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2005 07 12 PC Minutes MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA July 12, 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, Chairman Kirk. It was moved and seconded by Daniels/Alderson to excuse Commissioner Ladner. approved. Paul Quill and Commissioners Unanimously C. Staff present: Community Development Director Doug Evans, Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston, Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer, Principal Planner Fred Baker, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. II. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: A. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any corrections to the Minutes of June 28, 2005. There being none, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Alderson to approve the minutes as submitted IV. CONSENT ITEMS: None. v. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Site Development Permit 2005-835; a request of Stamko Development Co. for consideration of development plans for a multi-tenant retail store consisting of 23,000 square feet, located at the southwest corner of Highway 111 and Dune Palms Road 1.. Chairman Kirk 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. G:\ WPDOCS\PC Minutes\ 7 - , 2-05 .doc Planning Commission Minutes July 12, 2005 2. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Alderson asked about the location of the trash enclosures. Staff informed the Commission the applicant had brought a drawing showing a new location for the trash enclosure. The drawing shows a driveway access easement off the Sam's Club gas station site. 3. Commissioner Daniels asked if staff was recommending the signs or boulders that were to have the signs on, were to be reduced. Staff stated both were being requested to be reduced. 4. Commissioner Quill asked if the ALRC recommendations and what staff was recommending were contained in the staff report. Staff stated yes and explained the changes proposed. 5. Commissioner Alderson asked about the location of the sky blue awning. Staff explained the location. Community Development Director Doug Evans explained the concerns regarding the driveway off of Dune Palms Road. 6. Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Ms. Chris Clarke, Stamko Development Co., gave a presentation on the project and explained the request for the relocation of the trash enclosure. She stated the trash enclosures will be the same color as all the other trash enclosures in the Center. Mr. Russ Beckner, Stamko Development Co., addressed Conditions No. 78 and 79. 7. Chairman Kirk asked the applicant to identify what staff conditions they would like to change. Mr. Beckner explained their concerns. 8. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any questions of the applicant. Commissioner Alderson stated he does not believe asking for architectural changes are a detriment to the project. 9. Commissioner Quill asked if the conditions were agreeable to the applicant. Mr. Beckner explained the changes they were willing to make on the building. Commissioner Quill stated his concern is that the building needs to have architectural details. He asked if the applicant could supply some suggestions. Mr. Beckner gave some alternatives and went on to explain the sign program. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\7-' 2-05.doc I I I 2 I I I Planning Commission Minutes July 12, 2005 10. Chairman Kirk asked if there was a representation from Sam's Club. Community Development Director Doug Evans stated that if the sign is shared with the Sam's Club and there is no menu board, staff would have no objection. 11. Chairman Kirk asked how you would handle a sign for a business that is not a part of this program. Staff explained the process. Mr. Beckner requested the sign contain Sam's Club plus three additional tenants on both sides. Ms. Clarke explained her request for the sign. 12. Chairman Kirk asked if there was any other public comment. There being none, the public hearing was closed and open for Commission discussion. 13. Commissioner Daniels stated he agrees with the canopies, but not the popout on the buildings. On the signs, he likes splitting the sign up between Sam's Club and the other tenants of this building. 14. Commissioner Alderson stated that in terms of the architectural enhancement, the deeper tones are attractive. He does agree with the applicant's concerns on the popouts. In regard to the canopies, he believes they would be a benefit. Concerning the signs, he concurs with the applicant. 15. Commissioner Quill stated he concurs with staff's recommendation. Regarding the canopies on the east elevation, they would be helpful. The architectural suggestions by the ALRC are good, and with the applicant not submitting anything new, he would agree with approving staff's recommendation. On the signage, he has no concerns. 16. Chairman Kirk asked if this was part of the Specific Plan. Staff stated yes. Chairman Kirk stated he believes that if the applicant has gone to the trouble to design a specific plan, then the Commission should not expect any changes to the design. He is torn in that it should be better and yet the applicant has made a good argument that the design should not be changed. He is not comfortable voting for something that he does not know the ultimate outcome. Community Development Director Doug Evans stated staff too struggled with how to create a better design. The conditions were written to allow the architect the opportunity to create depth and design. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\7-' 2-05.doc 3 Planning Commission Minutes July 12, 2005 17. It was moved by Commissioners Quill/Daniels to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2005-031, approving Site Development Permit 2005-835, as recommended by staff and as amended: I a. Condition #78.B. added to allow for the sign to remain as it is proposed size, if it is combined with the Sam's Club and two or three additional tenant signs. b. Condition added: trash enclosure design and location are approved as requested by the applicant. 18. Chairman Kirk reopened the public hearing. Ms. Clarke stated that with the condition as written, she is at the whim of staff to design the building. She currently is in negotiations with the City and she 15 days from the approval of the SDP to purchase the land. If she has to wait for the architect and staff to redesign the building, she cannot meet the time constraints of the Agreement. If the Commission approves the application, she will be forced to appeal the decision to the City Council. She would prefer the Commission continue the application to give her time to work with her architect and resubmit a new design to the Commission for their approval. I 19. Commissioner Quill stated that if the applicant is willing to resubmit the design he is willing to agree to a continuance to allow the applicant the opportunity to redesign the building. 20. Commissioners Quill/Daniels withdrew their motion. 21 . It was moved and seconded by Commissioner Daniels/Quill to continue Site Development Permit 2005-835, to September 13, 2005. 22. Chairman Kirk asked the Commissioners to provide the developer with direction in regard to what is expected. 23. Commissioner Quill stated the architect is well known for his quality, and his direction would be to provide more relief, color, and shade. 24. Chairman Kirk suggested they also consider different materials. I 25. Commissioner Alderson stated he too would prefer the applicant work with their architect to redesign the building. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\7-'2-05.doc 4 I Planning Commission Minutes July 1 2, 2005 VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Following discussion, it was determine the Commission would go dark the second meeting in August. IX. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissione"rs Daniels/Alderson to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting of the Planning Commission to be held on July 26, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 8: 11 p.m. on July 12, 2005. Respectfully submitted, I ~~~ive Secreta~ City of La Quinta, California I G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\7-' 2-05.doc 5