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2011 04 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 April 6, 2011 10:05 a.m. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:05 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 Thorns Committee Members Absent: None IV V C. Staff present: Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Planner Wally Nesbit, and Secretary Monika Radeva CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed PUBLIC COMMENT: None CONSENT CALENDAR: Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of February 2, 2011. There being no comments or corrections it was moved and seconded by Committee Members McCune /Thoms to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2006 -852 Perimeter Wall Plan a request submitted by Crowne Pointe Partners, LLC. for consideration of perimeter wall design for a 264 -unit residential condominium project located at PGA West, north and east of PGA Boulevard. Principal Planner Wally Nesbit 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 April 6, 2011 Committee Member McCune asked if the existing landscaping consisted of turf. Staff replied the landscaping was mostly turf and some shrubs. Committee Member McCune asked if the sole reason for the perimeter wall was to improve the aesthetic of the undeveloped part of the project and if the landscaping design on the submitted plans was merely conceptual at this stage of the development process. Staff explained the residents had been requesting that the perimeter wall be built, as soon as possible, for aesthetic reasons as well as to keep the dust down and that the landscaping design was conceptual and the actual proposed landscaping would be submitted for review and consideration at a later time. Committee Member Thorns said he found the proposed design of the wall to be very simple. He noted that the proposed plans did not follow the same design as the existing perimeter wall along PGA Boulevard, north of the project. He asked why the wall did not incorporate the same step -back and palm tree pattern. Staff replied the applicant mirrored the design of the existing perimeter wall located south, or directly across the street, from the project, which did not incorporate any step -backs in its design, and noted that the proposed wall design would be approved by the HOA. Committee Member Thorns asked if the applicant would continue the same palm tree design pattern as established to the north of the project. Mr. Barrett Bruchhauser, Project Engineer with MDS Consulting, 78- 900 Avenue 47, Suite 208, La Quinta, CA, introduced himself and said that the landscaping had not been addressed at this stage of the development process. He explained the applicant was working closely with the HOA and would have to obtain the HOA's approval prior to presenting the proposed landscaping plans to the Committee for review and consideration at a later time. He said at this time only the perimeter wall was being presented for consideration. Mr. Bruchhauser explained the deviations of the wall from the curb face due to the setback deviations. Committee Member Thorns referenced Attachment 2 from the staff report and recommended that the applicant consider enhancing the HReports - ALRC120111ALRC_64.111ALRC MIN 46- 11_Approved.doc 2 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes April 6, 2011 perimeter wall's simple design from merely a straight wall, to incorporating some step -back design elements to accommodate the placement of palm trees in the setbacks later on. Staff said if that was the Committee's feedback, the recommendation should be included in the minute motion, and it would carry over to the Planning Commission for review and consideration. Committee Member McCune noted that by looking at the plans there would be only a few places where the suggested step -backs of the perimeter wall would be possible due to the curb setback deviations. Committee Member Thorns suggested the wall step -backs be designed around the existing palm trees and where additional palm trees would be placed, as he found the palm trees all along PGA Boulevard to be a very strong design element for the area. General discussion followed regarding the design of the wall, the curb setback deviations, and the palm trees. Staff noted that the Committee's decision on the wall would be final and clarified that when the project returned to the Committee for review and consideration at a later time, it would be for the landscaping only, and no further modifications to the wall would be possible at that time. Committee Member McCune said that he was supportive of the street and sidewalk the way it was proposed. He pointed out that if the applicant was to incorporate any step -backs in the wall, the street and sidewalk would have to be redesigned. He suggested the Committee approve the wall as proposed and address the placement of palm trees along PGA Boulevard and the rest of the landscaping when the applicant submitted the proposed landscaping plans. General discussion followed regarding the possible landscaping that the applicant would propose, and the direction given by the HOA. Committee Member McCune recommended the applicant be conservative with turf proposals as the area already has a lot of excess turf. P:IReports - ALRC120111ALRC_6.1- 111ALRC MIN 4.6.11 Approved.doc 3 Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes April 6, 2011 There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members McCune /Arnold to adopt Minute Motion 2011- 003, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2006 -852, Perimeter Wall Plan, as submitted. 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 May 4, 2011. This meeting was adjourned at 10:41 a.m. on April 6, 2011. P:IReports - ALRC120111ALRC_6- 1- 111ALRC MIN 4-6.11_Approved.doe 4