1987 11 10 PC Minutes MINUTES ~
PLANNING COMMISSION - CITY OF LA QUINTA
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta city Hall
78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California
November 10, 1987 7:00 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairman
Walling. The Flag Salute was led by City Councilmember
John Pena.
II. ROLL CALL
A. Chairman Walling requested the roll call. Present:
Commissioners Bund, Steding, Zelles, Moran, and Chairman
Walling.
B. Staff Present: Planning Director Murrel Crump, Principal
Planner Jerry Herman, and Department Secretary Mariellen
- Ratowski. Also Present: John Pena, City Council; Warren
Bradshaw, Development Manager; and Susan Fox, Consultant.
C. Chairman Walling announced that, due to the prospective
length of the Public Hearing and as a courtesy to those in
attendance for other items, the Village Specific Plan
Hearing would follow all other scheduled agenda items.
III. HEARINGS
Chairman Walling introduced the Public Hearing item as
follows:
A. Specific Plan No. 87-009, Village at La Quinta; a
City-initiated development guide for regulation of land
uses, landscape, circulation, building design, public
parking, and other public improvements for the Village
Commercial area, generally bounded by Desert Club to the
east, Eisenhower to the west, realignment of Avenue 52 to
the south, and the northern boundary being approximately
750 feet north of Calle Tampico.
1. There being no staff report other than the Specific
Plan Hearing Draft, Chairman Walling proceeded to
open the public hearing.
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2. The following citizens addressed the Commission:
Charlie White, representing the Chamber of Commerce,
informed the Commission that a Committee has been
formed to study and comment on the Specific Plan;
and, in a personal comment, felt the Village should
serve the Cove. Paul Rothschild, a member of the
Chamber's Committee, would like to see the formation
of an "Implementation committee" to discuss and
analyze the feasibility of the plan, consisting of
approximately 12 individuals possessing various
--
qualifications - suggested positions be City Council
appointed to make it more official. Warren Johnson,
developer of a Village-area property, spoke
favorably of the Specific Plan, felt it should be
given much thought and hard work to become
successful - suggested that a 3-D model of the
Village Plan would allow better visualization for
prospective businesses. Warren Bradshaw,
Development Manager, commented favorably on the Plan
- suggested using video tape as a marketing tool for
the Village.
There being no further public comment, the public
hearing was closed for the evening, to be continued.
3. Chairman Walling then opened the matter for Planning
- Commission discussion. Susan Fox, Consultant,
answered various questions, further clarifying some
of the information contained in the Hearing Draft.
The Commissioners then reviewed specific sections of
the draft, expressing agreement with the policy
statements as written, with the following comments:
regarding Section 4.6, Circulation/Parking - that
there be further study of Bermudas in terms of
_ design theme; regarding Section 4.6.4, Servicing
Network - that enhanced entrances to alleys be
designed to minimize undesirable appearance. It was
the consensus of the Commission that more public
input was needed regarding the issue of
implementation.
4. A motion was made by Commissioner Zelles and
seconded by Commissioner Bund to continue the public
hearing to the next regular meeting on November 24,
1987. Unanimously adopted.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
- No one wished to address the Commission.
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V. CONSENT CALENDAR
--
A motion was made by Commissioner Moran and seconded by
Commissioner Steding to approve the Planning Commission
minutes of October 27, 1987 as written. Unanimously
approved.
VI. BUSINESS
--
Chairman Walling introduced the business items as follows:
A. A request by the City of La Quinta for General Plan policy
direction on averaging residential densities involving
more than one land use category.
1. Planning Director Murrel Crump reviewed the
information contained in the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Planning and Development
Department.
2. Following a brief discussion, a motion was made by
Commissioner Steding and seconded by Commissioner
Moran to accept the recommendation in the staff
report determining that averaging of densities among
differing land use categories is inconsistent with
the purposes and intent of the City's General Plan.
Unanimously adopted.
B. A request by the City of La Quinta for an urgency
Ordinance establishing the Planning Commission as the
review authority for multi-family projects.
1. Principal Planner Jerry Herman reviewed the
_ information contained in the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Planning and Development
Department.
2. The Commission discussed the item as presented. It
was the consensus of the Commissioners to specify
that the item involve projects exceeding 25 units.
3. A motion was made by Commissioner Steding and
seconded by Commissioner Bund to recommend to City
Council adoption of the Urgency Ordinance as
drafted, adding the specification that it involve
projects exceeding 25 units.
4. Upon roll call vote, the motion was unanimously
- adopted.
C. Commission Agenda Items - none identified.
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VII. OTHER - None
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Steding and seconded by
Chairman Walling to adjourn to a regular meeting on
November 24, 1987, at 7:00 p.m., in the La Quinta City
Hall, 78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California. This
meeting of the La Quinta Planning commission was adjourned
at 9:55 p.m., November 10, 1987.
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