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1989 11 14 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 14, 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 Bund. II. ROLL CALL A. Chairman Walling requested the roll call. Present: Commissioners Bund, Zelles, Steding, Moran, and Chairman Walling. _ B. Staff Present: Planning and Development Director Jerry Herman and Principal Planner Stan Sawa. III. HEARINGS Chairman Walling introduced the Public Hearing items as follows: A. CONTINUED HEARING: Zoning Ordinance Amendment 89-012; a City-initiated request for revision to the current Parking Ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter 9.160; effective City-wide. 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. No one wished to address the Commission at this time. 3. A motion was made by Commissioner Moran and seconded by Commissioner Zelles to continue the Hearing on Zoning Ordinance Amendment 89-012 to November 28, 1989. Unanimous~ adopted. B. Tentative Tract 25125; a request by Strother Enterprises to subdivide +32 acres into 117 single-family lots; located southwest of the intersection of Dune Palms Road and Westward Ho Drive. 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. Mr. Herman noted to the Commission that Condition No. 11 should be revised to read, "...landscape buffer areas...," rather than, "...hardscape buffer areas." 2. Chairman Walling opened the Public Hearing. Chuck Strother, the Applicant, addressed the Commission to give an overview of the project. There being no further comment, Chairman Walling closed the Hearing and opened the matter for Commission discussion. 3. The Commission discussed the matter as presented. A motion was made by Commissioner Moran and seconded by Commissioner Bund to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 89-065, recommending to the City Council concurrence with the environmental analysis and approval of Tentative Tract 25125, subject to Conditions, including the change to Condition No. 11 as indicated by Staff. Following roll call vote, the motion was unanimously adopted. C. Tentative Tract 25154, Parcel Map 25187, and Change of Zone 89-049; requests by Valley Land Development for a parcel map division of 30.75 acres into two lots, one 3.3 acres and one 27.45 acres; a zone change on 30.75 acres from R-1-12,000 to R-I; and a division of 27.45 acres into 98 single-family lots for future development of homesites; located at the northeast corner of the Sagebrush Drive and Date Palm Drive intersection, +1320 feet east of Washington Street. 1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the Staff Report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning and Development Department. Mr. Sawa noted for ~i the Commission the revision of four conditions to read as follows: Condition 30: If any tract development is proposed, the Applicant shall submit complete architectural elevations for all units for Planning Commission review and approval as a Business Item. The architectural standards shall generally meet the standards of the SR zoning district for building and site design standards, with the exception of height restrictions which shall be as set forth in the R-1 zone, except where these Conditions shall take precedence. The architectural standards shall be included in the CC&Rs if any tract development occurs. Condition 31: The Applicant shall submit a unit siting plan at the time of submittals for architectural review of any tract development. Siting plan shall indicate two-story locations, if any, and shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission along with the proposed unit types. If any lots are sold on an individual basis, the Applicant understands that approvals of any two-story units on any lot are not guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Planning and Development Department. If tract development occurs, CC&Rs are required to be submitted to the City for review prior to final map recordation. The above restriction shall be noted in the CC&Rs, if required. Condition 34: Landscaping of all units, including the model complex in Tentative Tract 25154, shall be in substantial compliance with the SR zoning district requirements as established in the Manual on Landscape Standards for Single-Family Residences. Condition 35: The Developer shall be required to participate in the installation of a suitable buffer along the eastern tract boundary of Tentative Tract 25154, between the residential lots and the future maintenance facility for the Pyramids project. Mutual participation by the Developer of this tract and the Developer of the Pyramids shall be required to provide an acceptable situation for both parties. The design components of any buffer area may include, but are not limited to, walls, berming, landscaping, grade variation, s~ backs, etc. Design of the buffer area shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning and Development Department. The improvements of the buffer shall be installed with the development of either property. Any reimbursement arrangement will be solely the responsibility of the Developers involved. Commissioners Moran and Steding asked various questions of Staff for clarification of several items in the Staff Report. 2. Chairman Walling opened the Public Hearing. Tom Thornburgh, representing the Applicant, addressed the Commission to explain the project. There being no further comment, Chairman Walling closed the Hearing and opened the matter for Commission discussion. 3. Following discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Moran and seconded by Commission Steding to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 89-066, recommending to the City Council approval of Change of Zone 89-049 per Exhibit A; to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 89-067, approving Parcel Map 25187 subject to Conditions; and to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 89-068, recommending to the City Council approval of Tentative Tract 25154 subject to Conditions as revised by Staff. Following roll call vote, the motion was unanimously adopted. 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 November 14, 1989, Planning Commission meeting. Unanimous. VI. BUSINESS Chairman Walling introduced the Business Items as follows: A. Sign Application 89-104; a request by Chez Monique for approval of a back-lit can wall sign in the Village area; located at 78-121 La Fonda. 1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa 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 matter as presented. Commissioner Moran felt that the sign was not appropriate for the Village and that there should be no back-lighting. Commissioner Bund commented that other signs have been permitted to be back-lit, why stop this one. He also commented that this type of variety is healthy for the community. Commissioner Zelles stated that the sign was appropriate for the type of business. Chairman Walling agreed with Commissioner _ Moran, but that in this case, back,lighting is the most feasible method of illumination. 3. A minute motion was made by Commissioner Zelles and seconded by Commissioner Bund to allow back-lighting for the sign proposed in Sign Application 89-104. The motion carried by a four-to-one vote, with Commissioner Moran voting against. B. Specific Plan 89-004; a request by Northstar California Corporation ,for review of the landscaping concept for the Pyramids project; located in the area south of 48th Avenue between Washington and Jefferson Streets. Chairman Walling stated that he had a possible conflict of interest with regard to this matter, and stepped down from the discussion. 1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa 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 Bund asked if the landscape materials had been reviewed and commented that some of the choices are poisonous plants. He further commented that there should be no oleanders, they are too overused. Commissioner Moran commented that there must be other choices instead of the larger oleanders and the poisonous plants. 4. A minute motion was made by Commissioner Steding and seconded by Commissioner Zelles to approve the landscape concept as presented, subject to the five comments in the Staff Report, and with the elimination of all oleanders. Unanimously adopted, with Chairman Walling abstaining. C. Tentative Tract 23268; a request by Valley Land Development for review of in-lieu fees to comply with the park requirement for the tract; located on the north side of Miles, approximately midway between Washington and Adams Streets. 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. A minute motion was made by Commissioner Steding and seconded by Commissioner Moran to approve the in-lieu park fees as calculated. Unanimously adopted. D. Review Elementary and High School Sites; a request by Desert Sands Unified School District for site approval for an elementary school north of Tampico and east of Eisenhower, and a high school southwest of Westward Ho Drive and Dune Palms Road. 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. Following Commission discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Steding and seconded by Commissioner Moran to approve the primary site for the high school and the stated site ~! for the elementary school, and to disapprove the alternative site for the high school. Unanimously adopted. E. Review of Correspondence Regarding Parc La Quinta/Pyramid Landscape Interface; a City-initiated request to review the landscape treatment between the projects; located on the east side of Washington Street between the Parc La Quinta and Pyramids projects. Chairman Walling stated that he had a possible conflict of interest with regard to this matter, and stepped down from the discussion. 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. Dr. Savo, a resident of Parc La Quinta, addressed the Commission to request that the berm between the projects be removed, and stated that he and the other residents would not be satisfied until this occurs. Curt Ely, attorney for The Pyramids, addressed the Commission to explain the need for the berm and fence, and to note for the Commission that these items were shown on the original grading plan. Tom Burger, Pyramids Project Administrator, addressed the Commission to defend the need for the berm/fence. 3. Commissioner Moran said that, when the Parc La Quinta project first came before the Commission, she had specifically instructed the Applicant to be in conformance with the Washington Street Specific Plan and with any plans for the Grove (now Pyramids) project. Commissioner Zelles stated that this matter is not a problem for the Planning Commission to solve. Commissioner Moran agreed. 4. A minute motion was made by Commissioner Steding and seconded by Commissioner Zelles that the Planning Commission take no action because it is not the mediating body in this matter, unanimously adopted, with Chairman Walling abstaining. VII. OTHER Commissioner Zelles pointed out that the Washington Street entrance to Plaza La Quinta is not illuminated at night, and presents a danger when approached while traveling toward Highway 111. He requested that Staff transmit his concerns to the Engineering Department. VIII. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Steding and seconded by Commissioner Moran to adjourn to a regular meeting on November 28, 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 9:07 p.m., November 14, 1989. 00 MR/MINll-14.DFT -8- ?