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2011 06 22 ALRC Minutes Special MeetingMINUTES ARCHITECTURAL & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A special meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78 -495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA June 22, 2011 10:07 a.m. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:07 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 Member Absent: None W C. Staff present: Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Planner Wallace Nesbit, and Secretary Monika Radeva. PUBLIC COMMENT: None CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed CONSENT CALENDAR: Staff asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of June 1, 2011. There being no comments or corrections it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms /McCune to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously Approved. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2011-917 a request submitted by Prest Vuksic Architects for property owner, City of La Quinta Redevelopment Agency /Coral Mountain Partners, LP for consideration of Architectural, Site, and Landscaping Plans for Coral Mountain Apartments, a 176 -unit multi - family, affordable rental housing community located approximately 660 feet east of Dune Palms Road, north of the Desert Sands Unified School District Administrative Campus. Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes June 22, 2011 Principal Planner Wallace Nesbit presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Committee Member McCune said the proposed project was very nice and he was pleased to see it being built in the City of La Quinta. He expressed a concern about the number of proposed trash enclosures and whether or not they would be sufficient to accommodate the number of proposed units and expected residents. He suggested the applicant verify the calculations. Committee Member McCune asked if a rubberized material would be used for the playground surface. Mr. Luke Taylor, Designer with RGA Landscape Architects, Inc., 74020 Alessandro, Suite # E, Palm Desert, CA, introduced himself and replied that rubberized material would be used because it tends to be cooler during the hot summer months. Committee Member McCune recommended the applicant increase the proposed shade structure for the playground due to the extreme summer weather in the valley. Committee Member McCune said the natural turf proposed next to the pool structures was a very good idea. He was pleased that the development encompasses a walking trail with the proposed sidewalk encouraging foot traffic within the development as well as to the nearby shopping centers. He asked if there would be a sidewalk on the outside of the development. Staff replied the sidewalk would only be on one side of the outer street. He added the street improvements included an extension of the sidewalk into the nearby Komar Desert Center. Discussion followed regarding staff's concern of the size of the pool areas and whether or not they would meet the demand on a per unit basis. Committee Member McCune asked about the overcrowding of the pool areas in the Wolf Waters development. Mr. David Drake, Design /Project Manager with Prest Vuksic Architects, 44530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite # 200, Palm Desert, CA, introduced himself and explained that as he understood it, the P:\Reports - ALRC\2011 WLRC_12 -14 -1 I\ALRC MIN_6- 22- 11_Awroved.doc 2 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes June 22, 2011 concern with Wolf Waters was not with the size of the pools, but rather with the hardscape areas around the pools. He said this was taken into consideration when designing the pool areas for the Coral Mountain Apartments. Committee Member McCune said he was very pleased with the project and the plant palette. He noted that based on the proposed landscaping plans the project would have plenty of shade. He asked if the parking areas had shade structures. It was confirmed that they do. Committee Member McCune questioned staff's concern regarding the use of Sissou, a type of rosewood tree. Staff replied the proposed tree could have a very invasive root system and might not be ideal. Committee Member McCune felt the tree would be acceptable if planted propery. Mr. John Vuksic, AIA, Prest Vuksic Architects, 44530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite # 200, Palm Desert, CA, introduced himself and said the parking shade structures would have a very simple flat aluminum design that would blend in with the rest of the architectural theme. Committee Member Arnold said he was in favor of the project, he was pleased with the proposed desert contemporary architecture and design, the warm, desert, softer color palette. He noted the plant palette was well selected, except for the Shoestring Acacia tree. He recommended the applicant consider using a different type of Acacia due to maintenance concerns. General discussion followed regarding the different types of Acacia trees. Committee Member Thorns said he was also in favor of the project, he particularly liked the architecture of the elevations. He asked if the two gates indicated on the plans on the north side were for Fire Department access. Staff replied that was correct. Committee Member Thorns asked if the main entrance into the project would have some type of decorative paving. P:\Repor[s - ALRC2011WLRC_12- 14- 11\ALRC MIN_6- 22- 11_Approved.doc 3 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes June 22, 2011 Mr. Taylor replied there would be decorative paving, which was a combination of different size paver stones. Committee Member Thoms suggested some decorative paving be used in the pool area as well. Mr. Taylor said the same decorative paving was already incorporated in the entrance to the clubhouse. Committee Member Thoms said the proposed sloping roof of the clubhouse was an unnecessary architectural feature and was not found anywhere else in the project. He said he would like to have it changed to a simple flat roof unless there was a particular structural need for it. Mr. Vuksic said the sloping architectural feature was not structurally needed. However, due to the large amount of glass used on the clubhouse design, the sloping roof provided much needed shade. He explained that the same architectural angled elements were also used on some of the buildings throughout the project, but the one for the clubhouse was accentuated a bit more. He said the intent was to create a dramatic space on the inside by having the slab sit on top of a glass room that continued from the outside all the way through the inside. Committee Member McCune said he identified the architecturally angled sloped roof feature as a Prest Vuksic Architects signature. He said he had seen the use of similar features on other Prest Vuksic projects in the Coachella Valley and was very pleased with them. He noted he would not recommend changing the clubhouse architectural design as he found it to be one of the thumbprints of the project. Committee Member Thoms asked if the clubhouse was the only place in the project where there was a laundry facility. Mr. Vuksic replied there was a second laundry location on the north side of the project. Committee Member Thoms asked about the height of the walls and if they were semi - curved. Mr. Vuksic replied the walls were six feet high. He explained they were smooth precision faced on the interior and split face block wall on the exterior, connected with a wrought iron fence. Committee Member Thoms said he very much liked the design of the walls. PAReports - ALRC\2011\ALRC_12- 14- 11\ALRC MIN I_Approved.doc 4 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes June 22, 2011 Committee Member Thorns asked if the wall on the south side of the project would be twenty feet high. Mr. Vuksic replied that the height of the wall was yet to be determined based on the findings of the currently undergoing sound studies. Committee Member Thoms asked if the color scheme was going to be as presented in the packet. Mr. Vuksic confirmed the colors would be as presented. Committee Member McCune asked if the decision not to install the entry gates was due to maintenance concerns. Mr. John Durso, President of Sholvin Companies, 46753 Adams Street, La Quinta, CA, introduced himself and replied the applicant had decided not to install the gates for a two reasons. The first one being the inherent lack of security provided by gates, as it was mostly an appearance. And second the possible future maintenance concerns. Committee Member Thorns asked if there was any type of security provided for the development. Mr. Durso replied it was customary for the management company in charge of the community to initiate a "watch -dog" program with the help of the residents. He noted that past experiences had proven for this security measure to be very effective. He also said that any suspicious activities were usually reported by residents as well and it was very rare that security would have to be involved. Committee Member Thorns commended staff for the well - written and detailed staff report and giving a through presentation on the project. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms /Arnold to adopt Minute Motion 2011 - 005, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2011- 917, as submitted with staff's recommendations and separately asking the applicant to reconsider the proposed slopping roof over the clubhouse. Unanimously approved. P:\Reports - ALRC2011 WLRC_12 -14 -11 \ALRC MIN _6- 22- 11_Approved.doc 5 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes June 22, 2011 Committee Member McCune clarified that the request was not part of the recommendation to the Planning Commission. Planning Manager Sawyer confirmed it was not part of the recommendation. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: Committee Member McCune said it was a pleasure serving on the ALRC with Committee Members Arnold and Thorns. He appreciated their guidance at the beginning and had learned a lot from their comments. Committee Member Thoms said it was a pleasure serving on the ALRC with his fellow Committee Members and thanked staff for their support. Planning Manager Sawyer thanked Committee Members Arnold and Thorns for their expertise and the time they invested into serving on the ALRC. VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: B. Planning Commission Update IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Thoms /McCune to adjourn this meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on August 3, 2011 (Commission dark for July 6, 2011 meeting.)This meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m. on June 22, 2011. Respectfully SUP mitted, MONIK"DEVA Secretary PAReports - ALRC\2011\ALRC_12 -14 -1 RALRC MIN_6- 22- 11_Approved.doc 6