PCMIN 01 08 1991 MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION - CITY OF LA QUINTA
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California
January 8, 1991 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairperson Steding.
The Flag Salute was led by Commissioner Mosher.
II. ROI.I, CALL
A. Chairperson Steding requested the roll call. Present: Commissioners
Barrows, Mosher, Ladner, Dowd, and Chairperson Stealing.
B. Staff Present: Planning Director Jerry Herman, Principal Planner Start
Sawa, and Department Secretary Betty Anthony.
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Tentative Tract 9.5237, Continued; a request of Ohio Citizens
Investment Corporation for approval of modification of Condition #29,
regarding the construction of Avenida Obregon and Avenida Fernando
gates.
1. Commissioner Dowd asked to be excused due to a conflict of
interest and left the room.
2. 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.
3. Planning Director Jerry Herman explained he had received a
letter from Ohio Citizens Investment Group concurring with
Staff's recommendation to table the matter.
4. Chairperson Steding inquired as to the completion time of the
gates. Planning Director Jerry Herman stated that the gates
were in and would be operational as soon as power was turned
on. This should be completed within the week.
5. Chairperson Steding opened the public hearing. Mr. Greg
Abadie, Landmark Land, spoke in regard to Landmark's objection
to the condition and wanted his objections stated in the previous
-- Commission meeting, entered into the record.
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6. There being no further public comments, Chairperson Steding
asked if there was a motion. Commissioner Mosher moved to table
the matter. Commissioner Barrows seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Barrows,
Mosher, Ladner, Chairperson Stealing.
NOES: None. AB STAINING:
Commissioner Dowd. ABSENT: None
B. Development Agreement 90-002; a request of Washington Adams Limited
Partnership to enter into a Development Agreement pursuant to Section
65854 et. sec., of the California Government Code, relative to Specific
Plan 89-014, which was approved by the City Council on Apri! 17, 1990.
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. Chairperson Steding opened the public hearing. There being no
one wishing to address the Commission, Commissioner Barrows
moved to continue the item to January 22, 1991. Commissioner
Ladner seconded the motion and it passed unanimously on a roll
call vote.
C. Public Use Permit 90-007; a request of the City for approval of the La
Quinta Civic Center project consisting of City Hall, Arts Foundation
building, Senior Center, Library, retention basin, associated parking
and landscaping.
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. Commissioner Ladner inquired as to the ceiling heights and
Commissioner Barrows inquired regarding the window
treatments. Planning Director Jerry Herman gave a description
of the building and the various details associated with the plan.
3. Chairperson Steding opened the public hearing. Mr. Garry
Davis, P. O. Box 258, La Quinta who owns property on Avenida
La Fonda, inquired as to the traffic that will be generated by this
project. Planning Director Jerry Herman explained the layout of
the parking and traffic flow. Chairperson Steding asked if a
traffic study had been done. Mr. Herman stated that it was not
felt one was needed due to the layout of the parking.
4. Following discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Dowd and
seconded by Commissioner Mosher to adopt Minute Motion 91-001
and recommend approval of Public Use Permit 90-007 to the City
Council. Unanimously approved.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT - None
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V. BUSINESS SESSION
A. Tentative Parcel Map 2652.5; are,quest of Chuck Strother for approval
to subdivide four acres into an enclosed gated community. This is a
referral back to the Commission from the City Council.
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. Discussion followed between Commission and Staff regarding the
Council's request and the line of sight map that was before them.
Planning Director Jerry Herman stated that the Applicant would
ordy remove a maximum of ten feet of the dune making the
building pad 23-feet higher than the J. M. Peters tract with the
roofline being 44-45 feet.
3. Mr. Chuck Strother, Applicant, briefly explained the line of
sight map.
4. There being no further discussion, Commissioner Ladner moved
and Commissioner Barrows seconded the motion to adopt Minute
Motion 91-002 referring back to City Council approval of
Tentative Parcel Map 26525 with the pads as shown on the Parcel
Map. Condition #18 would be rewitten to read:
"18. The Parcel Map shall be graded as shown on the approved
Parcel Map exhibit, subject to the final approval of the
City Engineer."
5. Commissioner Barrows asked that the vegetation used on the
dune be of a native nature to serve as a wildlife habitat.
B. Tentative Tract 21880; a request of Valley Land Development for a third
and final extension of time.
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. Commissioner Barrows asked if the archaeological review had
been upgraded. Planning Director Jerry Herman stated that it
had been brought into compliance with current requirements.
3. Commissioner Dowd inquired if the project would come before the
Commission at a later date. Principal Planner Stan Sawa stated
that it probably would.
4. Mr. Tom Thornburgh, Applicant, addressed the Commission
regarding Condition #49. He stated that the La Quinta Historical
Society had not generated the petitions that had been submitted
to the Commission regarding the preservation of Hacienda Del
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Gato. The Applicants had at no time, considered destroying the
building, but have difficulty with the way the condition is
written to allow public access at any time. He requested that this
condition be eliminated. He further stated that the name of the
project had been changed to Desert Club Country Club.
5. Mr. Fred Rice, La Quinta Historical Society President, addressed
the Commission regarding the history of the Hacienda.
Chairperson Steding asked Mr. Rice what had been the vote of
the Society in regards to the house. Mr. Rice stated that they
had voted unanimously to preserve the house, but did not feel it
necessary to allow unlimited public access.
6. Discussion followed as to a way to preserve the house by
conditioning the project to do so without upsetting the security
of the project.
7. Following discussion, Commissioner Barrows moved and
Commissioner Ladner seconded the motion to adopt Planrdng
Commissioner Resolution 91-001 recommending approval to the
City Council with the revision of Condition #49 to read:
"49. The ranch house and surrounding appurtenant property
known as the Hacienda Del Gato, shall be preserved. The
property may be made a part of the development or
separated from the development uses, but in any case shah
be made available to public access upon reasonable request
of the La Quinta Historical Society or its successors.
Applicant shall also maintain contact with the La Quints
Historical Society to obtain information which may assist in
the proper preservation of this site as a local landmark."
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Ladner, Mosher,
Barrows, Dowd, Chairperson Steding.
NOES: None. ABSTAINING: None.
ABSENT: None.
C. Street Vacation 90-012; a request of the City for a General Plan
consistency finding regarding the vacation of a portion of Avenida
Mendoza.
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. Discussion followed between the Commission and Staff as to the
exact location of the vacation on the map.
3. There being no further discussion, it was moved by
Commissioner Mosher and seconded by Commissioner Dowd to
adopt M/nute Motion 91-003 determining General Plan consistency
of Street Vacat/on 90-012 to the City Council. Unanimously approved.
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D. Street Entry Sign; a request of the City for review of Design Review
Board proposed City entry sign.
1. Principa! Planner Start Sawa presented the information contained
in the Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning and
Development Department.
2. Chairperson Steding inquired as to the origin of the Quail.
Discussion followed as to how it came to be part of the City seai.
3. Commissioner Mosher stated that he had been present during the
Design Review Board meetings when different ideas for the sign
had been presented and this represented the cleanest sign
proposed and was excellent advertising as an entrance to the
City.
4. Following discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Mosher and
seconded by Commissioner Barrows to adopt Minute Motion 91-004
recommending approval of the sign to the City Council.
Unanimously approved.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Commissioner Dowd asked that a correction be made on page 4, item #3
to read that she had only contacted Design Review Board member
Anderson. Commissioner Barrows moved and Commissioner Dowd
seconded the motion to approve the Minutes of December 11, 1990, as
corrected. Unanimously approved.
VII. OTHER
A. This item was presented at the Study Session.
B. Planning Director Jerry Herman asked that the Commission appoint a
representative to the Design Review Board to replace Commissioner
Barrows who had a time conflict with the meeting. Commissioner Ladner
nominated Commissioner Mosher as representative and Commissioner
Dowd as an alternative. Commissioner Barrows seconded the motion and
it passed unanimously.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Ladner and seconded by Commissioner Barrows
to adjourn to a regular meeting on January 22, 1991, 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 8:40 P.M.
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