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2007 01 09 PC Minutes MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA January 9, 2007 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was reconvened at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Quill who asked Commissioner Alderson to lead the flag salute. B. Present: Commissioners Ed Alderson, Katie Barrows, Rick Daniels, Jim Engle, and Chairman Paul Quill. C. Staff present: Community Development Director Doug Evans, Planning Manager Les Johnson, Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston, Assistant Planner Jay Wuu, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT ITEMS: None. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Street Vacation of a Portion of Public Utility Easement located within Desert Club Tract Unit 4; a request of the City to vacate a potion of Main Street north of Avenida La Fonda for Nispero Properties. 1 . Chairman Quill opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Staff asked that the item be continued to allow staff time to notify all the adjacent property owners. 2. There being no questions, it was moved and seconded by Commissioner Daniels/Barrows to continue Street Vacation 2006-043 to January 23, 2007. B. Site Development Permit 2006-877; a request of Adobe Holdings, Inc. for consideration of architectural and landscaping plans for four prototypical residential plans and common areas for the Village at Coral Mountain located within Tract 31249 on the south side of avenue 58, Y, mile west of Madison Street. G:IWPDOCSIPC MinutesI200711-9-o6.doc Planning Commission Minutes January 9, 2007 1. Chairman Quill opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Assistant Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Chairman Quill asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Engle asked if the occupants of the two-story units would they be able to see in the backyards of the adjacent tract. Planning Manager Les Johnson stated no and explained the orientation of the units in relation to the adjacent project. Discussion followed regarding the orientation of the units. 3. Commissioner Barrows asked about the water calculations in regard to the water features. Staff stated it met the requirements. 4. Commissioner Alderson asked if the water features at the entrance were separate pools. Staff stated they were separate. Commissioner Alderson stated the plan does not show the units identified on the lots. He also asked for clarification on whether or not the second access was an entranc~. Staff stated that it was an exit only. Commissioner Alderson asked about the third UgarageU and upool houseu. Staff clarified the upool houseu will not be used as a living quarters and each unit does have a separate casita. 5. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Quill asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. Bob Rippe, representing the applicant, gave a brief history of the project. 6. Commissioner Alderson asked if the trims were to be all the same. Mr. Ed Rippe, Project Manager, stated this is still being determined. 7. Commissioner Barrows stated she would like to see the water features reduced or one eliminated. Mr. Jose Estrada, landscape architect, stated they have received approval from CVWD because of the amount of drought tolerant plant material they were using. They did eliminate one pond from the southwest portion of the site. Commissioner Barrows asked if there would be any problem with eliminating one of the water features. Mr. Estrada explained the importance of the water features to the project. 2 Planning Commission Minutes January 9,2007 8. Commissioner Engle asked how much water they would hold. Mr. Estrada stated he did not have those figures. 9. Commissioner Daniels asked what alternative they would use, if they did not have the water features. Mr. Estrada made some suggestions. 10. Chairman Quill suggested the pools be reduced and concentrated on the west side to reduce the costs and amount of water to be used. 11 . Commissioner Alderson stated he did not have an objection to the front water feature and would suggest the elimination of the interior lake. Mr. Rippe stated they have eliminated any turf in the retention basins and added the water feature to create an interest at the entry. They do not have the draw of a golf course and the lakes are a feature for this project. 12. There being no further discussion or other public comment, Chairman Quill closed the public participation portion of the hearing. 13. Commissioner Alderson asked if the precise grading plan would come to the Commission. Community Development Director Doug Evans stated no. 14. Commissioner Barrows stated she would like to see one of the water features eliminated even though they have made great effort to use drought tolerate material. 15. Commissioner Daniels stated he too compliments the applicant on the amount of drought tolerant material, but believes a water feature could be eliminated or reduced. 16. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioner Alderson/Engle to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2007-001 approving Site Development Permit 2006- 877, as recommended and amended: a. Condition 26. Any residential units built on the southern and eastern project boundaries of Site Development Permit 2006-078 shall be constructed in accordance with the specific unit plans identified in said Site Development 3 Planning Commission Minutes January 9,2007 Permit, and subsequent precise grading plans. Any changes or modifications to the approved units shall require Planning Commission approval. b. Condition added: The applicant shall work with staff to eliminate or reduce the water features. ROll CAll: A YES: Commissioners Alderson, Barrows, Engle, and Chairman Quill. NOES: None. None. ABSTAIN: None. Daniels, ABSENT: VI. BUSINESS ITEM: A. Image Corridor Determination; a request determination on applicability of Image Standards in the Special Purpose Districts. of the City for a Corridor Development 1. Chairman Quill asked for the staff report. Planning Manager les Johnson presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file. in the Community Development Department. 2. Chairman Quill asked why this was before the Commission. Staff explained how the proposed la Quinta Country Club clubhouse plans brought this to the City's attention. 3. Commissioner Alderson asked if there were any other locations where else this could occur. Staff stated none that are known currently. The Country Club could request a variance to their specific plan, but staff was bringing it before the" Commission for their direction. 4. Chairman Quill stated it is a non-issue to him and would agree with establishing the height limit as it is in other areas. Staff confirmed the Country Club would be able to obtain the changes by virtue of their specific plan. The purpose of the amendment is for consistency. 5. There being no'further discussion, it was moyed and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Barrows to direct staff to move forward with the amendment. Unanimously approved. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: 4 Planning Commission Minutes January 9. 2007 A. Commissioner Barrows gave a report of the City Council meeting of December 19, 2006. B. Community Development Director Doug Evans informed the Commission of a workshop with the Vista Santa Rosa Task Force on Wednesday, January 10, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. C. Staff informed the Commission that Principal Planner Fred Baker had resigned to take a position in Apache Junction as a Planning Manager. His last day would be January 19, 2007. D. Commissioner Barrows asked staff to update the Commission on. the Dark Sky Ordinance. Staff explained the process that had taken place and that the Lighting Ordinance was being revised to make it easier to implement and interpret. X. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Alderson/Daniels to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting of the planning Commission to be held on January 23, 2007. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. on January 9, 2007. Respectfully submitted, 5