2001 05 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
May 2, 2001
10:00 a.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. This meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee
was called to order at 10:03 a.m. by Planning Manager Christine di lorio,
who led the flag salute.
B. Committee Members present: Dennis Cunningham and Bill Bobbitt. It
was moved and seconded by Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt
to excuse Committee Member Reynolds. Unanimously approved.
C. Staff present: Planning Manager Christine di lorio, Planning Consultant
Nicole Criste, Associate Planner Wally Nesbit, and Executive Secretary
Betty Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio asked if there were any changes to
the Minutes of April 18, 2001. There being no corrections, it was moved
and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Cunningham to approve
the minutes as submitted.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Site Develooment Permit 2001-704; a request of Mr. Peter Bilicki for
review of an 1 8 lot development of two prototypes with three and two
facade treatments, respectively, and landscape design plans located
along Peninsula Lane within PGA West.
1. Associate Planner Wally Nesbit presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
2. Committee Member Cunningham stated he had no issues with the
project and that controls inside gated communities are adequate
to deal with new units.
Architectural & Landscape Review Committee Minutes
May 2, 2001
3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he had no objections to the
project.
4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion
2001-019 recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-704 subject to conditions as recommended. Unanimously
approved.
B. Site Development Permit 2000-701; a request of CRV La Ouinta 70,
Limited Partnership for review of architectural and landscape plans for
two new prototype residential units each with three facades located at
the northwest corner of Bellerive and Winged Foot within PGA West
1. Planning Manager Christine di lodo 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 staff to identify the
location. Mr. Peter Bilicki noted on the plans the location.
Committee Member Cunningham stated he had no issues with the
project.
3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he had no questions or
objections to the project.
4. Mr. R. C. Hobbs asked for clarification as to when a compatibility
review was required. Staff explained when a compatibility review
was required. Discussion followed regarding compatibility.
5. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members Bobbitt/Cunningham to adopt Minute Motion
2001-020, recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-701, subject to the conditions
C. Site Development Permit2001-702; a request of La Ouinta Kingdom Hall
of Jehovah Witnesses for review of landscaping and architectural plans
for a church on 2.39 acres on the east side of Dune Palms Road,
between Westward Ho Drive and the Coachella Valley Storm Channel.
1. Planning Consultant Nicole Criste presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
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2. Committee Member Bobbitt asked staff to identify the location of
the project. Planning Manager Christie di Iorio stated it was next
to the mobile home park and across from the High School.
Committee Member Bobbitt asked what zoning was required for a
church. Staff stated it could go anywhere with a conditional use
permit. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he concurred with
staff's recommendation.
3. Committee Member Cunningham stated they have a long way to
go architecturally before the building elevations could be approved.
The applicant needs to be more involved with the community
around where the building will be built. He recognizes there may
be financial constraints, but they should obtain assistance from a
professional architect to add detail to the building as this building
is within the public eye.
4. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he concurred. If they do not
want any windows, then some type of architectural style should
be added to the street frontage.
5. Committee Members Cunningham stated this is not the typical
architectural style that has been approved in La Quinta.
6. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Member Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion
2001-022 recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-702, subject to the conditions as amended:
a. Condition #1: replace the main gable roof with a hip roof.
b. Condition #6: 1.5 inch caliper size tree.
Unanimously approved.
D. Specific Plan 121-E Amendment #4 and Site Develooment Permit 2001-
703; a request of R. C. Hobbs Company/KSL Company for review of
landscaping and architectural plans each with three facades, including
perimeter landscaping for a 17.82 acre site.
1. Planning Consultant Nicole Criste presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
2. Committee Member Bobbitt asked what the wall would consist of.
Mr. Hobbs, the applicant, stated it would be stuccoed. Committee
Member Bobbitt stated his concern was that a "power wall", filled
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with foam, would not allow vines to be attached. Mr. Forrest
Haag, landscape architect for the project, stated they used the
trellis at the La Quinta Resort instead of the conventional use of
screws.
3. Committee Member Cunningham stated that foam walls were not
allowed in Palm Desert.
4. Committee Member Bobbitt elaborated on the problems they have
with the "power wall" at PGA West. Mr. Hobbs noted they were
not on a zero lot, but had five foot setbacks which gave them
more room for landscaping.
5. Committee Member Bobbitt asked the height of the tower element.
Staff stated 22 feet as noted on the site plan. Committee Member
Bobbitt stated he liked the project.
6. Committee Member Cunningham stated he like the project.
7. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio asked what the rear elevation
would look like as it will be seen from the street. Committee
Member Cunningham stated there was enough articulation that it
did not matter.
8. Committee Member Bobbitt stated his concern about the planting
of trees when there is not enough room for tree growth and how
they become a maintenance issue.
9. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members Cunningham/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion
2001-022 recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-703, subject to the conditions. Unanimously approved.
E. Site Develooment Permit 2001-693; a request of JR Properties for The
99C Stores for review of landscaping and architectural plans for a
shopping center including a 23,000 square foot store.
1. Planning Consultant Nicole Criste presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
2. Mr. Jeff Rothbard, representing JR Properties, stated they agreed
with Conditions #1-5. On Condition #6 they would like to request
a reduction from eight feet to six feet on the split block. On
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Conditions #7 and #8 they would like to discuss them as they
relate to the awnings and the applicant's identify. Condition #10,
the concern about the eight foot tree wells coming out into the
drive aisles. On Condition #12; the location where staff has
indicated the trees is the pedestrian access point out to the street.
Planning Manager Christine di Iorio clarified they had to provide
access from a public sidewalk and currently Jack in the Box has a
sidewalk to a certain point and staff was looking for this applicant
to provide a circulation plan to identify the public access.
Discussion followed regarding the pedestrian access and
landscaping.
3. Committee Member Cunningham stated that from a design
standpoint, he would like to see that it is designed not to just meet
the requirements so that it does become user friendly. Need to
have a sensitivity to the design to show that it will be designed to
be used. Staff stated they need to show access to Home Depot
as well as from the street to their site. Mr. Rothbard stated his
concern was keeping enough parking stalls and visibility from the
street on to the tenants. They are finding it hard to find enough
tenants for the remainder of the site because of the visibility from
the street.
4. Committee Member Cunningham stated that is due to the design
of the property. The stores are in the back. You do want a sign
that is 50-feet high so it can be seen and the community
complains they do not want all the clutter. Therefore the store
owner ends up reduce the rental costs.
5. Staff reviewed the conditions stating that there was no issue with
Conditions #1-11. Condition #12 would be reworded to state,
"Pedestrian access be designed with sensitivity with attractive
landscaping." Staff clarified that they were in agreement with
Conditions #1-5. The applicant is requesting Condition #6 be
reduced in size for the split face block from eight to six.
Commissioner Cunningham requested it remain at eight feet.
6. Staff stated they were asking that Condition #7 be amended to
have all columns being faced with limestone up to eight feet and
take on a feature that was proposed on Building "B".
7. Mr. Jim Berlin, representing The 9ge Stores, stated one of the
difficulties they face as a company, is that they originated the
concept for this type of store. There are a lot of knock off stores
out there and they regularly get phone calls from customers who
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are confusing their store with the others. In order to distance
themselves from the knock-off stores, they designed the awning
and retrofitted their stores. The awning and tile on the pilasters
are their identify. They can do something with the awning colors
and perhaps put them closer against the wall.
a. Committee Member Cunningham asked if everyone of their store
in all cities look exactly the same. Mr. Berlin stated no.
Committee Member Cunningham asked that the applicant give
some sensitivity to what La Quinta is trying to maintain in regard
to architectural style. The problem is that with box stores, staff
has made an effort to create some continuity between the
buildings.
9. Mr. Berlin asked if they could duplicate the arch as Home Depot
has and use the blue in a tubular design on the parapet that is
flush to the building. Staff asked if it was an awning or structural
component. Mr. Berlin stated it would be tubular steel or a metal
sheet that would be flush with the parapet. Discussion followed
regarding a potential design.
10. Committee Member Cunningham stated he was not opposed to
the blue tile but on the individual columns because they were far
enough from the street, it gives personal identity for the store that
would tie into whatever is done with the signs. Staff suggested
keeping Condition 7 as written and add Condition a.A. stating "a
blue tubular steel element similar to Home Depot, may be
permitted above the storefront." Mr. Berlin stated this will give
them more than what they are proposing. Planning Consultant
Nicole Criste stated no, what they are proposing is more, but staff
is not. Mr. Berlin stated they were not in agreement with what
was being proposed.
11 . Committee Member Cunningham asked what businesses currently
has awnings. Staff reviewed what was existing on the current
storefronts in the area. Committee Member Cunningham stated
that he would not object to an awning that was between the
central columns, flush at the top and projected out two feet at the
bottom. Discussion followed as to the look and location of the
awnings.
12. Committee Member Cunningham asked if there was going to be a
bike path along the rear elevation. Planning Manager Christine di
Iorio stated staff will be requesting a wall with openings be
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constructed when it goes to the Planning Commission. Committee
Member Cunningham stated his concern was that the whatever
trees are planted they be able to sustain the growth until the bike
path is constructed.
13. Committee Member Bobbitt asked where the air conditioning units
would be placed. Staff stated on the roof and would be screened.
14. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Member Cunningham/Bobbitt adopt Minute Motion
2001-024 recommending approval of Site Development Permit
2001-693, subject to the conditions as modified.
a. Condition #12: Pedestrian access with sensitivity to
attractive landscaping.
b. Condition 8.A: a single awning not extending beyond the
columns of the central columns of The 99<:: Store may be
permitted, flush with the columns and extending two feet
out at the bottom.
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/Bobbitt to. adjourn this regular meeting of the Architecture and
Landscaping Review Committee to a regular meeting to be held on June 6, 2001. This
meeting was adjourned at 11 :40 a.m. on May 2, 2001.
Respectfully submitted,
/-iG#~~)~:r-
Yifu6AAWYER, Executive Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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