2005 11 08 PC Minutes
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MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at thè La quin~a Gi.ty Hall,
78-495 Calle Tampic~, Lå ~~jnta, CA .
November 8, 2005
7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Ä. This meeting of the Planning Commission was. called to order at 7 :00
p.m. by Chairman Kirk who asked Commissioner Ladner 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, City
Attorney Kathy Jenson, Assistant C~ty Engineer Steve Speer, Planning
Manager Les Johnson,. Associ~te Planner Wallace Nesbit, and Executive
Secretary Betty Sawyer,
II.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. .CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA:
IV. CONSENT ITEMS:
, A. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any co~rections to the, Minute~ of the
Joint Meeting of 'October 25, 2005. Commissioner Quill "asked that Page
2, Paragraph 2 be amended to read~ "....converting to irrigation
controllers..."; Paragraph 7, add hi,s comment regarding pavement
damage; PageS, Paragraph 2 changed to read, "...approved in the City to '
date..." There being no further corrections, it was moved and seconded
by Commissioners Quill/Daniels to approve the' mif1utes as corrected.
Unanimously approved.
B. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any chan~es to the Mìnutes of the
- October 25, 2005 regular meeting. The.re being no changes to the
minutes, it was moved and seconded by C9rnmissioners Daniels/Alderson
to approve the minutes as submitted., Un~nimously approved.
v.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Continued - Environmental Assessment 2005-537 and Tentative Tract
Map 33085; a request of Core Homes, LLC for consideration of: 1 )
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Certification of 'a Mi,tigated Negative Declaration of environmental impact;
and 2) the ·subdivision 'of 4.3· acres into. seven ,single-family lots for the
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property 'Iocated at the southwest corner of Madison Street and Beth
Circle, north of Avenue 52.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 8, 2005
1 . Chairman Kirk opened the public hearing and asked for the staff
report. Associate Planner 'Wallace Nesbit presented the
information contained in thè staff report, a copy of which was on
file in the' ,Commun,ity DeVelopment ,Department. Staff - noted
- Condition No,., 71. was modified to state south and west property
lines. '-
2.
Chairmåh Kirk as·kedif there were any questions of staff.
Còmmis~ioner Quill asked for" clarific'ation as to whether or not
theré were ,approved tracts in the City of India that were 3.5 units
to the acre. Staff stated the' applicant could answer that better,
but the notations indicated there were approved maps. Chairman
-Kirk 'stated to his knowledge, there were no approved tracts, but
an approved specific plan that ge~erally allows three to three and a
ha1f units to the acre.
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3. Commissioner Alderson asked about t~e perimeter trees. Staff
expla'ined the layout of the landscaping.
4. Commissioner Daniels asked if ,Beth Circle was to be a public
street.' Staff stated no, 'it, wiU be a gated entry for this tract and
the tract to the· north and the, ,maintenance will be worked out
between the'two·tracts. Commissioner Daniels ·asked about the
radius at the northern end of' the hammer head. Staff stated no
concerns were raised by the Fire Marshall or the Public Works
Department.
5. Commis'sioner Ladner noted she was absent at the last meeting
and' asked the density <?f the tract to the north. Staff stated it was
between·.8 ·and .9 units to the acre. This tract is 1.6 units to the
acre.
6.
Chairman Kirk asked if this figure was net dwelling units to the
acre. Staff stated the tots are about eight tenths of an acre.
Chairman Kirk asked if 'there were any additional discussions
regarding retention. Assistant City Engineer Steve Speer stated
no, there has been none.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 8, 2005
7. Commissioner Alderson asked if the gating off Madison Street has
been approved by the tract to the north. Staff stated that to
staff's knowledge this has been done, but a condition has been
added to the tract to require the gated entry.
8. Chairman Kirk asked if the applicant would like to address the
Commission. Mr. David turner, Coachella Valley Engineers,
representing the applicant, gave the history of the project site and
surrounding properties. Mr. David Neale, owner of the property
reviewed the modifications that had been made to the tract map
based on the Commission's comments from the last meeting.
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9. Chairman Kirk asked if there were any questions of the applicant.
Commissioner Alderson asked for clarification on whether there
were one or two rows of trees on the outside of the perimeter
wall. Staff reviewed the location of the trees on the site plan.
10. Commissioner Quill noted the trees do not fit the grid a,s shown
conceptually. Staff noted they will be relocated to accommodate
the site plan. Mr . Turner further explained the tree planting
scheme.
11 . Chairman Kirk asked staff to clarify whether the Code requires the
applicant to provide a full landscape plan at this stage.
Community Development Director Doug Evans stated that it does
not. The applicant was directed by staff to bring back a landscape
plan that would be acceptable to the Commission in evaluating the
project. Chairman Kirk asked staff to consider the process as
applications are submitted to the City to require more detailed
landscape plans early on in the process.
12. Commissioner Quill asked if an applicant could pull grading permits
at the tentative tract phase prior to the Commission reviewing a
landscaping plan. Associate Planner Wallace Nesbit stated they
can obtain clearing and grubbing permits. If they choose, they
could pull every tree out at this point without a tract map
approval.
13. Chairman Kirk asked if anyone else would like to address the
Commission. There being no further public comment, Chairman
Kirk closed the public participation portion of the hearing and
opened the discussion among the Commission.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 8, 2005
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14. Commissioner Alderson commented' the landscape plan is an
excellent design and he still supports the project.
15. Commissioner Ladner stated she does not see any impact of this
tract to the neighboring properties. She has no objection to the
half acre parcels.
16. Commissioner Quill asked that a modification to the conditions be
added to require the trees ,on ·Madiso~ Street be kept in the
parkway in their current locatfon so as not to relocate them.
17. Commissioner Daniels suggested the wall meander to keep the
trees.
18. Following discussion, it' was' moved and seconded by
Commissioners Alderson/Ladner to adopt Planning Commission
Resolution 2005-055 recommending certification of Environmental
Assessment 2005-537, as recommended.
ROLL CALL: AYES:Commissioners Alderson. Daniels, Ladner, Quill. and I
Chairman Kirk. NOES: None'. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN:
None.
1 9. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Ladner to
adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2005-056 recommending
approval of Tentative Tract Map 33085, as recommended and
amended: .
a. Condition #90: Modified' to require the perimeter wall be
meandered to save as many of the perimèter trees in the
parkway in their current location without damage to the
trees or root ball. Also the avë'ragesetback of 32 feet on
Madison Street and' Beth Circle shall be retained.
ROLL CALL: A YES:CommissionersAlderson', Da"niels, Ladner, Quill, and
Chairman Kirk. NOES: None.. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN:
None.
B.
Conditional Use Permit 2004-085, Extension #1; a request of Nextel of
California for consideration of a time extension to, construct a 230 square
foot one-story unmanned telecommunication building and 60-foot high
antenna, camouflaged as a palm tree for the property located at the
southwest corner of Avenue 54 and Madison Street.
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. Planning Commission Minutes
November 8,2005
1 . Chairman Kirk opened· the public hearing and asked for the staff
report. Associate Planner Wallace Nesbit presented the
information contained in the staff report, a copy of which was on
file in the Community Development Department.
2. There being no questions of staff Chairman Kirk asked if the
applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. John
. Halminski, representing Nextel, stated he was available to answer
any questions.
3. Commissioner Quill asked why they were asking for an extension.
M,r. Halminski explained.
4.
There being no questions of the applicant, Chairman Kirk asked if
there was any other public comment. Mr. John Gamlin,
representing Madison Club, ßtated he believes this is a welcome
service, but he is concerned with aesthetics as this will be in a
viewshed. They believe'there has been some liberty taken with
what is considered to be the height of the palm trees. They need
to have a condition added to require them to add more mature
trees to be more in line with the 'height of the proposed tower.
5. Commissioner Daniels asked how fast the palms trees will grow.
Staff stated normally one to two feet per year. Commissioner
Daniels asked that the trees be 40-50 feet when planted. Mr.
Halminski stated they are agreeable with installing the 45-50 foot
tree.
6. It was moved by Commissioners Ladner/Alderson to adopt
Planning Commission Resolution 2005-057, approving Conditional
Use Permit 2004-085, Amendment No.1, as amended:
a. Condition adding: Two of the adjoining Palm Trees shall be
a minimum of 45 feet upon installation.
ROLL CALL: A YES:Commissioners Alderson, Daniels, ·Ladner, Quill, and
Chairman Kirk. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN:
None.
VI.
BUSINESS ITEMS: None.
VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 8, 2005
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IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Review of City Council meeting of November 1, 2005.
X. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Daniels/Alderson to adjourn this regular meeting of the PlanningCo'mmission to a
regular meeting of the Planning Commission to be held on November 22, 2005, at
7:00 p.m. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:53 p.,m. on
November 8, 2005.
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Resp~ctfully sub~itted,
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ett J. yer, Executive Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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