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2005 02 02 ALRC Minutes MINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A Regular meeting held at the La Ouinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Ouinta, CA February 2, 2005 10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This mel~ting 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: Bill Bobbitt, and David Thoms. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to excuse Committee Member Christopher. C. Staff prElSent: Principal Planners Stan Sawa and Fred Baker, Associate Planner Martin Magana and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: A. Staff requested the Agenda be reorganized to take Item A. to C., B. to A. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of January 5, 2005. Commissioner Thoms asked that Item A.1. be checked to verify who was present to represent the applicant. Committee Member Bobbitt asked that Page 2, Item 5, be corrected regarding the spelling of the palm, Chamaerops. There being no changes, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to approve the Minutes as corrected. 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. C:\Documents and Senings\cwalker\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7\2-2-05 ALRC.doc Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee February 2, 2005 1. Committee Member Thoms excused himself due to a potential conflict of interest as his residence was in close proximity to the project. 2. Staff continued this item to March 3, 2005, due to a lack of a quorum. B. Site Development Permit 2004-823; a request of Taylor Woodrow Homes, Inc. for consideration of architectural and landscaping plans for four prototype unit plans for construction in Tract 31874 located at the northwest corner of Monroe Street and Avenue 53. 1. Principal Planner Stan Saw a presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Mr. A. J. Jarvis, the applicant, and Ron Gregory, landscape architect, stated they were available to answer any questions. 2. Committee Member Thoms asked why they wanted to use the solid tongue and groove (TNG) gates. Mr. Jarvis stated the concept is to stay with the early California look and the use of some of these materials will allow this to happen. Early rustic characteristic with (TNG) solid gate design. It adds more of a Spanish design. Committee Member Thoms asked what material would be used on the perimeter wall. Ron Gregory stated the pilasters were stone veneer with a stucco block wall finish. The colors are to be determined, but will match the gates. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he had no issues with the design of the project as it is attractive. Mr. Jarvis went on to explain the design of the gates. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he was concerned about the heaviness of the gates and whether they would hold up to the winds here in the desert. Mr. Jarvis stated all the hardware will be upgraded to handle the wind load. Committee Member Bobbitt stated he is always concerned that the wood will warp in the desert weather. Mr. Gregory stated they will have a steel frame and the wood will be more of a trim. They do, however, want it to be weathered to look old. The wood material will be a cedar product that has a ten year warranty. C:\Oocuments and Settings\cwalker\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7\2-2-05 ALRC.doc 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee February 2, 2005 4. Committee Member Thoms asked if there were any safety issues with a solid gate you cannot see through. Mr. Jarvis started he has no idea regarding this. It is aesthetically driven. Staff stated they are not aware of any problems. 5. Committee Member Bobbitt asked if the windows on the side elevations had a reveal. Mr. Jarvis explained they would. Committee Member Bobbitt asked about the finish on the exterior. Mr. Jarvis stated it is a sand finish with no trowel. They want the garage doors to have an aged look to carryon the authenticity look. Custom Spanish tiles on the roof will be used. 6. There being no further questions of the applicant, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to adopt Minute Motion 2005-003 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2004-823, as recommended by staff. C. Site Development Permit 2004-819; a request of Ehline Company for consideration of architectural and landscaping plans for four prototypical residential plans for Tentative Tract Map 31202 located on the southwest corner of Avenue 52 and Monroe Street. 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 Chris Herman, who gave a presentation on the project. 2. Committee Member Thoms asked about the lawn strip adjacent to the street. Mr. Herman stated they use a low angle irrigation to not spray in the air. 3. Committee Member Bobbitt stated decomposed granite is a big maintenance problem and he would not encourage its use. He would suggest running the turf to the edge of the street and place the irrigation heads 18 inches in as the half sprays will still reach all the turf. There does need to be a slight grade. Mr. Herman stated a new irrigation system was being presented. by CVWD. Committee Member Bobbitt stated if CVWD's plans have been improved then it is worth looking at. Discussion followed regarding irrigation problems. C:\Documents and Settings\cwalker\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7\2.2-05 ALRe.doc 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee February 2, 2005 4. There being no further questions of the applicant, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to adopt Minute Motion 2005-004 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2004-819, as recommended by staff. Unanimously approved. D. Site Development Permit 2004-824; a request of Nasland Engineering for consideration architectural and landscaping plans for a 136,00 square foot retail store and 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 explained the elevations in the packet had changed since the packets were distributed. Staff introduced Stan Rothbard, who gave a presentation on the project. 2. Committee Member Bobbitt asked the height elevations. Staff explained it was governed by the Specific Plan which stated 40 feet. Discussion followed regarding the height of the building. 3. Committee Member Thoms asked the location of the service station. The applicant explained the location on the plans and the colors will be the same. Community Development Director' Doug Evans asked if the thickness of the facia will be the same thickness. The applicant stated it could be; it is prefabricated and they can make it the same. Staff asked that it be a very thin line. 4. Committee Member Thoms stated he liked the design. The applicant explained the landscaping was to soften and add more interest to the front. 5. Committee Member Bobbitt asked about the irrigation on the planters as the maintenance can be a problem to the management. He stressed there be a drainage system in each of the planters to eliminate the problem. Mr. Birkland, project manager, stated they would look into it. It is a zero curb, but there is a storm drain close enough to allow this type of drainage. C:\Documents and Settings\cwalker\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7\2-2-05 ALAe.doc 4 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee February 2, 2005 6. Committee Member Thoms asked about the landscape plans. Mr. Birkland explained the landscape plan. 7. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the Chilean Mesquite is not a recommended tree as they will not last over time. He stated the tree wells make the difference as to whether or not the trees will live. He would suggest they be trimmed properly, but this is hard to enforce. He would prefer dementias trees. Mr. Birkland stated the problem is the City's requirement for shade within two years. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the Pepper and Chilean Mesquite are the first ones to die. 8. Ms. Chris Clarke stated this project is part of the La Quinta Centre Specific Plan and the trees species have already been approved. This project will have to meet that requirement which complies with the Highway 111 Design Guidelines. 9. Committee Member Bobbitt stated it would be best if they just used a different variety of .trees. Ms. Clarke asked that they continue with what already exists. Community Development Director Doug Evans stated staff would work with the applicant to continue the theme. They may consider a slight change that could be worked into the new design. Committee Member Bobbitt stated the date palm does pose a potential for a liability regarding crown drop; therefore, he recommends they be kept away from pedestrian traffic and be inspected to not be older than 15-16 years of age and not from an old date grove. Not gurdled in any way. 10. Staff noted the screening issue in the loading area. They would like the area to be extended with landscaping. Committee Member Bobbitt asked about the truck circulation. Staff noted the circulation pattern on the site plan. Discussion followed regarding the landscaping in the loading area. Staff suggested a wall be used to screen the loading dock from Dune Palms Road. 11. Committee Member Bobbitt stated that if there is a free standing wall it may look funny. Staff stated there would be a wall in the rear. Community Development Director Doug Evans stated staff will be recommending a screen wall be constructed to screen the loading area. C:\Documents and Settings\cwalker\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7\2-2-05 ALRC.doc 5 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee February 2, 2005 12, Ms. Chris Clarke, Stamko Development stated the Center has been approved with the use of metal steel structures on all the shops that currently exist. She asked that this structure be consistent with the rest of the project. 13. Committee Member Bobbitt noted the objections some of the ALRC members had to the blue metal steel structures. Ms. Clarke stated this is one of the guidelines required by the Specific Plan. This building needs something to tie it in with the rest of the Center. The applicant stated they would use the metal space canopy to carryover the theme. Discussion followed as to how the metal could be used on this building. 14. Ms. Clarke stated she would like the same flat roof as what was approved for the WalMart Super Center. The applicant stated it would be the same. 15. Committee Members Thoms and Bobbitt asked that there be no canopy extensions protruding above the building. 16. There being no further questions of the applicant, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Thoms to adopt Minute Motion 2005-005 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2004-824, as recommended by staff and amended: a. The planter in front of the building shall be extended. b. A screen wall shall be constructed along Dune Palms Road. a. Staff to work with applicant to add the metal accents to the building. b. Architectural detail on the rear of the building shall include dense landscaping Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None C:\Documents and Settings\cwalker\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7\2.2.05 ALRe.doc 6 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee February 2, 2005 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 March 2 2005. This meeting was adjourned at 11: 26 a.m. on February 2, 2005. ~~~I:~:~ ~AWYEF( Executive Secretary C:\Documents and Settings\cwalker\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK7\2-2-05 ALRe.doc 7