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PCMIN 03 23 1993 MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION- CITY OF LA QUINTA A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-105 Calle Estado, La Quinta, California March 23, 1993 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER A. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 P.M. by Chairwoman Barrows who led the flag salute. II. ROLL CALL A. Chairwoman Barrows requested the roll call. Present: Commissioners Mosher, Ellson, Marrs, Adolph, and Chairwoman Barrows. B. Staff Present: Planning Director Jerry Herman, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Department Secretary Betty Anthony. C. Chairwoman Barrows excused herself from the public heating due to a possible conflict of interest and turned the meeting over to Vice Chairman Mosher. III. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. General Plan Amendment 92-041, Preannexation Zoning 92-073. Sphere of Influence g9. and Annexation//9; a request of Travertine Corporation to amend the La Quinta General Plan Land Use and Circulation Maps adding a new area for a Sphere of Influence and annexation, and designating the new area as Low Density Residential and Open Space, and zone the area R-1 and HC (Hillside Conservation). 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 Adolph asked Staff if Section 32 would be included in the annexation. Staff stated it would be. Commissioner Mosher inquired if the Bureau of Land Management owned the entire Section. Staff stated they did and explained the procedure that would need to be followed should the area be developed. PC3-23 1 Planning Commission Minutes March 23, 1993 3. Commissioner Ellson asked Staff to clarify the purpose of the dike and whether there would be access to the area. Staff explained the area was in a flood plain and the dike was to divert that water. As to access, Staff would see that right-of-ways would be preserved. Discussion followed as to possible access to the area and how that access could be obtained. 4. Commissioner Adolph asked Staff if a complete EIR should be done at this time to ensure protection of the trails. Staff explained that since there was no project proposal before them, there virtually was nothing to do an EIR on. Commissioners then discussed with Staff the constraints that the area would demand if a development were proposed. Commissioner Adolph expressed his concern that provisions were in place that an £IR would be required when and if a development were proposed. 5. Vice Chairman Mosher explained to the public that Staff had answered most of the questions brought up during the public hearing on the 23rd of FebrUary, and he would re-open the public hearing at this time for anyone wishing to offer new information that had not be stated at the previous meeting. 6. Ms. Bern Schwenn, Coachella Valley National History Association, stated her concern that Section 5 should be downzoned due to the flood control problems. She went on to explain the possible location of the flood control diversion and this woUld block the trail heads. She further stated her concern for the Desert Tortoise and Big Horn Sheep in the area. She felt a complete EIR must be done at this time. In addition, she felt that the designation of "Open Space" should be defined as "natural open space" and not include golf courses. 7. Planning & Development Director stated that according to the BLM ratings, the Desert Tortoise is not known to inhabitat this area. 8. Commissioner Ellson questioned Staff regarding the Hillside Open Space designation in relation to density. Discussion followed regarding units per acre and development transfers. 9. Commissioner Adolph asked Staff if a buffer zone was utilized by the City and what a "buffer zone" was. Staff stated that at the present time there was no buffer zone used by the City, but should one become necessary it would be utilized. It merely referred to a set distance between development and the natural environment. 10. Commissioner Man's stated he felt there was no way an EIR could be accomplished at this time with no development being proposed. PC3-23 2 Planning Commission Minutes March 23, 1993 11. Commissioner Eltson~pr~ssed her concern regarding the density and the slope. There was a potential to have 6,000 units on the three Sections. She felt the zoning should be no more than 2 units per acre. Commissioner Ellson asked if any development was allowed in the H-C zone. Staff explained that one unit per 10 acres was allowed. Staff went on to explain the H-C zoning. 12. Vice Chairman Mosher stated he felt the 2-4 units per acre was adequate density. 13. Following a discussion regarding density, Commissioner Adolph moved and Commissioner Marrs seconded a motion to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 93-007 recommending to the City Council approval of General Plan Amendment 92-041, Change of Zone 92-073, Sphere of Influence g9, Annexation //9, and adoption of a Negative Declaration for these application. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Commissioners Ellson, Marrs, Adolph, & Vice Chairman Mosher. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. Chairwoman Barrows: None. Chairwoman Barrows rejoined the Commission. B. Tentative Tract 23773; a request of Starlight Dunes for approval of a third one year extension of time for recordation of final tract map for Phases 2 and 3. 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 Mosher inquired why Staff had changed Condition 11. Staff explained that it was to bring it into compliance with current regulations. 3. There being no further questions, Chairwoman Barrows opened the public hearing. As no one wished to address the Commission regarding the matter, Chairwoman Barrows closed the public hearing. 4. Commissioner Marts moved and Commissioner Ellson seconded a motion to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 93-008 recommending to the City Council approval of a final extension of time for Tentative Tract 23773 for Phases 2 and 3. PC3-23 3 Planning Commission Minutes March 23, 1993 IV. PUBLIC COMMENT: A. Ms. Audrey Ostrowsky, La Quinta resident expressed her concern that the Engineering Department was leap-frogging the sewer systems and the closure of Tampico would cause safety problems. Chairwoman Barrows explained to Ms. Ostrowsky that the Planning Commission has no jurisdiction over the sewer assessments. This is handled by the Council. V. BUSINESS SESSION: A. Review of Landscaping Plans; a request of the City for review of landscaping plans prepared by TKD Associates, Inc. 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 Man's questioned Staff as to whether the sound wall was being built by Birtcher. Staff stated it was. Discussion followed as to who was responsible for the landscaping costs for the median on Washington Street. 3. Mr. Tom Doczi, TKD Associates reviewed the landscaping plans with the Commission. 4. Commissioner Marrs questioned how the lawn area irrigation could be accomplished without watering the street. Mr. Doczi explained that a 6- inch curb with a 12-inch mow strip plus recessing the sprinklers should eliminate street watering. Discussion followed regarding the type of sprinkler heads and drip irrigation. 5. Commissioner Adolph asked whether the wall footings would be a problem. Mr. Doczi stated they would be that was why vines were being used in narrow areas. Commissioner Adolph questioned why more arid plants were used in previous medians and now the more lush plants were being planted. Mr. Doczi stated this was due to more accessibility of the work crews. Commissioner Adolph felt the medians should maintain continuity throughout the City. He further expressed his concern regarding the maintenance of the Pepper trees. 6. Chairwoman Barrows expressed our concern regarding continuity and feels the City should make a statement by using more arid plants. She PC3-23 4 Planning Commission Minutes March 23, 1993 further stated that all the turf should be eliminated and replaced with rock and more arid plants. Also the Pepper tree replaced with a Mesquite, Palo Verde tree, or Ocotillo tree. Discussion followed among the Commissioners regarding the different type of plants that could be used. 7. Following the discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Marrs and seconded by Commissioner Ellson to adopt Minute Motion 93-014 recommending approval of the landscaping plan to the City Council subject to the following changes: a. The turf to be replaced with more arid plants. b. Replacement of the Pepper tree with more native trees. c. Use of boulders and more drought tolerant, native plants such as the Brittle Bush and Ocotillo. Unanimously approved. VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Chairwoman Barrows asked that the Minutes of February 23, 1993, be amended on Page 2 and 4 to show that Chairwoman Barrows with drew from the public hearing due to a possible conflict of interest. Commissioner Mosher moved and Commissioner Adolph seconded a motion to approved the Minutes as amended. Unanimously approved. VII. OTHER- None VHI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Adolph and seconded by Commissioner Mosher to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting on April 13, 1993, at 7:00 P.M. at the La Quinta City Hall Council Chambers. This meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:37 P.M., March 23, 1993. PC3-23 5