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2004 08 10 PC Minutes MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampjco, La Quinta, CA August 10, 2004 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 Community Development Director Jerry Herman to lead the flag salute. B. Present: Commissioners Rick Daniels, Ken Krieger, Kay Ladner, and Chairman Tom Kirk. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Ladner to excuse Commissioner Quill. C. Staff present: Community Development Director Jerry Herman, Planning Manager Oscar Orci, Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston, Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer, Principal Planners Stan Sawa and Fred Baker, Associate Planner Watlace Nesbit, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT ITEMS: A. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any corrections to the Minutes of the regular meeting of July 27. 2004. There being no corrections, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Ladner to approve the minutes as submitted. B. Department Report. Community Development Director Jerry Herman informed the Commission this was his last meeting as he would be retiring. He thanked the Commission for their help and expressed his enjoyment serving with them. v. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Environmental Assessment 2004-511,' Specific Plan 2004-073, and Tentative Tract Map 31874; a request of Stonefield Development, Inc. for consideration of establishing development principles, guidelines and programs to .allow the subdivision of 40 acres into 102 residential lots for G:\ WPDOCS\PC Minutes\S-' 0-04.doc Planning Commission Minutes August 10, 2004 the property located at the northwest corner of Monroe Street and Avenue 53. 1 . Planning Manager Oscar Orci informed the Commission that this case needed to complete its environmental review and staff was therefore requesting a continuance. 2. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Ladner to continue the project to September 14, 2004. Unanimously approved. B. Tentative· Tract Map 32371 ; a request of Ehline Company for consideration of the subdivision of 8.99 acres into 54 single-family lots and other miscellaneous lots for the property located, south of Miles Avenue, on the east side of Seeley Drive. 1 . Chairman Kirk excused himself due to a potential conflict of interest and left the dais. 2. Commissioner Daniels opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Planning Manager Oscar Orci informed the Commission that the applicant was requesting a continuance. 2. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Krieger/Ladner to continue the project to September 14, 2004. Unanimously approved. Chairman Kirk rejoined the Commission. C. Conditional Use Permit 2004-084; a request of Verizon Wireless for approval to construct a 184 square foot one story unmanned telecommunication building and 60-foot high mono palm antenna located on the south side of Avenue 48, approximately 190 feet west of Jefferson Street. 1 . Chairman' Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Planning Manager Oscar Orci presented the information contained in the report a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Daniels asked staff to clarify whether the setback G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\8-10-04.doc 2 Planning Commission Minutes August 10, 2004 was short. Staff explained the applicant did not meet the setback requirement and that an easement would require there will be no structure in this area in-lieu of the setback. 3. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. Pete Shubin, representing Verizon Wireless, stated he was available to answer any questions. 4. Commissioner Daniels asked what Verizon's policy was regarding joint use, do they have joint use at other locations, is there a sharing of cost, and how is that implemented. Mr. Shubin stated they contractual arrangements with all other carriers who operate networks in this region to co-locate on towers and share lease space as allowed by zoning codes and the underlying lease agreements on the property; it is commonly done. 5. Chairman Kirk asked about the functional operating of other networks; how much co-locating can you do on a monopalm. Mr. Shubin explained how the structures are constructed to allow other carriers. They would suggest that whenever another carrier proposes to co-locate, their plans be reviewed by the Commission for modifications and aesthetics. This proposed structure will holçJ on.e additional carrier. 6. Chairman Kirk asked if the' applicant had any concerns with the conditions. Mr. Shubin asked that ,Conditions #8, #9, #20 be combined. Collectively they relate to paving of the driveway and the parking stalls. The parking area is part of ,a larger decomposed granite area and paving two parking stalls in the middle of this for one maintenance visit would be a hardship. They would request they only be required to post a parking sign. Condition # 19 they would like to add a sentence at the end of the condition which states, "If an easement cannot be obtained, the site can be relocated as long as it is within the substation and meets the requirements." Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer stated that in regard to Condition #8 they would require the acce'ss to paved from the street up to the access gate. Planning Manager Oscar Orci stated staff does not object to the change to Condition # 19, but the condition should also include that the Community Development Director shall be allowed to review and approve the location. In regard to Condition #20, the Code does Jequire two G:\ WPDOCS\PC Minutes\8-10-04.doc 3 Planning Commission Minutes August 10, 2004 parking spaces be provided. Staff would like for the applicant to identfy the location of the vehicles. As long as they are designated, staff wo~ld agree to removing the paving requirement from the condition. 7. Chairman Kirk asked if there was any other public comment. Mr. Kent Coronel, 80-821 Vista Lazo, asked why the tower equipment could not be put on an existing tower instead of constructing a new tower. Mr. Shubin stated they are aware of the other towers but they were unable to secure a lease on any other tower. 8. Commissioner Daniels asked the applicant to 'explain the distribution of towers that is generally required in terms of distance. Mr. Shubin explained how this is done. 9. Commissioner Krieger asked if the Rancho La Quinta Homeowners' Association was given an opportunity to review the site plan. Staff indicated they were not. 10. There being no other public comment, Chairman Kirk closed the public participation portion of the hearing. 11 . It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Ladner to , ad~pt Planning Commission Resolution 2004-061, approving Conditional Use Permit 2004-084, as recommended: a. Condition #19: add: If an easement cannot be obtained, the site can be relocated as long as it is within the substation and meets City'requirements and. is approved by the Community Development Director and/or Public Works Director. b. Condition #20. A minimum of two parking spaces shall be provided in close proximity to the equipment building. Appropriate signage shall be approved by the Community Development Department and installed to indicate the parking spaces. c. Condition added: The applicant shall allow other service providers the opportunity to locate on the monopalm. Any additional providers are required to apply' for a conditional use permit to be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. -- G:\ WPDOCS\PC Minutes\S-' 0-04.doc 4 - Planning Commission Minutes August 10, 2004 ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Daniels, Krieger Ladner, and Chairman Kirk. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Quill. ABST AIN: None. Commissioners Daniels and Krieger rejoined the Commission. VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: V-II. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston stated legal counsel will prepare a memo to clarify when a Commissioner should excuse himself for a potential conflict of interest regarding homeowner association issues. IX. ADJOURNMENT: Ther~ being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Ladner to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting of the Planning Commission to be held on September 14, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned 8:08 p.m., on August 10, 2004. Respectfully submitted, ,/</Cù.J V Be ty yer, Execut.ive Secretary City of La Quinta, California G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\8-10-04.doc 5 .