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2009 12 08 PC MinutesMINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA December 8, 2009 7:02 P.M. CALL TO ORDER A. A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Ed Alderson. PRESENT: Commissioners Barrows, Quill, Weber, Wilkinson, and Chairman Alderson ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Planner Andrew Mogensen, Principal Planner Wally Nesbit, Assistant Planner Yvonne Franco, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by Commissioners Wilkinson/Quill to approve the minutes of November 24, 2009, as submitted. Unanimously approved. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Conditional Use Permit 2008-116; a request by Desert Sands Unified School District for consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to allow for the use of lighted play fields, located in the Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School at the southeast corner of Washington Street and Palm Royale Drive (43-395 Palm Royale Drive. Chairman Alderson referred to a letter, from the City of Palm Desert requesting a continuance of this item. Planning Director Johnson presented the staff report and requested a continuation of this matter to January 12, 2010, to allow more time Planning Commission Minutes December 8, 2009 for the City of Palm Desert to review the project, as well as ample time for the two cities to dialogue. Staff requested the Chairman open the Public Hearing and leave it open to the continued meeting. Chairman Alderson then opened the public hearing. Michelle Rose, 43518 Via Magellan Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211 (Desert Breezes resident-, spoke about her concerns; one of which included the lights being on, and noise from the children playing soccer, until 10:00 p.m. She described the school noises, which ended at 3:00 p.m. and the fact that she then had peace and quiet during the evening. She felt the addition of the evening activities was infringing on the quality of life for the adults that live directly in the vicinity. She suggested a compromise of having the lights on until 8:00 p.m. in the winter; and emphasized there was no need for late lighting in the Summer due to the longer daylight hours. She had an additional concern with the lights interfering with star gazing since she enjoys astronomy and the light reflections would interfere with her telescope. She said it was a quality of life issue and asked the City to come to a compromise so that the children could still play soccer and the nearby residents could have their peace and quiet in the evening. Chairman Alderson addressed the continuation of this item and advised Ms. Rose that an updated staff report would be presented at the continued meeting which could possibly mitigate her concerns. He invited her to attend the meeting to hear the results of the mitigated measures and to express any further concerns she might have. Chairman Alderson asked for further public comment and hearing none, left the public hearing open to the continued meeting. He then asked for comments from the Commissioners. Commissioner Weber asked if the City of Palm Desert had a Dark Sky Ordinance. Staff could not confirm, but said they would find out. Commissioner Weber said the letter referenced night glare and noise negatively impacting residents, and wanted to know if the Palm Desert City Manager had any kind of a study that noted the impact. Staff said they were unaware of any, but they would be addressing the project in its entirety, including any issues with pole height or any pertinent studies. Staff went on to comment that what was being 2 Planning Commission Minutes December 8, 2009 proposed was within La Quinta's allowable lighting and decibel limits for those particular hours. Staff was looking forward to meeting with the neighboring city's staff and to discuss any concerns they might have. Commissioner Weber said he was very concerned when a neighboring city made comments about an application having a negative impact to their residents when no study had been provided to reference that. He expressed his concern about the need for additional field space for the youth sports organizations. He also said there was a current overuse of La Quinta's parks and was, in part, due to the utilization of City facilities by neighboring cities. He said those cities had an obligation to find a way to make this work. There was no further discussion ahd it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Barrows to approve the continuation of Conditional Use Permit 2008-116 to the January 12, 2010 meeting. Unanimously approved. B. Sign Application 2006-1022, Amendment 2; a request by Freehand Sign Company for consideration of a request for a second Sign Program Amendment for the La Quinta Medical Center located at 47- 647 Caleo Bay Drive least side of Washington Street; north of Avenue 48; south of Lake La Quinta Drivel. Assistant Planner Yvonne Franco presented the staff report. Chairman Alderson asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Quill asked about the history of this sign program. Discussion followed with an explanation of the sign program, tenant problems with street visibility and the potential of a major medical tenant taking up a majority of the building and their interest in having their name as a focus on the building. Commissioner Weber asked compatibility of the address sign and staff explained it was not disproportionate. Chairman Alderson asked for clarification of sign placement and square foot options. Staff clarified the placement and applicant's request. 3 Planning Commission Minutes December 8, 2009 Commissioner Wilkinson asked about the new tenant's hours. Staff explained the zoning code for hours in this district. Commissioner Wilkinson asked about the effect of a lit sign on the surrounding properties. Staff explained the use of this type of sign and its effects. Commissioners Quill and Weber commented on the need for better visual examples. Staff acknowledged the comments, provided local examples of this type of signage and offered to provide better visual representation in the future. Chairman Alderson if there was a sign company representative present. Staff said the representative was unable to attend. Chairman Alderson asked if there would be a problem with allowing a continuance to address Commissioners Weber and Quill's concerns and to have a sign company representative in attendance. Commissioner Quill clarified his position on the application and was just addressing the graphic representations. Commissioner Weber concurred. Chairman Alderson suggested future meetings should include sign company representatives. Staff made note of the comment. There being no further questions of the staff, no applicant or public comment, Chairman Alderson closed the public participation portion of the meeting and opened the matter for Commission discussion. There was no further discussion and it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Weber/Quill to approve Minute Motion 2009-009 recommending approval of Sign Application 2006-1022, Amendment No. 2 as submitted. Unanimously approved. C. Continued - 2008 La Quinta Housing Element; a request by the City of La Quinta for consideration of a recommendation for adoption of the proposed draft of the 2008 La Quinta Housing Element Update document. Principal Planner Wally Nesbit presented the staff report on file in the Planning Department which included a request to continue the item to 4 Planning Commission Minutes December 8, 2009 January 12, 2010. A copy of the staff report is on file in the Planning Department. Chairman Alderson asked if there were any questions from the Commissioners. There being no questions or comments by the Commissioners, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Weber/Wilkinson to continue this item to the meeting of January 12, 2010. Unanimously approved. VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: None VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: A. Information on the League of California Cities - 2010 Planner's Institute. -March 24 - 26, 2010, Monterey, CA. Planning Director Johnson gave a brief overview of the upcoming conference, and asked Commissioners to advise staff, by month end, if they would be attending. A brief discussion followed regarding funds budgeted for this conference and other training opportunities. General discussion of conference subjects followed. VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Report on City Council Meeting of December 1, 2009, from Commissioner Wilkinson. IA brief summary of the meeting was given.) B. Chairman Alderson noted he was scheduled to report -back on the December 15, 2009, Council meeting. IX: DIRECTOR ITEMS: A. Planning Director Johnson alerted the Commission to the fact the Council had requested a Study Session item to consider temporary signs and the Sign Code. If there were any adjustment in the Code it could be brought before the Commission for consideration. B. Staff reminded the Commissioners about the City's Holiday Open House on December 10, 2009. 5 Planning Commission Minutes December 8, 2009 C. Staff noted there was nothing scheduled for the December 22, 2009 meeting and it would be cancelled. The Commissioners were then wished a Happy Holiday Season and staff expressed their appreciation for the Commissioners' time and effort this past year. X. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Chairman Alderson/Commissioner Wilkinson to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to the next regular meeting to be held on January 12, 2010. This regular meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m. on December 8, 2009. Respectfully submitted, ~L~y(J !~C/~~i~P~f, Carolyn Walker, Executive Secretary City of La Quinta, California 6