1992 11 04 DRB Minutes
MINUTES
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
CITY OF LA QUINT A
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California
November 4, 1992
5:30 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Chairman Harbison brought the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. and Boardmember
Campbell led the flag salute.
II. ROLL CALL
A. Present: Boardmembers Fred Rice, John Curtis, Paul Anderson, Randall Wright,
James Campbell, Planning Commission Representative Marrs, and Chairman
Harbison.
B. Boardmember Curtis moved and Boardmember Rice seconded the motion to
excuse Boardmember Anderson. Unanimously approved.
C. Staff present: Principal Planner Stan Sawa and Department Secretary Betty
Anthony.
m. BUSINESS SESSION
A. Sign Application 92-185; a request of Albertsons Supermarket for approval of
additional building signage in III La Quinta Center on the north side of Highway
111 between Washington Street and Adams Street.
1.
Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the
Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning and Development
Department.
2.
Boardmember Curtis moved and Boardmember Rice seconded the motion
to approve the project subject to Staff recommendation. Chairman
Harbison opened the motion for discussion.
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November 4, 1992
3. Boardmember Wright inquired if the colors submitted were the original
colors approved. Staff stated they were with a slight modification that had
been approved by Staff.
3. Boardmember Rice stated he felt it was important for the public to know
if a pharmacy was a part of the store. He had no objection to the
ancillary signs.
4. Boardmembers Curtis and Anderson stated they were against the additional
signage as it was redundant and unnecessary.
5. Terry Wilkins, representing the sign company, addressed the Board as to
why the signs should be allowed.
6. Mr. Jeff Derrick, representing Albertsons also spoke regarding the need
for the signs.
7. Boardmember Rice asked if the pharmacy was independently owned. Mr.
Derrick stated it was not.
8. Chairman Harbison asked how many of the Albertsons stores had
pharmacies. Mr. Derrick stated of the 11 stores being constructed
presently 6 had pharmacies.
9. Boardmember Rice stated that the City had two hospitals being developed
in La Quinta and patients will have a need to find the pharmacies.
10. Boardmember Curtis asked is the signs for the project were in excess of
the sign code. Staff stated they were as they had already applied and
received a sign adjustment for the main Albertsons sign. Discussion
followed as to whether approval of the ancillary signs would create a
precedent for other applicants to apply. Staff noted WaI-Mart would
undoubtedly request them again.
11. Mr. Tom Childers, representing Washingtonl Adams, stated that at present
there were no other tenants who would be asking for additional signage.
He felt the board should make a distinction between tenants who make
every effort to work with the City and provide a superior product and
grant the additional signage as a reward.
12. Boardmember Wright stated his concern for so many exceptions. He felt
the tenants should comply with the master plan.
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November 4, 1992
13. Chairman Harbison asked if the tile accents on the other buildings could
be incorporated into the same area instead of the signs. Discussion
followed regarding the number of buildings that had a tile roof.
14. Following the discussion, Chairman Harbison asked for a vote.
VOTE:
A YES: Boardmember Rice; NOES: Boardmembers
Anderson, Curtis, Wright, Campbell, Planning
Commissioner Marrs, Chairman Harbison; ABSENT:
None; ABSTAIN: None.
It was noted that the request is therefore recommended for denial. ",
B. Sign Application 92-186; a request of the Auto Club for approval of a sign
modification to the sign program at 111 La Quinta Center on the north side of
Highway 111 between Washington Street and Adams Street.
I. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the
Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning and Development
Department.
2. Planning Commissioner Marrs asked if the logo touched the bottom roof
tiles. Staff replied it appeared to be touching but is not because the two
surfaces are 6 feet apart. Discussion followed regarding the crowding of
the logo with the cornice at the top.
3. Mr. Gary Evans, Facilities Construction Planner for the Auto Club, stated
their reasons for designing the sign as they did.
4. Following discussion, it was moved by Boardmember Anderson and
seconded by Boardmember Rice to approve the signage as recommended
subject to centering the sign between the cornice and tile roof on the north
and south elevations only. Unanimously approved. q) . iJ:J 3>
C. Plot Plan 91-456; a request of The Koenig Companies to amend a plot plan to
reduce the size of a project from 116,600+ square feet to 85,650+ square feet
on 9.25 acres located on the northwest comer of Washington Street and Calle
Tampico.
I.
Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the
Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning and Development
Department.
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2. Boardmember Curtis asked if at anytime any portion of the landscaping
would become part of the City's Landscaping and Lighting District for
City maintenance. Staff replied that it had been the City's policy to have
the developer retain the maintenance of commercial projects.
3. Boardmember Anderson asked Staff to clarify Condition of Approval #3
regarding "decorative texture". Discussion followed as to what Staffs
intent was and how to reword the condition.
4. Boardmember Rice inquired if the center had made application to Art in
Public Places for any art work. Staff replied this had not been required
as of yet.
5. Mr. John Koenig, president of The Koenig Companies, stated the reasons
for the reduction in the size and gave a description of the project. He
stated he had no objections to Staffs recommendations with the exception
of the requirement of Condition #4 for additional architectural treatment
on the west side of shop #1. Following discussion as to alternatives, it
was decided that a trellis treatment same as that used on the south side of
the market would suffice for the present.
6. Mr. Koenig also responded that the reflective pool at the corner of Calle
Tampico and Washington Street was being designed to contain a sculpture
for their art requirement. He further stated that regarding Condition #3,
his intent was to have a smooth texture as he had done for the project in
Indian Wells.
7. The Board discussed with the Applicant the requirement of 50% shading
required in the parking lot. All stated the difficulty in obtaining the
required 50%.
8. Following discussion, it was moved by Boardmember Curtis and seconded
by Boardmember Anderson to recommend to the Planning Commission
approval of the project subject to Staffs recommendations and with the
following modifications:
Condition #3: "shall be of an appropriate finish approved by the Design
Review Board".
Condition #4: Add - "To install a trellis on the west elevation of Shop
#1."
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Condition #6: Add - "This includes the requirement for 50% shading of
the parking lot area subject to Staff approval. "
(
,
Unanimously approved.
Boardmember Curtis asked to be excused for a previous appointment.
D. Specific Plan 92-022 and Plot Plan 92-456; a request of E.F.P. Corporation to
establish development standards for a future shopping center proposed for the
northwest comer of Highway III and Jefferson Street. A request to develop a
253,400 square foot commercial shopping center on +20 acres.
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1.
Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the
Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning and Development
Department.
2.
Michael Hurst, architect for the project, gave a review of the project.
3.
Boardmembers questioned the architect on various issues such as the
stained glass, the shell structure material, awnings material and colors, the
neon bars, and the access entries off Jefferson Street.
4.
Mr. Ed Carnes, Vice President E.F.P. Corporation, explained to the
Board the reason for the redesign of the driveways.
5.
Boardmember Wright asked the architect to explain the interior floor
treatment in the arcade area. Mr. Hurst replied it was to be of an outdoor
patio environment, air conditioned and planted to resemble a tropical
oasis. Discussion followed as to the concern regarding the environmental
problems this could cause.
6.
Boardmember Campbell asked if the applicant had any signage plans. Mr.
Hurst stated each tenant would be separate and there would be no exterior
directory on the exterior for each of the tenants occupying the arcade.
7.
Mr. Carnes addressed the Board regarding the type of factory outlet
tenants that would be sought after.
8.
Boardmember Anderson expressed his concern that the design of the
architecture lacked continuity and was not similar in architecture to what
he envisioned to be the image of La Quinta. He felt the project should be
traditional or more southwestern or Spanish in design.
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November 4, 1992
9. Boardmember Campbell stated he felt the design was alien to La Quinta
and he was uncomfortable with the use of neon.
10. Boardmember Rice stated he felt the concept was favorable but the design
was to much of a departure from the ambience of La Quinta.
11. Boardmember Anderson asked the architect if he could redesign the
project in a more traditional style. Mr. Hurst asked if he meant
something like "Hacienda" style.
12. Mr. Carnes stated his concern for being so far off balance in what the
Board was looking for and asked for a more specific direction from the
Board. Discussion followed regarding the look the Board was desiring.
13. Following discussion it was moved by Boardmember Anderson and
seconded by Boardmember Wright to continue the matter to a special
meeting of the Design Review Board on November 18, 1992, at 5:30
P.M. and request that the Applicant revise and resubmit a new
architectural design in a more traditional style. Unanimously approved.
IV. CONSEJIo'T CALENDAR - None
V. OTHER
A. Department Secretary Betty Anthony informed the members their would be a
special meeting regarding Art in Public Places on December 3, 1992. There
would be more information at a later date.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Boardmember Rice and seconded by Boardmember Anderson to adjourn to a
special meeting of the Design Review Board on November 18, 1992, at 5:30 P.M. This meeting
of the La Quinta Design Review Board was adjourned at 8:05 P.M., November 4, 1992.
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