PCRES 2000-061PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2000-061
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO
THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFICATION OF AN ADDENDUM
TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 83-009 AND TO
SUPPLEMENTAL FOCUSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT PREPARED FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
2000-070, SPECIFIC PLAN 83-002 AMENDMENT #4,
CHANGE OF ZONE 2000-095, AND TENTATIVE TRACT
MAP 29878
CASE NO: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 83-009
KSL LAND HOLDINGS, INC.
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California,
did on the 121h day of September, 2000, hold a duly noticed Public Hearing•to consider
an Addendum to Environmental Impact Report 83-009, as prepared for General Plan
Amendment 2000-070, Specific Plan 83-002 Amendment #4, Change of Zone 2000-
095, and Tentative Tract Map 29878; and
WHEREAS, said application has complied with the requirements of "The
Rules to Implement the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970" (as amended;
Resolution 83-68 adopted by the La Quinta City Council) in that the Community
Development Department has prepared an Addendum to Environmental Impact Report
83-009 and Supplemental Focused Environmental Impact Report pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines 15164; and,
WHEREAS, the Revised Project does not call for the preparation of a
subsequent EIR pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15162 or Public Resources Code Section
21166, in that the Revised Project does not involve: (1) substantial changes to the
project analyzed in the EIR and the Supplemental EIR which would involve new
significant effects on the environment or substantially increase the severity of
previously identified impacts; (2) substantial changes with respect to the
circumstances under which the project is being undertaken which would involve new
significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the EIR and Supplemental EIR
substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; or (3) new
information of substantial importance which would involve new significant effects on
the environment not analyzed in the EIR and Supplemental EIR substantially increase
the severity of previously identified impacts.
WHEREAS, on May 1, 1984, the La Quinta City Council certified the EIR
(State Clearing House No. 83062922) for PGA West Specific Plan 83-002 (Resolution
84-38) encompassing 1,655 acres, which Specific Plan allowed for 5,000 single family
residential houses, 650 hotel/condos on 65 acres of Tourist Commercial and 20 acres
of Community Commercial.
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Planning Commission Resolution 2000-061
Environmental Assessment 83-009
September 12, 2000
WHEREAS, the City Council did on the 20`h day of September, 1988, hold
a duly noticed Public Hearing on SP 83-002 Amendment #1 (Resolution 89-110 and
89-1 1 1) to increase the hotel unit count by 350 for a total of 1,000 units. The City
prepared a Supplemental Focused EIR based upon a Supplemental Traffic Study
prepared for PGA West in 1988. In Resolution 88-16 the City reconfirmed its original
findings in the EIR and reconfirmed its certification of the EIR based upon the
Supplemental EIR in Resolution 88-16, relating to Amendment No. 1 to Specific Plan
83-002.
WHEREAS, the Revised Project involves an overall reduction in the scope
of the project including the following: (11 the number of permitted residential units is
being reduced from 5,000 to 3936; (2) the elimination of 22 acres of Community
commercial development and replacing it with a less intense land use, medium density
residential development (2.8 units per acre for a total of 60 residential units).
WHEREAS, 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, findings, and reasons to justify certification of said
Addendum:
1. The proposed Specific Plan Amendment and related 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. The project does not have the potential to
eliminate an important example of California prehistory, as extensive
archaeological investigations of the site have been conducted as part of the
project to implement appropriate mitigation alternatives. The applicant has
agreed to implementing the necessary mitigation prior to site development
activities and is in concurrence with project conditions relating to this.
2. The proposed Specific Plan Amendment and related applications will not have
the potential to achieve short term goals.
3. The proposed Specific Plan Amendment and related applications will not have
impacts which are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable when
considering planned or proposed development in the immediate vicinity, in that
the proposed project is undertaken pursuant to the Specific Plan for which a
Final EIR has been certified.
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Planning Commission Resolution 2000-061
Environmental Assessment 83-009
September 12, 2000
4. The proposed Specific Plan Amendment and related applications will not have
environmental effects that will adversely affect humans, either directly or
indirectly, as the project contemplates single family residences at a substantially
reduced density (5,000 units to 3,936 units) than those already assessed under
ultimate development of the Specific Plan area, and previously addressed in the
certified Environmental Impact Report.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the
City of La Quinta, California, as follows:
1. That the recitations are true and correct and constitute the findings of the
Planning Commission for this Addendum to Environmental Impact Report 83-
009 and Supplemental Focused Environmental Impact Report.
2. That it does hereby recommends certification of an Addendum to Environmental
Assessment 83-009 in that the changes proposed to the project are a minor
nature and do not require the preparation of a subsequent Environmental Impact
Report pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21 166 and there are no new
circumstances which would require the preparation of a subsequent EIR and
there is no new information or change in circumstances which would require the
preparation of a subsequent EIR.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La
Quinta Planning Commission held on this 121h day of September, 2000, by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioners Abels, Butler, Kirk, Tyler, and Chairman Robbins
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
STEVE ROBBINS, Chairman
City of La Quinta, California
ATTEST:
1Y HIJRMAN, Community Development Director
of L Quinta, California
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ADDENDUM TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 83-009
AND TO
SUPPLEMENTAL FOCUSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
FOR PGA WEST SPECIFIC PLAN 83-002
(SCH #83062922)
(CEQA GUIDELINE 15164)
FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2000-70,
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO SPECIFIC PLAN 83-002
CHANGE OF ZONE NO. 2000-95, AND
TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 29878
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The City of La Quinta, as lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act,
Public Resources Code section 21000, et seq. ("CEQA") has prepared this Addendum
pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15164. This is an Addendum to the Environmental
Impact Report ("EIR") that the City prepared and certified in 1984 for the PGA West
Specific Plan No. 83-002. The City Council certified the EIR on May 1, 1984, in
Resolution No. 84-28. The City subsequently prepared a Supplemental Focused EIR
based upon a Supplemental Traffic Study prepared for PGA West in 1988
("Supplemental EIR"). In Resolution No. 88-016, the City reconfirmed its original
findings in the EIR and reconfirmed its certification of the EIR based upon the
Supplemental EIR in Resolution No. 88-016, relating to Amendment No. 1 to Specific
Plan No. 83-002.
The purpose of this Addendum is to document certain changes to the project which
will be implemented through the following land use approvals:
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2000-70,
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO SPECIFIC PLAN 83-002
CHANGE OF ZONE NO. 2000-95, AND
TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 29878
These are collectively referred to as "the Revised Project."
The Revised Project involves only 22 acres of the overall 1706 acres within the project
area. The 22 acres are located at the southeast corner of PGA Blvd. and Ave. 54.
The 22 acres border existing residential development. The City has determined that
the proposed residential development of this 22-acre site will be consistent with the
density and character of the adjacent residential development, and will be consistent
with the goals, policies, and objectives of the City's General Plan and Specific Plan No.
83-002, as amended.
The Revised Project involves an overall reduction in the scope of the project, including
the following: (1) The number of permitted residential units is being reduced from
5000 to 3936; (2) the elimination of 22 acres of community commercial development
and replacing it with a less intense land use, medium density residential development
(2.8 units per acre for a total of 60 residential units).
The City has compared the impacts of the Revised Project with those impacts analyzed
in the EIR and Supplement to the EIR and finds as follows:
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Aesthetics - Impacts no
greater than those
previously analyzed.
The previously approved
commercial development
will be replaced with
less dense housing. The
scale, height, and mass
will all be reduced within
this area as compared
with the original project.
Agriculture Resources -
Not applicable
Air Quality -Impacts Less
than those previously
analyzed. Since there
are fewer residential
units, there will be a
reduction in vehicular
emissions, and fewer
commercial delivery
vehicles will be traveling
to and from the project
site. The construction
air quality impacts
relating to the 22 acres
will be comparable to
the project analyzed in
the EIR.
Hazards and Hazardous
Materials - Impacts no
greater than those
previously analyzed. No
hazardous materials will
be maintained within the
22-acre site.
Hydrology and Water
Quality - Impacts no
greater than those
previously analyzed. To
the extent there is any
change, it is likely that
the change will reduce
the impacts on water
quality and runoff due to
a reduction in impervious
surfaces.
Land Use Planning -
Impacts no greater than
those previously
analyzed. The Revised
Project is consistent with
the goals, policies and
objectives of the General
Plan and the Specific
Plan.
Public Services
Impacts no greater than
those previously
analyzed. Since the
number of residential
units is less than
originally proposed and
with the elimination of
22-acres of commercial
development, there will
be fewer demands for
public services.
Recreation - Impacts no
greater than those
previously analyzed.
While residential uses are
replacing commercial
uses, since the overall
number of residential
units is being reduced,
the need for recreational
facilities arising from the
project are within the
scope of what was
originally analyzed.
Transportation/Traffic-
Impacts less than those
previously analyzed. The
original project analyzed
contained more
commercial development
and a greater number of
residential units. The
Revised Project will
generate fewer vehicle
trips daily and during
peak hours per the PGA
West Specific Plan
Amendment IV traffic
impacts, dated
September 7, 2000
prepared by ENDO
Engineering.
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Biological Resources -
Impacts no greater than
those previously
analyzed. The Revised
Project will have the
same level of impacts on
biology as the original
project analyzed in the
EIR.
Cultural Resources -
Impacts no greater than
those previously
analyzed. Prior to
grading, the applicant
will be required to retain
qualified paleontological
and archaeological
monitors approved by
the City. The monitor
shall be present during
trenching and excavation
of the lake.
Geology and Soils -
Impacts no greater than
those previously
analyzed. The geology
and soil impacts remain
unchanged.
Mineral Resources- Not
applicable
Noise - Impacts no
greater than those
previously analyzed.
Within and around the
22 acre site, it is
anticipated that there
will be a reduction in
noise since the
residential units
generates lower noise
levels than community
commercial uses.
Utilities and Service
Systems - Impacts no
greater than those
previously analyzed.
Given the overall
reduction in commercial
uses and the reduction in
the number of residential
unit, the EIR analysis is
sufficient for the Revised
Project
Population and Housing -
Impacts no greater than
those previously
analyzed. It is
anticipated that the
number of persons
residing or working
within the specific plan
area will be less than
what was analyzed in
the EIR.
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The City finds that consideration of the Revised Project does not call for the
preparation of a subsequent EIR pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15162 or Public
Resources Code Section 21166, in that the Revised Project does not involve: (1)
substantial changes to the project analyzed in the EIR and the Supplemental EIR which
would involve new significant effects on the environment or substantially increase the
severity of previously identified impacts; (2) substantial changes with respect to the
circumstances under which the project is being undertaken which would involve new
significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the EIR and Supplemental EIR
substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; or (3) new
information of substantial importance which would involve new significant effects on
the environment not analyzed in the EIR and Supplemental EIR substantially increase
the severity of previously identified impacts.
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