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2006 12 06 ALRC Minutes MINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A Special meeting held at the La Ouinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, CA December 6, 2006 10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:07 a.m. by Planning Manager Les Johnson. B. Committee Members present: Bill Bobbitt, Frank Christopher and Tracy Smith. C. Staff present: Planning Manager Les Johnson, Principal Planners Stan Sawa and Fred Baker, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMA TIOI\I OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Christopher/Smith to approve the Minutes of October 18, 2006 as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Specific Plan 99-035, Amendment No.1; a request of East of Madison, LLC for consideration of final working drawings for Avenue 52, 54, and Monroe Street perimeters around the Madison Club for the property located south of Avenue 52, and east of Madison Street. 1 . Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information con1tained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Staff introduced Cindy Zamorez, representing East of Madison, who gave a presentation on the project. 2. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if any solution had been reached regarding the view corridors. Staff stated they were provided, but needed some revision on Monroe Street. ~.\\A/Pn()r<::\ l'J.1 Rr\ 1 ?_I'U)&; n()r Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee December 6, 2006 3. Committee Member Christopher stated they did need to weigh .. the attributes of the community within and surrounding in order to resolve the issue. He suggested the trees be moved even to 150 feet apart and tiered down the slope. 4. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the berms are excessive to begin with, but to add trees on top is an over kill. Staff noted that due to the excessive berms, staff would be closely reviewing specific plans in the future for the perimeter treatments. Ms. Zamorez stated they would like to request that the placement of the trees be coordinated with the development of the golf course. Committee Members agreed that it be spaced sporadically and not just 150 feet apart. 5. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Christopher/Smith to adopt Minute Motion 2006-034 recommending approval of Specific Plan 99- 035, Amendment No.1, as recommended. Unanimously approved. B. Site Development Permit 2006-865; a request of CNL Desert Resorts, LP for consideration of architecture and landscaping plans for a Signature Pool Facility located on the west side of Avenida Obregon, south of Avenida Obregon, in the La Quinta Resort. 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. Staff introduced David Urban of CNl Desert Resorts, and Anne Guillebeaux, EDSA, lead designer, stated they were available to answer any questions. 2. Committee Member Christopher asked what units are privately- owned units. Staff noted the tennis villas and explained where the property locations were on the site. Committee Member Christopher noted there will be an enormous amount of equipment that will create a lot of noise that will need to be mitigated as well as the movie equipment. Discussion followed regarding complaints that had been received about the project. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the noise element will be significant. Mr. Urban explained how the mechanical equipment would function and that a noise study was being required. The movie screen is not a permanent fixture, but an amenity to be used on occasion. Many of the tennis villas, adjacent to the r.,",^JPnnrC::\dl Qr\1?~,::;_n,:;; nor 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee December 6,2006 wave pool, are in the rental pool of the hotel. Planning Manager Les Johnson clarified that the environmental review would be completed before the project was taken to the Planning Commission or City Council. 4. Committee Member Smith asked if there would be a wall separating the tennis villas from the pool area. Ms. Guillebeaux stated there currently is a three foot wall but, they would be required to fence the entire area. It will have a six foot tall fence and access will only be through the main entrance. Committee Member Smith stated that in regard to the plant material, he has no concerns. There are some plants that he was unfamiliar with, but since this is private property, the applicant will replace what does not work. He would recommend the removal of the Parkinsonia trees as they are thorny and can be a nuisance. Discussion followed regarding the species that were messy and will be high maintenance. 5. Committee Member Christopher asked about the date palms. Ms. Guillebeaux explained they would not be transplanting any of the trees, but would be adding new younger trees to the site. 6. Committee Member Bobbitt asked that any palm trees used in high traffic area be healthy young trees and special care will need to be taken when any trees are transplanted. 7. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Smith/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2006-035 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2006-865, as recommended with the removal of the Parkinsonia trees and consider less deciduous trees. Unanimously approved. C. Site Development Permit 2006-874; a request of Komar Investments LLC for consideration of architectural and landscaping plans for seven commercial buildings located on the south side of Highway 111 at Depot Drive. 1. Principal Planner Fred Baker presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the- Community Development Department. Staff introduced Keith Pittsfird, SPGA Architecture and Planning, Peter Brandow, Peter Brandow and Associates Landscape Architects, Clint Knox, Project Manager, Vache Hanessian and Jim Brockman with Komar, who gave a presentation on the project.- ~,\\^,pf){)r~\ td ~r\ 1 ?_~_()~ nnr 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee December 6, 2006 2. Committee Member Christopher asked if the circulation plan was coordinated with Costco. Staff noted the main driveways and internal design were dictated by Costco. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt asked about the graphic art panels on the sides of some of the buildings. Staff explained the proposal. 4. Committee Member Christopher asked if the art work would be lit.. Mr. Pitts ford stated each piece will be lit in some manner with florescent tube lighting. 5. Committee Member Bobbitt explained he did not want any buildings with back wall that had no articulation. Mr. Pittsford explained the landscaping proposed and potential art work. Staff explained the concern was the loading dock on Building "A". Mr. Pittsford explained this building was a showroom and not a warehouse. There would not be a lot of deliveries. Staff noted the loading dock could be reduced in size. Mr. Pittsford stated there will be a gate to help screen the area. Planning Manager Les Johnson asked if the entrance to the loading dock could be arranged to minimize people cutting the corner. Mr. Brandow explained they were proposing to extend the planter to keep this from happening as well as allow the truck to pull in and out. 6. Staff discussed the treatment they were recommending for the rear of the building walls that face areas easily viewed by the public. Discussion followed regarding screen walls and landscaping that was proposed to be used for screening. Mr. Pitts ford explained they will need help from the Fire Department and others regarding the wording that would be required on the doors. 7. Committee Member Christopher suggested using a hedge instead of a wall for the parkway entrance. Mr. Pittsford asked about a green-screen that creates a hedge that is four feet in width that could be used against the building. Mr. Brandow suggested a short hedge be used to blend in with the rest of the Center. 8. Committee Member Bobbitt stated it would depend on the species of hedge. He suggested alternative species. n,\wpnnrC::\61 Qr\19_MJ\~ n()r 4 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee December 6, 2006 9. Committee Member Smith asked that the thorny trees be replaced as well as changing some of the deciduous species. Also, use a different vine that is not poisonous. 10. Staff explained the articulation being recommended for Building "1-1" where the rear wall faces the gas station. Mr. Pittsford explained the articulation they have added. 11. Committee Member Christopher asked that the access doors on the buildings be better defined. Committee Members all agreed with the use of artwork on the back of the buildings. Committee Member Christopher questioned the circulation at this center entrance. Why was there an island and not a two lane driveway all the way into the center. Staff explained it is an area of concern and will be monitored to see where the traffic flows. Discussion followed regarding how the traffic circulation would flow. Committee Member Christopher asked if the steel beams on Building "0" would be treated. Mr. Pitts ford explained the material and treatment. 12. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Smith/Christopher to adopt Minute Motion 2006-036 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2006-874, as recommended with the deletion of the Gleditsia Tricanthos "Sunburst" trees and Gelsemium Sempervirens vine, and adding a linear hedge on the east side of Building "E" as well as Building "H"; Building "A" delete the screen wall. Unanimously approved. 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 Christopher/Smith to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on January 3, 2007. This meeting was adjourned at 11 :38 a.m. on December 6, 2006. Res ctfully submitted, . ~<<--/ Ive Secretary r.;.\\MPnnr<::\61 Qr\1 ?_~_()R nor 5