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2006 09 12 PC MinutesMINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA September 12, 2006 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER A. This meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Quill who asked Jerry Herman to lead the flag salute. B. Present: Commissioners Ed Alderson, Katie Barrows, Rick Daniels, Jim Engle and Chairman Paul Quill. C. Staff present: Community Development Director Doug Evans, Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston, Planning Manager Les Johnson, Development Services Principal Engineer Ed Wimmer, Principal Planner Fred Baker, Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen, Assistant Planner Jay Wuu, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Barrows to reorganize the Agenda to take Public Hearing Item C first and Business Item B second. Unanimously approved. IV. CONSENT ITEMS: A. Chairman Quill asked if there were any changes to the Minutes of the August 8, 2006 regular meeting. There being no changes to the minutes, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Daniels/Alderson to approve the minutes as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. C. Sign Application 2006-1015; a request of Prest/Vuksic Architects for consideration of a Sign Program to serve Caleo Bay, for the property located on the west side of Caleo Bay, north of Avenue 48. 1. Chairman Quill opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Staff informed the Commission that a letter had been received from the Rancho La Quinta Homeowners' Association requesting a continuance. ~~~won~rc~ar r,n;..,,ro~~~nna~o_»_~a n... Planning Commission Minutes August 8, 2006 r 2. Commissioner Daniels asked when the HOA had been notified. Staff explained the hearing notice was mailed to the corporate office and the local office did not receive notification until Friday, September 8, 2006. 3. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Alderson to continue Sign Application 2006-1012 to September 26, 2006 BUSINESS ITEM: B. SOI-RO1 -Tentative Parcel Map 34784; a request of Washington 11 1, Ltd., for consideration of a proposed project within the City's northern Sphere of Influence for the property located on the north side of Darby Road west of Adams Street. 1. Chairman Quill opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Staff informed the Commission a continuance was requested to give the applicant time to review the City's conditions. 2. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Daniels to continue SOI-RO1 -Tentative Parcel Map 34784, to the meeting of September 26, 2006. Unanimously approved. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Conditional Use Permit 2006-098; a request of Premier Billiards for consideration of a Billiards Center and bar use in association with a retail sales area within a commercial center for the property located at 79-400 Highway 11 1, Suite 202 and 103. 1. Chairman Quill opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Principal Planner Fred Baker presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. Chairman Quill asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Daniels asked if there were any other similar facilities in La Quinta and questioned why staff was recommending such restrictive hours. Staff stated there were no other businesses like this one and in regard to the hours, the applicant was requesting those hours. 3. Commissioner Engle asked if there had been any comment from the surrounding property owners. Staff stated no. Planning Commission Minutes August 8, 2006 4. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Quill asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. John Bart, Managing Partner, gave a presentation on the proposal. 5. Commissioner Alderson asked if they would be holding competitive competitions. Mr. Bart stated no, they would be having league playing nights. They may also have some exhibitions during the year. 6. There being no further public comment, the public participation portion of the hearing was closed and open for Commission discussion. Commissioner Alderson stated he has toured the facility and it is a first class operation. He has no problem with the project. 7. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Alderson to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2006-030, recommending approval of Conditional Use Permit 2006-098, as recommended. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Barrows, Daniels, Engle, and Chairman Quill. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. B. Sign Application 2006-1012; a request of Costco Wholesale for consideration of a Sign Program for permanent business identification for Costco Wholesale and Costco Gasoline located at 79-795 Highway 111; south of Highway 1 11 1, west of Jefferson Street; east of Dune Palms Road. 1. Chairman Quill opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Assistant Planner Jay Wuu presented 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 Daniels stated it was his understanding the Commission had approved an access out to Jefferson Street. Planning Manager Les Johnson stated there are two access points to the project, but they both connect to Highway 1 1 1. There had been discussions regarding an access onto Jefferson Street but because it would require approval by another City, it was removed from the project description. Planning Commission Minutes August 8, 2006 3. Commissioner Daniels asked if this signage was equal to what had been approved for the other businesses along Highway 111. Staff stated yes. 4. Commissioner Engle stated that at this distance you would need at least a six foot letter for the sign to be seen from Highway 1 1 1. This appears to be a typical Costco sign. 5. Commissioner Daniels noted they have not requested a monument sign; is this request for more signs was a trade off for not having a monument sign. Staff stated Komar, the front property owners, are proposing a monument sign. Costco does have priority for that monument sign. Community Development Director Doug Evans stated they are proposing alternative size for the Commission that they will discuss in their presentation. 6. Commissioner Engle asked for clarification on the sizes proposed. Staff explained. Commissioner Engle stated that when you divide the building size back with the sign square feet they are in the middle of what is already approved. Community Development Director Doug Evans stated that staff's evaluation is based on the artistic side of the sign rather than the mathematical. 7. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Quill asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. Peter Clement, representing Costco, stated they thought their signs were proportionately equal to the other signs along Highway 11 1. Discussion followed regarding alternative sign sizes. 8. Commissioner Daniels asked the size of the Costco sign in Palm Desert. Mr. Clements stated the letters are nine feet. He also stated they do have an agreement with Komar properties for space on their monument sign, but they do not intend to use it. 9. There being no further public comment, the public participation portion of the hearing was closed and open for Commission discussion. 10. Commissioner Barrows asked for clarification on what the Code will allow versus what the applicant is requesting. Staff stated the Code was not crafted to be appropriate for °big box" retailers. Staff compared the signs based on a comparison of other businesses along Highway 111 and the distance from Highway 111. q Planning Commission Minutes August 8, 2006 I Y 1 1. Commissioner Daniels stated the sign should only identify where a store is and how to get to it, which to him does not have anything to do with building size. He agrees with staff's recommendation and believes whatever is approved must be equitable to what has been approved. Community Development Director Doug Evans suggested the sign be reduced to approximately 230 square feet with the "C" being no less than five feet. 12. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Alderson to adopt Minute Motion 2006-021, approving Sign Application 2006-1012, as recommended by staff with the total sign area not exceed 230 square feet and the "C" not to exceed five feet in height. VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Site Development Permit 2006-853, Amendment No. 1; a request of Trans West Housing, Inc., for consideration of production units less than the minimum livable area of 2,800 square feet for the property located i within Tract 32879, The Griffin Ranch, Avenue 54, east of Madison - Street, west of Monroe Street. 1. Chairman Quill opened the public hearing and asked for the staff report. Associate Planner Andrew Mogensen presented 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 Daniels asked who set the minimum size. Staff clarified it was set in the Specific Plan. 3. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Quill asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission. Mr. Jerry Herman, Trans West Housing, stated they concur with staff's recommendation. 4. There being no further public comment, the public participation portion was closed and open for Commission discussion. 5. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Alderson/Barrows to adopt Minute Motion 2006-023, approving Site Development Permit 2006-853, Amendment No. 1, as recommended by staff. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. Planning Commission Minutes August 8, 2006 IX. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Community Development Director asked the Commission to attend the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Focus Group on October 20, 2006 at 12:00 noon. Commissioners requested staff see if there could be an option to meet at 5:00 p.m. as an alternate time. B. Assistant City Attorney Michael Houston informed the Commission the Ethics training will be held on October 2, 2006 at 6:30. This is a mandatory training and the Commission has the option of attending the in-house training or a self test is available. C. ,Planning Manager Les Johnson introduced the two new staff members to the Commission. D. Review of City Council meeting of September 5, 2006. X. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Alderson/Barrows to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to a regular meeting of the Planning Commission to be held on September 26, 2006. This meeting of the Planning Commission was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. on September 12, 2006. Respectfully submitted, s' u"~- Be y awyer, Executive Secretary City of La Quinta, California