PCRES 1998-047PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 98-047
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING
CERTIFICATION OF A MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 98-358, FOR GENERAL
PLAN AMENDMENT 98-058 AND CHANGE OF ZONE 98-
087
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 98-358
H. A. ANDERSON
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California,
did, on the 14"' day of July, 1998, hold adult'-noticed Public Hearing to consider a
recommendation on the Environmental Assessment for General Plan Amendment 98-
058 and Change of Zone 98-087, a request by H. A. Anderson to amend the La
Quinta General Plan from LDR (Low Density Residential, 2 - 4 units/acre) on 10 acres
and NC (Neighborhood Commercial) on 10 acres, to NC on 20 acres, and to change
the corresponding zoning from RL (Low Density Residential) and CN (Neighborhood
Commercial) to CN; and,
WHEREAS, said Environmental Assessment complies with the
requirements of "The Rules to Implement the California Environmental Quality Act of
1970" as amended, City Council Resolution 83-63, in that the Community
Development Director has conducted an Initial Study (Environmental Assessment 98-
358) and has determined that the proposed General Plan Amendment 98-058 and
Change of Zone 98-087 could not have a significant adverse impact on the
environment provided that recommended mitigation is required, and that a Mitigated
Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact should be filed; and,
WHEREAS, at said Public Hearing, upon hearing and considering all
testimony and arguments of all interested persons desiring to be heard, said Planning
Commission did make the following findings to justify their recommendation for
certification of said Environmental Assessment:
1 . The proposed General Plan Amendment and Change of Zone applications will
not have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, as the project
in question will not be developed in any manner inconsistent with the General
Plan and other current City standards when considering the required mitigation
measures to be imposed. The project may have potential to eliminate an
important example of California prehistory, as previous investigation of the site
was conducted more than eight years ago. Although it was then concluded
Planning Commission Resolution 98 - X47
that no further investigations were warranted, changed conditions may have
occurred over that time to justify new analysis. Mitigation to address the
analysis of this potential has been incorporated which will reduce any potential
impact to less than significant.
2. The proposed General Plan Amendment and Change of Zone applications will
not have the potential to achieve short term goals, to the disadvantage of long
term environmental goals, as the mitigation measures incorporated into
approval of this project will ensure that further site specific development
applications will be necessary and required to be evaluated at a more detailed
level than is currently feasible, given the nature of the. proposal.
3. The proposed General Plan Amendment and Change of Zone applications will
not have impacts which are individually limited but cumulatively considerable
when considering planned or proposed development in the immediate vicinity,
in that development activity in the area has been previously analyzed as part
of the project approval process and cumulative project impacts have been
considered and mitigation measures proposed in conjunction with approval of
those projects. In addition, the MMP for this proposal requires further analysis
of certain impacts which have been determined as potentially significant, and
such analyses will be required with any site specific development proposalls)
submitted to implement the land uses approved under this amendment and
zone change.
4. The proposed General Plan Amendment and Change of Zone applications will
not have environmental effects that will adversely affect humans, either
directly or indirectly, as the project contemplates land uses that are
substantially similar to those already assessed under ultimate development of
the La Quinta General Plan, and which were previously addressed in the EIR
certified for the General Plan. Specifically, in terms of adverse environmental
impacts to human populations, expansion of the existing NC land use category
is considered to be less than significant on a cumulative basis due to the
amount of existing and approved residential and commercial development/land
use in the surrounding areas of Indio, La Quinta and Riverside County.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the
City of La Quinta, California, as follows:
Planning Commission Resolution 98 -047
1. That the above recitations are true and correct and constitute the findings of
the Planning Commission in this case;
2. That it does hereby recommend certification of Environmental Assessment 98-
358 for the reasons set forth in this Resolution and as stated in the
Environmental Assessment Checklist and Addendum, on file in the Community
Development Department.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La
Quinta Planning Commission held on this 14"' day of July 1998, by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Kirk, Robbins, and Chairman Tyler.
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ROBERT TYLER, Chairman
City of La Quinta, California
ATTEST:
ERMAN, Community Development Director
a Quinta, California