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2005 03 02 ALRC Minutes MINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A Regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA March 2, 2005 10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:04 a.m. by Principal Planner Stan Sawa. B. Committee Members present: Frank Christopher, Bill Bobbitt, and David Thoms. C. Staff present: Principal Planner Fred Baker, Associate Planner Martin Magana 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 February 2, 2005. There being no changes, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to approve the Minutes as submitted. Committee Member Christopher abstained. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2004-821; a request of Steward Woodard for consideration of architecture and landscaping plans for a two. story, 29,000 square foot auto dealership located on the southeast corner of Adams Street and Auto Center Drive. 1. Committee Member Thoms excused himself due to a potential conflict of interest as his residence was in close proximity to the project. 2. 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 the applicant, Steward Woodard, who gave a presentation on the new G:\WPDDCS\ALRC\3-2-05 ALRC.doc Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee March 2, 2005 architectural plans and showed a video on the new design. He noted staff was recommending the split face block, but this is not the texture they are trying to achieve. They are requesting a smooth-face off-white painted stucco block wall with a thin band of the split face block. They would also like to request a smooth trowel stucco or black metal on the front of the building. In addition, they would like to change the thin wall to an expanded closed in wall for the stairwell. 3. Committee Member Christopher asked what the white material was that is used for the siding. Mr. Woodard stated it was a painted metal. Committee Member Christopher asked that the black material be metal instead of the stucco. The left elevation for the service area, shows a cantilevered metal detail that appears to be suspended; it is a flat elevation. He would recommend taking the same metal element and putting it over the service door to make the streetscape more interesting. Mr. Woodard stated they would accommodate the Committee's req uest. 4. Committee Member Bobbitt asked the location of the where the green wall would wrap around. Mr. Woodard noted the location on the site plan. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he has no objection to the design and believes it does blend in with the rest of the Center. In regard to the split face, he does not see it as an issue. However, the blue doors are bold and jump out at you. Mr. Woodard stated they are trying to meet their national image. He agrees the rear needs the element over the service bay to add some character. Committee Member Bobbitt asked the location of the trash enclosure. Mr. Woodard noted the location on the plans. 5. There being no further questions of the applicant, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Christopher/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2005-006 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2004-821, as recommended by staff and as amended: a. Provide samples of actual precIsion and aggregate block types to the Community Development Department for final approval. b. The top precision block wall shall be a smooth trowel and the bottom a split face to be worked out with staff. G,\WPDOCS\ALAC\3-2-05 ALAC.doc 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee March 2, 2005 c. Architectural canopy shall be added over the service bay d" Additional depth shall be added on left elevation, Committee Member Thoms rejoined the Committee. B. Site Development Permit 2004-825; a request of Chris McFadden for Family Heritage Church for consideration of architectural plans for classroom building additions to an existing church facility consisting of 2,~;00 square feet located at the northwest corner of Adams Street and Miles Avenue. 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. 2. Committee Member Christopher asked if the fountain currently exists. Mr. McFadden stated it is currently a grass area. The fountain area became an alternate to artificial grass. 3. Committee Member Thoms stated there was a trash enclosure at the top west corner of the site and it should be moved to the north. He then asked what the two containers at the north of the site were used for. Mr. McFadden stated they will be relocated to the same area as the trash enclosure after the mobile home park has been better defined and will be screened. Committee Member Thoms agreed the trash enclosure should be relocated to the same area as the storage units. 4. Committee Member Thorns commended them on the design. He asked about the slump block wall as he thought the entire wall should be slump stone. Mr. McFadden stated they will all be landscaped to help eliminate any issues with graffiti. 5. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if the City had a treatment to handle graffiti. Staff explained the process. 6. There being no further questions of the applicant, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2005-007 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2004-825, as recommended by staff and as amended: G:\WPDOCS\ALRC\3-2-05 ALRC.doc 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee March 2, 2005 a. The trash enclosure shall be relocated to the north of the site with the storage units. b. The retaining wall shall be a slump stone to match the existing walls. C. Site Development Permit 2004-824; a request of Nasland Engineering for consideration of architectural and landscaping plans for a 136,000 square foot retail store and a gas station located on the southwest corner of Highway 111 and Dune Palms Road. 1. Associate Planner Martin Magana presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Staff introduced the applicants and noted the areas that still need to be addressed such as the projections on the front part of the north elevation. 2. Committee Member Thoms suggested the colored thin line on the gas station be between the thickness of the roof on the building and what is proposed. Mr. Birkland, Nasland Engineering stated it is only as thick as the metal joists. Committee Member Thoms noted a discrepancy on the site plan between the engineering plans and the architecture drawings. He asked what type of plant material will be used as palm trees would not adequately screen the bays. It should be something that will grow five to six feet in height; not a hedge, or lantana. He confirmed a wall was proposed on the east side of the parking area that would be at least six feet high. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt asked about the rear elevation. Ms. Chris Clarke, developer of the Super Wal-Mart Center, stated there is a lot of undulation and steel to give personality to the big building in the Center. Mr. Birkland noted how they have added the steel canopy to balance the building with the Center. 4. Committee Member Christopher asked the height of the building. Mr. Birkland stated the highest point is 40 feet. The highest point of the parapet is 34-feet 8-inches. Mechanical equipment would be hidden below the parapet. 5. Committee Member Christopher asked about the south elevation, as it will get a fair amount of service traffic; what is the height of the wall between this project and the residential units. Mr. Birkland stated it is an eight foot high screen wall. G:IWPDOCSIALRCI3-2-05 ALRC.doc 4 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee March 2, 2005 Ms. Clarke noted Wal-Mart has a six foot wall with dense landscaping. The trees are dense and tall. Committee Member Christopher suggested this be carried over to this site. 6. Committee Member Thoms stated his concern about the east elevation as it is blank. This elevation faces Dune Palms Road and is highly visible. Mr. Birkland noted some of the architectural details that have been added. They could use a material change for contrast. Committee Member Thoms asked if the stone material was to be used on the wall. Mr. Birkland stated it is the trash compactor wall. Community Development Director Doug Evans asked if the trash compactor could be reversed so it is not facing Dune Palms Road. They had considered reversing the loading dock to bring the trucks in from the other direction. The screen wall would continue around. 7. Committee Member Christopher stated this would be a trade off, aesthetically, but could cause more noise for the residents. The issue of lights shining into the residential units from the trucks entering needs to be addressed. 8. Committee Member Christopher stated his approval of the project, excused himself as he had a prior appointment he needed to attend, and left the meeting. 9. There being no further questions of the applicant, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2005-005 confirming their recommendation for approval of Site Development Permit 2004-824, as recommended by staff and amended: a. Revise the site plan to reflect a reversed loading dock area. b. Eliminate the parking along the rear of the building and increase landscaping. c. Reverse the trash compactor entry so that it faces south instead of north and relocate the compressors near the trash compactor and screen it. d. Maintain the architectural treatment and add similar architectural elements to the east fa<;:ade based on the revised site plan. G:\WPDOCS\ALRC\3-2-05 ALRC.doc 5 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee March 2. 2005 e. Extend the metal canopy on the north entry elevation out toward the curb as much as possible, similar to the west side of the building. f. The rear landscaping should be similar to the existing landscaping along the rear of the Wal-Mart store. g. Locate the truck turn-around area further north to allow more landscape area between the southern wall and the paved area. h. Construct a screen wall along Dune Palm Road to screen views of the loading dock areas. Gas Station: a. Reduce the thickness of the canopy as much as possible. b. Keep signs below the roof/canopy line. c. Use internally illuminated channel letters as opposed to having lighting mounted on top of the canopy. Light standards should not be mounted on the roof tops/canopies. 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 Bobbitt/Thoms to adjourn this regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a regular meeting to be held on April 6, 2005. This meeting was adjourned at 11 :41 a.m. on March 2. 2005. Respectfully submitted, G:IWPDOCSIALRCI3-2-05 ALRe.doc 6