2001 06 11 ALRC Minutes Special Meeting
MINUTES
ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Guinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Guinta, CA
June 11, 2001
10:00 a.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. This meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee
was called to order at 10:07 a.m. by Principal Planner Stan Sawa, who
led the flag salute.
B. Committee Members present: Dennis Cunningham, Bill Bobbitt, and Frank
Reynolds.
C. Staff present: Principal Planner Stan Sawa, Management Analyst Marie
Casillas, Associate Planner Greg Trousdell, and Executive Secretary Betty
Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Principal Planner Stan Sawa asked if there were any changes to the
Minutes of June 6, 2001. There being no corrections, it was moved and
seconded by Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to approve the
minutes as submitted.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Capital Prooerty Improvement Program 2001-01 b; a request of Mr. Heinz
Steinmann for funding to repair stucco and paint exterior of building and
retaining wall, install screening/shade cloth on chain link fence, repair
sprinkler system and install new landscaping, and install parking stops on
the north side of property located on the west side of Avenida Bermudas
_ United Stated Post Office building.
1. Management Analyst Maria Casillas presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
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July 11,2001
2. Committee Member Bobbitt stated that when the original proposal
was scored a recommendation was made to delete the shade cloth
and he has not changed his mind regarding that. In regard to the
retaining wall that adjoins the two properties there is a small bed
area and he would like to know if any landscaping was proposed
for that area. Staff stated the applicant was working with the
adjoining property owner and is willing to do the work. Committee
Member Bobbitt stated the area looks bad and should be
addressed.
3. Committee Member Reynolds stated he did not see any change in
the request.
4. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he concurred, but would like to
see something done with the retaining wall planter. He sees no
need to see it rescore the application.
5. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion
2001-025 reaffirming the previous scoring and include landscaping
for the bed area, but not the retaining wall for Capital Property
Improvement Program 2001-010 with the deletion of the shade
cloth. Unanimously approved with the original score of 90.
B. Site Development Permit 2001-706; a request of AT&T Wireless Service
for review of landscaping and architectural plans for a single story
equipment building to serve a new monopalm communication antenna
and related hotel telecommunication equipment for the property located
at 49-499 Eisenhower Drive within the La Quinta Resort and Club.
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.
2. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he attended the Council
meeting when Sprint proposed their monopalm and asked how
close this pole was to that one. Staff stated that location is over
800 feet from this one. It was staff's understanding that the City
Council prefers to have a mono palm design if roof mounted
facilities are unaccessible. At that meeting there was only one
neighbor who objected and Council reviewed a photometric plan
and approved the monopalm antenna.
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3. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if this plan represented the
changes recommended by staff. Staff stated the project was
conditioned to meet the specific plan for this entire area and to
give guidelines to see that the proposal is consistent for the
building.
4. Ms. Polly Johnson, representing AT&T, stated AT&T owns the
building and leases from area from the Hotel. It will house the
telephone switching units to free up space at the hotel.
5. Committee Member Cunningham asked if this was to resemble the
units built in the 1970's and asked if KSL had approved the
design. Staff stated it was built to resemble the 1970's units and
it had been approved by KSL.
6. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Member Cunningham/Reynolds adopt Minute Motion
2001-028 recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-706, subject to the conditions as submitted.
C. Site Development Permit 2001-707; a request of PM La Ouinta, LLC for
review of landscaping and architectural plans for four new prototype
residential units with three to four facades each for the property located
at the northeast corner of Orchard Lane and Avenue 50.
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.
2. Committee Member Cunningham asked if the landscape plans
would be submitted separately. Staff stated the Committee could
conceptually approve what was before them.
3. Committee Member Cunningham asked about the perimeter
landscaping. Staff stated it was approved by the Planning
Commission with the original tract map. Committee Member
Cunningham stated his concern was what would be seen from the
street. The product design is an asset. He wanted to be sure the
landscaping design was cohesive with the existing.
4. Mr. Geoff McComic, representing PM La Ouinta, stated the wall
would be structured and colored the same as what has been built
by Rancho La Ouinta.
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5. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Member Cunningham/Reynolds adopt Minute Motion
2001-029 recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-707, as presented.
D. Site Develooment Permit 2001-706; a request of Country Club of the
Desert for review of preliminary landscaping plans for Jefferson Street,
Avenue 52, and Avenue 54 parkway.
1 . 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 Reynolds stated he was concerned about the
24-foot high berm on Avenue 54. You cannot landscape on a
slope 24 feet high as you do a six foot berm. The plans do not
agree with what is on the ground. Staff stated that in regard to
the berm, staff is waiting to see if an appeal is filed regarding the
berm height. That could affect this plan.
3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated that as it is presented it would
require double the plant material to plant Avenue 54, as what is
stated on the plan. The original plan was a minimum six feet high
berm. If the City Council approves the height of the berm, the
proposed trees will accentuate the height even more. Staff stated
the berm was reviewed by the Planning Commission and approved.
There has been mention that it may be appealed.
4. Committee Member Cunningham stated that if the berm height is
changed it will drastically change the landscape plan.
5. Mr. Steve Garcia, landscape architect for the project, stated the
Avenue 54 work is divided into two units: street scape and golf
course. There is a fence that has been relocated lower on the
berm to denote the scope of work between the golf course and
streetscape. The height of the berm varies on Avenue 54. This
is what is represented on the plans before the Committee and it
will not impact the look for Avenue 54 as presented. No trees will
be planted on the top of the berm as part of the golf course.
6. Committee Member Bobbitt stated that if the wall is the dividing
point, the design will work.
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Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes
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7. Committee Member Reynolds stated the berm appears to be closer
to the street than what appears on the drawings. Mr. Garcia
stated the drawings represents the overall design for the site. The
landscaping will mask the berm.
8. Committee Member Bobbitt stated that in regard to the Raphiolepis
Indica Ballerina, they may not have good luck with it as there is a
high salt content in the ground which stresses the plant. Mr.
Garcia stated they are willing to change if necessary. Their intent
is to keep the Raphiolepis Indica Ballerina in the shade areas.
9. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if this was the same plan for
Avenue 52 and Jefferson Street. Mr. Garcia stated yes, but it will
be different on the Madison Street side due to the agricultural
overlay requirements.
10. Committee Member Bobbitt asked how the golf course would be
phased. Ms. Nancy Aaronson stated it should be done over the
next two to three years. Committee Member Bobbitt asked the
applicant to explain the process on how the berm height came to
be. Ms. Aaronson explained. Discussion followed.
11 . There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Member Cunningham/Reynolds adopt Minute Motion
2001-030 recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-706, as requested.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None
VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members
Cunningham/Reynolds to adjourn this regular meeting of the Architecture and
Landscaping Review Committee to a regular meeting to be held on August 1, 2001.
This meeting was adjourned at 10:57 a.m. on July 11, 2001.
Respectfully submitted,
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'Lb. /fPJ.<) t ------
. . BE TV ,7,' SAWYER, (~xecutive Secretary
City of La Guinta, California
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