City of Palm Desert

CITY OF PALM DESERT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES August 10, 2010 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Current Meeting Year to Date Present Absent Present Absent Ronald Gregory, Chairman X 14 1 Chris Van Vliet X 14 1 John Vuksic X 14 1 Karel Lambell X 15 Pam Touschner X 10 5 Allan Levin X 14 1 Ken Stendell X 14 1 Also Present Lauri Aylaian, Director Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner Missy Grisa, Assistant Planner Diane Hollinger, Landscape Specialist Pedro Rodriquez, Senior Code Officer Christine Canales, Assistant Engineer Janine Judy, Senior Office Assistant III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 13, 2010 & July 27, 2010 Action: It was moved by Commissioner Lambell, seconded by Commissioner Touschner, to approve the July 13, 2010 meeting minutes. Motion carried 4-0-1-2, with Commissioner Van Vliet abstaining and Commissioners Levin and Stendell absent. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Van Vliet, seconded by Commissioner Lambell, to approve the July 27, 2010 meeting minutes. Motion carried 5-0-0-2, with Commissioners Levin and Stendell absent. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES August 10, 2010 V. CASES: A. Final Drawings: 1. CASE NO: MISC 10-246 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): SEPHORA USA, INC. 525 Market St., 32nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Final approval of a storefront façade remodel; Sephora USA. LOCATION: 73-545 El Paseo, Suite 1620 ZONE: C-1 Ms. Grisa presented the project and summarized the staff report. She stated that Sephora USA, Inc. has proposed a remodel of the storefront façade located at the southeast corner of The Gardens on El Paseo where Banana Republic was temporarily located. This space has a small amount of frontage that extends to the east on El Paseo and more frontage that extends south on San Pablo Avenue. The applicant has proposed replacing these frontage walls with larger expanses of a storefront glazing system trimmed in brushed stainless steel frames. The corner tower element would be enclosed by moving the glazing system to the outer edge of the building. The entrance doors will still be located further back so open swinging doors do not enter the pedestrian path. Black powder coated metal canopies extend across all glazing systems nearly 11’ above ground, except between the lower glass and the clerestory glass located furthest south on San Pablo Avenue. This area is covered in black brake metal and lies flush with the adjacent wall covered in black powder coated brake metal panels. On the west façade some of the stainless steel frame is hidden by black break metal bands to continue the design of that façade. A black granite base is located beneath all windows and around the base of the corner tower feature. Over the black metal panels is an internally illuminated ‘S’ logo that fills the blank space of wall. The two pilasters on the front tower element are proposed to be resurfaced with a layer of black and white stucco forming a striped pattern at this location, while the remaining surfaces of the tower would be covered in black stucco. Six black light sconces surround the corner tower façade. Additional recessed lighting is illustrated under the main entrance overhang. The applicant has proposed G:\Planning\Janine Judy\Word Files\A Minutes\2010\AR100810min.doc Page 2 of 15 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES August 10, 2010 face-lit white pin-mounted ‘SEPHORA’ signage on the center tower façade and face-lit pin-mounted ‘SEPHORA’ signage along the west eyebrow. Additionally, the ‘S’ logo is further south on San Pablo within the blank space of the wall. Two blade signs are proposed, which are allowed under the current sign program. These signs must be located at a minimum 7’-6” above ground, be no larger than 3 sq. ft. and project no more than 3’ from the wall. Staff believes the overall design enhances this tenant space at The Gardens, but is concerned with the amount of solid black stucco color extending the full height of the tower element. Although, this is one of the branding colors of the store, staff believes the amount of black can be reduced to effectively use their branding colors without overpowering the corner with this color. The proposed blade signs are slightly oversized and need to be reduced to a maximum size of 3 sq. ft. All other signs are within allowable signage limits. Tenant design criteria also require an awning or shade structure of glass, fabric or metal at Type 1 storefronts. Staff does not consider the black powder coated banding a shade structure, but rather an architectural feature. The bands have a depth of 6”, except for the location above the front door which is 12”. The front valance of this band should have a maximum height of 12”. The sign program additionally requires blade signs to hang from this structure and be externally illuminated. The applicant is expanding the glazing and these bands should be increased in depth to create more shade relief as indicated in the tenant design criteria. Staff does not see a problem with the internally illuminated blade signs and the 1’-3” height of the band. Additionally, the property owner has endorsed this application illustrating approval of the contradictory features. Staff recommends that the Architectural Review Commission approve the storefront façade remodel for Sephora USA, Inc. subject to commissioner comments based on the staff findings above. Ms. Erin Auses, Store Planner said there a few material changes from the original submission and presented the changes to the Commission. On the original submission along the San Pablo elevation they were showing storefront glazing that was purely aesthetic. They are proposing to change the black break metal panel behind the “S” logo to granite so the recesses instead of the glazing will relate better to the context of the surroundings. She said they had some concerns with the black metal panels with the oil canning and fading so they thought the black granite would respond better. G:\Planning\Janine Judy\Word Files\A Minutes\2010\AR100810min.doc Page 3 of 15 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES August 10, 2010 Commissioner Touschner stated she has a problem with the black and the stripes because it is so different than anything on that block. There are some dark facades like Between the Sheets but it blends in with the color pallet of the whole campus. The sides look nice; indenting their symbols in black on the sides and it is an appropriate use of their branding and is still within the architecture. She feels there is a way for them to stick out and have their identity, but be a part of the whole. This is having an identity without having any respect for the whole. Ms. Auses stated that in her conversations with the landlord representative they asked us to claim that corner rotunda and make a bold statement. She said they do like to stand out and Commissioner Touschner said that is fair enough, but felt there is a way to do that and still blend in without sticking out. Ms. Auses stated that the striping is something they try to incorporate with their Sephora flame, as well as the stripes in their storefronts and asked how they could go about doing the stripes without standing out. Commissioner Touschner stated that part of it is the two columns; they look like legs holding up something. Think of it as a whole and have it work together not these two sticks that are holding up a top. Commissioner Gregory said that virtually all of the colors on most of the buildings are earth tones and the black is deviating from that; clearly an attempt to be noticed. Commissioner Touschner stated that Williams Sonoma is grass green and not earth tone. She thinks it’s possible to still have their brand, but it has engulfed their architecture. Commissioner Lambell stated that it is the amount of black where the Sephora sign is that is of concern. If it was not so black on this corner it will feel better and be more a part of the whole. Commissioner Lambell made a motion to continue and Commissioner Touschner seconded. Commissioner Gregory asked for further discussion. Mr. Bob Fliday, The Gardens, said that black and white is Sephora’s colors, so they are not going to be able to change significantly to any other color. They may be able to change it to black and make it a little whiter. There will be striping involved and that is okay with the landlord. Commissioner Lambell stated that it is the amount of massing of the black that is of concern. Commissioner Touschner also suggested that they explain their banding; it should be wider. G:\Planning\Janine Judy\Word Files\A Minutes\2010\AR100810min.doc Page 4 of 15 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION MINUTES August 10, 2010 ACTION: It was moved by Commissioner Lambell and seconded by Commissioner Van Vliet, to continue Case MISC 10-246 to redesign the striping and the amount of black massing. Motion carried 4-0-1-2, with Commissioner Vuksic abstaining and Commissioners Levin and Stendell absent 2. CASE NO: SA 10-248 APPLICANT (AND ADDRESS): COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT (CVWD), 85-995 Avenue 52, Coachella, CA 92236 NATURE OF PROJECT/APPROVAL SOUGHT: Final approval of a sign program for the new CVWD building. LOCATION: 75-515 Hovley Lane East ZONE: S.I. Ms. Grisa presented the project and summarized the staff report. The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) is proposing signage for a new building located on Hovley Lane East in Palm Desert.

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