PCRES 2004-098PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2004-098
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, REVISING THE LA
QUINTA GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP OF THE LAND USE ELEMENT,
THE CITY ROADWAY CLASSIFICATIONS MAP OF THE CIRCULATION
ELEMENT, AND THE MULTI -PURPOSE TRAILS MAP OF THE
CIRCULATION ELEMENT
CASE NO: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2004-103
APPLICANT: TRANSWEST HOUSING
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California,
did, on the 141h day of December, 2004, hold a duly -noticed Public Hearing, continued
from November 9 and November 23, 2004, to consider the request of Transwest
Housing, for a General Plan Amendment to: 1) amend the La Quinta General Plan Land
Use Map of the Land Use Element, changing ±40 acres from Low Density Residential
to Very Low Density Residential; 2) amend Exhibit 3.5 of the La Quinta General Plan
Circulation Element, changing Madison Street from a Major Arterial to a Primary
Arterial, for the segment between Avenue 54 and Avenue 58; and 3) amend Exhibit
3.10 of the La Quinta General Plan Circulation Element, eliminating a one-half mile
segment of pedestrian hiking trail along the Avenue 55 alignment. Said Amendments
are being proposed to permit a 303-lot residential development project on property
located generally on the south side of Avenue 54, the east side of Madison Street, the
north side of Avenue 55, to '/< mile west of Monroe Street, more particularly described
as:
PORTIONS OF THE NORTH 1 /2 OF SECTION 15, T6S, R7E, S.B.B.M.
WHEREAS, said General Plan Amendment has complied with the
requirements of The Rules to Implement the California Environmental Quality Act of
1970" as amended (Resolution 83-68), in that the Community Development
Department has conducted an Initial Study (Environmental Assessment 2004-526),
and determined that the proposed General Plan Amendment will not have a significant
impact on the environment and a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental
impact is recommended for adoption; and,
WHEREAS, at said Public Hearing, 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 mandatory findings to justify a
recommendation for approval of each aspect of said General Plan Amendment:
peresogpa 103.doc
Planning Commission Resolution 2004-098
General Plan Amendment 2004-103
Transwest Housing
December 14, 2004
LAND USE ELEMENT: LAND USE MAP
1. The new land use designation of Very Low Density Residential is suitable and
appropriate for the property involved, due to the low density character of the
proposed development, and the remaining existing Very Low Density Residential
designations for the project site and the surrounding vacant lands.
2. The new land use designation of Very Low Density Residential is compatible
with other similar designations within the City. The development density of 1.52
units/acre is comparable to that in the La Quinta Polo Estates, located
approximately one mile to the northwest.
3. The proposed General Plan Amendment will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare in that the resulting land
use does not exceed standards contained in the General Plan.
4. The proposed General Plan Amendment is within an area that will be provided
with adequate utilities and public services to ensure public health and safety.
5. The General Plan Amendment is warranted since there has been a change in
development patterns in the general vicinity since the current designation was
made. The land use designation was revised from Very Low Density Residential
to Low Density Residential on June 4, 1996 for 40 acres at the southwest
corner of the site. Development approvals since that time in this area have
incorporated reduced densities, consistent with the traffic study evidence
submitted in support of this General Plan Amendment as it pertains to the
Circulation Element revision for Madison Street.
CIRCULATION ELEMENT: ROADWAY CLASSIFICATION MAP
1. The proposed General Plan Amendment is consistent with the goals and policies
of the Circulation Element, in that a revised traffic and circulation study
prepared for this Amendment has shown that a reduction from a Major Arterial
to Primary Arterial standard for Madison Street, between Avenue 54 and
Avenue 58, is warranted and appropriate.
2. The proposed General Plan Amendment will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare in that the resulting Primary
Arterial designation will be required to meet the Circulation Element standards
as contained in the General Plan. Development of Madison Street as a Primary
Planning Commission Resolution 2004-098
General Plan Amendment 2004-103
Transwest Housing
December 14, 2004
Arterial will be provided with adequate utilities and public services to ensure
public health and safety.
3. The General Plan Amendment is warranted since there has been a change in
development patterns in the general vicinity since the current designation was
made. Development approvals over time in this area have incorporated reduced
densities since approval of the current General Plan in 2002, consistent with the
traffic study evidence submitted in support of this General Plan Amendment as
it pertains to the Circulation Element revision for Madison Street.
CIRCULATION ELEMENT: MULTI -PURPOSE TRAILS MAP
1. The General Plan Amendment for removal of the Avenue 55 pedestrian trail
alignment is compatible with other similar designations within the City. All
pedestrian and multi -purpose trails are located on the one square -mile street grid
pattern in the southeast portion of the City, with no half -mile spacings or
unconnected trails.
2. The proposed General Plan Amendment will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare, in that the Avenue 55
pedestrian trail alignment does not serve an existing or planned Arterial route,
consistent with the trails system outlined in Exhibit 3.10 of the General Plan.
3. The General Plan Amendment is warranted since there has been a change in
development patterns in the general vicinity since the current designation was
made. The existing trail alignment is developed along its entire extent by the
north perimeter wall of the Norman Course. The trail does not lead to any
planned or existing park or other public facility, nor is it usable within the
existing improvements for the area. The City has provided for multi -purpose trail
designations utilizing the entire one -mile grid street pattern. Avenue 55 has been
vacated and is not planned on the Circulation Element or as a local street.
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
- Commission in this case;
Planning Commission Resolution 2004-098
General Plan Amendment 2004-103
Transwest Housing
December 14, 2004
2. That it does hereby recommend approval of the above -described General Plan
Amendment request for the reasons set forth in this Resolution, and as
illustrated in the attached Exhibits A, B and C.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La
Quinta Planning Commission, held on this 14" day of December, 2004, by the
following vote, to wit:
AYES: Commissioners Daniels, Krieger, Ladner, and Quill
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chairman Kirk
ABSTAIN: None
&Z 1�
PAUL QUILL, Vice Chairman
City of La Quinta, California
ATTEST:
THOMAS P. GENOVESE, City Manager/
Interim Community Development Director
City of La Quinta, California
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GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2004-103
PC RESOLUTION 2004- EXHIBIT C
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CIRCULATION ELEMENT
A MULTI -PURPOSE TRAILS MAP
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REMOVE AVE 55 HIKING TRAIL
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AVE. 5S AIRPORT BLVD.
EXHIBIT 3.10
MULTI -PURPOSE TRAILS
Class I Bicycle Trails
A*Eh 11 in m m Fool (Exclusive Bicycle/Pedestrian Lane)
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I w..gmmRm Class H Bicycle Trails
(On Road Bicycle Lane)
......... Class III Bicycle Trails
(Shared Facilities)
Multi -Purpose Trails
Pedestrian/Hiking Trails
...... ......
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