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2009 01 07 ALRC MinutesMINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA January 7, 2009 CALL TO ORDER 10:07 a.m. A. This regular meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:07 a.m. by Planning Manager David Sawyer who led the Committee in the flag salute. B. Committee Members present: Jason Arnold, Ronald Fitzpatrick and Ray Rooker. C. Staff present: Assistant City Manager Douglas Evans, Management Analyst Deborah Powell, Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager David Sawyer, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of November 5, 2008. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Rooker/Arnold to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Silverrock Clubhouse Final Landscape Plans a request for consideration of Final Landscape Plans for the Silverrock Clubhouse located at the southwest corner of Jefferson Street and Avenue 54 within the Silverrock Resort Development. Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 7, 2009 Assistant City Manager Douglas Evans presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Committee Member Rooker asked if said there were two ways to access the building. Staff said yes and explained the reason for the two accesses. Committee Member Rooker asked about the number of water features. Staff explained where the water features were and the reason behind the choice for those features. Committee Member Arnold had a question about over-seeding and lawn maintenance. Mr. Yul Roe, Horton-Shepardson Associates, 42-635 Melanie Place, Suite 101, Palm Desert CA 92211, introduced himself and explained over-seeding procedures and maintenance of the property which would take into consideration the CVWD water efficiency requirements. Assistant City Manager Evans also commented on the secondary parking lot and access to the Clubhouse building as well as explaining the necessity of the use of the facilities for events other than golf. He showed an exhibit of what the area would look like if used for weddings or other event plans. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked if there was anything on the roof. Staff responded there were solar panels. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked what type of amenities were included in the clubhouse building. Staff outlined the amenities planned for the clubhouse as shown on the exhibits. Committee Member Fitzpatrick had a question about the inclusion of conservation components and asked if the City would be seeking LEED certification. Staff said the Redevelopment Agency has authorized them to seek LEED certification and explained the whole process and where the City was in the process. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked if solar water heaters were being used. Staff said no. 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 7, 2009 Committee Member Fitzpatrick had a question about maintenance of the art pieces and the artist's involvement. Staff explained the Federal Law which was applicable to the art pieces, the need for maintenance/upkeep, and gave an example of a current art piece located in the City. Committee Member Rooker commented that this was one of the most important projects the Committee would review due to the investment to the City. He said he was disappointed in the architectural venue the City chose. He said he liked Desert Willows because it was very unique with high visual impact and added it was important that everything be done very, very well in order for the Silverrock Clubhouse project to be successful. He said one of the things you can do to uplift visual impact is to use color and commented that he did not like the color in the earlier architectural rendering. He liked the exhibit with the bright yellow color and it would be important that the building retain that color. Staff responded by saying the colors had already been decided on by the Redevelopment Agency and Council, and added the difference in the colors, from one exhibit to another, may be due to copier quality. Committee Member Rooker had some additional comments on the landscaping which included, 1) the addition of palms in the entry as they would emphasize and enhance the entry, 2) the colors of the bouganvilla which should should be more capatible with the purple hues of the surrounding landscape, 3) the suggestion of several additional types of palms such as the Traverler's palm, which resembles a giant Bird of Paradise. He then shared some photos of various palms with staff and members in attendance and pointed out the specific areas he was commenting on. Mr. Roe explained why the various elements of the landscaping palette were chosen. He added the flora was chosen to include a lush palette with a lot of layering and textures as well as color. He said as you move away from the clubhouse you will see more of a desert palette. They were very careful with the variety of plants and the seasonal color palettes. 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 7, 2009 Committee Member Rooker had photos of the type of bouganvillas he thought should be planted there. He added no oranges or yellows had been included in that color palette and commented on the Palmilla project and their successful use of color. Committee Member Arnold had several questions about the irrigation plans including what type of time clock, and valves were being used. Mr. Roe, said they were using Weather Track and incorporating all of the control system around the clubhouse area with the golf course area so the golf course manager can control the whole area. He added they would be using a very sophisticated weather station. Mr. Roe then commented on the radio control (remote control) system. Committee Member Arnold said that was a very valuable system as well as the fact he loved the project. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said the project was very nice and made a magnificent architectural statement. He congratulated the City on a successful project. Committee Member Rooker said he felt strongly about the comments he made and recommended approval of the project with his comments being taken into advisement. Assistant City Manager Evans said his comments on the palms will be taken into consideration and explained how the palette was chosen. He added the City has to be very cautious about choosing plants that are appropriate for the area due to cost factors. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Fitzpatrick/Arnold to adopt Minute Motion 2009-001, recommending approval of Silverrock Clubhouse Final Landscape Plans, as recommended. Unanimously approved. B. Development Application Requirements a request of staff for consideration of the Development Application Requirements in preparation of the update of all Planning Department applications. a Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 7, 2009 Planner Manager David Sawyer passed out a copy of the current Site Development Permit application to use as a point of reference then presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. The Committee Members discussed the possible additional items which could be included on the application and made the following suggestions for addition in the application: o Include conceptual landscape/irrigation plans. o Include a neighborhood plan, not just a site plan, which would include a traffic study. Staff suggested an aerial might provide the necessary information. o Include street elevations which would include the adjacent projects or buildings. o Include section drawings which show how buildings align (height-wise) and includes courtyards, etc. o Include colored landscape plans and how the landscape relates to buildings. o Possibly include building shadow-lines. o Include request for 3-D model for presentation at Committee/Commission/Council meetings. o Include colored elevations. o Require that all plans and documents be signed/stamped by appropriate professional; i.e., landscape architect, etc. o Include the actual Code Section stating professional credential requirements for plan preparation. Planning Director Johnson added a comment that staff would be requiring more professional-looking plans, than previously accepted, and that requirement could help alleviate some of the Committee Members' concerns. He showed a previous plan and what happens in the processing of projects and their landscaping plans and gave some historical background on how the landscape and final landscape plan review had evolved to address the concerns of the Committee Members. He then explained why the ALRC only gets a final version of the landscaping plans and the problems involved with the timing of CVWD reviews and the possibility of submission to the ALRC at an earlier date to help alleviate some of those problems. 5 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 7, 2009 VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: Committee Member Fitzpatrick thanked the City Council for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic passes. Committee Member Fitzpatrick said he had some items to discuss with the Planning Commission and asked when the Joint Meeting would be held. Staff responded that the date had not yet been set, but would get back to the Committee Members with the date and time at the next meeting. Committee Member Fitzpatrick asked about whether or not a Chairman needed to be elected for this Committee. Planning Director Johnson responded that this was a committee, not a commission, and this was not a requirement. However, he added, if the Committee Members felt the process of staff running the meeting was cumbersome they could make a suggestion to change the process and elect a Chairman. The Committee Members' agreed the current process was fine and no Chairman was needed. VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: Planning Commission Update: Planning Manager Sawyer said there were no updates because of the light schedule at the end of 2008. Planning Director Johnson suggested if the Committee Members' had specific items, they wished to discuss at the Joint Meeting, they could e-mail them to him. He then said the joint meeting may be scheduled at the first Planning Commission meeting in March, but the Committee Members would be informed well in advance of the meeting. He stated they would need to discuss their suggestions as an agenda item to obtain a group consensus since they would only be able to discuss two to four items in the time allowed. He said the next meeting agenda would include time dedicate to that discussion. Ed Alderson, Chairman of the Planning Commission, thanked the Committee Members for allowing him to sit in on the meeting as it was very informative. 6 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 7, 2009 IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Fitzpatrick/Arnold to adjourn this meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on February 4, 2009. This meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m. on January 7, 2009. Res~ully /s''ulIbmitted, ~/~ U~ CAROL'YN WALKER Executive Secretary