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Home My WebLink About2009-01-26- ARC MinutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE CORRECTED - MINUTES OF JANUARY 26, 2009 Council Chamber, City Hall 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 3:05 pm by Vice Chair Paul Ortega. ATTENDANCE: Present: Absent: YTD Attendance: Chris Sahlin, Chair X 1 Paul Ortega, Vice Chair X 2 Doug Hudson X 2 Lance O'Donnell X 2 Michael King X 2 Robert Parker X 1 Donald Wexler X 0 Jeffrey Jurasky X 0 Planning Commission Members Present: Cohen, Scott, Donenfeld REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: The Agenda was available for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west side of Council Chambers) and the Planning Department counter by noon Thursday, January 22, 2009. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN: Discussion of chairmanship to be on a 6 month rotating basis. All members agreed. Action: M/S/C (O'Donnell/King) 5-0-1 For Chris Sahlin to serve as Chairman for 6 months. Action: M/S/C (O'Donnell/Hudson) 5-0-1 for Paul Ortega to serve as Vice - Chairman for 6 months. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBER: Robert Parker was introduced; Mr. Parker then provided a brief background of his experience in the field of Landscape Architect, he also stated that he was very pleased to be back on the Architectural Advisory Committee. PROCEDURES: Discussion on receiving Public Comments relative to agenda items. Committee members believe that it would be in the best interest for the public, the case AAC Agenda Item #1 Architectural Advisory Committee Meeting - CORRECTED Minutes of January 26, 2009 applicant and the AAC to receive public comments after Staff has given their report, the applicant has made their presentation, and the AAC has asked questions. The applicant will then be given an amount of time for rebuttal after public comments. The understanding remains that the public can only make comments once, either at the beginning of the meeting or as part of a specific case. Action: M/S/C (King/O'Donnell) 5-0-1 the process to present cases to be: staff report, applicant presentation, public comments, and then applicant rebuttal. Time limits to be 10 minutes for applicant presentation, 3 minutes for public comments, 2 minutes for applicant rebuttal. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Three (3) minute time limit per person on matters within the jurisdiction of the Architectural Advisory Committee. Vice Chair Ortega opened Public Comments: Frank Tysen — Owner of Casa Cody — presented concept drawings for renovation of the Fashion Plaza done several years ago Mr. Tysen stated that any new development at the Desert Fashion Plaza should include consideration of as many ideas as possible including ones such as the one he presented. Seeing no other members of the public wishing to make comments — Vice Chair Ortega closed public comments. 1. Case 3.1928 Chop House — To remodel the front fagade of existing restaurant at 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Zone CBD, Section 15. (GM) AAC members offered the following comments and recommendations: a. Consider adding a water feature to hardscape under stairs. b. Reconsider metal ribbon element on second floor to make bolder, look at perforating metal. C. Canopy color may be too dark, consider lighter fabric. d. Consider additional lighting at main entrance. Action: M/S/C (Hudson/O'Donnell) 5-0-1 To recommend approval based on the above comments 1.a thru 1.d. 2. PA 09-001 - A Pre -application by Palm Springs Promenade, LLC for Renovation of the Desert Fashion,Plaza Mall at 123 North Palm Canyon Drive, Section 151T4/R4 (KL) 2 Architectural Advisory Committee Meeting - CORRECTED Minutes of January 26, 2009 STAFF PRESENTED THE PROJECT AND THEN THE APPLICANT, JOHN WESSMAN PROVIDED FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT. MR. WESSMAN OPENED HIS COMMENTS BY ALLEGING THE AAC HAD RENDERED HIS BARISTO LOFTS PROJECT (NOT PART OF THIS PRE - APPLICATION) "UNBUILDABLE" DUE TO THEIR REQUIREMENT THAT THE NORTH SIDE BALCONIES BE PULLED BACK TO BE "JULIET BALCONIES". AAC members offered the following comments and recommendations: a. Outdoor space along Palm Canyon north of Tahquitz needs more work to give it more pedestrian energy. b. Develop more pedestrian -level sidewalk integration. Need careful consideration of pedestrian activity, flow, access; amenities, tie-in with existing downtown pedestrian activity, linkages, etc. C. Southwest parking lot needs more shade and landscape, currently to harsh, hot, and barren. d. City needs to collaborate on street furniture and details in order to coordinate with rest of downtown so this center feels integrated, not a separate entity. e. Create areas for vendor carts, seating, toilets trash cans and other pedestrian amenities to enliven the street scene. f. Consider 1-way traffic; drop-off and stopping for theater and other stores will cause bad traffic jams if 2-way. g. Consider more detail and excitement at museum terminus of proposed east -west street; another traffic circle or other details to better integrate this end of the new street. Create better open space in front of museum. h. Consider more second floor retail along the new east -west street. i. Promote areas where locals as well as tourists can gather and hang out. j. Simplify the architecture and avoid design that is too stylistic and that easily becomes out-of-date; needs more architectural `rigor', less `tacked - on bells and whistles'. k. Southwest corner parking lot should be broken up, it is too vast, possibly connect new north -south vehicular way into Belardo to the south to create a natural set of sidewalks and landscape to break up the parking lot and to tie this in with the street grid of the neighborhood. Action: M/S/G (None) CHAIRMAN / COMMITTEE / STAFF COMMENTS: The Committee commended staff on the new procedure of sending a brief staff memo with exhibits and minutes to the AAC prior to the meeting. 3 Architectural Advisory Committee Meeting - CORRECTED Minutes of January 26, 2009 Hudson — Status of parking lot lighting at the Springs Shopping Center. In response, Staff has contacted the shopping center management company and a meeting has been scheduled. King — AAC recommendations to applicants for changes on submitted plans and how these changes relate to conditions of approval. In response, Planning Director Ewing stated that it has been the policy of the Planning Department to have corrections made to plans which reflect the AAC recommendations and staff comments rather than to condition of approvals. ADJOURMENT: There being no further comments, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, J �c�lOQn9Q . Edward O. ertson Principal Planner Em