1990 10 09 PC Minutes MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION - CITY OF LA 9UINTA
A regular meeting held at the La 9uinta City Hall
78-105 Calle Estado, La 9uinta, California
October 9, 1990 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairman Steding.
The Flag Salute was led by Plannfng Department Secretary Betty
Anthony.
II. ROLL CALL
A. Chairman Steding requested the roll call. Present: Commissioners
Barrows, Mosher, Zelles, and Chairman Steding.
B. Staff Present: Planning Director Jerry Herman, Principal Planner Start
Sawa and Department Secretary Betty Anthony.
III. AGENDA REORGANIZED
A. Commissioner Zelles moved and Commissioner Mosher seconded the
motion to change the order of the Agenda by moving and discussing
Item #3 OTHER before the Public Hearings. Unanimously approved.
Chairman Stealing asked for the Staff recommendation. Planning
Director Jerry Herman stated that the election of Chairman and Vice
Chairman should be continued to November. The Council indicated that
the vacant position should be filled before the end of October.
Commissioner Zelles stated that he felt it would not make a difference
ff a new member were present as they would probably abstain due to a
lack of knowledge. Commissioner Mosher stated he felt that ff the
Council made the recommendation to delay the vote, we should do so,
they should do so. Commissioner Barrows agreed. There being no
further discussion, Commissioner Mosher moved and Commissioner
Barrows seconded the motion to continue the item to the next meeting.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Mosher, Steding.
NOES: Commissioner Zelles. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None.
--
IV. HEARINGS
A. Tentative Tract 26139: a request of Sunrise Company to subdivide +81
acres into 37 residential lots to allow development of 601 eondomlnlu~s.
1. Planning Director Jerry Herman presented the information
contained in the Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
PCMIN10/9 1
Planning Commission Minutes - September 2~, 1990
Planning and Development Department. Mr. Herman stated that
two conditions have been changed from the p~evious ~eport,
Condition #8 and #21. Condition #21, paragraph 2 should be
amended to read, "Installation of this signal shall be based upon
justifications as identified in a traffic study, to be prepared by
the Applicant/Developer. Said traffic study shall be prepared
and signal installed when warranted by the traffic study. The
signal shall be constructed to the requirements of the City
Engineer prior to the release of any subdivision bonds for
Tentative Tract 26139".
2. Commissioner Zelles asked Staff if Condition #9 was the only
remaining condition of concern of the Applicant. Mr. Herman
stated that the Engineering Department had made it clear that
they did not wish to alter the wording of this Condition and that
the Applicant still has a problem in its wording. The remainder
of the conditions were agreed upon by both the Applicant and the
City.
3. Chairman Steding opened the public hearing. Mr. David Snow,
Sunrise Company, spoke for the Applicant. The major problem
of contention was Condition #9 in that the way it is worded
regarding "proper supervision" and "control". The wording is
ambiguous and unclear as to its meaning. Even though they have
a Registered Civil Engineer on staff he would not be in the field
all day watching the grading. Discussion followed as to why the
condition was put on the tract and possible solutions to the
problem. Chairman Steding questioned the Applicant as to how
they wanted the condition worded. Mr. Snow read his suggestion
"The AppLicant shall have a grading plan that is prepared by a
Registered Civil Engineer, who will be required to certify that
the constructive conditions, at the rough grade stage, are as the
approved plans and grading permit. This is required prior to
issuance of building permits. Certification at the final grade
stage and verification of pad elevations, is also required prior to
final approval of grading construction".
4. Mr. Allan Levin, Sunrise Company, stated that he is the
Registered Civil Engineer on staff with Sunrise Company. He
stated that they did not have any problem with City approval of
the plans, or with seeing that the work is done according to Code
and City specifications. What they were asking for is a
clarification of the-wording "proper supervision and control".
Discussion followed on the Condition.
5. There being no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Stealing
closed the Public Hearing and opened the matter for Commission
discussion. Commissioner Zelles stated that he felt the City was
asking more of the Applicant than what is fair. Commissioner
Mosher stated that he felt there should of been a member of the
PCHIN10/9 2
Planning Commission Minutes - September 25, 1990
Engineering Staff at the meeting to help clarify their reason for
the condition. Di§ctisSi0h followed as to possible wording of the
condition and the frustration of not having the Engineering
Department represented. Chairman Steding stated that she felt
the language of the condition is very soft and suggested that
Condition 9 be changed to read:
"9. The tract grading plan shall be prepared by a registered
civil engineer and approved by the City Engineer prior to
final map approval.
The registered civil engineer charged with compliance
responsibilities shall make the following certifications upon
completion of construction:
a. All grading work complies with the Ordinances and
thereby can be certified that the grading is in full
compliance with those documents.
b. The finished building pad elevation conforms with
the approved grading plans."
6. There being no further discussion, it was moved by
Commissioner Barrows and seconded by Commissioner Mosher to
adopt Planning Commissioner Resolution 90-036 approving
Tentative Tract 26139 subject to the Staff recommendation and
the amended conditions # 9 and #21 as stated above. ROLL CALL
VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Mosher, Zelles, Chairman
Steding. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None.
B. Preannexation Zoning 90-060, General Plan Amendment 90-033,
Continued; a request of James Motter, Paul Harris, and the City of La
quinta for preannexation and General Plan Amendment to designate this
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 Steding inquired if Mr. DeBonne had property in the
area to be annexed. Mr. Herman stated yes, he is a property
owner within the area but is not one of the applicants.
--
3. Chairman Steding opened the continued public hearing. No one
wished to address the Commission, the hearing was closed.
There being no discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Zelles
and seconded by Commissioner Barrows to adopt Planning
Commissioner Resolution 90-037 approving the General Plan
Amendment and Preannexation Change of Zones recommending
adoption of the Negative Declaration and recommended land uses
PCMIN10/9 3
Planning Commission Minutes - September 25, 1990
and zoning. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Comn~ssioner ZeHes,
Mosher, Barrows, Chairman Stealing. NOES: None. ABSENT:
None. ABSTAIN: None.
C. Preannexation Zoning 90-061, General Plan Amendment 90-033,
Continued; a request for preannexation zoning and amendment to the
General Plan for the area covered and identified in this Annexation.
1. Chairman Steding opened the continued public hearing and read
a letter from the Applicant, Mr. Tom Thornburgh, requesting a
continuance of the hearing. There being no one wishing to speak
regarding the item, Chairman Steding requested a motion.
2. It was moved by Commissioner Mosher and seconded by
Commissioner Zelles to continue the matter to the next meeting.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioner Zelles, Barrows,
Mosher, Chairman Steding.
D. Variance 90-012; a request of M. J. Brock and Sons for approval of off
site location monument subdivision sign.
1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained
in the Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Pla]~n~ng and
Development Department.
2. Commissioner Zelles inquired if the Applicant had made
arrangements of some nature with Coachella Valley Water District
regarding the use of the land. Planning Director Jerry Herman
stated that it was a "catch 22" in that the Water District will not
allow them to do so until they obtain permission from the City,
and the City will not allow until them to until they obtafn
approval from the Water District.
3. Commissioner Mosher asked if there should be a written
recordable document between the Water District and the
Applicant in order to give the Homeowner's Association legal
access to the property to maintain it.
4. Chairman Steding opened the public hearing. Mr. Ken Ayes, M.
J. Brock & Sons, 3380 Shelby Street, Ontario, CA., spoke for
the Applicant and stated that they would receive an
encroachment permit from the Water District in order to maint~fn
the landscaping and the signage. He stated that they felt the
sign was important to the marketing of the project due to the
isolation of the project and the only corridor they have is on 50th
Avenue. Planning Director Jerry Herman asked the Applicant if
the sign is to be located below the existing wall. Mr. Ayes stated
the sign would be located on the existing slope and will be 4-feet
high and the wall is 6-feet high at the top of the slope.
PCMIN10/9 4
Planning Commission Minutes - September 25, 1990
5. Chairman Steding asked if the Applicant had any problem with
the added condition regarding maintaining the landscaping. Mr.
Ayers stated no they did not.
6. Chairman Steding closed the hearing and opened the matter for
Commission discussion. Commissioner Mosher moved and
Commissioner Barrows seconded the motion to adopt Planning
Commission Resolution 90-038 approving Variance 90-012 based
on findings contained in said Resolution, subject to the attached
conditions concurring with the Environmental Analysis subject to
the following amendments to the Conditions:
"2. Prior to obtaining a building permit shall obtain an
Encroachment Permit in writing from the Coachella Valley
Water District allowing the location of the monument sign
and such document to be transmitted to the City.
5. The Applicant or Homeowner's Association shall maintain
the landscaping on the Coachella Valley Water District
property between the perimeter wall and 50th Avenue to a
distance of 75 feet west of the tract, if this landscaping is
not maintained by the Landscaping and Lighting District."
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Mosher, Barrows,
Zelles, Chairman Steding. NOES: None. ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
E. Tentative Tract 25462; a request of George Berkey for division of 20.4
acres into 63 lots for single family dwellings. A continuance was
requested.
1. Chairman Steding opened the public hearing, no one wished to
address the Commission. Chairman Steding requested a motion.
2. It was moved by Commissioner Zelles and seconded by
Commissioner Mosher to continue the hearing to the next meeting
of October 23, 1990. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioner
Barrows, Zelles, Mosher, Chairman Steding. NOES: None.
ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None.
F. Tentative Tract 25700; a request of Steve Brummel for division of 16.5
acres into 53 lots for single family development. A continuance was
requested.
1. Commissioner Zelles excused himself due to a conflict of interest.
9. Chairman Steding opened the public hearing. Mr. David
Swenson, 80-600 58th Avenue, Thermal, asked if he would be
able to address the Commission at the next meeting date.
Chairman Steding responded he would have an opportunity.
PCMIN10/9 5
Planning Commission Minutes - September 25, 1990
3. There being no further discussion, Chairman Steding requested
a motion.
4. It was moved by Commissioner Barrows and seconded by
Commissioner Mosher to continue the matter to the next meeting
date. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioner Barrows,
Mosher, Chairman Steding. NOES: None. ABSTAINING:
Commissioner Zelles. ABSENT: None.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
Audrey Ostrowski, P. O. Box 351, La Quinta addressed the Commission regarding
the continued problems in the Cove. She stressed that she needed the help of the
Commission in solving these issues. Chairman Steding stated that Ms. Ostrowski's
issues were related to Code enforcement and the Planning Commission did not have
any jurisdiction over these issues. She suggested that Ms. Ostrowski take the issue
up with the City Council.
VI. BUSINESS SESSION
A. Tentative Tract 24774; a request of Vista Development for approval of
architectural plans for residential tract.
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. There being no discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Mosher
and seconded by Commissioner Barrows to adopt Minute Motion
90-039 approving the architectural plans subject to conditions.
Unanimously approved.
VII. CONSENT CALENDAR
There being no corrections, Commissioner ZeHes moved to approve the Minutes of
September 25, 1990 as submitted. Commissioner Barrows seconded the motion and
it passed unanimously.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Chairman Steding and seconded by Commissioner Mosher to
adjourn to a regular meeting on October 23, 1990, at 7:00 P.M. in the La Quinta City
Hall, 78-]05 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California. This meeting of the La Quinta
Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:24 P.M.
PCMIN10/9 6