1991 11 06 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 6, 1991
5:30 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Chairman Rice brought the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. and Boardmember
Anderson led the flag salute. Chairman Rice asked for a roll call.
n. ROLL CALL
A. Present Boardmembers David Harbison, Paul Anderson, John Walling, John
Curtis, Ted Llewellyn, Planning Commission Representative Donald Marrs, and
Chairman Rice.
m. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
A. Chairman Rice opened the nominations for Chairman. Chairman Rice nominated
Ted Llewellyn for Chairman, Boardmember Anderson seconded the motion and
it carried unanimously.
B. Chairman Rice nominated David Harbison as Vice Chairman. Boardmember
Llewellyn seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Chairman Rice asked if there were any corrections to the Minutes of October 2,
1991. Boardmember Curtis asked that the Minutes be amended on Page 3, C.6,
to show that he voted no on Plot Plan 91-466. Boardmember Llewellyn asked
that the spelling of his name be corrected. There being no further changes,
Boardmember Harbison moved to approve the Minutes as corrected.
Boardmember Curtis seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
V. BUSINESS SESSION
A. SIGN APPLICATION 91-159; a l'e{)uest of Simon Plaza to install a shopping
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center identification sign, directional signs, and multiple building signs for a
future office/commercial facility planned on five acres.
1.
Associate Planner Greg Trousdel1 presented the information contained in
the Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning and
Development Department.
2.
Boardmember Curtis asked Staff if the sign program had utilized the
maximum amount allowed. Staff stated they were within their limits with
the overall program. He further asked if this application had been
approved by the Planning Commission and if their approval would change
the overall sign program they were reviewing. Staff stated the Planning
Commission had not seen the program as of yet and the Design Review
Board was a recommending body to the Planning Commission.
3.
Boardmember Walling stated there was not a need to make detailed
approvals for the sign program but approve a generic program that gave
guidelines to the Developer to proceed with.
4.
Mr. Skip Berg, sign contractor for the project, addressed the Board and
gave a brief description of the program. He stated they would stay within
the perimeters of what the City allowed. As to the Simon Plaza sign and
colors, he stated these were similar to the Simon Motors corporate logo.
He stated his only objections to the Staff recommendations were the
requests for reverse channel lettering, and the color change.
Boardmember Rice stated his approval of the signs and had no objections
to the color selected by the Applicant. His concern was for the typeface
of the letters. He preferred a less rounding of the letters. Discussion
fol1owed with the Applicant relative to letter styles.
Chairman Llewellyn stated he had no objection to the color selected by the
Applicant.
Boardmember Anderson stated his concern for the applied signage to the
building. He would rather it be on the ground or walkway. He felt the
big blue signs would detract from the building. Discussion followed
among the Boardmembers and the Applicant as to various locations.
Boardmember Curtis stated he had no objection to the color blue being
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November 6, 1991
used, but did feel the letters were to large and would prefer a smaller sign
overall.
9. Boardmember Walling stated he had no objection to the height or color,
but would prefer the Applicant use up-lighting instead of backlighting to
soften the signs. Discussion followed between the Board and the
Applicant relative to lighting techniques.
10. Planning Commission Representative Marrs stated his overall approval of
the sign program. His concern was for the patrons being able to locate
the businesses. He felt the restrictions may be to stringent.
II. Following discussion it was moved by Boardmember Rice and seconded
by Boardmember Harbison to adopt Minute Motion 91-036 recommending
approval of Sign Application 91-159 to the Planning Commission subject
to Staff recommendation for the use of reverse channel lettering with
external illumination, the typeface lettering not being rounded, and the
deletion of the last sentence to Condition #11. Unanimously approved.
B. PUBLIC USE PERMIT 91-012; a request of the Boys and Girls Oub of
Coachella Valley for approval of plans for a Boys and Girls Club facility.
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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.
Reuel Young, architect for the project, presented information and a
detailed presentation of the project.
3.
Boardmember Rice stated his approval of the project and discussion
followed relative to the use of the standing seam metal roof.
4.
Boardmember Walling inquired as to the location of the air conditioning
and cooler equipment. Mr. Young stated they would be located in the
wells of the roof for the most part.
5.
Planning Commission Representative Marrs inquired how the gymnasium
would be cooled. Mr. Young stated that evaporative coolers would be
utilized. Discussion followed as to the cooling of the building, building
materials, and the desire for openness.
6.
Boardmember Anderson stated he felt the design was well conceived and
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November 6, 1991
very well presented.
7. Boardmember Curtis stated his approval of the design and the roof
materials being utilized.
8. There being no further discussion, it was moved by Boardmember
Harbison and seconded by Boardmember Curtis adopt Minute Motion 91-
037 recommending approval to the Planning Commission of Public Use
Permit 91-012, subject to Staff recommendation.
Chairman Llewellyn asked to be excused due to a prior commitment and turned the meeting over
to Vice Chairman Harbison.
C. SPECIFIC PLAN 89-014 AND PLOT PLAN 90-434; a request of Transpacific
Development Company for approval of landscaping plans for the Ill-La Quinta
shopping center.
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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.
Boardmember Curtis asked if the drive-thru shown on the plans were
approved. Staff stated they were not.
3.
Mr. Colm Macken, representing TDC the Applicant, spoke regarding the
project and introduced Mr. Gary Begin, landscape architect for the project
who gave a brief description of the plans.
4.
Boardmember Anderson stated his concern for the location of the "Theme
Plaza". He felt its location was not accessible to the walking public.
5.
Boardmember Harbison asked that the Applicant not use the fescue but
rather stay with the Bermuda/Rye grass mix. In addition the irrigation
needed to be by conventional spray system with head to head coverage.
Discussion followed as to what the plans showed.
6.
There being no further discussion, it was moved by Boardmember Rice
and seconded by Boardmember Walling to adopt Minute Motion 91-038
recommending approval of Specific Plan 89-014 and Plot Plan 90-434 to
the Planning Commission subject to Staff recommendation and the use of
Bermuda/Rye grass mix and changing the lawn irrigation system.
Unanimously approved with Chairman Llewellyn absent.
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D. PLOT PLAN 91-468; a request of the Automobile Club of Southern California
for approval of architectural and landscaping plans.
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. Boardmember Rice inquired of the Applicant if the Automobile Club was
moving their Indio office to La Quinta. Mr. Gary Evans, representing the
Applicant, stated they would be moving the office.
3. Boardmember Anderson inquired if the internally lit signs were already
approved. Staff stated they had been approved as part of the overall
project. He stated he would prefer to see the uplighting instead at this
location with its close proximity to Highway II I.
4. Mr. Colm Macken, representative of mc, stated they would prefer to
stay with the already approved sign program rather than making any
changes.
5. Boardmember Curtis asked Staff what the height limitations were for
Washington Street. Staff stated there were no limits regarding height,
with only a policy for one story buildings within 150 feet of the street.
6. Mr. Dennis Wehmueller, architect for the project, addressed the location
of the signs as to the Applicants desire to have them on the parapet.
Discussion followed with the Boardmembers as to the location of the
signs.
7. There being no further discussion, it was moved by Boardmember Rice
and seconded by Boardmember Anderson to adopt Minute Motion 91-039
recommending approval of Plot Plan 91-468 to the Planning Commission.
Unanimously approved, subject to Staff recommendations, with Chairman
Llewellyn being absent.
VI. OTHER
A. Boardmember Rice informed the members that the signs for the Marquessa
project were a good example for the members to see. He felt the City signs had
too much "gingerbread". The consensus of the Board was to put discussion off
till the next meeting to give members an opportunity to visit the Marquessa
project.
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B. Boardmember Anderson asked what the architects for the Civic Center were
doing with the City sign. Staff stated the City Council was asking local architects
to submit designs.
C. Staff informed the Boardmembers there was a need to have an additional meeting
this month. Applications had been submitted but there had not been enough time
to process the applications for this meeting.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
At the request of Staff, it was moved by Boardmember Walling and seconded by Boardmember
Rice to adjourn to a special meeting of the Design Review Board on November 14, 1991, at
5:30 P.M. This meeting of the La Quinta Design Review Board was adjourned at 7:09. P.M.,
November 6, 1991.
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