The Palm Desert Architectural Review Commission tabled a proposal Tuesday for a mining-inspired industrial warehouse in the service Industrial zoning district near Dinah Shore Drive and Spyder Circle, citing concerns about the extensive use of corrugated metal and lack of architectural detail.
The commission unanimously voted to send the project back to applicant Najafi Enterprises with a list of design improvements before it can move forward to the Planning Commission. The proposed 9,756-square-foot building at 34501 Spyder Mining Claim Place would be a spec building designed to accommodate up to five future tenants.
The applicant's representative told commissioners the project aims to evoke early 20th-century desert mining structures through the use of Corten steel, which develops a rust-colored finish, for the lower walls and galvanized metal for the upper walls.
"The theme is an old mining claim place," the representative said. "It's a very durable finish and quite energy efficient the way this will go together."
But commissioners expressed concern that the heavy reliance on metal siding would not meet the architectural standards of the surrounding industrial area. Commissioner John Vuksic said the building lacked depth and articulation. "It's pretty flat," Vuksic said. "There's not a lot of interest in the building."
Vuksic said he wanted to see more architectural detail added to give the structure visual interest and ensure it complements neighboring developments. He referenced another building in the area that the commission had approved reluctantly.
"It got built, and it looked exactly like what we were afraid of," Vuksic said. "The day it was finished, it was a brand new building, and it looked like a building that was built on Cook Street in 1980."
The commission directed the applicant to reevaluate the metal building design to provide more depth of architecture to complement the surrounding area. Commissioners also asked for changes to the landscaping plan, including reconsidering the use of Palo Verde trees in favor of more sturdy species.
Additional concerns included the visibility of roof drainage systems, which commissioners said should be internal to the building, and the placement of a ladder that should be moved inside the structure.
According to the staff report, the building would include 18 parking spaces and feature sustainability elements including a south-facing roof optimized for solar panels and heavy insulation designed to make the structure net-zero ready.
The applicant will need to return to the commission with revised plans before the project can advance.