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Home My WebLink About2017-12-04- ARC Minutes City of Palm Springs ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California 92262 Minutes of December 4, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Song called the meeting to order at 3:01 pm. ROLL CALL: Committee Members Present: Doczi*, Lockyer, McCoy, Rotman, Vice Chair Cassady, Chair Song Committee Members Excused: Jakway Planning Commissioner Present: Vice Chair Calerdine Staff Present: Planning Director Fagg, AICP, Associate Planner Mlaker, AICP *Arrived at 3:06 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 12:00 pm on Wednesday, November 29, 2017. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: Vice Chair Cassady, seconded by McCoy to accept the agenda as presented. YES: Lockyer, McCoy, Rotman, Vice Chair Cassady, Chair Song ABSENT: Doczi, Jakway PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: NOVEMBER 6, 2017 Member Lockyer, seconded by Member Rotman to approve minutes of November 6, 2017. YES: Lockyer, McCoy, Rotman, Chair Song ABSENT: Doczi, Jakway ABSTAIN: Vice Chair Cassady Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 4, 2017 City of Palm Springs 2 NEW BUSINESS: 2. EL RANCHO VISTA ESTATES HOA REQUESTING A SIGN PROGRAM FOR THREE (3) NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRY SIGNS LOCATED AT TWO COMMUNITY ENTRY POINTS AT EAST VISTA CHINO ROAD, AND CHIA ROAD, ZONE R-1-C (CASE SP 17-011). (GM) Associate Planner Mlaker provided an overview on the proposed sign program. Chair Song verified if landscape improvements are included. - (no) JOHN DESCHUYMERE, applicant, was available for questions from the AAC members. Vice Chair Cassady questioned when the original lettering was installed - (estimated after 2000); and who picked the font? (neighborhood - it reflects period of construction) Member Lockyer requested details of lighting; details of wall surface; and questioned if there is a color sample of wall color - (distributed to the AAC members). ERIK LARSEN, El Rancho Vista Estates Neighborhood Organization, responded to question about neighborhood support. Member Lockyer questioned if property owners gave approval for the signs on private property. (Jim Gross - 3660 E. Chia stated approval.) Member Lockyer verified the height of existing letters. (11" and proposed height will be 7") Member Doczi questioned if there will be stucco on existing walls. (no, score lines will shown) Member Rotman questioned how color was selected. (Recommended by HOA.) Chair Song verified the extent of the new wall color; she questioned if they considered the stone surface for all of Chia sign; and concern about the proportion of the Chia sign - (lengthen monument structure). Member Doczi questioned if the rock groundcover material could be refreshed. (yes, as next phase of improvements) Member McCoy questioned if the historical society reviewed the font. (no) Chair Song recapped the issues for discussion: Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 4, 2017 City of Palm Springs 3 1. The temperature of LED light. 2. Font issue 3. Proportions of signage. 4. Paint selection vs. plaster finish 5. Freshen up of landscape. Member Doczi would like to see refreshing of the decomposed granite; and would prefer to see the stucco on existing walls as background. Member McCoy said he is not in favor of having back-lit signs. He is concerned with the long term maintenance of the signs, and thinks the finish on the background could match better. Member Rotman would like to see an upgrade on the landscaping. He has an issue with painting the block and the rough finish; he recommends the wall be stuccoed and corner gets cleaned up with indication of color changes. The color sample could be revised. Member Lockyer appreciates the HOA's interest in improving the entry way. He said there is a fair amount of neglect in some of the details. Vice Chair Cassady said he's excited to see the project and is very supportive of it. He agrees that the signs should have consistency between the three of them particularly in the background. The gray color may need to be revised and would like to see landscape refreshed. He's concerned about the font; however, supports the choice of the HOA. MOTION: Member Rotman, seconded by Member Lockyer to approve with conditions: 1. Consistent (stucco or other) material behind letters; 2. Lighting to be a warmer color; 3. Refresh landscaping; 4. Proportion of E. Chia sign (wall length to letters); 5. Color sample to return for review to subcommittee (Rotman and Chair Song). AYES: Doczi, Lockyer, McCoy, Rotman, Vice Chair Cassady, Chair Song ABSENT: Jakway 3. BRAVO PROPERTIES INC., FOR A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 4,595-SQUARE FOOT HOUSE ON A HILLSIDE LOT LOCATED AT 350 EL PORTAL, ZONE R-1-B. (CASE 3.4066 MAJ). (GM) Associate Planner Mlaker provided background information on the proposed hillside house. Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 4, 2017 City of Palm Springs 4 Chair Song verified the wall and hedge details at the east property line; verified retention of existing mature palms; and new driveway alignment. Member Lockyer verified the retaining wall at the west side of the property. JIM MCEACHERN, project architect, was available for questions from the AAC. Member Doczi verified the grade transition and height of retaining wall. He questioned if wall can be terraced or stepped. Chair Song verified the landscape materials/sizes and boulder placement. Member McCoy does not feel the landscape is scaled/proportioned to the building. Member Doczi said there is a disconnect between the graphics and plan pertaining to the landscaping. Member Rotman verified the driveway location and existing mature palm trees. He verified the color of the exterior. Member Lockyer asked if there is a material board -(sheet); and verified the garage door material and window frames. He requested clarification on the finish of the driveway -(acid wash finished concrete); and spacing of ficus (24" - 30" spacing). Mr. Lockyer asked if they have met with the neighbor to the east regarding the blocking of views - (no). Chair Song questioned why the ficus hedge continues on the east and north. Ms. Song asked about details of the front elevation - "L" shaped detail should be more of a thickened wall. Member Lockyer asked what the roof material is - (single-ply membrane, off-white color). Member Doczi said he would like to see the boulders called out a minimum of 3' - 4' in size as part of the plant legend. The Mediterranean Palms should be a minimum 36" box (in a more proportionate scale to the house) and on the east side it needs some type of vertical element, not just the hedge. Member McCoy noted concern with the retaining wall height. He expressed concern with the height of house relative to the existing and with the scale/proportion of landscaping (the landscaping feels inconsistent with the neighborhood). Member Lockyer suggested re-examining the ficus on the east property line; landscape needs to be more consistent and would like to soften the hardscape material at the front of the house. He suggested a low creeping ground cover at the front; the roof Architectural Advisory Committee Minutes December 4, 2017 City of Palm Springs 5 color should be a tan color and need heights on the retaining walls. Vice Chair Cassady concurs with the comments about the ficus hedge on the east -and should not run down the entire east side. The front facade looks a little flat and there could be an opportunity to do something more architecturally interesting. Chair Song said that the information is incomplete and need the Committee needs more information. The adjacent properties to the west, east and north need site sections showing the retaining wall height. MOTION: Vice Chair Cassady, seconded by Member Lockyer to continue to allow the applicant to respond to AAC comments. AYES: Doczi, Lockyer, McCoy, Rotman, Vice Chair Cassady, Chair Song ABSENT: Jakway COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: • Back-lit signage • Cool roof requirements STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: • The next AAC meeting is scheduled for January 2, 2018. ADJOURNMENT: The Architectural Advisory Committee of the City of Palm Springs adjourned at 4:41 pm to the next regular meeting at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, Council Chamber, City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs. __________________________________________ Flinn Fagg, AICP Director of Planning Services