PCMIN 09 12 1995 MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
SEPTEMBER 12, 1995 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:02 P.M. by
Chairman Abels who asked Vice Chairman Gardner to lead the flag salute.
II. ROLL CALL
A. Chairman Abels requested the roll call: Present: Commissioners Adolph,
Anderson, Barrows, Butler, Gardner, Newkirk, and Chairman Abels.
B. Staff Present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, City Attorney
Dawn Honeywell, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Principal Planner Start
Sawa, Associate Planners Greg Trousdell and Leslie Moudquand, and Executive
Secretary Betty Sawyer.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Plot Plan 95-563; a request of Ayres Homes for approval of new architectural plans
for two new single family units.
1. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented the information contained in
the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
2. Commissioner Gardner asked if the applicant was proposing flat roof tiles.
Staff stated they were.
3. Commissioner Adolph asked how the existing houses compared with the new
units in square footage. Staff stated the Brock houses range in size from
2204 to 3,017 square feet, and the existing Ayres homes are 2616 to 2444
-- square feet. They proposed units are 1999-2300 square feet. They are
consistent with the compatibility regulations on size as well as the colors.
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September 12, 1995
4. Commissioner Anderson asked if the colors on the front door (green color)
would match the existing houses. Staff explained where the color green
would be used.
5. Commissioner Barrows asked if the condition requiring a shade structure on
the rear of the houses would be added. Principal Planner Stan Sawa
explained what had been required on previous new subdivision
developments. Community Development Director Jerry Herman explained
this was for new units and patio covers are not required for this submittal.
6. Commissioner Butler asked that since this was a change in size could they
require the addition of patio covers. City Attorney Dawn Honeywell stated
that only if the original units had patio covers and they were now deleted in
the new units would this be allowed. Discussion followed regarding
compatibility changes.
7. There being no further comment, Chairman Abels opened the public hearing
and asked if the applicant wished to address the Commission.
8. Commissioner Anderson asked if the green color would be only on the front
doors. Mr. Ayres explained it would be on the door and trim. It would be
applied to the stucco window and garage door surroundo of the facade to give
the feeling of depth.
9. Commissioner Butler asked if three car garages had been on the old units.
Mr. Ayres stated they were offering two car garages with the option for a golf
cart bay if their buyers were interested.
10. Commissioner Adolph asked if the applicant had any problems with the
conditions. Mr. Ayres stated he would like to have a choice between the flat
and "S" tile if possible for the roof material.
11. Commissioner Adolph asked how many more homes would be built. Mr.
Ayres stated it would depend on the market. Commissioner Adolph stated
he had no problem with the mix, but only if there were to be enough to make
it blend with the tracts. Mr. Ayres stated 150-200 lots are the potential for
the build-out by his company. In addition, Mr. Ayres stated he had no
problem with the staff's request for pop-outs on all the windows as well as
offering the option for patio covers.
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September 12, 1995
12. Commissioner Butler asked if there was an existing homeowners' association
to review the plans. Mr. Ayres stated there was one and he was unaware as
to whether they had reviewed the plans. Commissioner Butler stated his
concem for the change of the colors, and roof tile, without the homeowners'
association consent. Mr. Ayres stated they had contacted all the property
owners in the area and had received no negative comments. They encouraged
building on the remaining vacant lots.
13. 'Mr. Phillip Shamis, Del Monte Court, (Desert Fairways Homeowners), stated
the homeowners' association (HOA) had not discussed the plans. Mr. Ayres
may have discussed it with the HOA president but not with the board. He did
not object to the proposal and did want to see the area built up and hopefully
not reduce the property values any further than what has happened in the last
few years.
14. There being no further public comment, Chairman Abels closed the public
hearing.
_ 15. Commissioner Anderson stated that the true description of the existing tile
is a "S" type tile that is somewhat flat and therefore would not be that big of
a difference and if the rest of the two different roof materials is well planned,
he sees no problem with introducing the flat tile to the project. However, he
does not know how that will affect the Compatibility Ordinance.
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16. Chairman Abels asked why staff was requiring the condition. Associate
Planner Leslie Mouriquand stated the reason was to have all the units the
same and the flat tile would be different from the existing.
17. Commissioner Butler asked staff/legal counsel, if the Planning Commission
approved the use of the flat tile, could this become a potential problem in the
future. City Attorney Dawn Honeywell stated the Commission could make
a determination whether or not this is necessary to be consistent and
compatible. Discussion followed. Commissioner Butler stated he had no real
objection, but did not want to open up a "bucket of worms" for future
approvals.
18. Commissioner Adolph stated he did not feel the Planning Commission
wanted a neighborhood that was identical in every way. He would like to see
some deviation for effect and the design of the house is the most important
feature that must meet the compatibility issue. Every house should not have
the same roof material, nor the same color. Commissioner Anderson agreed
that variation and diversity is what the Commission is trying to accomplish
with the compatibility requirements.
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19. Chairman Abels stated this is a request for only 13 houses and if there were
more than 13 homes he would feel different. He too was concerned that this
would become a "Pandora's box".
20. Commissioner Butler stated his concern about the number of homes that had
been reviewed due to down scaling and homeowners had still objected.
21. Commissioner Barrows stated she agreed that diversity was needed and this
was not an objectionable or significant change. She felt the City needed to
give the developer more flexibility and hopefully, more units would be built.
22. Chairman Abels stated he felt a number should be determined and perhaps
that should be no more than 50% of the homes could have the flat tile roofs.
In addition, Commissioner Adolph stated they would like to see them
dispersed and not next to each other. City Attorney Dawn Honeywell stated
it was a discretion of the Commission to determine whether or not it was a
deviation that would affect the compatibility. Discussion followed as to what
percentage would be fair. It was determined that up to 50% would be
allowed, but the developer could utilize any percentage up to that point.
23. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Adolph/Newkirk to adopt Minute Motion 95-037 approving
the exhibits submitted for Plan 3 and Plan 4 of Tract 25389-1, subject to
allowing the flat roof tile to be utilized for up to 50% of these 13 units.
Motion carried with Commissioner Butler voting No.
B. General Plan Amendment 95-050. Change of Zone 95-07% and Environmental
Assessment 95-307; a request of Mike Rowe, of Keith Companies, for certification
of a Mitigated Negative Declaration of an. Environmental Impact, approval of a
General Plan Amendment to change the land use categories, and approval of a
change of zone to redesignate the zone classifications.
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 asked staff to clarify the difference between the
density of the Office Zone and the Community Commercial Zone. He also
was concerned about the high density residential being located so close to the
low density residential without having a medium density buffer. Staff stated
the reference to high density was correct, but the R-1 and R-2 Zoning allowed
homes to be 28-feet (two-story) instead of three story as noted in the HDR
General Plan category. Discussion followed as to the configuration
possibilities.
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3. Chairman Abels asked about the section of Darby Road to be eliminated as
there was nothing on either side of the road; could it create any problems?
Staff stated this configuration would correct the problem.
4. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Abels opened the public
hearing and asked if the applicant wished to address the Commission. Mr.
Mike Rowe, representing the applicant, stated they were trying to come up
with land uses that would make sense with the zoning classifications. These
new changes would make the property more marketable.
5. Commissioner Adolph stated he too was concerned about upgrading to High
Density from Low Density. He informed the applicant that the Commission
would be extremely critical to any proposed project that would be detrimental
to the Darby Road residents. Mr. Rowe stated the future project would be
compatible with the neighborhood.
6. Commissioner Anderson stated he could see this commercial comer
becoming viable and in keeping with the growth pattern for this area.
7. Mr. Robert Tyler, 44-215 Valetta Drive, lives in the area and suggested the
Low and High Density boundaries be moved north to shorten up the buffer
zone.
8. There being no further public comment, the public hearing was closed.
9. There being no discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Barrows/Adolph to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 95-037
recommending to the City Council certification of a Mitigated Negative
Declaration of Environmental Impact for Environmental Assessment 95-307.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Adolph, Anderson, Barrows, Butler, Gardner,
Newkirk, and Chairman Abels. NOES: None. ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN. None.
10. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Adolph to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 95-038 recommending to the City Council
approval of a General Plan Amendment to amend the La Quinta General Plan
Land Use Map as requested.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Adolph, Anderson, Barrows, Butler, Gardner,
Newkirk, and Chairman Abels. NOES: None. ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN. None.
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11. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Adolph to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 95-039 recommending to the City Council
approval of Change of Zone 95-079, as submitted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Adolph, Anderson, Barrows, Butler, Gardner,
Newkirk, and Chairman Abels. NOES: None. ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN. None.
V. BUSINESS SESSION
A. Special Advertising Device 95-069; a request of the La Quinta Arts Foundation for
approval of temporary advertising for the upcoming La Quina Fall Festival of the
Arts November 10-12th, 1995.
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 discussion it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Adolph/Butler to adopt Minute Motion 95-038 approving Special Advertising
Device 95-069, subject to conditions. Unanimously approved.
B. Special Advertising Device 95-073; a request of West Coast Artists for approval'of
temporary advertising for a Fine Arts Festival to be held at Sculpmreland from
November 24th- 26th, 1995.
1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff
report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
2. Community Development Director Jerry Herman reminded the Commission
that a definition of a "Directional Bootleg Sign" was needed. The applicant
· stated they were unaware of what the "Bootleg" means. They would prefer
it read "Directional Signs" only.
3. Community Development Director Jerry Herman asked for clarification on
the number of signs to be placed in La Quinta. The applicant clarified seven
signs would be placed in La Quinta.
4. Mr. Gouthier clarified that the name La Quinta Sculpture Park would still be
utilized and that "Sculptureland" was only for advertising purposes as it was
a shorter name.
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3. There being no questions of staff, it was moved by Commissioners
Adolph/Barrows to adopt Minute Motion 9~-039 approving Special
Advertising Device 95-073, as conditioned. Unanimously approved.
C. Sign Application 95-324; a request of Eisenhower Medical Center (Eisenhower
Immediate Care Center) CNP Sign Company for approval of a deviation from the
sign program for the 111 La Quinta Shopping Center sign program to allow corporate
signs for a free standing building.
1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff
report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
2. Commissioner Anderson asked for clarification of internally illuminated and
a description of the material to be used. Staff explained.. Commissioner
Anderson stated he appreciated the graphic sign application and commended
the applicant on the submittal and encouraged staff to have future applicants
do the same.
3. Commissioner Adolph also complimented the applicant on the limited
number and location of the signs.
4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows/Butler to adopt Minute Motion 95-040 approving
Sign Application 95-324, subject to conditions. Unanimously approved.
V. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Commissioners asked that the Minutes of AUgust 8, 1995, be amended as follows:
IV. Workshop. 1. Correct the word "explain" to read "explained".
VI. Public Hearings. A.4. Change the number of years from "two years"
to "20 years".
A.5. Change the "P.M." to "A.M."
A.9. Change the number of the Environmental Assessment to read
"95-300".
VII. Business Session. A.5. "...for all the Wal-Mart stores."
There being no further corrections, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Adolph/Barrows to approve the Minutes as corrected.
Unanimously approved.
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VI. COMMISSIONER ITEMS - None
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Adolph/Barrows
to adjourn this meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting on September 26, 1995.
This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:29 P.M., September 12, 1995.
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