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1986 07 08 PC Minutes ' '~APPROEO~ MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION - CITY OF LA QUINTA A Regular Meeting Held at the La Quinta city Hall, 78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California July 8, 1986 7:00 p.m. -- 1. CALL TO ORDER A. Chairman Thornburgh called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; Commissioner Moran led the flag salute. 2. ROLL CALL A. Chairman Thornburgh requested the roll call; the Secretary called the roll. Present: Commissioners Brandt, Moran, Walling and Chairman Thornburgh Absent: Commissioner De Gasperin Also present were Community Development Director Lawrence L. Stevens and Secretary Donna M. Velotta. Chairman Thornburgh made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Walling, to excuse Commissioner De Gasperin. Unanimously Adopted. 3. ELECTION OF NEW CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR PLANNING COMMISSION _ Director Stevens opened nominations for the office of Chairman of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Walling nominated Thomas Thornburgh for this office. There being no further nominations, Director Stevens closed the nominations for the office of Chairman of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Brandt made a motion that ThOmas Thornburgh be reelected to the Office of Chairman of the Planning Commission by acclamation. Commissioner Moran seconded the motion. Unanimously Adopted. Chairman Thornburgh opened the nominations for the office of Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Moran nominated John Walling for this office. There being no further nominations, Chairman Thornburgh closed the nominations for the Office of Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Moran made a motion that John Walling be reelected to the Office of Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission by acclamation. Commissioner Brandt seconded the motion. Unanimously Adopted. 4. HEARINGS Chairman Thornburgh introduced the first item of hearing as follows: - A. PLOT PLAN NO. 85-217, AMENDMENT #1, a request for approval to construct an approximately 100,000-square-foot Office/ Commercial/Medical/Restaurant commercial complex; La Quinta Medical/Commercial Plaza, Ltd., Applicants. He then called for the Staff Report. 1. Director Stevens advised the Commission that the Applicant is requesting approval to revise the "Plaza Tampico" Commercial Office Center. Although the site plan layout is basically the same as the conceptual plan approved on 12/10/85, building size and design, landscaping and pedes- trian amenities have been substantially changed. Rather than conceptual approval, the plans have been revised to incorporate many of the previous City related concerns for specific construction approval of the entire office/ commercial center. He then described the building plans. The project contains 101,383 square feet of building floor space. Access to the site is from two main and two secondary entrances on Desert Club Drive and Calle Tampico. Director Stevens stated that the main reasons this appli- cation is again before the Commission are changes in the exterior elevations and for the increase in floor area - and to familiarize you with the implementation of the conditions that you have previously applied to the site plan. In general, Staff feels that the exterior elevations are significantly better than the original proposal, particu- larly the addition of the tower element. Director Stevens stated there are a couple of very minor issues raised in the Staff Report relative to building and tower height that Staff is requesting you to make determinations on. The main concern raised in the Staff Report is the parking issue. Director Stevens presented a detailed report regarding this matter. - 2 - Staff's recommendation is that the amended plot plan be approved subject to the conditions contained in the Staff report. This concluded Staff's presentation. After a brief discussion, Chairman Thornburgh opened the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. Skip Fonner- 521 24th Street, Santa Monica, CA, and Peter Givas, Project Architect, of the firm Ogren, Juarez, & Givas, Planners and Architects, 2017 "O" Street, Sacramento, CA, appeared on behalf of the Applicant and supported the Staff recommendation with only minor changes to parking and architectural conditions. There being no further public comments, Chairman Thornburgh closed the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. Discussion by the Planning Commission on this matter included: - Landscaped setback along Tampico - Improvements to building architecture - Review of building/tower heights - Concern about the number of parking spaces It was the consensus of the Planning Commission that, with minor changes to the conditions, the project should be approved. The changes the Commission requested are as follows: * Change Condition #13(b), under Item #7 in the Staff Report to add the following: "Retail areas shall have approximately 20% of the - floor area for storage, restrooms and related needs." * Change Condition #13(c), under Item #7 in the Staff Report to read as follows: "A minimum of 398 parking spaces shall be provided, including an adjustment not to exceed 12.5% to accommodate multiple-use, shared parking. The number of spaces required may be adjusted by the Community Development Director as appropriate to reflect minor changes in floor area and building uses. Uses may be switched from the assignments in sub-condition (a) above between buildings with approval of the Community Development Director provided that it is demonstrated that sufficient parking is available." - 3 - * Change Asterisk 94, under Item #10 of the, Staff Report, to allow 30'8" building height with towers to be the height as shown on plans submitted. * Change Asterisk #5, under Item #10, to add the following: "If possible, the roof line ..... " Chairman Thornburgh called for a motion. 2. Commissioner Walling made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Moran, based on the findings in the Staff Report, to approve Plot Plan No. 85-217, Amendment #1, in accordance with all Exhibits A, B, and C, and subject to conditions of approval dated 12/10/85, as amended. Unanimously Adopted. Chairman Thornburgh introduced the next item of hearing as follows: B. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 86-012, a request to amend the La Quinta General Plan Land Use Plan on 27.5 acres from Medium Density Residential (4-8 dwellings per acre) to High Density Residential (8-16 dwellings per acre); and to consider a possible amendment to the General Plan Circulation Plan redesignating Miles Avenue, and/or those portions of Adams Street and/or Dune Palms Road north of Highway 111, from Secondary Arterials (88' right-of-way width) to Primary Arterials (100'-ll0'right-of-way width); and to consider a City-Initiated, related proposal to amend the Land Use Plan on 17.4 acres located at the northwest corner of Miles Avenue and Adams Street from Medium Density Residential to High Density Residential; J.C.C. Enterprises/City-Initiated; Applicants. He called for the Staff Report. -- 1. Director Stevens advised the Commission that included in their packets is a letter Staff received on Monday from the Applicant requesting that this application be withdrawn from consideration during Cycle II and placed for reconsideration during Cycle III, which is our next General Plan review. He requested the Commission to accept the letter and take no further action on the request before them tonight. Chairman Thornburgh called for a motion. 2. Commissioner Brandt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Moran, to accept the Applicant's request for withdrawal of General Plan Amendment No. 86-012 from Cycle II General Plan Review and place the request for reconsideration during the Cycle III General Plan review. Unanimously Adopted. - 4 - 5. CONSENT CALENDAR Commissioner Moran made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Brandt to accept the Consent Calendar, as amended. 6. BUSINESS Chairman Thornburgh introduced the first item of business as follows: A. ADAMS STREET REALIGNMENT DESIGN, a request for conceptual approval of the design of the Adams Street realignment between Avenue 50 and Calle Tampico; Rufus Associates, Applicant. He called for the Staff Report. 1. Director Stevens stated this is to advise the Planning Commission of the proposed realignment of Adams Street through the Rufus property to line up with the school park entrance on the opposite side of the street. The engineer has reviewed the design and it meets all the appropriate engineering standards. Therefore, Staff recommends that you conceptually approve the Adams Street realignment. Commissioner Walling informed Chairman Thornburgh that he had a conflict of interest relative to this matter, so he abstained from commenting and voting. In discussing this matter, the Planning Commission expressed concern that pedestrian/bicycle access be provided at Avenue 52 and Calle Rondo to tie into this link. Chairman Thornburgh called for a motion. -- 2. Commissioner Brandt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Moran, to approve the realignment of Adams Street to match the park/school entrance road. Adopted on a 3-0 vote. (Commissioner Walling abstained due to con~£1ct of interest; Commissioner De Gasperin absent). The last item of business was introduced by Chairman Thornburgh as follows: B. PLOT PLAN NO. 86-340, a request for approval to construct a single-family house on the west side of Eisenhower Drive, 100' south of Calle Arroba; Deseret Homes, Applicant. He call for Staff's report. - 5 - 1. Director Stevens informed the Commission that Staff has a particular concern with regard to the floor plan for this single-family dwelling request. One of the bedrooms for the facility opens directly onto a courtyard without any direct connection into the remainder of the house. It is Staff's judgment, in essence, that there will be a granny flat or a rental. Therefore, not being an approved use in a single-family zone, it is Staff's judgment that the plan does not comply with development standards we have been - applying to other single-family developments in the area. As a result, it is Staff's recommendation to continue this matter and ask the Applicant to redesign the plan to inte- grate that bedroom into the main dwelling in terms of its access and design. This concluded the Staff Report. Chairman Thornburgh asked the Applicant if he wished to speak on the matter. Skip Lynch, P. O. Box 2848, La Jolla, CA, spoke to the Commission advising them that he has revised the plans to comply with Staff's request. He then presented the Commission and Staff with a copy of the revised plan. Upon review, it was the consensus of the Commission that the revised plans presented by the Applicant at this meeting are in compliance with City standards and there- fore they could rule on this matter at this meeting rather than continue it to the next one. Chairman Thornburgh called for a motion. 2. Commissioner Brandt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Moran, to approve Plot Plan 86-340 subject to the revised plans and conditions of approval, as - amended. Unanimously Adopted. 7. ADJOURNMENT There being no further items of agenda to come before the Planning Commission, Chairman Thornburgh called for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Brandt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Walling to adjourn to a special joint meeting with the City Council to be held on July 14, 1986, at 2:00 p.m., in the La Quinta city Hall, 78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California. The regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning commission was adjourned at 8:05 p.m., July 8, 1986, at the La Quinta City Hall, 78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California. - 6 -