PCRES 2008-027PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2008-027
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2008-117, AN
AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP FROM PARKS
AND RECREATION TO TOURIST COMMERCIAL FORA .32 ACRE
CITY PARCEL LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF
WASHINGTON STREET AND MILES AVENUE.
CASE NO.: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 08-117
APPLICANT: CITY OF LA Q.UINTA
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the 'City of La Quinta,
California, did on the 23rd of September, 2008, hold a duly noticed Public Hearing
for aCity-initiated request for an amendment to the City of La Quinta's General
Plan, to change the General Plan land use designation of a .32 acre City-owned
property from Parks and Recreation to Tourist Commercial, located at the southeast
corner of Washington Street and Miles Avenue, on property more particularly
described as:
Lot "I" of Parcel Map 31116
WHEREAS, said General Plan Amendment has complied with the
requirements of "The Rules to Implement the California Environmental Quality Act
of 1970" (CEQA) as amended (Resolution 83-63) in that the La Quinta Planning
Department has reviewed the Amendment under the provisions of CEQA, and has
determined that the Amendment is exempt pursuant to Sections 15312 and 15332
of the CEQA Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Department published a public hearing notice
in the Desert Sun newspaper on September 12, 2008, as prescribed by the
Municipal Code. Public hearing notices were also mailed to all property owners
within 500 feet of the site; 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
recommending approval of said Amendment:
Finding A - The project is consistent with the General Plan.
The proposed General Plan Amendment is internally consistent with those goals,
objectives and policies of the general plan which are not being amended. The
Planning Commission Resolution 2008-027
General Plan Amendment 2008-117
Centre Pointe Parcel
September 23, 2008
subject parcel has not been identified in the General Plan for use as a Primary or
Secondary .Gateway Treatment and the change in land use designation vvill not
conflict with other goals, objectives and policies in the General Plan.
Finding B - Approval of the amendment will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare.
Approval of the proposed General Plan Amendment will not create conditions
materially detrimental to public health, safety and general welfare in that the
proposed change will not result in a substantial change to existing recreational
space, will not result in the loss of existing wildlife habitat, nor will it have an
effect on the conditions of the existing surrounding neighborhood due to the fact
that the small corner property is a .32 acre urban infill parcel that does not contain
wildlife habitat or usable or functional recreational space and because the Tourist
Commercial land use is compatible with the surrounding area. Therefore, the
proposed General Plan Amendment will have no effect on the health, safety, and
welfare of the community or surrounding natural environment.
Finding C - The new designation is compatible with the land use designations on
adjacent properties.
The new land use is compatible and consistent with existing and surrounding land
use and zoning designations. By designating the property as Tourist Commercial it
will have a beneficial effect on the adjoining existing land uses in that it will be
consistent with the adjacent existing Tourist Commercial designated properties and
will facilitate the development of adjacent land uses identified in the Centre Pointe
Specific Plan.
Finding D - The new land use designation is suitable and appropriate for the
subject property.
The new Tourist Commercial land use designation is suitable and appropriate for
the subject property. The small corner property is located at a busy intersection
that is better suited for Tourist Commercial use rather than as a City monument
entry sign.
Finding E - Approval of the amendment is warranted because the situation and
the general conditions of the property have changed since the existing designation
was imposed.
Planning Commission Resolution 2008-027
General Plan Amendment 2008-117
Centre Pointe Parcel
September 23, 2008
Approval of the new land use designation is warranted because the situation and
the general conditions of the property have changed since the existing Parks and
Recreation designation was imposed. The property's prior intended use for the
location of a City entry monument sign conflicted with and duplicated the location
of a primary entry gateway sign identified in the General Plan at the corner of Fred
Waring Drive and Washington Street. The parcel will become developable when
merged with the adjoining parcel and will be better suited with a land use
designation of Tourist Commercial.
Finding F - The project is in conformance with the California Environmental
Quality Act.
The City has determined that the project is exempt from the provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because the property is of a size,
shape, and inaccessibility that makes it incapable of independent development or
use, that the use of the property and adjacent properties have not changed since
the time of purchase by the City of La Quinta Redevelopment Agency,'and because
the urban infill property does not have significant value for recreational use, open
space, wildlife habitat, or other environmental purposes. The General Plan
Amendment will enable the sale of this surplus property, and is therefore
categorically exempt under Section 15312 of the California Environmental Quality
Act. Additionally, any development of the subject .32 acre site facilitated by the
proposed change in land use designation would be exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act as "In-Fill Development" per Section 15332, as the
subject site is less then five acres and is substantially surrounded by urban uses.
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 the Planning Commission does hereby recommend approval of the
General Plan Amendment 2008-117 as set forth in Exhibit 1 to the City
Council for the reasons set forth in this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La
Quinta Planning Commission, held on the 23rd day of September, 2008, by the
following vote, to wit:
Planning Commission Resolution 2008-027
General Plan Amendment 2008-117
Centre Pointe Parcel
September 23, 2008
AYES: ALDERSON, BARROWS, QUILL, WEBER, WILKENSON
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ED A DERSON, Chairman
City of La Quinta, California
ATTEST:
WPQSON, Planning Director
La Quinta