. Do they want to be here and reflect what is appropriate in the community; absolutely. However, there is going to be a little bit of play back and forth in that respect. G\P1anning\JanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\161025min.docx Page 8 of 9 . V ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2016 ACTION: Commissioner Clark moved to continue project PP 16-147 subject to building's architectural design being more skillfully articulated and addressing the desert's unique climate. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-0-1 vote, with Clark, Colombini, Lambell, Levin, McIntosh, Van Vliet and Vuksic voting YES and McAuliffe absent. Commissioner Lambell left at 2:00 p.m. C. Miscellaneous Items: None VI. COMMENTS Mr. Ceja said due to Palm Desert residents expressing concerns with vacancies along El Paseo, the City has decided to undergo a temporary exhibition along the El Paseo corridor to bring interest back to El Paseo. This would be similar to what we did for San Pablo Avenue; possibly a road diet demonstration for a month or two and parklets that are actually built out from the sidewalk for restaurant seating and dining. Staff will look at the types of programs that can be done and developed over the next year, possibly as soon as next season and done in such a way that matches El Paseo's standard of quality. VII. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Levin moved to adjourn the Architectural Review Commission meeting at 2:10 p.m. ERIC CEJA PRINCIPAL P NNER SECRETARY A E JU RDIN SECRETARY G:\PlanningUanineJudy\ARC\1Minutes\2016\161025min.docx Page 9 of 9 NOW