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Home My WebLink About2012-04-23- ARC MinutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Council Chamber, City Hall 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kleindienst called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ATTENDANCE - YTD Present: # Absent: # Total William Kleindienst, Chair X 7 1 8 James Harlan, Vice Chair X 8 0 8 William Fauber X 8 0 8 Gary Fredricks X 7 1 8 Susan Secoy Jensen X 7 1 8 Randy Purnel X 8 0 8 Paul Ortega X 6 2 8 Dan Thompson 3 0 N/A Donald Wexler N/A (Attendance record begins on January 2012 through the meeting of April 23, 2012.) Planning Commission Members Present: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of Minutes for meeting of April 9, 2012 with one correction to final action for agenda item #4 Hyundai Dealership. ACTION: M/S/C (Fauber / Jensen, 7-0) To approve the minutes of April 9, 2012 with a correction to final action for agenda item #4 Hyundai Dealership. REVISIONS TO AGENDA: PUBLIC COMMENTS: Three (3) minute time limit per person on matters within the jurisdiction of the Architectural Advisory Committee. There were no public comments. AGENDA ITEM #2: Case 3.1346 MAA — Fisherman's Grill Tom Adamo for exterior changes to the southerly portion of the commercial building located at 235 South Indian Canyon Drive, Zone CBD, Section 15. (DN) Assistant Planner Mlaker stated that the proposal is for the expansion of the Fisherman's Grill into the adjacent retail space to be used as a banquet facility with outdoor patio seating. The applicant is proposing to install decorative trim along the top of the east and south elevation with replacement of doors, windows, exterior lighting and building repaint. Architectural Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2012 Don Long representing the owner was present and answered questions from the AAC. He stated that the front glass fagade will be removed and replaced with a new fagade to match existing Fisherman's. Member Jensen supports the revitalization of the area between the renovated building and the parking structure. Member Purnel asked if the existing landscaping will be changing. Member Fauber asked if the faux finish would be applied to all buildings. ACTION: M/S/C (Harlan / Ortega, 7-0) To recommend approval with the condition that the black aggregate paving on existing north building to match existing. AGENDA ITEM #3: Case 3.2206 MAA — Meyerman Garage David Christian, Architect, for an enclosure of an existing carport to one car garage for property located at 550 Palisades Drive, Zone R-1-A, Section 15. (DN) Assistant Planner Mlaker stated that the proposal is to enclose an existing single -car carport on a hillside lot. The existing metal frame structure will be enclosed with materials to match. Stone veneer will be applied to the lower sides and rear. ACTION: M/S/C (Fauber / Kleindienst, 7-0) To recommend approval as submitted. AGENDA ITEM #4: Case 3.0297 MAA — Coco's Restaurant Street Vacation Donahue Schriber for street vacation of frontage road and landscape revisions to area in front of Coco's Restaurant located at 1901 East Palm Canyon Drive, Zone R-3, Section 25. (GM) Assistant Planner Mlaker stated that the proposal is to vacate and remove the existing street in front of Coco's Restaurant. The pavement will be removed and replaced with desert landscaping. A new driveway with curb cut from East Palm Canyon Drive and new alignment of pedestrian walkway will connect the site to the street. The applicant is proposing to revise the parking lot layout to include nine van accessible handicapped parking spaces. Michael Osborne of Donahue Schriber was present and described the project to the AAC as well as answer questions. He stated that the purpose of the revision to the handicapped parking area is to meet State standards. Chair Kleindienst asked for clarification on the proposed new curb cut along East Palm Canyon Drive. He stated that the close proximity of the new driveway to the intersection of Smoke Tree Lane and the existing bus stop may cause a problem. A deceleration, left turning lane may be needed. He stated that the applicant has an opportunity to provide an interesting driveway entrance into the Coco's Restaurant and the landscaping and Architectural Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2012 meandering walkway should match adjacent Smoke Tree Commons. Member Fauber supports a deceleration lane. Vice Chair Harlan stated that the existing low walls appear to be removed from the plan; how will the parking lot be screened. He also asked if the applicant could replace several missing Mesquite trees located in the middle median of East Palm Canyon Drive. Member Purnel stated that the proposed plan does not provide a direct connection from the bus stop to the restaurant property. AAC members offered the following comments and recommendations: 3.a Improve vehicular access experience. 3.b Provide a solution for a deceleration lane along East Palm Canyon Drive. 3.c Direct bus stop access to restaurant property to be provided. 3.f Maintain median landscaping within East Palm Canyon Drive. 3.g Revise landscape plan to match adjacent Smoke Tree Commons. 3.h Continue meandering sidewalk design from adjacent property. ACTION: M/S/C (Harlan / Ortega, 7-0) To recommend a re -study with direction. AGENDA ITEM #5: Case 5.1277 CUP - Whitewater Solar Farm A conditional Use Permit for a 3 megawatt solar energy production facility on roughly 12 acres or a 108 acre parcel located roughly north of Highway 111, south of Interstate 10, east of Tipton road, Zone 0-5 (open Space) and W (Watercourse). (KL) Question whether the site would be used for public tours of the solar farm; applicant indicated that was not the intent of the project; no specific accommodation for busses or tours are part of the project scope. ACTION: M/S/C (Secoy-Jensen / Fauber, 7-0) To recommend approval, AGENDA ITEM #6: Pre App 12-001 — Alcazar Lofts A pre -application for a proposed five story 61-room hotel with retail uses, off-street parking, and landscaping on a 1.13 acre parcel at 750 North Palm Canyon Drive; PDD 104, (Zone C- 1 / R-3) Las Palmas Historic District. (KL) AAC members provided the applicant the following comments: 1. The project's bulk, massing, height, materials, and context within the existing historic and uptown retail/commercial district are problematic. 2. The project appears "very corporate", and is not fitting for the Las Palmas Historic Business District aesthetically. 3. Appears to have a significant lack of parking. 4. The special buildings that exist in the vicinity of the project have not been respected 3 Architectural Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2012 by this design; there is "no relationship with the surrounding existing buildings whatsoever'. 5. The project does not respect or relate well to the existing adjacent streetscape on both Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon. 6. The project appears to seriously block views from existing adjacent one and two-story buildings on the east side of Indian Canyon Drive. 7. The 45 degree angles don't respect the existing orthogonal grid of the surrounding streets, parcels and structures. 8. The pedestrian experience along the street (both Palm Canyon and Indian Canyon) needs further study and improvement. 9. Scale of the proposed building is too big; violates all the development standards of the zone and the historic district guidelines. % Needs more development of sustainability features. 11. There is no good arrival sequence for the building or the site; Need to separate the pedestrian and vehicular movement and entry/egress to and from the site. (not pleasant to walk through a parking lot to get to the retail/commercial/front desk features. 12. Needs more attention given to the retail component — doesn't "give back much" to the City. 13. Like the concept and the roof top terrace, pool and restaurant. 14. Concern that a five story building is too high for this particular site. 15. Ark walk between the Alcazar Hotel and the proposed site is interesting, but needs better definition and to be more than a narrow strip of walkway and some grass next to the parking lot. 16. Needs more retail presence on Palm Canyon Drive. 17. Concern about the Indian Canyon Drive frontage -being treated like "back of the house'; needs more of its own street -front presence on Indian Canyon Drive. 18. Have to walk through the parking lot from the Indian Canyon Drive side to get to the retail or front door for the hotel functions or elevator; (poor separation of vehicular and pedestrian access and poor pedestrian sequence from the public way). 19. Context and understanding of the surrounding neighborhood is missing. 20. Has a lot of functional aspects that are not yet successfully worked out 21. Too abrupt at the property line; needs to step back away from the street at the upper levels. 22. Comment on historic context — doesn't need to mimic historic styles, but needs to respect or have a better awareness or context with the surrounding existing historic structures. 23. Encouraged to see new development of some kind on this site. ACTION: Comments were provided by AAC members to the applicant. No recommendation for approval or denial is to be provided as part of pre -applications. 13 Architectural Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2012 CHAIRMAN / COMMITTEE / STAFF COMMENTS: Principal Planner Robertson informed the AAC that the owner of the building with the wall mural along North Palm Canyon Drive and Racquet Club has responded to the citation issued by Code Enforcement and that she will be contacting the City's Public Art Coordinator for further steps. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further comments, the AAC meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m �ETI.:2 • Robertson Principal 5