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2005 12 13 PC Minutes I I I MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA December 13, 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, Richard Daniels, Kay Ladner, Paul Quill and Chairman Kirk. ·C. Staff present: Community Development Director Doug Evans, Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston, Planning Manager Les Johnson, Principal Planner Stan Sawa, 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 changes to the Minutes of the November 22, 2005 regular meeting. There being no changes to the minutes, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Quill to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved with Commissioner Alderson Abstaining. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2004-812; a request of Chick-Fil-Ä for consideration of screening provisions for a restaurant with a drive-thru lane located on the north side of Highway 111, east of Adams Street, in The Pavilion at La Quinta. 1 . Chairman Kirk asked for the staff report. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which was on file in the Community Development Department. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\2005\ 12-13..05.doc Planhing Commission Minutes December 13, 2005 2. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Alderson questioned why we were asking the applicant to provide the screening when this portion of the site is actually the responsibility of the master developer. Staff explained how the responsibilities for the area were determined. 3. Commissioner Daniels asked who was responsible for maintenance. Staff stated the master developer was responsible for the maintenance. In addition, there is a condition that the plants be allowed to grow to maturity and that they be maintained at the proper height for screening. 4. Commissioner Quill asked if the Commission had previously requested the retaining wall be used. Staff stated it was not a condition. 5. There being no further questions of staff Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. Greg Lawless, representing the applicant, explained the project. He explained the entire site belongs to Chick-FiI-A, but the master developer is responsible to see that the landscaping theme is carried out through the entire site frontage. The master developer is also responsible for the maintenance. In regard to retaining walls, this is not something they would want due to the lane width required to keep a vehicle from driving into the wall. 6. There being no further public comment the matter was opened to Commission discussion. 7. Commissioner Quill stated he does not believe the height of the berm and plant material is enough to hide the cars and headlights from the traffic on Highway 111. 8. Commissioner Alderson asked if the master developer has a grading plan with these elevations and if so how did the elevations change from 75 to 74 feet. Staff clarified other berming was proposed earlier in the project's grading plans. The engineer could be requested to redesign with a continuous berm to reach the height desired in some of the areas. 9. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any concerns in maintaining the slope and grade. Staff stated they had no objections, but it would be up to the Public Works Department. Community Development Director Doug Evans suggested it be a berm and/or low stem wall. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\2005\ 12-13-05.doc I I I ? I I I Planning Commission Minutes December 13, 2005 10. Commissioner Quill stated the berm needs to hide the cars up to the top of the car. Mr. Lawless stated he does not know of any other drive-thru in the City that has this requirement. He would recommend the Texas Ranger be planted at the top of the berm to hide the drive-thru. This would essentially be seven feet in height. 11 . Commissioner Quill stated he does not want to rely on plant material to hide the drive-thru. He wants the berm to hide the cars. The site line from Highway 111 should not see the cars. 12. Commissioner Daniels stated he does not want the dike look with a continuous berm. 13. Commissioners Ladner and Alderson stated 75 feet with some undulation would be acceptable. 14. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Daniels to adopt Minute Motion 2005-016, approving the drive-thruplans for Site Development Permit 2004-812, as recommended and with the berm constructed to a height where the site line from Highway 111 hides the vehicle to the roof of a standard vehicle. A stem wall could be used in conjunction with the berming. Unanimously approved. B. Consideration as to whether to allow vinyl fencing as an alternate material for residential fences; a request of City for direction in regard to fence material within the City. 1 . Chairman Kirk asked for the staff report. Planning Manager Les Johnson presented the information in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Chairman Kirk asked if there was any public comment. Ms. Kay Wolff, P. O. Box 1016, La Quinta, asked if staff had considered an alumna wood material. Staff stated no; they were· specific to the vinyl material as this was the specific request brought to staff. 3. Commissioner Ladner stated it was her experience the vinyl is a better quality material than the wood. Her only concern would be the quality of the product used. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\2005\ 12-13-05.doc 3 Planning Commission Minutes December 13, 2005 4. Commissioner Alderson asked if the vinyl fencing proposed by the resident who brought this up, is an imitation wood material. Staff stated it is a smooth finish, but that most manufacturers offer a simulated and smooth fence. I 5. Commissioner Quill stated it has been his experience that it is a good product and superior to wood. He would only want it to be allowed where wood is allowed. 6. Chairman Kirk stated he is more concerned with quality than material. 7. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Quill to interpret the Code to allow the alternative material to wood fencing in the Cove, and directing staff to address the particulars at a later date with a Code Amendment. Unanimously approved. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: I A. Community Development Director Doug Evans informed the Commission that on December 20th at 4:00 p.m. there will be a presentation by Lowe International on the hotel and conceptual design of the SilverRock Resor1 project. B. Review of City Council meeting of December 6, 2005. X. 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 December 27, 2005, at 7:38 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7: p.m. on December 13, 2005. Respectfully submitted, ~ I Bet J. Sawyer, Executive Secretary City of La Quinta, California G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\2005\12-13-Q5.doc 4