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2006 08 02 ALRC Minutes MINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A Flegular meeting held at the La Ouinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, CA August 2, 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 and Tracy Smith. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Smith to excuse Committee Member Frank Christopher. Unanimously approved C. Staff present: Planning Manager Les Johnson, Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Smith to approve the Minutes of July 5, 2006 as submitted. Unanimously approved. B. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Smith to approve the Minutes of July 12, 2006, as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2006-866; a request of Trans West Housing, Inc., for consideration of architectural and landscaping plans for The Griffin Ranch Saddle Club for the property located on the west side of Monroe Street, south of Avenue 54. 1 . Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. r,;.,,^,pnnrc:l.ll.l );Ir\j::l~'_nh nnr' Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee August 2, 2006 2. Committee Member Smith asked what the surrounding land uses were. Staff stated to the south is single-family residential with 14 lots and north and west is the Griffin Ranch project. Committee Member Smith asked the location of the entrances to the project. Staff noted the two entrances from Monroe Street and from the interior of the Griffin Project. Ms. Marty Butler, Project Manager, noted the location of the existing equestrian uses where there are currently 80-100 horses on site. Staff noted the subject property is in an Equestrian Overlay area. . Mr. Jerry Herman, Trans West Housing, stated this was a pre-existing equestrian facility and gave a description of the previous use. He further stated they believe the use maintains the Code definition of the use. Their issue is with Condition No.2; to reverse the barn or close the south end to the residents to the south would be difficult. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt asked staff's reasoning for requiring the reversal. Staff stated that if the horse stalls were not open to the south it would reduce any odors, noise or other issues. Committee Member Bobbitt stated his issue is that the barn appears to be cheap because it is a metal building. He has no problem with the use as it is a continued use. A second issue is the recycled product that has been used on the multi-purpose trails. More particularly the installation has been a problem; it needs to be done better to keep it confined to the trails. The installation of the edging material is 18" or longer with stakes to make it hold up. 4. Committee Member Bobbitt asked why staff was asking for the separation between the pedestrian area and horse trail. Staff stated to have a wider separation between the two uses with landscaping separating them. 5. Committee Member Bobbitt questioned the landscape buffer in the CVWD easement. Staff stated it would depend on CVWD. Mr. Herman stated they would like to recommend a living fence and merge Condition Nos. 4 & 7 to reach a better solution. 6. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Smith/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2006-025 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2006-866, as recommended and amended: n.\\A1pnnrC::\l!.1 Rr\A_1_nFl nnr 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee August 2, 2006 1. The edging material used for the edging of the multi- purpose trail shall be "trek" or similar flex-resistant edging material and shall be staked and the stakes shall be 18" or longer with stakes to make it hold and inspected. 2. Delete Condition No.2. 3. Conditions Nos. 4 and 7 to be worked -out with staff at the conclusion of CVWD decision. Unanimously approved. B. Village Use Permit 2006-034; a request of Lench Design Studio, Inc., for consideration of architectural and conceptual landscaping plans for eight single-family detached town homes for the property located on the northwest side of Avenida Montezuma across the street and north of Francis Hack Park, in The Village. 1 . Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Commissioner Smith asked how the lots got to be 40-feet in width. Staff stated the lots are pre-existing. Commissioner Smith stated that due to the lot sizes and constraints the project gives the appearance of not meeting the Village <3uidelines. What if they merged all the lots? Staff stated it has been recommended, but the applicant has chosen not to merge the lots. Mr. Skip Lench, applicant, stated the purpose of the individual lots has legal implications. They do have a lot of movement in and out along the street as well as curving the street slightly. This project is downtown and what they are trying to do is bring residential into the downtown area. The wall is to protect the homeowners from the activity on the street and across the street. They could alternate the walls by raising and lowering it in different areas and still protect the yards. 3. Commissioner Smith noted a nine foot wall is just too high and some of the units may just be too large. Planning Manager Les Johnson stated the large houses on small lots are aesthetically a concern to not become a large mass. Discussion followed regarding the lack of townhouses in the City. Ms. Patrice r::.,wpnnr<:lt:.l Rr\s:l_1J)~ nn(' 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee August 2, 2006 Varge, owner of the project, explained her reasoning for wanting to have the townhouses. She compared this project to the massing of the commercial buildings that are being approved. Ms. Varge went on to articulate the design of the homes. 4. Commissioner Bobbitt stated he believes it is too massive and overbuilt. He likes the concept but, the roof lines appear to be one long line. The side elevations could have some kind of architectural detail. He has no objection to the front yard wall for the courtyard. Mr. Lench stated you could not financially do a one story. They could pull back some of the second story elements to give differential to the look. Committee Member Bobbitt suggested the second story have movement as far as pushing it back on certain units. Also, the roof line with all tile also needs some work. 5. Committee Member Bobbitt suggested the mass be broken up with more in and out to break up the blank side walls. Mr. Lench noted where they on the wall it was already depressed. 6. Committee Member Smith stated that if a portion of the second story on some of the units were removed it may help the massive look. Staff noted the stackstone is used extensively and a substitute stone should be considered. Mr. Lench asked for clarification on the sidewalls. 7. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Smith to adopt Minute Motion 2006-026 recommending approval of Village Use Permit 2006- 034, as recommended with the following amendments: 1 . The applicant shall work with staff on the recommendations made by the Committee to reach a solution to the issues raised. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS r::.\\A/pnnr"\l11 Rr\R.1-'''~ nnr 4 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee August 2, 2006 VIII. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Smith to adjourn this Regular Meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on September 6, 2006. This meeting was adjourned at 11 :56 p.m. on August 1, 2006. Respectfully submitted, / ~.\\^,pn()rC:::\lJ.1 ~r\R_1_n~ nnr 5