2002 12 10 PC Minutes MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
December 10, 2002 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 Butler who asked Commissioner Kirk to lead the flag
salute.
B. Present: Commissioners Jacques Abels, Tom Kirk, Steve Robbins, Robert
Tyler, and Chairman Richard Butler.
C. Staff present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, City
Attorney Kathy Jenson, City Engineer Tim Jonasson, Planning Manager
Oscar Orci, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Executive Secretary Betty
Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed
IV. CONSENT ITEMS:
A. Chairman Butler asked if there were any corrections to the Minutes of
November 26, 2002. Commissioner Kirk asked that Page 7, Item 25 be
corrected to read, "It was moved by Chairman Butler and seconded by
Commissioner Abels .... ". Commissioner Tyler asked that Page 3, Item
5 be corrected to read, "...Avenue 47 when it only has one quarter or
25%."; Page 6, Item 23.a. clarify it is a new condition to be added.
There being no further corrections, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Tyler to approve the minutes as amended.
Unanimously approved.
B. Department Report: None
V. PRESENTATIONS: None
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
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VII. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Site Development Permit 2002-728; a request of Stamko Development
for consideration of the final landscaping plan for an auto/retail center
located southeast of Highway 111 and Adams Street intersection, within
the Centre at La Quinta.
1. Chairman Butler asked for the staff report. Community
Development Director Jerry Herman presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
2. Chairman Butler asked if there were any questions of staff.
Commissioner Tyler asked for clarification as to whether the
Commission was approving the changes to the entry way or the
final landscaping plans. Staff stated the final landscaping plan.
Commissioner Tyler asked that staff clarify which entry the
conditions applied to and which building the landscaping applied
to. Staff noted it was the entrance off La Quinta Centre Drive and
the WalMart building.
3. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Butler asked
if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Ms. Chris
Clarke, the applicant, stated she was available to answer any.
questions.
4. Commissioner Tyler asked if the planting wells would be enlarged
to allow tree growth as recommended by the Architecture and
Landscaping Review Committee. Staff stated the Municipal Code
sets the standards and as there are no standards for tree wells,
staff is unable to enforce such a condition.
5. Mr. George Sicre, AHA Design Group, landscape architect for
Stamko, stated the tree wells are currently designed to meet
CVWD's minimum requirements and have 25 square feet inside
the tree wells. From curb face to curb face it is six feet.
6. Chairman Butler asked if there were any maintenance guidelines
for this project and if so, who will enforce them. Ms. Chris Clarke,
Stamko Development Company, stated there are master CC&R's
for the entire site as with the auto mall.
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December 10, 2002
7. There being no questions of the applicant and no other public
participation, Chairman Butler closed the public participation
portion and opened the matter up for Commission discussion.
8. There being no discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Kirk to adopt Minute Motion 2002-019,
approving Site Development Permit 2002-728, subject to the
conditions as recommended. Unanimously approved.
B. Specific Plan 2000-050; a request of Santa Rosa Developers for
consideration of a Master Sign Program for the property located north of
Calle Tampico, east of Avenida Bermudas, and west of Desert Club
Drive.
1. Chairman Butler asked for the staff report. Community
Development Director Jerry Herman presented the information
contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the
Community Development Department.
2. Chairman Butler asked if there were any questions of staff.
Commissioner Kirk asked if there was a sign on the Embassy
Suites Hotel. Staff stated there was one on the front eave of the
building which has already been approved.
3. Commissioner Tyler stated he understood the gate at the north
end of Desert Club Drive was to be an emergency access only and
he did not see a need for a sign at this location. Staff stated they
would check into the matter.
4. There being no further questions of staff and no other public
participation, Chairman Butler closed the public participation
portion and opened the matter up for Commission discussion.
5. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Tyler/Abels to
adopt Minute Motion 2002-020, approving a Master Sign Program
for Specific Plan 2000-050, as amended:
a. Should the gate at the north entrance off Desert Club Drive
be an emergency access only, no other sign would be
allowed.
Unanimously approved.
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C. Sign Application 2002-668: a request of Bill Moore and Associates (Ross
Dress for Less) for consideration of an Amendment to the One Eleven La
Quinta Shopping Center Sign Program to allow a revised sign for a
30,000 square foot commercial building located on the north side of
Highway 111, east of Washington Street within the One Eleven La
Quinta Shopping Center.
1. Chairman Butler asked for the staff report. Principal Planner Start
Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a
copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
2. Chairman Butler asked if there were any questions of staff.
Commissioner Kirk asked for clarification on staff's
recommendation in regard to the total square footage. Staff
stated they expected the total to be approximately 140 square
feet.
3. Commissioner Tyler asked if staff knew what the height was on
the "Ross" sign at their Palm Desert store. Staff did not.
4. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Butler asked
if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Ms.
Heather Haskell, representing Bill Moore Associates, sign company
for the Ross stores, stated the square footage for the 3-foot 9-inch
"Ross" sign with the 22.5-inch "Dress for Less" sign is 122
square feet. To her knowledge, Ross has not done a "Ross" sign
in the State of California that is less than a 48-inch "Ross" and
24-inch "Dress for Less" She would expect the Palm Desert sign
is comparable to that, and more likely 60-inch and 30-inch as
requested in this sign application. Her two major concerns are the
size of the fascia on the building and the relationship the sign will
have to the fascia. As recommended by staff, the sign is very
small in relationship to the total mass of the building. Some of the
other signs in the center are similar size to what is recommended,
but the fascia is a lot smaller to accommodate their sign. Other
buildings are lower, or the fascia is flatter and longer than the very
big square fascia that has been approved for Ross. Their concern
is that they will have a postage stamp sign on a very big wall.
5. There being no questions of the applicant and no other public
participation, Chairman Butler closed the public participation
portion and opened the matter up for Commission discussion.
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6. Commissioner Tyler stated he thought 3.5 feet in height would be
appropriate. His concern is whether or not the oval pedestrian
wall signs are needed as the center is not pedestrian oriented. He
is open to questions on the illuminated sign hanging in front of the
door.
7. Commissioner Kirk stated he agreed with Commissioner Tyler.
The extra signage is not needed. The request is far to large and
staff's recommendation is more reasonable, but still overly large.
8. Commissioner Robbins stated he was not concerned with the
smaller signs, but he did go to the site and looked at the Staples
building and he thought the proportions for this sign were correct.
Given this building is wider, it is also taller and although they have
two lines instead of the one line Staples has, he thinks where
Stapes is 3-feet 3-inches high, he can see this sign being taller
than the 3-feet 3-inches, but the request is probably too much.
He would therefore, agree with staff's recommendation.
9. Chairman Butler stated he has a concern with the illuminated tile
nitch put on the building by the landlord. Staff stated it is a safety
light that will shine down.
10. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Kirk/Tyler to adopt Minute Motion 2002-021,
approving Sign Application 2002-668, as amended:
a. The "Ross" sign shall be 3-feet 6-inches in height.
b. The other two "Ross" wall signs shall be eliminated.
c. The double-faced internally illuminated under canopy sign
would be allowed.
Unanimously approved.
VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Commissioner Tyler gave a report on the City Council meeting of
December 3, 2002.
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X. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Abels/Kirk to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular
meeting of the Planning Commission to be held January 14, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. This
meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. on December 10,
2002.
Re~s ~pe~ctfully submitted,
L__~-----B~y j~awCer, ExeCutive Secretary
' City, La Quinta, California
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