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2012 01 04 ALRC MinutesMINUTES ARCHITECTURAL & LANDSCAPING REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING A special meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78 -495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA January 4, 2012 10:02 a.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee was called to order at 10:02 a.m. by Planning Director Les Johnson who led the Committee in the flag salute. B. Committee Members Present: Kevin McCune and Ray Rooker Committee Member Absent: Richard Gray C. Staff present: Planning Director Les Johnson, Associate Planner Jay Wuu, Assistant Planner Eric Ceja, 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 December 14, 2011. There being no comments or corrections it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Rooker /McCune to approve the minutes as submitted. AYES: Committee Members McCune and Rooker. NOES: None. ABSENT: Committee Member Gray. ABSTAIN: None. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2011-919 has been submitted by Lenity Group, LLC. for consideration of Architectural, Site, and Landscaping Plans for the La Quinta Memory Care Facility located on Washington Street, north of Avenue 48. Associate Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 4, 2012 Mr. Greg Elmore, Project Manager with Lenity Group, LLC., 471 High Street SE, Suite #10, Salem, OR, introduced himself and said he was available to answer any questions the Committee might have. Committee Member Rooker asked if there was a practical need for the proposed recreational garden /park area located to the north of the project. He clarified that the windows would have a stucco pop -out as indicated on the submitted photos and a 24 inch overhand around the entire building. Committee Member Rooker said the project was located in an elite location and a highly visible lot from Washington Street, and he did not feel that the proposed project would make an aesthetical contribution to the neighborhood. He suggested the project be enhanced prior to approval. Committee Member McCune asked what the built -in outside white units represented. Committee Member Rooker replied those were air conditioning units and-explained that though a bit outdated, they were very feasible for the proposed type of facility as each room could be individually regulated which would allow for energy conservation in the units that would not be used at the same time. Committee Member McCune asked the applicant to try to better blend in the air conditioning units to the exterior of the building and soften the contrast through the use of paint and landscaping. Committee Member McCune said he agreed with Committee Member Rooker's comment that the roof line was a bit monotones. However, he believed that it could be adjusted and the lines could be softened with the appropriate use of landscaping and plant palette. He suggested that staff condition the applicant to upsize all proposed trees to a minimum of 24 inch gallon- trunks. Committee Member McCune asked that the applicant be conditioned to enhance the landscape lighting by adding perimeter and accent lighting throughout the project. Committee Member McCune asked if the proposed park area to the north of the project was a shared property with another developer. Staff replied it was owned by the same developer. PAReports - ALRC\2012\ALRC_44- 12WLRC Min i- 4- 12_Approved.doc 2 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 4, 2012 Committee Member McCune asked what the walkways in the proposed park area would be covered with besides the identified decomposed granite. Mr. Elmore replied the walkways would be covered in ground cover and explained the several different options that had been available for that lot and why the park was best suitable under the current circumstances. Committee Member McCune said he was not opposed to having the park, but expressed that he was concerned about the park area becoming a hang out spot for kids after dark, particularly, due to the lack of lighting. Planning Director Les Johnson said originally the area to the north would have been left undeveloped, but due to staff's concerns and recommendations, the park was an interim measure for that parcel until the property was built out. General discussion followed regarding the size of the two lots and the potential building size that those lots could accommodate. Committee Member McCune asked where the proposed fencing materials would be used. Mr. Elmore showed on the plans a courtyard area that would be fenced off using those proposed materials. Committee Member McCune said he was pleased with the proposed landscaping plan. He asked that the applicant identify the type of granite to be used on the plans. He suggested a gold tone decomposed granite. Committee Member Rooker said he also liked the proposed landscaping palette. He said he would like to see the rooms located .on the north side, screened for privacy as much as possible with landscaping from the parking in the main entry way. Further, he noted he would like to see the trellises identified on the south, east, and west sides to. be anywhere from 6 to 8 feet deep with some architecturally decorative columns. Mr. Elmore replied it was the applicant's intent to blend in the air conditioning units with the exterior of the building even though that was not clearly identified on the submitted plans. PAReports - ALRC\2012\ALRC_4- 4- 12\ALRC Min_1-4- 12_Approved.doc 3 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 4, 2012 Committee Member Rooker said the roof to the main entrance at the front elevation on the north side should be enhanced to better indicate that that was in fact the front entrance to the building. Mr. Elmore explained in detail the plans for the entrance area and roof design. General discussion followed regarding the architectural design and layout of the project. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members McCune /Rooker to adopt Minute Motion 2012 -001, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2011-919, as submitted with the following recommendations: • Replace all 15- gallon plants with 24" box plants on the landscape plan • Use a gold tone decomposed granite throughout the site • Extend the width of the proposed trellises, and cover with landscape vines • Add more landscape lighting throughout sidewalk areas AYES: Committee Members McCune and Rooker. NOES: None. ABSENT: Committee Member Gray. ABSTAIN: None. B. Site Development Permit 2011 -922 has been submitted by Robert Riccardi for Mega Dealer / Torre Nissan of La Quinta for consideration of Architectural, Site, and Landscaping Plans for Torre Nissan Automotive Dealership, including a separate temporary storage site, located at the southeast corner of Highway 111 and Auto Center Way North / southeast corner of Adams Street and Auto Center Drive. 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 said the use of Tipu tree in the proposed staggered landscaping in 24" and 36" boxes would enhance the area. He asked what the temporary parking lot would be used for. PAReports - ALRC\20MALRC_4- 4- 12\ALRC Min - 14-12 Approved.doc 4 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 4, 2012 Mr. Michael Reinhardt, Executive Manager with Torre Nissan, 79- 125 Highway 111, La Quinta, CA, introduced himself and explained that the parking lot would be used for storing vehicles while being prepared for display, no sales transactions would occur there, and the vehicles would be parked in a receptive manner. Mr. Brent Tally, 79 -125 Highway 111, La Quinta, CA, introduced himself and further explained the dealership operations for the temporary parking lot. Planning Director Johnson indicated where on the plans the temporary parking lot would be located and emphasized that the site was proposed strictly as a temporary use during the dealership expansion project. He explained that it did not meet the standards for a permanent lot, what it would be used for, and for how long. Discussion followed regarding the site's grading, PM 10 treatment, landscaping, retention basin, fencing, security, etc. Committee Member Rooker asked how long the expansion construction was expected to last. Staff replied that it would last approximately a year, and the temporary parking lot would be used for a short period after that, but that it was staff's objective to determine a sunset date to the use of the temporary lot, as the use of it was not meant to run in perpetuity. Committee Member McCune said he was pleased that the dealership was undertaking an expansion. Committee Member Rooker said he liked the contemporary design of the building, but he expressed a concern with the proposed color palette. He said the proposed brassy gray might not blend in very well with the adjacent buildings which were painted in desert -like, soft brown tones. He suggested the applicant communicate with the manufacturer of the building to inquire about toning down the brassy gray color to a softer, desert -like gray. In addition, he recommended the use of landscaping to further minimize the impact of the building. Committee Member Rooker suggested increasing the number of palm trees along Auto Center Parkway from two to four. P:\Reports - ALRC\2012WLRC_44- 12WLRC Min_1- 4- 12_Approved.doc 5 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 4, 2012 Mr. Robert Ricciardi, Architect, 75 -860 Sarazen Way, Palm Desert, CA, introduced himself and.explained the that the two palm trees identified on the plans were existing. Further discussion followed regarding possible landscaping opportunities on the different site elevations. Committee Member McCune said it was his impression that the landscaping for all of the dealerships in the La Quinta Auto Center had been neglected a bit over the last , few years. He noted he would like to see the dealerships pay more attention to the upkeep and maintenance of the landscaping. Mr. Reinhardt said he was also the President of the Auto Center Association and in such capacity he was in charge of the landscape contractor: He said the issues just mentioned had been addressed and the landscape contractor was in the process of re -doing the sod and improving the edging. Committee Member McCune said he was pleased to hear that there was an association between all , of the dealerships that could address the landscaping issues. Planning Director Johnson said the City had been working with a landscape consultant ,and an architect on some conceptual plans for improvements for. the Auto Center frontage along Highway 111. He explained the improvements consisted of a package that addressed signage, vehicle display pads, and landscaping, that would provide continuity along all of the dealerships. However, what would come out of it at this time was uncertain, due to the Supreme Court ruling regarding Redevelopment Agencies, as these improvements would have been funded through the City's Redevelopment Agency. General discussion followed regarding the existing landscaping and the direction the conceptual plans would take. There_ being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members McCune /Rooker to adopt Minute Motion 2012 -002, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2011- 922, as submitted with the following recommendations: PAReports - ALRC\2012\ALRC_4- 4- 12WLRC Min_1- 4- 12_Approved.doc 6 Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee Minutes January 4, 2012 • The applicant shall plant an additional two (2) palm trees, to match existing, along Auto Centre Way North. • The applicant shall provide additional landscape along the north -side of the wall that encloses the vehicle repair yard. The landscape shall include shrubs and trees to screen the building. • All pole lighting shall remain as is and no improvements to lighting pole height or color shall be made AYES: Committee Members McCune and Rooker. NOES: None. ABSENT: Committee Member Gray. ABSTAIN: None. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS: Planning Director Johnson gave a brief overview of the Supreme Court's ruling regarding Redevelopment Agencies and the effects that had on the City of La Quinta and its redevelopment projects. IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Committee Members Rooker /McCune to adjourn this meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to be held on February 1, 2012. This meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. on January 4, 2012. Respec+RAE ted MO NIK Secretary P: \Reports - ALRC\2012\_ALRC_4- 4- 12WLRC Min _1- 4- 12_Approved.doc 7