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2006 12 14 ALRC Minutes Special MeetingMINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA December 14, 2006 10:04 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:04 a.m. by Principal Planner Stan Sawa who led the Committee in the flag salute. B. Committee Members Present: Bill Bobbitt, Tracy Smith and Frank Christopher. Committee Members Absent: None C. Staff present: Planning Manager Les Johnson, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Assistant Planner Jay Wuu II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Item A -Site Development Permit 2006-875 was pulled from the agenda. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of September 20, 2006. There being no comments or corrections it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Christopher to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2006-877 a request submitted by Adobe Holdings, Inc. for consideration of architecture and landscaping plans for four prototypical residential plans and common areas for the Village at Coral Mountain located within Tract 31249, on the south side of Avenue 58, west of Madison Street. Assistant Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. P:\Reports - ALRC\2006\I2-14-06\ALRC MIN_12-14-06_Unapproved.doc Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 14, 2006 Committee Member Christopher was concerned about the main entrance and the distance available in case someone pulled in and wanted to turn around to back out. He referenced Condition of Approval No. 2. Staff explained the reasons for including Condition No. 2 and the vehicular turnaround. Committee Member Smith asked who would be using this entrance. Staff replied anyone with a transponder. That was verified by the applicant who said that was a secondary entrance for the homeowners and for construction and maintenance vehicles. The applicant then referenced an exhibit and pointed out how the traffic would flow with the turnout area by the gate. Committee Member Christopher asked about large trucks and moving vans. The applicant responded it may be a tight radius for moving vans but it was meant to accommodate large trucks. Principal Planner Sawa stated all the access issues would be reviewed by the Public Works Department and they would make sure that the Fire Marshal also reviewed it. Committee Member Bobbitt said the biggest issue was the two- story units and the consideration of what was eventually going to be developed in the area surrounding the project. Staff responded the Andalusia project was planned but they did not yet have any phasing for the area, west of Madison, but it was proposed to be houses on a golf course. Committee Member Christopher asked where the two-story homes were currently proposed. Staff said they did not know at this time. Committee Member Bobbitt said he really would not like to see the two-story units right up against the perimeter walls where they could look down into their neighbors' yards. P:\Reports - ALRC\2006\12-14-06\ALRC MIN_I2-14-06_Unapproved.doc 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 14, 2006 Frank Stolz of South Coast Architects, 13 Corporate Plaza, Suite 210, Newport Beach, CA 92660, introduced himself and replied the two-story components that are part of these homes are actually very minimal and they are set to the front of the homes. They are sky decks with some covered areas, so very minor components. There is absolutely no way that those components can look into the yards that would be adjoining them on the back side or the rear of their homes. Committee Member Bobbitt said of more concern was the height of the buildings. He commented on the layout of the yards and the building proximity to the property lines. Mr. Stolz pointed to the exhibits to reinforce his previous comments. Committee Member Christopher commented on the fine job they had done in keeping the units away from the back wall. He added a good streetscape would demand that the heights of the models be varied. Robert Rippe, Adobe Holdings, P O Box 1396, La Quinta CA (developer of the project) introduced himself and said a 640 acre park was proposed on the West boundary which would eliminate the possibility of homes on that side. The south boundary is the golf course, so there would be three sides without houses. The fourth, or east, side is owned by a private developer that had not sold the land yet. He turned to staff for verification. Staff responded the east side was actually vacant, un-entitled land, and only the south boundary was the Andalusia residential development, with no unit layout at this time. Committee Member Bobbitt was concerned that things could change and the applicant would end up facing a straight up wall which could not be softened, even with the addition of trees. He suggested the two-story units be stepped enough to provide sufficient articulation to break up the straight line. Committee Member Christopher said some of them basically have a two-story element right at the very front of the house. The whole back side of the house is one story. There was only one model that had an element that was of any substantial size. P:\Reports - ALRC\2006\12-14-06\ALRC MIN_I2-14-06_Unapproved.doc 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 14, 2006 Mr. Stolz added the vision of their client was to create homes that were really elevated in terms of more of a custom appearance. When this product was designed he reviewed the rear elevations to make sure they would be aesthetically pleasing as a street scene. Committee Member Smith said he agreed with staff's comments about the mesquite, bottle, and pepper trees, and suggested alternative species be used. Committee Member Bobbitt commented on the various problems he had encountered with these tree varieties. Mr. Stolz said that was fine. He then asked if the trees are maintained by the Association and they are willing to accept the responsibility why would they not want those trees. Committee Member Christopher responded with anecdotal evidence of how costly those tree varieties were to the Rancho La Quinta Homeowners' Association (HOA). Committee Member Bobbitt commented on the types of trees that do poorly under the local wind conditions; number one being the California Pepper (Schinus molle), and number two the Chilean mesquite (Prospopis chilensis). He added that they are no longer planted at PGA West and the tree loss, due to winds, has dropped dramatically. Mr. Stolz asked for recommendations for replacement trees of similar character. Committee Member Bobbitt suggested he get something deep- rooted and the type of tree that doesn't tend to blow over such as a Lysiloma watsonii, which is making a comeback; but is somewhat deciduous. Committee Member Smith said the deciduous trees tend to be better trees. He commented on bottle trees and the maintenance problems they incur. Committee Member Bobbitt concurred and said he was concerned about the problem for the future HOA. He gave anecdotal evidence P:\Reports - ALRC\2006U2-14-06\ALRC MIN_12-14-06_Unapproved.doc 4 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 14, 2006 of the plant palette a developer typically uses and what happens when the HOA takes over. General discussion followed regarding the pros and cons of several varieties such as the Geijera parviflora, Parkinsonia hybrid, and several Acacia varieties. Committee Members Smith and Christopher questioned the style of architecture. Mr. Stolz said it was part of the Spanish vernacular of architecture but it was influenced by the period when Spain was under the control of the Moorish Empire. It is considered a Colonial type of architecture or Moorish-oriented in terms of Spanish architecture. Committee Member Bobbitt asked who the owner was. Mr. Rippe responded that he was. Committee Member Smith asked if there were perimeter wall designs. Staff said yes. They were plain white stucco. Committee Member Christopher said it showed a slight cap and what it was made of. Staff responded it was apre-cast concrete cap. Committee Member Bobbitt commented on the wood garage doors and maintenance issues in the desert. General discussion followed on garage door material choices, including varieties of wood, various finishes, and the use of fiberglass doors. Mr. Stolz asked if Condition No. 5 should be wider along the street than it is shown. Staff asked if he was referring to the equestrian trail. Committee Members Bobbitt said yes, it was a re-design of the equestrian trail so that the smaller landscape buffer would be adjacent to the wall. General discussion followed regarding the trail and what was needed. P:\Reports - ALRC\2006U2-14-06\ALRC MIN_12-14-06_Unapproved.doc 5 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 14, 2006 Committee Member Smith asked how wide the trail should be. Staff responded about ten feet. Discussion followed about the width of the trail, the minimum and how it could be widened. Committee Member Smith asked what the total from curb to wall was. Staff responded it was probably a total of 32 feet. Committee Member Christopher asked if the City had an established standard from the trail to the curb line. Staff responded it was normally left for staff to resolve and that is what should probably be done in this case. General discussion followed on the width of the trail and the suggestion that the City should consider adopting standards for equestrian and pedestrian trail widths. Committee Member Christopher continued with his concerns on the two-story homes and a matrix of varying streetscape. Staff asked if there were any concerns with the water features within the project. Committee Member Christopher said they looked great. Committee Member Smith asked if there was any grass anywhere. Mr. Stolz said there wasn't any turf other than that associated with the homes. General discussion followed regarding turf, water features, and the tighter water usage regulations. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Christopher/Bobbitt to adopt Minute Motion 2006-037, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2006-877, as submitted, with the suggestions as noted above. Unanimously approved. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None P:\Reports - ALRC\2006\12-14-06\ALRC MIN_12-14-06_Unapproved.doc 6 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes December 14, 2006 VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: None IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Bobbitt/Smith to adjourn this meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on January 3, 2007. This meeting was adjourned at 10:33 a.m. on December 14, 2006. Respectfully submitted, r ,, ~~ ~ ... CAROLYN ALKER* Executive Secretary **Edited from tape transcription. P:\Reports - ALRC\2006U2-14-06\ALRC MIN_12-14-06_Unapproved.doc 7