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2011 02 02 ALRCCity of La Quinta ALRC Agendas are now available on the City's Web Page @ www.la-guinta.org OF ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA A Regular Meeting to be Held at the La Quinta City Hall — Study Session Room 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, California FEBRUARY 2, 2011 10:00 A.M. Beginning Minute Motion 2011-002 1. CALL TO ORDER A. Pledge of Allegiance B. Roll Call PUBLIC COMMENT This is the time set aside for public comment on any matter not scheduled for public hearing. Please complete a "Request to Speak" form and limit your comments to three minutes. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA IV. CONSENT CALENDAR Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 5, 2011. P:\Reports - ALRC\20j1\ALRC-2-2-11\ALRC Agenda 2-2-1l.doC V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Item .................. Applicant ........... Location ............ Request ............ TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 36279 (PRELIMINARY LANDSCAPING PLAN) Pedcor Commercial Development Southwest Corner of Avenue 51 and Madison Street Consideration of Landscaping Plans for a Proposed + 9-Acre Tentative Map. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: Vill. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: A. Planning Commission Update IX. ADJOURNMENT: This meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee will be adjourned to a Regular Meeting to be held on March 2, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. DECLARATION OF POSTING 1, Carolyn Walker, Executive Secretary of the City of La Quinta, do hereby declare that the foregoing Agenda for the La Quinta Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee meeting of Wednesday, February 2, 2011, was posted on the outside entry to the Council Chamber, 78-495 Calle Tampico and the bulletin board at the La Quinta Cove Post Office, 51-321 Avenida Bermudas, on Friday, January 28, 2011. DATED: January 28, 2011 CAROL N WALKER, Executive Secretary City of La Quinta, California P:\ReportS - ALRC\2011\ALRC 2-2-11\ALRC Agenda 2-2-11-doc MINUTES ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA January 5, 2010 10:03 a.m. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:03 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 Members Absent: None C. Staff present: Planning Manager David Sawyer, Assistant Planner Eric Ceja and Secretary Monika Radeva 11. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed 111. PUBLIC COMMENT: None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of December 15, 2010. It was moved and seconded by Committee Members Arnold/Thoms to approve the minutes with the following corrections: 1) Committee Member Arnold said on page 2, bullet point 11 should be corrected to read: Pindo Palm; instead of Pinto Palm. 2) Committee Member Arnold said on page 2, bullet point 14 should be corrected to read: Decomposed granite (dg) shall be wet and tamped when installed; instead of just tamped. Unanimously approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Final Landscape Plan 2010-061 a request submitted by John Grist, Grist Associates for The Foundation Group for the review and approval Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 5, 2010 of on -site landscaping for Pad "A" at the La Quinta Village Shopping Center located at the northwest corner of Calle Tampico and Washington Street. Assistant Planner Eric Ceja presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department, Committee Member McCune asked if the existing retention basin located east of the building would remain as turf. Staff replied that it would in the immediate future. However, the property owner of the retention basin had already submitted Final Landscaping Plans proposing to convert it to desertscape. The proposed landscape for the building is in harmony with the proposed plans for the retention basin. Committee Member McCune asked if the entire site was maintained by the same property management company. Mr. Dana MacKay with the Foundation Group, 3857 Birch Street, Suite 496, Newport Beach, CA 92660, introduced himself. He said the entire shopping center was maintained by the same property management company. Mr. Fred East, Senior Project Manager, 75110 St. Charles #13, Palm Desert, CA 92211, introduced himself and talked about the retention basin's design and capacity. Committee Member McCune said he was very pleased with the plant palette. Committee Member Arnold suggested the applicant use PVC hard pipe instead of the proposed PVC flexible pipe to avoid maintenance issues in the future. The applicant said that CVWD had already addressed theissue. Committee Member Thoms said he found the plant palette to be acceptable. However, he said the proposed bougainvillea on the north side of the building would not fare very well and he suggested a more suitable vine -type plant should be selected. Committee Member Thorns said he didn't find the proposed stairs necessary. Mr. East replied that, on the east side, the grade difference was minimal, but on the north side it was substantial which P:\Reports - ALRC\201 I\ALRC 2-2-1 I\ALRC MIN-1-5-1 I—Draft.doc 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 5, 2010 was why there were three rows of stairs. Committee Member Thorns asked what material the planters were made out of. Mr. East replied they were made out of regular gray concrete to match the concrete base of the columns around the building. Committee Member Thorns asked why the applicant was proposing three pots located on the northeast corner of the building and another two on the west side. Staff said the Planning Commission had requested that planting materials be placed at the northeast corner to enhance the area which also included a fountain and seating benches. The ones on the west side were requested because there wouldn't be any kind of landscaping on that side. Committee Member McCune asked what plant material would be in the pots. Staff replied that the plans identified lavender and annuals. Committee Member Thorns said it would have been nicer if there wasn't a cement strip separating the desertscape from the turfed retention basin. Committee Member Arnold said the mow strip would prevent the turf growing over the desertscaped area. Committee Member Thorns asked if there would be landscaping placed on the southwest corner of the building by the bus stop area. Mr. East said IlD would be placing a transformer in that location. Committee Member Thorns asked if the tree that is there now would be lost. Mr. East explained, the applicant had done everything possible by trimming the'trIee and digging through the roots to save it, and so far it looked like the tree would survive. Committee Member McCune said the two pots on the west side were right next to an ADA parking space and were obstructing the pedestrian path of travel. He suggested those two pots be removed and only the three pots by the fountain and seating benches remain. Committee Member McCune suggested replacing the proposed bougainvillea for the columns on the north side with a Calliandra vine which would be more appropriate for that location. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/Arnold to adopt Minute Motion 2011 - 001, recommending approval of Final Landscape Plans 2010-061 as submitted, with the following recommended suggestions: P:\Reports - ALRC\201 I\ALRC-2-2-1 1\ALRC MIN-1-5-1 1—Draft.doc 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 5, 2010 • Remove the two pots located on the west side of the building. • Replace the bougainvillea proposed for the columns on the north side of the building with a Calliandra. • Use Barbara Karst bougainvillea variety for the south side. • Place a six-inch concrete mow -strip on the east property line. Unanimously approved. VI. . CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: None IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms/McCune to adjourn this meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee to �a Regular Meeting to be held on February 3, 2011. This meeting was adjourned at 10:38 a.m. on January 5, 2010. Respectfully submitted, MONIKA RADEVA Secretary P:\Reports - ALRC\201 I\ALRC-2-2-1 I\ALRC MIN-1-5-1 I—Draft.doc 4 4 OF ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE REVIEW COMMITTEE DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2011 CASE NUMBER: TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 36279 (PRELIMINARY LANDSCAPE PLAN) APPLICANT: PEDCOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER: CV ENGINEERS PROPERTY OWNER: PEDCOR PROPERTIES, LLC LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: RAY LOPEZ ASSOCIATES REQUEST: CONSIDERATION OF LANDSCAPING PLANS FOR A PROPOSED -+- 9-ACRE TENTATIVE MAP LOCATION: SOUTHWEST CORNER OF AVENUE 51 AND MADISON STREET ZONING: VERY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (RVL) SURROUNDING ZONING / USES: NORTH: RVL; SINGLE FAMILY ESTATE HOMES/LOTS SOUTH: RVL; SINGLE FAMILY ESTATE HOME EAST: CITY OF INDIO; EL DORADO POLO CLUB FACILITIES WEST: RVL; SINGLE FAMILY ESTATE HOMES/LOTS PURPOSE OF REVIEW In nearly all cases, ALRC review is limited to only Site Development Permit applications to provide specific design review for a project's proposed architecture and landscaping. The Architecture and Landscape Review Committee's (ALRC) role in reviewing this type of application is to provide the Planning Commission with a recommendation regarding the design of the proposed project and its compliance with the City's various development regulations. In this case, the City requires preliminary landscape plans as part of the tentative map review process. In this instance, there are no architectural or site -design items proposed for review. Landscape review includes plant types, plant location and size, landscape screening of equipment and undesirable views, and the emphasis of prominent design features. In this case, it is specifically limited to the perimeter and internal common area tract landscaping improvements. Once reviewed, the ALRC's recommendation will be included in the staff report presented to the Planning Commission. To assist the ALRC in this review, the following background and analysis is provided. BACKGROUND The project site is at the southwest corner of Vista Bonita Trail and Madison Street (Attachment 1). The Tentative Tract Map (TTM) proposes the subdivision of 9.14 gross acres into 11 single family home lots as well as landscaped areas, a retention basin and private street. Access to the project site will be via Beth Circle, which connects to Madison Street approximately 550 feet south of Vista Bonita Trail. The site was partially developed under the previously approved but now expired TTM 30378 (The Orchard). Beth Circle, accessing the proposed lots from Madison Street, and Evangeline Way, were constructed without City permits or inspections. Both streets will be private.and will also provide access to an existing approved tentative map to the south (TTM 33085). Both developers would like to retain these streets as built, to be privately maintained and gated. An existing wall surrounds the property on the north, east, west, and portions of the south property lines, and is expected to remain as part of the proposed project. PROPOSAL As part of the applicant's tentative map application, a preliminary landscaping plan is required for common and perimeter tract areas. The landscaped areas include a retention basin, internal median islands, and perimeter parkway improvements along Madison. Preliminary landscaping and lighting plans have been submitted for the proposed project (Attachment 2). Landscaping Design The applicant is proposing a turf -free landscaping design toward compliance with the City's landscaping requirements. A variety of desert -typical trees and shrubs are proposed as part of the tract and retention basin landscaping (Attachment 2). Thirty- nine Citrus trees will be used as the thematic landscape feature, to be relocated on site to their plan locations along Madison Street, the retention basin and internal medians. Fan Palm species (8-12 feet in height) will be clustered primarily at the tract entry and retention basin. Shrubs include a variety of commonly used desert species that include Desert Cassia, Lantana, Yucca, Bougainvillea, and Bird of Paradise. Five gallon containers are proposed for most shrubs, with the exception of 2 Red Yucca, Pink Mulhy, Gazania and Blue Aloes, proposed as accent plants at one gallon container size. Red Bougainvillea vines will be used at the entry, on the wall faces and with Washingtonia Palms, while Tecoma 'Gold Star' vines will accent the Madison Street wall face. Madison Street is designated an Agrarian Image Corridor in the 2002 General Plan. The purpose of the Agrarian Image Corridor is to provide landscaped parkways which are consistent with the agricultural history of the area. This is the rationale behind the intent to retain the existing Citrus tree stands as a landscape theme, This is also required with the existing approved TT 33085 map to the south of this project. A 10' wide multi -purpose trail, including a two tier split -rail fence, is incorporated along Madison Street as required by General Plan policy. Lighting Design The proposed lighting provides for low-level landscape and area lighting only. It consists of three fixture types for general area lighting and uplighting for the citrus trees (18 watt, incandescent) and palms (20 watt, halogen). These are all low -volt fixtures, primarily utilizing bullet and box -style fixtures as uplights. There are only two 1 8-watt, pagoda -style general area lighting fixtures, located in the smaller entry median on Beth Circle. No shielding is required under the lighting code. ANALYSIS The preliminary planting plans are well -designed, provide a colorful variety of desert - appropriate plants and, with the incorporation of typical tract approval conditions for landscaping, will comply with both City and Coachella Valley Water District landscaping and water use requirements. The landscape plan promotes water conservation by providing a drought -tolerant landscape design and incorporating drip irrigation. Staff in general has recommended that the minimum plant size should be 5 gallons; however, the Gazania, Red Yucca, Blue Elf Aloe and Pink Mulhy, proposed as 1- gallon accent plants, could be sized as 2 gallon to maintain their accent appearance. Staff feels that a small quantity of turf should be included within the retention basin. Although turf should be located in functional and usable areas, a limited use of turf in the basin is justifiable, in that a small amount around the drywell inlet can help filter out soil and other debris, reducing drywell maintenance. Finally, the proposed lighting fixtures, scale and level of lighting are appropriate for the project. The overall lighting plan has been designed to be unobtrusive, as there are less than 50 total fixtures with only 12 along Madison Street, all of which are facing inward, away from the street, serving as landscape lighting. 3 As this is a preliminary tract landscape plan, ALFIC review is essentially limited to the landscape design itself. Standard tract conditions will be applied to any map approval, to address sight distance, plan check submittal and processing requirements, etc, as applicable to landscaping requirements for a tentative map. The ALRC recommendation on landscape design will be incorporated with those conditions, should the map be approved. RECOMMENDATION By Minute Motion 2011 - , recommend to the Planning Commission that the following considerations be incorporated into any Conditions of Approval for Tentative Tract Map 36279: 1. Final plans shall identify that Gazania, Red Yucca, Blue Elf Aloe and Pink Mulhy shall be 2 gallon. 2. Final landscape plans shall incorporate a small amount of turf in the retention basin, designed so as to provide a measure of runoff filtration for the drywell system. Prepared by: Wallace H. Nesbit Principal Planner Attachments: 1. Location Map 2. Plant palette photo examples 3. Preliminary Landscaping and Lighting Plan Set (ALRC only) 4 ATTACHMENT #1 Lw Z� Q) �AZAIUf 50 I BONITA 4 TRAIL 7T 350SE A VENUE ' 52 0 Lo A VENUE 51 i T J5 ZI: C::) �i PROJECT LOCATION MAP I Pink Mullhy 7 M, 4 �,- � q Coral fountain ATTACHMENT 2 'Blue Elf Aloe Little Leaf Codia �ez I rpA Gazania Tecoma Stans'Gold Star' -OV Red Yucca Red Bird of Paradise Mexican Bird of Paradise Or Mexican Blue Palm 7 2k, AIN If 1�1- 11 �Ip : I