2000 06 13 PC Minutes MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
June 13, 2000 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 Vice Chairman Robbins who asked Commissioner Tyler to lead
the flag salute.
'B. Present: Commissioners Jacques Abels, Richard Butler, Robert Tyler, and
Vice Chairman Steve Robbins.
C. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Tyler to excuse
Chairman Kirk.
D. Staff present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, City
Attorney Dawn Honeywell, Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Senior
Engineer Steve Speer, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA:
A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Abels/Butler to move
Agenda Item C to be the first item on the Agenda. ' Unanimously
approved.
IV. CONSENT ITEMS:
A. Vice Chairman Robbins asked if there were any corrections to the
Minutes of May 23, 2000. Commissioner Tyler asked that Page 20, Item
#44, be amended to stated" ..... construction activity on Sundays or
holidays. Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m ...... "There being no further
corrections it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Butler/Abels
to approve the minutes as corrected. Unanimously approved.
B.. Department Report: None.
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Planning Commission Minutes
June 13, 2000
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Environmental Assessment 99-386. General Plan Amendment 2000-065.
Specific Plan ?000-046, and Tract Map ?9436; a request of Mainiero
Smith and Associates for US Homes for a recommendation to certify a
Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact; recommend
approval of a General Plan Text Amendment to require a Corridor Master
Plan for traffic signals to allow spacing less than 1,200 feet; recommend
approval of a Specific Plan for Eisenhower Corridor Master Plan of traffic
signals; and recommend approval to subdivide 75.86 acres into 169
residential lots and other amenity lots to be located on the north side of
Eisenhower Drive, east of Coachella Drive.
1. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio informed the Commission that
a request had been received from the applicant stating their
concurrence with staff recommendation for a continuance, to June
27, 2000, as the project issues and information relating to the
Environmental Assessment require the Environmental Assessment
to be amended,
2. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Butler/Abels to
continue the item to June 27, 2000. Unanimously approved with
Chairman Kirk being absent.
B. Site Development Permit 2000-678; a request of Michael Shovlin
(Washington Plaza Associates) for approval of development plans for a
one story 4,649 square foot bank building on 0.73 acres located at 46-
100 Washington Street, within the One Eleven La Quinta Shopping'
Center.
1. Commissioner Tyler stated for the record that he had discussed
with the City Attorney that he and his wife had a small account
with this bank, and it was her determination that he had no
conflict of interest.
2. Vice Chairman Robbins opened the public hearing and 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. Staff reviewed the
revised elevations as requested by the Architectural and
Landscaping Review Committee.
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Planning Commission Minutes
June 13, 2000
3. Vice Chairman Robbins asked if there were any questions of staff.
Commissioner Tyler noted the articulation on the west elevation
was an improvement over the original design as it did step back
and was not plain.
4. Commissioner Butler asked where the blue color would be used on
the building. Staff indicated on the plans where it would be used.
5. Commissioner Tyler asked how the height of the raised parapet
wall feature compared to the Auto Club parapet. Staff stated the
top of the Auto Club parapet is 4 feet 6 inches and the bank
parapet was proposed to be 25 feet. The Auto Club sign was
allowed the additional height as it was approved prior to the
change in the City's Ordinance in regarding the tower height. The
bank building itself is 16 feet. Community Development Director
Jerry Herman stated the Commission could not deviate from the
Zoning Code height requirement unless the applicant applied for a
variance. Commissioners indicated they were trying to determine
the difference between the two parapets.
6. Commissioner Tyler asked if there were any proposed changes to
the traffic flow with the site. Staff stated none were proposed, or
required.
7. Commissioner Butler asked if any parking would be lost. Staff
stated none would be gained, or lost.
8. Commissioner Tyler asked about the number of signs requested.
Staff stated the recommendation was to remove one of the five
requested.
9. There being no further questions of staff, Vice Chairman Robbins
asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr.
Joe DeCoster, Desert Cities Development, stated one of his major
concerns on the building was the statement that it was not
Southwestern. He is currently designing four other buildings on
the site and is trying to make them blend in. He went on to
describe where the elements were repeated through the Center
-- and presented pictures of the Center to substantiate his
comments.
10. Commissioner Butler asked the applicant which of the renderings
did he prefer. Mr. DeCoster stated the colored rendering. Staff
stated this rendering did meet the height limitations.
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Commissioner Butler stated the colored rendering was not
acceptable to the ALRC. Mr. DeCoster stated he would prefer to
have the revised architectural detail added to the colored rendering
on the west elevation.
1 1. Vice Chairman Robbins stated the difference between the two
buildings is the height the tower sticks up above the building.
Discussion followed regarding the architectural details.
1 2. Commissioner Tyler asked if the mechanical equipment would be
hidden with the revised rendering. Mr. DeCoster stated the
parapet would have to be adjusted accordingly.
1 3. Commissioner Tyler asked if the applicant had any information on
the traffic flow. Mr. DeCoster stated he had no knowledge
regarding the traffic flow.
14. There being no further questions of the applicant, Vice Chairman
Robbins asked if there was any other public comment on this item.
15. There being no further public comment, Vice Chairman Robbins
closed the public hearing and opened the item for Commission
discussion.
16. Commissioner Tyler stated he had a concern about the traffic
pattern entering off Washington Street. Commissioner Abels
stated the Center is existing and there are no alternatives that
could be considered, or offered.
1 7. Commissioner Butler stated he concurs with the applicant on his
original elevation submitted. As to the height of the tower, or the
columns, they follow the architectural style of the Center.
1 8. Commissioner Abels stated he concurs with Commissioner Butler
and with regard to the traffic, the public already has the same
travel pattern to use the Auto Club.
19. Vice Chairman Robbins stated he prefers the arch, but will go
along with the rest of the Commission. Mr. DeCoster explained
the building base detail would be popped out six inches along the
building. The horizontal element would also be carried out as well
as the riglet. Staff suggested Condition 1 7.B. be modified to state
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Planning Commission Minutes
June 13, 2000
the riglet along the top of the banding on the cutout of the
northwest corner and continue around the base as proposed under
the arcade and wrap it around.
20. Vice Chairman Robbins asked the applicant if the rounded arch
were used, could it cover the mechanical equipment. Mr. DeCoster
stated he would have to lower the entire parapet wall and the
boxes would still be seen. Commissioners stated they would
prefer to hide the equipment.
21. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners' Butler/Abels to adopt Planning Commission
Resolution 2000-037 approving Site Development Permit 2000-
678, as amended:
a. Condition #17.A. Deleted
b. Condition #1 7.B. to include the riglet along the top of the
banding on the cutout of the northwest corner and continue
around the base as proposed under the arcade and wrap it
around.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Tyler, and Vice
Chairman Robbins. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairman Kirk.
ABSTAIN: None.
C. Site Development Permit 99-647. Amendment #1; a request of Century-
Crowell Communities for approval of architectural plans for two new
design options to be added to Plan 3 and 4 of the Tournament collection
to be construct along Cantebury and Riviera, in PGA West.
1. Commissioner Butler excused himself due to a possible conflict of
interest and left the dias.
2. Vice Chairman Robbins opened the public hearing and 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.
3. There being no questions of staff, Vice Chairman Robbins asked
if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Ms. Marty
Butler, representing Century-Crowell stated she was available for
any questions of the Commission.
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June 13, 2000
4. Commissioner Abels stated he was pleased with the plans as
submitted.
5. There being no questions of the applicant, Vice Chairman Robbins
asked if there was any other public comment on this item.
6. There being no further public comment, Vice Chairman.Robbins
closed the public hearing and opened the item for Commission
discussion.
7. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
CommisSioners Abels/Tyler to adopt Planning Commission
Resolution 2000-038 approving Site Development Permit 2000-
647, Amendment #1, as submitted.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Tyler, and Vice Chairman
Robbins. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairman Kirk and
Commissioner Butler. ABSTAIN: None.
Commissioner Butler rejoined the Commission.
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Sign Application ?000-502; a request of Fuller Sign and Design for
approval of a sign program for Dune Palms Center (Lapis Energy -
Specific Plan 96-028) located at the southeast corner of Dune Palms
Road and Highway 111.
1. Vice Chairman Robbins 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. Vice Chairman Robbins asked if there were any questions of staff.
Commissioner Butler asked where the signs would be placed.
Staff stated the sign on the southeast corner was for the gas
station and to display the name of the Center.
3. Vice Chairman Robbins asked what would occur at the south end
of the site. Staff stated nothing is currently proposed and no
other monument signs are proposed. The Center signs would be
on the southeast corner of Highway 111 and Dune Palms Road
and further down on Dune Palms Road. The corner sign would be
for the pricing of gas.
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Planning Commission Minutes
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4. There being no further questions of staff, Vice Chairman Robbins
asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr.
Bruce Fuller, Fuller Signs and Design,'stated the sign would be 10
feet long and five feet high to meet the City's requirements. The
sign on Dune Palms Road is because this is the common entrance
into the Center.
5. There being no questions of the applicant, Vice Chairman Robbins
asked if there was any other public comment on this item.
6. There being no further public comment, Vice Chairman Robbins
closed the public participation and opened the item for
Commission discussion.
7. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Butler to adopt Minute Motion 2000-011
approving Sign Application 2000-502, as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Commissioner Tyler gave a report of the Council meeting of June 6,
2000.
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Abels/Tyler to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to the next
regular meeting of the Planning Commission to be held June 27, 2000, at 7:00 p.m.
This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. on June 1 3,
2000.
Bet-t'~'dZ_-,S~wyer, Executive Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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