PCMIN 10 11 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
October 11, 1994 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 P.M. by Chairman Adolph.
Commissioner Abels led the flag salute.
Ii. ROLL CALL
A. Chairman Adolph requested the roll call. Present: Commissioners Abels,
Anderson, Barrows, Buffer, Gardner, Newkirk, and Chairman Adolph.
B.. Staff Present: Planning Director Jerry Herman, City Attorney Dawn Honeywell,
Principal Planner Start Sawa, and Department Secretary Betty Sawyer.
m. PUBLIC COMMENT- None
IV. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Zoning Ordinance Amendment 94-044; a request of the City for amendments to
the Hillside Conservation Zone and Chapter 9.146.
1. Staff requested that this item be continued to allow the City Attorney time
to research the issue.
2. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Anderson to
continue ZOA 94-044 to October 25, 1994. Unanimously approved.
B. Plot Plan 94-533 (EA 94-285); a request of MCG Architects for Eisenhower
Hospital for approval of plans to allow construction and operation of an 8,635
square foot Immediate Care Facility.
'.
1. Staff presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Community Development Department.
_ 2. There being no questions of staff, Chairman Adolph opened the public
hearing. Commissioner Newkirk asked if the applicant could explain the
difference in the variation of the facade of the buildings as he felt the
elevation facing Highway 111 needed additional architectural treatment.
Mr. Mark Mikelson, representing MCG Architects, stated the examining
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October 11, 1994 _
rooms were on the south elevation and they felt there was a need for
privacy. He stated if the Commission desired to have additional
treatment, they would provide.
3. Commissioner Anderson asked how medical waste was disposed of. Mr.
Michaelson stated it was kept inside until special pick-ups were scheduled.
4. Commissioner Butler asked why the handicap parking spaces were located
so far from the entrance to the building. Staff stated they would have to
meet the State standards and as this was an emergency care facility there
would not be a large amount of return patients. It was not felt that there
would be a lot of handicap patients.
5. Chairman Adolph asked if the handicap parking could be moved to the
main entrance. Mr. Mikelson stated it could be moved closer to make it
more accommodating. Staff noted a requirement to relocate the handicap
stalls and ramp on the west side of the building.
6. Commissioner Barrows stated she felt the landscaping along the Highway
111 elevation should be increased. This would also help with the
plainness of the building. Mr. Mikelson stated they had no problem with
this and it would add additional shading to the building. Discussion
followed between the Commissioners and the applicant relative to
landscaping.
7. Chairman Adolph asked if staff could require the applicant to add more
architectural detail to the building. Staff stated it be added to the
Conditions of Approval. Discussion followed relative to what the
Commission would like to see.
8. Mr. John Garvey, a La Quinta resident living on Avenida Diaz, addressed
the Commission regarding his objection to a medical facility being built
between two fast food eating establishments. He did not feel this was a
pleasing place to build.
9. There being no further public comment, Chairman Adolph closed the
public hearing. Commissioner Anderson stated he understood Mr.
Garvey's concern but did not share his opinion. He felt the facility was
being constructed an adequate distance away from the food establishments.
10. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows/Abels to adopt Planning Commission Resolution
94-023 adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental
Impact for Environmental Assessment 94-285 for Plot Plan 94-533.
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ROLL CALL: AYES-.: Commissioners Abels, Anderson, Barrows,
Butler, Gardner, Newkirk, Chairman Adolph.
NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN:
None.
11. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Abels to adopt
Minute Motion 94-032 approving Plot Plan 94-533, subject to amended
conditions as follows:
a. Condition ff23 be amended to require additional landscaping for
screening on Highway 111.
b. A new condition be added requiring additional architectural
treatment to the south side of the building to create dimension and
shading. The additional architectural treatment to be approved by
the Community Development Department staff.
12. Commissioner Anderson asked that the architect consider adding additional
architectural treatment to the north side as well. Commissioners
Barrows/Abels amended the motion to add the additional requirement.
-- Unanimously approved.
V. BUSINF, SS SESSION:.
A. Subdivision Flags; a request of the City Council for discussion relative to
establishing a policy for the size, number, and height of temporary flags for use
in subdivisions.
1. Staff presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Community Development Department.
2. Commissioner Butler asked staff to explain what was meant by a rigid
flag. Staff explained where the flag is secured on more than one side to
keep it from waving in the wind.
3. · Commissioner Abels stated that no more than 12 flags at one time and a
maximum of 20-feet in height and a square footage of 18-21-feet should
be required. He went on to explain that in his research, that flag sizes
were usually 1/3 of the pole height.
__ 4. Commissioner Anderson stated that as far as an advertising device, flags
located at a project site are the lowest priority in regards to sales tools.
He felt the number, size, and height should be kept at a minimum.
5. Commissioner Barrows stated that the more flags there were the less of
an attention attractor they were.
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6. Commissioner Gardner stated he felt the flags drew peoples attention to
the site and possibly the City was too restrictive with respect to developer
demands. He felt 20-feet was an appropriate height for the flag poles
except in front of model homes. They should be sixteen feet.
Commissioner Barrows agreed.
7. Commissioner Abels stated that the number of flags in front of Parc La
Quinta was ridiculous.
8. Commissioner Barrows stated that 16-feet on the interior of a residential
development was adequate and 20-feet on the exterior.
9. Chairman Adolph asked that the Commission agree on each of the items:
a. The number of flags allowed: 12-feet maximum
b. The pole height shall be: 20-feet perimeter
16-feet interior
c. The flag size shall be: 18 sq. ft. on the perimeter
12 sq. ft. on the interior
d. No rigid flags shall be allowed: secured on no more than one
side
e. Colors allowed: No limit on the number of
colors allowed. No
fluorescent colors
f. Text allowed: No phrase or part of a phrase
read on multiple or sequential.
flags.
g. Time limit: Flags shall be limited to a six
month time with allowance
for an extension of up to six
months.
h. Number of flags: No more than one flag per
pole is allowed.
i. Structural requirements: The height of the flag pole
shall be measured from finish
grade at the property line.
j. Structural stability: Shall be determined by the
lateral load and size of the
flag. Staff shall supply
applicants with the acceptable
standards.
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October 11, 1994
10. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Butler to adopt Minute Motion 944)33
recommending the above requirements for subdivision flags. Unanimously
approved.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. There being no corrections to the Minutes of September 27, 1994, it was moved
and seconded by Commissioners Anderson/Newkirk to approve the minutes as
submitted. Unanimously approved.
VII. OTHER -
A. Commissioner Newkirk reported on the Council meeting of October 4, 1994.
B. Chairman Adolph informed the Commissioner of the topics discussed during the
October 3, 1994 joint meeting with the City Council regarding the Housing
Element. Planning Director Jerry Herman stated the Council's concern that more
members of the Planning Commission were not in attendance. Commissioners
Abels and Gardner explained they were out of town at previous engagements and
-- were unable to attend.
C. Commissioner Abels informed the Commission of a project on the east side of
Jefferson Street in the City of Indio that would compete with the Del Webb
project
D. Commissioner Anderson informed staff that the City of La Quinta City Hall sign
needed to be fixed.
E. Commissioner Newkirk informed the Commission about how beneficial the
Planning Commission Workshop was that he and Commissioners Butler and
Anderson attended.
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
Newkirk/Barrows to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular
meeting of the Plannin' g Commission on October 25, 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
8:14 P.M., October 11, 1994.
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