Commissioners were concerned about a possible unfinished look to the bottom of the upper standing seam facade, but designers working on the project provided more detailed renderings at Tuesday’s meeting instead.
Palm Desert’s Architectural Review Commission approved two new storefronts on El Paseo Tuesday, bringing both the Herman Miller and Bucherer designs to the finish line.
Both went before the commission earlier this month, and both were put off to make some design tweaks before being advanced to the building permit stage.
Design and Construction Project Manager for the project Alexandra Hirsch said at the commission meeting that while the commission’s suggestions to revisit the standing seam were considered, ultimately the project would not make any changes to the earlier version.
“It's not an updated detail, but we are happy and very proud of this design. We've been working on this for nearly a year now, so we hope that that sort of shines through” the updated renderings submitted alongside the project, said Hirsch.
Though some commissioners questioned the lack of changes, Hirsch assured the commission that the designs for the furniture store with roots in midcentury modern design.
“I can really, really, wholeheartedly assure you that all of these materials were selected specifically for this location.“
The Bucherer watch and jewelry store project also came back before the commission, having removed a rooftop cornice that commissioners objected to and including two new planters with southwestern succulents.
“We feel very confident in the cornice removal, and we have explored the halo lighting at the front to create some cohesion with the existing store,” said Christine Fiorello, Senior Director of Interior Design for Kenneth Park Architects on behalf of the project.
Commissioner John Vuksic called the cornice removal “a really good move.”
Both projects were passed unanimously, with a further condition of approval requiring the Bucherer project shift its plant selection as recommended by commissioner Geoff Gregory.
A new sign showing the entrance to Dinah Shore Business Park at 73800 Dinah Shore Drive was also approved by the commission.
“The issue is that those nine buildings in the back, people have no idea where they're at, and there's currently no monument sign,” said Jim Ross of Palm Springs-based Best Signs Inc.
Though some commissioners suggested lighting the sign, the developer said construction would be challenging and night time customers of back-row tenants were rare. The project was ultimately moved forward without it as a condition of approval.