PCMIN 09 15 1997 MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Special meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
September 15, 1997 9:00 A.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by
Chairman Butler who asked Commissioner Kirk to lead the flag salute.
B. Chairman Butler requested the roll call: Present: Commissioners Abels, Gardner,
Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler. It was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Woodard/Kirk to excuse Commissioners Seaton and Tyler.
Unanimously approved.
C. Staff Present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, City Attorney Dawn
Honeywell, Senior Engineer Steve Speer, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio,
Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Chairman Butler asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of July 22, 1997 or
August 12, 1997. Commissioner Abels asked that the Minutes of July 22, 1997, be
corrected on Page 3, Item 6 to state Chairman Butler closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Gardner asked the Minutes of July 22, 1997, be amended on Page 2,
Item 1 by changing the word locality to loyalty. There being no further corrections,
it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Kirk to approve the Minutes
of July 22, 1997 and August 12, 1997, as corrected. Unanimously approved.
B. Chairman Butler asked if there was a Department Report. Staff stated there was
none.
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V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 97-343, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 97-
083. SPECIFIC PLAN 121-E. AMENDMENT #4. TENTATIVE TRACT 28545. SITE
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS 97-607 AND 97-608. AND CERTIFICATE OF
APPROPRIATENESS 97-003; a request of KSL Recreation Corporation and its
Assigns and KSL Land Corporation and its Assigns, and KSL Desert Resorts, Inc.
1. Commissioner Gardner withdrew due to a possible conflict of interest.
2. Chairman Butler 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.
3. Commissioner Woodard asked staff to state specifically what changes were
proposed. Staff noted the changes.
4. Commissioner Woodard noted the location of the employee parking lot and
asked if there was to be a landscaping buffer between the golf course and lot. -
Staff noted the proposed landscaping.
5. Commissioner Abels asked where the existing chain-link fence was located.
Staff noted its location on the plan.
6. Chairman Butler asked if the applicant wanted to speak. Mr. Chevis Hosea gave.
a summary of the revised proposal.
7. Mr. James "Bubba" Lloyd, 77-313 Calle Mazatalan, stated his concern regarding
the environmental assessment which states that the traffic would be less than
significant. With the number of cars proposed to be using the streets, the report
states its portion would be changed from a local street to a collector street. He
believed this would be a significant impact. KSL needs to direct traffic down
Aveni~ta Obregon.
8. There being no further public comment, the public hearing was closed.
9. Commissioner Woodard asked staffto address the question of traffic. Mr. Greg
Endo, traffic engineer, explained the classification of roadways in this area and
what the capacity is for the roadway. Two factors determine this; one is based
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on the environmental capacity, that is what amount of traffic can be tolerated by
the residents, and second, the physically capacity of the roadway. That is, how
much traffic the road can handle. Residents backing out of their driveways is
the primary reason for determining and pedestrian traffic. In their study the
capacity is established by the City at 3,000 cars per day. He met with City staff
to determine which roadways in the City fit this criteria. Two of the methods
for making this determination were the width of the road and residential access
from the road. Calle Mazatalan has an 80-foot width which is wider than a local
residential street and traffic does back out into the street within portions of the
street designated collector. Therefore, it was determined to be a collector street
and determined to meet the traffic capacity anticipated.
10. Chairman Butler asked Senior Engineer Steve Speer to address this issue from
the City's perspective. Senior Engineer Steve Speer stated he concurred with
Mr. Endo's report. The street is wide enough to meet the collector standards,
which means it must also Comply with noise level standards. A noise study was
prepared and'determined the anticipated traffic volumes will not cause noise
levels to exceed City standards.
11. Commissioner Woodard asked if the two lanes could handle the 3,000 cars
proposed each day. Staff stated they could because a two lane street can
accommodate up to 7,500 cars per day.
12. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Kirk to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 97-058,
recommending to the City Council certification of Environmental Assessment
97-343 as presented.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
ABSTAINING: None.
13. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Kirk to adopt Planning
Commission Resolution 97-059 recommending to the City Council approval of
General Plan Amendment 97-054, subject to the findings.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
ABSTAINING: None.
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14. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Woodard to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 97-060 recommending to the City Council
approval of Change of Zone 97-083, as submitted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
ABSTAINING: None.
15. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Kirk to adopt Planning
Commission Resolution 97-061 recommending to the City Council approval of
Specific Plan 121-E, Amendment ~4, subject to the findings and Conditions of
Approval as submitted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
· ABSTAINING: None.
16. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Woodard to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 97-062 recommending to the City Council
approval of Tentative Tract 28545, subject to the Findings and Conditions of
Approval as submitted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
ABSTAINING: None.
17. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Kirk to adopt Planning
Commission Resolution 97-063, recommending to the City Council approval of
Site Development Permit 97-607, subject to the findings and Conditions of
Approval as submitted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
ABSTAINING: None.
·
18. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Woodard to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 97-064, recommending to the City Council
approval of Site Development Permit 97-608, subject to the findings and
Conditions of Approval as submitted.
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ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
ABSTAINING: None.
19. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Kirk to adopt Planning
Commission Resolution 97-065, recommending to the City Council approval of
Certif'~cate of Appropriateness 97-003, as submitted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Woodard, and Chairman Butler.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioners Gardner, Seaton, and Tyler.
ABSTAINING: None.
Commissioner Gardner rejoined the Commission.
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Street Vacation 97-035; a request of Chuck Knox for a determination of La Quinta's
General Plan consistency with proposed vacation of public utility easements at the La
Quinta Golf Estates Unit Number 1
1. Chairman Butler asked for the staff report. Senior Engineer Steve Speer
presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file
in the Community Development Department.
2. Commissioner Gardner stated his concern that this street vacation was being
done l~iecemeal and asked why all the lots that were being affected could not be
done at the same time. Why was it not possible to have all the utility companies
coordinate their work at the same time. Staff stated that in this case it was the
landowner who was initiating the street vacation and who would be paying for
it and not the City. Community Development Director Jerry Herman stated the
City, nor the utility companies, wanted to take on the expense of paying for the
remainder of the easements that affect all the other properties, therefore, this
request is being processed by itself. The remainder will not be processed until
those property owners request and pay for the vacation.
3. Commissioner Gardner asked if the other property owners had been contacted.
Staff stated they had not and if appropriate, staff would contact them and see if
it could be done jointly.
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4. Commissioner Kirk asked if Imperial Irrigation District had replaced their
facilities along Lot 19 and others along the street frontage. Senior Engineer
Steve Speer stated he had not been to the site, but it was his understanding that
the new easements were going around the perimeter of the lot.
5. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Gardner to adopt Minute Motion 97-012 by determining
the public utility easements are in compliance with the adopted Circulation
Element of the La Quinta General Plan. Unanimously approved.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None
VIII. COMMISSIONERS ITEMS:
A. Chairman Butler asked if a letter could be drafted to Home Depot regarding the
landscaping and have this placed on the next agenda for Commission discussion.
B. Commissioner Abels stated he had received inquiries stating that the City'-wide
landscaping appeared to be sparse. He had spoken with a landscape architect and he
was assured that within a year, the growth would be substantial.
C. Commissioner Woodard asked that real estate signs along Washington Street and
Jefferson Street be added to the next agenda.
D. Commissioner Gardner asked the City Attorney to send a report to each of the
Commissioners regarding whether or not they are able to give financial support to any
of the City Council candidates running for office. He referenced a letter that had been
received from the City Clerk on this subject. City Attorney Dawn Honeywell stated she
would research the subject.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Kirk/Abels to adjourn
this special meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting of the Planning Commission to
be held on September 23, 1997, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned
at 9:35 A.M. on September 15, 1997.
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