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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLndscp Btfctn Cmte - 06/20/07CITY OF PALM DESERT MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, June 20, 2007 — 11:30am Public Works Conference Room — Palm Desert Civic Center 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260 I. Call to Order II. Roll Call Present: Absent: Member Martin Alvarez Member Mark Greenwood, P.E. Vice -Chairman Lauri Aylaian Member Homer Croy Cindy Finerty (alt for Richard Kelly) Chairman Spencer Knight Member Connor Limont Member Carlos L. Ortega Member Bob Spiegel Member Janis Steele Also Present: Tony Bagato, Principal Planner Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Klaus Huckfeldt, Stantec Renee Schrader, Stantec Bob Sipovac, Sipovac Construction Bryce White, Redevelopment Agency III. Oral Communications A. The Committee was asked to add the Sipovac Project to the agenda under item B of New Business. Upon a motion by an 8-0 vote by the Committee Board, the Sipovac Project was added to the agenda. MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE IV. Consent Calendar June 20, 2007 A. MINUTES of the Regular Landscape Beautification Committee Meeting of May 16, 2007. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Bob Spiegel, second by Cindy Finerty and 8-0 vote of the Committee Board the Consent Calendar was continued. V. Consent Items Held Over VI. New Business A. Request for Approval of Alessandro Alley Landscape Plan. Rec: PowerPoint presentation by Renee Schrader of Stantec showing the renovation of Alessandro Valley. This is an 1870 feet long project that includes the addition of 165 new parking spaces and 14 islands with trees to provide shade. Ms. Schrader reported that she corrected one tree that City Council was unhappy with and is working with landscape staff to install appropriate plant material for both maintenance and aesthetics. This includes saving a Palo Verde that has grown without irrigation. This project was presented to the Architectural Review Commission and was unanimously approved. Upon a motion by Bob Spiegel, second by Cindy Finerty, and 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, Alessandro Alley Conceptual Improvement plan was approved as presented. B. Request for Approval of the Sipovac design to add a two-story apartment building at the corner of Magnesia Falls. Rec: Tony Bagato presented the Committee with a request from Sipovac Construction to build a two-story apartment building at the corner of Magnesia Falls on the existing HOA's 40% required open space, which was a condition of the development of the original project. Mr. Sipovac stated that the lot is being used as a dumpsite and the cost to maintain it is was considerable. Neighbors were against a previous project on the same site because of parking concerns. Committee is concerned that more HOA's will be coming forward with the same request because of financial issues. Committee suggests that this matter should be taken to Planning Commission just on the concept of 2 G:IPubWorks\Landscape Services DivisionlLandscape Beautification CommitteelMinutes12007 Minutes Minutes 06-20-07.doc MINUTES LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE June 20, 2007 using open space. Staff and the Committee are not in favor of allowing dedicated landscape easements to be a large percentage hardscape or allowing open spaces to be converted because of loss of parkway. The Committee believes that the parkways and open space should be reserved for what they were intended for. Upon a motion by Carlos Ortega, second by Connor Limont and 8-0 vote of the Committee Board, the Sipovac design was not approved. VII. Continued Business None VIII. Old Business None IX. Reports and Remarks A. Member Spiegel stated that the entrance to the Council Chambers is Tess than desirable. Chairman Knight replied that the re -landscaping of the entrance is in the 2007-2008 fiscal year budget. B. Member Spiegel stated that the dirt lot at Portola, next to the wash, appears as a dirt parking lot. Member Ortega states that the City wants it to have a natural look, but does maintain it. Committee directed staff to review the agreement to see if anything can be done to change its appearance and if other parties have any responsibility. X. Adjournment With no further business or discussion, and Landscape Beautification Committee Board concurrence, the meeting was adjour ed at 12:26pm 1 —�r H Sp ATTEST: B rtha A. Gortzalez,,&. OfficpAssistant Landscape Beautification Committee ndscape Manager 3 G:IPubWorks\Landscape Services Divis,onlLandscape Beautification CommitteelMmutes12007 Minutes\Minutes 06-20-07.doc