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2003 04 02 ALRC Minutes MINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Guinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Guinta, CA April 2, 2003 10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:09 a.m. by Planning Manager Oscar Orci who led the flag salute. B. Committee Members present: Bill Bobbitt and David Thoms. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/Bobbitt to excuse Committee Member Cunningham. Unanimously approved. C. Staff present: Planning Manager Oscar Orci, Principal Planner Fred Baker, Associate Planners Wallace Nesbit and Greg Trousdell, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to reorganize the agenda to take Business Item "0" as Item"B" and Item "B" as Item "0". Unanimously approved. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of March 5, 2003. There being no corrections, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thom to approve the Minutes as submitted. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Develooment Permit 2002-763; a request of Paul and Bobbie Jean Kouri for review of architectural and conceptual landscaping plans for a 5,250 square foot one story restaurant building in the La Guinta Professional Plaza on the east side of Washington Street, southeast of Avenue 47 . 0;\ WPDOCSIARLC\4-2-03. wpd 1 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes April 2, 2003 1 . Associate Planner Wallace Nesbit gave an overview of the project and introduced Mr. Mitchell Gardner, architect for the project, who gave a presentation on the project. 2. Committee Member Thoms complimented the architect on the design and concept of the plan. Placing the restaurants back to back is an excellent idea. He recommended the planter areas adjacent to the building, at the southeast corner, rectangular in shape, have the corners clipped to a 45 degree which would be more appropriate. In addition, add a handicapped space on the west side of the building. On the northeast elevation, there are some tiles on the parapet roof. Mr. Gardner stated it is not a parapet, but a shed roof. Committee Member Thoms stated this was a better design and asked if this treatment could be added at other locations on the roof. Mr. Gardner stated that due to the need for a lot of air handlers he will not have the space to do this. The air handlers require a lot of flat roof and this design would take away from the area needed for the air handlers. Committee Member Thoms stated he is not in favor of the vertical signage. Mr. Gardner stated the signage had not yet been determined. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he too liked the building. The plant palette is fine, but on the southwest corner there is a planter bed next to the last parking space, where the plant material needs to take into consideration that there will be pedestrian traffic. He would suggest moving the plant material south and adding the stepping stones to accommodate the pedestrian traffic. 4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2003-012, approving Site Development Permit 2002-763, as amended: a. The planter places adjacent to the building at the southeast corner, rectangular in shape, have the corners clipped to a 45 degree. b. Add a handicapped space on the west side of the building. Unanimously approved. G:\ WPDOCSIARL04-2-03.wpd 2 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes April 2, 2003 B. Site Develooment Permit 2003-765; a request of Madison Development for review of architectural and conceptual landscaping plans for a two story retail/office/restaurant/ building with a two story parking facility located within the Point Happy Commercial Center at the northwest corner of Highway 111 and Washington Street. 1 . Principal Planner Fred Baker gave a report on the request and introduced the project's representative, Mr. Mike Vuksic, architect for the project, who gave a presentation on the project. 2. Committee Member Thoms stated his only objection is that it is not located along Highway 111. The concept and detail is excellent. The only comment is that the plant material intended for the raised planters be of a variety that is intended to grow. They should have their own watering/drainage system and separate timing mechanism designed for their growth and not included with the entire planting system. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt agreed this is an excellent addition to the City. He also has experience with aerial planters and agrees that it has to be the right plant material. Design the planters with a good drainage system with a fiberglass material. He would suggest using the 15 gallon plant material with a drip system that is easy to maintain and replace as needed. Mr. Vuksic asked about the trees intended to be planted and protrude up through the 10-foot by 10-foot openings. Committee Members recommended Washatonia Robusta be used and that the tree trunks skinned and the heads should be at a height above the parking garage so they are in the light to begin with. They also will need to be on their own irrigation system. 4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to adopt Minute Motion 2003-015 approving Site Development Permit 2003-765, as amended: 1. Tree material in the parking garage to be Washatonia Robusta and the head of the tree be tall enough to be through the floor of the second story parking structure. The trees shall be skinned and on its own irrigation, timing, and drainage system. G:\ WPDOCSIARLC\4-2-03. wpd 3 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes April 2, 2003 2. The plant material in the raised planters are to be planted in a fiberglass or polyplastic material, with their own drip irrigation and timing control system. Unanimously approved. C. Site Develooment Permit 2003-762; a request of Westport La-Guinta LP for review of landscaping plans for a congregate care facility providing 132 independent and 37 assisted living units for the property located at the northeast corner of Washington Street and Avenue 50. 1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa gave an overview of the project and introduced, Mr. John Garrison, architect for the project, who was available to answer questions on the project. 2. Committee Member Thoms stated he has some issues with the project. He complimented the architect on the concept of the different type of apartments on this site. His issue is with the site plan as it is not appropriate for this site nor for the type of facility it is. He understands the need to have the number of units to make it financially feasible. The north elevation will be especially difficult for the residents to the north. The elevation is boring. The south side, fronting Avenue 50 is no better. This site is highly visible from anyone traveling north on Washington Street and unappealing. It should be more of a village look versus something that looks like an upgraded prison. Therefore he cannot support the project as designed. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the north and south elevations have an appearance of a prison and are too institutional looking. The west elevation is not as bad. He is not sure there will be a site problem for the residents to the north. The north and south elevations do need some variation. He would not have a problem with the project as long as there were some changes made to the north and south elevations. 4. Committee Member Thoms stated the carports are weak and the columns are too spindly. The shape of the pool is too large and should be more "romantic" looking. He does not have a problem with the proposed use of the property, but with the site plan as it should be more friendly. G:\ WPDOCSIARLC\4-2-03. wpd 4 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes April 2, 2003 5. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if the entrance could be revised to allow a traffic flow to the front of the facility from the A venue 50 access. Mr. Garrison stated it was intended to be a secondary access, but it probably could be done. 6. Commissioners discussed with staff the options of how the project could be approved with strong recommendations that it be redesigned. 7. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2003-014, denying Site Development Permit 2003-762, with the following recommendations: a. The site plan redrawn to resemble a "village" theme; b. The shape of the swimming pool be changed; and c. The columns holding up the carport be changed. d. The architecture shall provide more articulation on the north and south sides. Unanimously approved. D. Site DeveloDment Permit 2001-707. Amendment #1 and Tentative Tract MaD 30331 Amendment #1; a request of Trans West Housing and La Quinta Talante LLC for review of Avenue 50 parkway landscaping plans located on the north side of Avenue 50, west of Jefferson Street. 1 . Associate Planner Greg Trousdell gave an overview of the project and introduced Geoff McComic, representing the project, who gave a presentation on the project. 2. Committee Member Bobbitt stated that if CVWD approves the plant palette, he has no issues. He noted some plants that would not do well. 3. Committee Member Thoms asked that the textured pavement at the entrance be continued down to the center of the island and the plant material in the center island should not be staggered because the planter is too narrow. The height of the entry palms should be staggered at least four feet. The header line for the plant material should follow the contour of the retention basin. It should reflect what is happening in the retention basin. The G:\ WPDOCSIARLC\4-2-03. wpd 5 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes April 2, 2003 landscape architect should be able to modify the ins and outs of the retention basin to add more interest to the site. In addition, he would like an additional cap on entry gate posts to be raised to a height of at least two inches and stepped back and up one step. 4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to adopt Minute Motion 2003-015, approving Site Development Permit 2001-707, Amendment #1 and Tentative Tract Map 30331 Amendment #1, as amended: a. Eliminate the use of Pittosporum tobira "Wheeler", Buxus microphylla japonica, Mandina domestica "Compacta", and Rhaphlolepis indica "Ballerina" with another type of desert plant material. b. Add textured paving at the project entry to match the paving strip by the entry gates c. Enhance the perimeter planting areas at the top of the retention basins. d. Stagger the height of the entry palm trees by four feet or more. e. The landscape architect shall modify the retention basin shape to not be a square maintaining the requirements of the retention basin. f. Add a second tier level to the entry gate pilaster caps. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: VIII. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to adjourn this regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a regular meeting to be held on May 7, 2003. This meeting was adjourned at 11 :46 a.m. on April 2, 2003. ~espec ully submitted, . / ~~ "> '1c .;' .. J~ii~,~ Secretary City of La o.uinta, California G:\ WPDOCSIARLC\4-2-03. wpd 6