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2008 06 04 ALRC MinutesMINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA June 4, 2008 10:04 a.m. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:04 a.m. by Planning Manager David Sawyer who led the Committee in the flag salute. B. Committee Members present: Jason Arnold, Bill Bobbitt, and Ronald Fitzpatrick. C. Staff present: Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of March 19, 2008. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Fitzpatrick/Bobbitt to approve the minutes with the following correction: Under Discussion of the new logo, Page 7, change line three from "marking" purposes to "marketing" purposes. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: Final Landscape Plans 2008-036; a request of Apple Properties, LLC for consideration of site area landscaping plans for Applebee's Restaurant, at 45-305 Seeley Drive. Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said the report shows the conditions of approval have been met. He asked staff if they would explain what those conditions were. Planning Manager David Sawyer said the staff report indicated staff had gone through the plan check process and checked all the items previously recommended. Staff found all the items were in compliance with the recommendations. He said he would be more than happy to go over any particular item in detail if the Commissioner had a concern or questions. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said with so many projects coming to the Committee, it would be helpful to have those conditions outlined in the report. Planning Manager David Sawyer replied the purpose of the staff reports, particularly with the final landscaping plans was to focus in on consistency with complying with the conditions of approval. Rather than go through each condition, he was directing staff to point out the specific conditions that are pertinent to the application. This report addressed six of those conditions. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked if staff was satisfied the conditions were met. Staff replied they were. Planning Manager David Sawyer said they would be happy to go over the conditions to help the Committee members understand them better. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said he was just wondering, for his own edification, to be able to see those conditions were met. Committee Member Bobbitt said this item was brought before the Committee previous to the appointment of Members Arnold and Fitzpatrick. There were a few changes in plant items and as long as they had been completed he had no concerns. Committee Member Fitzpatrick mentioned somebody said this was a carry over. 2 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 Committee Member Bobbitt said this was in the corner of the parking lot of the hotel and blends in with it. There is not really a lot of landscaping, but the applicant has complied with the Committee's recommendations. He then complimented the applicant on a good overall plan. Committee Member Arnold said the plans were simple and it was easy to determine they followed the plans. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked if there had been any community involvement. Planning Manager David Sawyer said it is not a code requirement, but applicants are strongly encouraged to have such a meeting, mainly when the project is in an area of residential development. This project is in a commercial corridor and there really wouldn't be that emphasis. However, applicants with commercial projects abutting a residential area are strongly urged to hold meetings with the neighbors. Most applicants comply with that knowing that's a good thing to do early on in the process. Applicant's representative, Deborah Kerr, Kerr Project Services, said they have been very proactive about that, but it was not necessary in this particular location. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Arnold to adopt Minute Motion 2008- 014, recommending approval of Final Landscape Plans 2008-036, as recommended. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: Stamped Plans: Committee Member Fitzpatrick had a comment about the Licensed Architect's stamp. He said the stamp on these plans is the correct one as it has the renewal date on it. He has noticed, on previously stamped plans, the renewal date has not always been included. Staff replied they will look for the correct stamps on future plans. They are currently working with all applicable departments on setting up new and complete procedures for processing these types of plans. 3 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 Request for Complete Submission: Committee Member Fitzpatrick commented some projects, have come back to the Committee after previous committee members are gone. The current members do not know what conditions were imposed on the original application and he would like to see a scaled down version of what goes to the Planning Commission. This way he would know what the project was to look like, even though he did not previously review it. He gave the example of the rendering of the SilverRock project printed in the local paper. Committee Member Bobbitt commented on what was presented before the Committee on SilverRock. He said the ALRC does not review City work. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said the report presented to the Committee should be a complete presentation so they can see, and understand, what will go before the Planning Commission. Committee Member Bobbitt gave an example of the median islands on Avenue 54 and expanded further on the types of projects the Committee does and does not review. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said the narrative was great on the Applebee's project, but he would have preferred seeing some building elevations. Committee Member Bobbitt said the elevations were included in the original submission. Committee Member Fitzpatrick commented the submittal guidelines had been previously discussed. He suggested the presentation be added to the guidelines as it makes it easier to visualize what will be done on the plans. He would like to see the actual picture of the project. Committee Member Arnold said it would be helpful if they could see a complete picture of what was being built. Committee Member Fitzpatrick emphasized the final presentation should be included so the Committee could visualize how the landscaping would work within the whole project. He said it was difficult to make decisions on a project from a narrative without 4 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 visuals. He suggested visuals should be included in the submission guidelines. General discussion followed regarding some of the commercial architecture already approved in the City. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked what staff's feelings were regarding guidelines. Planning Manager Sawyer said that was what staff had intended to do with the application review. From a staff's point of view certain items are requested and if not received, the applicant is asked to bring in the required items needed. Staff is trying to be sensitive to the market, so they do some preliminary review while working on traffic studies. Staff tries to work with the developers to get their applications started and to obtain the correct materials for processing. Some developers who are used to certain procedures will have to be re-educated on any adjustments and staff needs to be willing to take things in and work with them. Committee Member Bobbitt said the approval process was part of the reason this Committee was created. It was formerly the Design Review Board with seven members. Developers complained they were hitting a stone wall and there were so many complaints they wouldn't want to go before the Review Board. The Board was disbanded and developers went directly to the Planning Commission. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked if that improved the situation. Committee Member Bobbitt said it sped things up. Committee Member Bobbitt added things don't come back to ALRC as it is just a recommending body. The City wanted to be developer- friendly and keep things rolling. As the economy tightens up it makes it more difficult for the developers and they are more reticent to process applications. Developers work in different cities and make comparisons. Planning Manager David Sawyer said the City's goal is to facilitate applications so the developer can get the reviews they need and get them through the process efficiently. Committee Member Bobbitt brought up the example of a senior housing project on Avenue 50 and Washington Street which was 5 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 improperly prepared. The architect came from Texas with a basic plan. It looked like a penal institution and the Committee said they were going to recommend against it. Then the Committee never heard anything further. Planning Manager David Sawyer said staff had just been contacted by that developer who is planning to resubmit the project taking into account the Committee's comments. They hired three designers to prepare different alternatives and were working on a final re-submittal. He said the City staff tries to work with developers and at the same time get the appropriate information to the Committee, as the decision makers. Committee Member Bobbitt said a key element to remember, when approving a project, is if the project seems to be controversial Council is going to pay a little more attention to it. He used to assume if a project went through the Planning Department the Committee should just be looking at it for landscaping. He has since learned, by the meetings held with the Council annually, apparently the City Council feels the Committee should look at it as closely as the Planning Commission. He referenced the history of the Arnold Palmer restaurant project. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said some of his questions were because he was a new Committee member. He added some of the preliminary reports, such as the EIR, are helpful in understanding the project better since ordinarily the Committee looks at only a portion of the project. Planning Manager David Sawyer said the Committee should keep in mind their charge is architecture and landscape. When it goes to the Planning Commission they look at land use, public comments, etc. It does not mean the Committee should have blinders on, but the primary focus is design, architecture and landscaping, and additional issues which reflect on the Committee's decision. Committee Member Bobbitt said some times it is hard to put your finger on exactly what the issue is. More recently, he commented on the Blend restaurant plans, their pedestrian-friendly design, and how the whole design worked. Committee Member Fitzpatrick added it is important to look at whether the design is compatible with surrounding properties. 6 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 Committee Member Bobbitt said you need to look at the overall project including what is on the property, and what is around it. It helps to have this reference. Planning Manager David Sawyer said the Committee Members have made some really good comments, in the past, on whether the projects blend in or not. It has been part of the recommendation made to the Planning Commission. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said he is having a problem following up on some of the ALRC approved projects. He had gone on-line to the City's calendar, but was unable to figure out which meeting he should check. He would like to request staff report back to the Committee on what happened to approved projects such as The Blend. Planning Manager David Sawyer commended him for his efforts and said staff would look at ways to get the Committee some feedback on a regular basis. He then reported the Blend applicant had decided not to go forward with the architectural changes. He would only be re- roofing and incorporating changes which were under the threshold of what the Committee would review. Committee Member Arnold said every business has a bottom line and when expenses are too high they have to consider cost factors. Planning Manager David Sawyer said staff would work on putting follow-up items on the ALRC agenda, but he did caution that if the item does not go to the Planning Commission there would be no way to track the outcome. He added if the Committee Members had specific questions they can always ask. Committee Member Arnold said he wondered if the comments made by the Committee were implemented. Committee Member Bobbitt suggested the Committee Members make comments when they meet with the Council each year. He said the Council pays close attention to comments on items such as plant materials. Planning Manager David Sawyer said applicants and the Planning Commission take their suggestions very seriously since the Committee Members have technical expertise. 7 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 Committee Member Bobbitt said it would be interesting to know what the Planning Commission does with those suggestions. Committee Member Bobbitt's Last Meeting: Committee Member Bobbitt said he very much enjoyed being on the Committee for the last ten years. He added he especially enjoyed working with all the staff. It has been a real learning process to see how things work and how cities go about things. He added it has been very interesting watching how the City has grown. Committee Member Arnold commented that as he is still new to the Committee, Committee Member Bobbitt has always been very helpful. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said he appreciated all of Committee Member Bobbitt's assistance. Committee Member Bobbitt said if they continue to ask a lot of good questions they'll be fine. Planning Manager David Sawyer also wanted to express his appreciation to Committee Member Bobbitt for being the cornerstone of the Committee for the last ten years. Principal Planner Stan Sawa said he echoed the Planning Manager's comments and said Committee Member Bobbitt did a wonderful job. City Projects: Committee Member Bobbitt asked why the ALRC doesn't review City projects and asked if the Planning Commission is involved with the approval of City projects; especially medians. Planning Manager David Sawyer said the Planning Commission reviews some of the media ns and others they do not. If the project requires a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or Specific Plan (SP) the Planning Commission looks at them. Technically, they would also go through the ALRC. There are just not that many City projects that require that. Committee Member Fitzpatrick commented on the City Hall project and said it was a very nice building. He asked who had approved the City Hall project. Staff replied the City Council approved the overall 8 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 design and then various departments issued their respective permits and approvals. Committee Member Arnold asked who reviewed the landscape plans. Principal Planner Stan Sawa said the landscape plans were reviewed by the Director of Public Works, as well as the Building and Planning Directors. Training: Committee Member Bobbitt said the City sent him to a couple of training sessions a few years ago and they were very interesting. The topics included environmental planning and impact and they were very helpful because the Committee Members could understand how the staff looked at things. He recommended the other members inquire about training classes. Staff said they would look into available classes and get back to the Committee on what was available. Committee Member Arnold asked about a class on the Brown Act. Committee Member Bobbitt said any elected or appointed official must have ethics training and classes on the Brown Act. He explained some of the ramifications of not having this training. Staff said they would follow-up and make sure the members get the proper training. New Committee Members: Committee Member Bobbitt asked if there was any information on the new committee members. Committee Member Arnold asked if staff knew the date Council would be appointing the new member. Staff was unsure of the date but said they would advise the members of the date. Committee Member Arnold asked about the procedure for re-applying for the Committee when their term ends. Committee Member Bobbitt gave him an overview of the procedures. 9 Architecture & Landscape Review Committee Minutes June 4, 2008 VIII. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Arnold to adjourn this meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on July 2, 2008. This meeting was adjourned at 10:56 a.m. on June 4, 2008. Respectfully submitted, CAROLYN WALKER. Executive Secretary 10