PCMIN 06 28 1994 MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION - CITY OF LA QUINTA
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
June 28, 1994 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 rLM. by Chairwoman Barrows.
Commissioner Ellson led the flag salute.
Il. ROLL CALL
A. Chairwoman Barrows requested the roll call. Present: Commissioners Adolph,
Ellson, Abels, and Chairwoman Barrows.
B. Commissioners Adolph/Ellson moved and seconded a motion to excuse
Commissioner Man's. Unanimously approved.
C. Staff Present: Planning Director Jerry Herman, City Attorney Dawn Honeywell,
Senior Engineer Steve Speer, Principal Planner Start Sawa, Associate Planner
Wallace Nesbit, and Department Secretary Betty Sawyer.
Ill. PUBLIC COMMENT- None
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. TENTATIVE TRACT 27952; a request of TD Desert Development for approval
of 55 single family lots plus miscellaneous lots on 22+ acres.
1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the
staff report, a copy of which is on f'fle in the Planning and Development
Department and stated that staff had added Condition #49 regarding the
applicant filing an administrative plot plan application for approval of the
2. Commissioner Adolph asked staff to clarify the condition. Staff stated
that the Planning Commission would review any new units proposed as
well as any proposed restrooms for the gardeners.
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Planning Commi;nion Minute.
June 28, 1994
3. Commissioners discussed with staff the elimination of Condition #43
regarding the Lighting and Landscaping District as it will be maintained
by the Homeowners' Association.
4. There being no further questions of staff, Chairwoman Barrows opened
the public hearing. Mr. Tom Cullinan, representing the applicant,
explained the pool area and the gardener facilities. He noted there would
be a separate restroom for the gardeners. He noted there would be a
separate restroom for the gardeners in the pool building.
5. Commissioner Adolph asked the applicant to explain the landscaping
swale. Mr. Bahadur Gill, the engineer representing the applicant stated
they would comply with whatever the Engineering Department required.
6. There being no further public comment, Chairwoman Barrows closed the
public hearing.
7. There being no further questions, Commissioners Abels/Ellson moved to
adopt Resolution 944)17 recommending approval of Tentative Tract
27952, subject to the amended conditions.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Adolph, Ellson, Abels, and
Chairwoman Barrows. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Commissioner Marrs. ABSTAIN: None.
Commissioner Ellson withdrew due to a possible conflict of interest.
B. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 94-045 (EA 94-277); a request of the City for
consideration of an amendment to the Circulation Element of the La Quinta
General Plan to revise the major arterial standard for flexibility in interfacing with
similar roadway standards in adjacent jurisdictions.
1. Associate Planner Wallace Nesbit 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 questions of staff, Chairwoman Barrows opened the public
heating. As no one wished to speak regarding the topic, Chairwoman
Barrows closed the public hearing.
3. Commissioner Adolph questioned staff regarding a flexibility standard in
regards to streets that are adjacent to other city jurisdictions being
compatible. Staff stated that this was the intent of the amendment as
proposed.
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P~m~ing Commi~ion Minute;
June 28, 19<)4
, 4. There being no further .discussion, Commissioners Adolph/Abels moved
to adopt Resolution 94-018 recommending to the City Council approval
of General Plan Amendment 94-014.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Adolph, Abels, and
Chairwoman Barrows. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Commissioner Man's. ABSTAIN: Commissioner
Ellson.
Commissioner Ellson rejoined thc meeting.
V. BUSINFSS SESSION:
A. PLOT PLAN 91-456; a request of The Koenig Companies for approval of a sign
program for the La Quinta Village Shopping Center.
1. Principal 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. Commissioner Adolph asked staff if the Commission had previously
discussed the use of uPharmacy' signage for markets. Staff explained
they had reviewed the application for Albertsons in regards to the market
having the signage. This pharmacy was a separate business from the
market and not part of it. Discussion followed.
3. Commissioner Ellson questioned the size of the 'Ralphs' sign in
comparison to the 'Wal-Mart' and 'Albertson' sign. Staff stated the
Wal-Mart sign was 185 square feet and Albertsons was 122 square feet.
This sign request was for 175-feet of which the border is much of thc
sign.
4. Commissioner Ellson asked how this sign compared to the sign located at
the Indian Wells store. Mr. John Koenig applicant stated it was similar.
5. Chairwoman Barrows asked staff to display where the freestanding signs
would be located. Discussion followed regarding the monument sign
locations and what businesses could be on them.
6. Mr. John Koenig, discussed points contained in the report under Analysis.
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Planning Commission Minutes
June 28, 1994
7. Commissioner Adolph asked the applicant how many signs there would
be. Mr. Koenig stated that under the colonnade there would be a
maximum 16 consisting of different color signs. He further stated that he
felt a variety of color was good for the center.
8. Commissioners discussed with staff and the applicant which pads are
under construction and sign color and location.
9. Mr. Koenig discussed with the Commission monument signs and wall
mounted signs. His concern was that two tenants, First Bank and the
restaurant, are requesting both. Commissioner Abels stated that was too
much signage. He felt the tenant should determine where the signs should
be located but no more than four signs. Chairman Barrows asked staff to
clarify Condition 1.G. regarding monument signage and wall signage.
Staff explained this would only apply to Pads "A", "B", "C", and "D".
Mr. Koenig stated Pad "C" had no wall space and would need to be on
the monument sign. He further stated that the signage for Pad "A", "B"
and "D" should be the same.
10. Commissioner Abels asked staff if all the monument signs were located
on Washington Street. Staff stated there were four on Washington Street
and two on Calle Tampico.
11. Commissioner Adolph suggested that the center identification/Ralphs
monument sign be combined with one of the other monument signs to
reduce the number of monument signs. It was suggested this could be
large and would become a reader board. Discussion followed regarding
consistency of the size of the signs.
12. Commissioner Abels suggested that Pad "A" and "B" be combined on one
monument sign and Pad "C" and "D" be combined on another monument
sign. Commissioner Ellson stated this needed to be determined when the
buildings are complete and you could view the buildings.
13. Mr. Jim Engle, Jr. Imperial Signs, displayed the proposed wall sign
material and style. Discussion followed regarding the sign material and
its construction.
14. Commissioner Ellson asked the applicant what colors were allowed at the
Indian Wells Village center. Mr. Koenig stated one color and one
background.
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l~nni~ Commi.ion Mimic.
June 28, 1994
15. Commissioner £11son asked if there could be any part of the signs that
could be consistent. Mr. £ngle stated the sign cabinet color, the letter
sizes, arid thc background would all be the mme.
16. Commissioner Adolph asked how far the arches would extend out for Pad
"C". Mr. Koenig stated it varied. Staff slated the columns are out five
feet on the Washington Street side.
17. Mr. Koenig stated the east elevation would have hanging signs for the
front tenants. Commissioner Ellson asked the tenants on the north side
would also be hanging. Mr. Koenig stated they probably would be in
archways 2 and 4.
18. Commissioner Adolph stated he felt the buttress should be tied to the
building and a maximum of two monument signs should be allowed.
19. Commissioner Ellson stated that Condition I.E. should be a maximum of
24-inches as recommended by staff.
20. Staff clarified the conditions that were modified for the Commission:
A. As is.
B. Remove the first sentence.
C. As is.
D. Deleted.
E. As is.
F. Deleted.
G. Deleted
H. As is.
I. Add - No more than two monument signs including the
identification signs shall be allowed on each street (i.e.,
Washington Street and Calle Tampico).
21. Following discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Abels/Adolph to adopt Minute Motion 94-019 approving the sign program
for Plot Plan 91-456, subject to the modified conditions. Unanimously
approved.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Staff stated that grammatical corrections would be made to Page 9 Item 2 by
removing the word "were". There being no further corrections to the Minutes
of June 14, 1994, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Adolph/Abels
to adopt the minutes as corrected. Unanimously approved.
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Planning Commission Minutes _
June 28, 1994
VH. OTHER -
A. Staff asked the Commission what their pleasure was regarding the summer
schedule. Commissioners Adolph/Abels moved to have the Commission go dark
during the month of August and resume on September 13, 1994.
B. Commissioner Abels stated that the City Council set the RV Park for public
hearing and continued the Simon Plaza appeal to August 2, 1994.
C. Staff expressed their appreciation to Commissioner Ellson for her work and stated
how much they enjoyed working with her.
vm. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
Adolph/Abels to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting
of the Planning Commission on July 12, 1994, at 7:00 P.M. at the La Quinta City Hall Council
Chamber. This meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:44 P.M.,
June 28, 1994.
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