1999 06 02 ALRC Minutes
MINUTES
ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78.495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
June 2, 1999
10:00 a.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. This meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Committee was called to order
at 10:08 a.m. by Planning Manager Christine di Iorio who led the flag salute.
B. Committee Members present: Bill Bobbitt and Dennis Cunningham.
C. Staff present: Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Principal Planners Fred Baker and
St,m Sawa, Associate Planner Greg Trousdell, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Plmming Manager Christine di Iorio asked if there were any changes to the Minutes
of May 5, 1999. There being no corrections, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members CunninghamlBobbitt to approve the minutes as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Tract 25953; a request of Oliphant and Williams Associates, Inc., for approval of
arehitectural and landscaping plans for two new prototype residential units for the
Sonrisa Development located at the northwest comer of Miles A venue and Dune
Palms Road.
I. Assoeiate Planner Greg Trousdell presented the information contained in the
staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
2. Committee Member Cunningham asked if the square footage of the units was
increasing. Staff stated yes. Committee Member Cunningham stated the
architecture was fresh and the architectural detailing of exterior wall ties in
well with the surrounding developments.
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Architectural & Landscape Review Committee
June 2, 1999
3. Committee Member Bobbitt concurred with Committee Member
Cunningham and stated the project was an attractive tract. He then asked if
the issue with La Quinta Palms regarding blocking of view was resolved.
Staff stated it was not an issue as the developer was in accordance with the
plans that had been approved by the City Council. Committee Member
Bobbitt commented that when a new development is proposed it should be
understood that a view will be blocked if not by the development, the trees
and plant material which are required will further block the view when it
reached maturity. He did not think it was reasonable to deny a project due to
the project blocking a view.
4. Committee Member Cunningham stated La Quinta Palms was originally
approved under Riverside County and basically had no reason for raising an
objection. The City reviews all projects as to their impact on surrounding
tracts and this tract was approved based on its ability to compliment the
surrounding homes. Staff stated the Sonrisa tract had a condition placed on
it to require one story units adjacent to La Quinta Palms.
5. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the landscaping and plant pallette were
fine as submitted.
6. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee
Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 99-014
recommending approval of Tract 25953, subject to conditions as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
B. Site Development Permit 99-652; a request of T. D. Desert Development for
approval of a 13,400 square foot golf maintenance facility located south of Avenue
48 and east of Dune Palms Road.
1. Principal Planner Fred Baker presented the information contained in the staff
report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
3. Committee Member Cunningham asked if the maintenance facility could be
seen from public view. Staff stated the peak of the building will be seen
while driving east. When driving west, very little if any will be seen. The
views that will see it are from the golf course and the future Casitas units
proposed for that area.
4. Committee Member Cunningham stated there are two views, public and
interior. His concern is only for the general public view as the interior will
be mitigated by the developer.
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Architectural & Landscape Review Committee
June 2, 1999
5. Committee Member Bobbitt asked ifthe CVWD well site was proposed or
existing. Staff stated it was proposed. Committee Member Bobbitt stated
that while driving down 48th Avenue it did not appear that it would be
possible to hide the building and as this building is right on 48th A venue. His
concern was that it is flat and appears to bring a commercial building to the
area that does not blend with the architecture of this area. It is too close to
48th A venue and needs to be dressed up so it does not look like a maintenance
yard.
6. Committee Member Cunningham stated that a metal prefabricated building
is easier to fix it compared to a plastered house with tile roofs. This is due
to not being maintained and becoming a problem. The simpler the building
the easier to maintain, but it should not be seen from the general public view.
7. Committee Member Bobbitt stated that if he were a homeowner he would
want the building hidden by at least plant material. As Avenue 48 is fairly
heavily traveled, he does not want it to look commercialized. As long as the
facility is hidden from the street he is not concerned with the looks of the
building.
8. Committee Member Bobbitt asked when the building would be constructed.
Mr. Art Gardner, Watson and Christiansen stated the lowest point ofthe site
is 14 feet below the pad. The building is on the east side of the wash and they
have to keep a minimum 50 foot pad elevation per CVWD. Committee
Member Bobbit asked if the applicant was being required to line the wash
with concrete. Mr. Gardner no. They can shape and mold it as they please.
He then reviewed the elevations with the Committee and showed how the
Casitas units would be blocked by landscaping. He noted that due to the
setback of the maintenance facility and part of the proposed wall, very little
of the facility would be seen.
9. Committee Member Bobbitt asked what the construction material would be
for the roof. Mr. Chuck McBride, Design Build Associates, displayed the
roof material and colors and discussion followed.
10. Mr. Chuck Shepardson, landscape architect, stated they are trying to screen
the interior and will help the view from 48th Avenue with mounding and plant
material. Discussion followed regarding the landscaping.
11. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if the Imperial Irrigation power poles
and/or substation would be removed or hidden. Mr. Mike Hulme, project
manager for Rancho La Quinta, stated they will be landscaping the electrical
substation to make it disappear as much as possible.
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Architectural & Landscape Review Committee
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12. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee
Members Bobbitt/Cunningham to adopt Minute Motion 99-015,
recommending approval of Site Development Permit 99-652, as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None
V. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None
VI. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members
Bobbitt/Cunningham to adjourn this regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping
Committee to the next regular meeting to be held on July 7, 1999. This meeting was adjourned at
10:40 a.m. on June 2, 1999. .
ectfully submitted,
T ~~,:t:::utive Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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