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2015 12 16 ALRB Minutes Special Meeting ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPING SPECIAL MEETING REVIEW BOARD MINUTES 1 DECEMBER 16, 2015 ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPING REVIEW BOARD MINUTES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 CALL TO ORDER A special meeting of the La Quinta Architectural and Landscaping Review Board was called to order at 10:05 a.m. by Planning Manager Gabriel Perez. PRESENT: Board Members Richard Gray, Kevin McCune, and Ray Rooker ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Gabriel Perez, Principal Planner Jay Wuu, Principal Planner Wally Nesbit, Principal Engineer Bryan McKinney, Executive Assistant Monika Radeva, Executive Assistant Wanda Wise-Latta, and Administrative Technician Dianne Hansen Board Member McCune led the Board into the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT – None CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA – Confirmed APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion – A motion was made and seconded by Board Members Gray/McCune to approve the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board Minutes of October 7, 2015 as submitted. Motion passed unanimously. BUSINESS SESSION 1. Site Development Permit 2014-1006 submitted by George Velarde proposing the construction of a parking lot, landscaping, and lighting improvements for a vehicle storage lot for Torre Nissan on approximately 3.5 acres. Project: Torre Nissan Vehicle Storage Lot. Location: southeast corner of Adams Street and Auto Centre Drive. Principal Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPING SPECIAL MEETING REVIEW BOARD MINUTES 2 DECEMBER 16, 2015 Public Speaker: Mr. George Velarde, Applicant, La Quinta, CA – introduced himself and gave a detailed presentation of the project. Discussion followed regarding sidewalk requirements along the entire site perimeter, zoning, specific plan requirements, allowed uses, lighting over the retention basin, parking, gate and proposed landscape palette. The Board recommended upsizing the proposed 24-inch box Palos Verde to 36- inch box and the addition of at least two Washingtonia Robusta palm trees at the vehicular driveway entrance on Auto Centre Drive to better identify the entrance of the project. Public Speaker: Mr. Dennis Lubas, La Quinta, CA – introduced himself and said that all businesses and residents within the city are required to maintain their properties based on standards established by the City. He emphasized the importance of keeping the entire City aesthetically pleasing and encouraged staff to enforce and uphold the same standards and requirements consistently for all commercial and residential owners. Motion – A motion was made and seconded by Board Members Rooker/Gray recommending to the Planning Commission approval of Site Development Permit 2014-1006 as submitted with staff’s recommendations and the addition of the following conditions of approval:  Install 36-inch box Palos Verde trees  Add a minimum of two Washingtonia Robusta palm trees at the vehicular driveway entrance on Auto Centre Drive  Sidewalk installation along the perimeter of the entire site Motion passed unanimously. 2. Site Development Permit 2015-0005 submitted by Chandi Group, USA, proposing the construction of a 52,000 square-foot commercial development, which consists of a 6,000 square-foot gas station with convenience store/deli and 4,000 square-foot car wash facility, two 3,000 square-foot drive-through restaurant pads, and two 18,000 square-foot office/retail buildings. Project: Washington 50. Location: southeast corner of Washington Street and Avenue 50. Principal Planner Wally Nesbit presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Discussion followed regarding Pedestrian courtyard area; number of trash receptacles; restaurant pads; pipe diameter; wall; tree sizes along back of project as well as along the front street perimeter of the project; landscape palette; power lines, storm water retention; hydrology requirements to ensure street ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPING SPECIAL MEETING REVIEW BOARD MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 16, 2015 drainage into the channel; building elevations and material used; and community outreach by the applicant. Public Speaker: Ms. Gabriela Marks, Architect with Marks Architects, Inc., Rancho Mirage, CA – introduced herself, gave a detailed presentation of the proposed project, and answered the Board’s questions regarding the proposed stucco and wood architectural design features, emergency exits, sidewalk, wall height, lighting requirements, size and location of waste receptacles. She said the color palette creates depth and ensures the project blends in with the surrounding residential developments. Public Speaker: Mr. Dennis Lubas, La Quinta, CA – introduced himself and favors a wall placed at the backside of the project and discussed the materials to be used; shared his concerns regarding potential congestion in parking lot when service vehicles are making deliveries; trash enclosures and size; and concerns regarding community notification. Public Speaker: Mr. Dennis LoPresti, President of Duna La Quinta Homeowners Association, La Quinta, CA – introduced himself and stated that he represents over 200 homeowners from the Duna La Quinta residential development located at the southwest corner of Avenue 50 and Washington Street. He shared concerns regarding flooding; poor city planning; added traffic and its impact on the students who walk to and from nearby schools; and lighting intrusion. He is opposed to the rezoning and will take legal action if necessary. Public Speaker: Mr. Henry Casden, Palmilla resident, La Quinta, CA – introduced himself and stated he is extremely opposed to the proposed project. His concerns included lack of notification to the community regarding the proposed project; increased traffic, noise and lighting issues; potential odors and exhaust from proposed restaurants and vehicles; impact on existing restaurants and gas stations in the Cove as well as the impact upon the developments of Palmilla, Painted Cove, Rancho La Quinta and the Estancias where multi-million-dollar homes are located. Mr. Casden questioned the use of wood in the architectural design elements and the challenge of maintaining the wood and stated that the back perimeter wall should not be painted or textured with stucco, but should be split-faced block with multi-colored designs or natural-looking colors. He shared his concerns regarding the potential for lack of tenants as seen in existing shopping centers such as the one located along Calle Tampico due to the economic downturn and stated that once you leave the commercial area along Highway 111 anything that you do is a problem due to the potential for a lack of economic vitality. Board Member McCune offered clarification as to the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board’s scope of purview and its limitations and appreciates ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPING SPECIAL MEETING REVIEW BOARD MINUTES 4 DECEMBER 16, 2015 the public’s comments and also offered that the City’s website offers quail mail notifications of all public meetings. Public Speaker: Mr. Michael Elliott, La Quinta resident – introduced himself and said the notification boundaries should be extended beyond the 500 foot requirement. Public Speaker: Mr. Dennis Lubas, La Quinta, CA – Mr. Lubas shared his concerns regarding the site plan and traffic flow as related to the proposed project. Public Speaker: Ms. Jane Johnson, La Quinta resident – introduced herself and said she understood the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board’s scope of purview is with regards to design review of architecture and landscaping only. She asked for an explanation as to the process as this proposed project moves forward. Planning Manager Perez explained that the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board is an advisory board to the Planning Commission. The Board’s recommendations are presented to the Planning Commission for review and consideration which is expected to be at the earliest sometime in February 2016. He explained there are still some outstanding items such as the results of tribal consultations, CVWD hydrology study, Public Works Department’s comments, and 20-day public notification for the environmental review. Planning Manager Perez stated that the Initial Study for this project is underway and once it is completed it will be made available to the public review. Required notifications will be sent out to surrounding neighborhood, nearby homeowners associations and to anyonee who has submitted comments. Motion – A motion was made and seconded by Board Members McCune/Rooker recommending to the Planning Commission approval of Site Development Permit 2015-0005 as submitted with staff’s recommendations and the addition of the following condition of approval:  Extend the recommended block wall for entire length of the project frontage along the CVWD channel (south and east);  Provide for additional trash enclosure/capacity as necessary;  Replace 24-inch box trees with 48-inch box trees and Date Palms should be a minimum brown trunk height of 18 feet.  Wooden architectural elements (trim, trellises, fascia, etc.) to be replaced with a suitable, more durable material; and  Final landscaping plan to address screening of potential lighting impacts and the entire wall along the channel. Motion passed unanimously. ARCHITECTURAL AND LANDSCAPING SPECIAL MEETING REVIEW BOARD MINUTES 5 DECEMBER 16, 2015 CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL – None REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Planning Manager Perez announced the Development Code Tune Up Stakeholders community outreach meeting is scheduled to be held on December 16, at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall and encouraged the Board Members’ attendance. The City Council and Planning Commission will hold a Joint Study Session to discuss the Ad-hoc Committee’s final recommendations on proposed changes to Titles 8, 9, and 13 of the La Quinta Municipal Code related to the development review process on February 12, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. in the Study Session Room and Board Members are invited to attend. 2. Planning Manager Perez provided an update on the status of the Saxony Convention Center project. 3. Staff announced that the City Council is moving forward with implementing electronic agenda packets and doing away with the traditional paper packets and delivery. Staff would like to do the same with the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board packets. BOARD MEMBER ITEMS – None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Board Members Gray/McCune to adjourn this meeting at 12:12 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, MONIKA RADEVA, Executive Assistant City of La Quinta, California