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1998 07 15 ALRC Minutes MINUTES ARCHITECTURAL & LANDSCAPING COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA July 15, 1998 10:00 AM. 1. CALL TO ORDER A This meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Committee was called to order at 10:00 AM. by Community Development Director Jerry Herman who lead the flag salute. B. Committee Members present: Bob Bobbitt and Dennis Cunningham. C. Staff present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, Associate Planner Greg Trousdell, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: A. Staff asked that Business Items A and B be reversed. There being no objections, it was unanimously approved. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: None V. BUSINESS ITEM: A Site Development Permit 98-626; a request ofReaI Property Associates for approval of a 5,000 square foot commercial pad building. I. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Committee Member Dennis Cunningham questioned the landscaping facing Highway Ill. Mr. Rob Sanford, the applicant, stated the landscaping that is called for on the plans was extensive. Mr. Cunningham asked if windows could be installed on the east elevation to soften the appearance. Mr. C:\My Documents\ WPDOCSIALRC7-15. wpd Architectural & Landscaping Committee Meeting July 15, 1998 Sanford stated it would not be possible. Mr. Cunningham stated that even with the setback additional detail was needed. He suggested a metal lattice with plants. Mr. Sanford stated they would like to do the same landscaping as Boston Market, but more dense. 3. Committee Member Bob Bobbit stated the elevation did not show the amount of landscaping to be used, but the landscaping plan does. He proceeded to discuss the type of plants that would be used. 4. Committee Member Cunningham suggested the applicant use Bottlebrush. 5. Committee Member Bobbit stated the current plant pallet would be bare in the winter. 6. Committee Member Cunningham suggested scoring as a backdrop and if vines were used to grow up the wall with some ornamental type of bushy plant it would add to the elevation. Mr. Sanford stated the plans are calling for 60-70 plants. The combination of the Mexican Bird of Paradise and Oleanders will create a lot of color. 7. Principal Planner Stan Sawa asked if the parapet wrapped around all four sides. Mr. Sanford stated it did. 8. Staff clarified the only recommendation of the Committee was the additional landscaping for the east elevation. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 98-001 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 98-623 to the Planning Commission, with the additional landscaping. Unanimously approved. B. Site Development Permit 98-623; a request of Kerr Project Services and Hall and Foreman, Incorporated for the International House of Pancakes Corporation for approval to construct an IHOP restaurant on 1.21 acres within the Jefferson Plaza Shopping Center. I. Associate 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 Dennis Cunningham stated he was in favor of using grass along Highway 111 as it would soften the site and the blue awnings will help to bring some color. C:\My Documents\ WPDOCSIALRC7-15. wpd 2 Architectural & Landscaping Committee Meeting July 15, 1998 3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he concurred. The tree selection was acceptable and the small amount of turf would add to the color. His only issue was the use of standard trees in confined spaces. This is a total waste of money and in the future he would like to see more room given to shade trees in parking lot areas. The trees cannot reach the height required by the City's standards if they are confined. This project is using Sumac and Olive trees. The Olive tree is not a bad tree, but is not appropriate for a parking lot. He would recommend using hybrid olive trees such as Swan Hill or Oleo Juropa which are true fruitless olive. 4. Associate Planner Greg Trousdell stated that in other parking lots 8 foot wire planters have been used to give the tree space to grow. This Center, however, does have a plant pallet. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he would recommend that in the planning process, trees should be given more space to accomplish the City's desired look. 5. Committee Member Cunningham stated most developers do not care, they rely on the architect, with the goal being an attractive site. He asked Committee Member Bobbitt what he would use. The building is architecturally attractive and the landscaping scheme is also attractive. 6. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he had no problem with the plan, or the plants. It is the amount of space that is being given to the trees to grow. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio stated that if this is a strong issue, it should be taken to the Planing Commission for their consideration during their review of the Zoning Code. 7. Committee Member Bobbitt stated tree roots will only grow toward water, but after 18-20 inches there are no more nutrients and the roots will come back up to find those nutrients. Therefore, if you give it a bigger area to grow in, it will develop the root system to withstand its growth. 8. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Cunningham to adopt Minute Motion 98-002 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 98-626 to the Planning Commission as submitted. Unanimously approved. VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. VIII. COMMISSIONERS ITEMS. C. Committee Member Bobbitt asked staff to define their role on this Committee. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio explained the Committee purpose was to review the design and landscaping of projects that are scheduled for review by the Planning Commission. The Committee will provide guidelines to the Commission to base their decision on. C:\My Documents\ WPDOCSIALRC7-l5. wpd 3 Architectural & Landscaping Committee Meeting July 15, 1998 D. Committee Member Cunningham suggested the Committee Members attend the Planning Commission meetings to provide assistance to the Commission regarding their recommendation. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to adjourn this regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Committee to the next regular meeting to be scheduled as needed. This meeting was adjourned at 10:55 A.M. on July IS, 1998. 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