PCMIN 09 14 1999 MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
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A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
September 14, 1999 7:00 P.M.
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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 Commissioner Abels to lead the flag salute.
B. Present: Commissioners Jacques Abels, Richard Butler, Steve Robbins, Robert Tyler,
and Chairman Tom Kirk.
C. Staffpresent: Jerry Herman, Community Development Director, City Attorney Dawn
Honeywell, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Senior Engineer Steve Speer,
Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
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 August 24,
1999. Commissioner Butler asked that Page 2, Item 2 be amended to read,
"Commissi°ner Butler asked what the City could do to increase the number of
ingress/egresses along Highway 111 ..." Chairman Kirk asked that Page 3, Item 8 be
amended to read, "Chairman Kirk asked staff to address the issues..." Also, page 4,
Item 12 to read, "...indicated it could have been..."There being no further changes, it
was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Butler to approve the minutes as
corrected. Unanimously approved with Commissioner Tyler abstaining.
B. Department Report: None.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Site Development Permit 99-656; a request of World Development, Inc. for approval
of architectural and landscaping plans for four new prototype residential plans within
Tract 25691, located on the north side of Miles Avenue, east of Dune Palms Road.
1. Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report.
Planning Manager Christine di Iorio informed the Commission asked that this
item be continued to allow time for the Architectural Landscaping Review
Committee to review the project.
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2. There being no discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Tyler/Abels to continue Site Development Permit 99-656 to September 28,
1999. Unanimously approved.
B. Tentative Tract Map 29421; a request of KSL Land Corporation for recommendation
of approval of a subdivision of 50.83 acres into four lots, one golf cart access lot, and
a private street and landscape lot within Specific Plan 83-002, located on the east,
north, and south sides of PGA Boulevard at the street's southern terminus in PGA
West.
1. Chairman Kirk opened the public heating 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 proposed a change to Condition//44: "Prior to issuance of
a final map approval, a Site Development Permit shall be approved for the
relocation of the clubhouse parking lot."
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, stated they agreed with staff's revised condition. The
issue of the alignment and configuration of PGA Boulevard at the terminus
point has been a dynamic part of their plans. The parking analysis took the
La Quinta Zoning Code into consideration for the various uses either existing
or abandoned, and Spanish Bay deletes 25% of the existing parking for the
abandoned uses. When you take the square footages and parking spaces
required for the uses, it creates an available parking count of 248 cars for the
area. So by the Code it is 21 spaces under parked. This allowed them to
install 30 parking spaces at the end of the roundabout. In regard to Condition
#25.A., which addresses the width of PGA Boulevard, staff's suggestion that
the additional 33 parking spaces would be added in the site development
permit area approved prior to final map recordation is acceptable to them.
3. Commissioner Tyler asked Mr. Haag to explain the location of the
roundabout, which he did.
4. Commissioner Butler stated that if a customer did not want valet parking, self
parking was not available. Mr. Haag stated that by the time the roundabout
is installed, the signage will direct the customers to go right on Spanish Bay
for parking or, proceed on for valet parking.
5. Chairman Kirk asked if the proposed parking lot would have egress and
ingress from the roundabout. Mr. Haag stated it would.
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6. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any concern about the number of curb cuts
on the roundabout. Mr. Haag stated that his experience with roundabouts is
that' it slows down the traffic significantly so it is not difficult to make the
tums. Senior Engineer Steve Speer stated the number of accesses into the
roundabout is appropriate as well as the traffic speeds. The four lanes
coming into the roundabout is hard to visualize until you see the plans. Staff
stated that generally they have no objection with the changes proposed by the
applicant.
7. There being no further questions of the applicant, Chairman Kirk asked if
anyone ~lse would like to address the Commission on this project.
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8. Mr. Robert Falk, president of the Master Association at PGA West, stated
they had met with Mr. Dodd of KSL regarding the application, and as they
have agreed to widen PGA Boulevard to the four lanes with the sidewalk and
golf cart lane they have no objections. KSL have taken into consideration the
need for the parking and on that basis the Master Association is comfortable
accepting the application as submitted.
9. There being no further public comment, Chairman Kirk closed the public
participation portion of the hearing and opened the issue for Commission
discussion.
10.. Commissioner Abels stated he had no objections and supports the project.
11. Commissioner Robbins stated it looks a little convoluted with the number of
egressand ingress, but if the Association is happy, he has no objection.
12. Commissioner Butler stated he has no objections.
13. Commissioner Tyler stated he concurred.
14. There being no discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Tyler/Butler to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 99-066
recommending to the City Council approval of Tentative Tract Map 29421,
as modified:
a. Condition #25.A. Install variable width four lane Arterial street
improvements with raised median and roundabout terminal end.
b. Condition ~44. Prior to issuance of a final map approval, a Site
Development Permit shall be approved for the relocation of the
clubhouse parking lot.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Buffer, Robbins, Tyler, and Chairman.
Kirk. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None.
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VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Street Vacation 99-039; a request of Brian Ewing, Bristol Construction, representing
Thomas and Stacy Siebel for a determination of General Plan consistency for a
proposed street vacation
1. Chairman Kirk 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 Tyler asked if the huge pile of dirt would be removed. Staff
stated the dirt was to be used for the proposed house construction.
3. COmmissioner Robbins asked staff to indicate the location on the map. Staff
did so.
4. There being no questions of staff, Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant
would like to address the Commission.
5. There being no public comment, Chairman Kirk closed the public
participation and opened the issue for Commission discussion.
6. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Butler/Abels to adopt Minute
MotiOn 99-020 making a determination that Street Vacation 99-039 is
consistent with the adopted Circulation Element of the La Quinta General
Plan. Unanimously approved.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS'
A. Commissioner Abels stated that the comer of 48th Avenue and Washington Street
there is the Lak, e La Quinta development and on the south side Rancho La Quinta
Country Club and the street scape is very attractive. When you get down to 48th
Avenue going east to Jefferson Street where the new Catellus development is located,
the houses back right up to the street. 'The setback should have been sufficient
enough to be compatible with the rest of the street. Should the Commission consider
making changes to the Zoning Code?
1. Chairman Kirk asked if the Commission relaxed the requirements for this
project. Staff stated yes, the 20-foot setback was reduced as this was an
affordable housing project.
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2. Commissioner Robbins stated he concurred and would like to see the view
from the exterior streetscape improved. Staff stated this was part of issues
raised for the recent projects before the Commission.
3. Commissioner Butler stated that normally a development would have the 20-
foot setbacl~. Staff stated that was correct.
4. Commissioner Abels stated the streetscape is developing to be very good
with this exception.
5. Chairman Kirk stated his hope was that as the landscaping develops the lack
of setback would be screened.
6. Commissioner Tyler stated that the Bella Vista development had stated the
wrought iron fencing would be replaced with the wall when the model homes
were sold. Staff stated they have been conditioned to do so and staff would
continue to monitor to see that it was done.
7. Commissioner Robbins suggested that on projects that back up to major
streets, they should be require to plant larger trees to soften the view.
B. Commissioner Tyler gave a report on the City Council meeting of September 7,
1999.
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Robbins to
adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to the next regular meeting of the Planning
Commission to be held September 28, 1999, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission
was adjourned at 8:46 P.M. on September 14, 1999.
City 6f-Ltl Quinta, California
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