CC Resolution 2001-065 RESOLUTION NO. 2001-65
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT TO MODIFY GENERAL PLAN POLICY 7-1.4.3
TO ALLOW EXISTING OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES TO
REMAIN ON TRANSMISSION POLES OF 92 KILOVOLTS
ALONG ARTERIAL STREETS IN THE CITY
CASE: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2000-073
APPLICANT: T.D. DESERT DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California, did, on
the 5t~ day of June, 2001, hold a duly-noticed Public Hearing to consider amending the
City of La Quinta General Plan Infrastructure and Public Services Element (Policy 7-
1.4.3) to allow existing overhead utility lines to remain on joint-use 92 Kv transmission
poles adjacent to Arterial Streets in the City of La Quinta; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California,
did, on the 8~' day of May, 2001, hold a duly-noticed Public Hearing to consider
amending the City of La Quinta General Plan Infrastructure and Public Services Element
(Policy 7-1.4.3) to allow existing overhead utility lines to remain on joint-use 92 Kv
transmission poles adjacent to Arterial Streets in the City of La Quinta and on a 5-0
vote adopted Resolution 2001-066 approving said amendment;
WHEREAS, at said Public Hearing, upon hearing and considering all
testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons wanting to be heard, said
City Council did make the following mandatory findings pursuant to Section 9.230.020
of the Zoning Ordinance to justify approval of said General Plan Amendment:
1. The proposed Amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies
of the General Plan Circulation Element which defines the design standards for
the primary circulation system for the City stating that vertical landscaping (i.e.,
palms) shall be used with trees to create landscape themes on (mage Corridors
to reduce the visibility of overhead transmission lines.
2. The proposed change to allow the existing overhead utility lines to remain in
place does not change the visual character of the City in that the high voltage
lines would exist regardless of this proposed change.
3. Approval of the Amendment will not create conditions materially detrimental to
the public health, safety, and general welfare in that the utility lines already
exist and were installed to state and federal standards and requirements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
La Quinta, California, as follows:
Re~olmion No. 2001-65
Gener'a Plan Amendment 2000-073
T. D. Oe~ert Development
June 5, 2001
4. That the above recitations are true and correct and constitute the findings of the
City Council in this case; and
5. That it does hereby confirm certification of Environmental Assessment
2001-421 for the reasons set forth in this Resolution and as stated in the
Environmental Assessment Checklist and Mitigated Negative Declaration on file
with the Community Development Department; and
6. That it does hereby approve this General Plan Amendment request for the
reasons set forth in this Resolution per attached Exhibit "A".
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La Quinta City
Council, held on this 5t" day of June, 2001, by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members Adolph, Henderson, Sniff, Mayor Pe~a
NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Perkins
ABSTAIN: None ~)/(~
JoHN J~EN/ ~ Mayor
City of L'~ Qui~ to, California
ATI'EST:
(City Seal)
Re~lution No, 2001-66
_ General Plan Amendment 2000-073
T.D. De~ert Development
June 6, 2001
Page 3
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City of La Quinta, CaLifornia
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2000-073
EXHIBIT "A'
Existing General Plan Policy (7-1.4.3)
The City shall require the under-grounding of all existing and proposed overhead electric
lines, less than 12.5 kilovolts, to enhance the visual quality of the City.
Proposed General Plan Policy (7-1.4.3)
The City shall require the under-grounding of all existing and proposed overhead electric
lines, less than 34.5 kilovolts, to enhance the visual quality of the City. All existing utility
lines attached and parallel to joint-use 92 Kv transmission power poles are exempt fi-om the
under-grounding requirement. Should under-grouoding costs become economically feasible
in the ~umre for high voltage transmission lines, the City, in conjunction with other public
agencies and private property owners, shall explore ways to remove the overhead lines fi-om
Image Corridors through such methods as an assessment district, etc. Until removal can take
place, vertical landscaping shall be installed outside the utility easement corridor to screen
the power poles and guyed wires pursuant to the policies prescribed in Chapter 2 (Circulation
Element) of the General Plan.