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2002 10 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 October 2, 2002 10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Committee was called to order at 10:06 a.m. by Associate Planner Greg Trousdell who led the flag salute. B. Committee Members present: Bill Bobbitt, Dennis Cunningham, and David Thoms. C. Staff present: Associate Planners Greg Trousdell and Wallace Nesbit, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of September 4, 2002. There being no corrections, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Cunningham/Thoms to approve the Minutes as submitted. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Village Use Permit 2002-015; a request of Prest/Vuksic Architects for review of architecture and landscaping plan for a 7.676 square foot two story office building. 1. Associate Planner Greg Trousdell gave an explanation of the project and introduced Mr. Dave Prest, architect for the project, who gave presentations on the project and noted the size of the building was approximately 6,600 square feet of leasable space. 2. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he had no objection to the design of the building, but under the Village Guidelines the landscaping will need to be maintained at the corner to not block G:\WPDOCSIARLClIO-2-02.wpd 1 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Mioutes October 2, 2002 visibility. The City is looking for an entryway off the corner and in this respect it does not meet the Guidelines. He questioned how much this project should adhere to the Guidelines being an office building. Staff noted this building was further away from the central Village downtown area and the enhanced corner landscaping may not be needed. He noted the Village Specific Plan was replaced by the Guidelines as it was too detailed and the Guidelines were adopted allow more flexibility. Committee Member Bobbitt stated his concern was the visibility at the corner. Staff noted that as the street was designed it reduces the concern for visibility. Committee Member Bobbitt stated then his only concern is that the plant material at the corner is low enough to not add to any visibility problems. Mr. Prest noted the tower adds to the aesthetics of the corner, and noted this is an office building with no pedestrian traffic except for those .coming to the businesses at the office building. 3. Committee Member Thoms stated his issue is with the site plan not meeting the spirit of the Village Guidelines. There is no outside space located on this site for the people who even work at this location to gather. There is also a potential site line problem at the street intersection. The Guidelines also speak about stepping back the second level which this building does somewhat, but not enough. The landscaping does not provide enough elevation changes. 4. Committee Member Cunningham stated the architecture is excellent and will hold up over time. He has the same thoughts in regard to the Village Guidelines. . He is not opposed to allowing flexibility with regard to the Guidelines and asked when the Guidelines were approved. Associate Planner Wallace Nebit noted in 1998. They were not intended to address every situation. This building is not in the core of the Village and is a destination type building. As it is not in the heart of the Village, the concerns raised may not be applicable. Committee Member Cunningham stated deviation should be for a specific purpose or there is no reason to deviate. His concern is that this not set a precedent that will cause problems with the next project being reviewed. Staff needs to review the projects submitted in light of the Village Guidelines. 5. Mr. Prest stated that in regard to an outside area he could eliminate a parking space in front of the building to create an outside gathering area. Commissioners concurred with the idea. G:\WPDOCSIARLOJ 0-2-02.wpd 2 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes October 2, 2002 6. Commissioner Thoms suggested the area be increased to bring the walkway out to the street and suggested some changes to the landscaping to bring the river rock to the corner. He further stated his concerns that those traveling east could potentially have a visibility problem. He suggested closing off the southern-most access point and allowing only one way in and out. Staff noted this was a question for Public Works. Mr. Prest stated that having two access points is always better. 7. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2002-039 recommending approval of Village Use Permit 2002- 015, subject to the conditions as amended. A. Texas Ranger and Green Cloud shrubs be increased in size to five gallons. B. Contouring along the streetscape needs to be continuance with riverbed extended to the street intersection. C. Redesign the pedestrian entrance to create a courtyard affect on the north side of the building. D. The applicant is to consider the possibility of a one way in and out access point for the parking lot. Unanimously approved. B. Tentative Tract Map 30834; a request of Madison Estates, LLC for review of landscape plans for a 76 lot single family development on 29 acres located on the north side of Avenue 58 and west of Madison Street. 1. Associate Planner Greg Trousdell presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department and introduced Mr. Ron Gregory, landscape architect for the project, who gave a presentation on the request and introduced Matt Summitt, Project Designer for the project. 2. Committee Member Thoms asked if the individual lots have access out to the common area. Mr. Gregory stated not at this point. Committee Member Thoms asked the height of the walls inside the retention basin. Mr. Gregory stated 4-5 feet. G:\ WPDOCSIARLC\] 0-2-02. wpd 3 Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes October 2, 2002 3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the lower the wall the better to not give a confined feeling. Also, he asked if there are controls as to the height of the walls, or CC&Rs that delineate what they can and cannot do. Mr. Gregory stated yes, the future owners would be restricted in development of anyon-lot walls or fences. 4. Committee Member Cunningham stated that if the developer sets the limits/design for the walls it can reduce the number of issues that can come up with property owners. He asked if it was more costly to design the streets with the tree wells than giving more yard. Mr. Gregory stated it is more expensive, but the developers wanted it. 5. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if there was a reason why there was no access from the other areas into the retention basin areas. Mr. Summitt stated it was an issue with grading. Committee Member Bobbitt asked the height of the walls next to the common area. Mr. Gregory stated it would be handled with the design of the house, but the developer would prefer to have no privacy walls between the houses. Although fencing will be needed for pool access. 6. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Member Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2002-040 recommending approval of Tentative Tract Map 30834, as recommended. 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 Cunningham/Bobbitt to adjourn this regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a regular meeting to be held on November 6, 2002. This meeting was adjourned at 11 :12 a.m. on October 2, 2002. G:\WPDOCSIARLC\IO-2-02.wpd 4