2011 06 01 ALRC MinutesMINUTES
ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78 -495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
June 1, 2011 10:00 a.m.
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 Manager David Sawyer, Associate Planner
Jay Wuu, 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 April 6, 2011.
There being no comments or corrections it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members Arnold / Thoms to approve the minutes as submitted.
Unanimously Approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Site Development Permit 2003 -762 Amendment 1 a request
submitted by WSL La Quinta, LLC. for consideration of
Architectural, Site, and Landscaping Plans for La Paloma, a 208 -unit
senior living community located at the northeast corner of
Washington Street and Avenue 50.
Associate Planner Jay Wuu 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
June 1, 2011
Committee Member McCune said he reviewed the plans extensively
and was very pleased with the project and the proposed desert
contemporary architectural . style. He said RGA Landscape
Architects, Inc. had done an 'outstanding job with the plant palette
selection. He suggested the applicant use synthetic turf for the
putting greens to avoid maintenance issues, but he thought that
natural turf should be used for the proposed courtyards.
Committee Member McCune commended the applicant for choosing
to use LED lighting, and he said he found the proposed water
features to be 'adequate and in line with the City's water
conservation efforts.
Committee Member McCune said he found the proposed project to
be beautiful and was very much in favor of it.
Committee Member Arnold said he was also very pleased with the
proposed plans and was in, agreement with staff's recommendations
and Committee Member McCune's comments, as stated above, and
was very much in favor of the project as well.
Committee Member Thorns commended staff for the well- written
staff report on the project, he said the report was very informative.
He also commended the project architect as he found the proposed
desert contemporary architectural style to be well - welcomed in the
City of La Quinta.
Committee Member Thorns asked if there was exterior access to
the proposed courtyards, from the outside of the buildings.
Mr. Greg, Irwin, Partner of IPA Irwin Partners Architects, 245
Fischer Avenue, Suite # B -2, Costa Mesa, 'CA 92626, introduced
himself and said the courtyards were not accessible from the
outside, but the doors were aligned in such a way that one could go
through the building from one side directly to the other.
Committee Member Thorns asked how the turf in 'the courtyards
would be maintained if there was no exterior access. Mr. Irwin said
the floor surface used in the. hallways of the buildings allowed for
lawn mowers and other equipment to be pushed through the
building into the courtyard.
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Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee
Minutes
June 1, 2011
Committee Member Thoms suggested the applicant use artificial
turf in the courtyards to avoid maintenance issues and water
overspray on the concrete.
Ron Gregory, President of RGA Landscape Architects, Inc., 74020
Alessandro, Suite E, Palm Desert, CA 92260, introduced himself
and clarified that the applicant was proposing the use of natural turf
only in the main courtyard, as it was much cooler in the summer
and the turf would be more actively used. He noted that artificial
turf would be used in the remaining courtyards. He assured the
Committee that the applicant was aware of the difficulties involved
with maintaining the natural turf and was prepared to deal with it as
best as possible. He noted the turf would be kept minimum 18 ",
maybe 24" away from the buildings, and very low -arc sprinkler
heads would be utilized, to minimize the overspray of water.
General discussion followed regarding the advantages and
disadvantage of the use of natural vs. synthetic turf.
Committee Member Thoms suggested the applicant reconsider the
proposed locations of the trees for the covered parking areas
located on the east, as some of them might potentially interfere
with the parking spaces. Mr. Gregory said the suggestion would be
taken into account when finalizing the landscaping plans.
Committee Member Thoms asked what material would be used for
the property line wall on the north side of the project. He noted the
proposed wall would create a trapping space between the wall and
the existing residential fences. Mr. Irwin said it would be a block
wall and explained that the existing fences were not consistent in
material and setbacks; therefore, in order to create a nice clean look
for the project, a new wall would have to be built. He explained the
residents could tear down their existing fences and the proposed
wall would become the new consistent property line.
Committee Member Thoms asked if the residents would have to
absorb the demolition costs. Mr. Irwin replied the residents would
have pay to have their existing fences torn down, however, they
would not be incurring any of the cost associated with building the
new proposed wall. He said the applicant had scheduled a meeting
with the residents to discuss any issues and /or concerns.
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Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee
Minutes
June 1, 2011
Committee Member Thorns suggested the applicant remove the
proposed water feature for the front courtyard. He encouraged the
use of decorative paving to enhance the concrete image of the
walkways and the courtyard. Mr. Gregory replied. it was the
applicant's intention to use decorative pavers, however, the details
and materials had not yet been selected.
Committee Member Thorns, suggested the facia of the carports be
painted in one of the darker and stronger colors selected for the
buildings, to make it stand out and to expand the color palette
throughout the entire project.
Committee Member Thorns said when traveling north on
Washington Street, the project is visible from a birds point of view
for part of the way. Therefore, he suggested that any equipment
located on the roof be completely screened. Mr. Irwin replied that
all equipment located on the roof would be completely screened and
that it was the applicant's intent to make the screening an
architectural element to the buildings as well.
Committee Member Thorns asked staff to consult with the traffic
engineer to find out if a u -turn could be allowed on Washington
Street from Avenue 50 while ,traveling southbound. He said there
was a left turning lane currently existing, but no u -turn was
allowed
There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members Thoms(McCune to adopt Minute Motion 2011-
004, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2003-
762, Amendment 1,, with staff's recommendations. Unanimously
approved.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN, MATERIAL: None
VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None.
VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS:
B. Discussion Regarding Summer Meeting Schedule
The Architecture and Landscape_ Review Committee unanimously agreed
to go dark in the month of July 201 1.
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Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee
Minutes
June 1, 2011
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee
Members McCune /Thorns to adjourn this meeting of the Architecture and
Landscaping Review Committee to a Special Meeting to be held on June 22,
2011. This meeting was adjourned at 10:38 a.m. on June 1, 2011.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEV
Secretary
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