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2010 10 06 ALRC MinutesMINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA October 6, 2010 10:00 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Planning Manager David Sawyer who led the Committee in the flag salute. B. Committee Members Present: Jason Arnold, Kevin McCune, and David Thoms Committee Member Absent: None C. Staff present: Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager David Sawyer, Assistant Planner Eric Ceja, and Secretary Monika Radeva II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of May 13, 2010. Committee Member David Thoms, the only current member present at that meeting, and able to vote on this matter, had no comments or corrections. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2010-915 a request submitted by Tony Kraatz, Ken Garff Automotive Group for consideration of renovation and expansion of an existing vacant automotive dealership site located on the southwest corner of Highway 111 and La Quinta Drive (Centre at La Quinta -Auto Centre). Assistant Planner Eric Ceja presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes October 6, 2010 Planning Director Johnson visually clarified to the Committee, based on the submitted site plan, the proposed building additions and site improvements, including landscaping along the dealership's perimeter. Committee Member McCune asked staff where on the site plan the applicant needed to expand the drive aisle to meet the minimum width municipal code requirement of twenty-six feet. Staff pointed to the location on the plans and noted the applicant should easily be able to meet the condition. Committee Member McCune asked if there were any concerns with the turning radius in that area required by the Fire Department. Staff said the Fire Department had expressed a concern and had requested further information from the applicant on the turning radius. Staff noted that if the twenty-six feet width requirement was met, that would also expand the turning radius and the applicant would be compliant with the Fire Department requirements. Committee Member Thoms asked for clarification on the proposed landscaping improvements along Highway 111. Planning Manager Sawyer said the existing service center on the north side would be expanded and the service exit would become more prominent. He explained staff's recommendation was for the applicant to use limestone to frame the north service exit and to enhance and soften the landscaping along the north side of the adjacent screen wall. Committee Member Arnold asked what the cloud symbol used on the site plan indicated. Staff replied the cloud symbol is used on the site plan in two ways, first, where new planting is proposed (plant materials are identified) and second, where existing planting is to remain (plant materials are not identified). Mr. Michael R. Hastings, Principal with Direct Point Advisors, 611 South Orchard Drive, Burbank, CA 91506, introduced himself. He said the City of La Quinta was working on a comprehensive landscape improvement plan for Highway 111. This plan would also address the automotive display of merchandise, taking away the current display of cars on the dealership's surrounding grassy areas, and place them in designated pods. Mr. Hastings explained the site plans were not specific in regards to the landscape improvements because the applicant was waiting to get direction from the City on what the new requirements would be. At that time a Final Landscaping Application would be submitted with the P:\Reports - ALRC\2010\ALRC_11-3-10\ALRC MIN_10-6-10_Approved.doc 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes October 6, 2010 Planning Department identifying the proposed landscape improvements for the site. Mr. Walt Wagner, Architect with Wagner Architecture Group, 815 Civic Center Drive, Suite #101, Oceanside, CA 92054, introduced himself and confirmed that the cloud symbols represented the existing landscaping. He said the graphics were taken directly from the survey and were depicted exactly the way the surveyor had graphically presented it. Committee Member McCune expressed a concern regarding the perimeter landscaping along Auto Center Drive and La Quinta Drive. He said the existing landscaping was either dead or had not been kept up properly and he would like to see it improved. Mr. Hastings replied the landscaping around the entire dealership's perimeter would be addressed, not just along Highway 111. However, he said the applicant would like to hold off from submitting any landscaping improvement plans until the City has given them direction as the same landscaping theme that was decided upon for the Highway 111 perimeter would be carried throughout the entire project as well as the perimeters along Auto Center and La Quinta Drives. Committee Member McCune recommended that the applicant re- face the service exit on the north side the same way as the entrance on the south side. He said he was very pleased with the proposed design on the south entrance and found it was important to have signage along Highway 1 1 1 as it would give the dealership more exposure. Committee Member McCune asked for more information on the proposed aluminum sunshades. Mr. Wagner replied the sunshades were not solid to the sky and had slated louvers which provided shade on the glass windows. They were placed above the doors and windows and were horizontal. Planning Director Johnson said the sunshades were very much like awnings, they are horizontal and project out approximately three feet providing solar control along the east and south sides of the Cadillac building. He said staff had been discussing with the applicant to incorporate a little eyebrow of that awning above the P:\Reports - ALRC\2010\ALRC_11-3-10\ALRC MIN_10-6-10_Approved.doc ~ Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes October 6, 2010 service exit roll-up door, sticking out about twelve inches giving it some architectural depth. Committee Member Thoms said he would like to see enhancement of the landscaping along all perimeters of the proposed dealership at this time. He acknowledged the applicant had stated it would be better to wait until they have been given direction from the City, but he recommended that there is no delay for the landscape improvements. He briefly discussed the poor condition of the existing landscaping at the site. Planning Director Johnson said the landscaping improvements for this project were very minor. He talked about the large amount of turf that was prevalent along Highway 1 1 1 and the City's plans to convert it to desert scape through the Highway 111 re-design project. He said staff agreed with the applicant that it would be better to hold off and address the landscaping at a later time in order to ensure that their landscaping would have a consistent theme that matched what would go along Highway 1 1 1 . Committee Member Thoms asked who was in charge of the Highway 111 re-design project. Staff replied Ron Gregory and Associates is working with the City on the re-design project and RGA Consulting would be involved in the implementation process. Planning Director Johnson said staff agreed with the Committee's comments that the landscaping needed to be addressed, but felt that timing-wise, it was better to wait and ensure continuity in the enhancement of Highway 1 1 1. Committee Member Thoms said he was surprised that the dealership was willing to open without addressing the landscaping along the Auto Center Drive and La Quinta Drive perimeters. He said these two streets, though located behind Highway 1 1 1, were in fact the front door to the dealership. He asked about the presumed timing for the completion of the re-design project. Planning Director Johnson replied the design concept is expected to be completed within the next ninety days. Thereafter, the City would have to closely work with all three dealerships along Highway 1 1 1 and schedule the design implementation. Discussion followed regarding the multiple owners that would be affected by the Highway 111 re-design project and the P:\Reports - ALRC\2010\ALRC_11-3-10\ALRC MIN_10-6-10_Approved.doc 4 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes October 6, 2010 comprehensiveness of the project which incorporated not only landscaping, but vehicle displays and signage as well. Committee Member Thoms suggested the applicant should clean up and maintain the perimeter landscaping and the palm trees until the improvements could be implemented. Planning Director Johnson said the Committee could make that recommendation to the Planning. Commission for consideration. Discussion followed regarding the landscape maintenance issues associated with the site. Committee Member McCune asked if the City's Public Works Department would be working with RGA Consulting on the implementation of the re-design project. Planning Director Johnson replied both, Planning and Public Works Departments, would be closely involved. Committee Member McCune asked if RGA Consulting would be responsible for the dealerships' perimeter landscaping along Highway 1 1 1 as well. Staff replied all three dealerships would have to submit Final Landscaping Applications with the Planning Department for the proposed improvements and explained the review and approval process. Committee Member Arnold said that keeping the landscape uniform all across Highway 111 would make a big difference and would look very nice. Discussion followed regarding staff's and RGA Consulting joint efforts on the re-design project, the types of trees that would be appropriate to use in order to provide shade and not obstruct the line of sight, etc. Committee Member Thoms asked if the Highway 111 re-design project would affect privately owned property. Planning Director Johnson replied the only private property that would be affected would be the three dealerships and the developer of that complex. He said at this time the City was not putting any obligation onto the dealerships, but once the re-design was completed, it was expected that they try to incorporate the design onto their site's other street frontages. P:\Reports - ALRC\2010\ALRC_11-3-10\ALRC MIN_10-6-10_Approved.doc 5 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes October 6, 2010 Further discussion followed between staff and the Committee regarding the implementation process and the areas that would be affected. Mr. Hastings said the applicant was more than willing to adopt and integrate the re-design concept onto their perimeter landscape and was committed to ensure that it would be properly maintained. Committee Member Arnold asked if it was the applicant's intent to carry the same design concept all throughout the entire dealership property, such as the islands, etc. Mr. Wagner replied it would all depend on the heights and tree treatments. He explained that due to the high maintenance of the cars, it was necessary to architecturally ensure that the sprinklers would not be spraying the cars or the trees would not be dropping sap on them, etc. There being no further discussion, it was moved ancF seconded by Committee Members McCune/Thorns to adopt Minute Motion 2010- 003, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2010-915 as submitted, with staff's recommendations, and with the recommendation to have the existing landscape cleaned up and appropriately trimmed and maintained. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None. VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: A. Planning Commission Update Planning Manager Sawyer said staff was continuing to work on the General Plan Update and would be bringing updates regarding relevant design and landscape issues to the Committee, probably some time in the upcoming spring. B. Discussion of Joint Council Meeting Items (Scheduled for November 9, 2010) Planning Director Johnson said the annual Joint Council Meeting with the various Commissions and Committees was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2010. He explained that both, the Planning Commission and the Committee, since the Committee reported to the P:\Reports - ALRC\2010\ALRC_11-3-10\ALRC MIN_10-6-10_Approved.doc 6 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes October 6, 2010 Planning Commission, would be attending the meeting together from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Committee Member Thoms asked to be notified of the meeting details. Planning Director Johnson asked the Committee to submit any topics they might like to discuss with the City Council during the Joint Council Meeting to the Planning Department no later than October 12, 2010. Committee Member Thoms said he would like to get more information on a re-design project of the Highway 111 and Washington Street intersection. Staff replied there were preliminary discussions about possibly implementing a triple left lane northbound on Washington Street to facilitate the movement of traffic onto Highway 1 1 1 west. Staff noted one of the impacts of the triple left lane would be that the entrance to the La Quinta Village Shopping Center from Washington Street northbound would be blocked off and the shopping center would only be accessible from the Highway 1 1 1 and Plaza La Quinta intersection. Committee Member McCune asked staff to a-mail him an electronic copy of the minutes from last year's annual Joint Council Meeting. IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/Arnold to adjourn this meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on November 3, 2010. This meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. on October 6, 2010. Respectfully s mitted, ~~ ~ ~~ MONIKA RADEVA Secretary P:\Reports - ALRC\2010\ALRC_11-3-10\ALRC MIN_10-6-10_Approved.doc 7