HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-09 CITY OF PALM DESERT
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES
JANUARY 9, 2018
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m.
11. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Current Meeting Year to Date
Present Absent Present Absent
Chris Van Vliet, Chair X 1
Karel Lambell, Vice Chair X 1
Doug Brewer X 1
Allan Levin X 1
Michael McAuliffe X 1
Jim McIntosh X 1
John Vuksic X 1
Also Present
Ryan Stendell, Director, Community Development
Eric Ceja, Principal Planner •
Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner
Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner
Pedro Rodriguez, Supervisor Code Compliance
Ron Moreno', Sr. Engineer/City Surveyor
Janine Judy, Recording Secretary
Cancelled meetings:
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 28, 2017
Action:
Commissioner Lambell moved to approve the November 28, 2017 meeting
minutes. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-
0 vote, with Brewer, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Van Vliet, and
Vuksic voting YES.
ARCHITECTURAL REV,v-.✓ COMMISSION
MINUTES January 9, 2018
V. CASES:
A. Final Drawings:
1. CASE NO: MISC 17-0004
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: BUFFALO WILD WINGS, c/o
Carmen Conley, 5500 Wayzata Blvd. #1600, Minneapolis, MN 55416
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve a fagade color change; Buffalo Wild Wings.
LOCATION: 72920 Highway 111
ZONE: P.C.-(3), S.P.
Mr. Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner, presented a proposal to modify
the color of the fagade for Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 111 and
passed around the color samples. He presented photos of the
building and pointed out the areas where the new colors will be
applied. He said signage was approved by staff and is not a part of
this approval.
MR. RYAN MILLER, District Manager 'for Buffalo Wild Wings,
explained that the color scheme and branding changed years ago
and the proposed fagade recolor is to reflect these changes. He
added that Buffalo Wild Wings desired to paint the building gray, and
asked if the Commission would review it at this time. Commissioner
Lambell said the Commission would have to review a complete color
scheme to include the gray color since the one being presented only
included the yellow that is being proposed. Chair Van Vliet said gray
would be a huge color change. MR. MILLER pointed out the areas
where the gray and yellow will be applied. The Commission reviewed
and discussed the locations.
Commissioner McIntosh was confused that the applicant provided
renderings only showing the change to yellow and recommended
that the applicant submit a full color presentation to see if all colors
would work together as a whole. He said he was in favor of the
.yellow but would like to see the whole composition of materials; the
yellow, gray, tile, and brick.
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design is consistent with the aesthetic of the primary building. Staff
recommends approval of the design as shown on the plans.
Commissioner Lambell asked if the letters were painted on and MR.
GRAYSON ZEHNDER, -WESTLiving, said it is individual letters,
aluminum grade material and powdered coated.
The Commission reviewed and discussed the walls and grade. Mr.
Melloni said the wall is at grade and setback about 20' from the
property line on Portola. The thickness of the wall is 2'-9" including
the cap, the width is about 1'-3" and the height is no more than 6'
above grade. The end of the sign, which is primarily made out of
stacked stone veneer, will be the tallest portion at 6' with the main
bulk of the sign at 5'-6".
ACTION:
Commissioner Lambell moved to approve as submitted. Motion was
seconded by Commissioner Levin and carried by a 7-0 vote, with Brewer,
Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Vuksic, and Van Vliet voting YES.
3. CASE NO: MISC 14-402
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: MAA HOSPITALITY, 72322
Highway 111, Palm Desert, CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve an amendment to construction plans regarding windows;
Springhill Suites Marriott.
LOCATION: 72322 Highway 111
ZONE: P.C:(3), S.P.
Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, presented revised window
plans for the Springhill Marriott Suites. During a building inspection,
it was noticed that the windows were different from what was
previously approved. In the original approval the windows were
meant to be flush-mounted with an overhang to provide a shade
element. He presented photos of the windows and stated that once
the contractor starts wrapping the building, the windows will project
out and will not be flush. Mr. Stendell said the minutes approving
these windows reflected a fairly extensive discussion about the
windows and the necessity for them to be flush is a very integral part
of the design and that is one of the reasons why staff halted this
project.
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The Commission reviewed and discussed the rendering and
recommended showing the return and color on the revised
rendering, the tower element needs to be one continuous color, a
color change shall not be on an outside corner, and removal of the
large piece of sheet metal on top of the tower element, and to show
shadow and colors on the renderings.
ACTION:
Commissioner McIntosh moved to continue Case No. MISC 17-0004
subject to providing a complete color rendering. Motion was seconded by
Commissioner Lambell and carried by a 7-0 vote, with Brewer, Lambell,
Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Vuksic, and Van Wet voting YES.
2. CASE NO: SARC 17-0005
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: ALLGIRE GENERAL
CONTRACTORS, 3278 Garey'Hawk Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve a monument sign; WESTLiving Palm Desert.
LOCATION: 40235 Portola Avenue
ZONE: P.R:5, S.O.
Mr. Nick Mellon!, Assistant Planner, presented a monument sign for
a.residential community called Bella Villaggio on Portola Avenue
(Portola). This is a 150-bed assisted living facility with memory care
that was previously approved under an entitlement in the late 1990s
and the building fagade was approved by the Commission in
2015. Staff previously approved an entryway that included three (3)
separate walls located at the southeast corner of the site off a private
road called Via Tuscany. The monument sign will be located on the
longest wall that runs the length of 23' varying in height from the
maximum of 6' to 5'-6". He referred to the sign rendering and said it
will be finished with stucco and have a stacked stone finish to match
the building. It will also include a pre-cast concrete trim cap with
stucco corbels as decorative elements. The text of the sign reads,
Bella Villagio by WESTLiving. This monument meets the allowed
sign height of under 6' and the sign area.is listed as 29 square feet
which falls under the maximum of 40 square feet. The sign will be
double-sided and angled slightly so it will be visible from the main
entryway off Via Tuscany and to travelers going southbound on
Portola. Overall the sign is consistent with the sign ordinance and the
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The Commission reviewed the construction plans and discussed the
overhang, location of the nail-on windows, the frame and glass.
MS. RENEE ROLIN, Design and Construction, said once the
windows are wrapped with stucco they won't protrude as much as
they are today. They are having custom grills made so that it looks
like one complete system and the'exterior elevation is being redone
to accept all these changes. The Commission and the applicant
discussed•the PTAC units, the window system; the grill and framing.
ACTION:
Commissioner Vuksic moved to approve subject to applicant submitting
revised documents to staff to demonstrate that the finished plaster will be
flush with the window frames and that the PTAC units below the windows
will be detailed so that it appears to be an integral part of the window
system. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lambell and carried by a
7-0 vote,with Brewer, Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Vuksic, and Van
Vliet voting YES.
4. CASE NO: SA 13-362
APPLICANT AND ADDRESS: WARING PLAZA CONDO
ASSOCIATION, c/o International Property Solutions, 72730 Fred
Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260
NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Consideration to
approve an amendment to the sign program to allow a new hanging
sign location on the east elevation for Building B; Waring Medical
and Professional Plaza.
LOCATION: 72630 Fred Waring Drive
ZONE: O.P.
Mr. Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner, presented an amendment to
the sign program for Waring Medical and Professional Plaza. He
stated that the sign program was created in 2008 and has been
amended a couple of times. The building being reviewed today is
Building B. On September 8,. 2016,, Sign-A-Rama on behalf of
Myofascial, was granted approval from the Owners' Association and
the City of Palm Desert to allow two hanging signs. One sign was
approved on the south elevation facing Fred Waring Drive (Fred
Waring), which is allowed per the sign program. The second sign,
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which was approved in error, was located on the east elevation. Io-
date, neither hanging sign has been installed.
On September 12, 2017, the Architectural Review Commission
(ARC) considered an amendment to the sign program from Sign-A-
Rama on behalf of. Myofascial and the Owners' Association. The
proposed amendment was to add an additional wall sign location
right below the existing sign facing Fred Waring. The Commission
denied.that request because they felt the two signs were too close
together. There was a brief discussion about placing the sign on the
south facing balcony, however the Commission stated that the
balconies facing south are an architectural feature and didn't want
signage there.
Mr. Swartz said the hanging signs have not been installed and this
Commission did talk about the two hanging signs; one on the south
facing balcony and one on the east facing balcony. Staff on behalf of
the Owner's Association wanted to clarify and add the sign location
on the east elevation of the building and add that location to the sign
program in order for it to be in compliance.
Mr. Swartz stated a letter was received from Mark McGowan, Law
Offices of Mark McGowan (McGowan) who is currently going back
and forth with the Owners' Association and with the applicant,
Myofascial, on their sign locations. There is some disagreement with
McGowan and the City in how the City is interpreting the sign
program. Staff does view Myofascial as occupying the corner suite
and is allowed two signs. Mr. Swartz stated he sent an email to
McGowan informing him that the City did approve one of the sign
locations in error since it was not identified on the sign program.
The Commission reviewed photos of Building B and the upper and
lower level signage on the building to the east. They discussed the
accessibility to the common space balcony on Building B and placing
a hanging sign on the east facing balcony at the north end. They felt
the signage on the building to the east was well presented and
balanced appropriately.
MR. MARK MCGOWAN, attorney, presented and discussed
documentation dated December 7, 2016, and December 21, 2017 as
presented to the ARC prior to today's meeting. He stated that as the
very first buyer of the Waring Plaza, more than a decade ago, he
bought the unit and the balcony and was promised a wall sign on the
south facing wall by the original developer even before there was an
original sign program. He said he doesn't deem unit 202 to be a
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corner unit and said it would be a complete contortion of the letter
and intent of the sign program to allow sign placement on the balcony
which is completely the opposite side of the building. He said the
language in the sign program says the'balcony signs are for second
floor units having balcony frontage, which is simply not the case with
unit 202. He presented arguments for the sign locations.
Commissioner Lambell said she feels that this Commission is being
unfairly triangulated between the HOA, ,Mr. McGowan and
Myofascial and the rest of the tenants that may be up in arms
because Myofascial is granted a second sign. She feels this is unfair
to ask a volunteer Commission to make those sorts of decisions.
There is an HOA for a reason and a sign program for a reason. She
said this Commission has spent hours and hours on this sign
program.
MR. BLAKE TATOM, VIP Urgent Care (VIP), stated fie was in the
original sign program meeting ten years ago and remembers the
arguments regarding the sign locations. He agreed with
Commissioner Lambell's comments and said it is an insane waste of
time. He described the amounts of correspondence regarding this
issue zreceived from McGowan and the offensive way he treats the
tenants. He,said VIP owns half of this building and McGowan only
w t , owns 1/6, however McGowan has a large sign on the face of the
building compared to VIPs two smaller signs. This is not an equitable
program. His large sign is right above VIPs space and'appears to be
a first floor practice. He stated that without the approval of the City,
McGowan enlarged that same sign by 50%. Mr. Tatom doesn't
understand the efforts McGowan has put forth to block new tenant
signage.
The Commission continued to review and discuss proposed.sign
locations. Commissioner Vuksic said he is trying to separate himself
from all these issues and is looking at it from a standpoint of
aesthetics and precedent. He said Myofascial's approved south
facing hanging sign is in a nice spot and since they do not have an
east exposure it is not as important to have a sign on the east facing
elevation. It is an office complex and it's not supposed to have a lot
of signs. He thinks it would be a mistake aesthetically to have so
many signs on that balcony. • I
Commissioner McIntosh said since the south facing hanging sign
has been approved under the sign program and it is a prime location
he wondered why they were considering changes to the approved
sign program.
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Commissioner Lambell said this is a perfect opportunity to reaffirm
the existence of the sign program and they are here to enforce what
is already in place.
ACTION:
Commissioner Brewer made a motion to reaffirm the Waring Medical &
Professional Plaza Sign Program as is, and denied the request to add an
additional sign location on the east elevation of Building B. Motion was
seconded by Commissioner Vuksic and carried by a 7-0 vote, with Brewer,
Lambell, Levin, McAuliffe, McIntosh, Vuksic, and Van Vliet voting YES.
B. Preliminary Plans:
None
C. Miscellaneous Items:
None
VI. COMMENTS
The Commission and staff discussed the El Paseo Market Study and the Paseo
Hotel.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner McIntosh moved to adjourn the Architectural Review Commission
meeting at 2:05 p.m.
ERIC CEJ
PRINCIPAL-PLANNER
SECRETARY
JAN N IJUD
REC DING SECRETARY
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