PCMIN 02 12 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
February 12, 1991 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairperson Stealing.
The Flag Salute was led by Commissioner Barrows.
II. ROLL 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 Stan
Sawa, Assistant Planner Glenda Lainis, and Department Secretary Betty
Anthony.
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Continued Public Hearin~ on Development Agreement 90-002; a request
of Washington Adams Limited Partnership for approval of a Development
Agreement pursuant to Section 65854 et. sec., of the California
Government Code, relative to Specific Plan 89-014, which was approved
by City Council on April 17, 1990.
1. Chairperson Stealing opened the public hearing and as no one
wished to address the Commission Commissioner Dowd moved and
Commissioner Barrows seconded the motion to continue the Public
Hearing as recommended by Staff to the next regular meeting of
February 12, 1991. Unanimously approved
B. Tentative Tract 26188; a request of Santa Rosa Developers to subdivide
10 acres into 39 single family lots on the south side of Miles Avenue, 660
feet east of Adams Street.
1. Assistant Planner Glenda Lairds presented the information
contained in the Staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Planning and Development Department.
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2. Commissioner Dowd inquired if Staff felt a facility was needed for
the maintenance workers who would be required to maintain the
common areas, due to the number of houses being planned for
this area. Principal Planner Stan Sawa stated that the normal
procedure for this type of project was for the homeowner's
association to contract with a landscaping company to maintain
the common areas and they would bring their equipment with
them and not be in need of a building to store their equipment.
3. It was noted by Staff that for Condition 8A(1), the street width
should be changed from 36 feet to 40 feet.
4. Brian Esgate, Community Engineering Services, spoke on behalf
of the Applicant. He stated they had no objections to any of the
conditions that were suggested by Staff and that the Applicant
had plans for forming a landscaping and lighting district for this
tract as well as the adjoining tracts they owned.
5. Chairperson Steding inquired of the accesses onto Miles Avenue.
Staff explained there would be no traffic lights or stop signs,
but at least one full turning access would be provided due to the
distance from Jefferson Street.
6. There being no further questions, it was moved by Commissioner
Barrows and seconded by Commissioner Dowd to adopt Planning
Commission Resolution 91-002 recommending to the City Council
approval of Tentative Tract 26188 subject to the attached
Conditions of Approval, amending Condition 8A(1) as noted
above.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Ladner, Dowd,
Barrows, Mosher, Chairperson
Stealing. NOES: None. AB SENT:
None. ABSTAINING: None.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT - None
V. BUSINESS SESSION
'A. Specific Plan 84-003 - The Orchard; a request of Lawrence A. Diamant
(Chapter 11 Trustee) for Rufus Associates for approval of a one year
extension of time for a specific plan.
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. Planning Director Jerry Herman clarified Condition #2 regarding
access to the project off of 50th Avenue.
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3. Commissioner Ladner inquired if there was a limit to the number
of extensions that could be granted. Planning Director Jerry
Herman stated that it was at the discretion of the Planning
Commission.
4. COmmissioner Mosher and Chairperson Steding inquired if Mr.
Diamant knew if the proposed buyer of the project was planning
to build the project as it was approved. Mr. Diamant stated he
did not know if the proposed buyer planned to build the
approved project.
5. Chairperson Steding asked Staff what the Specific Plan allowed.
Planning Director Jerry Herman gave an explanation of the
approved project.
6. Discussion followed as to the original concept of the project and
the ownership of the four original parcels of land and how they
had been divided up.
7. Following the discussion, Commissioner Mosher moved and
Commissioner Barrows seconded the motion to adopt Minute
Motion 91-005, approving a one year extension of time.
Unanimously approved.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
There being no corrections to the Minutes of January 22, 1991, it was moved by
Commissioner Barrows and seconded by Commissioner Dowd to approve the Minutes
as submitted. Unanimously approved.
VII. OTHER
A. Preliminary review and discussion of proposed modification to office
building at northeast corner of Calle Cadiz and Avenida Bermudas.
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 if Staff knew what the ratio of
parking spaces for the new addition would be. Planning Director
Jerry Herman stated that when the present building was
approved, the Applicant was required to pay an in-lieu fee for
parking' because there were not enough parking spaces
provided. Commissioner Ladner asked Staff to explain the in-
lieu fee process. Planning Director Jerry Herman explained the
process for the Commissioners and further stated that at present
the City had granted two variances for in-lieu fees for parking.
Commissioner Ladner expressed her concern of establishing a
precedent for future developers and eventually not having
enough parking for the downtown area.
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3. Commissioner Dowd stated her concern about parking spaces
being provided without depending on future City parking lots.
4. Commissioner Barrows asked Staff to identify where the City
owns lots were located. Planning Director Jerry Herman stated
the City owns the property the Chamber of Commerce is located
on as well as the two lots immediately to the west.
5. Commissioner Mosher agreed with the Commissioners regarding
the need for parking and inquired how far the City parking lots
would be from the project. Planning Director Jerry Herman
stated that the City owns lots directly across the street from the
project.
6. Commissioner Ladner asked if Staff was keeping track of how
many spaces they will need to supply. Planning Director Jerry
Herman stated that at present only the variance granted for this
project is active and Staff is keeping track.
7. Mr. Ben Urmstron, architect for the owners, addressed the
Commission and explained the proposed project. He further
stated that the issue of parking was of great importance to the
owners and they were considering alternatives such as paying
the City to have parking lot constructed.
8. Chairperson Steding asked ff the property to the east was a
residence. It was stated that it was. She was concerned with
having a commercial building of two stories next door to a
residential dwelling. She also inquired about how many on-site
parking spaces were provided at present.
9. Commissioner Barrows asked Staff how many parking spaces
would be provided when and ff a City parking lot was
constructed on the lots across Avenida Bermudas. Planning
Director Jerry Herman stated there should be approximately 60
spaces.
10. Commissioner Ladner inquired ff Staff had a percentage figure
they would not allow the Applicant to go beyond. Planning
Director Jerry Herman stated the City did not determine parking
spaces according to percentages.
11. Commissioner Dowd and Commissioner Mosher both stated that
they were not in objection to the building but felt the Applicant
should provide on-site parking or some alternative, to be sure
parking was provided at the completion of the building
modification.
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12. Chairperson Steding concurred with the Commissioners and
further stated that the signage should be made a part of the
Applicants application at the time of submittal. She thanked the
Applicant for his time and hoped they had expressed their
concerns to him.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Mosher and seconded by Commissioner Ladner
to adjourn to a regular meeting on February 26, 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 7:55 P.M.
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