2012 09 13 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
September 13, 2012 2:01 p.m.
A. This regular meeting of the Architectural and Landscaping Review
Committee was called to order at 2:01 p.m. by Planning Manager
David Sawyer who led the Committee in the flag salute.
B. Committee Members Present: Richard Gray, Kevin McCune, and
Ray Rooker
Committee Member Absent: None
C. Staff present: Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager
David Sawyer, Assistant 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 4, 2012.
There being no comments or corrections it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members Rooker /Gray to approve the minutes as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Site Development Permit 2011 -921 has been submitted by Lenity
Group, LLC. for consideration of site, architectural, and landscaping
plans for the La Quinta Retirement Community; located on Seeley
Drive, east of Washington Street, south of Miles Avenue, within
Centre Pointe.
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
September 13, 2012
Planning Manager Sawyer asked the Committee if there were any
questions of staff.
There being no questions of staff, Planning Manager Sawyer said
the applicant was present and available to answer any questions
from the Committee.
Mr. Dan Roach, Principal, AIA, with Lenity Group, LLC., 471 High
Street SE, Suite #10, Salem, OR, introduced himself and gave a
brief overview of the proposed uses within the development —
retirement, assisted living, and memory care, and the location and
layout of the units.
General discussion followed regarding the putting green, rest /sitting
areas, proper shade for the rest /sitting areas, trash pickup
procedures, times and locations, architectural style of the trash
enclosures, recycling, etc.
Committee Member Rooker suggested that the applicant consider
installing the proposed window awnings to all of the windows
instead of half, due to the extremely hot desert summers.
Committee Member Rooker discussed incorporating the proposed
multicolor palette throughout the project, including the cottages.
He noted the proposed landscaping around the units was a bit
sparse in some areas.
Committee Member McCune asked if the applicant specialized in
building this type of facility. Mr. Roach replied the applicant had
been building facilities like this for over 30 years all over the United
States and general discussion followed regarding the increased
demand for such facilities and what would be considered a standard
unit size.
General discussion followed regarding the placement of a variety of
block walls for the different types of facilities within the
development; turf areas, possibly placing a gazebo at the putting
green; and neighborhood outreach meetings identifying the basics
of the project which was favorably received.
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Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee
Minutes
September 13, 2012
Committee Member McCune suggested the proposed Cork Oak tree
from the plant palette be replaced with a Virginiana Oak tree, as the
first does not fare well in the desert area; the use of LED lighting for
the landscaping; and the use of more contemporary light fixtures to
illuminate the paths. He commended the applicant for a very well
done project.
Committee Member Rooker inquired about what methods would be
used to hide any mechanical equipment and Mr. Roach explained
how that would be achieved.
General discussion followed regarding the future Eisenhower facility
that Would be located adjacent to the project, A/C unit types,
locations, noise levels, and enclosing walls. Further discussion
followed regarding the use of downspouts for roof drainage.
Planning Director Johnson noted that the site's main street and
drainage infrastructure was already in place and it would only be a
matter of connecting to the existing outfall into the channel. There
was additional discussion regarding the settling pond for nuisance
water, overflow protection methods, contracting out the
landscaping maintenance, etc.
General discussion followed regarding possible wall accents in
addition to the proposed stone veneer to the rear elevation of the
garage, located at the southern tip of the property, types and
materials of garage doors, trellises, and occupancy capacity for the
different types of care.
Committee Member Gray said he was pleased to see this project in
La Quinta.
The Committee would like the applicant to consider the following
comments and suggestions:
• Install window awnings to all windows throughout the
project
• Incorporate the proposed multicolor palette throughout the
project, including the cottages
• Replace the proposed Cork Oak tree with Virginiana Oak tree
and add landscaping to the areas discussed
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Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee
Minutes
September 13, 2012
There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members McCune /Gray to adopt Minute Motion 2012-
004, recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2011 -
921, as submitted with staff's recommendations. Unanimously
approved.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None
VII. COMMITTEE MEMBER ITEMS: None.
VIII. PLANNING STAFF ITEMS:
A. Planning Commission Update
Planning Director Johnson said the General Plan Update had been
presented to the Planning Commission for review and consideration
during the regularly scheduled meeting on September 11, 2012. Some
public comments were received and the Commission recommended
approval of the project to the City Council. The project will be
presented to the City Council for review and consideration during the
regularly scheduled meeting on October 2, 2012. - The project is
available for review on the City's website.
B. Discussion of Joint Meeting Items
Planning Manager Sawyer explained that the City Council usually
meets with the City's boards and commissions once a year to discuss
items of interest and hear suggestions. The meeting has been
historically held during the month of November; however, there is
current discussion for possibly changing the meeting date to be some
time in the Spring. He encouraged the Committee. Members to e-mail
staff with any items or questions they might like to discuss during the
joint meeting so staff could bring those up for consideration. Staff will
notify the Committee Members of the joint meeting date once it has
been identified.
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by
Committee Members McCune /Gray to. adjourn this meeting of the
Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee to a Regular Meeting to
be held on October 7, 2012. This meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m. on
September 13, 2012.
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Architectural and Landscaping Review Committee
Minutes
September 13, 2012
Respectfully sub fitted,
0
MONIKA RADEVA
Secretary
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