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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-02- ARC MinutesCity of Palm Springs ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California 92262 Minutes of December 2, 2019 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Jakway called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm. ROLL CALL: Committee Members Present: Lockyer*, McCoy, Poehlein, Walsh, Vice Chair Rotman, Chair Jakway Committee Members Excused: None Planning Commission Present: None Staff Present: Planning Director Fagg, Planning Technician Bruno, Associate Planner Kikuchi, Engineering Associate Minjares, Associate Planner Mlaker, Assistant Planner Perez *Arrived at 3:05 pm. REPORT OF THE POSTING OF AGENDA: The agenda was available for public access at the City Hall bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber) and the Planning Department counter by 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 27, 2019. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: Doczi, seconded by McCoy to accept the agenda, as amended (Item 4 was moved to Consent Calendar). AYES: DOCZI, MCCOY, POEHLEIN, WALSH, ROTMAN, JAKWAY ABSENT: LOCKYER PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. CONSENT CALENDAR: Rotman, seconded by McCoy to approve items on Consent Calendar, as presented. AYES: DOCZI, MCCOY, POEHLEIN, WALSH, ROTMAN, JAKWAY ABSENT: LOCKYER Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 2, 2019 City of Palm Springs 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: OCTOBER 22, 2019 AND NOVEMBER 4, 2019 Approved, as submitted. 4. L.A. CONSTRUCTION, ON BEHALF OF VALLE VISTA LLC., FOR A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 2496- SQUARE-FOOT SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE WITH A 469-SQUARE-FOOT TWO -CAR GARAGE ON A 21,000 SQUARE FOOT PARCEL ALONG A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AT 3000 NORTH SUNRISE WAY, ZONE R-1-C (CASE NO. 3.4140 MAJ). (RB) Approved, as submitted. NEW BUSINESS: 5. WILLIAM DUMKA, ON BEHALF OF MICHAEL KING, FOR A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW 7,125 SQUARE -FOOT INDUSTRIAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 3520 NORTH ANZA ROAD (CASE NO. 3.4138). (AP) Assistant Planner Alex Perez provided a presentation of the proposed project. WILLIAM DUMKA, applicant, was available for questions from the AAC members. Member McCoy questioned the amount of lighting for the parking lot and suggested to keep lights in only the useful areas. Mr. Dumka agreed. Chair Jakway questioned the different heights of the door, window and awning; and he suggested they all be brought to the same height. Mr. Dumka agreed. Member Doczi recommended additional boulders to be placed within the landscape area of the parking lot, and to change decomposed granite to 3/" rock. Walsh, second by Lockyer, to approve with conditions. 1. Modify the front elevation by raising the canopy and entry door so that it aligns with the spandrel glass. 2. Provide additional boulders and accent plants between the sidewalk and the screen wall by the parking lot. 3. Replace the 25-gallon Acacia Aneura with a 24" box. 4. Replace the decomposed granite with 3/4" rock. 5. Allow only one canopy tree to be placed in front of the spandrel glass window instead of two trees. Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 2, 2019 City of Palm Springs AYES: DOCZI, LOCKYER, MCCOY, POEHLEIN, WALSH, ROTMAN, JAKWAY 6. CHRIS HECTOR, ON BEHALF OF INDIGO AUTO GROUP REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC., FOR A MINOR ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW APPLICATION TO ALTER THE EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS OF AN EXISTING AUTO DEALERSHIP, BMW PALM SPRINGS, LOCATED AT 3737 EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE, ZONE C-2 (CASE NO. 3.2871 MAA). (NK) Associate Planner Kikuchi provided a presentation of the proposed project. Member Walsh questioned the intent of the proposed composite aluminum panel removal. Associate Planner Kikuchi responded that it is a request from Corporate and stated that the Applicant can explain further. Chris Hector, applicant, provided a brief history of the building and introduction of the project. Chair Jakway questioned whether the existing panels on the primary elevation are subject to removal or not. Applicant confirmed that all existing panels are subject to removal. Member Rotman requested confirmation on the operability of the roll -up doors and questioned whether the identical doors are available in various heights. (Applicant explained that the sensors detect vehicles located within 10 to 20 feet, and the doors automatically open and close within 2 seconds. The enclosed area will be air- conditioned. Applicant responded that he is not certain whether the same product is available in different heights or not.) Member Lockyer questioned how the exhaust trapped in the enclosed service drive will be treated. (Applicant responded that the space is going to be designed with an exhaust system, which will remove carbon monoxide.) Member Doczi questioned whether the east elevation of the service drive is a solid wall. (Applicant responded that the east elevation consists of plaster columns with openings, which will be filled in.) Member Doczi questioned what material is being proposed for filling in the openings. (Applicant responded that it would be smooth plaster with Acrylic coating.) Member Jakway expressed his concern about the function of the enclosed service drive with the high-speed doors. (Applicant explained that the identical doors have been installed at other dealerships. He further explained that a greeter will be available in the service area, and the customers will be led to the showroom by a service adviser immediately after their vehicles are dropped off.) Member Jakway thinks that the enclosed area is not necessary. (Applicant stated that there have been no issues with 3 Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 2, 2019 City of Palm Springs the doors installed at other dealerships. He added that the enclosed service drive will be protected from wind and heat, and it will create a space that better serves the customers.) Member Poehlein questioned if additional signage is being proposed and how prospective customers would know which door to enter. (Applicant responded that new signage ("e" and "m" signs) will be added to the existing sign under a separate permit; however, the installation of new signage is not being proposed for the service drive as there is an existing sign on the building wall. Applicant stated that there is no specific door assigned to a customer, and the customers can drive to the service area via any of the three (3) doors.) Member Lockyer suggested a traffic light for the service drive area for traffic and circulation control. Member Lockyer questioned why the removal of the existing aluminum composite tiles is being proposed. (Applicant responded that the use of the panels was not BMW's original design intent for the building. Applicant further explained that the aluminum composite tiles were included in the design by an agent when the building design was being reviewed by the Architectural Advisory Committee in 2007, and BMW accepted the approved design with panels.) Member Rotman questioned if BMW would allow the panels to remain should the AAC deny the applicant's request to remove the panels. (Applicant confirmed that BMW would accept the AAC's decision and retain the existing panels in such case.) Member Walsh stated that he understands why an environmentally conditioned service bay is necessary and trusts Corporate's experience with the product (doors). Member Walsh added that the existing panels are an enriching element to the building; therefore, he is not inclined to the panel removal. Member Lockyer stated that the existing panels are richer quality compared to stucco, and the new clean, monolithic appearance will not be a good solution. Member Lockyer added that consideration for different panel materials or other seamless surface materials would be appropriate. Member Lockyer stated that he is supportive of the proposed service drive enclosure; however, service drive lanes and traffic within the garage needs attention. Member Lockyer stated that the removal of the existing panels would be degradation and it would not enhance the appearance of the building. Member Jakway requested confirmation to the Director of Planning Services that the committee is not discussing any landscaping or signage issues. Flinn Fagg, Director of Planning Services, confirmed that any changes to landscaping and signage to be reviewed under a separate permit and this particular review is limited to the building exterior elevation changes and the enclosure of the service drive. Member Doczi stated that he prefers the aluminum composite panels to remain on the M Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 2, 2019 City of Palm Springs building since the site is a part of an auto dealership campus. Member Doczi suggested the in -fill of the louvered panels on the service drive elevation to have some relief so that the panels/louvers can be in -filled in the center for shadow lines and details. Member Poehlein stated that he agrees with the comments provided by other Committee members and mentioned the need of a compromising way to make the long blank wall on the service drive elevation interesting. Member Rotman stated that he prefers the existing panels to remain and that the enclosure of the service drive, particularly the proportion of the doors, will weaken the overall architecture of the building. Member Rotman explained that the building currently exhibits clean, simple, and proportional composition, and he is concerned that these qualities will be lost by the service drive enclosure. Member Rotman stated that he would like to see a different design, possibly raising the door height or creating a continuous header to be more compatible with the primary portion of the building. Member Lockyer suggested that the new elevation might be recessed approximately two feet and darken as a solution to the issues Member Rotman raised. Member Rotman and Member Lockyer agreed that a simple solution could be implemented to achieve better design. Member McCoy stated that he prefers the retention of the existing panels, as they are compatible with other developments in the site's vicinity. Member McCoy added that while he supports the enclosure of the service drive, he is concerned about the dull appearance of the enclosed blank wall of the service drive. Member Walsh stated that providing relief in the plane might resolve the issue and the enclosure of the bay does not seem to be problematic. Chair Jakway stated that he is not supportive of the proposed project and the existing panels complement the building, which is unique and modern in architectural style. Chair Jakway agreed with Member Rotman's comments regarding the connection issue between the overhang of the enclosed service drive and the main building. While he acknowledged the issues presented, Chair Jakway accepted the project based on the suggested solutions for the treatment of the enclosed service drive. Chair Jakway opined that the removal of the panels will be backward and the building should remain as close as to what is currently existing. Applicant stated that the door height cannot exceed 10 feet because the doors will roll up in a 3 x 3 box, which will be located directly above the doors. Rotman, seconded by Lockyer approve the enclosure of the service drive subject to subcommittee review for the service bay (Walsh, Lockyer, and Rotman) and to deny the 5 Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 2, 2019 City of Palm Springs request for the removal of the existing aluminum composite tiles. AYES: DOCZI, LOCKYER, MCCOY, POEHLEIN, WALSH, ROTMAN, JAKWAY 5. PONO ACQUISITION PARTNERS, LLC, (DBA: PALM SPRINGS SURF CLUB) FOR REVIEW OF ARCHITECTURAL MATERIALS FOR MAIN BUILDING AND SITE LANDSCAPING AS A PLANNING COMMISSION CONDITION OF APPROVAL ASSOCIATED WITH AN AMENDMENT TO AN APPROVED PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR THE REHABILITATION OF AN EXISTING WATER PARK LOCATED AT 1500 SOUTH GENE AUTRY TRAIL, ZONE M-1 (PD 168), SECTION 9 (CASE 5.0356 CUP). (GM) Associate Planner Mlaker presented the project and gave a description of the proposed request. The Planning Commission previously approved a Conditional Use Permit for the operation of the water park and as a condition requested that the AAC review the exterior landscape plan and building architecture and materials. DAVID MIERTSONIN, ERIC MUNOZ and ROBERT RICHARDSON, representatives for the applicant, provided an overview of the proposed landscaping and building materials. Member McCoy commented that the landscaping at the entry way should be softened, vary heights of Date Palms and others along the driveway. Member Walsh said that the wall and fence along the street frontage is not well designed. He questioned if it can this be removed or painted. He commented that the use of thin wood element on building might not last in desert heat and sun. He asked if other material could be used that looks like wood, possibly metal. Member Doczi thinks the front entry landscaping needs some re -work. Member Poehlein stated that he is comfortable with the material board with a re -look at the wood trellis elements. Member Lockyer suggested re -work of the front monument and entry drive: a.) add accent plants and boulders rocks, varying tree heights; b) look at plants on the hill and add in area between driveway and storage building to the north. Chair Jakway said that the plans do not show enough detail of lower plants. Comments are to decrease the spacing of entry Date Palms — add more palms on the north side of driveway; re -work landscaping at monument entry and park entry; look at the design of the entry elements to the main building providing a clear distinction of the three (3) elements of the operation; re -think the use of wood on the building fagade. 2 Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 2, 2019 City of Palm Springs Lockyer, second by McCoy to deny the proposal in its current form. AYES: DOCZI, LOCKYER, MCCOY, POEHLEIN, WALSH, ROTMAN, JAKWAY COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: None STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: • Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission in December has been cancelled. • 2020 Public Meeting Schedule • Effective Jan. 2020, Principal Planner Newell will be the new AAC Staff Liaison. ADJOURNMENT: The Architectural Advisory Committee of the City of Palm Springs adjourned at 5:12 pm to the next regular meeting at 3:00 pm on Monday, January 6, 2020, Large Conference Room, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. Finn Fagg, AICP Director of Planning Services 7