PCMIN 08 24 1999 MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
August 24, 1999 7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by
Chairman Kirk who asked for the roll call.
B. Present: Commissioners Jacques Abels, Richard Butler, Steve R6bbins, and
Chairman Tom Kirk. Chairman Kirk asked Commissioner Abels to lead the flag
salute. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Butler and Abels to excuse
Commissioner Tyler. Unanimously approved.
C. Staffpresent: Jerry Herman, Community Development Director, City Attorney Dawn
Honeywell, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Senior Engineer Steve Speer, and
contract planner Nicole Cfiste.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
IV. CONSENT ITEMS:
A. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any corrections to the Minutes of July 27, 1999.
Commissioner Robbins asked that Page 9, Item 25 be corrected by deleting the word
"site" and on Page 11, Items 3 and 4 correct the spelling of Mr. John Shaw.
Chairman Kirk asked that Item I. B. be corrected to read "Chairman Kirk". There
being no further changes, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Abels/Butler to approve the minutes as corrected. Unanimously approved.
B. Department Report: None. '
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:'
A. Environmental Assessment 99-383 and Specific Plan 99-036; a request of Troll-
Woodpark Development/Mainiero, Smith & Associates for the Certification of a
Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact and approval of specific plan
development standards and design guidelines on 36+ acres located northwest of the
corner of Dune Palms Road and Highway 111 and the north side of Highway 111,
east of Adams Street.
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1. Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report.
Planning Manager Christine di Iorio presented the information contained in
the staff report, copies of which are on file in the Community Development
Department. Staff stated that an additional condition needed to be added
regarding the reciprocal access for all adjacent properties: "Prior to approval
of any final map that subdivides land, or any lot line adjustment that adjusts
the size of existing lots, within the Specific Plan area, reciprocal access
easements shall be provided as necessary to implement the circulation
patterns approved by the Specific Plan. The easterly portion of the Specific
Plan area shall provide at least two access routes leading to the abutting
property located to the west which is not a part of this Specific Plan. If the
applicant desires to construct an access route to the signal on Highway 111
at La Quinta Drive, the applicant shall obtain an executed reciprocal access
easement and agreement. The location and language of the access easement
shall meet the approval of the City Engineer and City Attorney. The
easement provisions may include a requirement for the abutting property
owners to reimburse the applicant a pro-ram share of the commercially
reasonable cost of construction and maintenance of the shared access routes
(including signal if applicable). Such Provisions shall provide for arbitration
of disputes regarding the provisions of the agreement." She then passed out
a letter received from Caltrans requiring a maximum of three access points
to this development off Highway 111.
·
2. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner
Butler asked what the City could do to increase the number of
ingress/egresses off Highway 111 since Highway 111 was under Caltrans
jurisdiction. Senior Engineer Steve Speer stated that Highway 111 is under
the jurisdiction of Caltrans.
3. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Kirk asked if the
applicant would like to address the Commission. Ms. Margo Williams,
representing the applicant, presented their requested changes to the
Conditions of Approval: Condition #7.B. be deleted. Condition #7.D., amend
to read, "the industrial road fight of way be 64 feet in width for the entire
length.". Condition #37.A., amend the condition to pro-ram their share of the
modifications to the traffic signal. Condition #37.B. be deleted. Condition
#37.D., amend to read, "the industrial road fight of way be 64 feet in width
for the entire length." Condition ~44.B., requesting the City's assistance and
support of their recommended access points along Highway 111. Condition
#44.C. be deleted. Condition ~44.E., the throats of the driveways along
Highway 111 be reduced from 90 feet to 50 feet. Condition #72.A. be
deleted.
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4. Commissioner Kirk asked who issues encroachment permits along Highway
111. Staff stated they are issued by Caltrans.
5. Mr. Scott Gaynor, representing the developer, stated they want to retain all
the accesses as shown on their site plan as they believe they are imperative
for this development to survive. As a developer they are not requesting any
assistance of the City and are looking forward to Council's consideration on
September 7, 1999. As it relates to the monument signs, they believe it is
imperative to have this exposure for their major tenants.
6. Mr. Marvin Roos, Mainiero, Smith & Associates, further elaborated on the
issues regarding signage and their request. He also brought up the issue of
Condition #37.E., the bikepath, and the fact that they are required to build the
bikepath from Adams Street to Dune Palms Road including the property that
is not a part of this development. In addition, he asked for clarification of the
condition added by staff regarding the access points on the easterly portion
of the specific plan. Senior Engineer Steve Speer addressed the issue of the
bike path and the access by stating the bikepath within the CVWD right of
-- way will extend from Adams Street along their frontage and will not include
that portion that is "not a part" of their project, and the condition should be
clarified to exclude the "not a part". In regard to the access points within the
project, the applicant should identify those areas and submit them to the City
for staff s review.
7. There being no further public comment, Chairman Kirk closed the public
participation portion of the hearing and opened the issue for Commission
discussion.
8. Chairman Kirk asked staff to address the issues addressed by the applicant.
Senior Engineer Steve Speer went through the issues: Condition 7.B., is
acceptable as requested by the applicant. Condition #7.D., is acceptable as
requested by the applicant. Condition #37.A., should be modified to reflect
that the applicant will be responsible for 50 percent of the signal
modification. Conditions #37.B., #37.D., and #44.D. are all acceptable as
requested by the applicant. Condition #44.B., staff had no comment.
Condition #44.E., staff supports the 82 foot throat on Highway 111 and 50
foot throat on Dune Palms Road. Condition 68.A., staff does not support the
applicant's request to keep the sign as it is not in conformance with the
Zoning Code. The applicant indicated their concurrence with the changes as
made by staff with the exception of Condition 68.A.
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9. Commissioner Robbins pointed out that in Conditions #31 and #37.E. it refer
to the "Channel" as the Whitewater Channel and should be corrected to read
Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel. He further stated that on Page 7 of
the Specific Plan the word "levee" should be changed to "Channel". On Page
21, the reference to the storm water should be changed to Regional because
the City of La Quinta does not have a storm water program. Page 23 the
reference to Palm Desert Waste Management should be changed to Waste
Management of the Desert.
10. Commissioner Abels stated he approved of the project and looked forward
to its development.
11. Commissioner Butler stated his concern with the square footage being
requested for the monument signs along Highway 111 as well as the
possibility of a four story office building along Highway 111 also, with the
potential for a number of signs.
12. Chairman Kirk asked staff whether or not the "not a part" could be made part
of the specific plan. The City Attorney .indicated it could have been required
_
to be a part. Community Development Director Jerry Herman indicated
further that the Mannino family, the property owners, eXpressed'their desire
to not be a part because they had a potential large developer.
13. Chairman Kirk indicated that if the additional access is granted by Caltrans,
then sign "A" should be allowed to remain.
14. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Robbins to adopt Planning Commission Resolution
99-062 recommending Certification of Environmental Assessment 99-383.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Robbins, and Chairman Kirk. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Tyler. ABSTAIN: None.
15. There being no discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Abels/Butler to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 99-063
recommending approval of Specific Plan 99-036, as modified:
a. Condition #7.B. be deleted.
b. Condition #7.D. amend to read, "the industrial road fight of way be
64 feet in width for the entire length.".
c. Condition #37.A. amend the condition to prorate their share of the
modifications to the traffic signal.
d. Condition #37.B. be deleted.
e. Condition #37.D. amend to read, "the industrial road fight of way be
64 feet in width for the entire length."
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f. Condition #37.E. add, "subject to CVWD approval.
g. Condition #44.B. "City staff shall support he applicant's efforts to
add a driveway in excess of the CalTrans standard, requesting the
City's assistance and support of their recommended access points
along Highway 111."
h. Condition ff44.C, be deleted.
i. Condition #44.E. "...shall not be intersected by a parking aisle or
another parking accessway for a minimum distance of 82 feet from
the curbface of Highway 111, and 50 feet from the curbface of Dune
Palms Road.
j. Condition #68.A. modified to read, "Sign A shall be eliminated
unless access at the proposed sign location is granted by CalTrans."
k. Condition #72.A. be deleted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Robbins, and Chairman Kirk.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Tyler. ABSTAIN: None.
B. Specific Plan 99-015 Amendment #9. and Site Development Permit 99-653; a
-- request of Forrest Haag representing KSL Land Corporation for the approval of a
specific plan amendment to reduce dwelling units from 365 to 320 and creme
development standards and approval of architectural and landscaping plans for
clubhouse and golf course maintenance facility located Within the Norman Golf
Course on the north side of Airport Boulevard between Madison Street and Monroe
Street.
1. Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report.
Planning Manager Christine di Iorio presented the information contained in
the staff report, copies of which are on file in the Community Development
Department. Staff requested the following condition changes:
a. Condition #22. Delete.
b. Condition #24. Change emergency only to secondary access.
c. Condition /t43. Eliminate the Architectural and Landscaping
Review Committee and Planning Commission review process and
change to require Community Development and Public Works
Department approval.
d. Condition #44. Delete.
e. Condition //51. Eliminate the Architectural and Landscaping
Review Committee and Planning Commission review process and
change to require Community Development and Public Works
Department approval.
f. Condition #59: Delete.
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2. There being no questions of staff, Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant
would like to address the Commission. Mr. Forrest Haag, representing KSL
Land Development, requested a change to Condition//56 to increase the
number of units from 189 to 220.
3. There being no further questions of the .applicant, Chairman Kirk asked if
anyone else would like to address the Commission on this project.
4. There being no further public comment, Chairman Kirk closed the public
participation portion of the hearing and opened the issue for COmmission
discussion.
5. There being no discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Robbins/Butler to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 99-064
recommending approval of Specific Plan 99-015 Amendment //2 as
modified:
a. Condition #22. Delete.
b. Condition #24. Change emergency only to secondary access.
c. Condition ~43. Eliminate the Architectural and Landscaping
Review Committee and Planning Commission review process and
change to require Community Development and Public Works
Department to approval.
d. Condition #44. Delete.
e. Condition #51. Eliminate the Architectural and Landscaping
Review Committee and Planning Commission review process and
change to require Community Development and Public Works
Department to approval.
£. Condition #56. Change the number of units from 189 to 220.
g. Condition #59: Delete.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Robbins, and Chairman Kirk.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Tyler. ABSTAIN: None
6. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Butler/Robbins to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 99-065 approving Site Development
Permit 99-653, as recommended.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Robbins, and Chairman Kirk.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Tyler. ABSTAIN: None.
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VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Sign Application 99-473; a request of Stater Bros. Markets/Ontario Neon Company,
Inc. for the Approval of a deviation to an approved sign program to permit corporate
signs and logo located at 78-630 Highway 111, within the One Eleven La Quinta
Shopping Center (formerly.Albertsons)
1. Chairman Kirk 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. There being no questions of staff, Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant
would like to address the Commission. Mr. Scott Limbacher introduced the
members of the development team and asked the Commission to approve the
project as submitted. Mr. Mike Birdsell, Ontario Neon Sign Company,
indicated they had installed over 100 signed in stores throughout Southern
California and the applicant had always used their logo.
-- 3. There being no further public comment, Chairman Kirk closed the public
participation and opened the issue for Commission discussion.
4. Commissioner Abels stated he supported the applicant's request for the logo
and suggested a second logo be allowed on the opposite side of the proposed
sign for balance.
5. Chairman Kirk indicated he did not want to see sign proliferation or clutter
and the Commission should stand by the current City sign program and
eliminate the request for additional logo sign.
6. Commissioner Abels moved to approve the request by the applicant with an
additional logo on the opposite side for balance. The motion failed for lack
of a second.
7. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Butler to adopt Minute
Motion 99-019 approving Sign Application 99-473, subject to the Findings
and Conditions of Approval as recommended. Unanimously approved.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
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VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
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A. Commissioner Abels recently returned from his vacation and expressed his
enjoyment driving through roundabouts in Vail, Colorado and looks forward to
seeing them constructed in the City.
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Butler/Abels to
adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to the next regular meeting of the
Planning Commission to be held September 14, 1999, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning
Commission was adjourned at 9:10 P.M. on August 24, 1999.
Respectfully submitted,
'City of Lh-Quinta, California
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