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PCMIN 06 23 1992 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 23, 1992 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER A. The meeting was called to order at 7:08 P.M. by Vice Chairman Mosher who led the flag salute. II. ROLL CALL A. Vice Chairman Mosher requested the roll call. Present: Commissioners Ladner, Ellson, Marts, and Vice Chairman Mosher. Commissioner Ladner moved and Commissioner Ellson seconded a motion to excuse Chairwoman Barrows. Unanimously approved. B. Staff Present: Planning Director Jerry Herman and Department Secretary Betty Anthony. III. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None IV. PUBLIC CO~T: - None V. BUSINESS SESSION A. Plot Plan 92-482; a request of ARCO Products to construct and operate an AM/PM Mini-Market and gasoline service station. 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 Ellson asked if the block wall in the rear would cause a problem with security. Staff stated this would be a question for the Applicant. 3. Mr. Craig Yamasaki, applicant, gave a presentation of the project and stated his concerns regarding conditions #5, #8, and #24. 4. Vice Chairman Mosher asked what an oil-water separator was used for. Mr. Yamasaki explained the purpose of the separator and stated his objection to the requirement as the station did not do any oil changes or any service work that would require a separator. Discussion followed relative to gasoline spillage and safety measures. PC6-23 1 Planning Commission Minutes June 23, 1992 5. Commissioner Ellson asked if the rear wall would hinder visibility and security. Mr. Tom Riggle, architect stated the wall was a buffer and suggested a railing be used instead to help with the grade change and yet allow visibility. 6. Commissioner Ellson asked if a Palo Verde tree could be used at the rear corner instead of the Palm Tree. Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer stated whatever tree was used it should allow for visi.bility. 7. Commissioner Ellson questioned the height of the building and the canopy. Mr. Riggle stated the building and canopy were both less than the shopping center height. 8. Commissioner Ellson asked the Applicant to explain the traffic movement on the north and south sides. 9. Mr. Don Adolph, resident, stated his concern that if Shell Oil was required to do a reverse plan ARCO should be required to do the same. He further stated his concern for leaks. He stated there was a need for boxes under the dispensers and a barrier was needed for the underground tanks. 10. Mr. Yamasaki stated that ARCO had stipulated that if a reversed plan was to be required, ARCO would decline to build at this location. He further stated that they had worked hard to meet all the requirements of the City and felt this condition was an added burden that was not needed. 11. Mr. Michael Shovlin, owner of the property, stated his concern that the City would require the station to have a reverse plan. He felt the station was an asset to La Quinta and was badly needed. 12. Commissioner Ladner asked Staff why the City adopted the reverse profile plan. Staff stated it was for aesthetics mostly and to provide a screen for the pumps on Washington and Highway 111. 13. Commissione~ Ellson asked if credit cards would be able to be used at the pump site. Mr. Yamasaki stated they would be. She further asked if traffic circulation would be better if the plan were reversed. Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer stated he could not answer the question unless they had a site plan to work with. She further asked if there was adequate space between the parking and the islands. Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer went over the circulation plan. PC6-23 2 Planning Commission Minutes June 23, 1992 14. Commissioner Ladner asked if the oil-separator was required of Shell Oil. Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer stated this was a new requirement the City had initiated based on the new federal legislation and it had not been required prior to this project. 15. Commissioner Ladner asked Staff if Shell Oil had pulled their building permits. Staff stated they had not but were close. 16. Commissioner Marts asked if a small screened trap to catch spills such as a "valley gutter" could be used. Mr. Riggle stated their experience had been that these "valley gutters" became a maintenance problem as the asphalt would pull away from the concrete. 17. Vice Chairman Mosher stated his full agreement that a service station at the gateway entrance to the City should be reversed, but as this station was not at the corner but was recessed back he did not feel it warranted the reverse plan and that the design and landscaping would be an asset to the City. 18. Commissioner Marts asked if the landscaping was what Staff wanted. Staff stated the wall and landscaping along the entire frontage must be high enough to hide the gasoline pumps. Discussion followed relative to the landscaping. 19. There being no further discussion it was moved by Commissioner Ladner and seconded by Commissioner Ellson to adopt Minute Motion 92-022 approving Plot Plan 92-482 subject to the amended Conditions of Approval (#5-deleted, #8, #24). Unanimously approved. B. Tract 24230 - Lake La Quinta; a request of Wilma South Management Corporation (Dennis Falmont) to revise plans for a recreational lot at Marquessa on Lake La Quinta. 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. Dennis LaMont, applicant, gave the reasons for the requested revision. 3. Commissioner Marts asked the Applicant if the buyers were informed they would have these amenities. Mr. LaMont stated that in the documents the buyers signed it stated that Wilma Pacific had the right to make changes for the good of the project. PC6-23 3 Planning Commission Minutes June 23, 1992 4. Commissioner Ellson asked the Applicant if the recreation area could be relocated in a different location; whether swimming was allowed; and whether the homeowners had docks at their individuai homes. Mr. LaMont stated the area could not be redesigned as they did not own the land outside the recreation area. He further stated swimming was not permitted and the homeowners do not have individual docks. 5. Vice Chairman Mosher asked if the entrance and exit to the project were gated. Mr. LaMont stated they were gated. 6. Mrs. Joy Smith, resident, addressed the Commission regarding her concerns for the loss of the amenities. She further stated that recently the owners of Wilma South and the homeowners had established dialogue regarding the problems they were having and asked the Commission to continue the matter for 30 days to give them the opportunity to work out their problems with the Developer. 7. Mr. Mickey LaTorre, resident, asked spoke regarding the problems they were having with Wilma South and also asked for the continuance. 8. Commissioner Ladner expressed her concern for both the developer and the homeowner as she had experienced both sides. Commissioner Ladner stated her agreement that the two should try to work out a solution to the problem before the Commission takes action. Vice Chairman Mosher concurred. 9. There being no further discussion it was moved by Commissioner Ellson and seconded by Commissioner Ladner to continue the matter to July 28, 1992. Unanimously approved. C. Street Vacation 92-021; a request of Rick Morris for a General Plan consistency to allow vacation of a 40-foot wide storm drainage easement. 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. Staff also pointed out an error in the report. 2. Rick Morris, applicant gave a brief history of the easement and his reasons for eliminating it. 3. Tl{ere being no further discussion, it was moved by Commissione~; Ladner and seconded by Commissioner Marts to adopt Minute Motion 92-023 confirming vacation of the 40-foot wide storm drainage easement at Avenida Montezuma and Avenida Juarez is in compliance with the Hazards Element and Natural Resources Element of the La Quinta General Plan. Unanimously approved. PC6-23 4 Planning Commission Minutes June 23, 1992 VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. There being no corrections to the Minutes, Commissioner Marts moved and Commissioner t~llson seconded a motion to approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of June 9, 1992, as submitted. Unanimously approved. VII. OTHER - A. Vice Chairman Mosher moved to adopt Resolution 92-024 commending Commissioner Ladner for her participation and devotion to the City of La Quinta while serving as a Planning Commissioner. Commissioner Ellson seconded the motion. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Ellson, Marts, & Vice Chairman Mosher. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairman Barrows. ABSTAINING: None. VIII. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Marts and seconded by Commissioner Ellson to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting on July 14, 1992, at 7:00 P.M. in the La (~uinta City Hall Council Chambers. This meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was adjourned at 9:06 P.M., June 23, 1992. PC6-23 5