HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR - FW Dr. Soundwall @ Desert BreezesCITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Approve Construction of the Fred Waring Drive Soundwall at
the Desert Breezes Community as Outlined in Option Two
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: March 8, 2007
CONTENTS: Depiction of Reduction Options
Vicinity Map
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion, approve the construction of the Fred Waring
Drive Soundwall at the Desert Breezes Community as outlined in
Option Two.
Discussion:
On November 16, 2006, staff requested the City Council approve the
construction of the Fred Waring Drive Soundwall to its full design height at Desert
Breezes. Subsequent to approval by Council, residents of the Desert Breezes
community requested a meeting with two Council members at the site. As a
result of this meeting staff was asked to revisit the height issue and determine if a
height reduction could be facilitated.
Nine residents affected in the Desert Breezes community have requested the
height of the soundwall abutting their property be decreased by two to three feet,
as to not impair their current view. These residents have executed a General
Release Agreement that would be recorded and attach to each specific property,
releasing the City of Palm Desert from any claims, damages, etc., as a result of
the reduction to the height of the mitigation measure.
Staff has determined that there are four possible options to the height issue at
the Desert Breezes Community. Option One would be to accommodate the
preferences of all the residents directly adjacent to the soundwall, resulting in a
wall of varying heights. Staff has concern regarding the aesthetic aspect of such
a wall. Not all of the residents requesting a height reduction are adjacent to one
another, creating an uneven appearance. (See attached rendering Option 1.)
Staff Report
Fred Waring Drive Soundwall Height Reduction
Page 2 of 2
March 8, 2007
Option Two would be to begin the height reduction at the fifth lot west of the
entrance. This option would accommodate the request of the first five owners
west of the entrance for a height reduction while maintaining full height at 77681
Calle Las Brisas, as requested by the resident, and continuing at full height for
the remainder of the development. (See attached rendering Option 2.)
Option Three would be to begin the gradual height reduction at 77665 Calle Las
Brisas and 77699 Calle Las Brisas. This option would accommodate eight of the
nine residents requesting a height reduction; however it would not accommodate
the request for full height at 77681 Calle Las Brisas, to which the owner is
entitled. (See attached rendering Option 3.)
Option Four would be to build the soundwall to its full recommended height as
previously determined by the Council. (See attached rendering Option 4.)
After examining all the possibilities, staff recommends approval of Option Two.
The factors contributing to this recommendation are that this option would create
symmetry at the entrance and it would accommodate the largest number of
resident requests without sacrificing aesthetics. While this option does not
provide for a reduction west of the sixth lot (77691 Calle Las Brisas), the
elevations of the three affected lots (77665, 77673, 77681 Calle Las Brisas) are
relatively higher, making the wall height at the respective backyards relatively
lower than the five Tots being recommended for height reduction. This option
also provides the requested full protection for the sixth lot west of the entrance.
Therefore, staff recommends that City Council approve the construction the Fred
Waring Drive Soundwall at the Desert Breezes Community as outlined in Option
Two as stated above.
Prepared By:
Bo Chen, P.E.
Senior Engineer
Approval.
ACor Develo
City Mana
/cls
Mark Greenwood, P.E.
CITY COUNC LDiCTIOfN Public Works
APPROVED DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER
MEETING DATE 3-tS-C,-7
ent Services AYES: Ber1SGY), Sips ecyI cal KPilc,
NOES: Fe'QuS
ABSENT: `Inert
ABSTAIN:noj��'
VERIFIED BY: J1c J mcj 1
Original on File with City Clerk's Office
G:\PubWorks\Staff Reports\2007\March 8\06 Approve Fred Waring Soundwall at Desert Breezes Option Two\Staff
Report -Height Reduction Desert Breezes.doc