PCMIN 05 13 1997 MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
May 13, 1997 7:00 P.M.
i. CALL TO ORDER
A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:03 P.M. by
Chairman Abels who asked Commissioner Tyler to lead the flag salute.
B. Chairman Abels requested the roll call: Present: Commissioners Butler, Seaton,
Tyler, and Chairman Abels. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Butler/Tyler to excuse Commissioners Gardner, Newkirk, and Woodard.
Unanimously approved.
C. Staff present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, City Attorney Dawn
Honeywell, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Senior Engineer Steve Speer,
Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
II. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed
III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
IV. 'CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Chairman Abels asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of April 22, 1997.
There being no corrections, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Tyler/Butler to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved with
Commissioner Seaton abstaining due to being absent for the last half of the meeting.
B. Department Report: None
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. CONTINUED - TENTATIVE TRACT 28410 AND SITE DEVELOPMENT
PERMIT 96-602; a request of McComic Consolidated, Inc., to subdivide 17 acres
into 69 single family and other common lots in PGA West resort and club, and
compatibility review and approval of three house plans.
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Planning Commission Meeting
May 13, 1997
1. Chairman Abels opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report.
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. There being no questions of staff, Chairman Abels asked if the applicant
would like to address the Commission.
3. Mr. Barry McComic, president of McComic Consolidated, stated he had been
meeting with the PGA West Homeowners' Association (HOA) to resolve
their concerns and reiterated those concerns. As a result of those discussions,
he was proposing to designate two lots (Lots 1 and 55) as open space and
would construct pools at these locations. Lot 55 is the island lot that
previo~ly had the proposed two houses. The houses have now been deleted
from the plans. The other issue raised by the HOA is the access at the north
end of Cedar Crest. He had met with staff concerning the access and this has
been resolved by the added condition requiring gated access at this location.
The HOA, in a letter received at this meeting, has raised another concern
regarding the house setbacks and have asked that the frontyard setbacks not
be less than 20-feet. Mr. McComic agreed with this request.
4. Commissioner Butler asked if Lot 55 was open space. Mr. McComic stated
this was true as well as the lot at the end of Cedar Crest. Commissioner
Butler questioned the 20-foot setback and why the HOA would prefer to have
the houses all in a row rather than varying. Mr. McComic clarified that they
would like the setback staggered starting at the 20-foot setback.
5. Chairman Abels asked if Mr. McComic had seen the letter received by the
HOA at this meeting. Mr. McComic stated he had not seen the letter, but in
speaking with the HOA he understood the only issue remaining was their
request for an additional pool and it was still hi~4 contention that the two
additional pools were sufficient. Chairman Abels stated that as far as the
pools were concerned, it was not an issue for the Commission. It was
between the HOA and Mr. McComic. Unless an amendment is made to the
Specific Plan the Commission would not consider the issue. Community
Development Director Jerry Herman stated that the City, through the Specific
Plan, does not require pools for the single family development. However, if
the applicant is prepared to designate two lots for pools, then the Commission
can condition the applicant to do so.
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Planning Commission Meeting
May 13, 1997
6. Commissioner Tyler asked for clarification on the number of lots to be
constructed as there appeared to be a discrepancy between the HOA letter and
the staff report. Mr. McComic clarified that the HOA had one less house as
they were requesting the third pool.
·
7. Commissioner Seaton asked if the security issue had been resolved. Mr.
McComic stated it was settled to the best of their ability. He believed the
HOA would work with him on the proposed plan. He will be in constant
contact with the HOA to work out any problems that may occur.
8. Commissioner Seaton asked about the golf cart access. Mr. McComic stated
it had been determined that it was not an issue.
9. Mr. James Saul, president of the PGA West HOA Associations, stated he
concurred with the statements that had been made by Mr. McComic
regarding the issues that had been raised as stated in their letter. In regards
to the issue of the setbacks, he has no objections to the method proposed by
Mr. McComic at this meeting. The only ISsue remaining is their request for
-- a pool on Medinah. It is the understanding of the HOA that due to
commitments made by the previous developer, there should be a pool on the
east side of Cedar Crest. It is their belief that the proposed pool should be
moved to Medinah. The original Sunrise plan was for five pools which
computes to one pool for every 23 homes. Mr. McComic is reducing this to
propoging one for every 19 homes. As they had made several concessions
regarding the concems that had been resolved, they did not want to relinquish
on the pool issue.
10. There being no further public comment, Chairman Abels closed the public
hearing. He then read a letter that had been received from Commissioner
Newkirk regarding the project. His concerns were:
a. Condition ~5 resolves the issue ofthe emergency access into the cul-
de-sac at the north end of Cedar Crest.
b. The request for the homes on Colonial, the island, should be denied.
c. The issue of the pool is not an issue for the Commission.
d. The golf cart issue should also not be addressed by the Commission.
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Planning Commission Meeting
May 13, 1997
11. Chairman Abels then read a letter from Commissioner Woodard's stating his
comments. His concems were:
a. The swimming pools are not an issue for the Commission.
b. The homes proposed for the island is acceptable, but should be
relocated.
c. The location of the model homes is acceptable.
d. The lot plotting should be brought back to the Commission along
with the elevations, color boards, .plans and amenity package.
e. The golf course access should be addressed.
12. Commissioner Seaton stated she had no questions.
13. Commissioner Tyler asked the applicant if the elevations that were before the
Commission were the same as what had been submitted to the HOA. Mr.
McComic stated they were and Mr. Saul agreed.
14. Commissioner Tyler asked why there were conditions for street
improvements when the improvements are already in place; Conditions 11-18
for example. Condition #45 should be modified to specify that it is a locked .
gate at the emergency access on Cedar Crest.
15. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio clarified the changes to the conditions
for the tentative tract map: Condition 45, would have the words "locked
gate" added. Conditions #47 "Lots 1 and 55 shall be re-designated as lettered
lots to be used as open space prior to final map approval." Condition #48
shall be modified to read "the minimum front yard setback shall be 20-feet
with the exception of 15-feet for the side entry garages which may be a
minimum of 15 feet." These changes will be added to the tract map
conditions as well.
17. Commissioner Butler clarified that there were now only 67 single family lots
and not 69.
18. There. being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Butler/Tyler to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 97-
029 recommending to the City Council conditional approval of Tentative
Tract Map 28410, subject to conditions and findings as recommended and
modified.
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Planning Commission Meeting
May 13, 1997
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Butler, Seaton, Tyler, and Chairman Abels.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Newkirk, and
Woodard. ABSTAIN: None.
19. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Tyler/recommending to the
City Council conditional approval of Site Development Permit 97-602 by
Planning Commission Resolution 96-030, subject to the findings and
conditions.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Butler, Seaton, Tyler, and Chairman Abels.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Newkirk, and
Woodard. ABSTAIN: None.
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. STREET VACATION 97-034; a request of the City for a determination of the La
Quinta General Plan consistency finding with the proposed vacation of street right-
of-way.
1. Senior Engineer Steve Speer presented the information contained in the
report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
2. Commissioner Tyler asked what the time table was for completion of the
other street vacations in the Cove. Senior Engineer Steve Speer stated no
time table had been determined to date.
3. Commissioner Butler asked why the lower portion was not included in this
vacation. Senior Engineer Steve Speer stated the applicant wanted to use the
vacated site and did not want to wait for staff to process the vacation. The
plans for the vacation are fairly expensive.
4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioner Tyler/Butler to adopt Minute Motion 97-006 making the
determination of consistency with the General Plan. for the proposed vacation
of street right-of-way. Unanimously approved.
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Planning Commission Meeting
May 13, 1997
B. HIGHWAY 111 GUIDELINES; a request of the City for review and approval of
landscaping, entry signs, bus stops, and building design guidelines.
1. Chairman Abels asked for the staff report. Planning Manager Christine di
Iorio presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which
is on file in the Community Development Department.
2. Commissioner Tyler asked if it was imperative to approve the Guidelines at
this meeting as he believed it important to have the entire Commission
present for discussion. Staff stated it could be continued.
3. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Butler/Seaton to continue
Highway 111 Guidelines to the next meeting of the Commission on May 27,
1997. Unanimously approved.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
VIII. COMMISSIONERS ITEMS.
A. Commissioner Tyler gave a report of the City Council meeting of May 6, 1997.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Tyler/Seaton to
adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting to be held on May 27,
1997, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:48 p.m. on May
13, 1997.
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