2003 05 13 PC Minutes MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
May 13, 2003 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 lead the flag salute.
B. Present: Commissioners Jacques Abels, Tom Kirk, Steve Robbins, Robert
Tyler and Chairman Butler.
C. Staff present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, Assistant
City Attorney Michael Houston, Planning Manager Oscar Orci, Assistant
City Engineer Steve Speer, Principal Planner Fred Baker, Associate
Planner Greg Trousdell, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
I1. 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
April 22, 2003. Commissioner Tyler asked that Page 3, Item 6 be
corrected to read, "...there are no City-wide architectural guidelines per
se, but projects that are controlled by a Specific Plan, such as this one,
do generally contain architectural guidelines for that project." Page 4,
Item 2 corrected to read, "This will allow the Arts Foundation property
to have direct access to a public road, but the City will request that the
existing easterly access road from the Arts Foundation property be
permanently closed off. The new road will be a dedicated public road."
Page 7, Item 15 corrected to clarify the property referred to was the
property on the east side of Washington Street. Commissioner Robbins
asked that Page 5, Item 4 be corrected to read, "...he was concerned
that if there was no signal, there wOuld be a tremendous impact on the
traffic, that a condition would need to be added requiring a Sheriff to be
present .... ", "...required at the interseCtion before it would be opened .... "
There being no further corrections, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Robbins to approve the minutes as amended.
Unanimously approved.
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B. Department Report: None
V. PRESENTATIONS: None
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Site Development Permit 2003-768; a request of Santa Rosa Builders
Inc. ~and Santa Rosa Development, Inc. for consideration of architectural
and landscaping plans for three prototype residential units that range in
size from 2,296 square feet to over 3,700 square feet for a 33-1ot single
family subdivision (Tract 30487) located on the north side of Avenue 58,
south of PGA West and approximately 0.3 miles west of Madison Street.
1. Chairman Butler opened the public hearing and asked for the staff
report. Associate Planner Greg Trousdell 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 questioned Condition #7 as to why the exact
lots were not identified. Staff clarified it shobld be written to
clarify the exact lots that were affected.
3. Commissioner Kirk asked if the design changes to the retention
basin as recommended by the Architecture and. Landscaping
Review Committee (ALRC) had been made to the plans they were
reviewing. Staff stated ALRC had requested the developer to
simplify the retention basins design and have staff approve it.
4. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Butler asked
if .the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr.
Brudvik, owner and developer of the project, gave a review of the
changes they have made to the project and the retention basins.
5. There being no further questions of the applicant Chairman Butler
asked if there was any other public comment on this project.
7. There being no public participation, Chairman Butler closed the
public participation portion of the hearing and opened the matter
up for Commission discussion.
8. Commissioner Robbins complimented the applicant on his packet
presentation. He questioned the blank building wall that faces the
street on the "El Rancho" Plan. Mr. Brudvik stated it would be
mitigated by the unit next door as you will only see 15 feet of the
wall due to the block' wall that will be constructed between the
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two houses. Discussion followed regarding the building wall that
was being referred to by Commission Robbins. Mr. Brudvik stated
he would add architectural detail to break up the building wall.
9. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Robbins/Kirk to adopt Minute Motion 2003-009
approving Site Development Permit 2003-768, as amended:
a. Condition #7: Two-story houses may not be built on Lots
2 and 3 pursuant to the requirements of SeCtion 9.60.31 0
of the Z. oning Code.
b. Condition #12: The El Rancho plan elevation side-loaded
garage wall facing the street shall be upgraded to include
additional architectural plant-on elements, subject to
approval by the Community Development Department.
Unanimously approved.
B. Site Development Permit 2002-730, Time Extension #1; a request of
Clubhouse Associates for consideration of a time extension for
development plans for a 149 unit apartment complex and ancillary facility
located on a 10.76 acre triangular parcel on the south side of Avenue 53,
east of Jefferson Street.
1. Chairman Butler opened the public hearing and asked for the staff
report. Principal Planner Fred Baker 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 if there were any changes to any part
of the plan or the conditions. Staff stated it is proposed as
previously approved by the City Council.
3. Commissioner Robbins noted the Water District had approved new
water regulations and this will probably not comply with the new
requirements.
4. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Butler asked
if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. Chuck
Crookall stated the reason for the extension was that it took this
long to get water service to the site. ·
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5. There being no further questions of the applicant, and no other
public cOmment, Chairman Butler closed the public participation
portion of the hearing and opened the matter up for Commission
discussion.
7. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Abels/Tyler to adopt Planning Commission
Resolution 2003-027, approving Site Development Permit 2002-
730, Extension #1, as recommended.
ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Abels, Kirk, Robbins, Tyler, and
Chairman Butler. NOES': None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN:
None.
VII. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Site Development Permit 2002-751, Target Elevations; a request of
Washington 111, Ltd., for review and clarification of Condition of
Approval No. 40 for the property bounded by Highway 111, Avenue 47,
Washington Street and Adams Street.
1. Chairman Butler asked for the staff report. Principal Planner Fred
Baker 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 stated he had Originally requested the higher
elevation because big boxes are not traditionally pedestrian
orientated and this building was set a distance back from Highway
111. For that reason he thought it should be larger and take
advantage of the good designing. At the same time the front
elevation has been improved, and he would prefer to change the
condition.
3. There being no further questions of staff and no public comment,
Chairman Butler closed the public participation portion and opened
the matter up for Commission discussion.
,.
6. There being no. further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Robbins/Tyler to direct staff to set a public hearing
date for consideration of an amendment to Condition No. 40.
Unanimously approved.
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B. Plot Plan 83-OO1, Use Interpretation; a request of KSL Development
Corporation for clarification of the allowed use of the property located at
78-501 Calle Ultimo.
1. Chairman Butler asked for the staff report. Planning Manager
·
Oscar Orci 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 stated the street was Calle Ultimo not
"Avenida Ultimo" and asked when and what was the citizen
compliant. Staff explained the complaint that staff was working
to resolve. Commissioner Tyler asked if staff had directed the
applicant to correct the violation. Staff stated several letters were
sent identifing the problems and options available to the applicant,
of which the use interpretation is one. Commissioner Tyler asked
if the applicant had met the requirements referred to in the letter,
Community Development Director Jerry Herman stated the facility
was consolidated because the City had purchased the Ranch
property which contained the applicant's maintenance facility.
They were not, however directed to use this specific property.
3. Chairman Butler asked about the fuel tanks and whether or not
they were buried. Staff stated they have existing underground
tanks install that are not. in use as well as one above ground tank
to replace the underground tanks. The site is connected to the
sewer.
4. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Butler asked
if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Ms. Cindy
Zamora, representing KSL, explained the request.
5. Chairman Butler asked if there were any questions of the
applicant. Commissioner Tyler asked if the neighboring houses
were there when the use was approved. Ms. Zamora stated they
were.
6. Commissioner Tyler asked about the document created in 1 983.
Ms. Zamora stated they have restricted the hours of operation.
Commissioner Tyler asked how this could be in compliance. Ms.
Zamora stated they were continuing the activities on the site that
Landmark Land Company had.
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7. There being no other public participation, Chairman Butler closed
the public participation portion and opened the matter up for
Commission discussion.
·
8. Commissioner Tyler noted the problems that were created by the
maintenance building on Avenida Carranza.
9. Commissioner Robbins stat,ed the problems need to minimized on
the'neighbors. If they are going to continue the use, a block wall
and landscaping should be required to mitigate the noise and
appearance.
10. Commissioner Tyler stated he would object to the noise, if he
were a neighbor. He asked if the conditions went with the
property. Staff stated they .went with the property.
11. Commissioner Robbins agreed that they were not in compliance
with the conditions. As he understands the complaints, they are
in regard to the visual impact. The Commission can either tell
them to comply with the original conditions, or require them to.
make it visually nice. Discussion followed regarding the pictures
provided by the applicant of the site.
12. Commissioner Kirk asked where the lawnmowers were tested.
Staff stated it was the City's Understanding that most of the
repairs were made inside the building. Staff stated the issue is
based on staff's findings not the complaints of the neighbors.
Commisioner Kirk stated he would need more information in regard
to the neighbors complaints. Staff stated the issue before the
Commission is whether or not the use is in compliance with the
original approvals. Commissioner Kirk stated he would prefer this
come back as a public hearing and allow the neighbors an
opportunity to express their concerns.
13. Commissioner Tyler stated he would like to see the compliant
Submitted by the neighbor.
14. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Kirk/Abels to direct staff to set the matter for
public hearing within the next 60 days and.notify the adjacent
neighbors.
C. DiscusSion of Zoning Issues; a request of staff for review of proposed
changes to drive throughs.and summation of proposed changes to the
front yard setback regulations.
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1. Chairman Butler asked for the staff report. Planning Manager
Oscar Orci 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 staff to identify the location of the
Quail Run and Fairway Plaza project. Staff indicated their location
on the map. Discussion followed regarding the various uses on
the different sites.
3. Commissioner Tyler asked what right the Commission has to
prohibit gas stations or drive throughs. Staff stated they would
not be allowed to expand or modify the use. Commissioner Tyler
asked if there were any guidelines regarding how many should be
allowed within any certain radius. Staff noted usually gas stations
are restricted to how many can be on an intersection.
5. There being no further discussion, the Commission recommended
the following changes:
a. Look at some kind of concentration standard. Limiting the
number of new gas stations in the community. Dividing the
City, consider aesthetics, traffic and circulation
b. Limit the number of drive thrus. Distinguish them by their
impacts. Look at the number of trips generated and
propose limit for those who go over the standard.
6. In regard to the Village, the goal is to have a pedestrian-oriented
environment and a gas station may not be the best use there,
beyond those that are existing. Staff noted that if a resident had
to drive six miles to get gas, then this is a need in the Village.
Staff was directed to bring back some options.
7. Assistant City Attorney Michel Houston stated these uses could
be limited, but findings would need to be made to make that
decision.
8. Staff was directed to set a public hearing to consider front and
side yard setbacks and lot sizes before June 30, 2003.
VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
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IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Commissioner Kirk gave no report as there was no relevant business at
the City Council meeting of May 6, 2003.
X. 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 a regular
meeting of the Planning Commission to be held May 27, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. This
meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:36 p.m. on May 13, 2003.
Resp~c,~tfully submitted,
..~(~Be~;~a~yer, Executive Secretary
"City of(L-a/Quinta, California
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