2005 02 22 PC Minutes
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MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
February 22, 2005
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 Daniels to lead the flag
salute.
B. Present: Commissioners Ed Alderson, Rick Daniels, Kay Ladner, Paul Quill
and Chairman Tom Kirk
C. Staff present: Community Development Director Doug Evans, Assistant
City Attorney Michael Houston, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, Associate
Planner Martin Magaña, 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 February 8, 2005. There being no corrections, it was
moved and seconded by Commissioners Ladner/Quill to approve the
minutes as submitted.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Tentative Tract Map 33220; a request of The Greystone Group for
consideration of a one lot condominium project with 19 buildings with
149 units, located on the south side of Avenue 52, east of Jefferson
Street.
1 .
Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff
report. Staff stated the applicant had submitted a request for
continuance to March 8, 2005.
2.
It was moved by Commissioners Alderson/Ladner to continue
Tentative Tract Map 33220 to March 8, 2005, as requested.
Unanimously approved.
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B. Site Development Permit 2004-823 a requèst of Taylor Woodrow Homes,
Inc. for consideration of prototype architectural plans for four prototypical
plans residential unit types and landscaping plans for use in Tact 31874
located at the northwest corner of Avenue 53 and Monroe Street.
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Planning Commission Minutes
February 22, 2005
1 . Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff
report. Principal Planner Stan Sawa 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 commended the applicant on the designs
and questioned current City Ordinances which require Commission
review of building elevations. He believes the Commission may
want to evaluate current requirements.
3.
Chairman Kirk explained that in the past quality of project design
compatibility would be an issue whereas in today's market projects
are very well designed.
4.
Commissioner Alderson asked if these elevations were for the
production units. Staff stated yes and the models are approved by
staff under a Minor use Permit.
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5. Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant would like to address the
Commission. Mr. Tim Day, representing the applicant, stated he
was available to answer any questions.
6. Commissioner Quill commended the applicant on the designs, but
asked why they would not use the Mission clay tile instead of the
concrete liS" tile. Mr. Dan stated the concrete liS" tile is. a high
quality tile, and staff showed the samples.
7. Commissioner Alderson asked why he was not using the clay tile
instead. Mr. Day stated the concrete liS" tile is part of the
package that was worked out with the architect.
8.
Chairman Kirk asked if they would have any objection to a
condition requiring the Mission tile. Mr. Day stated that if they
were required, it could be worked out withstaff.
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9.
Chairman Kirk asked if there was any other public comment.
There being none, the public participation was closed and open for
Commission discussion.
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Planning Commission Minutes
February 22, 2005
Motion 2005-002 approving Site Development Permit 2004-823,
as recommended by staff. Unanimously approved.
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Sign Approval 2003-851; a request of Graphic Resources/Mark Reulman
for consideration of a Planned Sign Program to add three signs to an
existing building in the La Quinta Corporate Center, located at the
southwest corner of Dune Palms Road and Corporate Center Drive.
1. Chairman Kirk asked for the staff report. Associate Planner Martin
Magaña 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 the purpose of the business. Staff
explained.
3.
Chairman Kirk asked if it was a separate corporate entity. Staff
stated yes. Community Development Director Doug Evans
questioned a multi-tenant building allowing one tenant sign to be
above a space they are not occupying.
4. Commissioner Alderson asked staff if a tenant was allowed two
signs. Staff stated it was based on street frontage. The
Commission has allowed some tenants to have signage on the rear
of the building.
5. Commissioner Daniels asked if there was enough interior room for
a third tenant. Staff stated not at this time, but the owner could
modify the building interior to allow a third tenant.
6.
Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant would like to address the
Commissioner. Mr. Skip Berg, gave a presentation on the signage.
As he understands, there are no other tenants proposed for the
building. The owner of Desert Lifestyles, stated he was available
to answer any questions. Mr. Mark Reulman, owner of Radio
Active, gave a presentation on why he was asking for the change
in the sign program.
7.
Commissioner Ladner stated she had no issue with the applicant's
request.
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Planning Commission Minutes
February 22, 2005
change in the sign program.
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7. Commissioner Ladner stated she had no issue with the applicant's
request.
8. Commissioner Daniels stated the building is almost a sign as the
architecture stands' out. He too has no problem with the
applicant's request and stated buildings one and two of La Quinta
Valley Plaza further cut off this applicant's view from Highway
111. He asked if there were any monument signs. Staff stated
no. Community Development Director Doug Evans clarified that if
this was a two tenant building, you would not put one tenant's
sign over the other tenant's space. He would suggest that if there
are any additional tenants staff can be allowed to approve the
signs.
9.
Commissioner Daniels stated that whatever action they take, it
would take into consideration that the building could have a third
tenant.
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10. Commissioner Quill stated he had no objection to the request.
11 . Commissioner Alderson stated he agreed with the applicant's
request. He would agree that the other two tenants have the same
size sign, consisting of 19 square feet each.
12. Chairman Kirk stated he was not in favor of the request. Although
he did not object to the sign, he believes that a land owner is
paying less for not being on Highway 111. Once the property
along Highway 111 is developed, the signs will be blocked. He
agrees with staff's suggestion to move the sign on the north to
the south side.
13. Chairman Kirk asked if there was any other public comment, there
being none, the public participation was closed and open for
Commission discussion.
14. It was moved by Commissioners Quill/Daniels to adopt Minute
Motion 2005-003 approving Sign Approval 2003-851, as I
recommended by staff. Approved with Chairman Kirk voting no.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
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Planning Commission Minutes
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VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Department report: Community Development Director Doug Evans gave
a report on the City Council meeting of February 15, 2005. Staff gave a
presentation on the model home landscape requirements. The
Commission may want to look at a design criteria rather than addressing
quantified water consumption as part of the Ordinance.
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1 . Commissioner Daniels stated the Multi-Species Conservation
Habitat Plan asked if staff was planning on submitting comments
on the Plan. Staff stated a comprehensive report has been
prepared and the Commission will receive a copy. It has been
presented to the City Council and staff was given a concurrence to
proceed. There are elements in the Plan that need to be removed
or adjusted, or it is unacceptable. The comments will be made to
the Coachella Valley Association of Government (CV AG) under the
City staff's signature. Once CV AG addresses all the comments, it
will be circulated for Council action. There are a number of items
that need to be addressed in the Plan.
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 March 8, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. This
meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:47 p.m. on February 22,
2005.
Respectfully submitted,
Bet J awyer, Exec~ecretarY
City of La Quinta, California
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