PCRES 2008-025PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2008-025
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA; CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2008-114,
APPROVING A CHANGE IN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS FOR AREAS
IDENTIFIED AS AREA "A", AREA "B", AREA "C", AND AREA "D".
CASE NO.: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 08-114
APPLICANT: CITY OF LA QUINTA
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 to consider a General Plan Amendment for a change in
land use for the' following areas:
AREA A: A 24.64 ACRE SITE IDENTIFIED AS THE COLONEL MITCHELL
PAIGE MIDDLE SCHOOL, MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS PARCEL 1
OF PARCEL MAP 30721
AREA B: A 10.33 ACRE SITE IDENTIFIED AS THE HORIZON SCHOOL,
MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS REMAINDER PARCEL OF PARCEL
MAP 27131
AREA C: A 12.74 ACRE SITE IDENTIFIED AS THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS PARCEL 1
OF PARCEL MAP 30721
AREA D: A 2.5± ACRE SITE IDENTIFIED AS THE NORTHERLY PORTION OF
THE CITY OF LA QUINTA PUBLIC WORKS YARD AND PARKING LOT,
GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS THE EASTERN HALF OF PARCEL MAP 19203
AND AN ADJACENT 9000 SQUARE FOOT CITY-OWNED PARCEL LOCATED
IN A PORTION OF THE SW %4 OF SECTION 6, T6S, R7E, S.B.M
WHEREAS, said General Plan Amendment under consideration will
change the areas land use designations as follows:
AREA A: from Office Commercial (O) to Major Community Facilities (MC)
AREA B: from High Density Residential (HDR) to Major Community
Facilities (MC)
AREA C: from Village Commercial (VC) to Major Community Facilities
(MC)
Planning Commission Resolution 2008-025
General Plan Amendment 2008-114
Schools /Major Community Facilities
September 23, 2008
AREA D: from Parks and Recreation (P) to Major Community Facilities
(MC)
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 150611b)13) and
Section 15305 of the CEQA Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Department published a city-wide public
hearing notice in the Desert Sun newspaper on September 12, 2008, as prescribed
by the Municipal Code. Public hearing notices were also posted on bulletin boards
at City Hall, on the City of La Quinta's website, at the Village Post Office, and at
the 111 La Quinta Shopping Center; 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
purpose of the change in land use designations is to bring the existing public
facilities into conformance with the appropriate land use designations.
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
area, 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 all
of the subject properties have already been developed as community facilities. The
proposed General Plan Amendment will not result in any changed conditions ahd
Planning Commission Resolution 2008-025
General Plan Amendment 2008-114
Schools /Major Community Facilities
September 23, 2008
will therefore 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 current land uses are not compatible with the General Plan. The General Plan
Amendment will bring the properties into conformance with the General Plan and
will have no effect on adjacent existing land uses because the properties have
already been fully developed as community facilities.
Finding D - The new land use designation is suitable and appropriate for the
subject property.
The new land use designations are suitable and appropriate for the subject
properties, as they are all public facilities utilized for education, public services, and
public safety. The properties have been previously developed as community
facilities such as schools and public service facilities.
Finding E - Approval of the amendment is warranted because the situation and
the general conditions of the property have substantially changed since the existing
designation was imposed.
Approval of the new land use designation is warranted because the existing land
use designations are either not in conformance with the current General Plan land
use designations or are better suited to a change in designation to Major
Community Facilities over their current designations.
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 public facilities are
already constructed and the change in land use designation is consistent and
appropriate for the public facilities. No physical change to the environment will
occur as a result of the General Plan Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of
the City of La Quinta, California, as follows:
Planning Commission Resolution 2008-025
General Plan Amendment 2008-114
Schools I Major Community. Facilities
September 23, 2008
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 2008-114 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:
AYES: ALDERSON, BARROWS, QUILL, WEBER, WILKENSON
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
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fD ALDERSON, Chairman
City of La Quinta, California
ATTEST:
~bN, Planning Director
Quinta