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2007 03 13 PCIV I Planning Commission Agendas are now available on the City's Web Page @ www.la-guinta.org PLANNING COMMISSION A Regular Meeting to be Held at the La Quinta City Hall Council Chamber 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, California MARCH 13, 2007 7:00 P.M. **NOTE** ALL ITEMS NOT CONSIDERED BY 11:00 P.M. WILL BE CONTINUED TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING Beginning Resolution 2007-011 Beginning Minute Motion 2607-007 CALL TO ORDER A. Flag Salute B. Pledge of Allegiance C. Roll Call PUBLIC COMMENT This is the time set aside for public comment on any matter not scheduled for public hearing. Please complete a "Request to Speak" form and limit your comments to three minutes. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 27, 2007. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\1 AgendaW.doc V. PUBLIC HEARING: For all Public Hearings on the Agenda, a completed "Request to Speak" form must be filed with the Executive Secretary prior to the start of the Planning Commission consideration of that item. The Chairman will invite individuals who have requested the opportunity to speak, to come forward at the appropriate time. Any person may submit written comments to the Planning:. Commission before a public hearing, may appear and be heard in support of, or, in opposition to, the approval of the project(s) at the time of the hearing. If you challenge any project(s) in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the City at, or prior to the public hearing. A. Item ................ CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2007-102 Applicant...::.... CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Location........... West side of Avenida Obregon, approximately 150 feet south of Avenida Fernando within the La Quinta Resort grounds. Request ......:.... Consideration to allow operation of a Signature Pool facility. Action .............. Resolution 2007- VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Item .................. GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY FINDING Applicant............ City of La Quinta Location .............. South side of Highway 111, east of Dune Palms Road (APN 649-030-016 and 017) Request .............. Consideration of a finding of General Plan conformity for the City of La Quinta's potential acquisition of property for approximately 19.9 acres of land for the construction and operation of affordable housing and that a portion of the property would be developed for commercial/retail uses. Action ................. Resolution 2007- VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None Vlll. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Discussion regarding the League of California Cities Planners Institute to be held in San Diego, March 21-23, 2007. B. Review of City Council meeting of March 6, 2007 G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\1 AgendaW.doc IX. ADJOURNMENT: This meeting of the Planning Commission will be adjourned to a Regular Meeting to be held on March 27, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. DECLARATION OF POSTING I, Betty J. Sawyer, Executive Secretary of the City of La Quinta, do hereby declare that the foregoing Agenda for the La Quinta Planning Commission meeting of Tuesday, March 13, 2007, was posted on the outside .entry to the Council Chamber, 78-495 Calle Tampico and the bulletin board at the La Quinta Cove Post Office, on Friday, March 9, 2007. DATED: March 9, 2007 BETTY WYER, Executive Secretary City of La Quinta, California Public Notices The La Quinta City Council Chamber is handicapped accessible. If special equipment is needed for the hearing impaired, please call the City Clerk's office at 777-7123, twenty-four (24) hours in, advance of the meeting and accommodations will be made. If special electronic, equipment is needed to make presentations to the Planning Commission, arrangements should be made in advance by contacting the City Clerk's office at 77777123. A one (1) week notice is required. If background material is to be presented to the Planning Commission during a Planning Commission meeting, please be advised that eight (8) copies of all documents, exhibits, etc., must be supplied to the Executive Secretary for distribution. It is requested that this take place prior to the beginning of the 7:00 p.m. meeting. G:\WPDOCS\PC Minutes\1 AgendaW.doc MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA February 27, 2007 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Quill who asked Commissioner Barrows to lead the flag salute. B. Present: Commissioners Ed Alderson, Katie Barrows, Jim Engle and Chairman Paul Quill. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Alderson to excuse Commissioner Daniels. C. Staff present: Planning Manager Les Johnson, Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen, Assistant Planner Jay Wuu, and Secretary Carolyn Walker II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT ITEMS: Chairman Quill asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of February 13, 2007. There being no changes, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Alderson/Barrows to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Sign Application 2003-720, Amendment No. 1; Consideration of an Amendment to an existing Sign Program allowing the placement of special event banners. 1 . Chairman Quill opened the Public Hearing. 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 Alderson asked if the sign exhibits were computer generated. Staff said yes. P:\CAROLYN\Planning Com\PC Minutes\2-27-07 PC.doc Planning Commission Minutes February 27, 2007 3. Commissioner Engle asked about the proportions of the sign. Ms. Leslie Locken, Property Manager of Old Town La Quinta, 78-150 Main Street, La Quinta, stated there was a discrepancy in the measurements used and they have been corrected. She showed an example of a five by 18-foot banner, and a 30-foot long banner. Copies were given to the Commission. Ms. Locken said she had two issues. The first issue was the size of the lettering on the five by 18-foot banner which was 11-inches high and not easily readable as well as limited in how much verbiage could be accommodated. She requested a five by 30-foot banner as it would be more proportionate. She stated the banners at Desert Club Drive and Calle Tampico would be double -sided and a five by 18-foot banner could not be easily read. The banners have been more effective than media advertising in attracting customers to Old Town. The second issue was whether the banners could remain for three weeks prior to their Grand Opening event in late March. 4. Commissioner Alderson asked if the banner, which was noted as 20-feet off the street was at a safe height. Ms. Locken replied truck height was 16-feet and the 20-foot height should be safe. 5. Commissioner Engle said he was in favor of the special event banners, as long as there was no clutter. He agreed five feet by . 18-feet was too small. He said the five by 30-foot would be better as long as it was not offensive and in good taste. He had hesitations about the three week time period and thought one week should be enough. He agreed with the Conditions of Approval as stated by staff for the time period. 6. Commissioner Alderson asked if a compromise of two weeks would be acceptable. Staff said they recognized this was Phase II and a new addition to Old Town and understood the need for special signage for the Grand Opening event. 7. Commissioner Alderson asked about measuring from curb to curb as opposed to street width. Staff clarified the distinction. 8. Commissioner Alderson asked about the difference between the original size requested versus what staff was recommending. Staff clarified the difference. P:\CAROLYN\Planning Com\PC Minutes\2-27-07 PC.doc 2 Planning Commission Minutes February 27, 2007 9. Chairman Quill said he did not have a problem with the five by 30- foot banner or the three week time period. He said he wanted to do anything necessary to help Old Town be successful. He said the signs were large, but if done properly and maintained they would be acceptable. The City needs to do all it can to help the vendors. 10. Commissioner Barrows concurred and stated it was an opportunity to help the vendors. 1 1 . Chairman Quill asked about the tree signs. Ms. Lockers said she . was working with staff to use a kiosk or alternate display method instead of the tree signs. 12. Chairman Quill asked if there was any other public comment. There being none, Chairman Quill closed the Public Hearing. 13. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Alderson to adopt Minute Motion 2007- 006 recommending approval of Sign Application 2003-720, Amendment No. 1, as recommended and amended: A. The total square footage for each of the banners that span across Main Street shall be no greater than 150 square feet (30-feet x 5-five). The applicant shall install the approved banners at the approved locations. B. The event -specific banners shall be erected no sooner than three weeks (21 days) prior to the event (which shall have an approved Temporary Use Permit or Village Use Permit), and removed no later than two days after the conclusion of the event. Each special event sign/banner shall be applied for as part of the TUP/VUP application for the subject event. C. The use of the special event banners in Old Town La Quinta shall be limited to 180 days per calendar year. D. Letters shall not be closer than six inches to the edge (top/bottom/sides) of banners. Maximum letter size shall be 18 inches in height. R\CAFOLVN\Planning Com\PC Minutes\2-27-07 PC.doc 3 Planning Commission Minutes February 27, 2007 ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Barrows, Engle, and Chairman Quill. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Daniels. B. Environmental Assessment 2006-575 and Zone Change 2006-129; Consideration to certify a Negative Declaration and a zone change from RM/17/1 Medium Density Residential, 17 foot height, single story to RM(20/5/10)17/1 in order to reduce the existing 15 foot rear yard setback to ten feet. Located south of Avenida La Fonda, north of Avenida Nuestra, west of Washington Street, and east of Calle Guatemala. 1. Chairman Quill opened the Public Hearing. Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen presented the staff report which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Mr. Mark Green, 51-420 Calle Jacumba, spoke in favor of changing the setback and said this change would provide more opportunities for better home design on these lots. 3. Chairman Quill asked if anyone else wanted to speak on this project, there being none, the public hearing was closed. 4. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Alderson to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2007-009 recommending to the City Council certification of a Negative Declaration for Environmental Assessment 2006-575 as submitted. ROLL CALL:AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Barrows, Engle, and Chairman Quill. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Daniels. ABSTAIN: None. 5. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Alderson to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2007-010 recommending to the City Council approval of Zone Change 2006- 129 as submitted. ROLL CALL:AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Barrows, Engle, and Chairman Quill. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Daniels. ABSTAIN: None. VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: None P:\CAROLYN\Planning Com\PC Minutes\2-27-07 PC.doc 4 Planning Commission Minutes February 27, 2007 VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: Commissioners discussed the upcoming Planning Commissioner Conference. Commissioners Engle, Alderson and Chairman Quill stated they would be attending. Commissioner Barrows was unsure at this time. X. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Alderson/Engel to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting of the Planning Commission to be held on March 13, 2007. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 7:36 p.m. on February 27, 2007. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Walker, Secretary City of La Quinta, California P:\CAROLVN\Planning Com\PC Minutes\2-27-07 PC.doc 5 9 i FE¢ 2 7F 20017 -J Edwin M. Mitt t er__ Honorable Mayor Adolph City Council Members ✓ 78493 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253 February 27, 2007 C� At the City Council meeting on February 20, 2007, I proposed a solution to the impasse between the La Quinta Resort and the adjacent property owners in the Tennis Villas, Mountain Estates, The Enclave, Los Estados, and Santa Rosa Cove. My solution is to move the La Quinta Resort's kiddie water park portion of their Signature Pool to the area now occupied by the Renker pool. To support my solution I am enclosing pages from Architect Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke's'schematic design for the proposed Palm Desert Aquatic Complex. Palm Desert got the name right as the proposed project is more than a pool and less than a full-blown water park. I have scaled the site plan on the architect's page 3. (0.5 inches equal 40 feet) The complex minus the parkins area measures 288 feet east to west and 254 feet south to north. This area totals 73,150 square feet or 1.67 acres. If you eliminate the Competition Swimming Pool and Administrative, Locker Building leaving only the water park features, the required area is 43,000 square feet. Before reading on, please check the Water Features listed on the architect's page 2. Looks very familiar, doesn't it? Without demolishing the San Fernando Casita, the Renker Pool area is over 47,600 square feet. My solution works and the benefits I listed back on February 20, 2007 are enhanced by not having to demolish the San Fernando casita. At the end of the last council meeting, you asked the Resort and the property owners to meet and work out a compromise. In a compromise both sides give up something. If my solution is built both sides get what they want. The Resort gets their water slides, lazy river, flow rider, (more fiut than a wave pool) and a children's pool play structure and property owners maintain the tranquil environment they envisioned when they bought their residences. Let's not forget the Tennis Members. They get to keep playing on the Resort's 23 courts. The Resort's Iconic Stadium court is preserved and the Pacific life Tournament competitors will continue to stay and practice at the Resort. Therefore I respectfully ask the you study Mr. Clarke's site plan and renderings I have enclosed, recognize the benefits, and on the next vote, please vote to decline the La Quinta Resort's Site Development Permit for their Signature Pool at its present location. Sincere Edwin M. Mtttel usher 77-333 Calle Mazatlan La Quinta, CA, 92253 FZ I 77 iv FJ tv ci x CD a th fi. E t � O V 7 Q� 3 n 4) o L ,y 14. RID J _ > O y o E r•-,, 1 d t Y znto M 3 ' , Y L t.J •• O ".� r a V C i R y Ca i.i C Q C tL $ N; N 10 UJ cY4coR O v E I= ��C' N'� U Q7 a m a 01 a R N o �.: N V O o J Q LL U Q r R; V U` CM w i .� Cl) = G. sm v, cr a. 3 ti cc y � X r N 5 2 e a r X N cd C] u c� 21 I v R nl T 0 10 R. 0 a 11� � lJ E � U IS fly FEB �Ij �, rv"v'anrl 2.2 200r f CITY DF LA UW41A 77-600Avenida fer undo CITY MANAGER'S DEPT. La �eq Ca@brnLa 92247 (,W)S64-2747 MAI-) ) February 22, 2007 Honorable Donald Adolph Mayor City of La Quinta . Post Office Box 1504 La Quinta, California 92247-1504 Re: Proposed Signature Pool/Water Park Dear Mayor Adolph: At last Tuesday evening's City Council meeting I was prepared to stick it out until the bitter end, even when things didn't look so good. But I was unprepared to be rewarded for my patience; not because of the decision rendered by the council for which we are exceedingly grateful, but because of your pointed questions and observations to Paul McCormick which struck at the very heart of the whole controversial matter. I'm not sure everyone picked up on it, but it really hit home to my wife and I who have lived here for more than 20 years. Whatever weariness I may have felt around 1:30 am. early Wednesday morning was replaced with a burst of energetic optimism after your conversation with Mr. McCormick. Your remarks were a perfect anecdotal rebuke to Mr. McCormick and, in particular, his employer, about their philosophy of ownership of the hotel and its unique assets. I told my wife that I was heartened when you made your point about the golfers on one of the PGA West courses who were obviously not members and then I nearly came out of my chair and cheered when you wouldn't let McCormick off the hook when he tried to explain away the incident as a likely membership promotional courtesy. It was a perfect illustration that the hotel owners feel that they can do whatever they like, regardless of the rules and consideration for its members, much less the surrounding property owners. I can only imagine what they would have done with the development and operation of their Signature Pool left to their own devices. I have been in the commercial real estate business for 33 years, mainly in Los Angeles. As a result of my business I am familiar with CNL. I don't know if you are aware of this, but the acronym, CNL, stands for Commercial Net Lease. In the lexicon of the real estate investment business, the common term "net lease", has implied significance. It means Mayor Donald Adolph February 22, 2007 Page 2 that an investor is particularly interested in the true, take-home income generated by an investment, undiluted by a responsibility for recurring or variable expenses required by any given property. This investment approach reveals much about CNL and explains volumes about why they have not been proactive in making improvements until absolutely necessary. I can just imagine what it must be like for McCormick when he submits his budgets for capital improvement expenses. The condition of the berm along Eisenhower at Tampico is another perfect example. It has, evidently, been a topic of discussion for a long time without any action. It would have been so easy for the Resort to voluntarily enhance that condition a long time ago if only as a gesture to the community. The fact that it is now willing, even eager to make the improvements, so unrelated to its proposed Signature Pool, is so transparent that it is almost revolting. The sad fact is that CNL, and its predecessor,KSL, are not worthy stewards of these assets and they have not earned the right to presume endorsement on new projects requiring discretionary approval. But until early last Wednesday morning, after 20 years of living at this address, I have never heard anyone say as much so effectively as you as Councilman Sniff did. I was so exhilarated and grateful I felt compelled to write this note to thank you very much for your efforts. ' cerl.Y� William L. Puget WLP/bp P.S. If you actually made it to your 7:30 tee time Wednesday morning, I hope you were able to persuade your companions to give you a couple of extra strokes under the circumstances. a ENTEPPPISES a r ar u I N C O R A O-..__... CIlI Mq:YpE�!_ February r a ary 21, 2007 R D _ Mayor Adolph (�t And Council Members Cl� City of La Quinta C� 78-495 Calle Tampico / La Quinta, CA 92253 cr)� JV I owe you an apology for my blundering comments on Tuesday Evening. I have been in businr e" foover active in professional, civic and service organizations, such as �II of Rotary International. In my lifetime I have given over 2000 instructional, inspirational and motivational speeches. Tuesday evening was not one of those times, as I was called to the podium my left hearing aid went dead and just before I reached the podium my right hearing aid went dead. To say the least I was little disoriented and thus a blundering idiot. I know you said sometfrustrated a at the end of my ,presentation,, but I was not looking at hing to me Mr. Mayor ou so I could not read your lips, that would have helped me at that time. Again I apologiyze. Having said the above, your undertaking of Permit 2006-865 is a monumental challenge_ I have served on planning and economic developmem commissions and am aware of the intricacies involved in your decision and needless to say I am very pro business: I have had the opportunity to study the documents available to me, evaluating the environmental, ecological, property , architectural, landscaping and decibel information. and although I I fully understanding the prooperty owners, home owners and tennis players positions have empathy for their position I feel it is the responsibility of La Quinta Resort to develop their property to its highest and best use. In fact it is the obligation of the Resort to maintain their occupancy level and improve that position especial new resorts under, construction and the ly with the influence. I have noted that La Quicurrent destination resorts within their sphere of nts Resort has made several changes in their plans to make themselves a good neighbor and it is my understanding that there are working further time. to satisfy all concerned but unfortunately you cannot please all the people all the This family water facility will make the Resort more attractive and will occupancy rate and thus allow the Resort to offer first enhance their class personal service while maintaining a stable work force. ` 1025 S. Palm Canyon Road •Palm Springs California 92262 • TEL 760.320.5303 FAX 760.320.4743 ENTER 2 lb ISES I N C O R P O R A T E D I hope that you find a positive position to this request and approve the Resolution during Your meeting in March it will be good for La request I admire the way you have approached this v devotion and courage are very obvious. No matter what theideci on the City Planners, your intensity, Legal Departments and all concerned have done a complete and thorough investigation. P.S. I do not spend my time in " Coachella" but rather four to five days in La Quinta sharing time with a beautiful, intelligent woman and enjoying all the services of the LiC. a IA002583 PA008219 1025 S. Palm Canyon Road Palm Springs , Callf0mia 92262 602489 TEL 7 2306 0 5303 FAX 760.320,4743 � I FEB 2 8 I c 26 February 2007 Dear Mayor Adolph,, I thank you for your support on the proposed by the La Quinta hotel. We thinking and your strong leadership question of the water park appreciated your straight of the council. Late in the evening the question was asked how many people will be eligible to use the Water Park facilities proposed by the hotel. Management prevaricated and never did give a definitive number that I could hear. At a meeting last summer they stated that there were then 2500 members. Since then there have been reports of memberships given to purchasers at Legacy Villas and Pointe Happy. So you would have to conclude that there are more than stated. This compounds traffic and parking problems that have not been adequately addressed. This is the kind of negative responses we get when we bring up problems of noise, traffic and parking. Essentially evasion or denial. Another subject that was mentioned but not discussed is the assumption that this proposed facility will bring more money into the city. And indeed it may if it was successful. But consider this. The Santa Rosa Cove BOA generates 1.4 million dollars in property tax revenue. That results in $98,000 being returned to the City of La Quints each year. And we have been doing this for over 25 years. I think our quiet neighborhood deserves to be protected from the chaos of a water park. The hotel management has,promoted an atmosphere of being a struggling little community asset that needs help to survive in a world of Wal-Mart type competition. I'm sure you know that this is not a Mom and Pop operation. It is a part of a multi billion dollar corporate business that frequently runs rough shod over private interests. Our home owners need the help of the city to protect our homes from that type of treatment and we feel our long term tax support makes us deserving of that help. Sincerely, Philip aschks Page i of 1 CC. Dear Mayor Adolph, I am providing one set of very recent pictures that speak for themselves, it is not okay to CA continue to block traffic and wilfully ignore the health r and safety of citizens of this on either Fernando r lt is not okay Obregon. The r lift / seventy foot container vans to block traffic, block emergency 1 I would res ctful lr n f Resort wants to impose a water feature on an area that cannot support a wading pool. - Pe r %,Al request that you circulate these recent photos (as recent as yesterday) and please ensure that they too areMAV made part of the record. Please also take note of the fact that Fernando does not meet the Code requirement of a private primary entrance sheet as it was Measured last week and is 36 feet wide. 1 need not provide the dimensions on Obregon as they are already well known. Please also share with our elected Councilpersons the information I have provided you relative to the misrepresentations made by the applicant regarding my access issues. Finally, I would last summer, uest that that the Council applicant stated that 50 additional keyat at e s were expected from attended, where you spoke Legacy Villas who would enjoy the water feature. How these people and other th children are going to get there in Is a safe manner and avoid seventy foot will has >he road nesdthefe ago oesrdea than onspecuieither Fernation. Oneando or certain. If these children walk they Obregon. I remind all of my elected representatives that zoning compliance and health and safety are required findings for the issuance of a conditional use permit. Thank you, Richard Fredericks I C,f, Ia3.rG,� 9F PT. .,...i no �M'7 A.v.e.:rs (mu,- RFreder929 Steve Davis 77-500 Avenida Fernando La Quinta, CA 92253 . To: La Quinta City Council NA /�,�-,� 11�7U, l�� r The attached should be self explanatory. As sh�&erwise xP ry livering it to you. Please do not do anything or approve anything which wi uec worsen an already absurd situation on Fernando. I do not believe you have the right to do so_ RECEIVED 2007 FEB 28 1 PM 2 19 The noise, exhaust and traffic on Fernando is overwhelming as it is. I can't imagine anybody approves of the trucks or overuse on that road. I have been forced to bring an action against certain entities related to or among the La Quints Resort. You have been noticed a copy of the Complaint. Please do not do anything which will force me to assert whatever rights I may have via the City. I have tried to be a decent member of this community. Fernando is a part of my property. I am unwilling to allow the Resort to take it through overuse and I will fight any efforts of the Resort to enlist the City. I am particularly bothered by the fact that the traffic consultants never contacted me or the Pugets. I am similarly bothered by the City's willingness to accept a 1977 EIR. I am available at 510-393-2414. Nobody from the Resort or the City has ever contacted me or the Pugets. Sincerely, Steve Davis 2/27/07 The attached summarizes the events of Monday, February 26, 2007, 1. At 7 am a medium size Penske yellow truck and a 2. New Century 53 foot container truck with a red cab lined up on Fernando. It took ten minutes for the trucks to access the Resort driveway. During that time the trucks were idling exhaust and noise directly down my driveway into my front yard and house. Mr. Markson was out on Fernando directing traffic. I was particularly bothered by this as similar truck patterns had occurred Saturday and Sunday. I was also bothered within the context of Mr. McCormick's presentations to the la Quinta Planning Commission and City Council. It seemed to me that Mr. McCormick had been _.. --- I was further bothered by the fact that he had indicated a desire to route shuttle buses down Fernando with homeowners from developments with no easement rights on Fernando. I went and bought a camera. 3. At 9:30 am a Speedway delivery truck, medium size, with a broken exhaust system arrived. This truck was spraying exhaust everywhere. It was very loud. It smelled up my yard. I took pictures of it idling and reversing on Fernando. I took pictures labeled 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. Picture 3a clearly shows the exhaust spewing from the truck. 4. At 9:30 am a Freightliner truck parked idling the wrong way on Fernando. The truck said American Fish. The driver left the truck. Se pictures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e. I took pictures of cars exiting the Resort driveway in reverse, backing out blind onto Fernando with their views blocked by the truck. See 4c, and 4d. 5. At 10:13 am an Enterprise truck stops face in the Resort driveway. . Lots of exhaust. Backs around to park. Lots of noise. 6. At 10:20 a 70 foot long truck with a 55 foot container arrives and takes over ten minutes to reverse into Resort driveway. Extreme noise and exhaust on my property. Traffic is backed up in both directions. See pictures 6a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, and 1. Truck leaves at 10:39 am. Cannot have unloaded that much. 7. 10:50 am. Two Fed Ex trucks. One a 55 foot container truck. I got pictures of second truck at my driveway, reversing on Fernando. See 7a and 7b. 8. 11:35 am Scully, Triple L Restaurant truck with a 53 foot container. Took 15 minutes to reverse into Resort Driveway. Went onto my driveway apron several times. Loss prevention was there but could not prevent it. Two trucks and several cars lined up idling in both directions on Fernando. Lots of fumes and noise. Took pictures 8a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, I, j, k,1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y. Pictures 81, m, n, o, p, q and r show traffic impact which is frequent on Fernando. Pictures 8s, t, u, and v are the trucks that were idling on Fernando while the Scully truck reversed. These trucks also reversed in past my driveway. Pictures 8w, x, and y show how inaccessible the Resort driveway becomes when just one large truck arrives. 9. " 11:40 am out of film. I went to get new camera. On Fernando idling were two Roadway medium size trucks. The drivers were out of the trucks walking down the Resort driveway. Gone for the rest of the afternoon. 10. Return at 4 pm. At 4:30 pm a large Roadway truck arrived and reversed down Fernando. Took pictures. At 4:58 pm same truck moves out of driveway into Resort delivery bay. I took pictures. -- - -J FRED AND EL.AINE PRE 6�� `, k DEFT 83-218 LAURENCE DRIVE CIK VISTA SANTA ROSA, CAL. 92274 TEL: 760 398-3544, FAX: 760 398-3545 EMAIL: FRED64FREDSPRESCOTT.COM, Feb. 23, 2007 Don Adolph, Mayor City of La Quinta P O Bog 1504 La Quinta, Ca. 92247, 92253 Dear Don, - . After reading the article in the 2/23/07 Desert Sun, copy attached,; regarding the annexation of Vista Santa Rosa by the City of La;Quinta, we wanted to add our names tothe more - than 85 residents of Vista Santa Rosa who want our community to be annexed -by La Quinta now. We purchased a second home in 1988 at PGA West. We loved driving along Jefferson Avenue on weekends when we visited PGA West which was located at that time in a rural area. Coming from Orange County, our home here in La Quinta offered the best of both worlds, a golfing community surrounded by beautiful open desert spaces. After we moved in 01/07 to Vista Santa Rosa, having lived in La Quinta 19 years-12 years part time and 7 years full time, we decided to purchase a home in rural Vista Santa Rosa. At that time and now also it has been highly published and advertised and common knowledge that the City of La Quinta was going to pursue a viable plan for annexation of Vista Santa Rosa into the City of La Quinta.' We absolutely; believe that, - Vista Santa Rosa has a lotto add to the La Quinta Community J because it is a chance for La Quinta to develop a new concept in residential growth that appeals to a growing number of people who like living in a rural environment with well defined and responsive City Services such as police, fire; roads etc. Please contact us if we can assist you in this annexation pur m . F ed aii E aine Prescott 760 398-3544, email: Fred(iffredSPrescott.com, Fax: 760 3998-3545, toll free: 866 898-3544. {I" CO 3 co y x m 0 I to a E N. _n U) jj i �.N C Ft b ry r N ►d �1 G 04 A 910 A I f 7 i i -Page 1 of 1 -- Wanda Wise -Latta From: Nancy White [nindoll@comcast.net] CM Sent: . Sunday, March 04, 2007 8:24 AM To: Wanda Wise -Latta Subject: water park Dear Ms. Latta, this is again an email for the mayor and council which I hope you shall convey to them. Thank you, Nancy White Dear Mayor Adolph, I feel a little like a broken record but one dares not let down one's guard relative to the proposed water park. It was such a wonderful ,albeit extremely late, moment when the votes were cast last month by you and the other council members ,but disheartening to know that we all had to continue to fight this monster. People hesitate to rewrite letters, deliver the same comments etc, so many, I fear, will simply be discouraged and worn down by this interminable process. I stayed up later at the council meeting than I even stay up on New Years Eve and I don't know how many times I can do that! Even that night many potential speakers gave up and lent so I fear the attrition will continue. We all, of course, got our meeting notices from the city ,however, we have no compromise plan to which to react, The notice still says 4.7 acres so it sounds as though there won't be any site xeduction...so what can the compromise be? Maybe 2 water slides instead of g, maybe a 25' high fake mountain instead of a 2811 feel sure the Hilton people, while appearing not to be too bright, are smart enough to have overstated their case to begin with in order to be able to say later that they -,compromised while ending up with exactly what they wanted in the fast place. I spent 13 years on the Planning Commission In Ann Arbor, Mi and I know this is one of the oldest tricks in the book ..... i.e. ask for more than you know you can get! Car salesmen do it, home sellers do it and developers do it! The last letter I wrote you begged you to save the integrity of this glorious old hotel and resort, which in turn reflects on the city of La Quinta. I must beg you again to get rid of this project altogether at the proposed location. Leave the tennis facility as it is, leave beautiful center court as it is. ... challenge this water park find a home somewhere else more in keeping with the nature of the beast. Thank you for your time and patience and service to La Quinta. Nancy White i VM07 Page i of 1 Ct Wanda Wise -Latta `h(+u From: Mittelbusher@aol.com �� Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 12:54 PM &_ To: Don Adolph Subject: Signature Pool Dear Mayor Adolph, I am a tennis member of the resort and my wife I stayed until the vote last Tuesday night A large group of tennis members plus year round residents of the Tennis Villas and Santa Rosa Cove want to thank you for your vote to decline the Site Development Permit to build the Signature Pool. We all were impressed with the promise that you elicited from the Resort that if the Signature Pool were built and if in fact the allowable noise levels exceeded City Code, the resort would close the pool until the noise level conformed to the maximum allowed of 60db. Please see the anticipated noise levels in the attached E-mail which were taken from Page 52 of the Addendum for the La Quinta Resort Signature Pool. Since the Resort seemed so sure the maximum noise levels would not violate City Code, HOW ABOUT ASKING THEM IF THEY WOULD AGREE TO SHUT DOWN CONSTRUCTION IF THE NOISE LEVELS GO ABOVE THE 60db. After reading condition 1 under the chart, I think it would be most interesting to hear their answer. Thank you again for your no vote. It will be remembered by a lot of full time residents like ourselves. Ed Mittelbusher 77-333 Calle Mazatlan AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about whats free from AOL at AOL.com. fY#MYf11YfiYf#YYfiflYYfflff#f#fif1fif11f AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http:/Iwww.aol.com. PH #A DATE: CASE NOS: APPLICANT: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: ENGINEER: REQUEST: PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT MARCH 13, 2007 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2007-102 CNL DESERT RESORTS, LLP (DAVID URBAN) EDSA KIDS CONSULTING CONSIDERATION TO ALLOW OPERATION OF A SIGNATURE POOL FACILITY INCLUDING MOVIE SCREENS LOCATION: WEST SIDE OF AVENIDA OBREGON, APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET SOUTH OF AVENIDA FERNANDO ON THE LA QUINTA RESORT GROUNDS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: THE LA QUINTA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS CAUSED TO BE PREPARED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2006-573 (AN ADDENDUM TO FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR) NUMBER 41 AND TO A SERIES OF SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW DOCUMENTS) FOR THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT OF 1970, AS AMENDED. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE LA QUINTA RESORT DO NOT REQUIRE A SUBSEQUENT EIR, SUPPLEMENTAL EIR OR A NEGATIVE DECLARATION/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION, SINCE THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 15162 OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES DO NOT EXIST, IN THAT THERE WILL BE NO NEW OR MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS THAN THOSE DISCLOSED IN THE PRIOR EIR NUMBER 41 AND THE CEQA COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS APPROVED SUBSEQUENTLY. THE MODIFICATIONS PROPOSED AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE MODIFICATIONS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT DO NOT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS EIR, OR THE SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS, DUE TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF NEW SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OR A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE SEVERITY OF PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS. IN ADDITION, THERE IS NO NEW INFORMATION OF SUBSTANTIAL IMPORTANCE WHICH WOULD TRIGGER THE REQUIREMENT OF A SUBSEQUENT EIR, SUPPLEMENTAL EIR OR NEGATIVE DECLARATION/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15162(A)(3). THEREFORE, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS RECOMMENDING CERTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2006-573 IF THE PROJECT IS TO BE APPROVED. THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT ITS MEETING OF FEBRUARY 13, 2007, DURING CONSIDERATION OF SDP 2006-865 ADOPTED A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFICATION OF AN ADDENDUM TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR NO. 41), AND SUBSEQUENT CEQA COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS, FOR LA QUINTA COVE GOLF CLUB REVISED SPECIFIC PLAN 121-E (1975), AS AMENDED, PREPARED FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2006-865 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2007-102. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THIS ADDENDUM AT ITS CONTINUED MEETING OF MARCH 20, 2007 WHEN IT CONSIDERS SDP 2006-865 AND CUP 2007-102. SURROUNDING LAND USES: NORTH: TENNIS VILLAS AND DATE PALM GROVE SOUTH: TENNIS COURTS, TENNIS VILLAS, SPA VILLAS AND SPA LA QUINTA EAST: AVENIDA OBREGON WITH THE HOTEL GROUNDS BEYOND WEST: TENNIS COURTS AND TENNIS VILLAS GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION: CT (TOURIST COMMERCIAL) ZONING DESIGNATION: TC (TOURIST COMMERCIAL) REQUIREMENT FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT: The original Specific Plan for the La Quinta Resort was approved by the County of Riverside in 1975. The La Quinta Resort is required to comply with all applicable development regulations including the provisions and standards set forth in the current La Quinta Resort Specific Plan 121-E, Amendment #5. Adopted in 2001, Amendment #5 of the La Quinta Resort Specific Plan identifies permitted and conditional land uses, requiring Conditional Use Permit(s) for "pool/spa and water park uses" and "theaters, live or motion picture -indoor or out". The Specific Plan does allow pools via the Site Development Permit. The Specific Plan is not clear on how to clearly delineate the type of permit for all of the proposed land uses. Therefore, the proposed signature pool facility must obtain a Conditional Use Permit in addition to a Site Development Permit. A Conditional Use Permit application was not processed with EA 2006-573 (EA) and SDP 2006-865 (SDP) that the Commission considered on February 13, 2007. At that hearing the Commission took action to recommend approval of EA 2006-573 (on a 4-0 vote) and sent the SDP to City Council without recommendation because their motion to approve the SDP resulted in a tie vote. The City Council considered EA 2006-573 and SDP 2006-865 at its meeting of February 20, 2007. It was at this hearing that the need for the CUP was discussed and the City Council directed staff to process a CUP in conjunction with the SDP. The City Council continued EA 2006-573 and SDP 2006-865 to the meeting of March 20, 2007 to allow this CUP review by the Planning Commission. The Commission's action on this CUP application will be forwarded to the City Council for final action, which will be addressed concurrently with the EA and SDP applications. The SDP application was not referred back to the Planning Commission and is not subject to Planning Commission review. For purposes of the Planning Commission's consideration, the focus of the public hearing and Commission discussion and action should be on the daily operation of the SDP as it is currently proposed. The City Council will, at its March 20, 2007 meeting, continue its evaluation of the SDP. The purpose of a CUP is to provide for individual approval, conditional approval, or denial of proposed land uses. Uses requiring these permits have potential for adverse impacts to surrounding properties and/or residents. Therefore, when such uses are approved, conditions are placed on their establishment and operation to mitigate and/or eliminate impacts. If the Planning Commission recommends approval of this CUP, the recommendation should include requirements that ensure it is established and operated in a manner that will not be detrimental to the surrounding properties. The Planning Commission has the discretion to consider the appropriateness of the proposed CUP, proposed conditions, and any other recommendations that it determines as appropriate. BACKGROUND: The subject property is on the grounds of the La Quinta Resort which opened in 1926 and is located on the west side of Eisenhower Drive, south of Avenida Fernando. The site proposed for the "Signature Pool" facility is on the west side of Avenida Obregon, south of Avenida Fernando, private streets within the 62 acre resort (Attachment 1). The La Quinta Resort and Club (originally the La Quinta Hotel) opened in 1926 with 20 casitas, a lobby area and one restaurant. Over the years it has been expanded and modified to include 62 acres and over 800 rooms. Relevant Resort development modifications and additions over the years have included: 1926 Opened on December 26, 1926. 1927 Installed nine -hole golf course, the first course built in the Coachella Valley. 1937 Added the first swimming pool to the resort. 1940's Constructed the Tennis Club offering 30 courts with a choice of hard, grass and clay surfaces (presently there are 23 tennis courts). 1980 Constructed two 18-hole golf courses. 1984 Between 1980 and 1984, constructed 193 casitas and suites with swimming pools, the original Signature Pool (now replaced with sunken center tennis court), the Frank Capra Ballroom and two suites. 1987 Constructed its third 18-hole golf course. 1988 Constructed 371 casitas and a number of swimming pools, the retail area (The Plaza), and,two restaurants (Morgan's and Adobe Grill). 1994 Constructed the Flores Ballroom. 1998 Constructed the 23,000 square foot Spa La Quinta and Spa Villas bringing the guestroom total to a little over 800 guestrooms. The 4.7 ± acre site of the proposed "Signature Pool" or water feature presently is developed with Resort recreational facilities, including ten tennis courts (of the total 23 courts), the main Resort swimming pool, landscaped grounds, a children's playground, the Morgan House, and several other buildings. Landscaping consists of a large number of mature Palm and Olive trees. Nine tennis courts, the center court tennis stadium, a restroom/office building, the main outdoor swimming pool and playground area will be removed to facilitate the new water feature. Two of the three retained buildings will be used as part of the proposed pool facility. The remaining Morgan House which has been closed to Resort and public use for approximately one year due to seismic safety concerns will be retained as is with a safety fence installed around it. PROJECT PROPOSAL: Site Development Permit The proposed SDP is to construct and operate a Signature Pool" water feature on the 4.7 acre site, fronting on Avenida Obregon, a 20-foot wide private street (curb to curb) as a part of the Resorts facilities. The SDP would include several related water and pool amenities (Attachment 2). Proposed amenities include two artificial rock formations for a splashdown pool for three slides and a wave pool, a lazy river that proceeds in a circular loop, a formal outdoor pool with terraces, private pool -side cabanas an arrival plaza building, children's outdoor play area and pool, a game room with first aid center, indoor and outdoor dining areas, and chaise lounge deck areas. A project description which includes a background on the Resort has been submitted by the applicant (Attachment 3). r The water feature is intended to increase the summer off-season occupancy rate (48%) at the Resort to levels closer to the in -season rate of 75%. The water feature will be open only to Resort guests and La Quinta Resort Club paid members and their children under the age of 23 who are living at home, attending school on a full time basis or in the military. Member's guests will not be allowed to use the facility. It will not be open to the general public at any time, nor available for use by guests of the applicant's other Valley hotels. The proposed water feature (water slides, wave pool and lazy river) was originally proposed to be open, daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and on weekends the remainder of the year. In addition, the proposed project would be open daily during Thanksgiving week, from Christmas through New Year's Day, on Presidents' Day weekend, and for one to three weeks during the Spring break period. The formal swimming pool, spa, and children's pools and playground would be open daily with varying hours. The pedestrian entry to the water feature will be on Avenida Obregon in approximately in the middle of the frontage in the area where an existing turnaround exists. This turnaround will be maintained and used for loading and unloading of guests using the facility. All pedestrian entrance and exiting the water feature will be at this controlled point. Also as a part of the proposed project, a raised median (10 feet wide and 50 feet long) with a turn -around area would be constructed in Avenida Obregon, immediately south of the Avenida Fernando intersection to control and facilitate vehicle circulation and access in this part of the Resort. Private property owners and their guests adjacent to Avenida Obregon will continue to have unrestricted access through this entry to their properties. An option is to install vehicle control gates just south of the median now or in the future if needed to regulate traffic going to the water feature. The private property owners adjacent to Avenida Obregon would have full access through the vehicle gate if such a gate is required in the future. This new entry would require removal of nine perpendicular resort parking spaces and relocation of the adjacent resort wall on the east side of Avenida Obregon, adjacent to the new median. The site grading will generally be the same as or in many areas slightly lower than the adjacent grades. For example, adjacent to the Tennis Villas to the north in the area of the current connecting walkway the finish surface next to the lazy river is shown four feet below the walk on the Tennis Villas site. On the south side of the site next to the Tennis Villas the proposed grade is approximately the same as the villas side. Architecture/Buildings/Structures The existing Tennis Club building near the northwest corner of the site will be expanded slightly to provide tennis locker rooms, tennis pro -shop office, and video school. These facilities are currently within the project site on the west side of the restaurant building. f, ^ 7 The current "L" shaped restaurant and bar in the middle of the site will be retained and used as part of the facility. A portion of the building at the northwest corner containing restrooms, lockers, library and the tennis video school office will be removed and relocated to the expanded Tennis Club building as noted above. Adjacent to the west side of the restaurant a small one-story first aid and game room will be constructed. A basement will be provided and is noted to be for pool equipment. A new one-story building will be constructed at the facility entry adjacent to Avenida Obregon. The building height will not exceed 15 feet. It will function as the secured entry and exit into the facility as well as housing restrooms, a retail area, office, and maintenance and service rooms. The remaining structures on the project site will consist primarily of trellises and pool cabanas. As a part of the project two artificial rock formations will be constructed at the west end of the site. The larger of the two will be the southernmost formation at 28 feet in height measured from the finish grade of the site. It will house three water slides that empty into an adjacent pool which is to the east of the structure. This structure is approximately 180 feet from the closest one story Tennis Villa to the north, 28 feet from the closest two-story Tennis Villa to the south and 25 feet from the tennis court to the west. To the south there are no outdoor living spaces for the two-story residential units next to the project site.. The finish grade at the base of this structure is approximately .5 feet lower than the adjacent grade of the closest Tennis Villa to the south. The second rock formation to the north of the above -described structure will be 18.5 feet high measured from the finish grade of the site and will contain wave making equipment for an adjacent wave pool to the east. This structure is approximately 62 feet from the closest Tennis Villa to the north, 138 feet from the closest Tennis Villa to the south and 38 feet from the tennis court to the west. The finish grade at the base of this formation adjacent to the Tennis Villas to the north is, approximately 4.5 feet lower than the villas yards. Movie projector equipment will also be housed in this structure for use with a removable screen on the outside of the foundation facing east toward the pool for evening movies. The lazy river which will allow people to tube along its length will meander in an irregular circle around the wave pool, its artificial rock structure, and a portion of the lounging area. This river will meander adjacent to the Tennis Villas to the north with distances generally between 18 feet to 35 feet away from the face of the building to the edge of the lazy river. The water surface of the river is proposed to be approximately six feet lower than the grade of the adjacent Tennis Villas yards to the north. Landscaping Landscaping plans show an extensive use of trees and shrubs with an emphasis on color. Planting materials are to a great extent low water use plants. Specific tree types and locations are shown with sizes varying from 24-inch to 48-inch box size. One of the main trees to be used throughout the site is Date Palm trees at 15 feet of clear trunk height. California Fan palms will be used extensively and will be between 15 feet to 25 feet clear trunk height. A copy of the City Council report on the SDP and Addendum to the EIR are attached as additional background (Attachment 4). CUP Proposal As part of the CUP application material, the applicant has prepared an application booklet (Attachment'2). In addition to a project exhibit list, the application includes a project narrative, which identifies commitments being made by the Resort to address potential impacts relevant to parking, traffic control, construction management, road and access improvements and security. See pages one to four for a description of the application's proposed operational criteria for the CUP. Information provided in the application booklet identifies that the applicant has stated they will not show evening movies and not open the water slides, wave pool and lazy river from January 1 to March 15 of each year (Attachment 2 — Page 4). The applicant states, as is the case now in open areas of the project site, the deck and open landscaped areas will continue to be used for special events such as receptions, dinners, and meetings in conjunction with conference guests. Provisions for showing movies have been provided on the side of the rock formation facing the wave pool. As noted, the applicant has agreed to not showing movies from January 1 to March 15 of each year. The applicant has also stated in their CUP application that after one year of operation they will review the previous year's security effectiveness to determine if any improvements should be made to the Resorts use of the pool facilities related to hours of operation. The CUP application also identifies that safety and security employees will be retained to specifically help with traffic control, noise and general security of the Signature Pool The applicant states they will temporarily shut down operation of the active water features (wave pool, slides and lazy river) if the City notifies them that the City's Noise Ordinance maximums are exceeded. The applicant will then take whatever steps necessary to correct the problem before re -opening those facilities. Parking/Circulation The applicant is not proposing to provide new parking spaces for the Signature Pool area. The applicant states that it is not increasing the number of Resort rooms and users of the water feature will be Resort guests and La Quinta Club members who are already using the existing facilities. As a part of the Addendum a parking analysis was conducted and submitted by the applicant (Attachment 5). During in -season and busy periods the Resort requires employees to park at an off -site parking lot on Calle Tampico and provides shuttles to and from the Resort. This will continue to be utilized when the water feature is in operation. Additionally, guest shuttles will be provided to the water feature and adjacent Spa La Quinta from the main parking lot to the east, the valet area and other parts of the Resort. This will reduce the need to drive cars to the site from other areas of the Resort. The gated or manned station on Avenida Obregon, when in use, will direct traffic.to the most appropriate parking area to ensure parking problems in the water feature area are avoided and Avenida Obregon remains accessible to emergency vehicles and residential property owners who use the street for access to their residences. In order to widen a portion of the street and provide a median and controlled access on Avenida Obregon at Avenida Fernando, nine perpendicular parking spaces are being removed on the east side of Avenida Obregon. Five perpendicular spaces are proposed to be installed just south of the adjacent Spa La Quinta entrance, along with new decorative street paving in front of the Spa's entry. This new parking area is presently a landscape planter. The five existing spaces in front of the Spa will be removed so that the new decoratively paved area can be used for drop off and pick up of Spa customers. Avenida Obregon due to its 20 foot width does not allow parallel parking on either side of the street. With this project that restriction will continue. ISSUES/ANALYSIS: As previously stated, the purpose of a CUP is to provide for individual approval, conditional approval, or denial of proposed land uses and operational conditions. Conditions of Approval are typically imposed to specifically address potential adverse impacts to surrounding properties and/or residents. Thus, operational management/control is established with a CUP versus conditions specific site improvements, which are typically found with Site Development Permits. Conditions of Approval for a CUP can include time sensitive criteria, operational criteria and consequences for failure to comply. Additionally greater potential exists for a Conditional Use Permit to be revoked should there be violations to the conditions set forth. Any consideration for revocation must be conducted in accordance with La Quinta Municipal Code Section 9.200.130. Multiple issues have been identified as part of the analysis of the proposed CUP application. The following categories provide analysis of the major identified issues: Parking As previously noted, no additional parking facilities are proposed to be provided for this use to offset the lost of the nine spaces on Avenida Obregon. The applicant states there will not be an increased parking demand that will exceed the existing parking capacity because the pool feature is geared to increasing the Resorts occupancy during the 48% off-season summer month occupancy when parking spaces are readily available. Subsequent to the Planning Commission hearing, the Resort prepared a Traffic Volume and Parking Conditions Study dated February 12, 2007 (Attachment 6). This study showed that on February 9, 2007, the Resort had adequate parking available and the on -site private streets operated at an acceptable level of service. Also, based on their research relating to Resort facility usage, the applicant states Citrus Club members who potentially could use the proposed water feature primarily use the Resort for golf and fitness and make very minimal use of the existing pools. Lastly, less than 20% of these members have qualified children who could potentially use the pool feature (Attachment 7). Staff recommends that if the City determines insufficient parking exists, or that the Parking Management Program is not working, and/or that traffic flow is not operating adequately, up to three parking management studies over three years shall be completed to determine how to resolve any parking issues. Any improvements recommended by these studies are required to be implemented within one year of their requirement. The applicant has incorporated into the CUP packet language consistent with the previously recommended SDP conditions. The date palm grove at the northwest corner of Avenida Obregon and Avenida Fernando presently is used for conference related activities on occasion. It is recommended that this grove be reserved for future parking or loading and unloading if deemed necessary by the City. A Parking Management Program is recommended to require parking permits and identify provisions for ticketing and/or towing of violators during high demand in -season periods. The Resort presently operates an on -site shuttle service throughout the Resort that will continue when the project is operational. A Condition of Approval is recommended requiring the shuttle service be extended to serve the water feature. This should minimize demand for parking in the signature pool area. The CUP booklet also identifies the addition of Resort staff to assist with parking management and the establishment of a "parking/traffic hotline". These efforts will help with directing Resort and club guests to the appropriate parking areas and should also help minimize any demand for parking near the Signature Pool entrance. Another important component to addressing parking is s'ignage. Improvements to the Resorts sign program that direct Resort and club guests to the appropriate parking areas would also assist with minimizing the demand for parking near the signature pool entrance. Refer to proposed Condition Nos. 7-15 for parking and other operational control measures. Traffic/Circulation As a part of the Avenida Obregon entry median area south of Avenida Fernando, staff recommended during the SDP application process the Community Development Director has the right to require the gates be installed and operated during periods of increased parking demand due to high water feature attendance. The applicant has proposed similar language in the CUP application. Once the gates are required to be used and until the gates are installed, the Resort will provide a person to man the entry and control traffic allowed to enter the area. During operation of the gates or when it is manned, this entry area will also become the drop-off turnaround for water feature users. Avenida Obregon is a 20 foot wide private street (curb to curb) that does not allow parallel parking on either side. It is red curbed and signed as a fire lane with no parallel parking allowed. There have been times when guests, employees, and service vehicles have parallel and double parked along the street violating the fire lane restriction as well as making use of the street difficult. The City's Code Compliance Department has in the past, received complaints regarding parking on the street. As a result, monitoring of the area has resulted in the issuance of five citations in the last 11 months. Regular monitoring of the street for parking violations is done by the City's Code Compliance Department. The gate operation requirement noted above will help to alleviate this problem. In addition, the previously noted "parking/traffic hotline" will provide opportunity for direct contact to and quick response from the Resort "traffic control officer" to any reported concerns. Noise As a part of the Addendum, an acoustical analysis of mechanical equipment use and expected operational conditions, was prepared (Attachment 8). In summary, the findings of the study show that the proposed project will operate in compliance with City noise standards. Furthermore, the amount of noise increase over existing noise levels near the proposed Signature Pool project will not be significant. As previously noted, the applicant has proposed with this application a condition specific to addressing noise abatement. The applicant references the City's Municipal Code Section 9.100.210(c) as the governing standard to identify any potential violations. In addition to this provision, staff is also addressing Municipal Code Section 11.08.040, which provides the ability to address noise related to specific nuisance occurrences which may not necessarily exceed noise limits but do impact the neighbors quality of life. Recorded and possibly live music, is proposed to be played through a ground -mounted speaker system throughout the facility. This can be expected to be played during hours the facility is opened In order to not impact the adjacent residential owners, live music or amplified entertainment, broadcasting is recommended to not be allowed in the lazy river, slide, wave pool areas and children's area. Movies will be played in evening hours on occasions. Showing of these movies could impact the adjacent residential owners, and therefore, it is recommended that they end no later than 9:45 p.m. Most of the private residential Tennis Villas units adjacent to the site have small outdoor patios adjacent to the water feature's property line. Presently there are chain link tennis fences (with green mesh cloth) adjacent to block retaining walls on the tennis court/Tennis Villas boundary. Most of the area between the fencing and retaining walls is planted with citrus trees that provide a visual screen between the uses. With this water feature the fences and possibly the trees, depending on where the property line is, will be removed. Staff is recommending the Resort be required to work with Tennis Villas homeowners immediately adjacent to the Signature Pool .to construct a five to six foot garden wall to create an outdoor patio within the turf areas located between the Signature Pool property line and the Tennis Villas. If a homeowner chooses not to have this wall constructed, the Resort may construct a six foot high screen wall on its northerly or southerly property line. See Condition No. 34 for additional details. Construction Parking The applicant has included in the CUP booklet conditions specific to the construction parking. These conditions are generally consistent with staff's recommended conditions identified during the SDP application process. These conditions with staff's recommended modifications should minimize the impact of construction vehicles upon the existing private streets and prevent large construction vehicles from parking adjacent to residential properties. Operations An issue raised has been the number of patrons using the facility at any one time. It is recommended the maximum number of water feature patrons shall not exceed 1,800 at any one time. Furthermore, outdoor meetings, dinners, receptions, etc. held within the water feature area shall not exceed 1,000 persons and shall end no later than 9:45 p.m. (this includes clean-up and breakdown). No outdoor live or recorded entertainment shall be permitted within the active pool area. Site Design As designed, the lazy river and some lounging areas are located as close as 4± feet from the shared property line with the Tennis Villas. In order to increase privacy for the owners it is recommended a minimum 20 foot setback from the north property line to the lazy river, with no patron access to the lazy river, be permitted (emergency and safety access is permitted). RESPONSE TO MR. FREDRICKS: The Mayor and City Council have received a letter from Mr. Richard R. Fredricks' attorney (Demetrious, Del Guerio, Springer & Francis, LLP) regarding the proposed CUP and SDP. The letter (Attachment 9) references a number of concerns regarding the legal and physical condition of Avenida Obergon. The City does not dispute the fact that Avenida Obergon provides access between Avenida Fernando and the Fredricks' estate. This condition has existed for many years and the physical improvement of Avenida Obergon has been modified over the years. The proposed SDP and the recommended Conditions of Approval for the CUP have been carefully revised by the City to ensure that the current conditions are upgraded as follows: 1. A new entry area with turnaround at Avenida Obergon and Avenida Fernando will be provided. 2. Relocation of parking in front of Spa La Quinta with a new drop-off area at the Spa provided.: 3. Installation of decorative crosswalks on Avenida Obregon. 4. The City can require up to three parking studies with improvements if problems arise after the facility opens. 5. A Parking Management Program will be required to monitor parking and assure on -street restrictions are enforced. 6. Shuttle service will assure guests do not need to drive to the facility from other parts of the Resort. 7. New Resort parking and traffic employees will be hired specifically to monitor parking and traffic conditions in the water feature and adjacent roadway areas and resolve problems as they arise. 8. Should the gates at Avenida Obregon and Avenida Fernando be used, all property owners of private property that take access from Avenida Obregon will continue to have access at no cost to them. 9. A parking/traffic hotline will be implemented by the'Resort with immediate response required. Based upon the physical and management improvements to be implemented with this project, City staff believes that the access along Avenida Obergon will be improved and not degraded. c fl PUBLIC NOTICE: This application was advertised in the Desert Sun newspaper on March 2, 2007. All property owners in, and within 500 feet of the site were mailed a copy of the public hearing notice as required by the La Quinta Municipal Code. Additionally, any persons who sent a letter or e-mail to the City regarding the project were also sent a notice. As of this writing, letters have been received and are attached for your review (Attachment 10). FINDINGS: The Findings as required by Section 9.210.020 (Conditional Use Permits) of the Zoning Code can be made as noted below. 1. Compliance with the General Plan - The project site within the La Quinta Resort is designated by the General Plan and applicable Specific Plan 121-E, Amendment #5 as Tourist Commercial which includes recreational uses. This designation permits the Resort and related recreational uses such as the proposed Signature Pool water feature. Furthermore, the project site has been used for various Resort -related recreational uses, including a previous "Signature Pool" where the sunken tennis court presently exists. Therefore, the project is in compliance with the General Plan and Specific Plan. 2. Compliance with the Zoning Code - The City Zoning Map and applicable Specific Plan 121-E, Amendment #5 zone the project site within the La Quinta Resort as Tourist Commercial. This designation permits the Resort and related recreational uses such as the proposed Signature Pool water feature with approval of a CUP. Applicable development standards are complied with based on the proposed plans and recommended Conditions of Approval. 3. Compliance with CEQA - The La Quinta Community Development Department has caused to, be prepared Environmental Assessment 2006-573 (an Addendum to Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Number 41 and to a series of subsequently approved environmental review documents) for this Site Development Permit in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as Amended. The Community Development Department has determined that the proposed modifications to the La Quinta Resort do not require a subsequent EIR, Supplemental EIR or a Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration, since the circumstances described in Section 15162 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines do not exist, in that there will, be no new or more significant impacts than those disclosed in the prior EIR Number 41 and the CEQA compliance documents approved subsequently. The modifications proposed and the circumstances under which the modifications would be carried out do not require substantial changes to the previous EIR, or the Subsequent Environmental documents, due to the involvement of new significant environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In addition, there is no new information of substantial importance which would trigger the requirement of a subsequent EIR, supplemental EIR or Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with Section 15162(a)(3). Therefore, upon certification of Environmental Assessment 2006- 573 the project is in compliance with CEQA requirements. 4. Compatibility with Surrounding Uses- The water feature is surrounded by Resort and residential uses, some of which have no association with the Resort or its operation. The property to the west consists of tennis courts that are part of the Resort. To the east are Resort rooms that are operated as part of the Resort, and Resort homes, many of which are rented out as part of the Resort even though they are privately owned. The property to the south consists of Spa La Quinta, tennis courts and several Tennis Villas, only one of which abuts the subject property. These Villas are privately owned properties and some are rented out as part of the Resort. The project will incorporate measures to provide compatibility with the surrounding residential uses, such as sound attenuation through walls, lowering finish grades, limitation on hours of operation, extensive planting, parking controls, construction restrictions, etc. CONCLUSION: Since its opening approximately 80 years ago, the Resort has grown and continuously evolved over the years. It began with 20 casitas' and one restaurant. Significant expansions and modifications have occurred to now include 62 acres and over 800 rooms, along with extensive recreational activities including golf, tennis, fitness, biking, and water activities. This proposed Signature Pool project represents yet another step in the evolution of the recreational activities at the Resort. The provisions designed into the water feature and recommended Conditions of Approval ensure the feature and its operation will be compatible with the surrounding properties and land, uses and if problems arise, they can be addressed. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2007- recommending to the City Council approval of Conditional Use Permit 2007-102, subject to the attached Conditions of Approval. Attachments: 1. Location Map 2. Plan exhibit booklet - large attachment 3. Signature Pool project description 4. City Council report for March 6, 2007 5. Parking analysis 6. Current Traffic and Volume Parking Conditions Study 7. Letter from Paul J. McCormick dated January 11, 2007 8. Acoustical Analysis 9. Letter from Demetriou,. Del Guerio, Springer & Francis, LLP dated March 2, 2007 10. Letters received from public Transmitted by: Stan Sawa, Principal Planner PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2007- A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF A SIGNATURE POOL FACILITY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF AVENIDA OBREGON, APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET SOUTH OF AVENIDA FERNANDO ON THE LAQUINTA RESORT GROUNDS. CASE NO.: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2007-102 APPLICANT: CNL DESERT RESORTS, LLP WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta did on the 131h day of March 13, 2007, hold a duly noticed public hearing to consider the request by CNL Desert Resorts, LLP for approval of a Conditional ,Use Permit to allow a Signature Pool facility located on the west side of Avenida Obregon, approximately 150 feet south of Avenida Fernando on the La Quinta Resort grounds, more particularly described as: ALL OR PORTIONS OF APN'S: 658-161-054, 055, 058, 061, 062 WHEREAS, THE Community Development Department published a public hearing notice in the Desert Sun newspaper on the 2ntl day of March, 2007, as prescribed by the Municipal Code. Public hearing notices were also mailed to all property owners within 500 feet of the Resort site and all persons who submitted written correspondence to the City; and WHEREAS, the La Quinta Community Development Department has caused to be prepared Environmental Assessment 2006-573 (an Addendum to Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Number 41 and to a series of subsequently approved environmental review documents) for this Site Development Permit in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended. The Community Development Department has determined that the proposed modifications to the La Quinta Resort do not require a Subsequent EIR, Supplemental EIR or a Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration, since the circumstances described in Section 15162 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines do not exist, in that there will be no new or more significant impacts than those disclosed in the prior EIR Number 41 and the CEQA compliance documents approved subsequently. The modifications proposed and the Planning Commission Resolution 2007- Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: circumstances under which the modifications would be carried_ out do not require substantial changes to the previous EIR, or the subsequent environmental documents, due to the involvement of new significant environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In addition, there is no new information of substantial importance which would trigger the requirement of a Subsequent EIR, Supplemental EIR or Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with Section 15162(a)(3). Therefore, the Community Development Department is recommending certification of Environmental Assessment 2006-573 if the project is to be approved; and WHEREAS, at said public hearing upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons desiring to be heard, said Planning Commission did find the following facts and reasons to justify recommending to the City Council approval of said Conditional Use Permit: 1. Compliance with the General Plan - The project site within the La Quinta Resort is designated by the General Plan and applicable Specific Plan 121 E, Amendment #5 as Tourist Commercial. This Tourist Commercial designation permits the Resort and related recreational uses such as the proposed Signature Pool water feature. Furthermore, the project site has been used for various Resort related recreational uses, including a previous "Signature Pool" where the sunken tennis courts presently exist. Therefore, the project is in compliance with the General Plan and Specific Plan. 2. Compliance with the Zoning Code - The City Zoning Map and applicable Specific Plan 121 E, Amendment #5 designates the zoning of the project site within the La Quinta Resort as Tourist Commercial. This designation permits the resort and related recreational uses such as the proposed Signature Pool water feature. Applicable development standards are complied with based on the proposed plans, operation and recommended Conditions of Approval. No structures proposed exceed the 40 feet height limit nor are they setback less than the required 15 feet from residentially zoned properties. 3. Compliance with CEQA - The La Quinta Community Development Department has caused to be prepared Environmental Assessment 2006-573 (an Addendum to Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Number 41 and to a series of subsequently approved environmental review documents) for this Site Development Permit in compliance with the' requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as Amended. Planning Commission Resolution 2007- Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: The Community Development Department has determined that the proposed modifications to the La Quinta Resort do not require a subsequent EIR, Supplemental. EIR or a Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration, since the circumstances described in Section 15162 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines do no exist, in that there will be no new or more significant impacts than those disclosed in the prior EIR Number 41 and the CEQA compliance documents approved subsequently. The modifications proposed and the circumstances under which the modifications would be carried out do not require substantial changes to the previous EIR, or the Subsequent Environmental documents, due to the involvement of new significant environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In addition, there is no new information of substantial importance which would trigger the requirement of a subsequent EIR, supplemental EIR or Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with Section 15162(a)(3). Therefore, upon certification of Environmental Assessment 2006-573 the project is in compliance with CEQA requirements. 4. Surrounding Uses - The recommended Conditions of Approval and site design of the project ensure that the Water Feature will operate in a manner that will minimize the impacts to the adjacent residential uses. Furthermore, the Conditions of Approval require problems or issues to be reviewed and resolved. The property to the south consists of Spa La Quinta, tennis courts and several Tennis Villas, only one of which abuts the subject property. To the north are a number of Tennis Villas. These Villas are privately owned properties and some are rented out as part of the Resort. The project as proposed will incorporate measures to provide compatibility with the surrounding residential uses, such as sound attenuation through walls, lowering finish grades, extensive planting, parking controls, construction restrictions, etc. Conditions of Approval that ensure compatibility include, but are not limited to, the following: A. Parking studies and improvements will be required to eliminate problems that arise once the use is in operation. Planning Commission Resolution 2007- Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: B. New Resort parking and traffic control employees will be assigned to . the Water Feature area. _ C. A parking management plan will be developed and implemented in conjunction with the completion of the Water Feature. D. The Date Palm grove at the corner of Avenida Obregon and Avenida Fernando will be reserved for future use as a parking and/or loading area should it be determined by the City it is needed. E. Improvements to Avenida Obregon and access to it will ensure adequate parking and circulation is maintained. F. Days and hours of operation and allowable activities will be regulated to ensure that it is compatible with adjacent properties. G. Noise generated by the use and lighting used is required to comply with applicable City Requirements. This includes provisions to correct violations of City noise standards. H. Requirements for new masonry walls adjacent to the existing residential uses are provided to ensure privacy is maintained. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California, as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct and constitute the findings of the Planning Commission in this case. 2. That Environmental Assessment 2006-573 (an Addendum to Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) number 41 and to a series of subsequently approved environmental review documents) for this Conditional Use Permit has been prepared and is in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended, and is recommended for certification. 3. That it does hereby recommend to the City Council approval of the above - described Conditional Use Permit request for the reasons set forth in this Resolution, subject to the attached Conditions of Approval. Planning Commission Resolution 2007- Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, L P Adopted: PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission held on this .13`h day of March, 2007, by the following vote to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Paul Quill, Chairman City of La Quinta, California ATTEST: DOUGLAS R. EVANS Community Development Director City of La Quinta, California PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2007-_ CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - RECOMMENDED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2007-102 CNL DESERT RESORTS, LLP ADOPTED: GENERAL 1. The applicant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City of La Quinta ("City"), its agents, officers and employees from any claim, action or proceeding to attack, set aside, void, or annul the approval of this Conditional Use Permit and related approvals, including but not limited to any California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance document recorded thereunder or any other action against the City. The City shall have sole discretion in selecting its defense counsel. The City shall promptly notify the applicant of any claim, action or proceeding and shall cooperate fully in the defense. 2. The applicant shall comply with all final Conditions of Approval for Site Development 2006-865 prior to opening, during the life of the project or as specifically required. 3. Permits issued under this approval shall be subject to the provisions of the Infrastructure Fee Program and Development Impact Fee program in effect at the time of issuance of building permit(s). 4. This Conditional Use Permit (CUP) shall expire 24 months after its effective date if not used or implemented unless a legal action is filed challenging the CUP approval. In such event, the running of the 24-month period shall be tolled during the pendency of litigation challenging the CUP and any other action challenging the approval of this CUP or related. Site Development Permit, and any related CEQA compliance documents. PROPERTY RIGHTS 5. The applicant shall retain for private use all private, street rights -of -way in conformance with the City's General Plan, Municipal Code, applicable Specific Plans, Site Development Permit, and Conditional Use Permit Conditions of Approval, and/or as required by the City Engineer. TRAFFIC/PARKING 6. Parking Study/Studies may be required to evaluate parking conditions and requirements from on -site and off -site traffic to recommend parking management adjustments as noted below. The requirements for possible parking studies are as follows: Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-_ Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: A. If required by the Community Development Director, the applicant shall complete up to three parking studies after the Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. B. The applicant is required (prior to issuance of the grading permit) to deposit with the City of La Quinta cash in the amount of $35,000 to be placed in a drawdown account for parking studies. After up to three studies are completed or within three years from the facility opening date the balance of the unexpended funds shall be refunded to the applicant. C. Prior to issuance of first building permit, the applicant shall enter into a Parking Study Agreement with the City of La Quinta. If parking studies are required by the City after the Certificate of Occupancy has been issued, the applicant shall fund all. expenses for up to three Parking Studies/evaluations that assess parking impacts associated with this Site Development Permit. The Parking Study/Studies is/are required to evaluate parking conditions and requirements from on -site and off -site traffic and must recommend parking management adjustments, or construction of additional parking facilities, if needed. The Parking Study/Studies shall be performed by a qualified Traffic Engineering or Parking Consultant, reviewed by the Community Development and Public Works Directors and approved by the Community Development Director. The applicant is required to pay for all expenses to conduct this/these study/studies for up to three years starting within, one year from the facility's opening date. The seasonal timing of subsequent parking studies will be as determined by the Community Development Director. In .addition to said requirement, the applicant shall be responsible for the design and construction of any measures and/or additional parking requirements resulting from the studies or as determined by the Community Development Director with improvements to commence construction within one (1) year of notification by the Community Development and Public Works Directors. Failure to implement required parking improvements within one year of written notification is grounds for revocation of the CUP. 7. Proposed Enhanced Parking and Traffic Controls: A. No less than 60 days prior to issuance of an occupancy permit or final inspection for Certificate of Occupancy for the water feature, a comprehensive Parking Management Program shall be submitted to the Community Development Director for review ad approval. e Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-_ Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: B. To control Resort use parking along Avenida Obregon and Avenida Fernando after opening of the water feature, a Parking Management Program shall be developed which requires parking permits and can be enforced through the ticketing of violators and the towing of vehicles parked without a permit in the Signature Pool area. The program shall include issuance of permits to Resort guests, Spa clients and club members at the front desk of the Resort. The program shall include providing a Traffic Control Manager, and traffic control officers who shall be responsible for monitoring delivery vehicles, patrolling Avenida Obregon and Fernando, and ensuring Avenida Obregon on -street parking restrictions are enforced. Additionally, the program shall include a "parking/traffic" hotline where immediate attention to issues and concerns will be resolved. C. The Resort Operator has committed and is required to implement the following program: 1 . Hiring a "Traffic Control Manager" who has prior law enforcement and traffic control experience. Management aspects of vehicular access into the Resort include: a. Traffic flow and parking control on Calle Fernando; b.. Access and egress of delivery trucks into loading dock areas; C. Traffic flow and parking enforcement on Calle Obregon; d. Oversight of a contracted Security Officer monitoring the Resort service drive; e. Monitor and control the Purchasing Department to ensure vendor compliance with posted delivery hours. 2. Hire a "Traffic Control Officer" who will conduct high visibility bike patrols on Calle Fernando and Calle Obregon in support of the Traffic Control Manager: a., Ensure property traffic flow patterns are maintained; b. Eliminate opportunities where vehicles choose to park inappropriately; C. If observed, quick identification of vehicle owner or Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007- Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2067-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: implementation of appropriate removal procedures; d. Ensure emergency vehicle access and egress is maintained at all times. 3. Initiate a "parking/traffic" hotline and publish and distribute the telephone number to appropriate residents and guard gate facilities. a. The "Traffic Control Officer" will maintain this cell phone and therefore be able to respond and evaluate the reported concerns if not observed during routine traffic control operations. D. During the off-season summer months (May through September), some of the off-street parking permits on -site may be made available to a limited number of club members with water feature access privileges. E. Shuttle transportation shall be made available to the water feature and spa from the main Resort parking lot, and Resort guests and club members shall be informed of its availability. F. The Resort is required to implement and enforce on a daily basis the approved Parking Management Program. Failure to implement the approved Parking Management Program on a daily basis will result'in the City being able to cause the. Resort to suspend the operation of all Active Water Features until such time that an updated Parking Management Program is approved by the Community Development Director. 8. If water feature parking demand exceeds available on -site parking supply on peak days in the future, cars shall not be allowed to park in adjacent neighborhoods. Additional off-street parking shall be provided at a remote location which is accessible by Resort operated shuttles and golf carts. Said remote parking locations and transportation provisions shall be approved by the Community Development and Public Works Directors. 9. No modification, sale, or transfer of the existing off -site employee parking areas shall be implemented without prior written approval of the City. Prior to any sale or transfer of the property (APN 773-370-027) the Resort shall submit for approval by the Planning Commission at a public hearing, a revised Parking Management Program. 10. The following applies to the use of the Date Palm grove: C 4 Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-_ Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: A. The existing Date Palm Grove parcel (APN 658-160-053) on Avenida Obregon shall be held in reserve, and not developed with structures, in order to resolve any traffic or parking issues that may arise on Avenida Obregon. The Date Palm Grove parcel shall be used for that purpose, to the extent the City's Community Development Director finds that the use of the Signature Pool Facility has caused any additional traffic or parking problems on Avenida Obregon. This condition of approval shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission after three full years of Signature Pool operation (in conjunction with parking study requirements), to determine whether it may be removed as unnecessary. The applicant shall have the right to present argument and evidence to support the removal of this condition of approval at that time. B. On an annual basis after the first full year of operation, the design and effectiveness of the gated entry on Avenida Obregon at Avenida Fernando shall be evaluated by the City's Community Development and Public Works Directors.. In the event that the City determines that its design and operation causes delays or backup on to Avenida Fernando, the gate area shall be modified to improve its efficiency. Modifications may include adding a drop- off/loading area located on the Date Palm grove, increasing the turning radius and/or other improvements to increase efficiency of operation. C. Failure to implement improvements within one year of written notification by the Community Development or Public Works Director shall be grounds for revocation of this.CUP. 11. Parking and traffic management quarterly reports shall be submitted to the Community Development Department with the following information included: A. Days and number of, hours the Traffic Control Manager and Traffic Control Officers have worked. B. Number of calls to the Resort hotline. C. Number of contacts made pertaining to traffic and parking including the number of citations, tows, and written warnings. Each of the employees shall prepare a weekly log of their work activities. Said log(s) shall be made available to the City within five working days of receipt of City notice. 12. The following requirements apply to drop off and loading of patrons: A. The existing Obregon turnaround at the entry will be maintained and used for Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-_ Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: loading and unloading of guests using the facility that require shuttle or automobile access. B. The drop-off area at the turnaround shall not be reduced from its existing size. Additionally, the drop-off area design shall incorporate ADA accessible guidelines as approved by the Building & Safety and Public Works Department. C. The drop-off area at the turnaound shall be designated a passenger loading zone/shuttle stop/turn around area at the water feature entry where children destined to/from the water feature can be safely dropped off and picked up by their families. D. This turnaround shall also serve as a shuttle drop and loading point. E. During periods of peak use, the private passenger loading zone shall be at the gated entry on Avenida Obregon at Avenida Fernando. 13. A raised median (10 feet wide and 50 feet long) with a turn -around area shall be constructed on Avenida Obregon, just south of Avenida' Fernando, to control and facilitate vehicle circulation and access in the Signature Pool area of the Resort. 14, Private property owners and their guests adjacent to Avenida Obregon shall have unrestricted access through this entry and turnaround to their properties at no cost to them. 15. If vehicle gates are required to be provided and operated as stipulated in SDP 2006- 865, they shall be operated as follows: A. The gate will restrict vehicular access to the Signature Pool. B. The gated entry shall provide for a full turn -around outlet for non -accepted vehicles to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director. C. When and if the gate is operational, access through the entry gate shall be limited to use by: 1. Resort Homes property owners and their guests (at no cost to them); 2. All single-family owners and their guests who have access to Avenida Obregon (at no cost to them); Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-_ Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: 3. Resort guests; and 4. Club members having authorization to enter;. and 5. Service and delivery vehicles that are operating in compliance with all Resort rules and regulations. OPERATION OF FACILITY 16. The Signature Pool facility shall not be open to the general public. 17. The La Quinta Resort shall not establish any special class of club membership in the future, that would allow time restricted (i.e. daily, weekly or monthly) access to the Signature Pool Facility. 18. Operating Periods/Times for the Wave Pool's Wave Generator Equipment shall be as follows: A. From November 26th through March 15th, the wave generator equipment shall be turned off, with three limited exceptions: Christmas, New Years and President's Day weekends. For those three weekends, the wave generator equipment for the wave pool may operate from 10am to 5pm. During the time period defined above, the zero entry pool will be open, but it will not function as a wave pool. 19. Operating Periods/Times for all "Active Water Featu er s"(defined as slides, lazy river and wave pool generator equipment) shall be as follows: A. Other than as specified in Condition of Approval No: 18.A. above for the wave pool generator equipment, the Active Water Features shall be operated as follows: 1. Spring Break (which begins three weeks prior to Easter Sunday and ends one week after Easter Sunday): open 7-days a week, 10am - 6pm. 2. Easter Sunday, until start of Memorial Day weekend (standard weekend is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; Open weekends 10am - 6pm. 3. Memorial Day weekend (starts Friday) through Labor Day: Open 7 days r^� Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007- Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: a week, 10am - 6pm. 4. Labor Day until Wednesday before Thanksgiving: Weekends, 10am - 6pm. 5. .Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) through end of Thanksgiving weekend: daily, 10am - 6pm. 20. Operating hours for all outdoor uses, features, and activities not defined as an Act vi e Water Feat eru s, shall be: 8am to 9:45pm, except for the formal pool, which shall operate: 7am to 9:45pm. The restaurant hours shall be,7am to 10pm daily. 21. A. Access to the top and outside of the rock formations shall be prohibited when the water, slides and wave pools are closed year round. B. The rock formation shall not be used to host any special events or activities other than to access the water slides. Food and beverage service and consumption shall be prohibited in these areas. 22. There shall be no evening movies from January 1 to March 15 of each year. Movies shall end by 9:45pm 23. The maximum number of water feature patrons shall not exceed 1;800 at any one time. The Resort shall actively monitor the ingress and egress of the. Signature Pool area. 24. Outdoor meetings, dinners, receptions, etc. held within the Active Water Feature area shall not exceed 1,000 persons and shall end no later than 9:45 pm (this includes clean-up and breakdown). No food or beverage maybe served after 9:45 pm. No live or recorded entertainment is permitted within the Active Water Feature area. 25. City Code Enforcement, Sheriff Department and Resort "parking/traffic" hotline phone numbers shall be distributed to all private property owners within 200-feet of the water feature site prior to opening of the facility. 26. No fireworks shall be allowed for any function within the Signature Pool area. NOISE 27. A. If found to be in violation of City Noise Ordinance, in the reasonable opinion of the Building and Safety Director, an eight hour monitoring program shall be Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-_ Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: performed near the closest condominiums to the north and south of the Signature Pool site (as determined by the Building and Safety Director). If the monitoring program proves that violations of the City's Noise Ordinance are in fact occurring, the active water feature causing the Noise Ordinance violation shall be closed, until a noise study and remedial noise control plan, funded by the applicant as noted below, is prepared and approved by the Community Development Director. The applicant has the right of appeal to the City Council of this decision. B. The applicant is required (prior to issuance of the building permit) to deposit with the City of La Quinta cash in the amount of $20,000 to be placed in a drawdown account for noise studies. After up to three studies are completed, or within three years from the facility opening date the balance of the unexpended funds shall be refunded to the applicant. C. Detailed plans for all amplified devises (music, speaker, p.a., etc.) shall be approved by the Community Development Director prior to issuance of building permit for the water feature. Noise levels shall not exceed those permitted in the La Quinta Municipal Code or at levels which would constitute a public nuisance per Section 1 1.08.040 (LQMC). There shall be no live or amplified music or entertainment in the Activr—_e Pool area (slides, wave pool, children area, and lazy river). 28. Detailed plans for all amplified devises (music, speaker, p.a., etc.) in the Adul P area shall be approved by the Community Development Director prior to issuance of building permit for the water feature. Noise levels shall not exceed those permitted in the La Quinta Municipal Code or at levels which would constitute a public nuisance per Section 11.08.040 (LQMC). Live or amplified music or entertainment shall be allowed until 9:45pm in the Adult pool area. SIGNS 29. The Sign Program approved in conjunction with Site Development Permit 2006-865 shall be maintained by the Resort for the life of the CUP. Signs shall comply with the following requirements: A. A Sign Program (for on- and off -site identification, directional, convenience, safety, etc.) shall be submitted to the Community' Development Director for approval a minimum of 60 days prior to issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy and/or final inspections. Should additional signs be desired by the applicant or required by parking studies, Conditions of Approval, etc., the Sign Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007-_ Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2007-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: Program shall be amended and approved by the Community Development Director. B. Appropriate signage shall be provided, clearly indicating that parking adjacent to Avenida Obregon is by permit only. The Resort shall enforce this restriction. Signage shall state ticketing and vehicle towing of violators will occur. C. Directional signage shall be provided to clearly identify the pedestrian path to be used between the main Resort parking lot, Resort lobby, off -site (i.e. Centex project), and other parts of the Resort and the water feature. Shuttle routes shall be clearly marked. 30. Signature Pool Safety & Security Staff Coverage shall be at a minimum the following: Coverage Description Appointed Staff Hours of Coverage Traffic Control Management 1 Manager Daily (8 hour shift) Corner of Fernando and Obregon 1 Traffic Officer 7am-7pm Safety & Security Pool Supervisor 1 Supervisor hours of operation Safety & Security Pool Staff 14 Life Guards hours of operation (Life guards will be cross trained in the management of noise and crowd control) Security Officer at Pool Entry 1 Officer hours of operation After Hours Event Security Coverage 1 Officer hours of -event 31. An Emergency Procedures Plan shall be prepared and submitted to the Building and Safety Director for review and approval. The plan shall include the following: A. A comprehensive Emergency Procedures Plan (to include traffic control & enforcement policies) will be developed by the Resort Operator for the Signature Pool that closely resembles that of the Emergency Procedures Plan currently in place for the golf venues hosted at the La Quinta Resort & Club and at PGA West. The above -noted enhancements to the Resort's current Loss Prevention Operations shall be designed to create a safe and secure environment for the Resort guests and pro -actively manage the traffic flow in and around the La Quinta Resort & Club. LIGHTING 32. Exterior lighting shall comply with Section 9.100.150 (Outdoor Lighting) of the La Planning Commission Resolution No. 2007- Conditions of Approval - Recommended Conditional Use Permit 2067-102 CNL Desert Resorts, LLP Adopted: Quinta Municipal Code. No lighting shall be directed towards privately -owned residential uses and freestanding lighting shall be limited to bollard or shielded and screened light fixtures not exceeding ten feet above the site finish grade. Exterior lighting plan with photometric study and manufacturers cut sheets shall be approved by the Community Development Director prior to issuance of first building permit for project. No change to lighting systems shall be made without prior written approval of the Community Development Director. SITE DESIGN 33. In order to reduce nuisance impacts to adjacent residential properties, the lazy river shall have a minimum 20-foot setback from the north property line with no guest access to the lazy river (emergency access is permitted) between the lazy river and north property line. 34. Within one year of the commencement of operation, the Resort shall be required to construct decorative patio walls up to six feet in height (from the Tennis Villas grade) within the landscape area between the units and the Signature Pool feature if requested by a Tennis Villa owner. The Resort shall be financially responsible for all reasonable costs associated with said wall(s). Temporary construction easements shall be provided by the Tennis Villas properties for the construction of said walls. If Tennis Villa owners decline a patio wall, the Resort shall construct a six foot wall (measured from the Tennis Villa grade) on the property line. If a Tennis Villa owners object to a solid wall, the Resort shall construct a wrought iron fence per the approved fencing detail. n�� La Quinta Resort & Signature Pool Project DE Introduction To effectively compete as a destination resort hotel In the region, the La Quinta Resort must continue to revitalize and enhance the ancillary facilities that serve its resort guests. It must also pursue new (and increasingly expected) recreational amenities that will appeal to a wider demographic group in the leisure market and thus increase guest room bookings on an annualized basis. The intent of the proposed project is to accomplish that objective by continuing to capitalize on the existing facilities at the Resort that have made it successful and by introducing new facilities that appeal to the growing family -oriented leisure and group market La Quinta Resort -,A Brief History Celebrating its' 80'" anniversary this year, La Quinta Resort & Club, part of "The Waldorf-Astoria Collection," is a legendary resort destination that has reigned over the picturesque La Quinta area of the Coachella Valley with grace and char since 1926. Nestled on 45-acres, this historic Hollywood hideaway is located in a spectacular setting among orange and lemon groves at the base of the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains. Guests enjoy 90 holes of championship golf on five legendary courses at the resort and at PGA WEST& 23 tennis courts; the 23,000-square-foot Spa La Quinta®, 41 pools and 53 hot spas; exceptional cuisine at AZUR, TWENTY 6 and Adobe Grill and The Plaza -two stories of shops and restaurants surrounded by flowers, waterfalls and winding paths. The hotel employs approximately 1500 people from La Quinta and other Coachella Valley cities. Key events in the Resort's history include: 1926 Opened on December 26 with 20 cashes, lobby area and one restaurant 1927 Added nine -hole golf course designed by golfer Norman Beth, the first course built in the Coachella Valley 1937 Added the first swimming pool to the Resort. 1940s Introduced the Tennis Club offering 30 courts with'a choice of hard, grass and clay surfaces. Added an additional 56 guestrooms and additional swimming pools to the Resort. 1950s Added a private airstrip. 1957 Golf brought back to La Quinta via La Quinta Country Club. 1980 Created La Quinta Hotel Country Club offering two 18-hole golf courses. 1984 Between 1980 and-1984, added an additional 193 casitas and suites (269 casitas total) with swimming pools, the original Signature Pool, the Frank Capra Ballroom, and two suites (The Arzner Villa and The Eisenhower Villa). Additionally, PGA West was established. 1987 La Quinta Hotel Golf opened its third 18-hole course, making a total of 54 holes of championship golf. . 1988 La Quints Resort and Club added 371 casitas and swimming pools (for a total of 640 casitas) along with the 17,000 square foot Salon de Fiesta Ballroom, the retail area (The Plaza) and two restaurants (Morgan's and Adobe Grill). This gave the resort the ability to market to larger groups and introduced the retail venue prevalent at many up- scale resorts. 1994 Added the Flores Ballroom to the Resort, expanding its ability to attract group business. 1998 Created the 23,000 square foot Spa La Quinta, Along with the Spa, added the Spa . Villas bringing guestroom total to above 800 guestrooms. 2007 Proposed Signature Pool expansion. Although La Quinta Resort & Club started out as an exclusive hideaway, it has become much more. Over the span of 80 years, the resort has added the services and amenities in order to elevate its presence in the market place and continue to serve its members and guests with great care and distinction. in the early eighties, golf was established as a more significant resort amenity., The late eighties brought the addition of restaurants, retail and market competitive meeting space. The early nineties expanded the meeting space significantly. In the late.nineties, the Spa was added following trend of upscale resorts to offer this service. La Quints Resort & Club Signature Poor Project Page 2 of 5 Current Market Conditions La Quinta Resort & Club's local competitive set of resorts and its regional competition from Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Scottsdale have gone through extensive renovations by adding new guestrooms, ballrooms, golf courses, restaurants and most recently dynamic and feature -rich pools. These new features including wading pools, sandy pool beaches, shallow toddler pools, lazy rivers and enclosed body slides, cater to both families and group guests with families. These contemporary pool products are revitalizing the resort hotel market by giving the guests anew way to connect with family, friends and colleagues. The addition of this type of amenity has a positive impact on the financial success of the resorts by attracting more guests for longer, stays at a higher average room rate. Most importantly, this type of amenity extends demand,into the traditionally poor occupancy periods of late spring, summer and earty fall Many of La Quinta Resort & Club's competitors have this type of amenity already. In addition, others are undergoing extensive renovations of their properties and several new competitors will enter the market in the near future: Existing Regional Competition • Point of South Mountain Resort — Three water slides, lazy river, wave pool with sandy bottom and children's area with water jets that keep kids busy on the water spray deck. • 'The Phoenician (Scottsdale) — Nine swimming pools, including children's pools with cabanas. Additional water features include the 165-foot water slide, sunset and desert spas, Necklace Lake, lagoons, waterfalls and fountains. • The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess — Sonoran Splash! - A water recreation area with two water slides (186 ft and 199 ft. long). The pool also has an entry deck area, ideal for toddlers to splash and enjoy the water. • Arizona Bitmore Resort & Spa —A 92-foot waterslide and swim -up bar. • River Ranch at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort - A lazy river, spacious sports pools spare room for water volleyball games. • Westin Kierland Resort and Spa -A 110-foot water slide, 900-footlazy river, a sandy beach, along with the volleyball court • Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch — Unique, 2.5-acre'water playground' consisting of ten swimming pools, three-story water slide, sand beach, whirlpool spa, cold plunges and two poolside bars. Existing Local Competition • Westin Mission Hills Resort — Free -form pool has a 60-foot waterslide and two spas. • Hyatt Grand Champion Resort Two large serpentine pools, a 601 spiral water slide, toddler size wading pool and huge splash fountain. • Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa — Children's pool and water slide,, plus a whirlpool and spa pool New Competition • The Lodge at Rancho Mirage - New management company — The Ritz -Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. • Rancho Las Palmas - New ownerstmanagement company — KSL Resort, Inc. • Silverrock Resort • Hard Rock Resort • Fairmont Resort • Remington Las Montafias Resort Hotel & Spa With the inevitability of increasing competition, it is imperative that La Quinta Resort & Club add this expected amenity to retain our prominent position in the desert La Quanta Resort & Club, signature Pool Project Page 3 of 5 .., y. Project Description, Proposed Facilities A new signature pool facility is proposed for La Quinta Resort & Club. This facility will replace a portion of the existing tennis courts and the main hotel swimming pool, located on the western portion of the property. The proposed improvements would include: an arrival plaza at an entry building, a new, formal swimming pool and heated spa (pool) with ten adjacent cabanas, two or three water slides that will be contained within the landscaped mountain feature, a wave pool with a video projection screen, a splash -down pool, a lazy river (which passes through a canyon), and a toddler pool with a nearby pop jet fountain and play structure for youngsters. A small enclosed game (arcade) room would be provided as well as a lounge terrace, a loggia, storage area, wood decks, paths, extensive landscaping and decorative plantings. The entire area would be enclosed within a gated pool enclosure fence that would allow emergency vehicle access. The project would replace ten of the existing tennis courts (including the existing tennis exhibit court), a restroom building, the current main resort swimming pool and the existing kid's platy area. The existing bar/restaurant, tennis/fitness clubhouse, and the Morgan House would remain on -site.' The proposed modifications would not alter any of the hotel rooms or change the existing off-street parking supply. Although the number of parking spaces is expected to remain essentially unchanged, some parking spaces may need to be relocated, to accommodate the gated entry improvements required along Avenida Obregon. Proposed Days and Hours of Operation The proposed La Quinta Resort and Club water feature amenity would be open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day. In addition, the water feature would be open from Christmas through New Year's Day, on Presidents' Day, through the Spring Break period, and one week each November which includes Thanksgiving Day. Currently, it is also planned to be open on each weekend through the entire year. Other Activities: In 2005 the Signature Pool, Restaurant and Stadium Court areas had 160 events (receptions, dinners and meetings), generated 15,500 covers and over $1M in Food and Beverage Revenue. This project's deck areas will also be used for those functions. It is not anticipated that these private events will increase dramatically. Most of this business is related to the group customer. This project will primarily attract a high -end transient guest traveling with family, friends and extended families. Public Address or Music: A public address / music system will be used. However, this system will utilize in ground speakers (as opposed to the elevated pole mounted speakers currently utilized) enabling the amplified sound impact to be reduced from what exists currently. Proposed Staffing A total of 48 people (FTE) will be employed supporting the expanded pool facility. The staff load is currently estimated to require 19 lifeguards, 8 pool attendants,15 serverstbartenders. 1 manager, 2 assistant managers and 3 dedicated engineering/maintenance workers. Private versus Public Recreation Facilities The proposed water feature is designed to be a private ancillary recreational amenity for use by guests of the La Quinta Resort. The proposed water feature will not be open to the general public. Use of the water feature would be limited to hotel guests staying at the La Quanta Resort & Club and the individuals belonging to La Quanta Club Membership Program. Unlike the existing tennis and exercise facilities, member's guests will not be permitted to use the pool facilities. This facility will not be available for use by guests of any other hotel. La Quints Resort & club signature Pool Project Page 4 of 5 Market Focus The La Quinta Resort & Club appeals primarily to business travelers, conference' attendees, and mature leisure travelers who appreciate the adult focused amenities ofthe resort. This project would promote a more balanced customer mix of business travelers and leisure guests, groups, families, and individuals. Families tend to book vacations during the months when schools are not in session (the off season at the La Quinta Resort), whereas individual business travelers typically book rooms on weekdays. in the peak season (January through April) the hotel occupancy is relatively high, with a monthly average of approximately 75 percent, and the resort often achieves full occupancy on the weekends. However, the average monthly occupancy rate in the off season is substanfially lower (48 percent) indicating a need to appeal to a wider demographic in the leisure market. The provision of this new water feature on -site will improve the hotel occupancy, particularly in the summer months. The proposed change in the ancillary recreational amenities would allow the La Quinta Resort to make more consistent year-round use of its existing entitlements. La Quinta Resort and Club Memberships Club memberships permit non -hotel guests to access the resort fitness facilifies and participate in an array of programs and activities including: golf practice facilities, use of three clubhouses, tennis privileges, and concierge services. Club members are also entitled to preferred pricing on all resort golf courses, at all resort restaurants, on rooms for guests and family, and at the Spa La Quinta. Although the tennis and fitness facilities are primarily utilized by hotel guests, they are also available to non -hotel guest users through the Club Membership Program. The proposed water features will be predominantly used by hotel guests, but will also be made available to non -hotel guests through the Club Membership Program. La Quints Resort & Club signature Pool Project - Page 5 of 5 _ L v !! ATTACHMENT #4 04 s % c`''yoe T�9 AGENDA CATEGORY: COUNCUMDA MEETING DATE: February 20, 2007 ITEM TITLE: Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolutions of the City Council Certifying Environmental Assessment 2006-573, Approving Site Development Permit 2006-865 for the Architectural and Landscaping Plans for a Signature Pool Facility for the Property Located on the West Side of Avenida Obregon, Approximately 150 Feet South of Avenida Fernando on the La Quinta Resort Grounds. Applicant: CNL Desert Resorts, L.L.P. RECOMMENDATION: BUSINESS SESSION: _ CONSENT CALENDAR: STUDY SESSION: PUBLIC HEARING: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council certifying an Addendum to the Environmental Impact Report and subsequent CEQA compliance documents and approving Site Development Permit 2006-865, subject to the Conditions of Approval. The Planning Commission on a 2-2 vote (with Commissioner Daniels absent) failed to adopt a Resolution which would have recommended approval of Site Development Permit 2006-865, subject to Conditions. The Planning Commission voted 4-0 in favor of recommending certification of the Addendum. The Community Development Department recommended approval of Site Development Permit 2006-865. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: The applicant's stated purpose for seeking to make these modifications to the Resort is to increase occupancy levels in the off season. According to the applicant; occupancy levels in the summer average 48%, as opposed to the levels in the peak season, which average 75%. The City receives Transient Occupancy Tax ("TOT") when the hotel rooms are occupied. In addition, the City receives sales tax revenues from other expenditures by hotel visitors. The City staff has not estimated the expected increase in tax revenues associated with the Signature Pool proposal. However, the applicant estimates the expected increase to be between $400,000 and $550,000 annually. In the 2005-2006 Fiscal Year, the City received $4,118,768 in TOT revenue from the Resort. CHARTER CITY IMPLICATIONS: None. BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW: Environmental Review The La Quinta Community Development Department has caused to be prepared Environmental Assessment 2006-573 (An Addendum To Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Number 41 and to a series of subsequently approved environmental review documents) for this Site Development Permit in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act Of 1970, as Amended (Attachment 1). The Community Development Department has determined that the proposed modifications to the La Quinta Resort do not require a Subsequent EIR, Supplemental EIR or a Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration, since the circumstances described in Section 15162 Of The California Environmental. Quality Act Guidelines do not exist, in that there will be no new or more significant impacts than those disclosed in the prior EIR Number 41 and the CEQA compliance documents approved subsequently. The modifications proposed, and the circumstances under which the modifications would be carried out, do not require substantial changes to the previous EIR, or the subsequent environmental documents, 'due to the.involvement of new significant environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In addition, there is no new information of substantial importance which would trigger the requirement of a Subsequent EIR, Supplemental EIR or Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with section 15162(a)(3). Therefore, the Community Development Department is recommending certification of Environmental Assessment 2006-573 if the project is approved. Surrounding Land Uses North: Tennis Villas and date palm grove South: Tennis courts, Tennis Villas, Resort Homes and Spa La Quinta East: Avenida Obregon with the Resort grounds beyond West: Tennis courts and Tennis Villas General Plan/Specific plan Designation CT (Tourist Commercial) Zoning Designation TC (Tourist Commercial) General The subject property is on the grounds of the La Quinta Resort which opened in 1926 and is located on the west side of Eisenhower Drive, south of Avenida Fernando. The site proposed for the "Signature Pool" facility is on the east side of Avenida Obregon, south of Avenida Fernando, which are private streets within the 62 acre resort (Attachment 2). I i t The La Quinta Resort and Club (originally the La Quinta Hotel) opened in 1926 with 20 casitas, a lobby area'and one restaurant. Over the years it has been expanded and modified to include 62 acres and over 800 rooms. Relevant resort development modifications and additions over the years have included: 1926 Opened.on December 26, 1926. 1927 Installed nine -hole golf course, the second course built in the Coachella Valley. 1937 Added the first swimming pool to the Resort. 1940's Constructed the Tennis Club offering 30 courts with a choice of hard, grass and clay surfaces (presently there are 23 tennis courts). 1980 Constructed two 18-hole golf courses. 1984 Between 1980 and 1984, constructed 193 casitas and suites with. swimming pools, the original Signature Pool (now. replaced with sunken center tennis court), the Frank Capra Ballroom and two suites. 1987 Constructed its third 18-hole golf course. 1988 Constructed 371 casitas and a number of swimming pools, the retail area (The Plaza), and two restaurants (Morgan's and Adobe Grill). 1994 Constructed the Flores Ballroom. 1998 Constructed the 23,000 square foot Spa La Quinta and Spa Villas bringing the guestroom total to a little over 800 guestrooms. Prior to 1982 when the City incorporated, development of the Resort was governed by the County of Riverside regulations. The 4.7 ± acre site of the proposed water feature presently is developed with resort recreational facilities, including ten tennis courts (of the total 23 courts), the main Resort swimming pool, landscaped grounds, a children's playground, the Morgan House, and other several buildings. Landscaping consists of a large number of mature Palm and Olive trees. Nine tennis courts, the tennis stadium (center court), a restroom building, the main outdoor swimming pool and playground area will all be removed to facilitate the new water feature. Two of the three retained buildings will be used as part of the proposed pool facility. The remaining Morgan House which has been closed to Resort and public use for approximately one year due to seismic safety concerns will be retained as is with a safety fence installed around it. Proposed Modifications to the Resort's Recreational Amenities: General The proposal is to construct a "Signature Pool" water feature on the 4.7± acre site, fronting on Avenida Obregon, a private 20 foot wide street. The proposal would include several water -related and pool amenities (Attachment 3). Proposed amenities include two artificial rock formations, one of which will contain three enclosed slides leading to a splashdown pool and a wave pool, a lazy river that proceeds in a circular loop, a formal outdoor pool with terraces, private pool -side cabanas, an arrival plaza building, children's outdoor play area and pool, a game room with first aid center, R'r indoor and outdoor dining areas, and chaise lounge deck areas. A description of the project which includes a background on the Resort has been submitted by the applicant (Attachment 4). The water features are intended to increase the Resort's summer off-season occupancy (48%) to levels closer to the in -season rate of 75%. The facilities will be open only to Resort guests and La Quinta Resort Club paid members and their children under the age of 23 who are living at home, attending school on a full time basis or in the military. Members' guests will not be allowed to use the facility unless they are staying at the Resort. It will not be open to the general public at any time, nor be available for use by guests of the applicant's other hotels. The proposed water features (water slides, wave pool and lazy river) would be open daily between Memorial Day and Labor. Day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on weekends the remainder of the year. In addition, the Signature Pool facilities would be open daily during Thanksgiving week, from Christmas through New Year's Day, on Presidents' Day weekend, and for one to three weeks during the Spring break period. Based.upon this schedule, the water feature will be closed approximately 60% of the weeks each year. The formal swimming pool, spa, and children's pools and playground would be'open daily with varying hours. The applicant currently uses the open areas of the 4.7-acre site, the deck for special events such as receptions, dinners, and meetings in conjunction with conference guests and will continue to do so after the construction of the new features. Access to the upper area of the rock feature will be closed between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. A ground -mounted speaker and music system will be utilized throughout the facility. Lighting of the facility will consist of ground -mounted or tree -mounted down -shining fixtures. During full, operation of the water feature, the applicant has estimated staffing to be 48 people, consisting of 19 lifeguards, eight pool attendants, 15 servers/bartenders, one manager, two assistant managers and three dedicated engineering/maintenance workers. Site Design The swimming pools, spas and children's areas will be located on the east side of the site lot closer to Avenida Obregon. The restaurant building and Morgan House generally separate these pools from the west side of the site where the water slides, wave pool and lazy river are proposed to be located. The area will be secured by various decorative fencing or structures. Fencing is proposed to be primarily six foot high decorative metal picket fencing. The existing masonry wall in front of the Morgan House along Avenida Obregon will be retained and used as part of the perimeter fencing. A new decorative security fence will be installed between the pool area and Tennis Villas. This new fence will be similar in location and design to the existing fencing around the Morgan House. U11 The pedestrian entry to the water feature will be on Avenida Obregon located approximately in the middle of the frontage in the area where an existing turnaround exists. This turnaround will be maintained and used for loading and unloading of guests using the facility. All pedestrian entrance and exiting will be at this controlled point. A new drop off area is proposed in front of the Spa La Quinta as well as some relocated parking spaces. Presently, between the sunken tennis court and Spa La Quinta to the south, there is an ungated 20 foot wide emergency Fire Department vehicular access from Avenida Obregon to the Tennis Club and restaurant building areas.. This ungated access will be maintained to the north end of the Tennis Club building to provide emergency access to this area. At this point, access will be gated to prohibit unauthorized access to the water feature but will allow emergency access. Also as a part of the proposal, a raised median (10 feet wide and 50 feet long) with a turn -around area would be constructed on Avenida Obregon, just south of Avenida Fernando, to control and facilitate vehicle circulation and access in this part of the Resort. Private property owners and their guests adjacent to Avenida Obregon will still have unrestricted access through this entry to their properties. A recommended condition allows the City to require installation and operation of vehicle gates just south of the median in the future if needed to control parking and traffic going to the water feature. The private property owners adjacent to Avenida Obregon would continue to have full access through the street if such a gate is required in the future. This new entry will require removal of nine perpendicular Resort parking spaces and relocation of the adjacent Resort wall on the east side of Avenida Obregon, adjacent to the new median. The site grading will generally be at the same or in many areas slightly lower than the adjacent grades. For example, adjacent to the Tennis Villas to the north in the area of the current connecting walkway, the finish surface next to the lazy river is shown four feet below the walk on the Tennis Villas site and 6.5 feet below the finish pads. On the south side of the site next to the Tennis Villas the proposed grade is approximately the same as the Villa's side. The splash pool is 6.5 feet below the pad of the Tennis Villas located just to the south. The proposed elevations of the lazy river and splash pool were lowered in response to resident concerns. Architecture/Buildings/Structures The existing Tennis Club building near the northwest corner of the site will be expanded slightly to provide tennis locker rooms and a tennis video pro -shop office. These facilities are currently within the 4.7-acre site on the west side of the restaurant building. The current "L" shaped restaurant and bar in the middle of the site will be retained and used as part of the facility. A portion of the building at the northwest corner containing restrooms, lockers, library and the tennis video pro -shop office will be removed with those services relocated to the expanded Tennis Club.building as noted h}• above. Adjacent to the west side of the restaurant a small one-story first aid station and game room (45 feet by 34 feet) will be constructed. A basement will be provided and is noted to be for pool equipment. Anew one-story building approximately 117 feet long by 34 feet deep (approximately 2,000 square feet) will be constructed at the facility entry adjacent to Avenida Obregon. The building height will not exceed 15 feet. It will function as the secured entry and exit into the facility as well as housing restrooms, a retail area, office, and maintenance and service rooms. All new buildings and additions will architecturally match the surrounding existing buildings and utilize white smooth trowel texture plaster, red clay barrel tile roofing, divided light windows and exposed rafters. The remaining structures on the site will consist primarily of trellises and pool cabanas. The trellises will be constructed of wood (minimum 2"x 6") and be supported by concrete columns or attached to buildings. The pool cabanas will have plaster -finished walls, a standing seam metal roof, and wood construction and be fitted with canvas flaps on the fronts which can be opened and closed. As a part of the proposal, two artificial rock formations will be constructed at the west end of the site. The larger of the two will be the southernmost formation at 28 feet high measured from the finish grade at the base of the formation. It will house three enclosed water slides that empty into an adjacent pool which is to the east of the structure. These three slides will be interior slides. This structure is approximately 180 feet from the closest Tennis Villa to the north; 28 feet from "the closest two-story Tennis Villa to the. south; and 25 feet from the tennis court to the west. To the north, outside the adjacent Tennis Villas, small patio areas are provided next to the water feature property line. To the south there are no outdoor living spaces for the two-story residential units directly facing the site. The finish grade at the base of this structure is approximately one-half foot lower than the adjacent to the closest Tennis Villa to the south. The second rock formation is located to the north of the above -described structure and will be 18.5 feet high, measured from the base of the formation and will contain wave making equipment for the adjacent wave pool to the east. This structure is approximately 62 feet from the closest Tennis Villa to the north, 138 feet from the closest Tennis Villa to the south, and 38 feet from the tennis court to the west. The finish grade at the base of this formation adjacent to the Tennis Villas to the north is approximately 4.5 feet lower than the Villa's yards. Movie projector equipment will also be housed in this structure for use with a removable screen on the outside of the foundation facing east towards the pool for evening summer movies. The Resort currently shows outdoor movies during the summer months. The exterior of these structures will be medium to dark rock -colored gunite sculptured to appear like rock and mimic the nearby mountains. Small trees and shrubs will be interspersed in planters at various elevations on the structures. The applicant has indicated that no tall trees would be placed on the structures. The lazy river, which allows people to tube along its length, will meander in an irregular circle around the wave pool, its artificial rock formation, and a portion of the lounging area. This river will meander adjacent to the Tennis Villas to the north with distances generally between 18 to 35 feet away. The water surface of the river is proposed to be approximately six feet lower than the grade of the adjacent Tennis Villa yards to the north. The children's pool area is located just west of Avenida Obregon and adjacent to the east side of the Morgan House. The nearest Tennis Villa is approximately 12.5 feet away. -- Morgan House The Morgan House has been listed on the 1997 Mellon and Associates Historic Survey as a historic resource,that is eligible for listing as a Historic Landmark at the City, State and Federal levels. ''A thorough evaluation of the house has been completed by Architectural Resources Group (ARG) as a part of the Addendum for this modification to the Resort. The house is located near the northeast corner of the site and proposed to be retained in place but not used due to its non-compliance with current earthquake standards. No changes to the Morgan House are proposed as part of this proposal, and no future plans have been indicated for this building. The Morgan House will not be utilized in any way in connection with the Signature Pool facilities. The adjacent freestanding one-story garage and storage structure at the northwest corner of the Morgan House is not noted by the Mellon and Associates or ARG reports as an historic structure and will be removed. A decorative safety fence is proposed around the house to ensure the'public's safety. The new fence will be similar in location and design to the existing fencing. The setting for the Morgan House currently consists of a childrens' play area and jungle gym covered with a blue canvas shade structure immediately to the east, a temporary trailer and wall to the north, tennis courts and tennis court fencing to the west, and a swimming pool, tent structures, and fencing to the south. The proposed modifications would place similar facilities in the same general proximity to the Morgan House. There will not be a negative change in the character of the Morgan House's setting. Rather, the proposed design of the buildings to be constructed within the Site Development Permit area will be consistent with the Morgan House's appearance. The decorative fencing surrounding the Morgan House will have a more attractive appearance than the fencing which currently surrounds the House, and the blue canvas tarp and. jungle gym would be removed. r lr. Landscaping Landscaping plans show an extensive use of trees and shrubs with an emphasis on color. Planting materials are to a great extent low-water use plants. Specific tree types and locations are shown with sizes varying from 24-inch to 48-inch box size. One of the main trees to be used throughout the site is the Date Palm tree with 15 feet of clear trunk height. California Fan palms will be used extensively and will be between 15 to 25 feet clear trunk height. Shrub planting species are noted as a mixture of tropical -type color and desert. The plans show specific locations for the various shrubs and ground covers. Little use of turf is indicated on the plans. Parking/Circulation The applicant is not proposing to provide new parking spaces for the Signature Pool area. The applicant states that it is not increasing the number of hotel rooms and users of the water feature will be Resort guests and La Quinta Club members who are already using the existing facilities. During in -season and other busy periods, the Resort requires employees to park at an off -site parking lot on Calle Tampico and provides shuttles to and from the Resort. This feature will continue to be utilized when the water feature is in operation. Additionally, shuttles for guests to the water feature and adjacent Spa La Quinta from the main parking lot to the east, the valet area and other parts. of the Resort, will be available to reduce the need to drive cars to the site from other areas of the Resort. When in use, the gated or manned station on Avenida Obregon will allow directing of traffic to the most appropriate parking area to ensure parking problems in the water feature area are avoided, and Avenida Obregon remains accessible to emergency vehicles and property owners who use the street for access: In order to widen a portion of the street to provide a. median and controlled access on Avenida Obregon at Avenida Fernando, nine perpendicular parking spaces are being removed on the east side of Avenida Obregon. They are installing five perpendicular spaces as shown just south of the adjacent Spa La Quinta, along with new decorative street paving in front of the Spa's entry which currently has five parking spaces.. These spaces will be eliminated with the area used as a passenger loading and unloading zone. This new parking area to the south is presently a landscape planter. Due to its 20 foot wide width, Avenida Obregon does not allow parallel parking on either side of the street. Prior to the Planning Commission meeting, the applicant submitted to staff a report, which was distributed to the Planning Commission, documenting current traffic volumes on February 9, 2007 along Avenida Fernando, Avenida Obregon and the main Resort entrance drive (Attachment 5). The report also included an on -site visual parking use survey between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on February 9, of the 1,005 on -site parking spaces available. This survey did not include the remote 230 space employee parking lot on Calle Tampico. . C�t� In summary, the study found that with the 70% occupancy of the 800 rooms available on that day, the Resort was operating within their traffic capacities. Additionally, the highest overall parking demand observed was 52% of the parking spaces in the morning just before the 10:00 a.m. checkout time. The areas of highest parking demand were the main parking area next to the Las Flores Ballroom, and around the Spa La Quinta building on Avenida Obregon. There were parking lots with available parking spaces within 200 to 300 feet of the areas with the highest parking demand. Issues/Analysis: As noted, no additional parking facilities are proposed to be provided for this use. The applicant states there will not be an increased parking demand that will exceed the existing parking capacity because the pool feature is geared to increasing the Resorts occupancy during the 48% off-season summer month occupancy when parking is readily available. Also, based upon their research relating to Resort facility usage, the applicant states Citrus Club members who potentially could use the proposed water feature primarily use the Resort for golf and fitness and make very minimal use of the existing pools. Lastly, less than 20% of these members have qualified children who could potentially use,the pool feature (Attachment 6). As a part of the Avenida Obregon entry median area south of Avenida Fernando, staff is recommending the Community Development Director have the right to require the gates be installed and operated during periods of increased parking due to high water - feature attendance (Condition NoA 5.A.1.c.). Once required by the City and until the gates are installed, the Resort will provide a person to man the entry and control traffic allowed to enter the area. During operation of the gates or when it is manned, this entry area will also become the drop-off turnaround for water feature users. Avenida Obregon is a 20-foot wide private street that does not allow parallel parking on either side. It is; red -curbed and signed as a fire lane with no parallel parking allowed. During peak use periods; there have been times when guests have parallel parked along the street violating the fire lane restriction as well as making use of the street difficult.. In the past; the City Code Compliance Department has received complaints regarding illegal parking on the street. As a result, monitoring of the area has resulted in the issuance of five citations in the last 11 months. Regular monitoring of the street for parking violations is done by the City Code Compliance Department. The gate requirement noted above is intended to alleviate this problem. Staff is also recommending that if the City determines, due to parking problems in the immediate area of the water feature operation, up to three parking management, studies over three years after the beginning of operation, be completed to determine how to resolve any parking issues. Implementation of improvements recommended by the studies is required within one year of their requirement by the City (Conditions Nos. 23-25)• As a part of the Addendum, an acoustical analysis of mechanical equipment use and expected operational' conditions was prepared (Attachment 1). In summary, the findings of the study show that the proposed Signature Pool facilities will operate in compliance with current City noise standards. Furthermore, the amount of noise increase over existing noise -levels near the proposed Signature Pool will not be significant. The applicant will be required to comply with the City's Noise Ordinance at all times. The Morgan House is located within the area near the northeast corner of the site. As noted above, the house will remain in place but be fenced off in order to protect both the public and Resort employees from a seismic induced collapse. The setback of the fencing from the house will be determined by the type of fencing. An open decorative fence will require a slightly bigger setback while a solid engineered fence will allow the fence to be closer to the building. Staff has recommended Condition of Approval No. 81 requiring an attractive safety/security fence be installed as a temporary measure (until the structures seismic instability is corrected or it is demolished) with the design and location submitted to the Community Development and Building and Safety Directors for approval. Additionally, a historic resources monitor or structural engineer is recommended to be on site whenever demolition or construction vibration or noise is occurring within 100 feet of the building to ensure its safety (Condition No. 82). With regards to the safety fencing location, the applicant has submitted an engineering report prepared by an adobe specialist with recommendations on where fencing should be placed to ensure that a collapse of the building will not endanger nearby persons. The fence location varies depending on whether the fence is structurally engineered and constructed of a solid material or not. In either case, the location of the safety fence will easily fit within the site plan of the applicant's proposal. As noted above, the historic context of the Morgan House on the Resort grounds will not be degraded beyond that which presently exists. When the house was originally constructed, the area surrounding it was to a great extent undeveloped. Over the years, development of the Resort and surrounding residential development has encroached upon the house. The house is essentially surrounded by fences and walls that either keep persons in nearby areas there or away from the house. Therefore, the installation of these safety fences will not affect the historic context of the house and its surroundings. The Resort presently operates an on -site shuttle service throughout the Resort that will continue when the Signature Pool facilities are operational. Recommended Condition of Approval No. 28 in;part requires shuttle service be available to the water feature to assure guests that access is readily available if they need to park in the main parking lots to the east or elsewhere on the Resort site. The area proposed for the Signature.Pool is presently used almostexclusively for Resort recreation and with the installation of the proposed water:features, the area will continue to. be used for that purpose. G ,rt In order to provide fire protection access to the two artificial rock structures on the west side of the site, the Fire Department is recommending as a condition of'approval that a fire truck gate and access to the west side of the site be provided on Calle Mazatlan where the tennis court is adjacent to the street (Condition No. 105). The gates will allow Fire Department vehicles and personnel access to the artificial rock structures from!the west. This would require a 20 foot wide portion of the existing fences between the three courts be removed or hinged. The net for the fourth court (No. 12) adjacent to the water feature will need to be removed to provide a fire vehicle turnaround, unless an alternative (i.e. removable net poles, access through adjacent Villa Drive, etc.) is agreed upon by the Fire Department. The fire access from Avenida . Obregon that exists will remain. Planning Commission Action: The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing to consider this request at its meeting of February 13, 2007. The applicant's presentation included a brief history of the Resort and its development as well as a description of the proposed Signature Pool facility. The applicant noted that it has approximately 1,600 employees. With the increased summer and shoulder month's occupancy, they predict the new facilities will help retain those employees during the Resort's traditionally slow period. Also, they noted the facilities will allow them to compete with other regional resorts that now have these types of amenities. They noted that they made numerous changes to their design to address concerns they had previously heard from surrounding property owners, such as: enclosing all of the water slides;, lowering the grades; lowering the water surface in the lazy river and the splash pool to help retain sound; and reducing the height of the rock formations. During that hearing, approximately 33 people spoke, nearly all in opposition to the request. A number of letters, photographs and other documents were submitted to the Planning Commission (Attachment 7). The speakers and the letters noted concerns such as: increased traffic in an area that is already at times congested;, noise from the water feature users; construction noise and inconveniences;, blocking of views by the taller rock formation; loss of tennis facilities; and loss of the Resort's charm. The adjoining Homeowners' Association has hired the law firm of Guralnick & Gilliland,. LLP to prepare a letter in opposition to the proposal. This letter also includes technical reports. addressing traffic, parking and noise (Attachment 7). In response to this letter and reports, the City's traffic and noise consultants have submitted written responses (Attachment 8). The City Attorney has noted that the Guralnick letter is based upon the erroneous assumption that the City is proposing to adopt a Negative Declaration in connection with this application. This is incorrect. The environmental documentation which has been prepared for this proposal is an "Addendum." This was prepared in accordance with CEQA Guideline 15164. The Addendum builds on the analysis completed in EIR No. 41 and the subsequent environmental documents. This is appropriate because C__9 ti• what is proposed is a modification to a 4.7-acre portion of an existing 62-acre project (the La Quinta Resort), which project has already undergone extensive and voluminous environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The question isn't whether or not there will be any impacts from the Signature Pool facilities. Instead, the question.is whether the replacement of Resort amenities proposed in this application will cause significant impacts beyond those previously outlined in the extensive prior environmental review. The Addendum concludes that with the proposed modifications to the Signature Pool area, the Resort as a whole will have not greater impacts than what has already been identified and accepted. In this regard, it is important to note that the proposal involves no increase in the number of rooms available for rent. Instead, its purpose is to have more efficient usage of the existing capacity of the Resort. The Planning Commission, with Commissioner Daniels absent,discussed the various issues brought up as well as their ideas and concerns. In addition to neighborhood concerns, items discussed by one or more of the Commissioners included: whether the Signature Pool facilities were too intense for the location; how the facility would be operated; the Resort's right to evolve and make changes; impacts on the surrounding property owners; and possible additional Conditions of Approval, including improvements to the,berm along Eisenhower Drive. and the existing pathway. The Planning Commission on a 4-0 vote adopted Resolution 2007-007 recommending certification of an Addendum to Environmental Impact Report #41 and subsequent CEQA compliance documents for Environmental Assessment 2006-573. Then, on a motion by Commissioner Quill, the Planning Commission recommended approval of Site Development Permit 2006-865 (SDP). The vote was 2-2 with Commissioners Alderson and Barrows casting negative votes. The Commission was informed by the City. Attorney that City's policy is when there is a. tie vote and a commissioner is absent, the item is normally continued to the next meeting so that the absent commissioner can break the tie vote. However, the policy allows the Commission to provide a different disposition if they can do so in a successful motion. Because the Commission action on the SDP was simply a recommendation to the Council, the Commission adopted a motion 4-0 directing that the request be sent to the City Council noting their action and the Conditions of Approval that had been suggested by Commission Chair Quill. Specifically, they requested the following additional Conditions of Approval be considered by the City Council if it is determined that the SDP be approved: 1. That a comprehensive landscaping, irrigation and fencing plan to resolve problems and improve the appearance be prepared for the Eisenhower Drive frontage and southern perimeter adjacent to the Bear Creek Bike Path for review and approval by the Community Development Director. The plan shall be implemented and completed prior to issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy for the Signature Pool facility. 2. That a security operations plan be submitted to the Community Development Director for approval prior to issuance of first building permit. The plans should include items such as security in the pool facility and Avenida Obregon areas during operation and after hours, control of guests in residential areas, etc. 3. That trees on the rock formations shall be limited to small trees that do not obstruct views and are compatible with the local mountain habitat. Architecture and Landscaping Review Committee (ALRC): The ALRC reviewed this request at its meeting of December 6, 2006, and on a 3-0 vote recommended approval of the request with conditions recommended by staff (Attachment 9). Historic Preservation Commission (HPC): On January 18, 200,.the Historic Preservation Commission reviewed the provisions proposed to retain the Walter Morgan House at the Resort as part of their proposed water feature. The HPC requested the following additional information be submitted: 1. Retrofit costs to make house safe to occupy. 2. Future plans for the house at this time. 3. Plan for maintaining the house if not retrofitted. 4. Discussion of how the building could be used as part of the Resort. This information is required to be submitted and approved by the HPC prior to any alterations to the Morgan House other than demolition of the adjacent detached modern -era outbuilding. Public Notice: This application was advertised in the Desert Sun newspaper on February 8, 2007. All property owners in and within 500 feet of the site were mailed a copy of the Public Hearing notice as required by the La Quinta Municipal Code. Other persons sent notices included those who sent the City letters or a -mails prior to the publishing of the hearing notice. As. of this writing, a number of letters have been received and are attached for your review (Attachment 10). Generally, the majority of the correspondence has been negative citing issues such as increased traffic and, parking problems, increased noise, loss of views, loss of the Resorts original ambiance, and construction disturbance. Findings: The Findings as required by Section 9.210.010 (Site Development Permits) of the Zoning Code can be made as noted below. S 1. Compliance with the General Plan - The SDP site within the La Quinta Resort is designated by the General Plan and applicable Specific Plan 121 E, Amendment #5 as Tourist Commercial which includes recreational uses. This designation permits the Resort and related recreational uses such as the proposed Signature Pool water. feature. Furthermore, the 4.7-acre site has been used for various resort -related recreational uses, including a previous "Signature Pool" where the sunken tennis courts presently exist. Therefore, the proposal is in compliance with the General Plan and Specific Plan. 2. Compliance with the Zoning Code - The City Zoning Map and applicable Specific Plan 121 E, Amendment No. 5 zone the 4.7 acre site within the La Quinta Resort as Tourist Commercial. This designation permits the Resort and related recreational uses such as the proposed Signature Pool water feature. Applicable development standards are complied with based on the proposed plansand recommended Conditions of Approval. 3. Compliance with CEQA - The La Quinta Community Development Department has caused to be prepared Environmental Assessment 2006-573 (an Addendum to Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Number 41 and to a series of subsequently approved environmental review documents) for this Site Development Permit in compliance with the requirements of.the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as Amended. The Community Development Department has determined that the proposed modifications to the La Quinta Resort do not require a subsequent EIR, Supplemental EIR or a Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration, since the circumstances described in Section 15162 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines do not exist, as there will be no new or more significant impacts than those disclosed in the prior EIR No. 41 and the CEQA compliance documents approved subsequently. The modifications proposed, and the circumstances under which the modifications would be carried out, do not require substantial changes to the previous EIR, or the Subsequent Environmental documents, due to the involvement of new significant environmental impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In addition, there is no new information of substantial importance which would trigger. the requirement of a subsequent EIR, supplemental EIR or Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with Section. 15162(a)(3). Therefore, upon certification of Environmental assessment 2006-573, the proposal will be in compliance with CEQA requirements. 4. Architectural Design - The architectural design of the proposed facilities, including, but not limited to the architectural style, scale, building mass, materials, colors, architectural details, roof style, and other architectural elements, are compatible with other plans approved for construction on the Resort grounds and other surrounding development in the City. 5. Site Design - The site design of the facilities, including, but not limited to entries, interior circulation, pedestrian amenities, and other site design elements have been established by the previous development of the 4.7-acre area on the Resort grounds. The center tennis court area has been used for a pool in the past and, with this project, Will be again used for that purpose. The proposed facilities will be compatible with surrounding hotel development and with the quality of design prevalent in the City.' 6. Landscape Design — The proposed landscaping includes, but not limited to the location, type, size, color, texture, and coverage of plant materials is designed so as to provide relief, complement buildings, visually emphasize prominent design elements and vistas, screen undesirable views, and provide a harmonious transition between adjacent land uses. It will provide an overall unifying influence, enhance the visual continuity of the facilities, complement the surrounding area and comply with City and CVWD water efficiency requirements, ensuring efficient water use. 7. Sign Programs A comprehensive sign program, including on -site facility and Resort directional signage is required upon approval of this proposal prior to issuance_ of the first building permit. Resort area directional signage will include.shuttle routes and stops. Conclusion: The Resort has grown and continuously evolved over the years. It began with 20 casitas' and one restaurant. Overtheyears it has been expanded and been modified to include 62 acres and over 800 rooms, along. with extensive recreational activities including golf, tennis, fitness, biking; and water activities. The Signature Pool proposal is an evolution of the recreational activities at the resort. expected to generate (Attachment 11). Staff will review this letter and provide a report at the public hearing. FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES: The Findings for approval can be made as noted above and in the attached Resolutions. The alternatives available to the Council include: 1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council certifying an Addendum to the Environmental Impact Report and subsequent CEQA compliance documents and approving Site Development Permit 2006-865, subject to the Conditions of Approval; or 2. Deny the request; or 3. Provide staff with alternative direction. Respectfully submitted, DouglasA. Evans Community Development Director Approved for submissio by: AK Thomas P. Genovese, City Manager Attachments: 1. Addendum (EA 2006-573) Note: Previously distributed to City Council and Errata to Addendum attached 2. Location Map 3. Plan exhibit booklet — City Council only 4. Signature Pool description 5. La Quinta Resort & Club Current Traffic Volumes and Parking Conditions 6. Letter from Paul J. McCormick dated January 11, 2007 7. Items submitted to. Planning Commission at meeting of February 13, 2007 8. Noise and Traffic Consultant's response letters 9. ALRC minutes for the meeting of December 6, 2007 10. Letters received from public — Separate attachment due,to size ATTACHMENT #5 Endo Engineering Traffic Engineering Air Quality Studies Noise Assessments January 8, 2007 Mr. David Urban Vice President of Planning and Development CNL Hotels & Resorts, LLC CNL Center II at City Commons 420 S. Orange Ave., Suite 700 Orlando, Florida 32801-3313 SUBJECT: La Quinta Resort and Club EA 2006-573 and Site Development Permit 2006-865 Traffic Impact Analysis Dear Mr. Urban; . The La Quinta Resort has been successful, partially because the Specific Plan provides for a flexible development that is capable of responding to changing market conditions. However, to effectively compete as a destination resort hotel in the region, the La Quinta Resort must continue to revitalize and enhance the ancillary on -site facilities that serve resort guests. The La Quinta Resort must also pursue new recreational amenities that will appeal to a wider demographic in the leisure market and increase guest room bookings on an annualized basis. The intent of the currently proposed project is to do that by capitalizing on the facilities 'at the resort that make it successful, and introducing new facilities that provide an attractive recreational experience for a more family -oriented market in the summer months, when the resort occupancy is typically lowest. In this manner, the proposed project will permit the resort to more fully utilize a higher percentage of its vested entitlements. The La Quinta Resort Specific Plan provides zoning and development regulations for a range of land uses on the 622t acre La Quinta Resort site. The proposed project is a request for a Site Development Permit to replace a portion of the existing tennis courts and dedicated children's play areas as well as the existing hotel swimming pool with a major water feature. The proposed changes are designed to reduce the seasonal variation in the occupancy rate of the guest rooms by attracting younger families with children to the resort during the summer months and holidays when schools are not in session. An initial application submittal package was forwarded to the City of La Quinta for EA 2006-573 and Site Development Permit 2006-865. To complete the application submittal, the City asked that the potential implications of the proposed project on parking, circulation, and local traffic conditions be addressed. The following pages evaluate and document the potential parking, circulation, and local traffic impacts associated with the proposed modifications to the existing ancillary recreational facilities on 7.4 acres at the La Quinta Resort & Club in the City of La Quinta. 28811 Woodcock Drive, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-1330 Telephone: (949) 362-0020 FAX: (949) 362-0015 Project Description The proposed project will replace a portion of the existing tennis courts, the dedicated children's play areas, and the main hotel swimming pool (located in the western portion of the La Quinta Resort) with a major water feature. As shown in Figure 1, the proposed improvements will include: an arrival plaza and waterfall fountain at an entry building, a new formal signature swimming pool and whirlpool with ten adjacent cabanas, a water slide (constructed of sculpted gunite with rock veneer), a wave pool with a video projection screen, a splash -down pool, a lazy river (which passes through a canyon, a cave, and under a stone veneer bridge), and a toddler pool with a nearby pop jet fountain and play structure for youngsters. A small enclosed game (arcade) room would be provided as well as a lounge terrace, a loggia, wood decks, paths, extensive landscaping, decorative plantings, and new lighting fixtures. Although the existing resort facilities do not include a maintenance storage area, one will be provided with the proposed project. The entire area will be enclosed within a gated pool enclosure fence that will allow fire lane access. The proposed modifications will affect Parcel 1 of Parcel Map. No. 29724 and Lots 2, 3 and 6 of Tract No. 28545-1 in Riverside County. The project will replace nine of the existing tennis courts (in Lot 6) and the existing tennis stadium and center court as well as a restroom building (in Parcel 1), and the outdoor swimming pool (in Lot 3). The existing bar/restaurant, tennis/fitness clubhouse, and the Morgan House (which is currently closed) will remain on -site. Upon project completion, thirteen of the twenty three existing tennis courts will remain for resort guests and club members. The proposed modifications will not alter any of the hotel rooms or change the existing off- street parking supply. Although the number of parking spaces is expected to remain essentially unchanged, twelve parking spaces may need to be relocated to accommodate the gated entry improvements required along Avenida Obregon. To control the flow of traffic near the proposed water feature, improvements will be constructed along Avenida Obregon, south of Avenida Fernando. These improvements will include a raised median (10 feet wide and 50 feet long) with a turn -around area designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of hotel guests and club members using the water feature. In the event that, after monitoring the water feature in operation, the City of La Quinta requires Avenida Obregon to be gated to control access to the water feature, the raised median on Avenida Obregon can accommodate a parking attendant station. The proposed La Quinta Resort and Club water feature amenity will be open daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It will be open on weekends through the remainder of the year. In addition, the water feature will be open during Thanksgiving week, from Christmas through New Year's Day, on, Presidents' Day weekend, and for one to three weeks during Spring Break. The proposed water feature is designed to be a private gated ancillary recreational amenity for use by guests of the La Quinta Resort. The proposed water feature will not be open to the general public and is not intended to function as a theme park or public water slide park. Public water slide parks sell tickets to the public and allow unlimited access to water slides, wading pools, refreshment stands, and picnic areas. The major water feature and other related ancillary recreational facilities to be constructed, are designed to help the resort appeal to and attract a wider and better balanced share of the marketplace. The new amenities are expected to attract younger families to the resort and generate more guest room bookings, particularly in the summer months, when the average monthly occupancy rate of the resort typically drops. c :� cn W co co C C/) CD CD 'all Ci� - 8 7— -1,11 , 14 3j- 71 --w J opus DA opiumv I Use of the water feature will be limited to hotel guests staying at the La Quinta Resort Hotel and a select number of individuals who participate in the exclusive Club Membership Program associated with the La Quinta Resort & Club. Unlike the existing tennis and exercise facilities, the water feature will not be made available in a joint facilities sharing program with other hotels. To do so would eliminate the incentive for guests of other hotels to book rooms at the La Quinta Resort Hotel. The Existing La, Quinta Resort The La Quinta Resort & Club is a legendary retreat and meeting destination resort, renowned for 80 years for its charm and serenity. It features internationally recognized golf courses and aworld-class spa and fitness center. It offers a variety of indoor and outdoor recreational amenities including: 23 tennis courts, 42 pools, 52 hot tubs, five restaurants and 800 guest rooms tucked away in charming Spanish -style casitas. Approximately 200 nearby tennis villas participate in a rental program administered by the hotel during the peak season. The La Quinta Resort appeals primarily to business travelers, conference attendees, and mature leisure travelers who appreciate the tranquillity. Hotel guests tend to frequent the golf or tennis facilities, take advantage of the Spa La Quinta, and enjoy the upscale dining establishments on -site. The proposed project would promote a more balanced customer mix of business travelers and leisure guests, groups, families, and individuals. Although individual business travelers typically book rooms on weekdays, families tend to book vacations during the months when schools are not in session (the off-peak season at the La Quinta Resort) and on weekends. In the peak season (January through April) the hotel occupancy is relatively high and the resort often achieves full occupancy on the weekends. However, the average monthly occupancy rate in the off-peak season is substantially lower, indicating a need to appeal to a wider demographic in the leisure market. The provision of a new major water feature on - site P o J site is viewed as a means of improving the hotel occupancy, particularly in the summer months, without increasing the existing entitlements of the La Quinta Resort Specific Plan. The proposed change in the ancillary recreational amenities will allow the La Quinta Resort to make more consistent year-round use of its existing entitlements. Historical Occupancy Rates Seasonal variations in destination resort hotel occupancy rates are typical. Figure 2 shows the average monthly occupancy rates for the La Quinta Resort since the year 2003. Occupancy rates for the La Quinta Resort and Club, reviewed for the four-year interval from 2003 through 2006, indicate that during the peak season (January through April) the resort is operating with average monthly occupancy rates of 75 percent, with the guest rooms achieving full occupancy on weekends. However, during the off-peak period (between Memorial Day and Labor Day) and during the December holiday season, the resort experiences a substantial drop in the average monthly demand for room bookings. The average monthly occupancy rate for the summer months (June, July, and August) over the last four years was 48 percent. During the summer months, traffic volumes on the streets of La Quinta are also substantially lower than the traffic volumes during the peak season (winter and spring). Any change in the ancillary recreational facilities that would effectively increase the demand for guest rooms on an annualized basis and substantially increase the average occupancy gill �11% yd_ 02 V Jd902 o C 10 a 3 �d9 �a V 0 dS y rates during the summer months would be beneficial and promote the long-term economic viability.of the resort. La Quinta Resort Club Memberships Although the existing tennis and fitness facilities on -site are utilized by hotel guests, they are also available to individuals who are not hotel guests (non -hotel guest users) through an exclusive Club Membership Program affiliated with the La Quinta Resort & Club. The proposed water feature will be predominantly used by hotel guests, but will also be available to club members. Club memberships permit non -hotel guests to access the resort fitness facilities and participate in an array of programs and activities including: golf practice, use of three clubhouses, tennis privileges, and concierge services. Club members are also entitled to preferred pricing on all resort golf courses, at all resort restaurants, on rooms for guests and family, and at the Spa La Quinta. All of the club members have access to the resort facilities. Memberships are available in different classes, with and without golf privileges. There are currently a total of 476 golf memberships, and 386 non -golf memberships. The average age of the current club members exceeds 55 years. All memberships allow the member, the member's spouse and their children under the age of 23 years to share the membership privileges, which will include access to the proposed water feature. There are no plans to change the structure of the existing club membership program or create a new club membership program in the future solely to permit access to the ater feature. Although the water feature would provide an additional incentive to become a club member, the cost of club membership includes a minimum of $15,000.00 (to initiate a non -golf club membership) plus a monthly fee of $210.00. Given the cost of club membership, it is unlikely that many club memberships would be sold solely to permit access to the water feature. The existing tennis and fitness facilities are accessible to club members and their guests who are not club members (upon payment of a nominal forty dollar fee). Club members will not be allowed to bring any guests into the water feature who are not club members (unless they are registered guests of the La Quinta Resort Hotel). Destination Resort Hotels Major resort hotels are self-contained multi -use developments providing a variety of supportive ancillary facilities such as conference facilities and meeting/banquet rooms in addition to guest rooms to accommodate business travelers, conventions, and meetings. Destination resort hotels cater to the tourist and vacation industry, often providing a wide variety of recreational facilities and programs (such as golf courses, tennis courts, beach access, swimmingpools, fitness rooms, day spas, and other amenities) to improve occupancy rates. Destination resort hotels have special characteristics that distinguish them from traditional hotels. Rather than functioning simply as a convenient place for guests to stay while visiting an area, destination resorts are primary attractions. The accommodations at a given facility, as well as the complete range of on -site amenities that are available, appeal to various segments of the marketplace and attract guests year after year, thereby increasing hotel occupancy. Typical resort hotels provide luxury accommodations with more than 250 guest rooms and in-house restaurants, cocktail lounges, gift and retail shops, and other on -site amenities and guest services such as a fitness centers, health spas, golf courses, tennis courts, beaches, and/or other recreational attractions and programs. Resort hotels often provide various rd forms of guest transportation services for trips to and from the nearest airport, golf courses, or other attractions. Because of the trip interactions between the various ancillary facilities, destination resort hotels tend to exhibit lower trip generation rates on weekdays than more traditional hotels, where daily activities require the use of a vehicle for travel to and from the hotel The Economics of Water Features at Resorts Destination resort hotels are sensitive to fluctuations in the leisure market, the economy, and the demographic composition of the market area. The overall competitiveness of a hotel is determined by many economic and demographic factors that affect its market share (such as the number of existing competitors and recent hotel openings, the amenity offerings of competitors, and the number of families with children in the area who might visit). Resorts can reduce the adverse effects of seasonality and weather on room bookings by providing indoor/outdoor water features to capture year-round revenues thereby reducing lost business due to bad weather. Hotels with indoor waterparks have demonstrated that they can extend their peak seasons and fill rooms on weekends and during school breaks by providing a venue that is weather-proof. Families have been willing to drive 200 miles to spend a weekend at a resort with an indoor waterpark Z Potential Short -Term Impacts on Traffic and Parking The proposed project would generate short-term increases in construction -related traffic on area roadways within and surrounding the La Quinta Resort & Club. Construction traffic will utilize Avenida Fernando and Avenida Obregon to access the project site. Specific details regarding the number and type of construction vehicles required, and the length of the construction period will not be available until contractors are engaged who can provide detailed estimates. ; The vehicles of the construction crew, and the heavy construction equipment required during demolition and construction activities, are expected to be parked in a construction staging.area on the. Palm Grove parcel (on the southwest corner of Avenida Oregon and Avenida Fernando): In the event that additional space is needed as a back-up/overflow site for construction vehicles, it will be provided at a different location, to ensure that construction vehicles do not park along Avenida Fernando. Debris (that is generated by the demolition of the existing facilities required to accommodate the proposed improvements) may be removed from the site by truck and deposited in the closest landfill. To minimize the number of off -site truck trips, an effort will be made to balance earthwork quantities on -site and some of the demolition debris may be deposited (with any excess material generated during the excavation process) within the Slide Mountain structure. The building materials and equipment required as well as the requisite landscaping materials to implement the project will be transported to the site in trucks that will utilize Avenida Fernando and Avenida Obregon for access. Short-term construction -related traffic will be 1. Austin -Foust Associates, Inc., "Resort Hotel Traffic Study", December 29, 1986. 2 . Coy, Jeff, "What Are the Risk Factors of a Hotel Waterpark Investment;" Hospitality Net - Industry News, December. 15, 2005, (http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4025800html), Viewed October 3, 2006. 5 j noticeable to resort guests and nearby residents who utilize Avenida Fernando and Avenida Obregon for access to/from their homes. Even though the additional truck traffic may be a nuisance, it will only be generated for a short period of time and the roadways to be used by the trucks have been adequately designed and improved to accommodate trucks. A centerline will be added to the road surface on Avenida Obregon and the street will be improved, as shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4. The roadways surrounding the La Quinta Resort, including both Avenida Fernando and Avenida Obregon, have the available capacity to serve the level of additional traffic anticipated during the construction process. Therefore, construction -related traffic impacts are not expected to be significant. Long -Term Employee Traffic Impacts Employees are currently required to park off -site, at a parking lot along Calle Tampico, and are transported by shuttle to the La Quinta Resort & Club. The shuttles operate on a 24- hour basis. Once the existing recreational facilities are replaced with the proposed water feature, the number of hotel employees will increase slightly. The staffing required for the portion of the resort to be modified with the water features is expected.toincrease from 16 today to 48 employees in the future. The highest staffing for the water feature is, expected to occur during the summer, when the overall staffing of the resort,is lower. There is adequate off -site parking available in the remote Calle Tampico employee parking lot to accommodate the increase in employee parking demand that is anticipated with the proposed project., The projected increase in the number of employees is not expected to substantially increase the traffic in or around the hotel grounds or increase the off-street parking demand at the hotel. It may incrementally increase the demand for off-street employee parking spaces at the remote lot adjacent to Calle Tampico. It may also incrementally increase the number of shuttle trips to and from the resort from the remote lot. These increases are not considered significant, since substantially larger seasonal variations in the resort staffing currently go unnoticed by surrounding residents, as the demand for rooms at the resort fluctuates from season to season and from weekdays to weekend days. The water feature may require incrementally more maintenance than the existing recreational facilities on the 7.4-acre site. Maintenance personnel will use golf.carts or walk.A maintenance storage area will be constructed to facilitate maintenance of the water feature. A truck will deliver chemicals to condition the water two or three times per week, during off-peak hours in the warmer summer months. The need for chemicals to condition the water should be somewhat lower during the cooler winter months. Traffic Impacts Associated with Increased Guest Room Bookings The proposed water features are unique to the area and have the potential to attract a substantial number of hotel guests from a wider demographic population, particularly in the summer months. This increase in hotel guests will increase traffic volumes and pedestrian volumes in the area during the summer months. The surrounding community experiences lower traffic volumes in the summer months. As a result, the surrounding street system has available unused capacity in the summertime, a portion of which would be utilized by the additional hotel guests. Since access to the water feature will be limited to hotel guests and club members (guests of the hotel guests will not be allowed), the increase in guest room bookings associated with the proposed water feature would not exceed the current capacity of the existing resort hotel AVENIDA FERNANDO EXISTING MEDIAN cuRe z EX. MEDIAN PROP. STRIPING---- - CURB &' 71 EXIST R€C ITIT ONAL MONUMENT TO BE RELOCATED, EX CURB ... � v &. Gum. EX-R/W w o I; . -EXISTING WALL w f2. PROPOSED WALL STING POOL ECT IN PUCE EXl FH TO BERELOCATED o TO BE REMOVED EX. WEDGE CURB 'S :WALL & GUTTER TO BE 20' 10` 20 REMOVED 12' EX. R.. 33' EX. R/W : PROPOSED WEDGE CURB & GUTTER EX. WEDGE CURB L & GUTTER TO BE 3 - REMOVED 3 PROPOSED R/W EXISTING I EXISTING PARKING STALLS (12) o PALM GROVE VI TO BE RELOCATED TO ALTERNATE N LOCATION ON RESORT SITE PROPOSED WEDGE �� �i FACE OF BUILDING WALL CURB & GUTTER PROPOSED \ ;' ^ - PARKING ATTENDANT MEDIAN CURB STATION / CALL BOX EXISTING EXISTING WALL RESORT VILLA PROPOSED GATE PROPOSED GATE PROPOSED u FENCE PROP. STRIPING EXISTING WEDGE A ,°y PROP, PARKING STALL W/ WHEEL STOP SCALE: CURB & GUTTER Q ^� EXISTING PARKING STALLS Figure 4 EX. vnuLTs I �' ENTRY EXHIBIT SIGNATURE POOL ' 18. LA QUINTA RESORT & SPA (12) (1r) (n') CITY OF LA QUINTA I:\41312\EXHIBITS\EXH-ENTRY.dwg 10/02/06 n n � rooms. Therefore,' regardless of the extent to which the water feature increases the demand for rooms at the resort, the resulting hotel traffic during the summer months will not exceed the peak season traffic volumes that are currently being generated by the resort in the peak months of January'through April. The existing peak season traffic volumes generated by the resort hotel are accommodated by the existing street system within and surrounding the La Quinta Resort. Thus, the proposed project will allow the hotel to make better use of its existing entitlements without generating new traffic impacts. The demand for access to the water feature during the peak winter months is not expected to be substantial. The average ambient winter temperatures in La Quinta during the daytime are mild, but not warm enough to attract a substantial number of families to the hotel on weekdays in the winter months when schools are in session. On winter weekends, the resort is already operating at full occupancy. Consequently, no increase in the demand for guest room bookings could be accommodated on winter weekends. When children are home from school for the holidays in December, the resort hotel typically experiences a significant drop in occupancy. Therefore, any increase in guest bookings associated with the water feature, while not expected to be substantial, could be accommodated by the unused capacity of the surrounding street system that results from the historical drop in room bookings at the resort that is typical of December. The parking demand associated with resort hotels is complex and subject to substantial day- to-day and seasonal variations, as room occupancy levels and activity levels at the resort vary. The use of restaurants and bar facilities at the resort can include a substantial number of people who are not staying at the hotel. The hourly parking accumulation of the restaurants at the La Quinta Resort tends to peak during the dinner hours (between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.) with a sustained demand caused by the low turnover of patrons. The water feature will be open in the daytime hours (when the hotel and restaurant parking accumulation is lowest). The water feature will close at 6:00 p.m., to coincide with the time when the parking demand associated with the restaurants and hotel rises. Traffic Impacts Associated with Club Memberships During the peak season, the guest room occupancy and the corresponding number of motor vehicle trips generated by the La Quinta Resort reach the levels associated with the existing entitlements. If the occupancy rate were to remain constant throughout the year, there would be no need for the proposed water feature. Unfortunately, it vanes on weekdays compared to weekends and fluctuates from month to month with the seasons. Many resorts with seasonal gaps in their business offer club membership programs to non -hotel guests to generate revenue in the off season to cover the costs associated with keeping the resort open and fully staffed. Those resorts offering the most attractive recreational amenities are often the most successful at selling club memberships. Tennis and exercise facilities, which are readily available in the vicinity of the La Quinta Resort, may not attract as many club members as the major water feature proposed. Fortunately, the most desirable months in which to use the water feature correspond to the season with the lowest traffic volumes and parking demand at the La Quinta Resort & Club. Furthermore; any traffic and parking impacts on Avenida Obregon would primarily affect the La Quinta Resort & Club. That provides an incentive for the resort to manage traffic and parking in a manner that minimizes the potential for impacts associated with the proposed water feature. 7 n * '} UO3 The proposed water feature may attract more club member traffic on an annual basis than the existing tennis amenities on -site. However, usage of the tennis facilities on -site generally peaks in the cooler winter months, whereas the water feature usage will peak in the warmer summer months. Once the novelty of the water feature fades somewhat, the demand for access'to the water feature may be largely self-regulating. Since the demand for access to the water feature will be relatively low during the winter months (when the demand for the tennis amenities is high), the peak traffic season club member usage may not increase appreciably. Potential Parking Impacts Avenida Fernando and Avenida Obregon are private streets that are open to the public. Even when the hotel is operating at moderate occupancy rates, the available parking spaces on Avenida Obregon fill quickly. During periods of peak parking demand, there are few unoccupied on -street parking spaces available along Avenida Obregon. , When the resort guest rooms are fully booked during the winter months, the availability of parking on Avenida Obregon for club members visiting the tennis facilities has been a concern. Steps have been taken by the La Quinta Resort to resolve this parking issue and minimize the potential for overflow parking. These steps included: increased patrolling, the use of improved signage, and the creation of no -parking zones. During the most recent peak season, there were only two complaints received by the resort regarding the availability of parking along Avenida Obregon. In both cases, parking was available to the club member on -site, albeit not in close proximity to the tennis facilities. A shuttle service is available for club members when parking is not available in close proximity to the amenity they are visiting. During the peak winter months, the La Quinta Resort Hotel operates near its full occupancy with very few off-street parking spaces unoccupied. As a result, the number of parking spaces available in the peak season which could be used by club members who wish to visit the water feature is limited. Club member traffic to/from the water feature in the -- -. winter or early spring, when traffic volumes are typically at their peak in La Quinta, could be limited by the cooler weather and the age of the club members (which averages 55+) and their families. Given the reduced traffic volumes on the streets of La Quinta in the summer months and the reduced traffic demand resulting from lower occupancy rates at the hotel, the potential for significant traffic impacts as a result of the limited number of club members who will utilize the water feature in the summer months should be low. Since the water feature may initially generate more interest than the existing tennis facilities, _ there is the potential for the proposed project to attract motorists who may pass by or even park along Avenida Obregon briefly to view the new water features. To control parking along Avenida Obregon, a parking management program should be developed which requires parking permits and can be enforced through the ticketing of violators and the towing of vehicles parked without a permit. Permits should be issued to hotel guests and club members at the front desk. of the hotel. During the off-season summer months, some of the off-street parking permits on -site may be made available to a limited number of club members with water feature access privileges. If the number of club members visiting the water feature exceeds the number of available parking spaces on Avenida Obregon, club members may not be issued Avenida Obregon parking permits. Instead they may be directed to park in the main front lot (approximately 1,000 feet from the water feature) where a shuttle or golf cart will be made available for access to the water feature. Even with parking controlled on Avenida Obregon, allowing access to the water feature through the club membership program may result in increased traffic volumes on Avenida Obregon. Appropriate signage should be provided, clearly indicating that parking along Avenida Obregon is by permit only. Children should be accompanied by adults when accessing the water feature. However (unless they are lodging in close proximity to the water feature) older children may arrange to be dropped off and later picked up by their parents along Avenida Obregon. A designated passenger loading zone should be provided, where children destined to/from the water feature can be safely dropped off and picked up by their families. This zone can also serve as a shuttle drop and loading point. The improvements proposed along Avenida Obregon will include a raised median, south of Avenida Fernando, that can accommodate a parking attendant station/call box and provide a vehicle turn around area. After monitoring the situation, the City of La Quinta may require Avenida Obregon to be gated. If required, gates can be added across Avenida Obregon, south of the turn around area, as shown in Figure 4. While there is no way to accurately predict how much parking will be needed when the water feature is completed, several conclusions can be drawn from the current parking conditions in the vicinity. The restaurants on -site increase the parking accumulation during the evenings. The hotel guests utilize the parking at night. More rooms are booked in the winter and spring than in the summer months. Consequently, the shared parking provided at the resort is more likely to have spaces available during the summer months and during the daytime hours before dinnertime. These are the periods when the water feature is most likely to be utilized. If the parking demand exceeds the available parking supply on -site on peak days in the future, steps should be taken to ensure that club members and hotel guests do not park in the adjacent neighborhood. To reduce the parking accumulation on peak days in the vicinity of the water feature (along Avenida Obregon), club members may not be issued parking permits. Club members destined for the water feature may be instructed to park in the main lot and use the shuttle to access the water feature. Avenida Obregon may be gated to control access to, the available parking. If necessary, additional off-street parking spaces should be made available at a remote location served by golf carts or a shuttle. Summary of Findings 1. The average monthly occupancy rate at the La Quinta Resort is substantially lower during the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day) and during the December holiday season. During the summer months, traffic volumes on the streets of La Quinta are also substantially lower than the traffic volumes during the peak season (winter and spring). 2. The provision iof a new water feature on -site is being proposed as a means of improving the hotel occupancy, particularly in the summer months, without increasing the existing entitlements of the La Quinta Resort Specific Plan. The proposed changes in the ancillary recreational amenities will allow the La Quinta Resort to make more consistent year-round use of its existing entitlements. 3. The proposed water feature is designed to be a private ancillary recreational amenity for use by guests of the La Quinta Resort that will not be open to the general public. Use of the water feature will be limited primarily to guests staying at the La Quinta Resort Hotel and a select number of individuals who participate in the exclusive Club Membership Program. 4. Club members will not be allowed to bring friends, grandchildren or relatives into the water feature (other than their spouse and children 23 or younger). 9 5 . The La Quinta; Resort will not permit widespread use of the proposed water feature by non -hotel guests through a facilities sharing program with other hotels, as this would reduce the incentive to stay at the La Quinta Resort Hotel 6. For the most part, the number of occupied guest rooms will determine the number of trips that will be generated by the resort and also establish the demand for off-street hotel parking. The proposed modifications will not alter the number of hotel rooms or the existing off-street parking supply. Recommendations To minimize the potential for the parking accumulation to overflow the available parking supply on -site on', peak days in the future, steps should be taken to ensure that club members and hotel guests do not park in the adjacent neighborhood. The following recommendations have been identified to reduce the potential for adverse impacts related to an excessive parking accumulation in the vicinity of the water feature. 1. The construction specifications should include a requirement that construction -related parking shall not be permitted along Avenida Fernando and shall occur only in designated construction staging areas., 2. In the event that additional space is needed as a back-up/overflow construction staging area, it will be provided at a designated location to ensure that construction vehicles do not park along Avenida Fernando. 3. To control parking along Avenida Obregon, a parking management program should be developed which requires parking permits and can be enforced through the ticketing of violators and the towing of vehicles parked without a permit. Permits should be issued to hotel guests and club members at the front desk of the hotel. If the number of club members visiting the water feature exceeds the number of available parking spaces on Avenida Obregon, club members should not be issued Avenida Obregon parking permits. During periods when parking for the water feature is only permitted in the main lot, a shuttle or golf cart transportation shall be made available and hotel guests and club members shall be informed of its availability. 4..Appropriate signage should be provided, clearly indicating that parking along Avenida Obregon is by permit only. 5. A designated passenger loading zone should be provided along Avenida Obregon, near the the water feature entry, where children destined to/from the water feature can be safely dropped off and picked up by their families. This zone can also serve as a shuttle drop and loading point. 6. Since the main parking lot for the hotel is located approximately 1,000 feet from the proposed water feature, signage should be provided to clearly identify the path to be used between the main parking lot and the water feature. 7. If the parking demand exceeds the available parking supply on -site on peak days in the future, steps should be taken to ensure that people do not park in the adjacent neighborhood. If required, additional off-street parking should be provided at a remote location which is accessible by shuttle and golf carts. n°>r 8. If the City of La Quinta, after monitoring the situation, requires Avenida Obregon to be gated, gates should be installed across Avenida Obregon (south of Avenida Fernando) and the proposed turn around area. Conclusions 1. The proposed water feature is not expected to substantially increase the La Quinta Resort trip generation during the peak winter or early spring months, when traffic volumes on City streets typically are at their peak levels. 2. Once the novelty of the water feature fades, the demand for access to the water feature may be largely self-regulating. Since the demand for access to the water feature will be relatively small during the winter months (when the demand for the tennis and other amenities is high) the water feature may not increase peak season club member usage appreciably, even without restrictions on club member access to the water feature. 3. The La Quinta Resort Hotel has a peak parking demand during dinnertime (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) and overnight (from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.). Generally, the number of occupied guest rooms determines the number of trips generated by the resort and the magnitude of the demand for off-street hotel parking. The proposed modifications to ancillary recreational amenities will not alter any of the hotel rooms or the existing off- street parking supply. The water feature will have peak activity levels in the middle of the day, when the parking accumulation associated with the La Quinta Hotel and restaurants is low. The water feature will close by 6:00 p.m., when the parking demand and accumulation associated with the restaurants and hotel rooms increases. We trust that this information adequately addresses concerns regarding the potential traffic and parking implications of the proposed modifications at the La Quinta Resort & Club to replace the tennis/pool facilities with a new water feature. Should questions or comments arise regarding the findings and recommendations herein, please do not hesitate to contact our offices. We look forward to discussing our findings and conclusions with you. Cordially, ENDo ENGINEERING QRpfESSIONq Grego E 0R mot. tic `� ,.dc� Principal TR 1161 Vicki Lee Endo, P.E. to 131I2oa8 Registered Professional rtlRfft� Traffic Engineer TR 1161 Pj'4jf Of FRV\t O�\,\P 11 �t7 J i. a j Mr. Gregory Endo received his Bachelors and Masters degrees and has completed three years of research in pursuit of,a Doctorate degree in Physics at the University of California, Irvine. Mr. Endo has also been involved in computer modeling applications as they relate to environmental engineering for more than 20 years.. Mr. Endo has adapted existing programs and developed new ones for use by environmental, planning, and traffic engineering consultants to model transportation, air quality, and acoustic systems. During the past fifteen years, Mr. Endo has expanded the transportation planning capabilities of Endo Engineering by integrating the use of computer modeling in the planning process. He was responsible for the circulation modeling of the Cathedral City General Plan, Desert Hot Springs General Plan, Coachella General Plan, and numerous specific plans, in the Coachella Valley using the Coachella Valley Area Transportation System (CVATS) Model'. His primary responsibilities include maintaining liaison with clients and local agencies, project management for multi -disciplinary projects, and special studies integrating opportunities and constraints with development feasibility and alternative analyses. Education Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy in Physics, University of California, Irvine, 1979 Master of Arts in Physics, University of California, Irvine, 1979 Bachelor of Arts in Physics, University of California, Irvine, 1976 Relevant Work Experience Endo Engineering - Principal, Computer Modeling Applications Linscott, Law and Greenspan, Engineers - Traffic Programming Consultant Phillips, Brandt, Reddick, Inc. - Air Quality and Noise Programming Consultant to Environmental Systems Research Group University of California, Irvine; School of Engineering - Computer Consultant of Air Pollution Exercise (APEX) Special Skills Computer modeling for transportation planning and traffic engineering applications. Computerized modeling of noise impacts and the design of appropriate barriers as mitigation using techniques developed by the FHWA and Caltrans. Computer modeling of air quality using the California Line Source Dispersion Model developed by Caltrans. Professional Societies Sigma Pi Sigma- Physics Society Southwestern Region TRANPLAN Model Users Group Publications "Generation of a Closed, Field -Reversed Magnetic Configuration by an Electron Beam Launched from a Magnetized Cathode," Bulletin of the American Physical Society, October 1979, with Scott Robertson. "Cross -Field Injection of an Intense Ion Beam into a Toroidal Magnetic Field," Bulletin of the American Physical Society, October 1979, with Scott Robertson and Frank Wessel. "An Intense Pulsed Magnetically Insulated Deuteron Source," Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 35, No. 11, December 1979, with Scott Robertson. "Spheromak Configuration Generated by Rotating Relativistic Electron Beam," Bulletin of the American Physical Society, October 1980, with Scott Robertson. "Experimetital Study of a High Current Betatron," Bulletin of the American Physical Society, September 1981, with A. Fisher, H. Ishizuka, J. Schneider, G/ Barak, N. Rostoker. "Mechanics;" Physics Laboratory Manual, Oct. 1982, with Dr. F. Potter. "Circuits," Physics Laboratory Manual, Jan. 1983, with Dr. F. Potter. "Oscillations," Physics Laboratory Manual, Mar. 1983, with Dr. F. Potter. "Optics," Physics Laboratory Manual, June 1983, with Dr. F. Potter. C39 Mrs. Vicki Lee Endo graduated from the University of California at Irvine School of Engineering in 1975. She has been a registered Professional Traffic Engineer in the State of California for 25 years and is a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Mrs. Endo has served as a project manager and principal investigator on more than 1,000 air quality impact assessments, noise impact studies and traffic studies for projects throughout California. Her analytical specialties include technical research, the analysis of transportation, acoustic, and air resource systems, and the preparation of technical studies, environmental impact reports, environmental assessments, development feasibility studies, opportunities and constraints' studies, and other planning documentation. Mrs. Endo founded Endo Engineering in 1982 to satisfy the growing demand for technical analyses in the three inter -related disciplines of traffic, air quality and noise with state-of- the-art computer capabilities. Education Registered Professional Traffic Engineer TR 1161, 1982 Engineer -In -Training Certificate 51225,1981 Certification in Transportation Systems Management, University of California, Irvine, 1977 Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 1975 Relevant Work Experience Endo Engineering - Principal, Professional Engineer Linscott, Law and Greenspan, Inc., Engineers - Transportation Engineer II William Kunzman and Associates - Associate Traffic Engineer Phillips, Brandt; keddick, Inc. - Environmental Engineer, Senior Project Manager in Environmental Systems Research Group University of California, Irvine; School of Engineering - Engineering Aide, Air Pollution Research Special Skills The modeling and assessment of acoustic, air quality, and circulation impacts. The design of appropriate mitigation measures. The management and preparation of proposals, planning documents, technical reports, and environmental impact reports. Professional Societies, Institute of Transportation Engineers - Member Publications "Left Turn Pocket Length Requirements", Institute of Transportation Engineers Technical Notes, 1980 with William Kunzman. G 7 0 I FEB 1312007 ATTACHMENT 6 is Engineering, Air Quality Studies Noise Assessments — - February 12, 2007 Mr. Doug Evans Planning Director City of La Quinta 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253 Subject: La Quints Resort & Club Current Traffic Volumes and Parking Conditions Endo Engineering has been asked to document current peak season 24-hour traffic volumes and parking conditions on a peak occupancy day at the La Quinta Resort & Club. As a result, Counts Unlimited, Inc. was retained to make 24-hour machine traffic counts on Friday, February 9, 2007 along Avenida Fernando, Avenida Obregon, and the main resort entrance drive and conduct a visual parking accumulation survey on-sitebetween 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. The parking survey included the 1,005 parking spaces available within the La Quinta Resort & Club site, but did not include the remote employee parking lot on Calle Tampico. Current Peak Season Traffic Volumes Figure 1, shows the daily traffic volumes for a peak season weekday when the resort had 70 percent of the 800 rooms occupied and two events scheduled in the ballroom for 300 people throughout the day. ! As shown therein, a total of 5,077 daily motor vehicle trips were generated by the resort on February 9, 2007, of which 381 occurred during the peak hour (between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM). A total of 2,897 vehicles per day utilized Avenida Fernando (west of Eisenhower Drive) to access the resort. A total of 2,180 vehicles per day utilized the main resort driveway, south of Avenida Fernando, to access the resort. Both of the access roadways are currently operating at a fraction of their total daily capacity. Based upon the La Quinta Resort Hotel bookings from the year 2005 and 2006, the highest average hotel occupancy occurs during the months of February and March. With .a total of 800 hotel rooms, a 70'percent occupancy at the La Quinta Hotel would mean that 560 of the rooms were occupied during the traffic count interval. The hotel check-out time is 10:00 AM and the check -in time is 11:00 AM. Based upon the rM average trip generation rates for hotels (Land Use Code 310), 560 occupied hotel rooms would be expected to generate 5,000 daily trips, with' 392 trips in the evening peak hour. This appears to be consistent with the 5,077 daily trips and 381 peak hour trips identified at the La Quinta Resort & Club with the traffic counts. 28811 Woodcock Drive, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-1330 Phone: (949) 362-0020 FAX: (949) 362-0015 U l i i Calle Mazatlan _ 11 LL 41 1.+,_' O C c `° m O . a V A C cr)0 a„ M LL d .ch £ c o v o mY C y LL L L a E '' m ur m f to c m o _ c O/ V N m o L. c $ ,,°, a � f a m V o � m O 4.0 N ~ F __ n 0 i� m o g o ti O C ^ � O O O ,y 7 m N O CD..J m s z paidnoo0 SUPPed a;IS-uO JO WOOJOd H d C1 N CL 0)0) ir c .X I- ca a a V U O (D N O O O o. c7 N .- Vosaa e;ulna e-I ae saaedg 6UPPed pgdn3ao;o jagwnN m a 0 0 co ._ r.■ Current Parking Conditions On -Site Counts Unlimited, Inc. conducted a visual survey of the parking spaces at the La Quinta Resort on February 9, 2007 from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM to determine the location of the parking lots being used the most by the resort guests, the portion of the parking supply being utilized, and how the parking demand changed through the day. A total of 1,005 parking spaces were identified on -site, as shown in Figure 2. An additional 230 employee parking spaces are available in a remote parking lot adjacent to Calle Tampico which are accessed by resort shuttle. The overall parking demand observed at the La Quinta Resort was found to be highest at 10:00 AM with a steady decrease through the day, as shown in Figure 3. The number of occupied spaces on -site ranged from a high of 52 percent to a low of 37 percent, at 8:00 PM. A minimum of 48 percent of the total on -site parking supply was available at all times during the parking survey. The demand for parking space was highest in the vicinity of parking generators such as the Spa, the Las Flores ballroom, and the restaurants, as shown in Figure.4. Activities in these areas create localized parking demands that are higher than the average demand throughout the resort During the period immediately before checkout, the parking lot near the Las Flores Ballroom was observed to be approximately 95 percent full. However, under-utilized parking areas were -located within 200 to 300 feet. Similarly, the parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the spa were full during the morning and early afternoon and the nearest available parking spaces were located within 200 to 300 feet At the northern end of Avenida Obregon, less than one-half of the available parking spaces were occupied at any time during the day: The areas with many available parking spaces throughout the day were located primarily along the periphery of the resort. The two parking lots along Eisenhower Drive and the parking lot serving. the Spa Villas were typically less than 25 percent full. The parking provided along Los Articles appeared appropriate for the area, with the supply just exceeding the demand throughout the survey period. Although there were no vehicles that obstructed the flow of traffic along the site access streets, there were some illegally parked vehicles observed in front of the La Quinta Spa. One vehicle was parked for an extended period of time adjacent to a handicapped space in the blue striped no -parking area. Two other vehicles were parked along the red curb, opposite the entrance to the La Quinta Spa. Available parking spaces were consistently Observed within 200 to 300 feet of the illegally parked vehicles. Summwry of Findings The La Quinta Resort access roads are operating well within their traffic capacities. No significant points of congestion along the access roads were observed. The trip generation. for the site appears to be very consistent with that predicted with the ITE trip generation rates for hotels. The highest overall parking demand observed was 52 percent of the available on -site Parking supply. Localized areas of high parking demand were observed in the main parking area (near the Los Flores Ballroom) and around the La Quinta Spa. There were parking lots with available parking spaces located within 200 to 300 feet of the areas with the highest parking demand. The parking demand appeared highest during the morning, before check-out. The parking demand slowly diminished through the day until only 37 to 38 percent of the parking spaces were occupied after 8 PM. During the hours of operation of the proposed water feature, the parking demand observed along Avenida Obregon was less than 50 percent of the 33-space parking supply in the immediate vicinity. The on -site parking supply appears to be sufficient to meet the parking demand generated by the La Quinta Resort & Club. We trust that this supplemental information assists the City in their review of the potential traffic and parking implications of the proposed modifications at the La Quinta Resort & Club. Should questions or comments arise regarding the findings and recommendations herein, please do not hesitate to contact our offices. We look forward to discussing our findings and conclusions with you. Cordially, ENDO ENGINEERING Gregory Endo Principal Vicki Lee Endo, P.E. Registered Professional Traffic Engineer TR 1161 Attachment — Traffic Count Data 3 0 6_3 - City of La Quinta Avenida Obregon S/Avenida Fernando 24 Hour Directional V 09-Feb- Counts Unlimtied, Inc. 25424 Jaclyn Avenue Moreno Valley, CA 92557 (951)247-6716 Start 07 Northbound Hour Totals Tim Vd u.....i__ ea-__ Southbound Hour Totals Page 1 LQOBSFE Site Code: 009068 Date Start 09-Feb-07 Date End: 09-Feb-07 Combined Totals 12:00 ..._...... ...._...__.. - 0 12 .......... mmm, ' tenon momm Anemoon Momin Afternoon 2 16 12:15 3 ' 14 - 2 17 12:30 1 20 0 22 12:45 0 15 4 61 2 15 6 70 10 131 011.00 0 10 1 19 01:15 0 10 1 7 01:30 3 8 2 15 01:45 1 12 4 40 0 15 4 56 8 96 02:00 0 16 0 10 02:15 0 • 13 0 9 02:30 0 11 0 - 26 02AS 0 11 0 51 0 12 0 57 0 108 0300 0 14 0 9 03:15 - 0 20 0 19 03:30 0 13 - 0 16 03:45 0 16 0 63 1 12 1 56 1 119 04:00 1. 15 1 7 04:15 1 18 0 11 04:30 - 1 10 0 25- 04:45 0 '-, 13 3 56 1 10 - 2 53 5 109 05:00 0 12 0 12 05:15 2 15 0 13 05:30 0 12 0 17 05:45 0 11 2 50 1 21 1 63 3 113 06:00 1 16 3 11 06:15 3 14 2 5 06:30 4 11 4 7 06:45 6 7 14 48 3 6 12 29 26 77 07:00 6 8 3 4 07:15 10 7 ,8 4 07:30 11 6 1t 5 - 07A5 8 3 35 24 9 8 31 21 66 45 08:00 2 6 7 11 08:15 10 2 14 7 08.30 14 7 21 2 08:45 16 1 42 16 34 3 76 23 118 39 09:00 . 8 4 10 10 - 091.15 12 7 6 8 09:30 10 - 2 14 7 09A5 9 ! 2 - 39 15 14 7 44 32 83 47 10:00 11 4- 11 8 10.115 12 -9 15 7 10[30 18 2 9 6 10:45 15 2 56 17 5 - 8 40 29 96 46 11:00- 16 3 a 5 11:15 18 3 - - 14 1 11:30 15 1 5- 2. 11:45 7-.-i 9 01 60 71 8 21 35 '101 95 17 CombinedTotal cv.i �qV 4ju 446 zoz 4aa 252 499 511 947 707 �, 707 751 751 1458 _AM Peak 10:30 08:15 ` VOL 69 79 P.H.F. 0.958 0.581 PM Peak 03:15 0015 Vol. 64 73 - -- P.H.F. .. 0.800 0.702 Percenta e 36.6% 63.4% 33.6% 66.4% ADT/AAD T ADT 1,458 AADT 1,458 Counts Unlimtied, Inc. Page 1 25424 Jaclyn Avenue Moreno Valley, CA 92557 City of La Quinta (951) 247-6716 LQMEWEI La Quinta Hotel Main Entrance Site Code: 009068 W/ Eisenhower Drive Date Start: 09-Feb-07 24 Hour Directional Volume Count Date End: 09-Feb-07 Start 0 07eb- Eastbound Hour Totals Westbound Hour Totals Combined Totals Timc Fri Lb....:.... epn......... EL....:.... ed_� •__:__ ..._— _ _ _ .. ... _. . 12:00 __...... ... 1 .- 30 ..._...... ............... ...v...n. 1 rvmu.vm 16 mVlnm N1O111W11 momm Hne n 12:15 4 13 1 17 - 12:30 o 9 1 19 12:45 1 .12 6 64 2 14 - 5 66 11 130 - 01:00 4 17 2 16 01:15 0 12 1 13 01:30 .1 15 1 14 01'.45 5 12 10 56 2 16 6 59 16 115 02:00 1 . 17 2 19 - 02:15 1 11 0 14 02:30 2 21 1 27 - 02A5 1 14 5 63 2 24 5 84 10 147 -03,00 1. 15 3 8 03:16 0 - 5 4 17 03i30 1 ! 17 5 21 03:45 3 15 5 52 1 15 13 61 18 113 04:00 2 14 5 16 , 04:15 5 6 4 22 04:30 6 15 6 18 - 04.45 5 -- j. 19 18 54 6 21 21 T7 39 131 05:00 2 19 1 24 05:15 4 - 21 3 26 05:30 5 1 16 3 30 05:45 2 - 21 13 77 7 24 14 104 27 181 06:00 5 - 18 7 22 06:15 2 20 14 20 06:30 5 - 25 6 15 06.45 9 24 21 87 5 19 32 76 53 163 07:00 3 22 11 11 07:15 9 35 3 13 07:30 7 20 17 13 07.45 11 16 30 93 19 22 50 59 80 152 08:00 12 20 16 6 08:15 17 7 12 13 08:30 13 8 13 .8 WAS 10 12 52 47 11 14 52 41 104 88 09:00 11 18 21 11 09:15 16 ` 19 6 16 0920 15 �' 22 20 21 09:45 15 9 57 68 12 16 59 64 116 132 10-00 15 13 14 9 - 10:15 16 9 7 14 10:30 19 8 20 6 10:45 - 16 10 66 40 15 6 56 35 122 75 11:00 13 7 11 5 11:15 19 6 12 4 . 11:30 20 4 20 - 5 11:45 12 4 64 21 14 1 57 15 121 - 36 l ulul a4r izu 34t ,722 370 741 370 ,. 741 717 1463 Combined Total 1069 ', 1069 1111 1111 2180 _ AM Peak- 10:45 - 07:30 - Vol. 68 - 64 - P.H.F. - 0.850. 0.762 PM Peak 06:30 05:00 Vol. 106 104 .. P.H.F. 0.757 - 0.867 - Percentag e 32.5% 67.5% 33.3% 66.7% ADTJAAD T ADT 2,180 AADT 2,180 - Counts Unlimtied, Inc. 25424 Jaclyn Avenue Moreno Valley, CA 92557 City of La Quinta (951) 247-6716 Avenida Fernando W/ Eisenhower Drive 24 Hour Directional Volume Count Start 0 07eb- Eastbound Hour Totals Tim. Ri RA., Westbound Hour Totals Page 1 LQFEWEI Site Code: 009068 Date Start 09-Feb-07 Date End: 09-Feb07 Combined Totals 12:15 ...--.... ...._...__.. 3 27 ._,,..... ,,,.o,,,,,,,,, ,„,,,um „ngwoon moron Anemoon Momin Afternoon 6 27 12:15 2 33 0 29 12:30 2 41 3 33 - 12:45 01:00 -4 29 11 130 1 37 10 126 21 256 1 30 3 36 01:15 3 28 1 31 01.30 - 3 - 27 2 36 01:45 1 - 22 8 107 2 27 8 132 16 239 02:00 6 30 2 28 02:15 1 27 0 29 _ 02:30 3 34 1 36 02.45 03:00 1. 31 - 11 122 -3 30 6 123 17 245 1 36 2 28 03:15 2 40 3 34 03:30 1 .. 34 - 3 31 - 03AS 04:00 3 1 35 7 145 1 31 9 124 16 269 4 33 5 27 04:15 1 24 .6. 34 04:30 3 42 - 5 26 04:45 5.— 37 13 136 6 31 22 118 35 254 05:00 1 50 10 25 05:15 - 4 5o - 6 23 05:30 10 47 13 36 05:45 10 32 25 179 17 26 46 110 71 289 06:00 8 28 15 23 06:15 7 28 6 20 06:30 6 14 13 8 06'.45 07-00 8 23 29 93 13 25 47 76 - 76 169 16. 20 20 11 07:15 26 23 33 17 0730 15 ! 14 41 10 07:45 17 7 74 64 54 14 148 52 222 116 - 08:00 23 10 38 10 08:15 23 i- 11 42 13 08.130 32 13 55 14. 08:45 09:00 17 8 95 42. 59 11 194 48 289 90 18 8 '24 15 09:15 33 15 - 19 9 09:30 33 1 13 32 22 09:45 26 12 110 48 40 18 115 64 225 112 10:00 - - 32 17 .. 21 17 10:15 32. i 16 26 16 1030 32 13 28 12 - 10:45 37 9 133 55 30 14 105 59 238 114 11:00 40 14 27 6 11:15 40 9 31 5 11:30 44 2 25 5 1'1'.45 T.....1 27 61 161 311 22 1 1 105 171 256 - 48 Combined --. ....� w. noc - ow 1U4U B1D -1U49 1482 2201 Total 1819 1819 1864 1864 3683 -AM Peak 10:45 08:00 Vol 161 194 - P.H.F. 0.915 0.822 PM Peak -` 04:45 - 00:45 Vol. 184 742 P.H.F.-0.920 0.934 Percentag e 36.7% - 63.3% 43.7% 56.3"h - ADT/AAD T ADT 3,683 AADT 3,683 (( ) J r U Counts UnlimGed, Inc, Page 1 25424 Jaclyn Avenue Moreno Valley, CA 92557 Avenida City La Quinta (951) 247-6716 LQFEEOB Fernando Site Code: 009068 E/ AvenidaaObrebregon Date Stan:.09-Feb-07 24 Hour Directional Volume Count Date End: 09 Feb 07 Stan U9-F7 a 0Eastbound Hour Totals Westbound Hour Totals Combined Totals Time Fri Momin Afternoon Momi ' A 12:00 2 17 emoon Morning Afternoon Morning Afternoon Moming Afternoon 12:15 1 - 26 1 3 21 34 - -12:30 1 25 0 25 12:45 01:00 3 36 7 104 1 22 5 102 12 206 01:15 0 0 21 26 1 1 27 . 01:30 - 0 .: 11 0 24 20 . 01:45 02:D0 0 0 24 21 0 82 1 17 3 88 3 170 62:15 0 22 0 1 17 22 02:30 0 23 0 35 02:45 03:00 0 - 0 25 20 0 91 0 20 1 94 1 185 03:15 0 ,. 38 0 0 17 40 03:30 0 28 0 18 03.45 04:00 0 24 0 110 0 22 0 97 0 207 0 30 0 16 04:15 0 23 2 19 04:30 1 - 23 1 26 04:45 05:00 2- 20 3 96 1 17 4 78 7 174 2 24 0 18 05:15 7 25 1 17 05:30 0 22 1 21 - 05:45 06:00 1 16 10 87 0 23 2 79 12 166 2 23 0 21 . 06:15 - 1 19 1 10 06:30 3 17 4 8 06'.45 07:00 6 7 12 12 71 8 10 13 49 25 120 14 2 7 07:15 4 12 5 9 07:30 10 6 7 6 07:45 08:00 15 7 36 39 15 8 29 30 65 69 12 10 13 12 08:15 16 5 18 y 08:30 21 8 11 9 08:45 18 3 67 26 29 7 71 37 138 63 09:00 16 5 16 10 09:15 18 7 12 13 09:30 25 2 16 13 . 09:45 10i0D 21 5 80 19 17 13 63 49 143 68 10:15 -10:30 29 18 8 13 15 22 12 8 23 5 9 7 10: 5 11:00 23 5 93 31 20 10 66 37 159 68 34 4 13 3 11:15 27 2 - 18 2. 11:30 30 1 11 1 1:45 11:45 21 1 112 8 13 2 55 8 inn 167 16 Combined 512 raa 31Z 748 732 1512 Total 1184- '. 1184 1060 '1060 2244 AM Peak 10:45 08:45 Vol. 114 78 P.H.F. 0.838 0.675 47 PM Peak 03:15 02:30 Vol. 120 112 . P.H.F. .0.789 0.700 Percentag e 35.5% 64.5% 29.4% 10.6% ADTIAAD T ADT 2,244 AADT 2,244 - 'ATTACHMENT V, RESORT&CLUB January 11, 2007. City of La Quinta, Planning Board Dear Mr. Evans: It has come to our attention that some members of the planning Board are of the opinion that the addition of the Signature Pool at La Quit, will create more membership demand at.that resort. We have reached a different conclusion based on membership demographics and general use patterns over the past several years. Typically, the Citrus members use the resort for tennis and fitness. with the reduction of the number of courts from 23 to 13, it is very likely that there will be fewer members coming to the resort to play tennis. The fitness facilities will not be expanded, so we anticipate that there will be no additional membership demand to use these facilities. As a general rule, Citrus members make very minimal use of the existing pool. The primary users of the pool are hotel guests. Additionally, Citrus club usage of the new Signature Pool is limited to members only. Membership is defined as a Member, his or her spouse and their unmarried children, under the age of 23 who are living at home, attending school ona full-time basis or in the military. Our current records indicate ifiat 70% of Citrus members are over the age of 50 (with 30% over the age of 61)Less th 20% of all members have children under the age of 23 with the majority these an e being Young adults. Therefore, with the activities of the Signature pool targeted towards younger children, we believe that the children of the Club members will have a nominal affect on the usage of the Pool. For these reasons and those articulated in previous meetings, we continue to believe that the Signature Pool will drive resort occupancy, but not create any further member usage of the resort. Should you have questions or need additional information, please let us know. P fe President and General Manager Quinta Resort and Club 49-499 Eisen]m Drive. U Wn,, Calif--- 92253 www-laquinnnsnrtt„m 7}%7WLSGJ:i I17 F.n-7GI1.56i.571A Veneklasen Associates "\ Consultants in Acoustics & Audio -Visual Design ATTACHMENT 8 The La Quinta Resort Pool Area Modification Acoustical Impact on Property Line Noise January 8, 2007 Prepared for: CNL Desert Resort, LLP Hotel Development Company 450 South Orange Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801 By: VENEKLASEN ASSOCIATES, INC. 1711 Sixteenth Street Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 450-1733 Aaron Betit Senior Associate Robert Robey Managing Principal i 1711 Sixteenth Street • Santa Monica California 90404 • tel: 310.450.1733 fax: 310.396.3424 • w .veneklasenxom Veneklasen Associates Acoustical Analysis Report —January 8, 2007 Page 2 1.0 Executive Summary This Acoustical Analysis Report is based upon the mechanical equipment in the mechanical schematic drawings dated August 18, 2006, for the proposed La Quints Resat Pool Modification Project and the expected operational conditions documented by CNL Hotels & Resorts Inc. The findings of this study show that the proposed project will operate in compliance with the City of La Quints's Noise Ordinance. In addition this report shows that the amount of noise increase over existing noise levels, near the proposed Signature Pool Project, will not be a significant increase. A Company Profile, outlining Veneklasen Associates expertise in the field of acoustical impact analysis is included in Appendix U. 2.0 A brief Introduction to Environmental Acoustics Sound is the physical phenomenon of complex minute variations of atmospheric pressure. Because of the range of sound pressure level detectable by the human ear, sound pressure level (SPL) is represented on a logarithmic scale known as decibels (dB). A sound levelof0 dB is approximately the threshold of human hearing and is usually not audible, even under extremely quiet (laboratory - type) listening conditions. A SPL of 120 dB begins to be felt inside the ear as discomfort and pain at approximately 140 dB. Sound levels are reported in terms of total sound energy, Sound Power Level, or amount of minute pressure variations, Sound Pressure Level. Sound Power Level is a unit of energy and therefore does not change over distance. Sound Pressure Levels are minute variations in atmospheric pressure that cause the ear drum, or microphone diaphragm to vibrate and be heard, or measured as sound. Noise limits and measurements are provided in terms of Sound Pressure Levels and therefore vary over distance. For a point source in the far field, to convert from sound power level to sound pressure level, the generally accepted formula, documented in metric units in ISO standard 9316 is: SPL = P WL +20*log (r)+3 Where SPL = Sound Pressure Level PWL = Sound Power Level r = Distance in Feet 3 is a correction factor that assumes hemispherical radiation. Additional losses are provided by barriers and air absorption. Because decibels are logarithmic, they cannot be added or subtracted linearly. Instead, it is necessaryto add the values logarithmically. For example, if two sound sources each produce 100 dB, when they are operated together they will produce 103 dB, not 200 dB. Four 100 dB sources operating together again double the sound energy, resulting in a total SPL of 106 dB, and so on. In addition, if one source is IOdB louder than another, the two sources operating together will produce the same SPL as if the louder source were operating alone. Thus, a 100 dB source plus an 80 dB source produce 100 dB when operating together. Two useful rules to remember when comparing SPLs are: (1) most people perceive a 10 dB increase in SPL between two noise events to be about a doubling of loudness, and (2) changes in SPL of less than approximately 3 dB between two events are hard for humans to detect. vrsvw.veneklasen.com -L� Veneklasen Associates i Acoustical Analysis Report— January 8, 2007 Page 3 The image below reports some typical noise levels for reference: Common Sound Levels y� Measuredind ((A) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 10 30 50 70 90 110 130. Frequency, or pitch, is a physical characteristic of sound and is expressed in units of cycles per second or hertz (Hz). The normal frequency range of hearing for most people extends from about 20 to 20k Hz. The human ear is more sensitive to middle and high frequencies, especially when the noise levels are quieter. As the noise levels get louder, the human ear starts to hear the frequency spectrum more evenly. To accommodate for this phenomenon a weighting system has been developed to evaluate how loud a noise level is to a human. The frequency weighting called "A" weighting is'typically used for quieter noise levels which de-emphasizes the low frequency components, of the sound in a manner similar to the response of a human ear. Sound levels vary with time. For example, the sound increases as an aircraft approaches, then falls and blends into the ambient or background as the aircraft recedes into the distance. Because of this variation, it is often convenient to describe a particular noise "event" by its highest or maximum sound level (Lmax). Note Lmax describes only one dimension of an event; it provides no information on the cumulative noise exposure generated by a sound source. In fact, two events with identical Lmax may produce very different total exposures. One may be of very short duration, while the other may be much longer. - For the evaluation of community noise effects of long term noise sources such as traffic, aircraft, or mechanical equipment the Day -Night Average Sound Level (DNL) and Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) are used. DNL averages sound levels at a location over a complete 24- hour period,'with a I0-decibel adjustment added to those noise events occurring between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (local time) the following morning. The 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. period is defined as nighttime (or night) and the 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. period is defined as daytime (or day). The CNEL metric is similar to the DNL metric in that it produces a penalty for the nighttime hours, but it also includes an evening hour penalty adjustment. Thus ambient noise measured between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. has no penalty, a +5 dB adjustment must be made to noise measured between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and a 10+ dB penalty is added to noise measured between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sound from a point source propagates similar to the waves caused by throwing a stone into a pond. At the initial point of the disturbance the energy is strongest and dissipated over a small surface www.veneklasen.com WVeneklasen Associates Acoustical Analysis Report — January 8, 2007 Page 4 area. As the wave moves outward away from the initial point of disturbance, the circumference of the wave increases. Neglecting friction, the total energy remains the same but it is distributed over a greater surface area. Therefore for any specific point at the wave even though the total energy hasn't changed, the energy is less as the distance from the source increases. Under typical conditions the reduction in noise level is 6 dB per doubling of distance. 3.0 Purpose of Report Veneklasen Associates, Inc. (VA) was contracted to assess if the noise associated with the La Quinta Resort Pool Modification Project would be within the limits of the La Quinta Noise Ordinance. In addition VA was asked to determine the incremental amount of noise increase even if the total noise level remains less than the standard established in the City's Noise Ordinance. 4.0 Site Description .The project site is located in La Quinta, California. The proposed project will replace existing tennis courts with a new pool, water slide, wave pool, and lazy river. Mechanical equipment to operate the water features will be housed in two 'Mountain' mechanical rooms to the southwest and northwest of the project site and a game room at the south of the site. Because of the change in land use, the occupancy noise is expected to change around the new Signature Pool area. However, since the functions in the Children's Play area will not change, the noise contributions from this area are not expected, to change from the current existing conditions. The site is bounded by the following uses: existing tennis courts, residential units, and spa facilities to the south, existing tennis courts andresort villas to the southwest, existing tennis courts to the west, existing tennis villas and a palm grove to the north, and Avenida Obregon to the east. The closest residences to the project site are indicated in Figure 2. 5.0 Noise Criteria The noise limits for the mechanical equipment are clearly documented in the City of La Quinta Municipal Code. Section 9.100.210.0 "Noise Control" states: "It is unlawful for any person at any location within the city to create any noise, or to allow the'creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise controlled by such person, when such noise causes the noise level, when measured on any adjacent property to exceed: I. The noise standard for a cumulative period of more than thirty minutes in any hour, 2. The noise standard plus five dB(A) for a cumulative period of more then fifteen minutes in any hour, 3. The noise standard plus ten dB(A) for a cumulative period of more then five minutes in any hour, 4. 'The noise standard plus fifteen dB(A) for a cumulative period of more then one minute in any hour, or 5. The noise standard plus twenty dB(A) for any period of time." The Municipal Code states "If the noise consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech or music, or any combination thereof, each of the noise levels specified in the table in this section shall be reduced by five dB(A)." Because there are a number of noise sources, the majority not being tonal, and the evaluated noise is a combination of all noise sources, the Municipal Code does not require a qualitative penalty. _ The Exterior Noise Standard for residential property lines is set at L5e 60 dB(A) during the expected hour of operation for the pool area. Thus the combination of mechanical equipment and occupancy noise cannot exceed Lye 60 dB(A) at the closest property line. A short term limit daytime (L„ ,.) of 80 dB(A) also applies to the project. www.veneklasen.com _ Veneklasen Associates Acoustical Analysis Report— January 8, 2007 Page 5 The combination of noise produced by the equipment serving the Pool Area and the ambient noise level cannot exceed Ls0 50 dB(A) at the closest property line during nighttime hours. As indicated in Section 2.0 any noise level below 10 dB will not increase the existing noise level. Since the limiting noise criterion is 50 dBA the mechanical equipment can be 40 dB or less, regardless of the nighttime ambient noise level and comply with the City's Noise Ordinance. Thus the nighttime noise limit for the mechanical equipment is 40 dBA. 6.0 Mechanical Equipment This acoustical analysis is based on the Bid Set Drawings dated December 18, 2006 provided to VA. The mechanical equipment that are expected to be noise sources include the pumps, and the air handling unit within the South Mountain Mechanical Room, the condensing unit anddraftinducer on the top of the South Mountain, the air handling unit in the Game Room Mechanical Room, the condensing unit on the roof of the Game Room Mechanical Room, the condensing unit and draft inducer on the roof of the North -Mountain Mechanical Room and the air handling unit in the North Mountain Mechanical Room. With the exception of CU-1, CU-2 and HP-1, all equipment will be housed in mechanical rooms. The construction of the mechanical equipment rooms is also documented in the Bid Set Drawings. Both the North and the South Mountains will be constructed of 12" reinforced Masonry or 12" thick poured in place concrete with sculpted gunite rockwork to give the appearance of a mountain. The mechanical equipment for the game room will be below grade housed in a poured in place basement. The floor separating the mechanical equipment from the game roomabove will be 4" poured concrete on top of a 2" metal deck. All the equipment in the North Mountain will be shut down when the park is closed, at 6:OOPM. The majority of the other mechanical equipment will operate 24 hours a day with the exception of P- 603, P604, and P-605 in the South Mountain and P-303; P-803, P-203, P-204, and BL-201 in the Game Room. This equipment will shut down at 6:OOPM. Although much of the mechanical equipment will be shut down during nighttime operating conditions i.e. will shut down at 6:00PM, VA assumed all mechanical equipment would be operating during nighttime hours as an unlikely worst case scenario. The maximum operational noise levels for the equipment provided by the manufacturer and assumed for this analysis are documented in the attached Appendix I. The data provided does not show any excessive low frequency noisegeneratedby the equipment, and Cloward H2O indicated that the equipment would not generate any low frequency noise beyond what was documented by the manufacturer. 6.1 Expected Use CNL Hotels'& Resorts Inc. provided the worst case expected occupancy information for the future pool area. Based on this information VA understands there would be a maximum bather load of 1,390 and a total chair count of 793. VA assumed that approximately 50% of the chairs and approximately 50% of the bathers are unique occupants, resulting in a maximum occupancy of 1,100 people. The pool area is intended to be open from 10:00AM to 6:OOPM; peak load times are expected to be mid morning to early afternoon (approximately 11:OOAM to 3:OOPM). Occupancy usage is expected to be approximately 20% from November to March, 30% from April to May approximately 80% from July to August, approximately 60% for September and approximately 30% for October. CNL Hotels;& Resorts provided VA with the assumption that approximately 20% of the occupants . would be in the Formal Pool area, with the majority of the occupants being adults (900%). It was assumed that approximately 53% of the occupants would be in the. Active Pool area, with a 50% - 50% mix of adults and children in this area. The remainder of the occupants are expected to be in Children's Play Area with approximately 25% of the occupants being adults and the remainder _ being children. www.veneklasen.com �J27 Venekiasen Associates i Acoustical Analysis Report —January 8, 2007 Page 6 Activity levels of the occupants were based upon activity levels used for similar type projects in VA's past experience (e.g., playgrounds, cocktail parties, and pools). For adults, VA assumed that approximately 25% would be producing noise at conversational levels. It was also assumed that approximately half of the children would be actively generating noise at slightly elevated levels. - 7.0 Noise Measurements VA performed noise measurements at several locations around the project site on September 28, 2006 to document the existing typical daytime ambient noise levels around the project site. The locations were selected to evaluate the general ambient noise conditions at the quietest locations. These measurements were used to assume the ambient conditions throughout the project site. VA used Bruel and Kjaer model 2260 type I precision sound level meter to conduct the noise measurements. The measurement locations are documented in Figure 1. The overall Leq values and duration of the measurement are indicated in the table below: Table 1— L.dB(A) at Measurement Locations Time Location I Location 2 - Location 3 11:00 60 64 62 12:0056 54 54 1:00 57 55 57 2:00 57 54 57 Controlling noise sources were activities on the tennis courts and traffic on Eisenhower Drive Site observations and measurements showed that the ambient conditions surrounding the area were relatively close. For this reason ambient measurements at location 1 in Figure 1 were used to assume ambient conditions at location 3 in Figure 2. This is expected to be a 'most stringent' assumption,as street traffic from Avenida Obregon would if anything increase the ambient noise level at location 3. Figure I —Noise Monitor Locations www.veneklasen.com (N I O Veneklasen Associaies Acoustical Analysis Report —January 8; 2007 Page 7 8.0 Noise Predictions - Mechanical VA used manufacturer's reported noise levels for the equipment operating under the conditions indicated in the project mechanical drawings dated December 18, 2006 to construct a computer model. The computer model uses ISO standard 9613 to predict the expected noise contribution of the mechanical equipment. The general calculation methods described in ISO standard 9613 are briefly summarized in the Introduction to this report. Calculations were performed at the nearest property line of the proposed site change. Therefore, noise reductions from barriers and existing buildings outside of the project's property line would not need to be a factor and thus were not included in the model. The computer model included 3D representations of proposed buildings and terrain changes based on the Bid Set Project Drawings dated December 18, 2006. The predicted noise level caused by the mechanical equipment at the locations indicated in figure 2 is set forth N the tables below: Table 2 - Daytime Analysis Lowest Mechanical Total Noise Level Change Location Measured Equipment (Ambient+ in Noise 1't"tting Pass/Fail Noise Mechanical Criteria Ambient Contribution E ui men[) Level I 56 dBA 25 dBA 56 dBA 0 dBA 60 dBA Pass 2 54 dBA 39 dBA 54 dBA 0 dBA 60 dBA Pass 3 -' 56 dBA >20 dBA 54 dBA 0 dBA 60 dBA Pass Table 3 - Night Time Analysis . Location Mechanical Equipment. Noise Contribution Limiting Criteria Pass/Fail 1 25 dBA 40 dBA Pass 2 39 dBA 40 dBA - Pass 3 - >20 dBA 40 dBA Pass 8.1 Noise Predictions — Operational - VA used an average of noise levels of children and adult activities at cocktail parties and playgrounds measured for a number of previous projects to calculate the expected noise levels at the closest property lines. The sound power levels assumedarereported below in terms of levels generated by a single person. Table 4 — Sound Power Levels used for OCennancv Analvsis Occupant Sound Power Level for a Single Person Adult Typical Conversational Level 73 dBA Child Slightly Elevated Voice 81 dBA Using these levels and the percentages documented in section 4.1, VA calculated the average (L5o) and maximum (".) noise levels at the expected maximum occupancy. Our calculations were based on ISO standard 9613. The general calculation methods described in ISO 9613 are briefly summarized in the Section 2.0 of this report. The expected noise contributions from maximum occupancy are documented in the table on the page following. Figure 2 shows the locations itemized in the table. . . www.veneklasen.com Veneklasen Associates i Acoustical Analysis Report— January 8, 2007 Page 8 Tahle 5 — F.xnerted Noise Contrihutinn from Pool Area MaYimnm nerimanry Location ' 1,50 - Long Term Criteria (Lso) L,9,,, Short Term Criteria (L..) 1 58 dBA 60 dBA 63 dBA 80 dBA 2 58 dBA 60 dBA 63 dBA 80 dBA 3 52 dBA 60 dBA 57 dBA 80 dBA Figure 2 — Calculated Noise Level Locations Location I .w_ 7- 'a w i 1,6ca6'on 2 � 4 -.Location 3 Table 6 below shows the expected change in hourly Leq levels from the existing ambient noise level to the combination of ambient noise level and noise from human sources after the project is implemented. Table 6 - Change in Noise Level of Existing Ambient Considering Maximum Occuoanev Noise Location Existing Ambient Calculated L,, from Sum of Existing Change In Ambient 'L- Pool Activity Ambient and Noise Level Expected Pool Activity 1 56 dBA 58 dBA 60 dBA +4 dBA 2 54 dBA 58 dBA 60 dBA +6 dBA 3 56 dBA 52 dBA 57 dBA +1 dBA www.veneklasen.com G! 0 WVeneklasen Associates Acoustical Analysis Report— January 8, 2007 Page 9 8.2 Noise Predictions — Combination The combination of ambient noise level, mechanical noise, and maximum expected occupancy noise will not exceed the City's Noise Ordinance. The expected sum of mechanical, occupancy, and ambient noise at the three identified locations is reported in the table below. Table 7 - Expected Noise Level Changes from Occupancv and Mechanical Equipment Noise Location . Ambient Noise Level Calculated from Pool Activity Mechanical Equipment Noise Contribution Sum of Ambient, Mechanical, and Occupancy Noise Change In Ambient Noise Level 1 56 dBA 58 dBA 25 dBA 60 dBA +4 dBA 2 54 dBA 58 dBA 39 dBA 60 dBA +6 dBA 3 56 dBA' 52 dBA >20 dBA 57 dBA +1 dBA 9.0 General Discussion - 'Me noise levels from daytime pool activity and mechanical equipment documented in Section 7.2 will be in compliance with the City's Noise Ordinance. In addition to a Noise Ordinance assessment of a project's noise impact upon surrounding properties, a comparison of the increase in ambient noise levels is sometimes utilized in some acoustical analysis reports. An increase of 5 dB over ambient noise levels would be about the level of perceived change by most people and is typically considered a noticeable increase, but not a significant increase. A 10 dB or more increase above the existing ambient noise level is generally perceived as a doubling in loudness and typically is considered a significant increase. As can be seen from Table 7 in section 7.2, the expected change in operation will not result in a significant increase to any of the adjacent residences. Under the worst case scenario, the increase in ambient noise level at Location 2 only may result in a noticeable increase. For the purposes of this report the noise generated by the Signature Pool project would only be deemed a substantial increase over existing noise levels if it met either of the following significancethreshold tests: 1) It increased noise by 10 dB or more over the existing background ambient; or 2) It exceeded the requirements in the Citys Noise Ordinance. In this case, this report demonstrates that neither threshold is exceeded. Thus there is no significant increase in noise levels over the existing ambient noise level. 10.0 Conclusion: The noise contributions from daytime pool activity are expected to increase the ambient noise level at the nearest property lines under the heaviest expected occupancies. However, the increase in noise above the existing ambient noise levels will not be substantial. Additionally, noise generated by the Signature Pool project is expectd to be within the limits defined by the City of La Qunita Noise Ordinance. Nighttime operations, essentially pool filtering equipment, will also operate well below the noise limits defined in the City's Noise Ordinance. www.veneklasen.com Veneklasen Associates i Acoustical Analysis Report— January 8, 2007 Page 10 Appendix I Equipment Noise Limits The noise limits identified in the table below are based on the manufacturer's data and the operating conditions scheduled on the mechanical drawings. Equipment Tag Sound Power Level(PWL) or Distance if SPL Maximum Sound Level per Octave Band Center fre uenc dBA 63 Hz 125 Hz 250 Hz 500 Hz IkHz 2k Hz 4k Hz 8k Hz CU-1 PWL 80 - 79 79 76 76 68 67 65 CU-2 PWL - 90 84 82 89 87 86 83 77 62 HP-l* PWL 80 - 79 79 76 76 68 67 65 Pumps SPL @ 3'. 85 - - - - - - - Mtn Drag Inducer SWL - 79 83 78 78 77 65 60 Game Room Draft Inducer PWL - 71 75 70 73 68 57 52 AH-I Inlet PWL 78 68 58 56 58 54 53 43 AH-1 Discharge PWL 86 75 73 72 72 68 66 59 AH-1 Casing PWL - 77 66 57 56 56 52 41 34 AH-2Inlet PWL - 86 79 68 67 67 65 63 53 AH-2 Discharge PWL - 94 86 83 83 81 79 76 69 AH-2 Casin PWL - 85 77 67 67 65 63 51 44 AH-3lnlet PWL - 78 68 58 56 58 54 53 43 AH-3 Discharge I PWL - 86 75 73 72 72 - 68 66 59 AH-3 Casin PWL - 77 66 57 56 56 52 41 34 • Indicates sound data assumed based on operating conditions. Manufacture sound data should be confirmed in compliance with assumptions prior to installation. www.veneklasen.com (. r, rn Veneklasen Associates `l Acoustical Analysis Report —January 8, 2007 Page 11 Appendix II Company Profile Founded in 1947, Veneklasen Associates is one of the largest acoustical, audio-visual, environmental noise, and vibration consulting firms in the Western United States. Technical and scientific diversity, in combination with a premium placed by each individual within our firm on customer service, is our firm's hallmark. Our staff is carefully balanced, representing professionals with degrees in acoustics, physics, engineering and architecture. With 25 employees, we are large enough to represent a wealth of expertise to be shared, and small enough to assure that each project is supervised by a principal or senior associate. Western Electro-Acoustic Laboratory (WEAL), a division of Veneklasen Associates, was founded by Paul S. Veneklasen in 1947 following his participation in acoustical research at Harvard University's Electro- Acoustical Laboratory and the University of California, Los Angeles. It is one of only two laboratories west of the Mississippi accredited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for both laboratory and field acoustical testing. WEAL provides laboratory support for Veneklasen Associates as well as a wide range of testing services and research opportunities for industry. , Some of the previous environmental impact noise assessment analysis studies that VA has previously worked on include: 20,000-seal Concert Venue (EIR) ClearChannel Entertainment Tampa, Florida " Aquarium of the Pacific ,HOK Long Beach, California - Beverly Hills Hotel Beverly Hills, California Chapman College - School of Film & Television Orange, California Harvard/Westlakc School North HoRyKood, California Hinson ICTF Expansion, Long Beach, California HS&P, Lompoc Facility Sanm Barbara, California Hyperion Treatment Plant Solids Technology & Resource Recovery Division Los Angeles, California SPMilling Company (EIR) - San Lit Obispo, California Molecular Biology Classroom Building, UCLA Los Angeles, California Waterson Expressway (EIR) Louisville, Kentucky Multiple Substations Southern California Two Major Theme Parks(EIR) Southern California Gensler ABACUS Latham & Watkins Southern California Edison County of Santa Barbara/forch Operating Company Montgomery Watson/ Los Angeles Metropolitan Water Distrito ESA Jones & Stokes Vollmer Associates Southern California Edison Confidential www.veneklasen.com Veneklasen Associates Acoustical Analysis Report — January 8, 2007 Page 12 Appendix III Acoustical Terminology deciBel A unit for describing the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 microPascals. deciBels are denoted "dB". A -weighted sound The sound pressure level in deciBels as measured on a sound level meter pressure level using the A -weighting filter network. The A -weighting filter de- • emphasizes the very low and very high frequency components of the ' sound in a manner similar to the response of the human ear and gives good correlation with subjective reactions to noise. A -weighted deciBels are denoted "dBA" or "dB(A)". Equivalent Sound Level The sound level containing the same total energy as a time -varying signal over a given sample period. Equivalent sound level, denoted "Lro" is typically computed over 1, 8 and 24-hour sample periods. The Day -Night Level, Denoted "La,;', the Day -Night Level is calculated by averaging _ equivalent sound levels recorded over a 24-hour period after the addition of a ten deciBel weighting to sound levels measured at night, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. " Percentile level Denoted L,,, percentile level indicates the time -average sound level that is exceeded for "n" percent of the total measurement period. Unless otherwise stated, A -weighting is understood. Example: Lw indicates the - average sound pressure level that was exceeded 90%of the measurement period. www.veneklasen.com DEMETRIOu, JEFFRET Z 13. SFNNGER S}EpNEN A OM GUERC10 L1ICNAEL A FRA 1 Re LA)DLU6 COBS JGNN E NACKEL01 6RUw D. LANGA JENNIFER T.TAGGAFIT TAMMY N. J.NONG DEL GU MCIO, SPRINGER & FRANCIS;-T r-p -- n S AT #9 601 SOUTH GRAND AVENUEwOTH FLOOR ATTACHMENT LOS ANGELES. CAUFORMA 9001 7A613 _ ••• \ (213)624SA07 ROONM J. D UEu (19191 s1oo �>� -. FOC11ARD A. DEL W ROO MIM Cal FAX Q13162A0176 r. VrNWD0SFFgRN.CON ENALADOREW Coate - March 2, 2007 SODMS -,$FRINGVAeDOVrdW.COM VIA FACSIMILE and FIRST -GLASS MAIL (760)777-7101 Donald Adolph, Mayor Members, City Council CITY OF LA QUINTA 78-495 Calle Tampioo La Quinta, CA 92253 Re: Dear Mr. Mayor and Counciimembers: This firm represents Richard R. Fredericks, the owner of the single-family residence located at 49-875 Avenida Obregon, La Quinta, California. Recently, Mr. Fredericks became aware of CNL Desert Resorts, LLP's ("CNL") application for approval of the La Quinta Resort & Club Signature Pool ("Water Park. The proposed plan for the Water Park will clearly overburden Mr. Fredericks' access rights along Avenida Obregon. It Is,therefore Imperative that the City of La Quinta ("City? refrain from approving such.. Should the City permit the construction of the Water Park, we will file a complaint against the City for inverse condemnation for the taking and damaging of these private property rights. 1. Mr. Frederlcks' property KlgnLs mcwae mcceas rzasvn■v3 ....A A.,..;A9 Cnrnnnrin Mr. Fredericks' residence is situated on Avenida Obregon immediately south of La Quinta Resort & Club (°Resort"), between Avenida Fernando and Calle Mazatlan. Mr. Fredericks' title to his property Includes an easement for ingress and egress on Avenida Obregon and it Is this right of access that is presently in danger of being damaged. A. Mr. Fredericks' Access Easement Originates from the Subdivision Plan of 1928. Mr. Frederick's access easement on Avenida Obregon dates back to 1928 when Walter H. Morgan ("Morgan"), the famed developer of the La Quinta Resort, laid out plans for a subdivision of a large parcel of land in the vicinity of the Resort. In May 5 LZ va/UZ/Ur--1'1:UU r'AA L14 044 U1Iv Donald Adolph, Mayor Members, City Council CITY OF LA QUINTA March 2, 2007 Page 2 1928, he recorded a subdivision map In Book 8, Page 90 of Records of Survey of Riverside County (hereinafter, "1928 Record of Survey"), attached hereto as Exhibit 'A.' The 1928 Record of Survey depicts lots numbered 1 through 36. Mr. Fredericks' Property is Lot 24, situated on Avenida Obregon. Mr. Fredericks' Property was one of the first lots sold; it was conveyed to Mabel G. Carruthers In October 19281 The grant deed expressed Morgan's plan for subdivision, and imposed a number of restrictions reflecting that plan. Three other lots fronting Avenida Obregon were also sold in 1928 and 1929, namely Lots 33, 34 and 35 z Excepted from each lot was the area within Avenida Obregon, "to be used for road purposes.' Attached hereto as Exhibit "B" Is a 1934 aerial photograph depicting Avenidas Obregon and Fernando,' and the Resort. Carruthers' house Is on the extreme left, facing a clearly defined Avenida Obregon. Avenida Fernando Is on the right hand side, providing access to the well developed orange groves on both the north and south sides of the street. Further, Morgan's own residence, commonly known as "Walter Morgan House," evidences the apparent use of Avenida Obregon before the recordation of the 1928 Record of Survey. The Walter Morgan House was designed by Gordon Kaufmann, the one and the same designer of the Resort, and was constructed in 1926-1927. Attached here to as Exhibit "C" is a copy of Primary Record from Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California, the Resources Agency. The House has been designated as a City of La Quinta Landmark for its historic and artistic values. It underwent few superficial alterations on the interior, and the original exterior of the. house is intact. The structures fronts Avenida Obregon, with the driveway access to that road Thus, Morgan's own residence evidences that Avenida Obregon was well In use before he recorded his plans for subdivision. A conveyance from the grantor necessarily carries with it, by operation of law, an easement for access across all of the lands of the grantor that were used as roads at that time. (Civ. Code § 1104.) Accordingly, the original deed from Morgan to Carruthers carried with it an easement for access along Avenidas Obregon and Fernando. Subsequent conveyances of title to Lot 24, Including- the conveyance to Mr. Fredericks, carried with them this easement right for road purposes. ' Morgan was the president of Desert Development Company, the grantor of the title to CafruthM, which carried out Morgan's subdivision plans-, 2 Today, the Resort owns the Lots 33, 34 and 35. Lot 35, in particular, is the historic residence. commonly known as. 'La Casa.' r V41VL/-Vt 1/:V9 rAA 11.) 0i4V114—. UC=IAluu,C1—.aL - -- 1¢J VV4 .----. Donald Adolph, Mayor Members, City Council CITY OF LA QUINTA March 2, 2007 Page 3 B. The Resort's Lots Fronting Along Avenida obregon All Contained an ,Exception for Road Purposes. Morgan's intent to preserve Avenida Obregon from lot owners' claims of fee simple In the road is apparent. In fact, Desert Development Company s grant deed to the Resort's predecessor In interest, La Quinta Properties Company, specifically excepted Avenida Obregon from the conveyance. Attached here to as Exhibft "D" is a true and correct copy of the grant deed dated 1937, from Desert Development Company to La Quinta Properties Company. That grant encompassed a large tract of land surrounding Mr. Fredericks' and the Resort properties, and that portion of the land containing Avenida Obregon is described as "Parcel 2. 3 The legal description of Parcel 2 contained the following exception; Also excepting from said Property an easement over the portions thereof shown as roads on said Record of Survey above referred to. The record of survey "above referred to" is described in the deed as the "Record of Survey on File in Book 9, Page 65 of Records of Surveys, Records of Riverside County, California' C1930 Record of Survey'. A true and correct copy of that Record of Survey is attached hereto as Exhibit "E." This Record of Survey is dated 1930, and is substantially identical to the 1928 Record of Survey.. Avenida Obregon was one of the roads shown in both the 1928 and 1930 Records of Survey. Thus, the deed from Desert Development Company to La Quinta Properties Company contained an exception for a road easement over Avenida Obregon. Accordingly, La Quints Properties Company acquired title to Avenida Obregon subject to the easemert. As a result, all of the subsequent conveyances, Including the conveyance to the Resort, did not convey fee simple title, but Instead conveyed Avenida Obregon subject to the easement. The Water Park will substantially increase the Resort occupancy, and the traffic on Avenida Obregon will be even more intolerable than it already is. Since 1997 when the zoning change reduced the northern portion of Avenida Obregon to its present substandard width, (approximately 20 feet), the travel on the road has been difficult, Of course, excepted from this tract of land are Mr. Ftedericks' lot (Lot 24), Le Casa premises (Lot 35), David Uewellyn's lot (Lot 34) and Cyrus Peirce's property (Lot 33) as they were an conveyed separately to different Individuals. However, as stated above, the Resort is the fitted owner of Lots 33, 34 and 35, and the Resort acquired these lots also subject to road easement over Avenida Obregon. 03/02Y97.. 17:10 FAX 213 624 0174-- DEXETRIUU-Hr.. AL 1005 Donald Adolph, Mayor Members, City Council CITY OF LA QUINTA March 2, 2007 Page 4 frustrating and dangerous. Avenida Obregon is already heavily congested with slow moving golf carts, service vehicles making deliveries to the Resort, and pedestrians who cross the road to and from various Resort facilities on either side of the road with tittle regard for the vehicular traffic. The City has previously been notified of such hazardous conditions of Avenida Obregon in Mr. Fredericks' Notice dated May 31, 2006. The construction of the Water Park can only add to the already difficult and dangerous conditions of Avenida Obregon. This added burden on Avenida Obregon will render travel on that road unreasonable to the point of obliterating Mr. Fredericks' property rights. Furthermore, a gate that is conditionally required to be constructed on Avenida Obregon would clearly obstruct Mr. Fredericks' access on Avenida Obregon to the north. Of course, the above impacts to the existing, already congested, Avenida Obregon would apply to any project that would increase the traffic on Avenida Obregon. Accordingly, in the event the project applicant proposes changes In the project, please be advised that any project which results in additional vehicular and pedestrian traffic would necessarily have the same consequences. Thus, the City's approval of CNL's application for the construction of the Water Park, or any other project that substantially Increases the burdens upon this private roadway, would result in the taking and damaging of Mr. Fredericks' property rights. III. Conclusion. Accordingly, the City must deny CNL's application for the Development Permit and prevent construction of the Water Park. If the City does approve the Water Park construction, we will Institute an inverse condemnation action, and seek a writ of mandamus. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. /on• 4n,iv vn11r� JZBS/bmr Enclosures cc: Richard R. Fredericks (w/ Encl.) Brand Cooper, Esq. (w/ Encl.) Martin Mueller, Esq. (w/ End.) Julie Rosser, Esq. (w/ Encl.) Tammy M. J. Hong, Esq. (w/o Encl.) L_ a zGi4 zap LU 0 d��S`` 0 C =g of WLLWhm Z Qp0 F0 �ri LL � Q Q J pLL W m wag W FE La I ovuwu W W ll�'PLGLNNid�'J WaW /uwlw Pw WTI Pwidad •Jl w'JT �MA� W VOi1'� awa..� EXHIBIT "A„ y rl- I i 1 T r a r if r F fa L 4 � I [ y Y t b-' ' P p dl ry 2 ! 4 �AJ[VLlul 11:11 rAA Z14 UZ4--0174 DEMETRIOU,ET AL A2, AIL 1@008 -- 14 01 _- U41Uziur rf:u P'A3 213 624--0174 DENETRIMET AL - Z009 �)r�r�it/,i�:t ra�}►.�:r '' TdnbmfLl .:-� - .. • - ItRHP Status �O¢dq S ' 2ttterttsfPr9aa pegs .. I w 3 - -Rowures Name or Nz Walter Morgan &—we - - PIP. Other idendfler: r1102. La rodon: O Not for PtMeatkin 13IAsaatrlated s Cpmp Rlverslde h. VSRs 7.5• oudd La Nina pate 19BO T 8S , R 06E. SW 1r4 at $Ev4 of sea 36 e. Address 49499 Ms wet Drive city Lg_Qulata d. UTat: !Give more than one far largo and/or Know feature) - Zone , mrj e_ Other Locadonal Dam: (e.g, parcel A, legal description, directions to resource, elevation,additional UTMs, eta, as I aP3a. Description: (Describe rasdUrce and its meioe elements. Ulellele dealgn, (nateriala, oaddltion, eherations, site, setting, an twundarlas.) This Spanish Colonial Revival style house with Monterey Itiflumes is situated at the northwest end pf the La Quinta Hotel and Resort property, just north of the Tennis Club pool. Designed by Gordon Kauhn n. it was built in 1926-27. Its ground plan is rectangular, with a projected room at the first floor western clev Ltion. A two-story building, odented on a north -south axis, with a garage structure at its northeast comer, it side -gabled, with red the roof, deeply overhanging eaves and exposed rafter's. The walls are adobe c vered with planes. The front of the house (cast elevation) dos a slightly projecting north bay mptaining fo mal cot)ry, a single door with a wide fasola grotto surround with scalloped detailing at lintel topped by a sioopl entablature. Above entry. at second story level, is a rectuWar decorative We vent. The sottthemp contains at second story level a French door which opens onto a shallow balcony with wrought iron railing supporting entablature. At the northern and of the eastern fiicade, a single story building with a po covered by a shed roof supported by square c01ttmos extends to the east. The extension has a window in the ddle of its south facade. (See Continuation Sheet) 'PUN Reaomos Attributes: Wat sCV WL= and codes) apse Reeaurced Prosanet ®9uadmg OStrueaae WRA".i. aced. rh'>,i. ....a... •p11. ttepoft Auden: (CRa survey ropoMothw amecas or'norw-) Elementof Distrim OOther 11301stas, etc.) PSb.. Desorlption of Photo) IVI t, date, etc,) ape. -P7. Owner and Address: i L 56_1_40 PGA Blvd. La Ouinta. CA 92253 P—Private -Pa. Retarded by:(Name, aflilie*n. address) Pam D'Cowor/Marcy Roth M social eve: side CA -P9. Dana Recorded: /1 6797 'P 10. Survey Type- lnoscgibe) -Attaciu enta: ONONE OLocation Map ❑Sketch MAP M bontinuation sheet 0Suildng, Struaare and Ibis= Record Afeheeolaaical Record O District Record 0 Lkvrw Feature Record Q MAIPng Stadun Renard ❑ Rank ArtRecord C3AstfactRecord OPhatograph Record ❑Othw: fustl DM 523A 111951 1EXHIBIT "Cos -Rs Inraaaer; �. n i 0 .0 .... ...... .m ..... -vcr- airs 11 m=IIQUU,BT AL Q010--- - P•as 2 of r3 •NRHP Etame Code .FW*orrw Nasre oP*,. v>a.r llww.eiw Trn,.h:A - e r. n.sW„c ...v. 62. Common Name: 63. OrkII081 Uan: Rteidrru�e a4. Ptaseen Uae: C--Commercial •as. Archkoctural Sipe: menial Coloniai Ratriyal arch MQDtgV intlnonees vac- Construction FdoMY: (Constrvedon date. alteratI06% and date of aaeradons.l Built In 1926-27, this house was designed by Gordon Kaufmann and built by local craftsmen with local mawfacmre. The exterior of the house is intact; ulterior has few, superficial altdrations. sal. MdVMT ON, 13Yas ❑Unknown Odar OdginsIL*—don: saa. nef�ad Fesetrm: Ban. Archi occ Gordon &Hb= b. Budder: 1liiimown aato. sianiao.nce: ' Theme Residential As itecture Area La Quinra Period of Signiflamca �926-2� - hr"any Typo Residence APpdcahsa Criteria (ekmm hnpm rmn in terms of sistoddal of nCNtectural Contest as doted by theme, vadod. and aeoaraoW aCnpe. Also address Ims The Walter Morgan House appears eligible for designation as a City of La Qliinta Landmark under 1 C. i.e_, it embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, poiod or method of construction, is a example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship or is representative of a notable work o acclaimed builder, designers or atriiite ct. The house also appears eligible for the National Register ( places under Criterion C., i.e., it embodies "the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or med construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that repo significant and distinguishable entity whose cpmponeats way lack individual distinction." Located a outsldm of the La Quints. Hotel property, the house was designed in the Monterey style and sited tc complement the desert laudscape and the region's climate, factors whieb led to the evolution of a "C Style" desert lifestyle, Tate structure possesses a high degteo of architectural integrity as an imact e1 the work of prominent Southern California architect Gordon Kaufmann. The house may also be elil the National Registrar carder Criterion B for its association with Walter Morgan, developer of the La Hotel. B11. Additional Resource Atfrlbutes: -print attributes and codes) 0512, Refsrarreasr 13i3. Remarks: (sketch Map with north arrow *3%. Eirduetorh , Pain O'CmmoC Data of Ewbiatlona 09/01/1997 1Trsa specs rs.ened for of an d of sent a the e of for w.rmadon ---..... v<'or - 11;14 CAA 4i4--JM24 U114 St}iRdpF:t.Wormk A R> owe 3 ai 3_ •neawded by PA .oasd,.c. Manta w n: —w—after—WOESBILi VENfURIOU.ET AL °h w9a . nlrnnnnr/Marcy Roth* mate 10/191190 ®camimadm ❑updeta pia, (font.) The house's'south elevation has an extedor cbiubey topped by a decorative finish vi the vents and brick crown. A shed roof with red tiles covers a porch and rests on a wood beam supported by three heavy Doric columns. The chinmey is flanked at first floor level by two doors at second floor level by a casement window on its eastern side. The west elevation (rear of the building with view towards mountains) has a balcony running I" facade at second story level, with square wood slatted railing and wood posts supporting porch re and exposed rafters on tuudersideofbaleony. At second floor, French doors open onto balcony at northern end, whole two small casement windows occur at southern end. On first floor, French dt occur at the motthem end and a large casement casement window sits in mid -center of southern u The north elevation has casement windows with unpainted wood sub at second floor level, topppe wood planking to the eaves. First floor north elevation has a door at east end and three irregulari, placed casement windows. A low wall extending north from the west and of facade, partially and a courtyard formed by north wall of male ceding, northern addition (originally the garage) and third low wall running east -west. Features of the courtyard interior include a shad roofed arcade west wall of the garage, tilt -faced ci sular' gutter openings below the flat roof of the west elevatit and a fireplace built into the northern courtyard wall. The exterior of Morgan House retains its historic fabric slid character -defining features in their entirety, interiors of the house also retain their original configuration and most of the original fit Of non r v c. ,., y-,yc rnn G1v-0G4 U114 UEMETRIOU,ET AL _ 0 0-12- — DSSEgT DUTEl.Opairr CONFAHTGNUIT DUD U.s.).H.s, ta.SO Oannaltd. TO LA qu1NTA PAOFENr113 CCYPAHY 1 OESEAf Dg7CLOPNENf CouPAVI, a corporation, orgaplted under the Santa of Lhs State or CaLIComia, sits its prina1pel Plana of business at Los Angeles, California, and H. 7, BWMJ , RECCITTR Car covert Development GomPeny, in 000glderetiun or Ten Oellam 1t10-001 to them in hand paid, rocs Lpt or ehiah Is horoby aekoowledgod, do hereby groat to LA gVINTA PROMITIES CONPAMy, a 0017Vgretlo0, whose patmaneat addreas to 1036 security building, LOP'Augelaa. California, all right, title end Interest or the Grantors In and to the reel prapee'CY in tits County Or Niveraide. State of Cellrosnia; deaorlbed as In the COoaholls Valley dassbary, District ooec>ts11pj7alle7 CoWty water Dlatridt, teschslim YaLley Mosquito Abetapeot District.. doeaDellsTKILOY Stars plater Dtatrist, County of Nlrsrside, state at California, and daaorlbed on rollawat ` PIQ(CEL #I s ya The Southwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of hootlonsl Setting, 30. TownsNLp 5 anutb,, aonge a Nast, San garoordlon Morldien, on shown by United states Gmar®eat Surrey; EIOCPTING rhererrom the East 30 feat thsroot As atgvayod to Me County or Ai.erelde; by Goad regarded Novomber 3, 1990. in bask 656 page fig of DOOds, rep Ords of Nlseraids County, CdlltO plea Argo E10EPfINO thereftaml m easement for public highway and public utility purposes over the parties %barest conveyed to thr County Or ALTO mid# by Dead recordad rsbrusry 18. 1930, to Hook 256 pegs Sal of arfiafei Aaaoras, of amid mtvepeidm County. PARCEL del AL1 %list Portion of She Naar limit of the Southwest quarter of rngtional &action 3e. Tow6chip 8 South, Range 6 last, Box Bernardino Nerldlen, as show by United Stated Ccaerhasat Survey, da0ertbed no foliose- Beginning at the 6outbggat corner or the Southeast gaaptar of the mid Southwest qI quartar( + Thence •vat sladg ilia South boundary line or laid Section to, 1319.65 test to 6 1/16 Section Line of maid Section 361 Thome North De of, Neat along amid 1/la section line, 1595 tests Thence Rest 13g0 teat to the quarter Station line of said SaatLDn 36; Thence South 0'. 01, Last slang said quarter Savtlen lists. 1,096 foot to the paLat of beginning, Said property in slog eh'wc. upon genera of survey on file In gook 9 page 65 of Records or Survey, Regards of Riverside County, California, 1:-:E1Tta71 therefrom the fgll"ing described portions thcra0fl- (e) beginning at a point or. Asia quarter Section line, Crum which the 3uartor acs adrner an the Boa tb'epe0dsty' list of mid mention 36. besro South 0' 01' Nast. ` 5{feet{ - �Theses s401:.930 feet; Thinas North 01 O1' ►set, b13,1 forts Thence gnat 930 root to sold quarter Seetto•, lines Them■ South 0' O1' Stet along bald tusrtar section lino, Z15.1 feet to the point of beginning: (bl Reflecting at a point on said quarter as"tiOh line which Deers North 0v all goat, 250 root from the Ruartar Section 'other on the South boundary or said Section 3d; Thence North 0' 01, beat. IS5 feat( Thence Anet 230 feet; r� Thenee South 0' Oil Cant, leg feet) Thence lost 230 foot to the point of bdgtunings (a) ComweplAs at a point 00 the bouts boundary of amid Station 36, which beam 4162t 636 fast treat tits 4mrter Session 40rnmT on the said south boundary or said &action 661 Thence North 0' Olt West, 30 coat tar the point of beginning; Thence continuing North 0' 011 Nome, 609.g0 redo; - Theme. North am' 39' beet, 356 fats Them. South 0' 01' Nast, 599.90 feat to a. paint 30 rest North of tta South line of saidSoutheastquarter of 6satlan DO; Theses WOOL Usi fact .tat the Vold' 0r beginning; 1d) Beat Ming at a patut an said quarter Scotto, line whim F, beep. North 0e all tang, 433'rest from the qws-sor saotlon corner 0d the "auto boundary of soil Settloa So; Trance goat 930 fast; Thenee North 0' cI, Feat. Rte.9 feat( There. East 230 Cott to said quarter mention Line; EXHIBIT "D" UJ/UZ/UY 11:13 r'AA Z],J- UZ4 U174—VhXh1'1t1UU,hT AL Tbempe south 0' of Yost al mug emit Qddrt6� Ssotiod line, E69.9 femt'to tTe l point or bogladt'454 , lei Bmglnalog at o point on gala quarter 9i410n lta. wblob baere North, 0' O1' ',got. uo9_40 root frcm the quarter Sett Laa murmur ad the South bomdeky of 6944 e&atlon 56;rootYy I . Thaoas Was% EDO root to s point an the center LSD& of a a0 L reeds i Theme North 90 01' He" alon6 the Beater ling of said reed, 150 Testy Tmence East "afoot to sold Quarter $motion 11n.; Chunge South 04 01, Sto% along gold 11unrter 364tloa lime, 150 tpet to the point or ;0:LnAimL; - ,/ AL80. 1LCEYTIH9 Cram gala prvDsrty en aaeeee m! over the portion, thereof ions eheraaC aho'as JY11�` roeda on 6p1d liege`"yr Survey, &Love -%Carted to; F ; PARCEL /a, The wathwast gygrtar of ohs egutm,aet Quarter of yrsatlgnal Semind 36, =gat fipi a South. Range 6 East, San Bernardino ggyldLan, se aDann by UnIZAA Bingen Ganrmedt Ii . 6urvq. •� The Eortbmxt quarter of the SouCHMart goes er or fbyblenal 81496sa 34. TOHuehlPi 6 South, psags 6 "go. San Bernaralvg msELHrsm, na shorn D7 Lmita6 Btataa Gov erpamt . Svrvay. 1(4— tL I6t no SOathesat Quarter Of the NOXV12"Ot.gue eti Of P.rantteted Beaten 56, Tbaaahty, 5 South. Haase 6 Eest, Sag Burnsville merinlaa, 4hown b7 Vatted Rjatea Government ' survey; . MUTING therefrom the 9outb Do flat yberaof SnaLY6ea 15,plyay YnlBnoky656 %ga tg,iverdd to the Count of RLversldm by Visit roaarged Ravember 30 6o of Doede, reoalda or Rlvereldei aognty, C$1101rnl4s ALS9 Elglipl N9 therefram Ad 650"Out for Publlo D160wny and pYD11e atld r. rarpoeve over the portion tharvot aovva7ed %4 the County Of Riveroldg b&v 3eor4e0rded rebroary LA. load La Book Rey pe90 zoo at official Nsourdo of sold Bilk re tda Cgog" VAROSL /6[ go Vbwanij She Sar1haesS�gdsSamrOf the Sautbovat boraardlna Neslalao,aaseshown byobnited States ti anal nGOvernna019 5 South.'Beng 4 Sans;: YYDEPCINO Ohet+irgm MG North a0 feet god Nast 39 foot Wersot s.• aonrayed to th, County of Riveratds, by Deed regarded November 3, 1995, in Boot dig yoga be or aeaae, rsaards or Marston County, Celltarela: and ubllg utility ' LISO ="TlN9 therotrm an nsement top public 01�,.sy P , y outdo •purposai Over those FOftiung itbarcofS6onP yedEto and 8os11the ttE5f4g�q g5}69TDDILICIRI r&carded y%bru.ry 18, 1936, i kieos6s of said N1verLLda ComV. 1 U Tun southsaet am of Lite 8mtbhemae gm2ear of Eraotlaael 8eotdon ove ivasat p 5 South, gang, 0 Best. San tlei'tiordjflO VATJA1Ldm, as obool by United Stet 9v6yamtDm baroey: 11201WING tbtradro . the Meat 39 poet %1f rear am vammyM to the *mtrecard@ Olt ' RSvassL.da, by Dead r&wrdsd November B. 1g65 1D Book $55 pegs do of bests, ; RLvarailu Coust7, Californle; Also no"Tus; thereftem an Mellott Car p9bb1•b hrgaga y sad Vabl.1n nbt11t7 furpowa ever tho Portion thereof gov'vtyAA to %be County of RtversLds,•by Deeo Veaordedj February %G. 1936 In Book 263 Pase. $21 at 9TTLo1d gannets or sold plvgral6e condor. i rARCYL is. 1 The Northwest quarter nr proatlwaal SeatLon 53. TenvbELO.g. South, Range 6 Eaet, boa H&lasr6lRa Yer1d1a0., as shows by ITAited SXstes Gmagrongsdt SMOyi EYCEPPING thoafrom the 3outbo-ot auerlor et tfi. Kont'Na1st qugrt5x or Bald 3&CtLan 36. - The Hot half Of the pertness% quarAor Or Praatlaq&1 Rectum 06, Tonnsbip 6 1oathl Rgngs A Sant, Ben B6rnardlao RerlAibd. Wmh"OL b7 VaLLed on"46 0aeoroment Sur 0 IPTINO callift"M the Spate 50 riot of shd Ydst .� feet tBereoT as Oon'tAybed i to the �gubty of Rtvsrmtdg, by Valid r000t4b4 NovgmbeY' 3; YdaS !O Book 65e pogo VB Of ! 'gee., records of Rlvereldo County, Cal19bro4a. • PLNCRL r10. Tug Nartbwtm% amarier of the sou11irlA Quarter of by U&L9n1 Statesn Sd, TgwneElDi 6 South. Range 6 Yast, Ban Rotnerdlao•YirldtYa. on &hem by 9a1tw stator uavmramant i Survey I .yyCryrlNa tnarlemm tA% Iogt 30 le1t tag Ref It 5odvago to the toasty Of I givereido. by Dead regarded November 5, leEg Sa 93Ok 65d y+g/ do of 016dd, Raoorde OT ' Rirnr&!ga Cowty, CallrornLe. ! roe.-- d oz4 U179-_.-_.._LIEMEMIOU. ET AL Q 014 g •JIJ .PARdEL fill All that portion of Lhe ScatLeeft gasrb4r or TWO14.0041 Section j4. Te•net},1p 6 South, Fa". 6 Mot, Sea BorndTaloO R4rf4Ya3, eb eh"M by United Steeee Ou.ttumsht Su,vp, described asfolloxal Ca®sneing st a point .. the 3nstatIr lion of'oel4 SotithWast 4hartar rrm which the Southeast comer thereof hears Stout Do. all %apt, 1791-.38 feet; T114004 South g9- 59' West, 724 r"t Tar Lbe point of beginning. Tha4c•,Sw%b 00' DL• East and P4rrl1-e3, with the .Seat ilhe 6V wale e99thweat quorser 67 feat; - Thedoe South 09e 39' East, la feet; TMRot Mart -le 004 01' West, By f44t4 Thents North 89F 69t East, 15 feet " tNw potat or 5rEfAQll61 MMMIGIM AMD RESERIM puwnfram Smmfvasa tudebre 69 water from roe14 paeul(ea. wl;lah •aid to atnrya Meb44 of Wdtsr SABA- us RulrbraEad to'6rsEtrora doL".Y free•,Ot 'host or aharga through uLautaas et""thut{os JWfitNe to pruoa4Ns or Gradtorn "latuing MIA wall, as reserved is 0444 from Eater S."WWOd at dE'to. DOeext Dovalapmmtt Company, a corporation, regarded May 15, 19311 14 BuOV- B7 peZ. 1L9- or OHiOS,91 h.'OU dd of Riverside County. California. w The Southeast gesrter of the Southwest gaoatar or rasoClunal. R•otiion 31, TomdsRIV b South, Range 7 East, Sea SarmardlaodieVI-MM, as 41imm by VClted!Stetes 9owaiLwaat' survey, 3=1"IM0 Cbenrr= the South 30 test end East 30 feet thwwar L4cla4ad 1h pub). -Se hlgbways. Said Property is also shofar an Liasmsed-land Gurvayor's Vag m rttla In Book 9 pegs 4 of Bdoug4v of Survey. tenures or RL•wrOids Oouaty. Calitornt.. +. PARCEL f16. 'The Northeast tuartsk, of the Roabbeest quarter of Frectludsi eecelaa 31, Town' ship n South.. Range 7 Rest. SRO BaraOd43a11 peridlas, as wbows by 04yte4 Stares 09vetwveot Barvsyt 1="VLRG th4rerram the Narih 30 toot and Cost d0 teat tbsraof tacLadsd in puhl le astd.prph.prss. yertY SO ■1w shown un Lie4w1eb Lana-Surra7or*s Wap w ILlo to Eaok 9, pegs 4 of deaoydd of Sorter, raoards of 1110taldo ConfitY. Orldforuia. PARCEL alas The Natthsest quarter of t114 504ch"tt quarter of FCwOLladel SocLjon 41, Teyn- shlp 3 South, ROSSO 7 Eeat, 3e13 WelOrddeo Morldian, s4 san•n by VOLt Stdte. 0overoasot Survey; z=W— ill thcrtfrm %no Worth 60 fast ibsiaur 14claded In "Clio hi6hwnyi ALSO FR IM21O ShOr•riom tbs portion thereof aanvsye4 to the Oouuty of g3vara L4• ray road purpo344, by mesa "Barded. Use mber. Is. 1930 in Book 867 deg, 154 of Docile, LVOards of RLverside County, edi Lfurhie. Selo property is also shows an LLOoussd bend SurvIMIN 130 on file in Bank 9 page 4 at Regards of Survey, records Of R17arvide County, Calirotelw. PARCEL M; Ths.eoutheawt kusrter or the mawtheest gaortem, at rreatloneL mention al, 9amshlP 6 South. Seuge 7 Raat, Bad Bnrmemr4liw Yatidasn, Be abort by United Stets§ Govdrdilint ucEpTim,$Fho+rrm the South alltest therOot Ssel0440 in pdtrlie higdesyi ALSO =9VTiN0 tbrvrrm the porbtod thereof aodv%YOd to tan County of Riverside for rued ourpoess, by owed raouraed heamttler 10, 1970 In Book gag pose au of Deads, records of Riverside, 0ountY, CalLtera•1a. Said property is slag above on Lionge4 Land gurverar's Rap on file In Beak 9 page 4 of Reaoido or Survey• regards of Sl"VoLds County, Caltrgraia. PAKIL J14; The horehreat quarter of Frhation4l Section 31.. TowAskiy 0 South. Raags 7 lent, Sea wsynwrdlmo Rarl4isn, OR abawa DY onLFea-Stete4 4marnamht Sul+aY; Excepting thsrafrm the North a0 f"r, Sauth 30 rest sea wnet e9 !e441 thereat 1401od.4 In publLe bL4bseYw1 , LIAO =Fre and tberarroes the portion tbereor convapvd to the Ceudtr of Riverside, ' :or road purposes, tY Dead roosted V.;aedber 3:4. 1900. in Rook g67 page 134 of weeds, rawr4a of Riverside DountY. Celiforgfa. Seta property is h1wo..ehawn un i:loodeed 16hd Sorv4yor'n Rep oh file in Book 9 • page 4 or Records of Survey, resardw of Riterafdv Coun4F, 0411torale. . SCBYSCT to a lease-4at4d 004604r.30-. 1.9E9 and rbaotdsa Ovocmberi 6, Legg, L4 Book is page 115 or Leaves. "cards at Rfvbyef" County, CellfoiujO, by wh Leh Cement Derelopnent Oodpauy, a eorporstiou, Lr4ew.'tc The shuthorm40rla4'7er Cowsooy. e carp>rw en, a ewr:Pln per..i at lead to ba wad rsr Pub -.trued 45d a�Jedear7 111411d1Fge, :>r s tern c: 4e years from Rovbaber 39, .ago, to Rprember 30. 1974, red ea bnausl , "" �.•.•ir 41-&0 rAd----GLO 044 u114 __.--DEMETRIOU,ET AL - v,-fir j.F, 1 -... tIm ib 1: �'=—.i tab-'�"lf-- •-•�?•.'i�i. .,� e :.. :. � `/ _. _.•:..w5r•.:Wn'�;-". 'Tyr_-- F--.;!"}•tii=�.'ji�'S°�%e�`_+�'y�'r/. �x•..�s or handed. IN .Ni k'As^ 4 -T . w regaLntdda, •4t'i�sk M ,. mEb3ned'aad' ham?i>�'ek. •• daI dent ana%`+deta4¢;-y'„ _ 1•Pd- Ma beCeunto sex'1oN#nd;•'�� day of ,.pr11, 1,90; f -Q 015 a . X. :ti " .• lFip;- • . •`'..Y' . LCdNFaKASB'SEAlA 'In t��..'v �xxtSTi-'3.zn:_:-� l.•- 't l'.. •i•;' r. , State at CaLltura Las 1 PUD11a Caaatr of we "41411,56. a Nctery On tale Rletn day or AprLl, 1V57, before d:d. Wendell Y' Eutbm , III, aM for gold �oua q'. perao¢e11y eppeat'ed Cyrus Ia Lsee, KApdn tp `de to be the PCaaldefollt and a. O'Sr kdoKeeOv Known to m! to La the SeerdLsf9 of Osdart Lavr•Lapuent Coopway. the corporak:lon that ■ aimed the within end foregoing 6e1[rm°eno apldpaye�oa� to ae to as the persons "Do Oneeuted-LDa rlthia Lne trWNNt of Wore io Meld, sod acknowledged La as that much dorpdtatlo6_asapLL9a eha dame. EIWUS my band end Ottid4la Sealryea4a11 P. BKdbard, 1 Wotary PobLld in mild Tor mail iNC'I'ABId1 BEAU Codety end State, utsts at CalLrorala, 4 - 401 or lee Ahgaleelse, _ a notary PnDlld an this loth may or aprL', ludseasyi2 e` °. SsdwasedS ly4'Bre+Lae 'es Resalnr for in and for amid Sauaty dad State, pe 7. pPPs ,wesri Oevalopaeat CWpaOY. Ksowa to a, for Proved to Ed an the as b DL -1 to be LM p,rmoa waosd name Is subscribed to the wlthla leatratteaL, and aeKnD lddgad to me that , he esdooted the am$. IN WITNiSS MWAXOP, I have hereunto ■d% my bead sad afrizsd AT Ottle Lal Small the day and year 11 this eart1ficsts first 6 Y-rltt:mu. Notary PCbuo la. add Tor sold � (KOTAn1Ai STAL1 Cavaty mad stets. : : yA Rsd ale ed for N°Wrd Kay 19, 1931. et 8 D'd1adK A. Nr aL nd4oedt or to un Prrpaled Cc, CUPlsd In hooK Kb. Sal me Otfiat,L weaatdoI pass $73 es aaq, Neaords or' rt ctvorsdde County. Cal ltorol e• TLOK A. Nome, Neaordar. Compare rose 13'`A 1 k. Compo,"d; CopytsL 1. Forremd^. r L. TS'aa, j c UCffiG'11ilUU,ET AL O16 916s• � JaecQ� f�\ta rA, ' �..�Yy, \' f ESN\\`• J' e aw =� A- ✓ ._ A" NDED. 11AG W 3 SNOWING A PORTION a Tw EAST HALF SOUTH WEST QUARTER cr SECTION 36 T. 5 5. R. 6 E. S. D fl M �...syed s1 fhs Rsy..ss! d S'rP!-IZRyFIION6eN - owo-.4N ♦V rUL40R dvi1 G9slmo.a . fLvC J CJLIFO.INM - MW ,b��frlwrYrnllM/w.+M+��Fr✓.d.'� aw.rw,�yM ,4tMI.�vJ!�.\.!.M.G.� .M.IJ/kI16�NPu✓ f6\wY:v���YiY.ram.^f../.\.V�M.walvr.wJSM.wD+� , auiryss��w.�b-- ir.I�fr..w..�,w,r.rwew.$.•.iu..,sr EXHIBIT "Ell Vol u9i ur t7:tq-kAL 213 U24 0174 _- ,.DEMETRIOU.ET AL - - - ==-0017 P ! + _ Q all ti t Nt W +mi rg2� ^ I_�j far Ot f _oar e It I I , _. i I ATTACHMENT 10 LETTERS FEB 2 2 2007 �tfitrrs66j 9(a� CI IV DE EA UWNiA CITY MANAGER DEPT February 22, 2007 Honorable Donald Adolph Mayor City of La Quinta Post Office Box 1504 La Quinta, California 92247-1504 Re: Proposed Signature PoollWater Park Dear Mayor Adolph:, Wifflam L fnget �✓ 77-600AvrnidaTanando !n Quiat4 California 92247 (760)564-2747 At last Tuesday evening's City Council meeting I was prepared to stick it out until the bitter end, even when things didn't look so good. But I was unprepared to be rewarded for my patience; not because of the decision rendered by the council for which we are exceedingly grateful, but because of your pointed questions and observations to Paul McCormick which struck at the very heart of the whole controversial matter. I'm not sure everyone picked up on it, but it really hit home to my wife and I who have lived here for more than 20 years. Whatever weariness I may have felt around 1:30 a.m. early Wednesday morning was replaced with a burst of energetic optimism after your conversation with Mr. McCormick. Your remarks were a perfect anecdotal rebuke to Mr. McCormick and, in particular, his employer, about their philosophy of ownership of the hotel and its unique assets. I told my wife that I was heartened when you made your point about the golfers on one of the PGA West courses who were obviously not members and then I nearly came out of my chair and cheered when you wouldn't let McCormick off the hook when he tried to explain away the incident as a likely membership promotional courtesy. It was a perfect illustration that the hotel owners feel that they can do whatever they like, regardless of the rules and consideration for its members, much less the surrounding property owners. I can only imagine.what they would have done with the development and operation of their Signature Pool left to their own devices. I have been in the commercial real estate business for 33 years, mainly in Los Angeles. As a result of my business I am familiar with CNL. I don't know if you are aware of this, but the acronym, CNL; stands for Commercial Net Lease. In the lexicon of the real estate investment business; the common term "net lease", has implied significance. It means Mayor Donald Adolph' February 22, 2007 Page 2 that an investor is particularly interested in the true, take-home income generated by an investment, undiluted by a responsibility for recurring or variable expenses required by any given property. This investment approach reveals much about CNL and explains volumes about why they have not been proactive in making improvements until - -- absolutely necessary. I can just imagine what it must be like for McCormick when he submits his budgets for capital improvement expenses. The condition of the berm along Eisenhower at Tampico is another perfect example. It has, evidently, been a topic of discussion for a long time without any action. It would have been so easy for the Resort to voluntarily enhance that condition a long time ago if only as a gesture to the community. The fact that it is now willing, even eager to make the improvements, so unrelated to its proposed Signature Pool, is so transparent that it is almost revolting. The sad fact is that CNL, and its predecessor KSL, are not worthy stewards of these assets and they have not earned the right to presume endorsement on new projects requiring discretionary approval. But until early last Wednesday morning, after 20 years of living at this address, I have never heard anyone say as much so effectively as you as Councilman Sniff did. I was so exhilarated and grateful I felt compelled to write this note to thank you very much for your efforts. William L. Puget WLP1bp P.S. If you actually made it to your 7:30 tee time Wednesday morning, I hope you " were able to persuade your companions to give you a couple of extra strokes under the circumstances. February 21, 2007 Mayor Adolph And Council Members City ofLa Quinta 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253 n �1nn ENTEP1)V1SES HFOF I N C o p P 0 R A'r L D p=PT— Clk I owe you an apology for my blundering comments on Tuesday Evening. I have been in beingess Governor of Rot Years, active in professional, civic and service organizations, such as Rotary h►ternational. In my lifetime I have given over 2000 instructional, inspirational and motivational speeches. Tuesday evening was not one of those times, as I was called to the podium my left hearing aid went dead and just before I reached the podium my right hearing aid went dead. To say the least I was frustrated a little disoriented and thus a blundering idiot. I know you said something to Mr. Mayor at the end of my "presentation" but I was not looking at you so I could not read your lips, that would have helped me at that time. Again I apologize. Having said the above, your undertaking of permit 2006-865 is a monumental challenge. I have served on planning and economic development commissions and am aware of the intricacies involved in your decision and needless to say I am very pro business. I have had the opportunity to study the documents available to me, evaluating the environmental, ecological, parking architectural, landscaping and decibel information I fully understanding the property owners, home owners and tennis players positions and although I have empathy for their position I feel it is the responsibility of La Quinta Resort to develop their, property to its highest and best use. in fact it is the obligaallytion of the Resort to maintain their occupancy level and improve that n resorts under construction and the current destination resorts withisition n heirs here of e influence. I have noted that La Quinta Resort has made several changes in their plans to make themselves a good neighbor and it is my understanding that there are working further to satisfy all time. concerned but unfortunately you cannot please all the people all the This family water facility will make the Resort more attractive and will enhance their Occupancy rate and thus allow the Resort to offer first class personal service while maintaining a stable work force. - "PILOZ 12 602489 1025 S. Palm Canyon Road •Palm Springs California 92262 • TEL 760.320.5303 rnx 760.320.4743 I hope that you find a positive position to this request and approve,the Resolution during Your meeting in March, it will be good for La Quint.. I admire the way You have approached this very controversial issue, your intensity devotion and courage are very obvious. No matter what the decision , Legal Departments and all concerned have done a complete and s the investithe City plannergation. P. S. I do not spend my tune in Coachella" but rather fow to five days in La sharing time with a beautiful intelligent woman and enjoying all the services of the City. Quinta 11C. # LA002583 PA008219 602489 •y"` 1025 S. Palm Carryon Road • Patm S rin s P g , California 92262 • ro_ 7%320.5303 FAX 760.320.4743 26 February 2007 Dear Mayor Adolph i thank you for,.your support on the question of the water park proposed by the La Quinta hotel. We appreciated your straight thinking and your strong leadership of the council. eecr,� Late in the evening the question was asked how many people will be eligible to use the Water Park facilities proposed by the hotel. Management prevaricated and never did give a definitive number that I could hear. At a meeting last summer they stated that there were'then 2500 members. Since then there have been reports of memberships given to purchasers at Legacy Villas and Pointe Happy. So you would have to conclude that there are more than stated. This compounds traffic and parking problems that have not been adequately addressed. This is the kind of negative responses we get when we bring up problems of noise, traffic and parking. Essentially evasion or denial. Another subject that was mentioned but not discussed is the assumption that.this proposed facility will bring more money into the city. And indeed it may if it was successful. But consider this. The Santa Rosa Cove HOA generates 1.4 million dollars in property tax revenue. That results in $98,000 being returned to the City of La Quinta each year. And we have been doing this for over 25 years. I think our quiet neighborhood deserves to be protected from the chaos of a water park. The hotel management has promoted an.atmosphere of being a struggling little community asset that needs help to survive in a world of Wal-Mart type competition. I'm sure you know that this is not a Mom and Pop operation. It is a part of a multi billion dollar corporate business that frequently runs rough shod over private interests. Our home owners need the help of the city to protect our homes from that type of treatment and we feel our long term tax support makes us deserving of that help. Sincerely, Philip schks 1_:.J - Page 1 of 1 6UAAA Dear Mayor Adolph, I am providing one set of very recent pictures that speak for themselves. It is not okay to C* continue to block traffic and wilfully ignore the health and safety of the citizens of this City. it is not okay for CA seventy foot container vans to block traffic, block emergency. access on either Fernando or O Obregon. The / Resort wants to impose a water feature on an area that cannot support a wading pool. I would respectfully request that you circulate these recent photos (as recent as yesterday) and please ensure that they too are made part of the record. Please also take note of the fad that Fernando does not meet the Code requirement alplery of a private primary entrance street as it was measured last week and is 36 feet wide. I need not provide the dimensions on Obregon as they are already well known- Please also share with our el i'ected re�gardi uncilpersons the information I have provided you relative to the misrepresentations made by the app' ng my access issues. Finally, I would request that the Council to notice at 50 additional f the fact that at the y Mwgres Luncheon un attended, where you spoke last summer, that the applicant and their children are going to get there in xpected from Legacy Villas who would enjoy the water feature. How these people a safe manner and avoid seventy foot trucks has not been addressed other than speculation. One thing is certain. If these children walk they will do so on the road as there are no sidewalks on either Fernando or Obregon. I remind all of my elected representatives Thank zoning compliance Fredericks health and safety are required findings for the issuance of a conditional use pe Y Steve Davis 77-500 Avenida Fernando La Quinta, CA 92253 To: La Quinta City Council /. RECEIVED C� / 2007 FEB 28 PR 2 19 ✓�(jv The attached should be self explanatory. As shl Y �F LA QpU eliverin it to you. Please do not do anything or approve anything which" l✓i�ctlr�herwise g worsen an already absurd situation on Fernando. I do not believe you have the right to do so_ The noise, exhaust and traffic on Fernando is overwhelming as it is. I can't imagine anybody approves of the trucks or overuse on that road. I have been forced to bring an action against certain entities related to or among the La Quinta Resort. You have been noticed a copy of the Complaint. Please do not do anything which will force me to assert whatever rights I may have via the City., I have tried to be a decent member of this community. Fernando is a part of my property. I am unwilling to allow the Resort to take it through overuse and I will fight any efforts of the Resort to enlist the City. I am particularly bothered by the fact that the traffic consultants never contacted me or the Pugets. I am similarly bothered by the City's willingness to accepta, 1977 EIR. I am available at 510-393-2414. Nobody from the Resort or the City has ever contacted me or the Pugets. Sincerely, Steve Davis 2/27/07 The attached summarizes the events of Monday, February 26, 2007. At 7 am a medium size Penske yellow truck and a 2. New Century 53 foot container truck with a red cab lined up on Fernando. It took ten minutes for the trucks to access the Resort driveway. During that time the trucks were idling exhaust and noise directly down my driveway into my front yard and house. Mr. Markson was out on Fernando directing traffic_ I was particularly bothered by this as similar truck patterns had occurred Saturday and Sunday. I was also bothered within the context of Mr. McCormick's presentations to the la Quinta Planning Commission and City Council. It seemed to me that Mr. McCormick had been I was further bothered by the fact that he had indicated a desire to route shuttle buses down Fernando with homeowners from developments with no easement rights on Fernando. I went and bought a camera. 3. At 9:30 am a Speedway delivery truck, medium size, with a broken exhaust system arrived. This truck was spraying exhaust everywhere. It was very loud. It smelled up my yard. I took pictures of it idling and reversing on Fernando. I took pictures labeled 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. Picture 3a clearly shows the exhaust spewing from the truck. 4. At 9:30 am a Freightliner truck parked idling the wrong way on Fernando. The truck said American Fish. The driver left the truck. Se pictures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e. I took pictures of cars exiting the Resort driveway in reverse, backing out blind onto Fernando with their views blocked by the truck. See 4c, and 4d. 5. At 10:13 am an Enterprise truck stops face in the Resort driveway. Lots of exhaust. Backs around to park. Lots of noise. 6. At 10:20 a 70 foot long truck with a 55 foot container arrives and takes over ten minutes to reverse into Resort driveway. Extreme noise and exhaust on my property. Traffic is backed up in both directions. See pictures 6a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, and 1. Truck leaves at 10:38 am. Cannot have unloaded that much. 7. 10:50 am. Two Fed Ex trucks. One a 55 foot container truck.. I got pictures of second truck at my driveway, reversing on Fernando. See 7a and 7b. 8. 11:35 am Scully, Triple L Restaurant truck with a 53 foot container. Took 15 minutes to reverse into Resort Driveway. Went onto my driveway apron several times. Loss prevention was there but could not prevent it. Two trucks and several cars lined up idling in both directions on Fernando. Lots of fumes and noise. Took pictures 8a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, I, j, k,1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y. Pictures 81, m, n, o, p, q and r show traffic impact which is frequent on Fernando. Pictures 8s, t, u, and v are the trucks that were idling on Fernando while the Scully truck reversed. These trucks also reversed in past my driveway. Pictures 8w, x,•and y show how inaccessible the Resort driveway becomes when just one large truck arrives. 9. 11:40 am out of film. I went to get new camera On Fernando idling were two Roadway medium size trucks. The drivers were out of the trucks walking down the Resort driveway. Gone for the rest of the afternoon. 10. Return at 4 pm. At 4:30 pm a large Roadway truck arrived and. reversed down Fernando. Took pictures. At 4:58 pm same truck moves out of driveway into Resort delivery bay. I took pictures. 1 4 .9 -Page 1of/1 -- Wanda Wise -Latta From: Nancy White fnindoli@comcast.netj C Bent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 8:24 AM To: Wanda Wise -Latta C // Subject: water park Dear Ms. Latta, this is again an email for the mayor and .council which I hope you shallconvey to them. Thank you, Nancy White Dear Mayor Adolph, . I feel a little like a broken record but one dares not letdown one's guard relative to the proposed water park. It was such a wonderful ,albeit extremely late, moment when the votes were cast last month by you and the other council members ,but disheartening to know that we all had to continue to fight this monster. People hesitate to rewrite letters, deliver the same comments etc, so many, I tear, will simply be discouraged and worn down by this interminable process. I stayed up later at the council meeting than I even stay up on New Years Eve and I don't know how many times I can do that! Even that night many potential speakers gave up and left so I fear the attrition will continue. We all, of course, got our meeting notices from the city,however, we have no compromise plan to which to react. The notice still says 4.7 acres so.it sounds as though there won't be any site reduction...so what can the compromise be? Maybe 2 water slides instead of g, maybe a 25' high fake mountain instead of a 281? I feel . sure the Hilton people; while appearing not to be too bright, are smart enough to have overstated their case to begin with in order to be able to say later that they compromised while ending up with exactly what they wanted in the first place. I spent 13 years on the Planning Commission In Ann Arbor, Mi and I know this is one of the oldest tricks in the book ..... i.e. ask for more than you know you can getl Car salesmen do it, home sellers do it and developers do itl The last letter I wrote you begged you to save the integrity of this glorious old hotel and resort, which in turn reflects on the city of La Quinta. I must beg you again to get rid of this project altogether at the proposed location. Leave the tennis facility as it is, leave beautiful center court as it is, ... challenge this water park find a home somewhere else more in keeping with the nature of the beast. Thank you for your time and patience and service to La Quinta. Nancy White Page 1 of 1 Wanda Wise -Latta �tCl from: Mittelbusher@aol.com L Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 12:54 PM * / To: Don Adolph C�t✓ Subject: Signature Pool�'— Dear Mayor Adolph, lJ� I am a tennis member of the resort and my wife 1 stayed until the vote last Tuesday night. A large group of tennis members plus year round residents of the Tennis Villas and Santa Rosa Cove want to thank you for your vote to decline the Site Development Permit to build the Signature Pool. We all were impressed with the promise that you elicited from the Resort that if the Signature Pool were built and if in fad the allowable noise levels exceeded City Code, the resort would dose the pool until the noise level conformed to the maximum allowed of 60db. Please see the anticipated noise levels in the attached E-mail which were taken from Page 52 of the Addendum for the La Quinta Resort Signature Pool. Since the Resort seemed so sure the maximum noise levels would not Violate City Code, HOW ABOUT ASKING THEM IF THEY WOULD AGREE TO SHUT DOWN CONSTRUCTION IF THE NOISE LEVELS GO ABOVE THE 60db. After reading condition 1 under the chart, I think it would be most interesting to heartheir answer. Thank you again for your no vote. It will be remembered by a lot of full time residents like ourselves. Ed Mittelbusher " 77-333 Caile Mazatlan AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about whars free from AOL at AOL.com. if#HNf#fftifff Y#iNf##ff#t#RR#f#NRR AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about whars free from AOL at httplAvww.aol.com. n MCN/1!V'1 Mr. Doug Evans March 8 2007 Community Development Department Director Historic Preservation Commission 78-495 Calie Tampico LEE 9 2007LaQuinta CA92253 uaur+rnRE: °n�iEK Appreciation History of La Quinta Resort and the Proposed Signature Pool at La Quinta.Resort and Club Dear Director Evans, , Thank you and your Committee for your outstanding leadership that has preserved the identity of our city yet allowed positive direction and admirable progress to La Quinta. It was interesting to learn that the City of La Quinta was founded in 1982, 56 years after La Quinta Resort was built, and is the only city in America named after a resort. We are writing you due to your dedication to serve as an advisory body to the City Council in all matters relating to identification, protection, restoration and retention of historic sites within the City. We are deeply concerned residents that live on the 18'e Fairway of the Mountain Course at Santa Rosa Cove. We are also members of The La Quinta Resort and Club. As you know, La Quints means "Country Retreat" and the La Quinta Resort advertises the Resort as... "a famous popular destination (escape) world-wide since 1927 ... La Quinta Resort is known for its lush grounds that offers breathtaking beauty and serenity, excellent golf and tennis facilities ... " and continues to mention some famous guests along with additional historic information. The same historic information is also stated on the Guest Activity Marquee posted for group meetings and locations set on the back corner side of the KSL offices across from the Flores Ballroom and Parking Lot. On the enclosed copy of La Quinta Resort's History it tells about the Spanish Conquistadors and mentions that before that time the Cahuilla Indians referred to our area as the "Land of Eternal Sun, which it is! They state that La Quinta means five and "a secluded country retreat. " Would it be possible for the Historic Preservation Commission to walk around the La Quinta Resort and Club properties and experience the unique and wonderful historic attributes we as a city have inherited, while at the same time considering the magnitude of losing it forever - losing its historic ambient identity by not retaining and preserving this historic site? Could your commission ponder some practical issues as they consider our historic resort ... 1. What will be the effect of the long treasured views of the mountains when they are obliterated? 2. How will the construction activity, for two years, effect the citizens that purchased their properties because of the views, tranquility, and historic ambiance which indeed sets it apart from other resorts in the world. 3. Will La Quinta Resort lose its stellar identity? 4. Should a water park physically dominate and destroy an historic Country Retreat, La Quinta Resort, our city's namesake? We can appreciate the fact that Hilton wants to create activity here in the summer. However, when Hilton purchased the management for twenty years, La Quinta Resort and Club was, and still is, a resort. Resorts such as winter ski areas, beaches, Carribean, etc., expect down periods. With their world-wide web and marketing we have been delighted to see an incredible increase in occupancy this year. People are starved for the type of ambiance that, regrettably, is offered in few safe havens like the La Quinta Resort. We attended the first public meeting regarding the above mentioned water park and witnessed many misrepresentations of facts presented by CNL representatives and the CNL Attorney in his closing remarks. (Incidentally, Morgan Stanley recently purchased La Quinta Resort & Club from CNL.) For instance, CNL said they had had meetings to advise owners of their plans for the Signature Pool yet very few received the notice of the meetings until after the fact or had an opportunity to see the plans. The meetings were held in the summer when few were here or even knew about them. We want to preserve the historic value of this area. At the same time we support the Hilton, yet, it is most difficult to understand how something like the water park can be approved to be in the middle of our area when it excludes member privileges. Sadly, and regrettably, we were told that the only way members could take our grandchildren to the water park is to purchase a room so they could use the facility that day! However, we, members, would be allowed to use it along with our children up to age 23 providing they live at home full time. How many children or young adults live in Santa Rosa Cove, Los Estados, The Enclave or Mountain Estates? Also, we were told that the decision is final and that there will be no exceptions. Can you imagine what it will be like (after several years of dominating inconveniences and noise) to tell our grandchildren they are not allowed to use the water park when they hear the activity all over our area and even across the street and surrounding gated communities? There is so much more. Thank you for taking your valuable time to review concerns of many of us that are effected. We hope you will encourage Council Members to look at the complete picture so they can vote with a clearer understanding of what was glossed over in the presentations, the impact of loss of an historical landmark known world-wide as a "country retreat," the historic and radical change it will bring to the "world renown La Quinta Resort" which our City is named after. Mos�l�.�ll/.cQ David E. and Barbara S. Waddell 49-489 Avenida Vista Bonita La Quinta, CA 92253 TEL 760-777-1176; FAX 760-771-6768 Copy of La Quinta Resort's "Our History" included i24 ` LS —�lUl a':/ Fts 2 T 1007 Edwin M. Mitt Ter Honorable Mayor Adolph City Council Members 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253 February 27, 2007 At the City Council meeting on February 20, 2007, I proposed a solution to the impasse between the La Quinta Resort and the adjacent property owners in the Tennis Villas, Mountain Estates, The Enclave, Los Estados, and Santa Rosa Cove. My solution is to move the La Quinta Resort's kiddie water park portion of their Signature Pool to the area now occupied by the Renker pool. To support my solution I am enclosing pages from Architect Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke's'schematic design for the proposed Palm Desert Aquatic Complex. Palm Desert got the name right as the proposed project is more than a pool and less than a full-blown water park. I have scaled the site plan on the architect's page 3. (0.5 inches equal 40 feet) The complex minus the parking area measures 288 feet east to west and 254 feet south to north. This area totals 73,150 square feet or 1.67 acres. If you eliminate the Competition Swimming Pool and Administrative/ Locker Building leaving only the water park features, the required area is 43,000 square feet. Before reading on, please check the Water Features listed on the architect's page 'I. Looks very familiar, doesn't it? Without demoiishing the San Femando Casha, the Renker Pool area is over 47,600 square feet. My solution works and the benefits I listed back on February 20, 2007 are enhanced by not having to demolish the San Fernando casita. At the end of the last council meeting, you asked the Resort and the property owners to meet and work out a compromise. In a compromise both sides give up somethirw. If my solution is built both sides get what they want. The Resort gets their water slides, lazy river, flow rider, (more fun than a wave pool) and a children's pooh, play structure and property owners maintain the tranquil environment they envisioned when they bought their residences. Let's not forget the Tennis Members. They get to keep playing on the Resort's 23 courts. The Resort's Iconic Stadium court is preserved and the Pacific life Tournament competitors will continue to stay and practice at the Resort. Therefore I respectfully ask the you study Mr. Clarke's site plan and renderings I have enclosed, recognize the benefits, and on the next vote, please vote to. decline the La.Quinta Resort's Site Development Permit for their Signature Pool at its present location. SmcerC� Edwin M. Mittel usher " 77-333 Calle Mazatlan La Quinta, CA, 92253 ^^5 C ill K x m o. o d U d y l6 v s y l6 O ;� 7 y ID > (C Y v L> i Q {a 41 O E = .a i sd r N @ R ma m d C v 3 r d'.yY ap tm Ci 2 U y� Q C £ C'-� l6. p. .G 4) <ra C G > qLL rnwa CN y w ��`$ a 3 a o 0' LU o _ L !i OS t6T y 0 o� d m a=-' ao N U) via 0 J Q g LL 0 _I Q IL) 0, N42) +!� w W Y Q ., 9 i G1 cr a+ LL Q cc _3 0 rL- Q) LL C 8 � EV w J N_ C <.a 8 R �J t 5 a At i m li M 9 x Commissioner Allan Wilbur March 8, 2007 Historic Preservation Commission 78495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253 RE: Appreciation History of La Quinta Resort and the Proposed Signature Pool at La Quinta Resort and Club Dear Commissioner Wilbur, Thank you and your Committee for your outstanding leadership that has preserved the identity of our city yet allowed positive direction and admirable progress to La Quinta. It was interesting to learn that the City of La Quinta was founded in 1982, 56 years after La Quinta Resort was built, and is the only city in America named after a resort. We are writing you due to your dedication to serve as an advisory body to the City Council in all matters relating to identification, protection, restoration and retention of historic sites within the City. We are deeply concerned residents that live on the 18' Fairway of the Mountain Course at Santa Rosa Cove. We are also members of The La Quinta Resort and Club. As you know, La Quinta means "Country Retreat" and the La Quinta Resort advertises the Resort as... "a famous popular destination (escape) world-wide since 1927 ... La Quinta Resort is known for its lush grounds that offers breathtaking beauty and serenity, excellent golf and tennis facilities ..." and continues to mention some famous guests along with additional historic information. The same historic information is also stated on the Guest Activity Marquee posted for group meetings and locations set on the back corner side of the KSL offices across from the Flores Ballroom and Parking Lot. On the enclosed copy of La Quinta Resort's History it tells about the Spanish Conquistadors and mentions that before that time the Cahuiila Indians referred to our area as the "Land of Eternal Sun, " which it is! They state that La Quinta means five and "a secluded country retreat. " Would it be possible for the Historic Preservation Commission to walk around the La Quinta Resort and Club properties and experience the unique and wonderful historic attributes we as a city have inherited, while at the same time considering the magnitude of losing it forever — losing its historic ambient identity by not retaining and preserving this historic site? Could your commission ponder some practical issues as they consider our historic resort ... 1. What will be the effect of the long treasured views of the mountains when they are obliterated? 2. How will the construction activity, for two years, effect the citizens that purchased their . properties because of the views, tranquility, and historic ambiance which indeed sets it apart from other resorts in the world. ^ (� 3. Will La Quinta Resort lose its stellar identity? MAR 9 2007 ON V DP LVg%A CDMMIRIITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 4. Should a water park physically dominate and destroy an historic Country Retreat, La Quinta Resort, our city's namesake? We can appreciate the fact that Hilton wants to create activity here in the summer. However, when Hilton purchased the management for twenty years, La Quinta Resort and Club was, and still is, a resort. Resorts such as winter ski areas, beaches, Carribean, etc., expect down periods. With their world-wide web and marketing we have been delighted to see an incredible increase in occupancy this year. People are starved for the type of ambiance that, regrettably, is offered in few safe havens like the La Quinta Resort. We attended the first public meeting regarding the above mentioned water park and witnessed many misrepresentations of facts presented by CNL representatives and the CNL Attorney in his closing remarks. (Incidentally, Morgan Stanley recently purchased La Quinta Resort & Club from CNL.) For instance, CNL said they had had meetings to advise owners of their plans for the Signature Pool yet very few received the notice of the meetings until after the fact or had an opportunity to see the plans. The meetings were held in the summer when few were here or even knew about them. We want to preserve the historic value of this area. At the same time we support the Hilton, yet, it is most difficult to understand how something like the water park can be approved to be in the middle of our area when it excludes member privileges. Sadly, and regrettably, we were told that the only way members could take our grandchildren to the water park is to purchase a room so they could use the facility that day! However, we, members, would be allowed to use it along with our children up to age 23 providing they live at home full time. How many children or young adults live in Santa Rosa Cove, Los Estados, The Enclave or Mountain Estates? Also, we were told that the decision is final and that there will be no exceptions. Can you imagine what it will be like (after several years of dominating inconveniences and noise) to tell our grandchildren they are not allowed to use the water park when they hear the activity all over our area and even across the street and surrounding gated communities? There is so much more. Thank you for taking your valuable time to review concerns of many of us that are effected. We hope you will encourage Council Members to look at the complete picture so they can vote with a clearer understanding of what was glossed over in the presentations, the impact of loss of an historical landmark known world-wide as a "country retreat," the historic and radical change it will bring to the "world renown La Quinta Resort" which our City is named after. Most St���a�i� David E. and Barbara S. Waddell 49-489 Avenida Vista Bonita La Quinta, CA 92253 TEL 760-777-1176; FAX 760-771-6768 Copy of La Quinta Resort's "Our History" included La Quinta Resort and Club I About La Quinta I History Pagel of 2 RESERVATIONS PACKAGES TEE TIMES - GALLERY - PRESS - DISCOVER CLUB - CONTACT Y +�b �OWMf 4GNM �_ ANNIVERSARY ABOUT LA GUINTA General Information Brochures Directions Weather Awards History Send a Postcard Employment La Quinta Resort Leasing California lifestyle Realty ACCOMMODATIONS History SPA LA GUINTA GOLF Once referred to by the Cahuilla Indians as the "Land of the Eternal Sun," the area we now know as La Quinta is rich in history dating back hundreds of years. In the early 16th century, Spanish conquistadors, TENNIS led by Captain Juan Bautista D'Anza, established La Quinta as the fifth base along a route from Mexico to ACTIVITIES & RECREATION the San Gabriel Mission. La Quinta was the Spanish equivalent to the number five. Quinta, in Mexico, also RESORT DINING means a secluded country retreat, which Is exactly what was later developed. MEETINGS & INCENTIVES In 1926, Walter Morgan, the youngest son of a wealthy San Francisco businessman, decided to build a WEDDINGS As CELEBRATIONS small, secluded retreat in the north end of what was then known as Marshall Cove. Morgan, with the help of CLUB MEMBERSHIP C.N. Sinclair of Indio, constructed six adobe cottages, an office, and a lobby and dining facility. The hotel SHOPPING opened in February 1927 and represented a total Investment between $150,000 and $200,000. Morgan's goal was to lure Hollywood's rich and famous to a hideaway where they could attend social functions, or VACATION HOME RENTALS - simply relax and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of their own little "casita." The resort, with its original - - - - --- 2U casitas, was the site of the Coachella Valley's first golf course. Hollywood's brightest stars were regular patrons. Frank Capra came to the hotel to write a movie script and n:o��I nose the result, "It Happened One Night," became such a success, Capra declared the spot his good luck charm 111/2007 and returned to the same casita to write other scripts. Other regulars at the resort included Bette Davis, _ ------ Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Katherine Hepburn, Eddie Cantor, Greta Garbo, and Shirley Temple. I7cpanure Dnln "escaped" An international clientele of political dignitaries, business leaders and sports heroes often to La Quinta for recreation and relaxation amid an atmosphere of exclusivity and privacy. search ., The only hotel to have an incorporated city named after it, the 640-casita La Quinta Resort ✓k Club has preserved the charm and serene ambiance of its glorious past while offering guests the finest in resort amenities and services, including five resort golf courses, one of the nation's top tennis clubs, a full -service spa and fitness center, exclusive dining and resort shopping. 49-499 Eisenhower Drive P.O. Box 69 La Quinta, CA 92253 Phone: 760.564.4111 Phone: 800.598.3828 Fax: 760.564.5768 Email Directory http://www.laquintaresort.com/about/history.asp 3/8/2007 a V :� PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATE: MARCH 13, 2007 REQUEST: FINDING OF GENERAL PLAN CONFORMITY FOR LA QUINTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY'S ACQUISITION OF APPROXIMATELY 19.9 ACRES OF LAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL/RETAIL USES LOCATION: SOUTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY 111, EAST OF DUNE PALMS ROAD (APN: A PORTION OF 649-030-016 AND 017) APPLICANT: LA QUINTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BACKGROUND: California Government Code Section 65402 requires that a jurisdictions planning agency (i.e., Planning Commission)- review and report upon whether a proposed acquisition of real property for public purposes is consistent with the adopted General Plan. PROPOSED PROJECT: The City of La Quinta's Redevelopment Agency approved the acquisition of approximately 19.9 acres of property located on Highway 1 1 1, pursuant to an Assignment of Agreement for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions and First Amendment to Agreement for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions on March 6, 2007. The property is located on the south side of Highway 111, east of Dune Palms Road (Attachment 1). The acquisition would allow the construction and operation of affordable housing .and commercial/retail uses. FINDINGS: The Planning Commission is required to determine whether the proposed acquisition of property for public purposes is consistent with the adopted General Plan. Several current General Plan policies are applicable and are referred to for conformance determination as follows: LAND USE ELEMENT: The adopted General Plan Land Use Element designates the site and surrounding properties as Regional Commercial (RC), which permits major commercial land uses as well as affordable housing that service the local and regional population. The Element indicates the need to maintain compatible high quality land uses. This project will not alter the surrounding land use designations, and is consistent with the Element. CIRCULATION ELEMENT: This Element indicates the need to establish and maintain a transportation and circulation network that efficiently, safely and economically moves people, vehicles, and goods using facilities that meet the current demands and projected needs of the City, while maintaining and protecting its residential resort character. This project will improve the existing circulation network and will facilitate safe, efficient traffic circulation in that vicinity. OPEN SPACE ELEMENT: No key planning issues or policies are identified. PARK AND RECREATION ELEMENT: No key planning issues or policies are identified. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ELEMENT: No key planning issues or policies are identified. NATURAL RESOURCES: This element provides several policies and programs designed to protect and preserve the unique and/or valuable resources, including biologic resources. The area at issue is disturbed. To the extent applicable, this project will be subject to the requirements the Coachella Valley Fringe -Toed Lizard Fee Mitigation Program. INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES ELEMENT: No key planning issues or policies are identified. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS ELEMENT: This Element indicates that the site is within an area that is susceptible to wind-blown sand, collapsible soils, potential liquefaction hazard, and seismically induced settlement. If the property is acquired, the construction of any affordable housing will meet all applicable engineering requirements, and the street and landscape improvements will reduce the potential for blowsand in the vicinity of the subject property. CULTURAL RESOURCES ELEMENT: No key planning issues or policies are identified. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2007-_, confirming findings of conformity with the La Quinta General Plan for a potential acquisition, construction and operation of affordable housing and that a portion of the property would be developed for commercial/retail uses ,for property located on the south side of Highway 111 east of Dune Palms Road. PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2007- A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, CONFIRMING FINDINGS OF CONFORMITY WITH THE LA QUINTA GENERAL PLAN FOR A POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF 19.9 ACRES BY THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY 111, EAST OF DUNE PALMS ROAD IN THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA APPLICANT: LA QUINTA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 65402 requires that a jurisdiction's planning agency (i.e., Planning Commission) review and report upon whether a proposed acquisition of real property for public purposes is consistent with the adopted General' Plan; and WHEREAS, the La Quinta Redevelopment Agency, as a local agency as defined under Government Code section 65402, is considering acquiring approximately 19.9 acres of property located on Highway 1 1 1, pursuant to an Assignment of Agreement for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions and First Amendment to Agreement for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions; and WHEREAS, at this time it is contemplated that a portion of the property would be used for the construction and operation of affordable housing and that a portion of the property would be developed for commercial/retail uses; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California, (the "Planning Commission") did on the 13th of March, 2007, review and report upon whether a proposed acquisition of real property for public purposes conforms with the adopted General Plan; and, WHEREAS, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons wanting to be heard, said Planning Commission did make the following findings of approval to confirm conformity with the La Quinta General Plan: 1 . The proposed acquisition is consistent with the objectives, policies, general land uses and programs of the City of La Quinta General Plan for the reasons stated in the staff report. 2. The proposed acquisition conforms with public convenience and the general welfare by providing for extensive public improvements, conforms to good land Planning Commission Resolution 2007-_ General Plan Conformance Review Adopted: March 13, 2007 use practice by encouraging a long-range, comprehensive approach to the development of major services and commercial development conforms to the City's obligation to provide affordable housing in compliance with its RHNA allocation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California, as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and constitute the findings of the Planning Commission in this case; 2. That it does determine that the potential acquisition of the property conforms to the City's General Plan for the reasons set forth in this Resolution. PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La Quinta City Planning Commission, held on the 13th day of March, 2007, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: PAUL QUILL, Chairman City of La Quinta, California ATTEST: DOUGLAS R. EVANS Community Development Director City of La Quinta, California