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PCMIN 08 08 1995 MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA AUGUST 8, 1995 3:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 3:12 P.M. by Chairman Abels who asked Community Development Director Jerry Herman to lead the flag salute. II. ROLL CALL A. Chairman Abels requested the roll call: Present: Commissioners Anderson, Barrows, Butler, Gardner, and Chairman Abels. Absent: Commissioners Adolph and Newkirk. Commissioners Gardner/Anderson moved and seconded a motion to excuse -- Commissioners Adolph/Newkirk. B. Staff present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, City Attorney Dawn Honeywell, Senior Engineer Steve Speer, Associate Planner Greg Trousdell, and : Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None IV. WORKSHOP A. Continued - Zoning Ordinance Update; a request of the City for a review and approval of the Zoning Code Update. 1. Community Development Director Jerry Herman explained the history behind the Village zoning, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. He went over the Village map and explained the zoning districts. 2. Commissioner Anderson asked why the residential portion was not in the' Village zoning. Staff explained it was covered in the residential portion of -- the Ordinance. PC8-8 1 Planning Commission Meeting August 8, 1995 3. Commissioner Barrows questioned Page 2. C.l.c., and asked how the parameters were derived at. Staff explained these were the existing zoning requirements created in 1989. It was determined to eliminate the time limit of 15 minutes and have it read, "Hours of minor entertainment falling between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m." 4. Commissioner Butler asked for clarification on the boundaries of each of the districts. Staff explained and discussion followed about the lot sizes. 5. City Attorney Dawn Honeywell explained some history of the C-V-S and whether there was too much commercial in this whole area and whether some of it should be converted to residential. 6. Chairman Abels asked if the two story buildings would be allowed to have Commercial zoning on the bottom floor and Residential on the top or would it require changing the zoning. Staff explained on some areas it would require a zone change. 7. Chairman Abels asked why the Park was zoned R- 1. Staff explained this was the original zoning. - 8. Community Development Director Jerry Herman explained the meaning for : Page 3, D. 1 .a. as being for the purpose of having a covered walkway. The problem on Page 3, D.2.b. was that the first lots on Desert Club rear setback requirement did not allow for any innovation in the building structure due to the amount required. Staff suggested a ten foot setback be required instead; this would still leave a need for parking however. 9. The City Attorney and staff reminded the Commissioners that they need to consider pedestrian movement from the front of the businesses to the rear, if parking is to be provided for in the rear. Commissioner Anderson stated he felt the pedestrian paseos would make the districts work. However, the City must solve the problem of parking first. City Attorney Dawn Honeywell stated the Commissioners must determine where the break should fall before a pedestrian break is required. It was felt 8-10 feet was all that was needed to provide the walkway corridor. 10. Chairman Abels asked if the City was going to provide a Parking District. City Attorney Dawn Honeywell explained that it had been discussed, but no impetus had been put on it as of yet. Discussion followed. PC8-8 2 Planning Commission Meeting August 8, 1995 11. Chairman Abels suggested that a letter be written to the Council requesting a joint meeting to discuss the parking issue in the Village. It was felt there could be no further discussion until a joint study session was held regarding the Village prior to the Planning Commission reviewing this portion of the Zoning Ordinance. Commissioners Butler/Barrows moved and seconded the motion to request staff make a request to Council for a joint meeting regarding the Village zoning and parking problems. Chairman Abels recessed the meeting at 4:09 P.M. and reconvened at 7:00 P.M. V. PUBLIC COMMENT: None VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Public Use Permit 95-016; a request of Desert Sands Unified School District for approval to construct their District Educational Services Center of approximately 164,000 square feet of floor space located northeast of the intersection of Dune Palms Road and 48th Avenue. 1. Community Development Director Jerry Herman 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 Abels opened the public hearing and Mr. Jack Matlock, spoke on behalf of the applicant. 3. Commissioner Butler asked how long it would take to convert the buses to natural gas. Mr. Matlock stated he did not know at this time, but it would be done in phases. He further stated they had been trying to make this change for twenty years. Commissioner Butler commended them for their efforts. 4. Chairman Abels asked for the lifespan of a bus. Mr. Matlock stated it was two years or 200,000 miles for a gas vehicle or diesel. The natural gas would be approximately double, or 300,000+ miles. 5. Chairman Abels questioned Condition//40 as to which streets were being referred to. Mr. Matlock stated that when the streets are completed the buses will exit and access through 48th Avenue. He further stated the buses leave _ the barn at 6:00 A.M. Staff explained the streets affected would be 48th Avenue and Dune Palms at the approved access locations. PC8-8 3 Planning Commission Meeting August 8, 1995 6. Commissioner Gardner inquired regarding air quality and whether the figures were based on diesel or the natural gas. Mr. Matlock stated they were based on the original fleet. 7. There being no further public comment, Chairman Abels closed the public hearing. 8. Commissioner Anderson stated it appeared to be a well conceived project and the circulation flowed very well. 9. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Butler to adopt Resolution 95-035 certifying a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impact for Environmental Assessment 95-300. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Anderson, Barrows, Butler, Gardner, and Chairman Abels. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Adolph and Newkirk. ABSTAIN: None. 10. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Butler to adopt Minute Motion 95-035 approving the Public Use Permit 95-016, subject to . the modified conditions. Unanimously approved. : B Tentative Tract 25953. Second Time Extension; a request of Mrs. Jane Hirsch for approval of a second extension of time. 1. Associate Planner Greg Trousdell 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 Abels opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, Chairman Abels closed the public hearing. 3. Chairman Abels asked if the lot sizes were within the City requirements. Staff stated they were within the required size. 4. Commissioner Gardner asked if the project needed to met the Compatibility Ordinance. Staff stated they were not required to meet those requirements as this was a new tract and there were no pre-existing units. PC8-8 4 __ Planning Commission Meeting : August 8, 1995 5. Staff reminded the applicant that any new regulations put in place by the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance, would be placed on the applicant unless a building permit was pulled prior to its adoption. Commissioner Anderson requested staff to inform the applicant of any pending changes that may have an impact on their project. 6. There being no further comment, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Gardner to adopt Resolution 95-036 recommending approval of a time extension for Tentative Tract 25953 to the City Council, subject to conditions. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Anderson, Barrows, Butler, Gardner, and Chairman Abels. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Adolph and Newkirk. ABSTAIN: None. VII. BUSINESS SESSION A. Sign Application 95-320; a request of Wal-Mart for a deviation from the One Eleven _ La Quinta Shopping Center sign program to allow corporate signing for Wal-Mart. 1. Associate Planner Greg Trousdell presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development .: Department. 2. Commissioner Anderson verified that the applicant had not placed all the originally approved signs on the east elevation. Staff stated they were previously approved for more signs than had been installed. Commissioner Anderson asked if the applicant could come back at any time and install the signs previously approved. Staff clarified that no additional signs could be installed unless approved by the Planning Commission. 3. Commissioner Butler asked for clarification of the staff findings. Staff clarified the action as being the relocation of the sign. 4. Commissioner Gardner asked if the sign for the Lube Center would be over the door of the Garden Center. Staff stated this was tree. The service center is located at the rear of the building and not visible from Highway 111. Staff went on to explain the philosophy behind the sign placement. PC8-8 5 Planning Commission Meeting August 8, 1995 5. Commissioner Gardner stated he felt it was confusing to place the sign for the Lube Shop over the Garden Shop. Staff explained this was typical location for all the Wal-Mart stores. 6. Commissioner Anderson stated he could understand their reasoning for trying to get their advertising out, but when Adams Street goes through will they want another sign? 7. Commissioner Barrows asked if this was the typical signage for Wal-Mart. Staff stated this was typical and Chairman Abels agreed. 8. Chairman Abels asked if the applicant wished to address the Commission. The applicant stated he was present to answer any questions. 9. There being no further questions, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Butler to adopt Minute Motion 95-036 approving Sign Application 95-320, subject to conditions. Unanimously approved. CONSENT CALENDAR: None _ COMMISSIONER ITEMS: None ' ADJOURNMENT : There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Anderson/Barrows to adjourn this meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting on September 12, 1995. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:31 P.M., August 8, 1995. PC8-8 6