1989 06 27 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
June 27, 1989 7:00 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by
Chairman Walling. The Flag Salute was led by
Commissioner Zelles.
II. ROLL CALL
A. Chairman Walling requested the roll call.
Present: Commissioners Zelles, Steding, Bund,
Moran, and Chairman Walling.
B. Staff Present: Planning and Development Director,
Jerry Herman, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and
Principal Planner Ted Bower.
III. HEARINGS
Chairman Walling indicated there-was a request to
reorder the Public Hearing items, to which there
was no objection.
Chairman Walling introduced the Public Hearing
items as follows:
B. Plot Plan 89-413, PGA West Hotel; a request by
Landmark Land Company for the construction of PGA
West Resort Hotel and related ancillary hotel uses;
located at the southern terminus of PGA Boulevard,
south of Avenue 54, west of Madison Street, and
north of Avenue 58.
1. Planning Director Jerry Herman presented the
information contained in the Staff Report, a
copy of which is on file in the Planning and
Development Department.
2. Chairman Walling opened the Public Hearing.
Forrest Haag, representing Landmark Land
Company, addressed the Commission to explain
the project. There being no further comment,
Chairman Walling closed the Hearing.
3. The Commission discussed the request as
presented, during which Fire Marshal Dennis
Dawson answered various questions for
clarification.
4. A Minute Motion was made by Commissioner
Zelles and seconded by Commissioner Steding
to approve Plot Plan 89-413, subject to
attached conditions. Unanimously adopted.
A. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING - GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
88-021; SPECIFIC PLAN 88-012; TENTATIVE TRACT
23995; CHANGE OF ZONE 88-035; requests by A.G.
Spanos concerning the area between Washington
Street, Miles Avenue, Adams Street, and the
Coachella Valley Water District Wash, La Quinta,
excluding the small triangular area just north of
the Wash and just south of the east/west Avenue 46
alignment (Westward Ho Drive), as follows:
o A General Plan Amendment application
proposing changing the land use designation from
Medium and High Density Residential to Medium and
High Density Residential (altered configuration)
and General Commercial
o A Specific Plan proposing a mixed-use
development consisting of 7.6 acres Tourist
Commercial, three Multi-Family Residential parcels
consisting of 250 units each, and a 303~1ot single-
family subdivision
o A Tentative Tract application proposing to
subdivide the property as described above in the
Specific Plan
o A Change of Zone from R-1 and R-2-8000 to
C-P, R-3, and R-1.
Commissioner Moran abstained from the discussion
due to a conflict of interest.
1. Planning Director Jerry Herman presented the
information contained in the Staff Report, a
copy of which is on file in the Planning and
Development Department.
2. Mr. Ron Rouse, legal counsel for A.G. Spanos,
addressed the Commission to explain the
requests. Ms. Carol Panlaqui of CVAS
addressed the Commission, expressing
satisfaction with the revisions to the
Conditions of Approval regarding
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archaeological concerns. Mr. Bob Krauss
addressed the Commission in favor of the
project, ~stating that any previous objections
he may have had have been alleviated. There
being no further comment, Chairman Walling
closed the Public Hearing.
3. The Commission now discussed the requests as
presented. Commissioner Zelles stated that
he is opposed to allowing any three-story in
the project; and that he is disappointed to
see the commercial portion moved away from
the corner. Commissioner Bund felt there
should be some flexibility for three-story;
likes the feel of neighborhood commercial.
Commissioner Steding raised a concern over
setting a precedent by approving general
commercial; uses should be controlled through
conditioning. Chairman Walling favored the
commercial having the feel of neighborhood
commercial; also felt uses should be
controlled with conditions of approval.
4. A motion was made by Commissioner Zelles and
seconded by Commissioner Bund to adopt
Resolution 89-028, recommending to the City
Council concurrence with the environmental
analysis and approval of General Plan
Amendment 88-021. Following roll call vote,
the motion was unanimously adopted, with
Commission Moran abstaining.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bund and
seconded by Commissioner Steding to adopt
Resolution 89-029, recommending to the City
Council concurrence with the environmental
analysis and approval of Change of Zone
88-035, with the revision of changing R-2A to
R-3. Following roll call vote, the motion
was adopted with Commission Zelles voting
against and Commission Moran abstaining.
A motion was made by Commissioner Zelles to
adopt Resolution 89-030, recommending to the
City Council concurrence with the
environmental analysis and approval of
Specific Plan 88-012, subject to attached
conditions. Seconded by Commissioner Steding
with the amendment that condition 4. c. be
revised to include the statement, "However,
any proposed residential three-story unit
will be subject to detailed review by the
Planning Commission at the plot plan review
stage"; and that condition 4.h. be added as
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follows, "Ail non-residential uses noted as
permitted used in the R-3 zone shall not be
allowed in the area designated as having an
R-3 zone in this project." Following roll
call vote, the motion was unanimously
adopted, with Commissioner Moran abstaining.
A motion was made by Commissioner Zelles to
adopt Resolution 89-031, recommending to the
City Council concurrence with the
environmental analysis and approval of
Tentative Tract 23995, subject to attached
conditions, with revision to condition 4 to
add, "The City shall retain a qualified
archaeologist with the Developer paying all
costs"; and revising condition 8 to eliminate
reference to Washington Street Bridge.
Seconded by Commission Steding, with a
further revision to condition 35, changing
"R-2A" to read "R-3". Following roll call
vote, the motion was unanimously adopted,
with Commissioner Moran abstaining.
C. Zoning Ordinance Amendment 89-008; Change of Zone
89-043 (Hillside Conservation Ordinance); a
City-initiated request to amend Title 9 of the La
Quinta Municipal Code, relating to Planning and
Zoning, adding Chapter 9.145, Hillside Conservation
Zone, and to re-zone those properties which meet
the criteria set forth in the proposed ordinance to
HC from various residential zoning designations.
Commissioner Moran and Chairman Walling excused
themselves from discussion of the item, due to
conflicts of interest.
1. Principal Planner Ted Bower presented the
information contained in the Staff Report, a
copy of which is on file in the Planning and
Development Department.
2. Acting Chairman Steding opened the Public
Hearing. Yvonne Davis addressed the
Commission, expressing concern over the
impact on wildlife habitat and eco-systems.
Katie Barrows addressed the Commission and
also presented written comment. Ms. Barrows
felt favorably about the draft ordinance, but
would like to see stronger language to
protect wildlife resources. There being no
further comment, Acting Chairman Steding
suspended the Public Hearing.
3. The Commission discussed the item as
presented. A consensus was reached to meet
with the City Council to discuss direction of
the Ordinance. Concerns were raised over the
proposed conversion ratio, whether or not to
allow hidden development on hillsides, and
health/safety issues.
4. A minute motion was made by Commissioner Bund
and seconded by Commissioner Zelles to
continue the Hearing to the August 8, 1989,
Planning Commission meeting and seek a joint
session with the City Council prior to that
date. Unanimously adopted, with Commissioner
Moran and Chairman Walling abstaining.
D. General Plan Amendment 89-024; Environmental
Assessment 89-123; a City-initiated, City-wide
request to amend the La Quinta General Plan,
revising the Housing Element.
1. Principal Planner Ted Bower presented the
information contained in the Staff Report, a
copy of which is on file in the Planning and
Development Department.
2. Chairman Walling opened the Public Hearing.
There being no comment, Chairman Walling
closed the Hearing.
3. The Commission discussed the item as
presented. Following discussion, a motion
was made by Commissioner Steding and seconded
by Commissioner Moran to adopt Resolution
89-032, recommending to the City Council
acceptance of the Negative Declaration and
approval of General Plan Amendment 89-024.
Following roll call vote, the motion' was
unanimously adopted, with Commissioner Moran
and Chairman Walling abstaining.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
No one wished to address the Commission.
V. CONSENT CALENDAR
A motion was made by Commissioner Steding and
seconded by Commissioner Moran to approve the
minutes of the May 9, 1989, Planning Commission
meeting. Unanimous.
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VI. BUSINESS
Chairman Walling introduced the Business Item as
follows:
A. Sign Application 89-088; a request Chester Dorn for
placement of one wall-mounted sign on an existing
building at the southwest corner of Calle Tampico
and Avenida Bermudas (previously La Quinta Builders
Supply).
1. Planning Director Jerry Herman presented 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 request as
presented. Commissioner Moran commented that
additional vertical elements in landscaping
are desirable; and that sign color should be
modified, the red is too bold. Commissioner
Bund stated that, although he disliked the
sign, he had no objection to the red color.
Commissioner Steding had no objection to the
sign, either as-is or as Staff suggests.
Chairman Walling stated that he agreed with
Staff's recommendation and would like to see
the sign more in conformance to the Village
Specific Plan requirements.
A Minute Motion was made by Commissioner
Steding and seconded by Commissioner Moran
to follow Staff's recommendation to instruct
the Applicant to restudy the sign design to
be compatible with the Village Specific Plan,
subject to the following criteria:
(1) Applicant should consider a redwood
sandblasted sign or sign on glazed tile with
compatible indirect lighting. (2) Sign logo
and size is acceptable. (3) Sign colors
should be modified to be restrained and muted
earth tones. The motion was adopted, with
Commissioners Zelles and Bund voting against.
VII. OTHER
1. Commissioner Steding requested that the
second meeting in July be cancelled. The
Commission was in agreement. Commissioner
Steding also noted that she would be away
mid-August through early-September.
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2. Commissioner Steding requested that Transfer
of Development Rights and Dark Sky Ordinance
be scheduled for the August 8, 1989, Agenda.
The Commission agreed.
3. Commissioner Bund advised the Commission that
he would not be in attendance at the July 11,
1989, meeting due to vacation.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Zelles and
seconded by Commissioner Steding to adjourn to a
regular meeting on July 11, 1989, 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 9:32 p.m.,
June 27, 1989.
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