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2004 12 28 PC Minutes MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA December 28, 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 Commissioner Alderson to lead the flag salute. B. Present: Commissioners Ed Alderson, Rick Daniels, Kay Ladner, Paul Quill and Chairman Tom Kirk. C. Staff present: City Manager/Interim Community Development Director Thomas Genovese, Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston, Senior Engineer Paul· Goble, Principal Planner Fred Baker, Contract Consultant Planner Nicole Criste, 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 the regular meeting of December 14, 2004. There being no corrections, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Ladner to approve the minutes as submitted. B. Department Report: V. RUBLlC HEARINGS: A. Village Use Permit 2004-026; a request of Prest Vuksic for consideration of the construction of a 6,800 square foot, two story office building located north side of Calle Amigo, one lot west of Desert Club Drive. 1 . Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Consulting Planner Nicole Criste presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Staff explained the G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\ 12-28-04.doc Planning Commission Minutes December 28, 2004 concerns raised by the City Council at their last meeting regarding the lack of parking in the Village. 2. Çhairman Kirk asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Quill asked about the parking requirements in the Village. Staff stated the Village Guidelines allow variation from the Zoning Code, but Council at their last meeting, discussed there being too large a reduction in parking for projects currently being proposed in the Village. 3. Commissioner Daniels asked why this project was exempt from CEQA. Staff explained. Commissioner Daniels asked if there was bus service. Staff stated access to the Sunline bus service is within a quarter mile. Commissioner Daniels asked If Council determined there was a need for more parking in the Village would this applicant have adequate space to provide the added parking. Staff stated the architect would need to evaluate the site to determine where it could be and it would need to come from the open space, or by reducing the building space. 4. Commissioner Alderson asked if the landscape plans would be approved priorto building permit. Staff stated yes. Commissioner Alderson asked if street parking was evaluated in the calculations. Staff stated no, only on-site parking. 5. Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. David Prest, the architect representing the applicant, stated he was available to answer any questions. In reference to the parking, it would be difficult to provide. 6. Commissioner Daniels asked if there are parking problems currently in this location, or do we know what is adjacent to this site. Mr. Prest stated to the east is the Arnold Palmer restaurant, and to the north is an office building that has been approved for this site. Commissioner Daniels noted the parking problems are more in the Old Town area than this area. 7. Commissioner Alderson commended the applicant for the use and design of his trash enclosure and with reciprocal parking it will work out well. He would however, recommend moving it two or three stalls to the west because where they are sitting is directly on top of a 4' X 6' Imperial Irrigation vault. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\ 12-28-04.doc 2 Planning Commission Minutes December 28, 2004 8. Mr. Rob Capitz, the applicant, stated on the south side of the street there is a large parcel of vacant land owned by the City that, at some point, will need to be landscaped and could provide parking. He requested the condition requiring the parcels being merged be deleted as he would like to keep them separate and create a use agreement for the parking. 9. Commissioner Quill asked if the building fits the lots within the setbacks. Mr. Capitz stated yes. Staff recommended amending Condition #31 to require a recorded Recriprol Access Easement. Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston stated it should be subject to review and approval of the City Attorney's office. 10. Chairman Kirk asked if there was any other public comment. There being none, the public participation portion of the hearing was closed and open for Commission discussion. 11 . It was moved by Commissioners Daniels/Ladner to adopt Planning Commissioner Resolution 2004-107 approving Village Use Permit, as recommended and amended: a. Condition #31 : Either merge the lots or record a Reciprocal Access Easement and Joint Maintenance Agreement to be reviewed and approved by the City Attorney's office. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Daniels, Ladner, Quill, and Chairman Kirk. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. C. Zoning Code Amendment 2004-'081: a request of the City for an Amendment to the La Quinta Municipal Code Chapter 9, Section 9.40.010-Table 9-1 Permitted Uses in Residential Districts; Section 9.80.040-Table 801 Permitted Uses in NonResidential Districts; and Section 9.150.080.M.5.a. and 9.1 00.040.B.1.a.relating to interior landscaping. 1 . Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Consulting Planner Nicole Criste presented the information contained in the staff 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 about the other locations in the City G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\ 12-28-04.doc 3 Planning Commission Minutes December 28, 2004 that had the CP designation. Staff explained the locations on the map and intent of the uses for the CP zone. This request was to allow the City greater flexibility by allowing the uses with a Conditional Use Permit. 3. Commissioner Quill questioned the proposed uses for the site. City Manager Tom Genovese stated that in regard to buffers and planning guidelines, both locations where the land is zoned CP, they have a natural buffer by either the Whitewater Channel or La Quinta Excavation Channel from the residentially zoned properties. 4. Chairman Kirk asked if this request was to allow greater flexibility for City-owned property. City Manager Tom Genovese stated that by approving this change it would give the City greater flexibility in reviewing projects for these sites. However, it should also be noted that it is consistent with proper planning due to the fact that you have a natural buffer to both the north and south of these zoned areas. 5. Commissioner Daniels asked if the Conditional Use Permit process required a public hearing before the Commission. Staff stated yes. 6. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Kirk asked if anyone else would like to address the Commission on this matter. There being none, the public participation portion of the hearing was closed and open for Commission discussion. 7. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Quill to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2004-108, recommending approval of Zoning Code Amendment 2004-081 , as recommended by staff. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Daniels, Ladner, Quill and Chairman Kirk. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Sign Application 2004-827; a request of Gem Realty Group for consideration of an amended planned sign program for a multi-tenant office building located at 78-900 A venue 47, north of Avenue 47, west of Adams Street. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\ 12-28-04.doc 4 Planning Commission Minutes December 28, 2004 1 . Chairman Kirk asked for the staff report. Principle 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 Kirk asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner 'Alderson asked if the applicant was asking to go change the signs from illuminated to nonilluminated. Staff stated that was correct. 3. There being no questions of staff, Chairman Kirk, asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. The applicant having no questions. 4. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Ladner to adopt Minute Motion 2004-018, approving Sign Application 2004- 827, as recommended. Unanimously approved. VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Commissioner Daniels gave a report on the City Council meeting of December 21 , 2004 and noted the appointment by the City Council of Ed Alderson to the Commission and welcomed him to the Commission. Commissioner Alderson thanked everyone for the welcome. IX. ADJOURNMENT: There 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 January 11, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:38 p.m., on December 28, 2004. Res~ctfully Su?mitted, .~ /) AJi ' ~eWX:8awy;r, Ext;:;;;;e Secretary City 0 La Quinta, California G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\ 12-28-04.doc 5